Paid Fastpass.

[ChipnDale79]

I'm just saying a $20 magic band doesn't exactly drive the desire to stay on property.

Wait, I haven't stayed offsite in years, are you saying if you're staying offsite you have to pay for those things?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Disney has proven the past few quarters that even though people are saying nope and taking their wallet and going home enough have stepped up to fill the gap plus some. They aren't hiding what they are doing. They said it in a publicly reported share hokders meeting. The goal is to find the balance where they get there money but park attendence is lower so they can again offer the best experience possible. Right now they are seeingn what the market can bare and don't care if they lose a person or two because they can make up what you are worth to them. People need to stop disillusioning themselves as to what disney is. Sure they market magic and feel goodness but at the end of the day they are a business and have to what is best to keep them in the fortune 500 (fortune 20 actually if I remember the list correct)

Don't buy that crap...

Bob iger is attempting to supplement the loss of his cash cow - espn - by exploiting the second fattest one - parks...before he pulls the ripcord.

They know they are operating on borrowed business there...the real issue is that he doesn't care if there is a smoldering carcass left behind...not the board nor the shareholders...

Let's just cut the bull, heh? There is no longterm goal here.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wait, I haven't stayed offsite in years, are you saying if you're staying offsite you have to pay for those things?

Absolutely...if you want it. Bands are only provided for hotel rooms onsite

 

[ChipnDale79]

Absolutely...if you want it. Bands are only provided for hotel rooms onsite

HA...no way id pay a dime for those things.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

HA...no way id pay a dime for those things.

...nor would anyone with a functioning ganglion.

$20 for your ticket in a different form...it's nonsense.

 

[Nancyg56]

Disney has proven the past few quarters that even though people are saying nope and taking their wallet and going home enough have stepped up to fill the gap plus some. They aren't hiding what they are doing. They said it in a publicly reported share hokders meeting. The goal is to find the balance where they get there money but park attendence is lower so they can again offer the best experience possible. Right now they are seeingn what the market can bare and don't care if they lose a person or two because they can make up what you are worth to them. People need to stop disillusioning themselves as to what disney is. Sure they market magic and feel goodness but at the end of the day they are a business and have to what is best to keep them in the fortune 500 (fortune 20 actually if I remember the list correct)

Please. I am always supportive of businesses doing what they want to do and charging what they want to charge. I also believe that everyone has a personal spending limit and businesses need to be cognizant of that little detail. It is a responsibilty they have to all stakeholders in the company, from shareholders and employees to consumers and the community that they are part of. Once these decision makers decide they do not care about the long term, the repercussions are generally profound. FOrtune 20? NOt for long if they continue to disenfranchise guests

My husband has a saying: "Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered" He had never referred to Disney as a hog before, and we are very frequent guests, but he did not too long ago.

 

[Madonna3]

Wait, I haven't stayed offsite in years, are you saying if you're staying offsite you have to pay for those things?

Yes, if you stay off-site you have to buy a magic band if you want one. Fastpass+ is still free to anyone.

 

[amcc]

When we stayed at the castle club level at Disneyland Paris Hotel, we got a "VIP Fastpass" that let us use the FP line whenever we wanted. That was definitely a perk that was worth paying extra for, along with the other neat things about castle club. Universal does that FotL thing, but not for the really big rides like Harry Potter, so maybe you could have something like that for rides that aren't Tier 1 or whatever? Honestly, at one point in time, if I could've paid extra for a FP that just let us ride Peter Pan over and over, I would have. My daughter was OBSESSED with that ride!

I figure something along those lines is coming at some point. There is money to be made there, so I'm sure Disney will come up with something.

The problem is that Fastpass used to be free (or included in the admission). There was always money to be made there but it was provided free as a perk. If they start charging for it blatantly in any capacity, they have taken away a huge free perk. Everything does not have to be monetized MORE.

