Intersting article about Disney in the Sentinel

[jetdoctor]

I'm just curious -- what is it you think they owe you? You've come to their parks and you've paid your entrance fees, and they've offered the chance to buy a ticket that if, if you choose to got more than once a month, makes sense compared to a regular ticket. You could buy an AP and go every day and have your thousand dollar purchase be worth 36,000 compared to daily purchases.

Or you could not. That's a choice. But Florida taxes don't subsidize Disney -- in fact, the tourist taxes generated by the industry Disney created in Orlando help keep the rest of our taxes low compared to the rest of the country. Why do you assume Disney owes some level of loyalty beyond what they already do, which is offer Florida residents a discount. I grew up in Orlando. Bought a house there last week. And I can promise you that the Mouse built that town. Without Disney, Orlando might as well been Ocala -- middle of the state, no real infrastructure, just a (now defunct) naval training base and airport. Disney has give much much much more to we residents of central Florida have sacrificed in return. And that's not enough?

But you're talking here as if Disney decision to increase prices or add blackout dates -- or even actively discourage local residents from attending -- is some sort of affront, an insult to this supposed loyal customer base (the same base that wants to pay less than the out-of-state visitor who is buying full price tickets and staying in their precious hotels and eating onsite and spending a lot more money) that is entitled to better.

Disney has done plenty right by AP holders and Florida residents, and the fact that they don't want to do more may be unfortunate to those who take advantage of their offers, but certainly is no sign of disrespect or disregard. If I were them and I was spending a few billion on expansions, I'd want every single person coming to stay at my resorts, eat my food, buy my merchandise. I'd want to maximize every single excitement and enthusiastic dollar I could, and make sure that every person through the gates was paying as much as I could get them to pay. I wouldn't want 30,000 AP holders flooding my gates on opening day, making the guests who paid the full ride less satisfied. And if it were your company and your billions invested, you would, too.

I never said they owed me anything. I am the supposed loyal base. I am the loyal customer base. I own a home here I pay my taxes and pay for my entry to the parks I can feel or say anything I want you don't have to like it. If you don't agree with me that your choice. But I can have my voice just as you can have yours. I realize that they are a for profit mega conglomeration and it is their duty to maximize profits. I can complain all day if I choose its my money not yours so unless you want to start paying my way then let me have my opinion.

 

[jetdoctor]

It's not whether Disney "owes" anyone anything...that's not the argument. It's whether it's a longterm good business decision to modify longstanding policies to force certain costumers away that have been an important structural piece of their clientele for 40 years...

I agree with you. I Don't think Disney owes me a thing

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree with you. I int think Disney owes me a thing

I didn't think you ever implied that...because you never wrote anything relatively hinting at it...

But that's a classic diversionary smokescreen thrown by pixie pounders...imply entitlement when questions are raised about ANYTHING the PR department floats with the accountants knives - held by the stock analysts - being slowly plunged in their backs...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

'Bout the only thing that stuck out at me in terms of "hey that seems pretty darn slap in the face" was the blackout on new attractions (ETA as the article discussed some other things that involve AP changes). Granted it's not that the AP holders couldn't go only that they would have to fork over money for a ticket or buy a pass that allows for going to new attractions (based on the survey) but still.

I remember the block out on new attractions being mentioned months and months ago somewhere on the DIS..couldn't tell you where though.

 

[Spaceguy55]

DW seems to be able to do what they want for now...when the next recession comes..and it will, they will be extra generous to FL residents...they were the last few times

 

[lockedoutlogic]

DW seems to be able to do what they want for now...when the next recession comes..and it will, they will be extra generous to FL residents...they were the last few times

That's the only way to see if they have made some mistakes...and if my prediction...that the CEO walks around with his parachute on and itchy ripcord trigger is proven true or false.

 

[jetdoctor]

I'm just curious -- what is it you think they owe you? You've come to their parks and you've paid your entrance fees, and they've offered the chance to buy a ticket that if, if you choose to got more than once a month, makes sense compared to a regular ticket. You could buy an AP and go every day and have your thousand dollar purchase be worth 36,000 compared to daily purchases.

