Talk About Excessive Price Increases

[TheRustyScupper]

Look at the percentage increases. FAR above inflation costs.


Walt Disney World this week hiked rental prices for some frequently used items by between 11 percent and 60 percent.

The price of renting a small locker in one of the resort’s four theme parks climbs from $5 per day to $7 per day, up 40 percent. A large locker jumps from $7 to $9, a 29 percent increase.

The price hikes are steeper in Disney’s two water parks. Small lockers rise from $5 to $8, up 60 percent, and large lockers rise from $7 to $10, up 43 percent.

Meanwhile, the cost of renting a wheelchair goes from $10 per day to $12 per day, a 20 percent increase. And the cost of renting one of the resort’s electric scooters goes from $45 per day to $50 per day, an 11 percent increase.

Disney says the refundable deposit charges for wheelchairs and scooters haven’t changed.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Unfortunately the public's reaction to things like this is the same as their reaction when Disney raises basic ticket prices each summer: Yawn, it's only $2-4 more so I'll gladly pay it.

I remember my first visit to the Magic Kingdom when it cost $7 to get in and I thought that was really expensive. And the fact they charged $.50 to park too....oh the gall.

BobK/Orlando

 

[DVC_Chris]

I am curious when the last time they raised these prices were? If it has just been a year, then I could see it as being excessive, but if it has been a couple... well all things must catch up in time.

 

[Snowgod]

It is too bad that the corporation know as Disney thinks that they should raise prices now when everyone else is lowering prices. It will bite them back. I see a future of smaller crowds, which is good on one hand but bad overall. These are the hidden costs of a day at WDW and mean that many will have to cut down as a result. . I do like the fact that not as many ECVs will be running into my ankles.

Let's see, Parking, Stroller, ECV or Wheelchair and a locker cost me all my food and gift/Souvenir money. I think I'll stay home and watch the shows on the travel channel.

 

[rickybobby13]

I agree. People continue to go and pay the prices so they will continue to raise them.

 

[Cricket2]

I'd rather they raise the "pay for use" items like this than the overall ticket prices.

 

[Snowgod]

At Disney, Value is something they use to describe the Cheapest they have for the paying Guest. Value Season and Value Resort category come to mind. Where is the value in going to WDW today? I used to go to WDW many times a year and I collected enough Disney items to cover the walls and more with Mickey and friends. Then Disney INC. made it so that it was no longer unique (Which makes it collectable) by selling 100,00 or more instead. Limited edition pins were 300-500 then 3000-5000 and then 10,0000 and more.

 

[JIMINOCCHIO]

If you want to play, you have to pay. Everyone has bills to pay, including Disney. Just deal with it. Pricing is all about managing crowds and volume, it's simple supply and demand folks.

Disney is a big bang for your buck. A Broadway show is at least $100 and that's only a few hours of entertainment. Disney gives you a whole day of world class attractions and entertainment and for less. Now that's value.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

If you want to play, you have to pay. Everyone has bills to pay, including Disney. Just deal with it. Pricing is all about managing crowds and volume, it's simple supply and demand folks.

Disney is a big bang for your buck. A Broadway show is at least $100 and that's only a few hours of entertainment. Disney gives you a whole day of world class attractions and entertainment and for less. Now that's value.

Iger ... Iger ... Is that you?

 

[Snowgod]

If you want to play, you have to pay. Everyone has bills to pay, including Disney. Just deal with it.

I and my family will deal with it by paying to play elsewhere. Eventually the number crunchers will be let go too so that the bonuses can be paid.

 

[Schmeck]

I do like the fact that not as many ECVs will be running into my ankles.

Let's see, Parking, Stroller, ECV or Wheelchair and a locker cost me all my food and gift/Souvenir money. I think I'll stay home and watch the shows on the travel channel.

People will just rent ECVs from an offsite vendor (it's cheaper that way anyways) so you still might have to watch your ankles.

