What Does The Majority Think re: Prices

[Annadesu]

I've watched the price of literally everything (food, gas, movie tickets, Disney, whatever) rise exponentially over the course of my life. I have rarely seen anything go down in price (and if it did, it usually went back up again). Am I annoyed at the ticket increase? Yeah, a little. But I'm not in any way shocked. My trip is paid off, and I plan to have a good time. If I want to go again in the future, and can't afford the new ticket prices, then I will find another place to go. I don't really feel a need to dwell on it, I guess.

 

[cedricandsophie]

It really won't matter to us. First of all we are DVC mrmbers and go to WDW once or twice a year because we love the redorts Out of 10 days there we might go to parks one day. Been there, done it. Honestly I could never go to a park again and I'd be happy.

And secondly years ago we spent many thousands of dollars buying everyone in the family 10 day park hopper never expire tickets. One of her daughters and grand daughter have already used their days. Our other daughter and grandson have a couple days left and 4 of us have 4 or 5 days left. They don't sell them anymore. So the value of those tickets has skyrocketed. I wish we had known they were not going to sell them anymore. I would have purchased more 10 day tickets while still available.

We get our Disney fix at the resorts, at Aulani which we have been to 4 times already and the cruises which we take the family on once a year. I know we are very blessed to be able to do all that as well as other vacations thst we take too. But eventually when my husband retires, the income slows and we get older and less willing to travel so much, most of our vacations will be at Disney resorts only using our DVC points. We already think of DWD as our second home. We even thought about buying a place in Florida and realized that we didn't need to.

Once our tickets expire and we are forced to buy more tickets I'm sure we will look for any deals like DVC offers from time to time.

 

[hookedonears]

Obviously some on this board are "upset" and "outraged" that Disney has increased ticket prices. Some have vowed not to return to WDW. Many have stated they won't be going back as often.

However, let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. We (here on this board) are a minority...a very small minority. What we say/do has very little impact to Disney. Should that offend you? Not really. Any successful business is going to focus on the majority, not the minority.

So let's talk about this majority. What will they think about this price increase? Do they or will they even know about it? Will it keep them from crowding the parks at historic rates?

I say no. What say you?

Throughout the history of Disney, cost and prices have always gone up. However, a growing economy and wages have always kept up. Unfortunately now, over the last 7 years, we no longer have a growing economy. The average wage in this country has gone down significantly. For the first time ever, the middle class makes up less than 50% of the country. Nearly 100 million working age people are no longer working. There are jobs being created, but they're all flipping paddies or something similar and most are part time. We are now becoming a poor, in debt country, though Disney's cost and prices continue to go up like they always have. Disney is doing its best to keep cost down by cutting here and there, though every time they do, many of us scream like stuck pigs. There's the answer that no one really wants to hear.

 

[Steelerman04]

I guess I'll just reinforce some points made here before, almost everything goes up in price, Disney is no exception, although with recent cuts it's poorly timed.

But also consider they need to pay for the additions they're making (Pandora, Star Wars Land, Toy Story Land, Frozen ride etc.) And maybe those projects have all been paid for, then these hikes are to prepare for their next wave of expansions, Disney might be a giant corporation, but they still have to plan for the future and re-fill their the Imagineers R and D budget.

Third, I don't see why (for the most part) anyone on the forum would care, price hikes only hit daily passes and I'd imagine almost all of us go for multiple days at a time (unless you're a local, but then you have an AP).

 

[redsbe]

Although my family (including my parents) would be considered WDW fanatics by most people, we were never annual visitors due to cost and interest in visiting other places. Available vacation time and costs were an issue, although with WDW/DL our typical trip would be 4-5 park days, value resorts, limited or no meal plans, off season. But I also travel on work and pleasure 3-4 times a year and travel is expensive in terms of airfare, hotels and meals. So costs are going up and major issue for any vacation travel. In the past we have looked at family trips for the 4 of us to Europe, Caribbean, Hawaii or a cruise but at $8,000+ those just seemed too expense. There is still some value with WDW due to the range of activities and experiences already built into the cost and trip, especially with some of the cost savings I outlined earlier in this post, but I also understand that a 5 day trip to WDW for a family of 4 at $4000+ is still expensive for many families. We made choices to spend on family trips and not fancy cars or big expensive house, but still was a major cost for us to do so. But now with a 20 yr old and 14 yr old, I think we made the right choice for the experiences and memories we had when they were growing up. Even as WDW fanatics none of us had the interest or willingness to pay for annual WDW trips, instead tried to go every 2-3 years (each of my kids still got 5 trips, I have 15 since age of 7, and my parents 15+ over 30 year period. We had some great trips but upcoming WDW trip with my 14 old daughter will likely be last for any of us for quite some time. WDW cost increases really not the main factor, instead as we all get older interests in traveling and see other places, and the kids simply are not into WDW as they get older. I do think the WDW/DL experience is getting harder, more complex, and expensive for families today with young kids and I wonder if in the future it will be as possible for many to experience WDW at least once (although every time we have been in last five years, WDW/DL were pretty busy and full of such families)