Or you could not. That's a choice. But Florida taxes don't subsidize Disney -- in fact, the tourist taxes generated by the industry Disney created in Orlando help keep the rest of our taxes low compared to the rest of the country. Why do you assume Disney owes some level of loyalty beyond what they already do, which is offer Florida residents a discount. I grew up in Orlando. Bought a house there last week. And I can promise you that the Mouse built that town. Without Disney, Orlando might as well been Ocala -- middle of the state, no real infrastructure, just a (now defunct) naval training base and airport. Disney has give much much much more to we residents of central Florida have sacrificed in return. And that's not enough?

But you're talking here as if Disney decision to increase prices or add blackout dates -- or even actively discourage local residents from attending -- is some sort of affront, an insult to this supposed loyal customer base (the same base that wants to pay less than the out-of-state visitor who is buying full price tickets and staying in their precious hotels and eating onsite and spending a lot more money) that is entitled to better.

Disney has done plenty right by AP holders and Florida residents, and the fact that they don't want to do more may be unfortunate to those who take advantage of their offers, but certainly is no sign of disrespect or disregard. If I were them and I was spending a few billion on expansions, I'd want every single person coming to stay at my resorts, eat my food, buy my merchandise. I'd want to maximize every single excitement and enthusiastic dollar I could, and make sure that every person through the gates was paying as much as I could get them to pay. I wouldn't want 30,000 AP holders flooding my gates on opening day, making the guests who paid the full ride less satisfied. And if it were your company and your billions invested, you would, too.

You must invest in Disney or work for them

 

[whiporee]

You must invest in Disney or work for them

Sure, because the only reason anyone could have for disagreeing with your well-thought-out, completely unemotional response to Disney investigating whether to black out heavily-in-demand dates from their least-revenue-producing visitors would have to be because of blind self interest.

You got me.

 

[jetdoctor]

Sure, because the only reason anyone could have for disagreeing with your well-thought-out, completely unemotional response to Disney investigating whether to black out heavily-in-demand dates from their least-revenue-producing visitors would have to be because of blind self interest.

You got me.

Yes and you got me

 

[whiporee]

But that's a classic diversionary smokescreen thrown by pixie pounders...imply entitlement when questions are raised about ANYTHING the PR department floats with the accountants knives - held by the stock analysts - being slowly plunged in their backs...

First of all, I don't deserve that.

Second, if you want to question the fiscal soundness of limiting the access on high-demand days for those who pay -- per entry -- the least, feel free. But as quick as you say the pixie pounders are to defend them, that's how quick you are to assign malicious intent to EVERY SINGLE THING THEY DO. Maybe you see it as balance. You want to know something, so do I.

 

[jetdoctor]

Sure, because the only reason anyone could have for disagreeing with your well-thought-out, completely unemotional response to Disney investigating whether to black out heavily-in-demand dates from their least-revenue-producing visitors would have to be because of blind self interest.

You got me.

"I can complain all day if I choose its my money not yours so unless you want to start paying my way then let me have my opinion."

And if you do it on a public message board, expect people to disagree. None of us get to put our opinions out as gospel, and the very thing you accuse me of you suggest to do to me.

In other words, lighten up, Francis.

You are right sir I agree I will lighten I apologize for being emotional but I have my views and you have yours I know you think I'm a half wit. I may not be as crafty with my feeling or as articulate. But I still don't believe that anyone owes me anything. So I don't where you got that from.

 

[kbelle8995]

I was one of those who dropped my Disney pass and went over to Universal. I have been pleased. My Universal pass went up in price this year. But then I think how much I would pay for this at Disney I felt much better.

I understand those who say the price has gotten high for APs. It has. It is one of the reasons I went to Universal. And no Disney doesn't own anyone anything. But ticking off locals could be a mistake. I don't think they offered $79 one day pass to passholders out of the goodness of their hearts.

This summer between economic crisis in Brazil and UK, Zika and the horrible shootings at the Pulse nightclub, I think Disney is feeling it. And I don't think the high prices help the issue

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't think they offered $79 one day pass to passholders out of the goodness of their hearts.

And they sure didn't offer them because the parks have had too much attendance lately.......

