Tiered Ticket Pricing ... what would Walt think?

Now, I feel like there isn't the same outrage when sport teams raise their prices or movie tickets or Broadway shows, etc. So what in unique about Walt Disney World/Disneyland?


So what do you think Walt would think if he was alive (and not literally alive since he would be over 100, I think you know what I mean)? And given that the number one complaint I see is crowd levels what would he do to fix this? I know the easy answer is build more parks to spread the parks out but a) that would take a long time to complete and b) would that really help? WDW has more parks than Disneyland but crowds are worse in Florida than California - wouldn't more parks just bring more crowds and you have the same issue?

Yes, there is typically the same outrage actually. People have been complaining for a long time at the rising cost of sports, concerts etc... But especially sports since they are more of a family activity. I'm guessing the difference is, there's isn't a cult-like forum like this for all the "die hards" to vent all at once on. But, anyone who knows anyone else that follows sports, should easily realize that people are generally upset with the rising cost in sports.

However, the difference is 1. sports ticket increases don't make national headline news like Disney's do. They're quietly slipped out every year, without any hoopla, so it doesn't generate the same amount of discussion/awareness. 2. as someone else already said - at the end of the day, you can watch the sports on TV at home, so while it's definitely not the same as being there, the high prices don't 100% exclude you from experiencing it's "attraction", the way Disney does. 3. Most people go to a sporting event for one day. Most families are doing several days at Disney, which really adds up, and again just brings another level of awareness to the cost. 5 day basic pass for a family of 4, with both kids under 10 works out to $70 per person, per day. That's still pretty steep, and yes, there are sporting events like MLB, NHL that you could attend for </= to that.

As for what would Walt think? I'm sure he'd be thrilled to see how it's grown. Would he be happy with how they're cutting service and attractions while raising prices? Not a chance. Would he be happy with the rate at which Disney has continued to raise it's prices? No. Would he be happy with tiered pricing? Hard to say.

In Australia, teachers get almost 3 months off a year, fully paid.
Yes they work late nights at times and on weekends at times, but so do a lot of professions.
I'm so sick of hearing teachers complain about having to travel on school holidays and it being expensive. You've made that choice however many years ago to be a teacher, you had to know that you'd only be able to travel during a peak time of year.

Also, having children? Choice. Things are expensive when you have children (one reason I've chosen not to have any at this point) and they go to school too, so unless you're happy to take them out, you'll have to travel at peak times.
I'm not sure Walt would be saying "don't increase prices, it's hard for parents having to pay more during school holidays."
He'd be seeing his bottom line.

In short?
Yes.

One, it's astounding how rude this is towards teachers, and I pray you show more respect than this to your children's teachers. But secondly, really, your point is a bunch of bull. I would guarentee you that 99.99999% of people do not choose their career with the thought of, "I wonder how it affects when I go to Disney World?", in mind. In fact, I would also wager that parents aren't choosing to have children (the ones that actually CHOSE to have children and weren't "surprised"), with that thought in mind, either. There are far more important factors that go into such decisions, than Disney. Disney isn't even a figment on the decision making process on life-altering decisions. So for you to throw this in their face and say it's their own "fault" because they "chose this job knowing you could only go to Disney in the summer" is pretty asinine.

Your whole post is just rude towards teachers. Teachers are far from the only ones complaining about tiered and price increases. In fact, the majority of people are. Why? Because while Walt was a businessman, he also made it very clear, many times in his speeches, things he said etc... that bottom line was NOT his main concern. His main concern was creating a place for ALL families to be able to experience together. Not just those with enough money in their pockets. Pricing at Disney has risen at a rate far above inflation, and also at a rate beyond most other theme parks. They've also continued to cut attractions, service etc... while raising their prices. And while tiered pricing is nothing new in that yes, they're already doing it with hotels, lodging etc... quite honestly, that's more than enough. Most theme parks etc... do NOT do tiered pricing. The only reason for Disney to do this is corporate greed, nothing more. Because we all know that it's not going to make one whit of difference on the crowd level. So, yes, it is "punishing" those that can only travel during those certain times, whether that's teachers, a mill worker, a family with a student, an office worker that drew that week in the vacation pool, whatever, and it's fair for people to be able to vent their frustration about that. If you want to say that you're "sick of hearing people complain about prices at Disney", then fine. But you darn well better make it inclusive to everyone, instead of just lashing out at teachers.