 

[redsbe]

Throughout the history of Disney, cost and prices have always gone up. However, a growing economy and wages have always kept up. Unfortunately now, over the last 7 years, we no longer have a growing economy. The average wage in this country has gone down significantly. For the first time ever, the middle class makes up less than 50% of the country. Nearly 100 million working age people are no longer working. There are jobs being created, but they're all flipping paddies or something similar and most are part time. We are now becoming a poor, in debt country, though Disney's cost and prices continue to go up like they always have. Disney is doing its best to keep cost down by cutting here and there, though every time they do, many of us scream like stuck pigs. There's the answer that no one really wants to hear.

I agree with all of your post, but by all reports over the last year crowds at WDW continue to grow, including families and young kids - which was also our experience with our last trip in December 2014. Some people may be being priced out of the WDW market, yet others are still there, and by all accounts - observations and data - spending including tickets, meals, etc.... Somehow, including by credit, many people are still going to WDW - and by all appearances from wide range of income classes (value resorts remain very busy). I have no doubt that the US economy continues to face some challenges, but most of my friends, family and neighbors are what I would describe as middle class and many (not all) are doing well in this economy, thus clearly WDW can continue to attract a market even when raising prices.

 

[dlavender]

In a way, this increase will help me save money. DW was wanting to do this next year's trip "big" (which in our world means moderate instead of off site, and for the first time ever, adding the DDP). I can now say, well, with the $300 increase in ticket prices, we will have to scale back. No DDP (big victory for me). So instead of spending $4200, we will probably get back to $3200. In a very weird way, the increase may have saved us money.

 

[pigletgirl]

I agree with all of your post, but by all reports over the last year crowds at WDW continue to grow, including families and young kids - which was also our experience with our last trip in December 2014. Some people may be being priced out of the WDW market, yet others are still there, and by all accounts - observations and data - spending including tickets, meals, etc.... Somehow, including by credit, many people are still going to WDW - and by all appearances from wide range of income classes (value resorts remain very busy). I have no doubt that the US economy continues to face some challenges, but most of my friends, family and neighbors are what I would describe as middle class and many (not all) are doing well in this economy, thus clearly WDW can continue to attract a market even when raising prices.

Yep!

You could lump my family into that. My husband and I both love Disney. It's what we like to save for. I would love for our girls to remember family vacations to the parks. Not every trip will be a "blowout" so to speak. We also love visiting the beach so like our April trip, we tacked on a weekend in Disney.

But yes, Disney is the perfect vacation for our family right now. As the girls grow, we'll definitely do other vacations (DC, National Parks, etc) but right now, that isn't something they'd remotely enjoy so why even go? In about 10 years or so we will.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The vast majority of WDW guests do not know about price increases or pricing structure changes, so they don't care. Folks here stress over these things because they see the change happening.

I don't stress over these things for the same reason that I don't stress over the daily fluctuations in the market. I am in it for the long haul, and worrying about what is happening today is not going to change anything. I will still hold onto my investments, and I will continue going to WDW - even as it changes.

 

[disneyseniors]

First, why I’m fine with it.

If this price increase is what tipped you from “Disney is reasonable” to “This is outrageous” then you’re doing a lot better economically than I am. “This is outrageous” came and went for me years ago.

I’m not saying it doesn’t matter. Of course it does. I’m not saying that it won’t price some people (maybe even me) out, because it will.

What I’m saying is this: Disney has (at least for the last couple of decades) never been a financially rational choice. Disney is stupid expensive.

“But Disney should be something every middle class American family can do!”

