Question to the budget Board....

[spencera]

I would to know why Florida residents get discounts on Disney World tickets and onground Disney Holtels and maybe other things I don't know about ? I understand Disney World in the state of Florida, I do understand certain negotiations Disney World might have done with the state of Florida. With all due respect to the state of Florida and the good people of Florida, would it not be fair to all people, states and the countrys of our world to have one price for all. I think and do believe Walt Disney himself would have wanted it to be this way. Spencer

 

[eliza61]

First, I'm not a disney executive so these ramblings are just what my brain "supposes". Do not interpert them to be the "offical" word. Next, I'll bite if this is a legitimate question.

I would think it would be because Floridians are near disney therefore you have a loyal customer base that will come back.

This is not unusual. many places and companies give loyality "perks". Become a member of AAA you get discounts on certain things. fly a certain airline, use a certain credit card. so forth and so on.

I don't think anyone knows what walt would do, he may have thought it was a great idea. He loved trains so maybe he would have given amtrack employees a special discount who knows.

 

[girli565]

I believe FL residents get discounts because disney wants to target the people closest to them. and the best way to guarantee that is to offer discounts specifically to those residents that surround the parks. I know that when there's a special deal my husband and I will more often than not try to skrimp and save to be able to get to WDW so we can take advantage of this deal. Disney knows this and figures why not entice these people more!?

 

[clutter]

Just speculating here, but Florida has a huge retired population. Seems that most people I know here on the east coast have a relative in Florida that they go to visit at some point or other. Hmmm, if you give a discount to the FL resident, seems that they'd be more likely to go with visiting out of town guests! So, the visiting guests are more likely to go to WDW while down in FL for family time. Maybe?

 

[mikehn]

Nothing at all unusual about discounts for residents. There are resident discounts for many things across many states in the country, not just Disney and Florida. Local residents contribute to the local economy and therefore I believe local residents should be afforded some perks such as discounted admissions and such.

 

[reginaastralis]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but according to my parents the Florida resident passes didn't start until the 1980's, or at least weren't a special deal. Disney wasn't doing so hot during the energy crisis and the rebound after, so they needed deal to bring in the locals. That's why my parents purchased our passes, because they were a good deal.

With that being said, I'm sure there are some sort of deals worked out, but you'll find that with any theme park anywhere. We benefit in Central Florida because there are so many theme parks with different deals, but I know they offer deals specific for Bush Gardens in Virginia, that I can't purchase because I'm a Florida resident.

It very well could be argued at who spends more ... but I know we go to the parks around twice a month, if not more. So our total days (and the amount we spend there) adds up pretty quick. I'm not saying it's on par with someone staying at a Deluxe for ten days, but considering a good chunk of Disney change is on the sale of food/drinks, I like to think I help keep the mouse afloat.

 

[paladin]

When theme parks give discounts, it has nothing to do with "fairness", it has to do with business. People who live in the state are local (more or less, some closer than others obviously) and the idea is that they can come more often and are able to decide on the spur of the moment to go (and thus spend money). It is much less likely that someone who lives in say, Maine, will decide to run over to the Magic Kingdom this weekend, while it is very likely that someone who lives in Tampa will.

So don't think of it as being unfair, think of it as being good business.

 

[spencera]

Thanks to all that answered my question, each and all has given me a level of understanding the Disney World Discounts. Im a grandfather, 62 years old and love Disney World, We enjoy bringing our children and grandchildren and have a Disney World family trip in October 2012. Spencer

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Not a Florida resident (but I'd love to be!). I think it's a nice gesture on behalf of the company that made central Florida everyone's playground. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be living in the area and then suddenly having every square inch be developed, and (different) droves of people showing up weekly. Yes, it brought jobs, but not particularly high-paying ones for most people.

We live in a small town that is trying its best to become a tourist destination, and our household motto is "If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?" They don't know where they're going, they slam on their brakes when they see something that interests them, they walk out in traffic, they clog up the restaurants. That's us being cranky, but seriously, can you imagine what it must be like to put up with that year round in Florida when you have places to go and things to do?

 

[DisneyEater]

I think and do believe Walt Disney himself would have wanted it to be this way. Spencer

Really with this?

 

[bearloch]

I as a Fl resident feel we get a discount because 1 Disney and universal, and everyone else wants ae Money on reg basis!

