Todays Rant

[NuttyDisneyDad]

first off.... I love Pete and the whole Dis team. Im from Ma and I go to WDW twice a year for 12 days at a whack and Ill pay whatever they ask... With that being said... Pete and the team are all locals who go to the parks whenever they please. The majority of people arent locals and I dont think its fair to go off on people who can barely scrape enough money for a trip every couple years...simply put being a local alters ones opinion on this subject.

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

I invite and respect all opinions lol

 

[sporter5353]

Hey NuttyDisneyDad he can correct me if I am wrong, but the point Pete is making is that if you want to complain about the ticket prices then stop coming. It sounds mean to say, but it is just the reality of the business Disney is running. Disney isn't a charity and they aren't going to keep their prices low if they don't have to. If enough people were buying tickets for a thousand dollars a day thats what Disney would charge.

That being said, I understand the frustration. WDW and DLR are amazing places that you probably love and want to spend as much time at as possible. You don't want to lose the ability to afford such an amazing place, and trust me I can understand that (before working for the DIS I tried coming here from NY barely making above minimum wage). Unfortunately the reality of the business is not as magical as the inside of the parks. Speaking for myself and I'm sure the rest of the team would agree. I understand how fortunate I am to go to the parks as often as I do as a local. I don't take that for granted.

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

I understand u completely. But what Im saying is you locals( im so jealous!) dont have to worry about airfare or hotels for the most part. I just believe that people have a right to vent without being chastised by someone who doesnt have to worry about those things. moms and dads are just frustrated that maybe their sons or daughters will no longer be able to enjoy this magical place.

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

O damn Im talking to Steve Porter nice!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Hey NuttyDisneyDad he can correct me if I am wrong, but the point Pete is making is that if you want to complain about the ticket prices then stop coming. It sounds mean to say, but it is just the reality of the business Disney is running. Disney isn't a charity and they aren't going to keep their prices low if they don't have to. If enough people were buying tickets for a thousand dollars a day thats what Disney would charge.

I understand u completely. But what Im saying is you locals( im so jealous!) dont have to worry about airfare or hotels for the most part. I just believe that people have a right to vent without being chastised by someone who doesnt have to worry about those things. moms and dads are just frustrated that maybe their sons or daughters will no longer be able to enjoy this magical place.

Just to add, I think it specifically is the people that rant and complain and say they aren't going to go .... and then wind up going anyway. I know Pete has said in the past that he used to do that ... and then found himself re-uping his annual pass anyway and he realized it was like yelling in the wind

Like Pete was saying, this is America and they have a right to make money and the people they are most beholden to are their shareholders - but like you say NuttyDisneyDad we also are able to voice our disagreement with something. We just need to not be on a high horse and proclaim that we won't stand for something in public ... but then later go anyway

 

[Teleclashter]

I understand u completely. But what Im saying is you locals( im so jealous!) dont have to worry about airfare or hotels for the most part. I just believe that people have a right to vent without being chastised by someone who doesnt have to worry about those things. moms and dads are just frustrated that maybe their sons or daughters will no longer be able to enjoy this magical place.

But Pete also came at this from the point that he would love to go to Bora Bora, but he can't afford it so instead of complaining about the increasing costs of plane tickets there he just chooses to not vent about it and not go.

We as locals don't understand the frustrations of WDW raising ticket prices beyond AP increases, but we do feel this pain if we want to visit Disneyland or other destinations around the world that we would love to visit that also price yield as Pete also mentioned. It's a reality that everyone in the world deals with in regards to their favorite vacation spots.

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

BTW... I have zero complaint about Disney raising their prices annually. Ill continue to pay and go till the day I leave this Earth! Im just saying that this might affect alot of families and they are upset and a little sad so I think its their right to vent... Ok Im done lol. Going to make my ADRs for May at the Poly

 

[Angel Ariel]

Hey NuttyDisneyDad he can correct me if I am wrong, but the point Pete is making is that if you want to complain about the ticket prices then stop coming. It sounds mean to say, but it is just the reality of the business Disney is running. Disney isn't a charity and they aren't going to keep their prices low if they don't have to. If enough people were buying tickets for a thousand dollars a day thats what Disney would charge.

