Greedy Drawf

[Westcoastwild]

I don't think anyone expects to walk into the Magic Kingdom for free, as you suggest. Where I object is when WDW takes away items that used to be (or really ought to be) standard offerings.

Sure, WDW is smart enough to label many of their upcharges as "new" offers, but many aren't really new, they're non-included replacements for things that used to be included.

ALL standard issue tickets USED to come with a PROMISE, "WDW tickets NEVER expire!" Except now they do. If you buy a 7-day ticket, and injure yourself/get ill an hour after you enter the park, too bad. You are out over $500! If I'm a single parent, and it is my child that gets sick/injured an hour into day one, we're out over $1,000! And there's no way to recoup any of that $, unless we manage to cough up another $313 to convert them to annual passes. OUCH!

*******

Do you know the history of WDW?

Because WDW actually DID offer a WIDE range of activities that actually were FREE to any guest.

Do you remember the Year of a Million Dreams? We got lots of extra freebies that year! I still have many of them.

To name a few others:

The Boardwalk featured a variety of FREE live performers every day. It was fun to make an evening of inexpensive candy, food, art browsing, renting a bike, renting a paddleboat, playing a carnival game, watching fireworks, and maybe walking through the DVC showcase room. All free or a for nominal fee.

When we first stayed at the Swan, we were absolutely floored by all that was included! Every time we visited it felt like there were bonus special activities included for no additional fees. (Almost all open to NON-guests as well.)

AKL used to feature a wide range of FREE activities open to ALL visitors. All day/evening there were a host of free activities: storytellers, art tours, free drawing activities, music circles, scavenger hunts, free cookies, hula-hoop contests, night vision animal viewing...CM's just invited anyone present to go from activity to activity.

All of the above made us feel welcome and appreciated as customers. WDW treated us well, and we gave them lots of loyal business in return.

So it pains me that Disney no longer treats guests the same way. If you don't know OLD WDW, then I feel sorry for you, because it was a wonderful place.

What's the swan offer that Disney doesn't? I'm genuinely curious.

I see your point about the stuff at AKL, but I'm guessing it wasn't worth it to the hotel because they didn't always have enough people to participate while they still had to pay staff. After all, people are there for the theme parks. Not the hotel scavenger hunt!

But I agree with the other poster who said your boardwalk stuff was not free even then. You can still rent bikes or paddle boats "for a nominal fee". That is the very definition of an add on!

 

[Westcoastwild]

Not the one you asked, but I define a cash grab as something you have to have being way over-priced. For example a local radio station does a huge outdoor concert every year. It is actually this weekend. You are not allowed to bring in any drinks with you. No water, nothing. You have to pay for anything you drink. And nothing is cheap. To me, that is a cash grab.

What do they charge for tickets?

Because that sounds like fairly standard rules- they could increase ticket price to cover free water but I doubt all the attendees care about free water. The refreshment stand is their money maker; nothing wrong with that.

I go to that kind of thing all the time and rarely get food or drink because it's expensive. No concert is going to sell cheap beer and hot dogs at the actual price of supplies.

 

[maxiesmom]

What do they charge for tickets?

Because that sounds like fairly standard rules- they could increase ticket price to cover free water but I doubt all the attendees care about free water. The refreshment stand is their money maker; nothing wrong with that.

I go to that kind of thing all the time and rarely get food or drink because it's expensive. No concert is going to sell cheap beer and hot dogs at the actual price of supplies.

Tickets are free. But they charge $60 for parking. It is outside, so to me, not allowing people to bring in water, and then charging for it is morally wrong. And the very definition of a cash grab.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Tickets are free. But they charge $60 for parking. It is outside, so to me, not allowing people to bring in water, and then charging for it is morally wrong.

A

That's what I suspected. Tickets are free but nothing in life is truly free. The parking and water (bare minimum) are the way they pay for it. So carpool and only buy water which can't be more than 5 dollars a bottle. That's just the set price of attending.

Do they search bags or something? I would think the water thing would be pretty hard to enforce and I would probably just bring my water hiking pack. Bet that's what some people do.

 

[Roxyfire]

The Swan is not a Disney owned resort. So what they do or do not do has nothing to do with Disney. The Year of a Million Dreams I remember for watching people chase the Cast Members around the parks, hounding them for "freebies". It was distracting and and borderline disturbing to see how some guests behaved trying to get the fancy Fast Passes. Not surprised they haven't tried anything like that again. Most of what you listed as happening on the Boardwalk was stuff you had to pay for. So not sure how any of that plays into your title of Disney offering a wide range of things free to guests.

By the way I think you are the first one to simply complain that Disney has taken some things away. Most are claiming they are now charging for things they used to give away which isn't true.

Wasn't the "Year of a Million Dreams" in response to the huge downturn in travel after 9/11? I know there's some expectation of "magic" and "pixie dust" but there's also marketing and differentiation. I think people blur those lines way too much, expecting something companies are not willing to prioritize in times of feast. These are things that get offered in times of famine; promotional tools and nothing more.