2 its cause Fl has so many visitors all yr that we residents always have to stand in long lines everywhere!!

Just Kidding I have no real ideas im just bored today!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

In California, residents of Southern (but not Northern) California get discounts for Disneyland Resort.

It makes sense to offer discounts for people within reasonable driving distance who want to visit fr just a few days. It fills up rooms and sells food and souvenirs.

 

[danceintherain]

Lots of places have resident discounts. It's how they draw in locals to go there instead of somewhere else. It's easier for them to arrange transportation on the fly, so offering them discounts on everything else may entice them to Disney more often than someone who lives far away.
Discounts work best when they're targeted to a small group of people. If everyone can get a discount, then it's not a discount anymore.

It's all about Disney's bottom line. It has nothing to do with fairness.

 

[MyMoneyTreeWontGrow]

They offer local residents to discourage them spending their vacation elsewhere. Also helps them invite visitors so the whole group might be entitled for a discount? If UT had a Disneyland you bet your bottom dollar we would be patronizing for at least 10 years running.

 

[reginaastralis]

Not a Florida resident (but I'd love to be!). I think it's a nice gesture on behalf of the company that made central Florida everyone's playground. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be living in the area and then suddenly having every square inch be developed, and (different) droves of people showing up weekly. Yes, it brought jobs, but not particularly high-paying ones for most people.

We live in a small town that is trying its best to become a tourist destination, and our household motto is "If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?" They don't know where they're going, they slam on their brakes when they see something that interests them, they walk out in traffic, they clog up the restaurants. That's us being cranky, but seriously, can you imagine what it must be like to put up with that year round in Florida when you have places to go and things to do?

I want to hug you, lol. I appreciate everything that tourists bring to the area (namely no state income tax), but sometimes I question my sanity for living here.

 

[Magic Mom]

Disney doesn't care about fairness, they care about money. If you give locals good deals on getting in the gate, they will come more often and spend money on food and junk. Someone from Michigan is not going to go to the parks every Saturday even if you give them a discount.

 

[chimilady]

I love people who say other areas have resident discounts and all I can say is that I wish that were true where I live. I'm 45 minutes from Sesame place, 1.5 hours from Hershey Park and Dorney park, and Dutch wonderland and no discounts to any of them!

 

[DisneyEater]

I love people who say other areas have resident discounts and all I can say is that I wish that were true where I live. I'm 45 minutes from Sesame place, 1.5 hours from Hershey Park and Dorney park, and Dutch wonderland and no discounts to any of them!

Go to Wawa or Giant and you can usually get a discount for Hershey Park.

 

[JB2K]

It's my opinion (plus, given that I lived in Central FL as a young teen), that WDW makes these offers to get "locals" to come to the parks and spend money -- it's no big secret that WDW's biggest money-makers are the things they SELL inside the parks/resorts at, more often than not, a 100% markup.

From a marketing persepctive, it's much easier to get someone living an hour away (in, for example, Brevard County) to visit WDW rather than making deals for someone living in Iowa (who may only go there once in their lifetime).

Disney also makes similar offers/deals for folks living in Southern CA to get them inside the Disneyland parks/resorts.

The Walt Disney sentiment is always nice to talk-about, but at the end of the day, "The Walt Disney Company" is a huge, money-making congolmerate, just like Walmart, Exxon Mobil, and the rest...

 

[JavArmy]

Not a Florida resident (but I'd love to be!). I think it's a nice gesture on behalf of the company that made central Florida everyone's playground. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be living in the area and then suddenly having every square inch be developed, and (different) droves of people showing up weekly. Yes, it brought jobs, but not particularly high-paying ones for most people.

We live in a small town that is trying its best to become a tourist destination, and our household motto is "If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?" They don't know where they're going, they slam on their brakes when they see something that interests them, they walk out in traffic, they clog up the restaurants. That's us being cranky, but seriously, can you imagine what it must be like to put up with that year round in Florida when you have places to go and things to do?

I agree with this as well as the people who say Disney does it to make locals come more. But I think Disney also realizes its a way to earn Goodwill with the locals. Then hopefully locals will think of Disney in a more positive light ('hey they give us a discount!') instead of a negitive one ('grrr, all they do is cater to the obnoxious tourists'). Just my two cents