Let me ask you a question – why only the middle class? Are you going to be the one to tell the poor kids “sorry, I didn’t mean you.”

And for those of you who say Disney used to be a middle class thing, you must have lived in a different middle class than I did. It’s always (in my lifetime) been expensive. My mom promised she’d take me before I turned 10. I got there at 12 (no toddler wonder experience for me) with 1 day in MK and 1 day in Epcot, and didn’t get to go back until I was in my late 30s. (And I was thrilled both times!)

Is it more exclusive now than it was 30 years ago? Sure.

But then again 30 years ago, huge enormous swaths of the American (let alone the world) population couldn’t afford it either.

The line changes, but there is always a line between “can” and “can’t.” I know, because I’m on the wrong side of it all the time. I love NFL football. LOVE IT. I haven’t gone to a live game in more than 20 years because I just can’t bear the ticket prices.

Life is full of velvet ropes. And if you didn’t notice the velvet rope at Disney 30 years ago, it’s because you were on the right side of it, not because it wasn’t there.

Heck, my upcoming trip is the first time I’ll ever stay on property because I could never afford it – and it will be at Pop Century on a huge discount in a standard room. I can’t even fathom staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, even though I’ve dreamed of it since the day it opened. Some of you go there once a year. For me, it’s a “maybe, just maybe before I die” type thing. Even the “moderate” resorts are way outside my league. “Moderate?!” Our definition of moderate must be very different.

I pack food because I can’t afford to Disney food all the time. I get reservations to experience restaurants, but only buy appetizers because I can’t afford a full meal.

I don’t like it, but I get it. There are some things I’m priced out of, at least for now. (I’m gonna get rich one day, just like every other American, right?!) Such is life.

That just comes with the territory. Always has, always will.

But can’t it be different!? Let’s do a little thought experiment…

So you hate that Disney is pricing people out. So let’s do this. Imagine if it wasn’t like this. How about these options instead.

The “We’re Sorry” pricing plan. Disney comes out tomorrow with the following announcement: “We’re sorry everyone. We’ve priced Disney outside the reach of too many people, so as of tomorrow here’s our new pricing package - $35 for a one day pass to MK, and $25 for the other parks.” Can you imagine the headlines in a few months? “Disney Guests Irate! Wait times for Country Bear Jamboree hit 3 hours!” “Disney announces the suspension of Star Wars land – We just can’t afford it, but we won’t price people out of a Disney vacation, so we’ll make do with what we have.”

The “Bernie Sanders” pricing plan. In reaction to pressure from the public, Disney CEO has moved to free tickets, subsidized by tax dollars. “A Disney vacation is an American birthright, and everyone should have access, regardless of their income.” Since the parks cannot handle the number of people who want to come for free, Disney is now implementing a waiting list. To make sure every American family has a chance to live their Disney dreams, no family can ‘double dip’ by coming more than once a decade. “Make sure you get that one trip while your kid is still under 20!” says Iger.

Just to be clear, I’m not saying either of these is wrong. They are perfectly reasonable options that Disney could implement instead of what they’ve done. But I’m guessing we’d be just as upset – probably more. Most of us are, at heart, free marketers. Of course we want it to be cheap, but we also want the opportunity to earn our way there and go when we can afford to.

Tentaguasu’s (that’s me) dream golden ticket scenario: Once a year, Disney has a crazy luxury week. Tickets are $1000 per person, hotel rooms are double price, food is amazing with celebrity chefs, wait times are 5 minutes on everything, limo rides everywhere, 24 hours at every park. A really luxury escape, red carpet to the hilt. Call it “Disney’s Week of Luxury.” And this is what the CEO would announce. “This is a chance for our wealthiest guests to have a true 5-star experience at Disney from top to bottom, true rock star treatment. But we’re not earning a red cent on it. Disney has made kids dream of magical worlds the world over – rich kids, poor kids, and 80 year old kids. We’re a for-profit company, but we understand that we are the stewards of something special that everyone should at least be able to dream of visiting. So we’re taking the earnings from the 50,000 people who come for the Week of Luxury each year, and using that to host a “Dream Week” where we randomly give away full, all-expense paid trips to Disney World for 50,000 families across the entire world that could never afford to come on their own. It’s our way of keeping the Disney dream alive for everyone.”

So that’s never going to happen, but I’m still OK with the price increases.

BUT… here are my demands:

But I’m not giving Disney a full pass. Because just like they are demanding more money from me, I have some demands for them.

