Prices just hit my threshold :-(

[jenrose66]

All the price increases to me, make the value a lot less than other types of vacations. For us, Disney is easy. It's a nice little packaged vacation. We've been dozens of times, so while we have to plan, we don't have to research. For us, there was value in that. We don't feel the need to see everything, because we will be back. Well.....we leave in less than two weeks. Because of the increased costs, this is the first time in years that we are staying moderate rather than deluxe. (the no balcony make kill my husband). We won't be doing many table service restaurants, because the cost has just gotten outrageous, especially when we have a son that is considered a Disney Adult, although there is NO WAY he eats $30 more food! But with all the closures, upcharges on food, all the expensive hard ticketed events that close the parks early, and the twice a year ticket price increases....we are seeing the value diminished, and some of our enjoyment. So....will there be another family to take our place....probably. Which is fine, because I'll now be on a cruise ship....and NOT a Disney one. Don't even get me started on those prices! lol

I feel the same way. We can afford a Disney vacation, but the last time I went in 2014 it just felt like a cash grab to me. I felt at the time I was there that I was being ripped off. So I took my money elsewhere. We went to Universal in 2015. We stayed 6 nights/7 days, were not bored once, enjoyed riding things over and over...enjoyed the lower crowds and close proximity and the nicer hotel. The actual park tickets were almost half the cost of what we would have paid for Disney passes and that included the low tier AP I purchased to get a hotel Discount.

Now once you added all the charges together (hotel, shopping, food, airfare, etc...) the price all in was comparable to going to Disney, but I felt the value for my money was better at Universal.

 

[jo-jo]

Disney owes you the ability to use your points for the same value that you could in 2001. They are giving you that. There was nothing about joining DVC that required Disney to give you anything else.

But that changed too. I don't remember when, maybe 5 yrs ago, the points were needed for weekday trips and weekend were changed. Lots of people bought points based on being able to stay 5 weekdays. Suddenly you needed more points to stay those 5 days. Sure the weekend stays went down, so if you stayed a whole week, the points total really didn't changed. But many people bought just enough points to stay for 5 days during a certain season.

For all the people with a thousand or more points, there are probably 50 times that amount that have 100 or so.

 

[dlavender]

Reading this back made me ask this question: What if Disney charged $5000 for one specific date to get into MK? That would allow these "hard working, successful" people to go into the park and be guaranteed a lower head count. Would people do it? Seems like Disney has an opportunity to make a killing! They should do it a few days throughout the year. Why not?

 

[JOE DELL]

A vacation is a luxury period no matter where you go just like a car is a luxury, a 72" curved TV is a luxury not a right. If you can't afford said luxury then thats how life works.

 

[dlavender]

A vacation is a luxury period no matter where you go just like a car is a luxury, a 72" curved TV is a luxury not a right. If you can't afford said luxury then thats how life works.

That was deep.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I feel the same way. We can afford a Disney vacation, but the last time I went in 2014 it just felt like a cash grab to me. I felt at the time I was there that I was being ripped off. So I took my money elsewhere. We went to Universal in 2015. We stayed 6 nights/7 days, were not bored once, enjoyed riding things over and over...enjoyed the lower crowds and close proximity and the nicer hotel. The actual park tickets were almost half the cost of what we would have paid for Disney passes and that included the low tier AP I purchased to get a hotel Discount.

Now once you added all the charges together (hotel, shopping, food, airfare, etc...) the price all in was comparable to going to Disney, but I felt the value for my money was better at Universal.

Same here. I didn't feel like we got the value for our money this past trip. We spent about double of what we did last trip but got nothing new. Yes there are NFL but was that worth a few thousand bucks??

Yes we can afford to go to WDW but I work hard for my money and don't feel like throwing it away if I don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth. That's what it comes down to for me.

 

[bpadair32]

But that changed too. I don't remember when, maybe 5 yrs ago, the points were needed for weekday trips and weekend were changed. Lots of people bought points based on being able to stay 5 weekdays. Suddenly you needed more points to stay those 5 days. Sure the weekend stays went down, so if you stayed a whole week, the points total really didn't changed. But many people bought just enough points to stay for 5 days during a certain season.

For all the people with a thousand or more points, there are probably 50 times that amount that have 100 or so.

I know I said I was leaving this thread, but I just needed to respond to this one comment. Contractually, when you buy a DVC membership, they are not allowed to change the number of points that it takes to stay for a week during any particular season. They are allowed to change how many points each night takes, but it has to balance out to be the same for the week as it always has been. They are also allowed to adjust which weeks fall into which season (to account for holidays that change dates) but the number of weeks in each season has to remain the same as it always has. You should not buy your points for DVC based on points needed for less than 7 days. Your point buy should always be based on at least a week long stay as that number of points will never change.

 

[JOE DELL]

That was deep.

No It's that simple. It's a want not a need there for it is a luxury.

 

[DrewJB]

But we have a three-year-old who is princess crazy, and we tend to do quite a large number of character greetings, so this will have some value for us.

We are in the same position. We have a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old boy. Photos are a major benefit for us. I just found it surprising in running the math that Disney would actually be getting hundreds of dollars less out of us for what we were planning to do anyway. I guess we just already fall in line with doing what Disney is trying to push everyone to do which is essentially to purchase DVC, avoid peak travel dates, and buy Photos.

 

[DrewJB]

I do find it strange that the gold pass wasn't just made available to everyone. That would have meant far less anger for many non-DVC and non-Florida APs while moving even more people from peak dates to off-peak dates.