I totally understand this, and respect Pete's POV. I've never been one to say we'll stop coming entirely, but right now we are choosing DLR as our disney fix. DLR is dealing with the same kinds of issues as WDW, and yet somehow even with the RR closed, they're staffing engineers there for guests to talk to and (at least on some days) stationing the Lily Belle there so guests can peek inside. They've also kept the Mark Twain in the ROA and are continuing to staff a captain on board for guests to ask questions, etc - plus I've heard that Louis and Tiana have been meeting there as well. I also read they've been adding rare character meets over in the building that housed Olaf's Snow Fest (though I don't remember if that's only for AP holders..) So while they're adding SW Land, and dealing with the cuts from Shaghai also, they also seem to be making decisions with the specific intent of *mitigating* the effect those cuts/construction has on guests. WDW just doesn't seem to have that approach at all.

I felt, listening to Pete's discussion today, that he was separating people's complaints about the ticket increase and the complaints about the cuts. TBH, I feel like they're too intertwined to separate like that. DLR raised prices too. They have massive construction too, and the cuts from Shanghai also...and yet there seems to be a complete 180 in how they're handling it compared to how WDW is handling it. How DLR is choosing to handle it makes the price increases in the face of the cuts/construction a LOT more palatable than how WDW is choosing to handle it. With all the character cuts in Epcot, even some in MK, and the streetmosphere loss in DHS...they're cutting away at the very heart of what separates Disney from the rest of the amusement parks - the stories and the characters that we all love.

While I can understand the business decisions they are making from a business standpoint, I honestly feel that these are decisions that will hurt the parks longterm. All of the "non-disney" people I know already think the parks are overpriced, too crowded, and that planning a vacation there is too complicated. One of the things many of those people used to come *back* from a trip saying, even if they still thought it was overpriced/too crowded/too complicated, was that the characters were amazing. That's why they decided to put up with the overpriced/crowded/complicated trip in the first place - for their kids to meet the characters. The more Disney cuts away at the character experience, the more I am concerned that they are not thinking about the impact that will have on the parks long term.

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

But Pete also came at this from the point that he would love to go to Bora Bora, but he can't afford it so instead of complaining about the increasing costs of plane tickets there he just chooses to not vent about it and not go.

We as locals don't understand the frustrations of WDW raising ticket prices beyond AP increases, but we do feel this pain if we want to visit Disneyland or other destinations around the world that we would love to visit that also price yield as Pete also mentioned. It's a reality that everyone in the world deals with in regards to their favorite vacation spots.

just want to put this out there Craig....for families Bora Bora or any other place for that matter prob not a big deal if cant afford it... WDW just in another class and right or wrong they are expressing their opinion

 

[Tiggerette]

.... Unfortunately the reality of the business is not as magical as the inside of the parks. ....

Please forgive truncating the quote; it isn't any reflection on your thoughtful and eloquent ideas. I'm adding on to this specific thought by quoting myself from the Be our Guest menu price increase thread, "I think what somewhat bothers me is the capitalism that runs contrary to the espoused idealism. Ie; Everyone's dream can come true, Everyone's welcome, Everyone's included.. if you just believe... But capitalism says that not everyone can be included. Costs are intentionally prohibitive as demonstrated by Disney's recent explanation about the tiered pricing, and perhaps this particular venue cost increase. Disney appears quite content to eschew this idealism to the benefit of *more*. As some have previously posted, it's a business; it's an inherent pursuit for more. Perhaps, in order to be successful, it simply cannot be held to its espoused ideals without also becoming at least marginally hypocritical."