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

Here's the flip side of all of this: I've always been bothered by the fact that since I don't live in Florida I have to pay SOOOOOO MUUUUUUUCH MOOORRRE than folks that happen to live nearby. Frankly, I'm glad they're raising the Florida resident fees. I think they should pay the same amount as I have to pay. I've visited WDW as much as some of the locals. Why charge them so little and me so stinking much? Honestly, I've sat across a table before at EPCOT from a guy and his wife that paid peanuts to get in while my ticket for the week cost a king's ransom. Of course that sticks in my craw.

You want 60 day access to FPs? You wanna go during peak times? Then do it like the rest of us do, and buy a regular ticket.

 

[mom2rtk]

Here's the flip side of all of this: I've always been bothered by the fact that since I don't live in Florida I have to pay SOOOOOO MUUUUUUUCH MOOORRRE than folks that happen to live nearby. Frankly, I'm glad they're raising the Florida resident fees. I think they should pay the same amount as I have to pay. I've visited WDW as much as some of the locals. Why charge them so little and me so stinking much? Honestly, I've sat across a table before at EPCOT from a guy and his wife that paid peanuts to get in while my ticket for the week cost a king's ransom. Of course that sticks in my craw.

You want 60 day access to FPs? You wanna go during peak times? Then do it like the rest of us do, and buy a regular ticket.

Actually, the 60 day access is about where you stay, not which ticket you have.

And Disney offers deals to locals because they are so much easier to mobilize and get into the parks when attendance slumps (like it has done recently).

 

[Hikergirl]

I hope the locals stay out, at least for the weekends of F&W

I'm not a local, I have no idea how much an AP costs for them. I don't have an issue with black out dates on a whole, like Spring Break or whatever. I do think its ridiculous though to black them out when a new attraction opens. I'd be POed if that happened to me.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

Actually, the 60 day access is about where you stay, not which ticket you have.

And Disney offers deals to locals because they are so much easier to mobilize and get into the parks when attendance slumps (like it has done recently).

I'm aware of that. I was making the point, that if you want the perk, you have to pay the freight. You want 60 day access? Stay in a resort. You want to go during Spring Break? Buy a regular ticket. These are the things that I have to do. Why shouldn't locals have to do the same?

I understand the "mobilization" idea, but it really sucks for us. Perhaps WDW has grown to the point that they don't need locals anymore. Frankly, I hope it has. We come from hundreds of miles away, pay a fortune, only to be hindered by some local at F&W treating it like a pub crawl. ...or the bridesmaids doing the same.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

I hope the locals stay out, at least for the weekends of F&W

I'm not a local, I have no idea how much an AP costs for them. I don't have an issue with black out dates on a whole, like Spring Break or whatever. I do think its ridiculous though to black them out when a new attraction opens. I'd be POed if that happened to me.

Look up the Florida resident AP cost. It'll make you a little outraged.

 

[jetdoctor]

I hope the locals stay out, at least for the weekends of F&W

I don't understand why? We Payed for our tickets just as much as the next person

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Here's the flip side of all of this: I've always been bothered by the fact that since I don't live in Florida I have to pay SOOOOOO MUUUUUUUCH MOOORRRE than folks that happen to live nearby. Frankly, I'm glad they're raising the Florida resident fees. I think they should pay the same amount as I have to pay. I've visited WDW as much as some of the locals. Why charge them so little and me so stinking much? Honestly, I've sat across a table before at EPCOT from a guy and his wife that paid peanuts to get in while my ticket for the week cost a king's ransom. Of course that sticks in my craw.

You want 60 day access to FPs? You wanna go during peak times? Then do it like the rest of us do, and buy a regular ticket.

Wow I never thought I'd agree with this as much as I did. My family is kind of broke, and whenever we scrape together a little bit of money instead of saving it like normal people we go. Got a lot of crap from my father about it (though he was the worst abuser of this and which is why we left him, but that's a VERY different story for a different day). Whenever I was reading the comments on here after what I last posted I then realized that this thread was more so locals/APers/the people that find anything and complain about it to death like spoiled brats all complaining about this. News flash: live a day in people like mine's shoes and you will realize how lucky you are. This thread claims that Disney doesn't owe them anything, but it acts like they feel entitled to whatever because of cost. It's that way because of supply and demand, not because of offerings

I'm surprised I haven't been bullied off of these forums yet