 

[jsmla]

I don't know why so many jump to the conclusion that dissatisfaction with an increase=not being able to afford it. My increase would be less than $200. It's the combination of fewer amenities at an increased price that bothers me.

Let's say the fruit stand has gorgeous locally grown organic strawberries for $1.99. I buy them and they're great. When I return to the fruit stand they are only offering conventional berries imported from Mexico for $2.99. I can afford the $2.99 but I'll spend it on the lovely local satsumas instead.

The pitiful thing is that I've spent the past few days all boudaed out over this but deep down in my heart know that, come February, I'll probably cave. My DH is right-I have a problem when it comes to Disney. Satsumas are all very well and good but, sooner or later, I'll come to the conclusion that I'd rather have the lesser, pricier strawberries than none at all.

 

[sunshinemelody]

That was deep.

No It's that simple. It's a want not a need there for it is a luxury.

I think she was making fun of you, actually.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

That was deep.

I have to hang out with you!

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

It's there, not their.

LOL, feel better?

 

[Happy_2_B]

Photos are a major benefit for us. I just found it surprising in running the math that Disney would actually be getting hundreds of dollars less out of us for what we were planning to do anyway.

Some will make out well- as they were planning to do the photo option anyways. That said, Disney ultimately makes out much better because now the salaries of the photographers, the costs of their cameras and other items, and the technology of the remote cameras and their installation is now being absorbed by many more people- as many AP holders do not need or want the photos and didn't opt for this item in the past. They will realize an even larger profit now on this line item of the budget, as a very small part of the AP increase will be diverted to their 'picture industry'. The rest of the increase will be diverted into other line items that need a boost- construction/renovation most probably.

I have been there 27 times- have lots of pictures- and don't need more thank you very much. Many AP holders that visit often feel the same. An AP is still a way better deal than regular park admission for most that visit multiple times each year- but it would have been nice to be able to select from several items of equivalent value. Disney could have just increased the price, made the AP an 'admission only' media and nothing else, and not given anything as far as benefits- so it really isn't about the pictures- it is about generating revenues for (IMHO) construction and renovation.

Disney owes us nothing. They have changed ticket media and associated benefits from the very beginning, and it would still be a very good deal as a stand-alone admission media for those that visit frequently. I am happy to get a few extra perks as an AP holder- but I do not expect to get them. Benefits change all the time- they always have- and they will continue to change. Those that develop 'expectations' around admission media, and carry the belief that they somehow 'deserve' them, are always going to wind up disappointed- as Disney policies never stay the same, and never will.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Same here. I didn't feel like we got the value for our money this past trip. We spent about double of what we did last trip but got nothing new. Yes there are NFL but was that worth a few thousand bucks??

Yes we can afford to go to WDW but I work hard for my money and don't feel like throwing it away if I don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth. That's what it comes down to for me.

You didn't know that NFL was the only new attraction before you plunked down double of what you would normally spend? You knew exactly what would be there but yet you still chose to spend the money. This is why Disney will continue to raise ticket prices. People will complain after the fact but most will continue to go.

 

[mcd2745]

Disney isn't trying to redistribute the crowds in any way shape or form

“We have to look at ways to spread out our attendance throughout the year so we can accommodate demand and avoid bursting at the seams,” Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek said to the Wall Street Journal, concerning the possibility of dynamic pricing.


That sounds like they want to re-distribute crowds to me.

 

[Jennasis]

“We have to look at ways to spread out our attendance throughout the year so we can accommodate demand and avoid bursting at the seams,” Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek said to the Wall Street Journal, concerning the possibility of dynamic pricing.


That sounds like they want to re-distribute crowds to me.

When that idiot CEO jacked up the price of Daraprim 5000% he claimed publicly that it was to pay for research for a new version of the drug...ya know...something other than "cause-we-can" style greed. Do we expect any company to say outloud anything less than positive spin?

This increase isn't about crowd control. If the were concerned about that they would limit ticket sales or cap attendance or, God forbid, build more capacity.

I'm thrilled about both Star Wars land and Toy Story land and to a lesser extent Avatar land. But all three should have been built by now or WELL underway and nearing completion to coincide with the new pricing.

And if crowds are the problem, build a 5th gate.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Ultimately, what it comes down to is how much you're willing to settle for each dollar you spend. Some of us have higher standards than others and we're the ones who are unhappy with the increasing price of a Disney vacation. Bully to y'all who are happy with the value you're getting out of your Disney spend, but what I don't understand is the rabid need to make others want to settle for less than you.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

You didn't know that NFL was the only new attraction before you plunked down double of what you would normally spend? You knew exactly what would be there but yet you still chose to spend the money. This is why Disney will continue to raise ticket prices. People will complain after the fact but most will continue to go.

We went as a last hurrah. My son is 15 and doing sports in school. He'll be graduating soon and we hadn't been in 4 years. I went in knowing it was most likely our last family trip to WDW considering DS's schedule and me never wanting to go to WDW over a holiday break.

The raise in price I expected since my son is now a disney adult and it's been 4 years. Prices increase. I just didn't think the value was there anymore.....like it used to be for us. I wouldn't know that until I after I took the trip.

I'm really not complaining. We had a blast and I don't regret the trip. But I will be taking our 2017 family trip elsewhere even though the thought of going to WDW again crossed my mind. It'll most likely be Universal.