Some quotes I love:

“When we opened Disneyland, a lot of people got the impressions that it was a get-rich-quick thing, but they didn't realize that behind Disneyland was this great organization that I built here at the Studio, and they all got into it and we were doing it because we loved to do it.”

“You reach a point where you don't work for money.”

"A man should never neglect his family for business"

"I have no use for people who throw their weight around as celebrities, or for those who fawn over you just because you're famous."

"I am not influenced by the fashions or techniques of other motion picture companies"

"Disneyland is a work of love. We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money."

"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality."

"Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children's approach to life. They're people who don't give a hang what the Joneses do. You see them at Disneyland every time you go there. They are not afraid to be delighted with simple pleasures, and they have a degree of contentment with what life has brought - sometimes it isn't much, either."

Why do I share these? Because they are good examples of what drove Walt - and it clearly wasn't money. It was the love of what he did, the love of family, the love of people. He realized that the success of Disney depended on PEOPLE. Family came first, and I really don't think he'd be okay with the way Disney is run today - where money is more important than offering the "dream" to more families, pricing people out. Just as he didn't like people using their famous name for power, likewise, I don't think he'd like the execs using the Disney name, to try and get away with the stuff they're pulling today.
 
The post cleared up some ignorance regarding the teaching profession that are common misconceptions. Everyone "complains" about his/her job, but when teachers do it, they automatically hear, "But you only work seven hours a day and you get every holiday and weekend off, and oh, yeah, don't forget the three months in the summer." So it is implied that because of these so-called "perks" (which are not all accurate), teachers have no right to complain about their job.

Exactly. Not to mention the fact that teaching has changed a HUGE amount just in the last 10 years. But especially over the last 20 years. And most of the "teachers" attending Disney today, are not the young ones who are going into teaching knowing what it's like today, who've only been teaching a couple years - they are the teachers who've been at it 10, 15, 20 years, who entered a very different profession from what teaching is today. In fact, I've heard more than one teacher say, "If teaching was then, what it's like now, I would never have become a teacher." And it's not because they've lost their love and passion for helping the children, it's because the system is no longer allowing them to do that, or is getting in the way of that. It's also about the way that the system has created a job that has completely taken over their home life - most teachers work AS MANY, and sometimes more, hours a week than doctors, yet get paid a vastly different (lesser) amount. People may have made the "choice" to become a teacher then, but they've had NO choice in what has happened to their profession in recent years.

I'm sure some "people" will argue, "Well they had the choice to choose a new job", but please, let's try and use some common sense here. When you have a family, a home, financial responsibilities etc... walking away from a job, going back to school and changing careers isn't a) sometimes even a choice and b) typically isn't a financially responsible choice.
 
The post cleared up some ignorance regarding the teaching profession that are common misconceptions. Everyone "complains" about his/her job, but when teachers do it, they automatically hear, "But you only work seven hours a day and you get every holiday and weekend off, and oh, yeah, don't forget the three months in the summer." So it is implied that because of these so-called "perks" (which are not all accurate), teachers have no right to complain about their job.

:confused3 could you tell me when those three months off are, or how it's seven hours a day when I can't find my wife on the weekends behind that stack of poorly written papers? Let's just go back to the axiom of "those who can't do teach". Thanks to autocorrect n techtalk I dnt need no teachin;

I could rant, but this thread got derailed way too quickly. Disney is charging more and somehow like an Altheimer's patient, we are all surprised at this. I also just read that cigarettes cause cancer. As the other Pete has repeatedly told us, Disney will do this because we keep paying. I would pay more if they promised lower crowds, but this is not about the crowds. They will raise the ticket prices as long as they can, and I or we will pay. If you deny this you wouldn't be watching Disney videos or reading posts about ticket pricing.