Disney has proven the past few quarters that even though people are saying nope and taking their wallet and going home enough have stepped up to fill the gap plus some. They aren't hiding what they are doing. They said it in a publicly reported share hokders meeting. The goal is to find the balance where they get there money but park attendence is lower so they can again offer the best experience possible. Right now they are seeingn what the market can bare and don't care if they lose a person or two because they can make up what you are worth to them. People need to stop disillusioning themselves as to what disney is. Sure they market magic and feel goodness but at the end of the day they are a business and have to what is best to keep them in the fortune 500 (fortune 20 actually if I remember the list correct)

I disagree that they want to reduce attendance to make a better experience. To me, that screams cover your behind. I firmly believe they want to see what the price ceiling is and then fill in the gap with lower paying guests. No way they want to leave empty space - they just want each person paying the maximum that they can get out of them.

HA...no way id pay a dime for those things.

The good thing is that once you have one, you can reuse it so if you have one from an old stay, it still works if you link your tickets. I don't think it works for charging.

 

[ChipnDale79]

The problem is that Fastpass used to be free (or included in the admission). There was always money to be made there but it was provided free as a perk. If they start charging for it blatantly in any capacity, they have taken away a huge free perk. Everything does not have to be monetized MORE.

I'm one of the first ones to come on here and complain about the addons that Disney charges. However, for the price of the onsite rooms, and Magic Hours being reduced (and rumors of them going away), the onsite guest does deserve some perks, otherwise, more and more will go offsite.

I disagree that they want to reduce attendance to make a better experience. To me, that screams cover your behind. I firmly believe they want to see what the price ceiling is and then fill in the gap with lower paying guests. No way they want to leave empty space - they just want each person paying the maximum that they can get out of them.

Yup...Disney doesn't care if you're packed into their parks like sardines, they want as many people for the highest price possible. If they tell you anything else, its CYA.

The good thing is that once you have one, you can reuse it so if you have one from an old stay, it still works if you link your tickets. I don't think it works for charging.

I still wouldn't pay a dime for them, I don't care if i could use it a hundred times.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I disagree that they want to reduce attendance to make a better experience. To me, that screams cover your behind. I firmly believe they want to see what the price ceiling is and then fill in the gap with lower paying guests. No way they want to leave empty space - they just want each person paying the maximum that they can get out of them.
.

Dead on...

Paying customers really need to stop repeating/propogating this myth.

They are actively trying to push the boundary to the breaking point.

The Walt disney company is a public traded stock giant...they can - in no way - try to reduce customers because each one represent potential revenue and profit and that is unnacceptable to a shareholder.

This is entirely an economic experiment to see how much they can charge for the same old things...and in a way they are completely cutting the foundations out of the park experience. There's no going back.

 

[maxiesmom]

HA...no way id pay a dime for those things.

Disney isn't stupid. They have turned them into a souvenir. So many different gizmos and whatacallits that you can buy for them now.

We are booked at the Swan for October, and I really am going to miss being able to pay for things with a turn of my wrist.

 

[Beer Me]

Dead on...

Paying customers really need to stop repeating/propogating this myth.

They are actively trying to push the boundary to the breaking point.

The Walt disney company is a public traded stock giant...they can - in no way - try to reduce customers because each one represent potential revenue and profit and that is unnacceptable to a shareholder.

This is entirely an economic experiment to see how much they can charge for the same old things...and in a way they are completely cutting the foundations out of the park experience. There's no going back.

They can only go so far.
Competition from Universal should keep them somewhat in check.

 

[Turn the Page]

My husband has a saying: "Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered" He had never referred to Disney as a hog before, and we are very frequent guests, but he did not too long ago.

You can sheer a sheep many times, but only skin it once.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Disney isn't stupid. They have turned them into a souvenir. So many different gizmos and whatacallits that you can buy for them now.

We are booked at the Swan for October, and I really am going to miss being able to pay for things with a turn of my wrist.

Yup, my wife keeps trying to get me to buy things to put on them. The only thing we’re buying for them is something she’s ordering off of etsy or somewhere that basically keeps the darn thing from coming off. If not for one of those things, when we went 2 year ago I would have lost my magic band a hundred times, that little clipped kept it from coming off my wrist. The first day we were there I didn’t have it on and it came off 3 or 4 times when id go to put one of my kids down, it would get caught on them and come off. I refuse to take part in spending money on those things, especially since while we’re at WDW is the only time they’ll ever get used.

