News Round Up

[saskdw]

I don't know. I really needed that new Mini over a Ford Focus. It's for mental health reasons So, I guess it counts towards health care instead of transportation.

LOL!! But you compromised by getting the Mini instead of the BMW!

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Walls came down around the castle turrets allowing guests to go underneath them. From what I could tell, only walls still up from hub constructions is right in front of the castle itself. Here are some pictures from Magic and the turrets, etc.

 

[rteetz]

Disney has released New Years offerings

http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2015/10/06/walt-disney-world-announces-new-years-eve-plans/

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

I suppose that's easy enough to do - but I personally have never come close to $10,000, and in fact we typically stay around $4,000. There's only 3 of us, but we did 11 days and spent just over $4,000 and that includes my DVC dues - though we only had to buy 1 airfare because we flew the other two on points.

People can still choose to stay at values, or even stay off-site. Perhaps a deluxe $10,000 vacation is out of the realm of the middle class, but you can still work a week-long Disney vacation for a family of 4 for around $3000 plus airfare. And remember about 50 million people live within easy driving distance that don't have to pay for airfare, and therefore can go even cheaper.

Fair enough Pete, but with the ticket price increase, it now costs over $1800 for four adult (I use that term loosely - as in my wife and I and our 2 boys) tickets for parkhoppers for a week. There goes your $3k budget.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Walls came down around the castle turrets allowing guests to go underneath them. From what I could tell, only walls still up from hub constructions is right in front of the castle itself. Here are some pictures from Magic and the turrets, etc.

Great pictures. It does look good... If I can ever afford it again I can't wait to see all the work in person....

 

[skier_pete]

Fair enough Pete, but with the ticket price increase, it now costs over $1800 for four adult (I use that term loosely - as in my wife and I and our 2 boys) tickets for parkhoppers for a week. There goes your $3k budget.

Well, you don't need hoppers (we rarely get them) but you are right even so family of 4 would be $1500. So maybe family of 4 for $3000 is a tough nut to crack.

 

[soniam]

LOL!! But you compromised by getting the Mini instead of the BMW!

Actually, that's true. Our 13 year old 4 door BMW got totaled recently by someone else, and we needed a replacement that could seat four in a pinch. DH already has a 4 door. We thought about getting used, but used manual transmissions are hard to find. So, I saved money by getting a 4 door Mini It will probably become DS car in 6-7 years when he starts driving.

 

[Budshark]

What is your definition of "upper" middle class? We're DVC members and typically when we go we stack 2-3 trips in a year to take advantage of APs, then skip a year, but the pricing is so crazy now... Family of 4 for 8 days - Airfare: $1600 if lucky; Rental car: $350; Platinum APs: $3000; TIW card: $150; Food / dining / sundries / souvenirs: $1600. That's insane.... Pushing $7,000 and we don't even have to pay for our room (well, we do in the fees and previous money spent for DVC, but not counting that). That's not chump change. What if you had to do a hotel room separately on top of that? another $3k. $10,000 for a disney vacation. Whoa. I could literally rent a house with a personal servant for a week with that amount of money. That's not upper middle class, that's the plain ole 1%.

We haven't been to WDW since summer 2014 and I'm not sure I want to go back. It was expensive then, but it is really getting crazy. Maybe we just go next time and use our DVC as a home base and do other stuff.

As some of the articles have suggested, I think this was a slight over-reach.

I think you've actually made Disneys point. If you stack 2-3 trips per year on an AP, they are asking for $650/family of 4 or $200-$300 more per trip (which you admit are 4-8 days so the daily increase is almost nothing). And if you are spending $5000-$7000 on a trip and are DVC owners they are going to make the solid bet that you will bump up your budget by a couple hundred. And if this is the breaking point? Then you would've stopped going in a year anyways.

 

[twocat]

AP Discounts only for Platinum or Platinum Plus?

In this morning's Tampa Bay Times there was an article on Disney raising AP prices and what each entailed.

According to the graphic in the article, Discounts on Resort stays are only available to those with a Platinum or Platinum Plus AP.

This is the first I've heard of discounts being based on your level of AP but it strikes me as something that the bean counters would just love.

I'm a FL resident with a Seasonal AP. I usually go for 2-5 nights 3 or 4 times a year, often solo, with an AP or FL resident discount. I don't think that's going to be happening in the future.

Here's a link to the article. The info about Resort discounts is in the graphic near the bottom.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/busine...to-vary-admission-price-to-spread-out/2248393

Relevant text from article:

Platinum

$649 ($749 for out-of-staters)
Admission to four Walt Disney World theme parks, ability to go from park to park on the same day with no blackout dates, plus theme park parking, photos, special offers for stays at Disney Resort hotels, various park discounts.
I'm a FL resident with a Seasonal AP. I usually go for 2-5 nights 3 or 4 times a year, often solo, with an AP or FL resident discount. I don't think that's going to be happening in the future.

