Is Disney positioning itself to truly be a haven for childless millennials?

[nickg420]

I was born in 80 and my wife in 81. While we both would consider ourselves far more Gen X than Millennials, it really just depends on what source you use.

 

[katyringo]

Millennial here…born in 88- hubby 86

have two kids.

idk if you have looked at the cost of any family entertainment lately but this isn’t just Disney…

however is till take my whole family to Disney so idk what you are talking about.

“childless millennial” I loath that phase.
Their current marketing could have nothing to do with a pandemic in which children aren’t able to be vaccinated….not at all..

 

[BrianL]

I was born in 80 and my wife in 81. While we both would consider ourselves far more Gen X than Millennials, it really just depends on what source you use.

There is also a huge difference in the types of people who were born early in a classification range versis later. I am a late Gen-X-er and I have a friend who is a very early Milennial and we are actually quite similar in tastes and perspective - he HATES Millennials, ha ha! I remind him that he IS one, but he doen's like to spread it around.

 

[katyjeka]

Family of six - all ages and we can afford it. We work our *** off all year. We watch how we spend our money and save. Vacations are big priority for us. To explain how serious travel is, I took a front agent job at a hotel chain just to be able to get the employee rate when we travel. Paying $35.00 dollars a night for a room is a game changer. I don't believe Disney is trying to out price certain people. I hate the price increases however we are now paying more for everything so they are just following the trend. The hotel I work at was normally 110.00 a night at most and we are now getting $149.00 and up. I could understand the price if we lived in a vacation town but we are in a small town in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately I believe the high prices are the new normal and here to stay.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Seriously. A lot of the millennials I know are divorced, have little kids or have mental health issues. Usually a combination of 2 of those 3 options.

I guess it depends on who you are around. Most I know (including me) make good money and don't have kids. I have sooo many friends who pretty much just travel constantly, many to WDW several times a year.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I agree that I usually go to Europe or cruises multiple times a year. None of that last year, or this year. There's the possibility, however small, of testing positive and being stuck in another country, and my employer would not be so understanding. WDW is easy, so it's there that I go.

This is me too. I have traveled to other places in the US quite a bit over the last year, including a 7 week long road trip last summer. But WDW has been easy and enjoyable.

 

[HopperFan]

I've been saying for years that Disney's target market is adults with money to spend. They know they have young families getting those kids in before they turn 3, and again before they turn 10. But the grownup families ... that is money in the bank. From hotel price points, no more building of hotels but expanding DVC to more grown up lands/rides than kid oriented. From expensive restaurants to less chicken nuggets to event upsells and food/drink focused festivals ... more adult oriented. Disney Springs has lots of nice dining, more expensive shopping and less to keep kids occupied for long. And you get those younger adults hooked, they are bringing the kids before 3, before 10 and how often do we see adults going leaving the kids at home, enough to surprise me.

What is coming up? Tron, Galaxy, expensive Space dining, expensive late hours events, expensive dessert parties ...

I don't think they are marketing to millennials - they are marketing to ADULTS of all ages!

 

[phoenixconfidential]

Me, a Child-free Millennial with a 2021 Thanksgiving Disney trip booked, watching this thread:

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

They want money and I don't think it matters to them who has it.

Exactly. They aren't targeting specific groups so much as people who have disposable income. These are the groups that happen to be in the workforce right now.

 

[DCLMP]

I don't think Disney is positioning itself away from families, but Millenials are certainly shying away from having families. It may just work out that way. I'm generation X. If we hadn't had kids I'm not sure we would have chosen WDW as a vacation destination.

I think currently think WDW is benefiting from the rest of the world being shut down. If and when things open up I'm not sure these prices are sustainable. I have 14 millennial nieces and nephews and only one of them has had kids and none of them are interested in going to WDW. I'm not sure what draws childless people to go to WDW again and again.

 

[DCLMP]

Family of six - all ages and we can afford it. We work our *** off all year. We watch how we spend our money and save. Vacations are big priority for us. To explain how serious travel is, I took a front agent job at a hotel chain just to be able to get the employee rate when we travel. Paying $35.00 dollars a night for a room is a game changer. I don't believe Disney is trying to out price certain people. I hate the price increases however we are now paying more for everything so they are just following the trend. The hotel I work at was normally 110.00 a night at most and we are now getting $149.00 and up. I could understand the price if we lived in a vacation town but we are in a small town in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately I believe the high prices are the new normal and here to stay.

