Is Disney getting Greeeeeeeedy?

[gschon]

I wish Disney would build another park near San Antonio. The weather is great, only 29 inches rain per year. Plenty of hotels. Other Parks already in Place, like Orlando. And Lots of empty land....They could make the theming like Coronado Springs Resort, with Donald, in his Sombrero, out front.

 

[Turn the Page]

In theory, this doesn't bother me very much.

All travel businesses work like this....or most of them anyway. Even other theme parks like Michigan's Adventure and Cedar Point (to a certain extent) have tiered ticket pricing. We all know hotels and airlines do it.

That said, if they are going to do it then they should reduce the rates for the bronze level below what they are now, maybe have silver level tickets around the same as they are now, and gold level more than they are now. I don't like way it is priced in the links people have provided.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I can say that I have never understood this perspective of Disney being "greedy". There are those that say, "if Walt were alive, this wouldn't be happening". Walt Disney was all for maximizing profit.

I continue to hear people lament on how bad the parks are and how prices keep increasing but somehow Disney continues to pull in record profit and attendance and I continue to hear on these boards how crowded everything is. If the pricing and the value was so out of whack, why are people still coming in record numbers?

The market will bear what the market will bear. Disney isn't a necessity like food, water, shelter. It is a luxury. It was a luxury in 1971 and is still a luxury in 2015.

If Disney raises prices to a level to which people are unwilling or unable to pay, Disney will bear the negative impact of that decision. So far, it appears that the number has not been reached.

I don't know why people feel that going to Disney is some sort of right. Why don't people feel the same way about other vacation destinations that can also be very expensive?

 

[disnut8]

I kind of have to laugh because one of my mother-in-law's (and late father-in-law's) favorite times are gathering the family in Ocean City, Maryland at a few rooms and just letting everyone have fun. However, they would go in September since that was off season and the prices were lower. And then they had to adjust slightly because there's a big motorcycle thing that goes on in September so the prices were higher for that weekend.

Go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras and prices will be higher for everything.

My son and I went for a week long trip through Utah and flew from Omaha, Nebraska to Las Vegas and then left from there since it was easier. That last night, June 28, 1997, we had a hard time getting a reservation for a decent price so we stayed three blocks from The Strip. Why was that night so difficult? Holyfield vs Tyson at the MGM Grand. Yep, the Bite Fight. Good thing was we didn't get fleas from the place we stayed at and extra good thing (well, maybe some won't think it was good) is that we were able to see the fight piped into the room and saw a live shot of the bite. After that, the screen went blank.

 

[merina888]

I'd be curious as to how that would work. That would suggest that you would have to choose specific dates to be in the parks to buy tickets so you could pay the correct price. I know there are people who buy a bunch before ticket price increases. So if you bought tickets in advance and showed up a different day, would you have to pay the difference in price? Or would this only apply to on-site guests?

 

[3Gsandme]

I can say that I have never understood this perspective of Disney being "greedy". There are those that say, "if Walt were alive, this wouldn't be happening". Walt Disney was all for maximizing profit.

I continue to hear people lament on how bad the parks are and how prices keep increasing but somehow Disney continues to pull in record profit and attendance and I continue to hear on these boards how crowded everything is. If the pricing and the value was so out of whack, why are people still coming in record numbers?

The market will bear what the market will bear. Disney isn't a necessity like food, water, shelter. It is a luxury. It was a luxury in 1971 and is still a luxury in 2015.

If Disney raises prices to a level to which people are unwilling or unable to pay, Disney will bear the negative impact of that decision. So far, it appears that the number has not been reached.

I don't know why people feel that going to Disney is some sort of right. Why don't people feel the same way about other vacation destinations that can also be very expensive?

I agree.

I mean, Walt wanted Disneyland and Disney World to be fun, but it wasn't a charity. I never understand why people are surprised that Disney wants to make money. Of course they do.

Additionally, what would best suit Disney World is for the crowds to be at a 7 all year, never a nine nor never a 5. Why? Staffing. Naturally. How difficult must is be to maintain a work force to staff not only a 3 day, but a 10 day. It would be impossible. They'd lose good people (because you can't wait around for ten days forever). Having such a large pool of casual employees would be a nightmare.

 

[Turn the Page]

This may be wishful thinking on my part but I would also feel a lot better about the price increases if we knew for sure a large chunk of the increase in admission price was going toward R&D and construction costs for new attractions in the near future not 5 years down the road. If my admission price was going toward putting new rides in EPCOT rather than high shareholder dividends I would be much happier.

 

[MatzoBelle]

Prices should not rise faster than perceived value. Also, I wonder whether tiered hotel pricing (based on "seasons") affects crowds or at least on-site stays much.

 

[maxiesmom]

This may be wishful thinking on my part but I would also feel a lot better about the price increases if we knew for sure a large chunk of the increase in admission price was going toward R&D and construction costs for new attractions in the near future not 5 years down the road. If my admission price was going toward putting new rides in EPCOT rather than high shareholder dividends I would be much happier.

You mean like Avatarland and Star Wars Land???????? I realize those are not in Epcot, but both are huge.

 

[Turn the Page]

You mean like Avatarland and Star Wars Land???????? I realize those are not in Epcot, but both are huge.

And both are years away.

Frankly, I don't think they should be raising prices until there are more attractions open to warrant it.

 

[Enjoying Life]

Iger made only 27 million dollars last year. They need more profits to get him up to a reasonable salary.

 

[larryz]

Iger made only 27 million dollars last year.

You're 61% low.

Actually, as the article points out, his salary is pretty reasonable considering the size of the company and all. It's all the non-salary compensation that pushes my unreasonable button.

 

[Enjoying Life]

Sorry, but there is nothing reasonable about that kind of pay when you have regular workers struggling to get by. Don't know why people defend this kind of out of whack compensation for corporate executives. I understand why the executives are in favor of it, but everyone else... makes no sense.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Sorry, but there is nothing reasonable about that kind of pay when you have regular workers struggling to get by. Don't know why people defend this kind of out of whack compensation for corporate executives. I understand why the executives are in favor of it, but everyone else... makes no sense.

Move to (insert Marxist country here). Better yet don't stress over it and have tasty beverage.

 

[kbelle8995]

Yes Football tickets, Ballet and other things are high priced. But you know what I don't go. If people think Disney is too expensive, they won't go. Period. I bring up Disney to my friends and colleagues and the first thing they bring up is "Disney is so expensive." "I don't want to take out a mortgage to go to a theme park.

Disney hotels priced me out so I stay off site. I found certain decision too much. I took my money to the competition. There is just so much you can take. I will still go over to Disney (DTD or a resort for a tour) but theme parks not right now.

Is Disney being greedy? I think that depends on where your line in the sand is. IMHO they are pushing it. Greedy is such an angry word maybe that's what I should have picked on that darn survey.

 

[MillauFr]

This may be wishful thinking on my part but I would also feel a lot better about the price increases if we knew for sure a large chunk of the increase in admission price was going toward R&D and construction costs for new attractions in the near future not 5 years down the road. If my admission price was going toward putting new rides in EPCOT rather than high shareholder dividends I would be much happier.

They are constantly building new attractions at Disneyland and improving the existing ones. Seems like that is where Disney is spending most of its funds for improvements.

 

[gschon]

Many College Football games are now 100 for a ticket. For a 3 hour game, that your team might lose.

 

[gschon]

spa Treatment...100 one hour

 

[gschon]

.

 

[Spork24]

Iger made only 27 million dollars last year. They need more profits to get him up to a reasonable salary.

You may be joking, but I actually think that's a pretty low sallary considering how good of a CEO he has been.

He is easily worth twice that.