I agree, Steve. I think the duality of capitalism and "magical idealism" create a type of paradox that understandably some families may find difficult to resolve, especially those that find greater merit in actualizing ideals than business acumen.
-Krista "Tigger-ette"

 

[pjweaver]

But Pete also came at this from the point that he would love to go to Bora Bora, but he can't afford it so instead of complaining about the increasing costs of plane tickets there he just chooses to not vent about it and not go.

We as locals don't understand the frustrations of WDW raising ticket prices beyond AP increases, but we do feel this pain if we want to visit Disneyland or other destinations around the world that we would love to visit that also price yield as Pete also mentioned. It's a reality that everyone in the world deals with in regards to their favorite vacation spots.

I believe that when Al Gore invented the internet he stated that it was meant for people to hide in anonymity and rant about things while making up statistics. There are times that it is best to just let the dog have the bone before it decides your hand looks like a bone.

That being said, The Dis makes money from Disney. No one on staff have ever been shy about giving a negative review or mentioning the poor service the parks receive. It is probably the most unbiased review for WDW. If park attendance did drop significantly though, that would certainly impact Dreams Unlimited. Voicing complaints about price increases, whether it's gas or milk or vacations, is mostly just venting frustration and not likely to mean anything.

Anyone who read this far is probably going to pay to go to WDW at some point, even if it means they don't go as often. Locals will still buy their APs and those of us from the land of Far Far Away will go as often as we can afford to. By the way, it was Cory that wanted to go to Bora Bora, Walts head is not frozen (Olafs is), Donald Trump has yet to provide a birth certificate proving he is a natural born citizen, and the lottery is just a tax the government levies on people who are bad at math.

VooDoo Sticky Pig Wings

 

[pjweaver]

Please forgive truncating the quote; it isn't any reflection on your thoughtful and eloquent ideas. I'm adding on to this specific thought by quoting myself from the Be our Guest menu price increase thread, "I think what somewhat bothers me is the capitalism that runs contrary to the espoused idealism. Ie; Everyone's dream can come true, Everyone's welcome, Everyone's included.. if you just believe... But capitalism says that not everyone can be included. Costs are intentionally prohibitive as demonstrated by Disney's recent explanation about the tiered pricing, and perhaps this particular venue cost increase. Disney appears quite content to eschew this idealism to the benefit of *more*. As some have previously posted, it's a business; it's an inherent pursuit for more. Perhaps, in order to be successful, it simply cannot be held to its espoused ideals without also becoming at least marginally hypocritical."

I agree, Steve. I think the duality of capitalism and "magical idealism" create a type of paradox that understandably some families may find difficult to resolve, especially those that find greater merit in actualizing ideals than business acumen.
-Krista "Tigger-ette"

You made me feel stupid. I'm impressed.

 

[SarahDisney]

(original quote removed because it was not relevant to my rant)

Growing up, to me, Bora Bora and WDW were the same thing. Places that I might have enjoyed that were not in our budget. Yes, it was sad that all of my friends were going to WDW and I wasn't. But it just didn't work for us, so we took that as an opportunity to take more affordable trips and see things that many of my friends never got to see because they were usually at Disney.

Going to WDW is a privilege, not a right. Even for families. There are things in this world that families can enjoy other than WDW, and maybe there are some families out there that need to start exploring options other than WDW. As someone who did not grow up going to Disney (and became a Disney Parks fan as an adult), it horrifies me that people think Disney World and Disneyland are the only possible family destinations out there. Yes, Disney is in a class unto itself, but you can still have an awesome family vacation by going somewhere more affordable.

At the end of the day, Disney is a business. If you don't like their policies, give your patronage to another business.

 

[Tiggerette]

You made me feel stupid. I'm impressed.

Oh my goodness, pjweaver…. not at all. *high fives to you!*

Btw, Angel Ariel's very insightful post was also enlightening to read. I appreciate reading diverse points of view.

 

[pjweaver]

How many English teachers or professors are in this thread? Show of hands, step out from behind the curtain.

