The 5th Key - Pay to Play

[Sydnerella]

This spring Disney added a 5th Key - Inclusion.

From Disney Parks Blog:
“And when we asked our cast how we could better cultivate a culture of belonging, they suggested the addition of a fifth key: the key of Inclusion. Like The Four Keys before them, The 5 Keys – with Inclusion at the heart – will continue to guide us as we interact with guests, collaborate together, create the next generation of Disney products and experiences, and make critical decisions about the future of our business.”

Really?!? Inclusivity is one of the keys that guide your decisions about products and experiences?!?! Calling BS on this. Disney, Chapek and sadly D’Amaro too, continue to demonstrate their hypocrisy with yet another Pay to Play opportunity for only the most exclusive of groups, the wealthiest guests.

The wallet-busting pricing released for the Very Merriest After Hours is the latest in their sprint to inclusivity! Oh, wait… I mean to price out the middle class and beyond.

$169-$249 for the Christmas After Hours Event, with most dates at least $209 per guest.

Wow - families can pay $800 - $1000 for 4 hours in the MK.

Nothing says inclusion like that!

Evening Extra Magic Hours for Deluxe guests only?

Testing the appetite for paid Fastpasses at up to $15/person per ride in DLP?

The excuse of the pandemic cannot be used to justify every money grab when they are apparently so tone deaf to the impacts of the pandemic on peoples financial situations and recent spotlights on inequities and social justice.

Put simply, people in lower income brackets were disproportionately impacted by the financial ramifications of the pandemic. While those of us in higher income brackets in many cases are coming out fine by comparison.

So does it feel inclusive to make guests pay additionally for things previously included and does it seem like Walt’s legacy to provide a place for everyone is honored through the new caste systems Disney is implementing to enjoy the parks?

While one could always pay to play for certain extras or perks (BBB, holiday parties, VIP tours etc) the parks and the rides were a base experience that put folks on a more level playing field to enjoy themselves - whether they stayed at Pop or the Poly. You paid for Deluxe because the accommodations, pools, restaurants, locations were nicer not because your park experiences were excessively better. The current decisions to increase or add costs - and excessively so - now in the midst of this pandemic for previously included experiences demonstrates at minimum a lack of sincerity when it comes to this new key of inclusivity - “with inclusion at the heart” of everything we do….

And even more so, it demonstrates the true heart - or lack of it - within Disney’s current leadership.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

At what price point do the parks become "inclusive" in your opinion? $100 admission? $50 admission? No matter what, you're pricing someone out. It's a slippery slope argument.

I don't like many of the things you mentioned but at the end of the day the parties are selling out and fast passes cost extra at every other amusement park I'm aware of (Six Flags, Universal, Cedar Fair). Hard to argue with a business filling a need in the market.

 

[Alan1972]

the declaration of independence does not say "life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and an annual trip to Disney World"

this has always been a vacation that few can take, people hit hard by covid aren't going to Disney at all,theyre dealing with evictions and medical bills.

this post is extremely tone deaf.

 

[whiporee]

It's a stretch to use inclusion as an economic term. It diminishes the real point of inclusion, and is insulting to the people who are affected by the lack of inclusion in everyday life.

What's an example of something that used to be free that's been taken away as of right now? What's an example of something that's been added at an additional cost?

There's a difference in changing and diminishing. With the new early entry for all resorts and all guests, the available extra magic hours stayed about the same. They just changed the format. You might not like the changed format, but they didn't get rid of EMH for non-Deluxe guests; they just changed the format. Same thing with the parties, and if they hold to an After Hours model, they'll probably generate less revenue than the old, crowded parties did.

Disney is not a public service or a human right. No one is entitled to the vacation of their dreams.

 

[Sydnerella]

You cannot claim inclusivity as a value and exclude 75% of the population from participating - in many cases as they were able to just a couple years ago - by your pricing practices and stripping away of experiences.

It sucks to see families get priced out of things - whether there’s demand or not - the income gap is growing and just because it sells does not mean a diverse population is buying. There’s demand for Mercedes and Lexus too, but should Theme parks be a luxury experience? Should Disney?

That is not inclusive - and that’s my point - it’s disingenuous to claim that and have pay to play practices making base experiences and previously included items luxury expenditures.

 

[Sydnerella]

It's a stretch to use inclusion as an economic term. It diminishes the real point of inclusion, and is insulting to the people who are affected by the lack of inclusion in everyday life.

What's an example of something that used to be free that's been taken away as of right now? What's an example of something that's been added at an additional cost?

There's a difference in changing and diminishing. With the new early entry for all resorts and all guests, the available extra magic hours stayed about the same. They just changed the format. You might not like the changed format, but they didn't get rid of EMH for non-Deluxe guests; they just changed the format. Same thing with the parties, and if they hold to an After Hours model, they'll probably generate less revenue than the old, crowded parties did.

Disney is not a public service or a human right. No one is entitled to the vacation of their dreams.

Perhaps you are not aware of which segments of the population are hit hardest by the cycles of economic downturns?


And to the previous post - It’s tone deaf to presume everyone hit hard in the pandemic is not going to or didn’t go to Disney. And I never suggested it was a right to go there. Disney’s value suggest inclusion so becoming increasingly exclusive is not in line with that and I called it out.

Being unhappy with reduced experiences at higher prices is legitimate. Pay to play is their right as a business. I just don’t happen to think it represents the value of inclusivity.

Clearly I’m treading on people’s privilege here. Mod should close the thread soon.

 

[DavidNYC]

I'm sorry - but the vast majority of this completely misunderstands what "inclusion" means with respect to what Disney is talking about. You're redefining a term which has an understood meaning in this context. I agree with the many comments on how disgusting some of their money grab is but that's a separate concept.

 

[Sydnerella]

I'm sorry - but the vast majority of this completely misunderstands what "inclusion" means with respect to what Disney is talking about. You're redefining a term which has an understood meaning in this context. I agree with the many comments on how disgusting some of their money grab is but that's a separate concept.

So inclusion has exclusions?

The links between income/opportunity inequality, race and societal status based on your income level are truly this lost on the people posting here???

Ugh!

… but it helps explain the Disney position.



“and remind us that the magic we make must include everyone.”

 

[FCDub]

Everyone is welcome doesn’t mean it’s free. This old WHAT WOULD WALT WANT stuff is exhausting.

Disney was never egalitarian. And I think you ALSO know what inclusion means in this sense but are trying to use it to make some other point.

 

[Sydnerella]

Everyone is welcome doesn’t mean it’s free. This old WHAT WOULD WALT WANT stuff is exhausting.

Disney was never egalitarian. And I think you ALSO know what inclusion means in this sense but are trying to use it to make some other point.

I didn’t make any of the claims you suggest.

They are making Disney an increasingly exclusive vacation bordering on luxury. That’s not inclusive and it’s unfortunate.