Be decent. I can’t stomach fat cat compensation packages while bottom of the line workers get their hours cut and are struggling. Not magical. At all.

Here’s the deal Disney executive team. As soon as Disney workers are giving interviews saying this: “I just love working at Disney. They care about us as workers. They take care of us to the best of the company’s ability and we’re paid above average for anyone else in this industry with benefits that keep me and my family safe and secure. That’s why my smile to visitors every day is genuine and why I have the hope and energy to make their day bright, too!” That day, when I hear that, I promise that you can triple your compensation package, and I won’t say a word. Not a word.

And if the company can’t afford it, then this is what I want to hear: “We’re cutting staff hours because, unfortunately, we’re in a financial pickle. But belt tightening starts with management, so as CEO I’m taking a voluntary 50% compensation cut which will only increase at the same rate as my staffs’ compensation, and I’m enforcing at 25% pay cut for every position at Disney making over $500,000 a year.”

Be fair. I’m a good ole American free market guy. But free markets work when both sides are happy.

Once you accept that we can’t all have everything, then it becomes a question of value for money paid. I remember paying $3.25 for a hotel room in Peru. The next morning both my mom and I agreed that we’d been thoroughly overcharged.

Point being, if you’re gonna soak me for a high ticket price you better deliver. “We mismanaged the expansion of DHS, so just keep on paying an increased price and give us another half a decade to fix it.” That’s not going to cut it. You want to increase my price? I’d be better be f’ing amazed at what I get in return. You get an amazing amount of money from me, I get an amazing experience and we’re both thrilled.

If I’m going to skimp and save and dream of going to Disney, I damned well better have an amazing experience when I get there. A good old American capitalist trade of money for services at its finest.

And just to be clear, I’m not on the “Disney is getting worse every day” bandwagon. Maybe it is, I don’t know. I haven’t noticed it. Maybe for some of you who go very frequently, it’s just like the beautiful person you see every day whose flaws you start to notice out of sheer familiarity. Or maybe it is getting worse. But, I don’t see the decline.

But here’s the thing – I’m on alert now. Don’t disappoint me. Spoil me with the awesome stuff, just like I’m spoiling you with may payments.

Be smart. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong when you increase prices. If you price out too many people, then who grows up on Disney? Who is your market of tomorrow? I can’t understand things like why it takes Disney 10 years or whatever to build Avatar when Universal seems able to do it in a flash. I wonder if they impulsively threw money at China just because China seemed like the next big thing (like we all thought of Japan in the 80s and look what happened there…) only to see the Chinese economy tank. I worry about them continuing to make stellar attractions instead of fair ground junk. I worry about how a cast member is going to give me a wonderful smile and a magical day if they’re worried about their hours this month. Take my money, take your profit, but keep Disney strong. Don’t let it whither and die through mismanagement.

Be smart – keep Disney strong.

Be decent – I want to know you care about me and your staff.

Be fair – soak me to the bone, and then make me smile and say, “I’ll be damned, that was worth it!”

So rational and well said. Please, please, send this to WDW Co, email, write, whatever. Also a copy to the Orlando sentinel would be great! Thanks.

 

[Dis703]

I'm not too upset about it. I mean I'd rather pay less, but it's not going to stop me from going. Prices go up on everything. I think I was more upset and shocked that a Twix bar at CVS last night cost me $1.29 + tax. Where did the days of 4 candy bars for $1.00 go?

 

[rastahomie]

I've become the sort of Disneyworld planning "expert" among my family members and friends, because I read all the blogs, watch all the YouTube channels, and so on. When they ask me for trip planning advice, the first thing I tell them is this: it's going to cost you, dearly, and accepting this sooner rather than later will make things that much easier for you.

Living where I do (Missouri) there is no way to "do Disney" on the cheap - I'd need a flight (or a 16-hour drive) just to make it to the door. Then there's the hotel room, food. It can't be done cheaply - at least, not without having a bare-bones experience that cuts every imaginable corner, and even then, you're still going to be in it pretty deep.

For this reason, as for as I'm concerned there's no point in going to Disneyworld unless you're going to go for it - stay on-site, get the dining plan, rent a car, and so on. That's a *huge* investment of money for me, one that necessarily requires lots of saving. So if the price of my vacation goes from, say, $5,000 up to, say, $5,500 thanks to the added ticket prices, it's hardly that much more of a challenge.

