Something stinks here...

[crazy4wdw]

Sorry, double post

 

[landshark]

I wasn't even seriously considering WDW for vacation this year until I saw the free dining ad on TV last week. My boyfriend agrees it's a good value and we're tentatively considering going in Sept. for his birthday. Thanks to the dining plan, I may be going back sooner than I thought and I'll bet a lot of people are thinking like this. Just looking at the boards I know there's many here who have booked trips solely because of this offer; imagine how many more are doing the same that aren't members here.

From my understanding, though, the media is misconstruing some of the discounts Disney's offering and why. Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know, the free dining plan has been in effect for a few years and has nothing to do with the economy and everything to do with peak hurricane season. I'm under the impression many of their discounts are typical although maybe altered slightly in some way. They're just getting more publicity than usual because of the economy.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I wasn't even seriously considering WDW for vacation this year until I saw the free dining ad on TV last week. My boyfriend agrees it's a good value and we're tentatively considering going in Sept. for his birthday. Thanks to the dining plan, I may be going back sooner than I thought and I'll bet a lot of people are thinking like this. Just looking at the boards I know there's many here who have booked trips solely because of this offer; imagine how many more are doing the same that aren't members here.

From my understanding, though, the media is misconstruing some of the discounts Disney's offering and why. Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know, the free dining plan has been in effect for a few years and has nothing to do with the economy and everything to do with peak hurricane season. I'm under the impression many of their discounts are typical although maybe altered slightly in some way. They're just getting more publicity than usual because of the economy.

The discounts which appeared in public forums are all new for Disney vs disney in the good times.

Disney does not like to discount anything and do their best to make us work for them normally......by using unadvertised discount codes for Annual Passes, etc. The codes we share here but the less informed cannot find easily.

So far just about anybody with a pulse and a credit card could get up to a 40% discount. DH got a card promo for 7 days at a Value for $564....and a $500 gift card to be issued at checkin. Not much profit for Disney this way.

The publicity is all Disney's promotions....print media, television ads and internet ads everywhere. If you don't know now about these discounts.....you must be living in a swamp somewhere! Disney has spent a great amount of $$$$$ putting these ads in front of us.

 

[stego]

and read Kevin Yee's column on miceage from last week. True, to some extent it is speculation. But I don't think he is far off the mark in some regard. I have found in my experience that the internet has given me gobs of information and a daily fix of WDW. But it has also discolored my view on the theme parks; however I am accountable for that on my own. In regards to the article, I agree with the point about creating crowds. In my last trip 2 months ago, I found myself the critic. I was able to walk around and enjoy the resorts with no lines, but in a few places I found my resolve tested. That specific time was the cheerleader competition, and sure enough, I observed many young women about. They all behaved well enough, but I did not go into the parks. I happened to walk on by the studios and they were having a competition. I heard them: busses upon busses unloading and watched the park entrance for awhile. Lots of people going in: think of a large amount of people going into a confined space. Disney creates lines through force. The reason I go to WDW is for this simply: immersion. I've come to have high regard for the maintenance of the landscaping and for this property that is a great task by many people we don't see. I take the time to notice and that is important to me. Going into the parks I am forced to either wait or play by the fastpass rules and as I am getting older, I grow more impatient. The internet has taught more and more people the tricks; I observed this on our last family vacation to the world in '07. When I am not waiting in line, or experience an attraction, I am in the crowds to get to another location. I find myself among many people, with many personalities, from many different cultures in confined crowded aisle spaces. Think Brazilian tour groups as a 10 and work your way down. I avoid that kind of confrontation because that works for me. If I am not walking I am in the shops, again, bombarded with sell, sell, and sell. Even after my recent trip I was tired of "disney shopping". I take it in doses. If anyone can remember the days past with Cynthia Harris and her display of her personal paintings during a cast member meeting, you can get a sense of how out of touch disney's higher up's are. Someone had to come in and clean up the mess and that continues. The word on the vine is that this newest round with D23 just alienates people and it seems like that is the wrong direction to go. Going to the parks is a personal choice, and I realize that: if I don't like it, don't go. Based on crowd predictions, etc., my planning for '11 has changed and it seems that a more casual approach would suit me. I think gone are the days for the quest for value for my dollar as far as theme park immersion and more of going in, take my time, and leave when I have had enough. I know myself well enough when that time is. I love seeing the attractions and characters, but the price I have to pay as far as my time has it's limits.
I have observed that within the past few years and I HAVE voted with my wallet, and even justly so more in the past 6 months. What used to be the weekly visit to the disney store has long passed. We have many, many beautiful disney THINGS in our home, but as we get older, it is more about the experience. We are indeed fortunate that as a family we have created many wonderful memories with our son at WDW and DL, but we have also been to quite a few other USA destinations. My son has a particular interest in history, and we've taken him and immersed him in different geographical locations.