 

[OldsDr]

I feel like they are trying to copy Garth Brooks "Papa Loved Moma" They're not hitting the brakes and they're shifting gears. when it comes to monetizing everything, it will all end in a crash.

 

[Lee Matthews]

...nor would anyone with a functioning ganglion.

$20 for your ticket in a different form...it's nonsense.

At least they are re-usable, so hardly breaking the bank.

Still good it's all optional though

 

[lockedoutlogic]

At least they are re-usable, so hardly breaking the bank.

Still good it's all optional though

True...but really it's just paying more for an already overpriced ticket...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I feel like they are trying to copy Garth Brooks "Papa Loved Moma" They're not hitting the brakes and they're shifting gears. when it comes to monetizing everything, it will all end in a crash.

So sayeth the oracle....

 

[Boski]

This actually used to be discussed in the same day FP+ thread here quite a bit last year or two but then Disney changed the terms of service for MDE last fall to state you must use the ticket you make advance fast passes with to enter the park when you redeem them (though their system does not prevent the redemption FP when the ticket was not used to enter the park). Since disboards does not allow discussions about how to violate Disney policies it can no longer be discussed so it was removed from the thread.

And yet the SDFP thread is still open.........

 

[loutoo]

I think everyone in this thread is either forgetting, drastically underestimating, or ignoring some of the benefits and value to saying on site. I'm not saying that it is worth it, that is a personal decision for each of us, but to imply you aren't getting anything for the extra cost just isn't true. I know this because my upcoming trip is offsite for the time in many years do to the group size and economics, and trust me even though I haven't left yet, I am noticing the difference.

Transportation: Yes, everyone can use Disney transportation, but only onsite guests can use exclusively Disney transportation. The Magical Express will get you to your resort, and a fleet of buses, boats, monorails, (and soon gondolas) will take you anywhere else you need to go.

I live in Ohio, and we fly to MCO. To stay offsite we need to rent a car (approx $360 for my family for 7 nights 8 days) + Gas (approx $60) Parking for 7 days at the parks ($140) And yes, dealing with Disney transportation might at times be annoying, but 99% of the time, it is quicker and simpler than dealing with Theme Park Parking, traffic, and time to get to or from the parks.

That is $560 ($80 a night) and who knows how much time saved by being on site

Extra Magic Hours: It is hard to quantify the dollar value of of this perk. This might as well be 2 extra FP+, or perhaps we should compare it to the paid extra hours... I suppose the simplest way is to count it as free theme park hours and use ticket prices to determine the value. If you take the price of a 4 day non-hopper ticket at $87.50 a day and divide that by an average 12 hour day you get about $7 an hour in value. EMH hours average 1.3 hours per day. That means you get about $9 in value per day per person. That means a family of four on property for 7 nights get $288 in free park hours total or ($40 a night)

Resort Fees: As of today, Disney still doesn't charge a resort fee which most if not all other Orlando area hotels and resorts charge. These range from $3 a night to over $60 a night. Well use $15 a night for a stay at someplace that might be comparable in some ways to a WDW value resort.

Magic Bands: I know, many of us really don't care about these, but the truth is they are a perk and have a value of around $20.

Those items alone apply to all WDW resorts and have a savings or value of $155 a night. That is more than the actual rack rate on some value resorts. If you subtract that from the rack rate of a deluxe, it puts Deluxe resorts starting around $220 a night (or a $110 if you go during a time when they offer 30% off)

This doesn't even take into account the difference in level of themeing, convenience, and service you get onsite when compared to offsite. People can complain all they want about Disney slipping in any of those areas, but I think when people compare Disney to the competition, instead of Disney to itself 10 years ago, Disney is still well above the others.

And anyone who wants to either eat at a popular table service restaurant, or book a FP+ for the top attraction at each park can tell you that onsite booking advantages mean something.

I fell in love with Disney during my first onsite stay (my honeymoon). If you are here on these boards, I think most of you had a similar experience, and I would bet the majority of them were while staying on site.