Is Disney finally seeing consumers say they're pricing themselves out of peoples ability to pay?

[Tigger in a kilt]

Sure I can. Why not?

We don't go every year for 5 days at a time. We go every 3 or 4 years for 9 nights. The price I keep quoting, $68 a day, is reasonable to us to be able to go to as many parks a day as I want for 9 days. Comparing that to just paying $58 to go to Great America for a day, it's a good deal.

I'm not being fooled by Disney, it is what it is. When you go longer you pay less. That's how we vacation, so it turns out to be a good deal for us.

Like I said earlier, the hotels are outrageous to me. Ticket prices, dining, etc. I'm okay with.

This is a reply to this general point, not just you, Farro.

I don’t know what Great America is, but I can tell you that we took my niece on our monthly “fun day” and, not including food, we spent more per person than either of the costs given above for the 3 of us to the cinema, bowling and mini golf. If we lived locally, I would be delighted to have the cheap (when pro-rated) cost of the theme parks as an option instead.

 

[Farro]

This is a reply to this general point, not just you, Farro.

I don’t know what Great America is, but I can tell you that we took my niece on our monthly “fun day” and, not including food, we spent more per person than either of the costs given above for the 3 of us to the cinema, bowling and mini golf. If we lived locally, I would be delighted to have the cheap (when pro-rated) cost of the theme parks as an option instead.

It's just a theme park with lots of thrill rides. There's a few of them across the country.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You can't compare one day at Great America, but use the multi-day ticket price at Disney. That isn't a valid comparison.

The cheapest 1-day ticket with park hopper in May 2020 is $183.18. The most expensive is $207.68. Perspective-wise that might change it for some people.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I don't think that Disney wants to keep crowds down. They want to keep the parks as crowded as they can with the prices as high as they can keep them. Rake in that dough and I don't blame them. If people are willing to pay, why not??

Personally I won't go to Disney unless I get to do Disney the way I want to do Disney within MY BUDGET. Which for me is to stay onsite, for at least 7-10 days, at least a few TS meals ( I refuse to pack food), park hoppers, the FP+ I want, transportation (I refuse to drive on vacation) longer park hours and not during a party season (I went the first week of November and to the first MVMCP last year and left two days after so a great week with only two parties). I like the all inclusive feel of staying on Disney property, not having to drive, scanning my MB, etc. We are every 3 years or so visitors so when we go we spend a pretty penny. We do an extra or two, buy souvenirs, eat TS, stay onsite, buy lots of snacks, etc. So I think we are a "target" vacationer for Disney because we do spend. We aren't "once in a lifetime" visitors but we aren't the ones who go multiple times a year on an AP and don't spend in the parks.

If I can't have what I want on a Disney vacation (or any vacation for that matter) we go elsewhere. There are so many other places where I feel I get much more value for my money. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney but there are a million other beautiful places in the world to see and we go and see them. I would like to go back to Disney in 3-4 years but it won't happen until all of the stars align. In the meantime we have Puerto Rico, Cancun and Italy planned at cheaper prices than a week at Disney.

 

[Farro]

The cheapest 1-day ticket with park hopper in May 2020 is $183.18. The most expensive is $207.68. Perspective-wise that might change it for some people.

I'm not speaking for anyone else but myself. So showing me that a one day ticket in May is expensive doesn't matter to me (the quotes all pertain to my post). The question was is Disney pricing people out and I said yes for hotels, no for tickets.
For myself and the way we travel (which I've said numerous times) that park hopper is a GREAT deal for us next May. I'm not sure why people keep trying to prove me wrong, you really can't!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not speaking for anyone else but myself. So showing me that a one day ticket in May is expensive doesn't matter to me (the quotes all pertain to my post). The question was is Disney pricing people out and I said yes for hotels, no for tickets.
For myself and the way we travel (which I've said numerous times) that park hopper is a GREAT deal for us next May. I'm not sure why people keep trying to prove me wrong, you really can't!