 

[Princess Jes]

first off.... I love Pete and the whole Dis team. Im from Ma and I go to WDW twice a year for 12 days at a whack and Ill pay whatever they ask... With that being said... Pete and the team are all locals who go to the parks whenever they please. The majority of people arent locals and I dont think its fair to go off on people who can barely scrape enough money for a trip every couple years...simply put being a local alters ones opinion on this subject.

As Craig said, they still have to deal with AP increases, and hotel rates increase every year. So do ticket increases.
As everyone has said, how many people are buying a one day ticket?
At this stage, there's no point sitting here complaining that this is just the beginning.
We don't know what the future holds and you sure as heck know that if there was a simple way to charge more for multi day tickets, Disney would have just done it.
I'm not sure we will see tiered multi day tickets for a few years, so let future us worry about that.

BTW... I have zero complaint about Disney raising their prices annually. Ill continue to pay and go till the day I leave this Earth! Im just saying that this might affect alot of families and they are upset and a little sad so I think its their right to vent... Ok Im done lol. Going to make my ADRs for May at the Poly

If a family of 5 go to Disney for 1 day in summer at the MK, it's going to cost $125 more than it did last week.
If this is going to stop them from coming, so be it, perhaps it was out of reach anyway? $125 for one day seems a lot, but $125 in the scheme of things isn't THAT much money. So, they need to save for an extra month? Don't buy a coffee every day save save those pennies.
Those that this affects should be able to find the extra money with little effort on their part is have thought?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Please forgive truncating the quote; it isn't any reflection on your thoughtful and eloquent ideas. I'm adding on to this specific thought by quoting myself from the Be our Guest menu price increase thread, "I think what somewhat bothers me is the capitalism that runs contrary to the espoused idealism. Ie; Everyone's dream can come true, Everyone's welcome, Everyone's included.. if you just believe... But capitalism says that not everyone can be included. Costs are intentionally prohibitive as demonstrated by Disney's recent explanation about the tiered pricing, and perhaps this particular venue cost increase. Disney appears quite content to eschew this idealism to the benefit of *more*. As some have previously posted, it's a business; it's an inherent pursuit for more. Perhaps, in order to be successful, it simply cannot be held to its espoused ideals without also becoming at least marginally hypocritical."

I agree, Steve. I think the duality of capitalism and "magical idealism" create a type of paradox that understandably some families may find difficult to resolve, especially those that find greater merit in actualizing ideals than business acumen.
-Krista "Tigger-ette"

I'd also add (using much less imprssive words ) that the complaints on this Board are generally from people that love Disney and feel like these price increases make it harder to be with that which you love - or at least puts a negative spin to it. I think that is why this year - with the cost increases and tiering combined with the cuts it hurts as it paints a negative light on that which has been magic to you

And that is the one difference when comparing this to Bora Bora - there isn't that existing personal connection like there is to Disney

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

I may be misunderstanding what you're saying, but assuming you're saying what I think you're saying...
Growing up, to me, Bora Bora and WDW were the same thing. Places that I might have enjoyed that were not in our budget. Yes, it was sad that all of my friends were going to WDW and I wasn't. But it just didn't work for us, so we took that as an opportunity to take more affordable trips and see things that many of my friends never got to see because they were usually at Disney.

Going to WDW is a privilege, not a right. Even for families. There are things in this world that families can enjoy other than WDW, and maybe there are some families out there that need to start exploring options other than WDW. As someone who did not grow up going to Disney (and became a Disney Parks fan as an adult), it horrifies me that people think Disney World and Disneyland are the only possible family destinations out there. Yes, Disney is in a class unto itself, but you can still have an awesome family vacation by going somewhere more affordable.

At the end of the day, Disney is a business. If you don't like their policies, give your patronage to another business.

yeah you didnt get get my quote whatsoever but thats ok

 

[SarahDisney]

yeah you didnt get get my quote whatsoever but thats ok

Well ... then I apologize profusely for using your post and the starting point for my rant.