Here's a link to the article. The info about Resort discounts is in the graphic near the bottom.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/busine...to-vary-admission-price-to-spread-out/2248393

 

[circus4u]

Universal pass increases were:
The new prices are:

$239.99 plus tax for the Power Pass, with blockout days. Florida residents pay $214.99.

$334.99 for the Preferred Pass, with no blockout days. That's $299.99 for Florida residents.

Parking increased to $20

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201510/4769/

 

[7series]

Wow. If our household income was $200K we would have no financial concerns whatsoever because we would continue to live as we do. We try to avoid the make more spend more trap. $200K a year is "rich" to the overwhelming majority of Americans. I saw someone comment about the economy "riding high". That isn't the case. Not even close. Median income is down. Unemployment (real unemployment, U6, not the fictitious number they quote) is through the roof. It's approaching 17%. The labor participation rate is at a record low. Things are not good for a huge percentage of Americans. I have no idea when, or even if, we will be able to do another Disney trip. That being said, Disney is not having any trouble getting people into the parks so I doubt that the increase will hurt them for now.

P.S. I am a lover of old BMWs too (as one may see from my screen name). I have a 25 year old 750iL.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Well, you don't need hoppers (we rarely get them) but you are right even so family of 4 would be $1500. So maybe family of 4 for $3000 is a tough nut to crack.

It's entirely possible...

Lowest possible rate at all stars...getting there on no cost magic fairy dust in lieu of vessels that consume petroleum...sew your mouth shut...saline drip to maintain minimal automatic body functions...avoid 384.5 gift shops...

What's the problem?

Seriously, Pete...put the bucket down.

A week with 4 in a decent hotel is $5000-$6000 without a sweat plus transport costs...and you damn well know it. And it's double what it was for the same 10 years ago...and it's the same because the net gain on the compound is zero..if you're lucky.

Come on

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wow. If our household income was $200K we would have no financial concerns whatsoever because we would continue to live as we do. We try to avoid the make more spend more trap. $200K a year is "rich" to the overwhelming majority of Americans. I saw someone comment about the economy "riding high". That isn't the case. Not even close. Median income is down. Unemployment (real unemployment, U6, not the fictitious number they quote) is through the roof. It's approaching 17%. The labor participation rate is at a record low. Things are not good for a huge percentage of Americans. I have no idea when, or even if, we will be able to do another Disney trip. That being said, Disney is not having any trouble getting people into the parks so I doubt that the increase will hurt them for now.

P.S. I am a lover of old BMWs too (as one may see from my screen name). I have a 25 year old 750iL.

This is one of my top 5 all time posts...simple and what is the "real truth"

 

[rteetz]

Well, you don't need hoppers (we rarely get them) but you are right even so family of 4 would be $1500. So maybe family of 4 for $3000 is a tough nut to crack.

Well with the parks in their current form I think hoppers are much more appealing. Last January we didn't have hoppers and I wish we did. This January we do so well will have to see. Normally our family of five goes in summer, goes for cheapest available on site resort because we don't care so much about that and then do park hoppers. July 2014 was around 5000 total including airfare.

 

[rteetz]

Can we please get back to news topics and off how much vacations are costing and household incomes. Those conversations could be continued in the threads regarding the AP increases.

 

[rteetz]

AKL hosting a cełebrate Africa event

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/10/celebrate-africa-event-at-disneys.html?m=1

 

[rteetz]

Disney springs update

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/10/disney-springs-update-panoramic-view-of.html?m=1

 

[lockedoutlogic]

They're limiting AP discounts on rooms to only the upper passes?

Omg...I almost never am surprised by anything when it comes to the "company"...but this took my wind out of my sails a bit.

So you have to pay more for the privilege of buying a room on an average 15% discount that is pulled out of what is determined as unused inventory based on the occupancy forecast?

I think I wrote that right...let me read it again so my eyes go crossed.

 

[luisov]

The hub is looking quite nice. The recent refurbishment of Pirates and the overall improvements at the park make me hope that they are finally willing to make things right at MK and fix all the stuff that has been neglected for so long.

 

[Irish_Mike]

The hub is looking quite nice. The recent refurbishment of Pirates and the overall improvements at the park make me hope that they are finally willing to make things right at MK and fix all the stuff that has been neglected for so long.

Hopefully they begin looking at Tomorrowland next. That entire chunk of the park is starting to feel dated.