 

[ucfknight]

Tickets are free. But they charge $60 for parking. It is outside, so to me, not allowing people to bring in water, and then charging for it is morally wrong. And the very definition of a cash grab.

What's odd about that? Most every gated concert, theater, or sporting event I've ever been to does not allow outside food or drink to be brought in.

Oh..and since this is a forum about Walt Disney World and a thread about how greedy Disney is, let's remind everyone that Disney DOES allow you to bring in all the water and other food you can carry. Many amusement parks do not, including some in this same city.

 

[maxiesmom]

What's odd about that? Most every gated concert, theater, or sporting event I've ever been to does not allow outside food or drink to be brought in.

Oh..and since this is a forum about Walt Disney World and a thread about how greedy Disney is, let's remind everyone that Disney DOES allow you to bring in all the water and other food you can carry. Many amusement parks do not, including some in this same city.

What is odd is that it is outdoors in the middle of the summer. And it is either pay for water or get heatstroke. I just think that is wrong.

And yes, I think it is great that Disney allows you to bring in food and drink. It is a huge perk!

 

[DaisyJ]

I'm ok with the upcharge events (so far), as long as they're not taking away stuff that we used to get for free and making us pay. I just booked a dessert party for August, mainly because it's on my DDs bday, so I wanted to do something special. I didn't think $59 for adult and $35 for child were that bad. We are huge dessert people - believe me, DD will probably get close to my money's worth in the desserts, lol. For me personally, I'm happy to pay for the fireworks viewing (well, I haven't attended yet, so maybe I won't be happy once I do it!). But it seems like a good spot to see the fireworks, and I am not one to stake out a good spot an hour early......to me, time is money, I like to get my spot for fireworks or parades 2 minutes before they start, so if I can pay a few bucks to guarantee a good last minute spot, I'm all for it.

I did do the EMM and loved it. Loved getting to ride the 3 rides without lines, loved being back in the park with practically nobody else....plus the breakfast. To me, that is worth the money to be able to ride those 3 without using FPs, and then use my FPs on other rides.

A few years ago, that exact same dessert party was $25 per adult.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The Swan is not a Disney owned resort. So what they do or do not do has nothing to do with Disney. .

Er, what?

The activities I mentioned were open to non-guests as well. I think I said that.

But er, kind of sounds like you are cherry-picking a bit, because I said some of the BWK activities cost a nominal fee.

I mentioned YoMD because it was well known, but er, if you are trying to imply that we "hounded CM's" to get our freebies, you would be incorrect.

I could list a great many freebies we were just given over the years by CM's. Everything from ticket upgrades, to free food, free adult beverages, to free toys!

Do you remember what the Epcot Festivals used to be like? We got a whole bunch of free food samples and there were all kinds of freebies for kids. We ended the day with a pile of free stuff.

I even recall a free flight of 4-ounce beer samples! (and other times the hotels offered us a free beverage of our choice in the hotel bar)

CM's regularly used to confer gifts to guests. Many times, we were given multiple freebies in one day. I could list special rewards, collector items, golden fastpasses, certificates, surprise ticket upgrades, free photo prints, surprise seating upgrades...

Remember pulling the sword from the stone? And the Certificate that came with it?

Characters also sometimes used to give guests little extras.

And my goodness, over the year, many waitstaff gave us free extras. One guy jokingly dumped a large pile of WDW pens on our table.

WDW use to be full of little known secret freebies - like an extra FP for finding a paintbrush on TS Island. Or being invited to participate in shows, and getting a reward for it....


Oh, I could go on with lots of free extras that have been replaced with upcharges!

The thing is, WDW used to give them many of these things away on the quiet. Often, you had to be in the right place at the right time. You had to zig a little when the crowd zagged- like being the first to enter a gift shop, or the first to try to buy something that day, or you had to do something crazy, like acknowledge a CM with a greeting.

 

[buddyjo143]

DH and I will be there over July 4th week. After lots of reading and a few phone calls we found a cookout with fireworks viewing at the Grand Floridian. Sounds great till we heard the price: $253.58. Now the meal includes steak, shrimp, and alcohol. Problem is, we don't drink. I don't have a problem if you drink, but for us, that's a lot of money for something we won't drink. If it were $150 without alcohol, I think we would have been all in.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Er, what?

The activities I mentioned were open to non-guests as well. I think I said that.

But er, kind of sounds like you are cherry-picking a bit, because I said some of the BWK activities cost a nominal fee.

I mentioned YoMD because it was well known, but er, if you are trying to imply that we "hounded CM's" to get our freebies, you would be incorrect.

I could list a great many freebies we were just given over the years by CM's. Everything from ticket upgrades, to free food, free adult beverages, to free toys!

Do you remember what the Epcot Festivals used to be like? We got a whole bunch of free food samples and there were all kinds of freebies for kids. We ended the day with a pile of free stuff.

I even recall a free flight of 4-ounce beer samples! (and other times the hotels offered us a free beverage of our choice in the hotel bar)

CM's regularly used to confer gifts to guests. Many times, we were given multiple freebies in one day. I could list special rewards, collector items, golden fastpasses, certificates, surprise ticket upgrades, free photo prints, surprise seating upgrades...