Think MNSSH, you pay to get into MK, then pay more to stay for the party. If you noticed Disney has made Halloween into a 2 month holiday. It's not because Walt was a huge Halloween geek, it's because they know people will pay. There will be a day where a 'special' event happens every night in every park that comes with an extra $79 charge... but you get an exclusive pin. Guess what, we will still pay for it and smile.
 
teachers who've been at it 10, 15, 20 years, who entered a very different profession from what teaching is today. In fact, I've heard more than one teacher say, "If teaching was then, what it's like now, I would never have become a teacher." And it's not because they've lost their love and passion for helping the children, it's because the system is no longer allowing them to do that, or is getting in the way of that.
OT, but it is amazing how extremely closely this mirrors the comments in my field. I'm a physician and I've been in practice for 23 years. My colleagues and I are constantly saying the exact same things. It is a very different profession than what we entered. If it was like this back then, we never would would have done it. It isn't because we've lost our passion for helping people. It's because the system no longer allows us to do that.
 

Yes, there is typically the same outrage actually. People have been complaining for a long time at the rising cost of sports, concerts etc... But especially sports since they are more of a family activity. I'm guessing the difference is, there's isn't a cult-like forum like this for all the "die hards" to vent all at once on. But, anyone who knows anyone else that follows sports, should easily realize that people are generally upset with the rising cost in sports.

I mentioned this in another post but I am actually a huge sports fan, listen to sports talk every day and am a moderator on one of the largest sports talk message boards in NY and I have to disagree with you ... the outrage is not the same. Other then when it came to personal seat licenses I never got the same sense of entitlement or fairness that seams to happen with Disney or that sense of "Walt wanted everyone to come to the park so everyone should be able to." are people upset the prices go up? Yes absolutely but following both closely, in my opinion, it is not the same
 
Apologies for a thread that has clearly gone in a different direction than I intended. My goal was to discuss why people seem to feel differently about Disney and also possible discuss other ways Disney could look to curb the crowds as simply raising prices hasn't accomplished that
 
Getting back to the actual topic, first off, I hate these "what would Walt think" questions because nobody has a clue what Walt would think.

That said, if I have to play that game, I think Walt would be upset by what the parks have become. They are tremendously overcrowded. They aren't clean. They aren't being well-maintained. And they are getting ever more thrill rides that can't be enjoyed by families together, which was a big driving factor in creating Disneyland in the first place.

What would he think of tiered ticketing? I don't think he'd have an issue with that. It's pretty standard business stuff - supply and demand. I don't think that is what he'd be upset about when he saw the current state of things.
 
discuss other ways Disney could look to curb the crowds as simply raising prices hasn't accomplished that
This is really the key question in my mind. I've said in various threads on various topics that the underlying cause of most of what people complain about today is the crowds. Disney simply can't keep up. The parks and resorts just can't handle the huge numbers of people that are coming today. They've reached a saturation point and it is negatively affecting the guest experience in all areas. How can Disney get fewer people to come while still pleasing shareholders and keeping prices reasonably affordable? That's a tall order and I don't think anyone, Disney included, has a clue how to answer that question.
 
Apologies for a thread that has clearly gone in a different direction than I intended. My goal was to discuss why people seem to feel differently about Disney and also possible discuss other ways Disney could look to curb the crowds as simply raising prices hasn't accomplished that

I don't really think it's your fault it derailed. More because someone took it upon themselves to rant about one specific profession "complaining". ;)
 
And they are getting ever more thrill rides that can't be enjoyed by families together, which was a big driving factor in creating Disneyland in the first place.

Y'know, this is a really good point. In fact, in one of the quotes I shared, Walt discussed about "enjoying the simple things". And the original DL/WDW, was much more simple than what it is today. Walt created fantasy - in a simple way that families could enjoy together. I agree that I dont think he'd be happy with rides that make it so families can't enjoy them together, or how complicated everything has gotten to be with dining and fast pass etc...
 
Y'know, this is a really good point. In fact, in one of the quotes I shared, Walt discussed about "enjoying the simple things". And the original DL/WDW, was much more simple than what it is today. Walt created fantasy - in a simple way that families could enjoy together. I agree that I dont think he'd be happy with rides that make it so families can't enjoy them together, or how complicated everything has gotten to be with dining and fast pass etc...

