How tone deaf was it for Disney to announce price increases right now?

[disneyland_is_magic]

Not to sound like a corporate shill but this is a weird comparison to make imo, utility companies, mortgage companies etc all deal in life necessities. Disney World is not a life necessity no matter how much we all have the Dole Whip shakes right now

Well I agree a utility is more of a necessity, I was also referring to banks, cell phone and credit card companies, etc who also have stock holders to answer to.
Yes, there are “bigger issues” that’s exactly why it’s gross and tacky.

On the show yesterday, they said it could take weeks for some customers to see refunds because they are swamped. But they have time to update their menu prices?!? Please.

 

[kylenne]

I agree that it sucks. I don't agree that it's typical. But I realize the company is losing hundreds of millions of dollars being closed for a couple of months and feels they need to recoup that somehow. I can't wait to see what the next ticket price increase looks like.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. Like look at how much rack rate at the resorts skyrocketed just a few months ago, before all of thise. Some of the F&B hikes in 2018 were also pretty egregious, some as bad as now (I know because they did it right before our fall F&W trip and murdered my budgeting spreadsheet in cold blood lol). Squeezing the guest for more and more has been the MO for a long time, they just have actual excuses to do it now. All of the data they get from MyMagic+ gives them exactly what they need to come up with pricing algorithms. I'm betting that's why this one is so awful.

 

[rteetz]

This discussion comes up whenever there is any type of price increase. I surely am not rich, and probably live a bit beyond my means at times. Disney is the place I love to go to though. I don't go to many if any concerts, or other things that a young person like myself may do. I would rather vacation.

When I am at WDW, I don't notice prices the same way I may otherwise. Soda pricing has never even entered my realm because I don't drink it. Yes I know many do but I tend to not think about that. Alcohol is certainly something, but I expect to pay more for that at Disney. As for meals there are so many options.

For myself I am more worried about affording the next vacation at all rather than worrying about how much my chicken nuggets at Cosmic Ray's may cost. To me there is much more to worry about right now than the price of a hot dog for a park that isn't even currently open.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

I don’t think it’s worry so much as it’s strikes me as tone deaf and they should be focused on guest refunds, keeping the sites up, automating things as much as possible, cast issues, disseminating updates, rebooking affected guests, etc. That they turn around and have time to updates hot dog prices they won’t even sell for weeks is poor optics imo.

Is it all different departments and companies? Sure, you and I recognize that, but imo it’s still bad optics and bad PR. I think someone in management should have said, “hey let’s hold off on nonessential tasks that are visible to our guests. They are waiting for us to make significant decisions about impacted reservations.”
There is an argument it’s a much smaller issue so it shouldn’t matter and I am saying, the very fact it had zero urgency is why it makes me roll my eyes.
But interesting discussion for sure and I certainly see what you mean about the bigger picture and essentially agree with you.

 

[disneysteve]

That they turn around and have time to updates hot dog prices they won’t even sell for weeks is poor optics imo.

Exactly my point in starting the thread. Did I expect price increases? Absolutely. Do I expect more? For sure. It just seemed ill-conceived timing to me.

 

[rteetz]

I don’t think it’s worry so much as it’s strikes me as tone deaf and they should be focused on guest refunds, keeping the sites up, automating things as much as possible, cast issues, disseminating updates, rebooking affected guests, etc. That they turn around and have time to updates hot dog prices they won’t even sell for weeks is poor optics imo.

Is it all different departments and companies? Sure, you and I recognize that, but imo it’s still bad optics and bad PR. I think someone in management should have said, “hey let’s hold off on nonessential take that are visible to our guests. They are waiting for us to make significant decisions about impacted reservations.”
There is an argument it’s a much smaller issue so it shouldn’t matter and I am saying, the very fact it had zero urgency is why it makes me roll my eyes.
But interesting discussion for sure and I certainly see what you mean about the bigger picture and essentially agree with you.

And they are keeping the site updated and working on guest recovery alongside with this. This change could have very well been approved and in place before the closure. Disney doesn’t just decide something overnight.

Tone deaf to me is reopening the parks with a giant party.

 

[disneysteve]

Tone deaf to me is reopening the parks with a giant party.

Yeah, it will be interesting to see how they handle the reopening.

 

[rteetz]

Exactly my point in starting the thread. Did I expect price increases? Absolutely. Do I expect more? For sure. It just seemed ill-conceived timing to me.

And I very well think this could’ve been approved before the closure. Could’ve Disney stopped it? Probably but they are worried about bigger things. Blogs then take it and blow it up.

 

[hertamaniac]

Prices went up at the resorts and the parks so if that dinner is at a Disney hotel, that got more expensive too.

They also eliminated many menu items which will help keep their costs down, so you may find that some of your favorite things aren't there anymore.

So the order of things is:

1. Announce a free dining package for those impacted COVID-19
2. Raise food prices with a limited menu offering

Sounds like a subsidy to me.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yeah, it will be interesting to see how they handle the reopening.

I assume with Anna and Else out side singing "For the First time in Forever"

 

[Farro]

Gawd, I'm just so happy to get "normal" Disney news right now, I'll take anything.

 

[Farro]

I assume with Anna and Else out side singing "For the First time in Forever"

Let's make it more dramatic. All the characters can come out in protective gear and then they can play Show Yourself!!!!!!!!!!! and everyone can burst out in costumes...

 

[DisLiss]

You can bring food, just no coolers or ice.

You can bring coolers under a certain size and you can bring ice as well, as long as it is not loose. They recommend re-usable ice packs, but they allow ice in clear ziploc bags as well.

 

[RamblingMad]

This speaks to irrational optimism. Everything is not okay. By the time the parks open, they will have to offer significant discounts. We’re in for a rough 12 months.

 

[disneysteve]

And I very well think this could’ve been approved before the closure.

I'm not sure, Ryan. The magnitude of the increases doesn't seem like it would have been pre-planned. It definitely seems like a response to the COVID losses.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'm not sure, Ryan. The magnitude of the increases doesn't seem like it would have been pre-planned. It definitely seems like a response to the COVID losses.

seemed more like typical adjustments to me. Some of the price increases were high, but others were just like an extra $0.25 and then at least one thing came down in price

 

[disneysteve]

seemed more like typical adjustments to me. Some of the price increases were high, but others were just like an extra $0.25 and then at least one thing came down in price

What about the removal of various items? Streamlining menus creates cost savings as well. Do you think all of this was pre-planned and just happened to occur in the midst of the shut down? That just seems really unlikely to me but I could be wrong.

 

[rteetz]

What about the removal of various items? Streamlining menus creates cost savings as well. Do you think all of this was pre-planned and just happened to occur in the midst of the shut down? That just seems really unlikely to me but I could be wrong.

It could’ve been. They were tightening things up prior to the closure due to the Asian parks being closed already.

 

[disneysteve]

It could’ve been. They were tightening things up prior to the closure due to the Asian parks being closed already.

Oh, yeah if you look at it that way I might agree with you. It would still have been in response to the COVID situation. I thought folks were saying this was pre-planned before any of this happened. That's what I find hard to believe.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What about the removal of various items? Streamlining menus creates cost savings as well. Do you think all of this was pre-planned and just happened to occur in the midst of the shut down? That just seems really unlikely to me but I could be wrong.

always changes to menus too.... obviously I have no idea the motivation behind this but not the first time I have seen items come off menus.

As another data point, last year they were changing around the food courts at the values so they all have much more similar menus rather than POP or AoA being different than the All Stars, etc. - so "streamlining/cost cutting" things were happening before any of this started