Remember pulling the sword from the stone? And the Certificate that came with it?

Characters also sometimes used to give guests little extras.

And my goodness, over the year, many waitstaff gave us free extras. One guy jokingly dumped a large pile of WDW pens on our table.

WDW use to be full of little known secret freebies - like an extra FP for finding a paintbrush on TS Island. Or being invited to participate in shows, and getting a reward for it....


Oh, I could go on with lots of free extras that have been replaced with upcharges!

The thing is, WDW used to give them many of these things away on the quiet. Often, you had to be in the right place at the right time. You had to zig a little when the crowd zagged- like being the first to enter a gift shop, or the first to try to buy something that day, or you had to do something crazy, like acknowledge a CM with a greeting.

But then you're talking about little extras that the majority of the guests don't even see. It doesn't mean much to me if I heard whoever finds the free paint brush will get a free fast pass because I am really unlikely to find that paint brush...so I'm not going to count it in a cost/value analysis to begin with.

You're talking about stuff that a ticket to the theme park never has included. So taking it away doesn't decrease the value of a Disney ticket.

It's like arguing that a raise in costco prices is a rip off because they decreased their free samples. You don't shop at Costco for those free samples.

 

[Allison]

CM's regularly used to confer gifts to guests. Many times, we were given multiple freebies in one day. I could list special rewards, collector items, golden fastpasses, certificates, surprise ticket upgrades, free photo prints, surprise seating upgrades...

Remember pulling the sword from the stone? And the Certificate that came with it?

Characters also sometimes used to give guests little extras.

And my goodness, over the year, many waitstaff gave us free extras. One guy jokingly dumped a large pile of WDW pens on our table.

WDW use to be full of little known secret freebies - like an extra FP for finding a paintbrush on TS Island. Or being invited to participate in shows, and getting a reward for it....


Oh, I could go on with lots of free extras that have been replaced with upcharges!

The thing is, WDW used to give them many of these things away on the quiet. Often, you had to be in the right place at the right time. You had to zig a little when the crowd zagged- like being the first to enter a gift shop, or the first to try to buy something that day, or you had to do something crazy, like acknowledge a CM with a greeting.

I blame social media for most of those things going away. For example, it was a special thing for the first visitor into the shop with Tinkerbell items to wake up Tink. Then is was all over the internet and it was a mad dash to be the one to do it. Of course, when you weren't chosen, guests were upset. I can't tell you the number of threads I have read about people being upset because they read someone got something for their birthday but they didn't. God forbid you didn't have a towel animal in your room but you read someone else did. So Disney just stopped doing it because expectations were out of hand. It wasn't on the quiet anymore.

 

[maxiesmom]

I blame social media for most of those things going away. For example, it was a special thing for the first visitor into the shop with Tinkerbell items to wake up Tink. Then is was all over the internet and it was a mad dash to be the one to do it. Of course, when you weren't chosen, guests were upset. I can't tell you the number of threads I have read about people being upset because they read someone got something for their birthday but they didn't. God forbid you didn't have a towel animal in your room but you read someone else did. So Disney just stopped doing it because expectations were out of hand. It wasn't on the quiet anymore.

EXACTLY!!!! Those special little extras became things the guests demanded. They became a chore to do, and not something they could just slip in. Not only does it take away from them being special it ends up costing Disney money because now they had to placate guests who were upset.

 

[NuJoy]

()

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Amazed that this thread hasn't been moved. This really isn't about Disney at all. And it isn't helping anyone plan for a trip.

 

[Planogirl]

There was a time

Amazed that this thread hasn't been moved. This really isn't about Disney at all. And it isn't helping anyone plan for a trip.

I could agree that there isn't much in the way of planning here but I don't see how it isn't about Disney?

 

[Westcoastwild]

Amazed that this thread hasn't been moved. This really isn't about Disney at all. And it isn't helping anyone plan for a trip.

If they closed every thread that devolved into complaints about Disney prices, they'd close pretty much every thread...

 

[BuckeyeBama]

There was a time

I could agree that there isn't much in the way of planning here but I don't see how it isn't about Disney?

It is about the politics of haves and have nots. It really has nothing to do with Disney, no matter the specific complaint.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If they closed every thread that devolved into complaints about Disney prices, they'd close pretty much every thread...

By all means, complain about Disney. I complain often. But this really isn't that at all. And I am not saying that they should move the thread, only that I am surprised that they have not. Never mentioned closing it.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

I was not judging. I offered an opinion. Same as someone that says "Flights of Passage is the greatest ride of all time!". One is an opinion about a ride. The other is an opinion about the value of a dessert party. Not everyone agrees with either opinion.

So, why is an comment about a ride an 'opinion', and a comment about the value of a dessert party 'judging'?

Your opinion was that we would be financially irresponsible for making a choice with our money.

That's way rude and out of order. You personalized it. If you'd have said, for YOU it is irresponsible, no one would have batted an eyelash.