So the bottom line is: the new ticket prices will probably cause me some pain, but I'm already enduring pain as it is regardless of the ticket prices. If that makes sense.

 

[redsbe]

I'm not too upset about it. I mean I'd rather pay less, but it's not going to stop me from going. Prices go up on everything. I think I was more upset and shocked that a Twix bar at CVS last night cost me $1.29 + tax. Where did the days of 4 candy bars for $1.00 go?

I have not seen 4 for $1.00 on any major brandname candy bars for at least 20 years! Sometimes you can get that kind of pricing buying in bulk or off the shelves for 2 for a $1, but never at 25 cents each!

 

[redsbe]

I've become the sort of Disneyworld planning "expert" among my family members and friends, because I read all the blogs, watch all the YouTube channels, and so on. When they ask me for trip planning advice, the first thing I tell them is this: it's going to cost you, dearly, and accepting this sooner rather than later will make things that much easier for you.

Living where I do (Missouri) there is no way to "do Disney" on the cheap - I'd need a flight (or a 16-hour drive) just to make it to the door. Then there's the hotel room, food. It can't be done cheaply - at least, not without having a bare-bones experience that cuts every imaginable corner, and even then, you're still going to be in it pretty deep.

For this reason, as for as I'm concerned there's no point in going to Disneyworld unless you're going to go for it - stay on-site, get the dining plan, rent a car, and so on. That's a *huge* investment of money for me, one that necessarily requires lots of saving. So if the price of my vacation goes from, say, $5,000 up to, say, $5,500 thanks to the added ticket prices, it's hardly that much more of a challenge.

So the bottom line is: the new ticket prices will probably cause me some pain, but I'm already enduring pain as it is regardless of the ticket prices. If that makes sense.

And try going for same length of time to any other "resort" or "destination" location where you will be paying for daily events/activities (for example a cruise), those trips are often not less then WDW, unless they are closer and involve shorter or cheaper drive or plane flights or discount hotels. WDW is not cheap, but same can be said for many other similar types of vacations. Sure it is cheaper to visit a national park or spend week at the beach - but for those you are not paying for the same amount and types of experiences and activities built into WDW vacation. I am not saying either type of vacation is better as they all have their benefits and values, and WDW can be expensive, but at WDW you are paying for an experience and not just flight, hotel and meals.

 

[Dis703]

I have not seen 4 for $1.00 on any major brandname candy bars for at least 20 years! Sometimes you can get that kind of pricing buying in bulk or off the shelves for 2 for a $1, but never at 25 cents each!

I'm sure it's been a while, but I don't buy a random candy bar very often, lol. I feel like the 2 or 3 for $1 wasn't all that long ago though. Over $1 each just feels criminal to me. But I'll pay it once in a while.

 

[EricInPA]

Sure it is cheaper to visit a national park or spend week at the beach - but for those you are not paying for the same amount and types of experiences and activities built into WDW vacation. I am not saying either type of vacation is better as they all have their benefits and values, and WDW can be expensive, but at WDW you are paying for an experience and not just flight, hotel and meals.

+1

 

[redsbe]

price on chocolate has been on above inflation rise for several years, no doubt those kinds of deals you could find, but too deep of cost discount for any seller to absorb these days. Still can see 2 for a $1 at times, but 4 for $1 from your original post - have not seen that for a long time.

 

[Minnesota!]

I think it is stupid and just reinforces our decision to skip the parks.

 

[DisneyNurse19]

I'm not too upset about it. I mean I'd rather pay less, but it's not going to stop me from going. Prices go up on everything. I think I was more upset and shocked that a Twix bar at CVS last night cost me $1.29 + tax. Where did the days of 4 candy bars for $1.00 go?

Did you notice if the size was the same? In the UK the price of everything is going up and the item is getting smaller

 

[Slapshot1188]

Higher prices = fewer people = shorter lines = I get to experience more rides = better value

I wish they'd triple the prices and get 2/3s of the people out of there. 60 minute lines for Pirates and Haunted Mansion in the afternoon is ridiculous!

Do you have ANY data at all to back up the statement that the higher prices will result in shorter lines? In the last 12 years that I have been going, I see the opposite correlation. Prices are up massively during that time and so are wait times. There is no longer a "slow period" for Disney.