I know you were only speaking of yourself. I said some people. I obviously know your stance on the situation . I'm not trying to prove you wrong; you have your perspective and others have theirs. For others reading it may help to see comparisons sake to the figures you are throwing out there.

 

[Searc]

Sure I can. Why not?

We don't go every year for 5 days at a time. We go every 3 or 4 years for 9 nights. The price I keep quoting, $68 a day, is reasonable to us to be able to go to as many parks a day as I want for 9 days. Comparing that to just paying $58 to go to Great America for a day, it's a good deal.

I'm not being fooled by Disney, it is what it is. When you go longer you pay less. That's how we vacation, so it turns out to be a good deal for us.

Like I said earlier, the hotels are outrageous to me. Ticket prices, dining, etc. I'm okay with.

Because it isn't a valid comparison. One day at GA vs one day at MK is a valid comparison, not multiple days.

 

[Karlrob]

We still go but our spending is way down. If we want a T shirt or any other merch - we go to Walmart and Target in the area - they have huge Disney merch selections. We will pack a lunch, or eat dinner at lunch and when we leave find a place to eat outside the parks. We ask for a glass of ice water and do not spend money on way over-priced soda and water. We are annual passholders and DVC members so we can beat the parking prices. However, not sure how much longer we can do Annual passes - this year they went up about 100 dollars. Have 0 interest in the Galaxy's Edge and kind of resent having prices go up because they are sinking so much money into one area.

 

[Sandiz08]

I agree Disney is getting expensive, but so is everything else. We spent 900.00 on our two day visit to sea world, no lodging included as we stayed with family. I recently priced great wolf lodge for a weekend and it was gonna be 1,200.00 for room and meal plan. A trip to the zoo is at least 200.00 a day for our family. Museums about the same.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm not speaking for anyone else but myself. So showing me that a one day ticket in May is expensive doesn't matter to me (the quotes all pertain to my post). The question was is Disney pricing people out and I said yes for hotels, no for tickets.
For myself and the way we travel (which I've said numerous times) that park hopper is a GREAT deal for us next May. I'm not sure why people keep trying to prove me wrong, you really can't!

the reason our post was quoted so much was because you weren't comparing apples to apples.


If I buy a WDW AP today, and go to the parks 365 times, then my AP only costs $3.27 a day!

I haven't run the exact math, but Universal ran a 1.5 year promo last fall on AP's. In theory, we could have gone to Universal for under 60 cents/day!


I could go to both WDW+US for under $4/day!

We could all keep our per day costs much lower if we simply went to both theme parks every day!

Alas, that's it! We all just need to go MORE often!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

kicking in at 5 nights, that's the difference. the most I stay at Universal is 3 nights.

 

[sharadoc]

My DD just spent a weekend at the Jersey Shore. Her "motel" was run down and old. Cost over $225 a night and that was one of the cheapest. I think Disney Value and Mod prices are fine, it's when you get into the Deluxe per night that are outrageous. We stay in NYC on a regular basis and a cool Art Deco hotel near Times Square at most is $350 a night. Onsite restaurants, bar, walking distance to theaters.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My DD just spent a weekend at the Jersey Shore. Her "motel" was run down and old. Cost over $225 a night and that was one of the cheapest. I think Disney Value and Mod prices are fine, it's when you get into the Deluxe per night that are outrageous. We stay in NYC on a regular basis and a cool Art Deco hotel near Times Square at most is $350 a night. Onsite restaurants, bar, walking distance to theaters.

I know this isn't Disney's fault but when you go to the Jersey shore (Jersey girl here!) you aren't also paying $500-600 per person for park tickets. 98% of the people staying on Disney property, in a Disney hotel, are going to the parks. When you go down the shore you are going to the beach and boardwalk. Most people take food to the beach or eat in the room or grill by the pool. I mean of course people eat out but it's not necessary for a shore vacation. It's two different beasts to me.