We've never paid to park, or rented an ECV, stroller, or wheelchair, rented a locker once. These price hikes only affect some Disney guests. Now, if the price hikes make some stay away, there will be others who do not rent/park that will just take their place.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

People will just rent ECVs from an offsite vendor (it's cheaper that way anyways) so you still might have to watch your ankles.

We've never paid to park, or rented an ECV, stroller, or wheelchair, rented a locker once. These price hikes only affect some Disney guests. Now, if the price hikes make some stay away, there will be others who do not rent/park that will just take their place.

I have often wondered why people would rent an ECV at the front gate....look how far it can be from your car to the MK.....that must be agony for someone who needs an EVC.

DH had this discussion at work - with an interesting idea.

How about a scooter rental for $50 --- but if you bring a note from your physician, it would be FREE to a truly handicapped person.

Of course the next thing they realized is people would just create physician notes and so much for that idea. What does that say about our society.

I will say, as someone who has had to rent EVC's since an accident in June 2008, I far prefer the scooters rented offsite. They are less expensive, far more nimble AND you have them 24 hours a day so you can use them everywhere.

5 days from now I'll be sitting in "Miss Scarlett" at DL !!!

Hopefully.....the last time I have to use one (last surgery (hopefully) was 2 1/2 weeks ago - WOO HOO !!!!)

 

[imLissy]

let's see, I think I paid something like $20 to park when I went to great adventure and $11 for a locker. Disney doesn't seem so bad.

 

[Dznefreek]

So you only go to WDW to park and use a locker . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[troynkasey]

Don't use the services if the cost is too high. Bottom line is everything has a cost associated with it for upkeep and maintenance. Obviously Disney had their costs go up or their bottom line wasn't where they wanted it to be. In the grand scheme of things...if I'm renting a scooter for my 7 day stay...we're talking about 14 bucks. I pay more than that for a shirt.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Don't use the services if the cost is too high. Bottom line is everything has a cost associated with it for upkeep and maintenance. Obviously Disney had their costs go up or their bottom line wasn't where they wanted it to be. In the grand scheme of things...if I'm renting a scooter for my 7 day stay...we're talking about 14 bucks. I pay more than that for a shirt.

60% increase for locker rentals? I cannot imagine how upkeep would require that percentage increase.

 

[minnie61650]

==============


I remberer when our local Wave Pool raised their locker rental from $1 to $2 .
That was a 100% increase!

Talk about outrageous!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

With so many truly fabulous travel deals out there - it makes decisions so much easier for us - and we base our Disney travel budgets on Castmember rates!

Last year we were able to travel exactly twice as much in 2009 when we dropoped 3 of our 4 Disney trips. (we were able to add a cruise - Royal Caribbean has GREAT discounts and a National park tour!!!) Our travel dollar goes sooooo much farther and options are diverse, clean with outrageous customer service.

I say....hey - everybody keep going to Disney so we can continue with our great travel discounts elsewhere! You can enjoy all the price increases and declining quality ---- we have hit the travel jackpot. I can't tell you how many times we all said on our Royal Caribbean cruise ---- "this is the way Disney USED to be".


3 days from now we will travel to DL - the clean disney park - with our DVC friends. Can't wait!

Park attendance is up at Disneyland.....down at Disneyworld by a smidgie. Yes, they have dumbed down the menus at the restaurants, all the standard price incrases exhist out there.....but everyone is so friendly, mousekeepers are drop-dead good, the Grand Californian is our favorite Disney property and they have not cutback on Holiday events or decorations.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Bring an umbrella stroller with you into the park and keep your lunch with you in the park instead of putting it in a locker. Buy the stroller at a garage sale.

I'm in the don't care category. I've rarely rented a locker because it forces you to go back to that point to get the stuff. It's kinder to my feet to shop carefully when buying lunch. I have rented an ECV for mobile but elderly people in my party (the answer to the parking lot question). At $50 a day... I'm glad the elderly person in question probably wouldnt want to go into a park anymore.