Last October I went to Disneyland for the first time and one thing that struck me was that California adventure seemed to have a much smaller % of rides designed for the entire family to enjoy together. You had more "big" rides - like Screaming, etc. - and then more "kiddie" rides like in Bug Land and some of the Pier rides. I mean, still not as bad as a six flags or something, but compared to other Disney parks it felt like we did more "ok, we just did two rides the younger two kids couldn't go on, let's go find something for them"

Hopefully the vast majority of Star Wars and Toy Story Land are true family rides. Seems like with Pandora the main ride will be just for bigger kids and adults and the river ride will be the family ride
 
This is really the key question in my mind. I've said in various threads on various topics that the underlying cause of most of what people complain about today is the crowds. Disney simply can't keep up. The parks and resorts just can't handle the huge numbers of people that are coming today. They've reached a saturation point and it is negatively affecting the guest experience in all areas. How can Disney get fewer people to come while still pleasing shareholders and keeping prices reasonably affordable? That's a tall order and I don't think anyone, Disney included, has a clue how to answer that question.

That is what I felt too ... even when people would like 10 reasons why they had a bad trip or not as good trip as in the past, at least 8 of the 10 would at least indirectly be related to crowds.

Only ways I really see are:
a) build more parks to spread the crowds out
2) build more attractions within each park (they are working on this, but EPCOT still needs help)
iii) Extend park hours to be near 24 hours all the time so those that want to avoid crowds and heat can (though this just amplifies the maintenance issues)
D) Lower the max number of people allowed in the park (which would be easier to do if they did the above 3)
 
One would think that Walt would want the parks full, but not to the point of closing down at noon due to capacity. This July they will thaw Walt's brain, and hopefully they ask him. He is expected to not answer.

I say raise the prices. I mean really raise them. Annual passes should be around $2800. One day passes should be about $210 with an option to stay after 5:00 an additional $85. A 10 day pass would not be cheaper than paying for ten on day passes. There would be discounts so everyone could visit the parks, so scattered throughout the year should be 10-15 days where it's 50% off. Not everyone can drive a Bentley, not everyone can go to Disney. If you can't budget or afford to go you should consider eating less or even making your own clothing. If you can't afford $9.75 for a beer at EPCOT, you shouldn't be buying a beer. I have sold two children just to go to WDW. Learn to sacrifice people.

Until you sit in Bob Iger's chair (it's made of Great White Shark skin and stuffed with Bald Eagle feathers; In short it's comfy) you can't understand how bothersome it is to wait 15 minutes for your VIP Guide. I don't care if it's Brad Pitt, I get to sit in the front row. If we let this continue soccer groups and South American tour companies will overrun the parks.
 
This is really the key question in my mind. I've said in various threads on various topics that the underlying cause of most of what people complain about today is the crowds. Disney simply can't keep up. The parks and resorts just can't handle the huge numbers of people that are coming today. They've reached a saturation point and it is negatively affecting the guest experience in all areas. How can Disney get fewer people to come while still pleasing shareholders and keeping prices reasonably affordable? That's a tall order and I don't think anyone, Disney included, has a clue how to answer that question.

I agree that they have reached a saturation point, and partly because they continue to build resorts to house more people without providing attractions or experiences to spread out the numbers.
 
Apologies for a thread that has clearly gone in a different direction than I intended. My goal was to discuss why people seem to feel differently about Disney and also possible discuss other ways Disney could look to curb the crowds as simply raising prices hasn't accomplished that
I don't blame you Max, I blame Llama. It's much easier that way and his post about women being inferior to men (I think that was deleted) really spun this thread.
 
I don't blame you Max, I blame Llama. It's much easier that way and his post about women being inferior to men (I think that was deleted) really spun this thread.

I also heard Llama wrote the first draft of Chris Rock's Oscar monologue but it was deemed "far to controversial" - so they opted to stick with a much more safe topic ;)
 
I also heard Llama wrote the first draft of Chris Rock's Oscar monologue but it was deemed "far to controversial" - so they opted to stick with a much more safe topic ;)
Sorry Max, I didn't see much of the show. The party Pete had was much more interesting to pay attention to than the show was, and once John started peeing on the fence no one was even watching the Oscars. Please pay attention to the back window on todays webcast, you may still see the sangria that my stomach didn't care for. I did get to meet the girl who works as tink to open Wishes... turns out she's taller than Craig. I also learned that tequila messes up my memory and version of reality and memory.
 
I think he'd completely agree.

Disney parks have never been for people who live paycheck to paycheck. It's always been for people with disposable cash. As much as he wanted Disneyland to be a park for everyone, it never was going to be.
 





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