 

[Farro]

Because it isn't a valid comparison. One day at GA vs one day at MK is a valid comparison, not multiple days.

Oh my god. But I'm not going one day. I'm going to the parks for 9 days. So for me, it's one day for $68 for 4 parks. It would be $58 a day for GA if I went 9 days in a row. And I want to go to the parks for 9 days, I don't feel "trapped" into going for 9 days.

I never said it worked for anyone else who may only go a day or a couple. Why would I speak for them?

I said it works for us because we stay so long. It's cheaper by day the longer you stay. It's a deal.

I'll bow out now as I apparently seem to be not understanding everyone or getting my point of view across in a clear manner.

Have great trips!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Oh my god. But I'm not going one day. I'm going to the parks for 9 days. So for me, it's one day for $68 for 4 parks. It would be $58 a day for GA if I went 9 days in a row. And I want to go to the parks for 9 days, I don't feel "trapped" into going for 9 days.

I never said it worked for anyone else who may only go a day or a couple. Why would I speak for them?

I said it works for us because we stay so long. It's cheaper by day the longer you stay. It's a deal.

I'll bow out now as I apparently seem to be not understanding everyone or getting my point of view across in a clear manner.

Have great trips!

I agree with you about the multi-park tickets being objectively a good deal compared to other forms of entertainment. I can spend $50 inside of an hour on tear-off tickets at the local county fair, for my kids to go on sketchy carnival rides that were put up on Friday and will be taken down Monday. As for hotel costs, what I consider reasonable depends on the resort. AKL is a deluxe hotel with really nice rooms that are worth the price for me - the Contemporary not so much.

For me the bigger issue is crowding and the way WDW is increasingly price-gating not having a miserable experience. EMM, dessert parties, Club Level extra fast passes, and so on. Often, such as with the dessert parties or MNSSHP/MVMCP, this has meant taking away hours or areas that used to be available to all guests. It makes crowding for regular guests worse and contributes to the feeling like you're being extorted to spend more or feel like a sardine in a can.

 

[maxiesmom]

For me the bigger issue is crowding and the way WDW is increasingly price-gating not having a miserable experience. EMM, dessert parties, Club Level extra fast passes, and so on. Often, such as with the dessert parties or MNSSHP/MVMCP, this has meant taking away hours or areas that used to be available to all guests. It makes crowding for regular guests worse and contributes to the feeling like you're being extorted to spend more or feel like a sardine in a can.

But in the past the parks were not open later. They closed early, and everyone who wanted to see fireworks went to Epcot.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Oh my god. But I'm not going one day. I'm going to the parks for 9 days. So for me, it's one day for $68 for 4 parks. It would be $58 a day for GA if I went 9 days in a row. And I want to go to the parks for 9 days, I don't feel "trapped" into going for 9 days.

I never said it worked for anyone else who may only go a day or a couple. Why would I speak for them?

I said it works for us because we stay so long. It's cheaper by day the longer you stay. It's a deal.

I'll bow out now as I apparently seem to be not understanding everyone or getting my point of view across in a clear manner.

Have great trips!

But it wouldn't...most of the great america theme parks have season passes for less than the cost of 2 days...so it's not comparable...

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

But in the past the parks were not open later. They closed early, and everyone who wanted to see fireworks went to Epcot.

You may be right, we only started going to the parks in 2014. To my memory the only park that closed regularly at 7 back then was AK.

 

[DLgal]

But in the past the parks were not open later. They closed early, and everyone who wanted to see fireworks went to Epcot.

Uh, how far back in the past are you talking about here? I have trips dating back to the mid 80s, all the way through the 90s, and regularly since the 2000s. MK had always had fireworks late at night. Studios no, but they have had Fantasmic for ages too. I can't remember a time when "everyone went to Epcot for fireworks."

 

[Farro]

But it wouldn't...most of the great america theme parks have season passes for less than the cost of 2 days...so it's not comparable...

Just really, never mind.

Forget I commented everyone, we'll all be better for it.