Let's hope the kind of inflation were seeing right now is not the new norm. There is nothing normal about it.

 

[Coconut8473]

Gen Xer with 2 kids, and we go annually. Even with Disney costs on the rise, I'd estimate we still pay a lot less on our yearly family vacations than friends who take family trips to Europe, Caribbean all-inclusives, or who go skiing multiple times a year, especially given Orlando flights are relatively cheaper for those of us on the East Coast than other destinations.

While the inclusion of Value and Moderate resorts to the portfolio, and Disney marketing in the recent past, was focused on the demonstrating the whole "hey, we can afford this!" aspect, WDW for the most part has always been a more exclusive or affluent-minded trip (or even a "once in a lifetime" trip for some who save for years. We never went to Disney World when I was growing up in the 80s - even back then it was considered too costly for my frugal family.

 

[katyjeka]

Let's hope the kind of inflation were seeing right now is not the new norm. There is nothing normal about it.

I agree it is far from normal but unfortunately it is a new normal. We are making blocks(reservations)for all of 2022 and the rates are the same price as we are selling them now. It's crazy!

 

[hhisc16]

Me, a Child-free Millennial with a 2021 Thanksgiving Disney trip booked, watching this thread:

Me, a one-child family Millennial with 2021 Christmas Disney trip booked, watching this thread:

 

[phoenixconfidential]

Me, a one-child family Millennial with 2021 Christmas Disney trip booked, watching this thread:

I did always saying growing up IF I had a kid.. it would just be one. As I grew up, I quickly noped-out of any thought of a child. LOL!

 

[CBMom01]

I’m on the X-M cusp. Just old enough that staying at the Contemporary was a childhood fantasy and just young enough to know that in many ways budget travel is a thing of the past.

So Disney benefits from my Xer over-parenting and cynicism. At least this year

 

[Gypsybear]

I'm not sure what draws childless people to go to WDW again and again.

As a childless "Boomer" - the draw for me is nostalgia. I started going to WDW back in the 70's....also, I may be old, but I'm not dead....yet....I like having FUN too!! Yes, I ride ALL the rides....even the orange side of Mission Space. That said, I enjoy the "adult" activities as well.

 

[hhisc16]

I did always saying growing up IF I had a kid.. it would just be one. As I grew up, I quickly noped-out of any thought of a child. LOL!

Understand.
Current times have changed many peoples minds about having kids, especially amongst Millennials.
Disney targets people with extra money. Always have and always will.

 

[VandVsmama]

Greetings,

With the increased admission costs, added planning complexities, new overpriced dining “experiences”, lack of character greets is Disney finally turning into what they’ve always wanted to be?

Who else besides childless millennials have so much time to plan, available disposable income and appetite for wine to visit?

Gut reaction: Who cares? If WDW isn't for you right now, then don't go. There's a whole big world out there to explore.

My 2nd take on this:

• go to DL instead.
• lack of character meet & greets won't be like that forever. I've never cared for the WDW method of character meet & greets, where you practically needed a FP in order to not wait in a 45 min line just to get an autograph and take a picture. DL's pre-COVID character stuff was handled better.
• you don't HAVE to do the overpriced dining experiences.
• Planning doesn't HAVE to be complex. In fact, with the elimination of FP+ and booking FP 60 days beforehand, I'd argue that it makes planning easier.
• plenty of families still go to WDW. You just might not necessarily see them plastering themselves all over Youtube like all of the childless WDW Youtubers do.
• our family saves all year in order to be able to go on a Disney trip, whether it be WDW or DL. But we go to DL more often because it's physically closer (6.5 hr drive compared to all day plane ride).

 

[Moliphino]

Greetings,

With the increased admission costs, added planning complexities, new overpriced dining “experiences”, lack of character greets is Disney finally turning into what they’ve always wanted to be?

Who else besides childless millennials have so much time to plan, available disposable income and appetite for wine to visit?

I'm a childless millennial and they're pricing me out, too.