What Does The Majority Think re: Prices

[Mousemommy1]

The prices go up every year. And every year there is this discussion. I'm not really shocked by the tiered pricing...the resorts have been priced this way for many years. It makes sense. Supply and demand.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

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?

I say no. Solid business decision. Demand is up, a price increase can be supported per market response. Surprised they didn't move to seasonal pricing ages ago given that being a tourism industry standard.

 

[larryz]

I'm not upset, nor am I "fine with it." It is what it is. When I don't think I'll get good vacation value for my vacation dollar, I'll stop vacationing at WDW.

This world is 'way too big to get upset over WDW raising their prices...

My theme song for today:

 

[malba2366]

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.

This is not true. There is still a middle class, in fact all the data shows that more people have moved above the official definition of middle class than below it since 2000. The problem in this country is that too many people in the middle class are willing to leverage themselves to the hilt so that the can have a big house, drive luxury cars, go on expensive vacations and buy designer clothes. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood and my classmates and I all saw Disney World once in our childhoods if we were lucky, and vacations often consisted of a road trip to visit family. This mentality that if someone else can do xyz, then I should be able to as well is what is ruining this country, especially all of these "millennials" who are looking for government wealth redistribution rather than hard work to give them all these things.

 

[malba2366]

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.

Im sure no one has data on this but if they increased priced by 66% overnight (ie. from $100 to $166 a day) the reasonable conclusion would be that attendance would drop quickly.

 

[ariane37]

But mostly I'm very saddened to see them raising prices so much in the midst of cutting so many things in the parks at the very moment they are heading into one of their peak seasons. It's the timing of those things together that gets my attention more than anything.

In regards to this I love the avatar you've changed to. Nice tribute to a(nother) beloved character they're cutting

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I don't begrudge Disney for raising prices. The parks have been so crowded lately that it was inevitable. And since I never buy 1-day tickets, outside of the normal annual price hike this policy change doesn't effect me.

I will say that overall Disney is not the vacation that it used to be for my family. Not just prices, but the overall experience. The parks are more crowded, the quality of several things has declined, and it's gotten much more complicated. So our visits are going to shift to being shorter, long weekend style trips rather than our main week-long vacation. And I know Disney won't miss me at all, there's plenty of others to take our place.

 

[Slapshot1188]

Im sure no one has data on this but if they increased priced by 66% overnight (ie. from $100 to $166 a day) the reasonable conclusion would be that attendance would drop quickly.

They just raised prices by something like 22%. Unless you have some data showing otherwise I will stick to my conclusion that there will be ZERO relief for the lines. History has shown that there is no correlation between increased ticket prices and decreased attendance... I'd wager a pretty penny that 2016 attendance will be UP at all the parks. You can argue that they would be up even MORE, but there is nothing to support the concept that crowds will decrease.

 

[mom2rtk]

In regards to this I love the avatar you've changed to. Nice tribute to a(nother) beloved character they're cutting

Thank you. Fairy Godmother holds a special place in our hearts. I'm still stunned that they are cutting her.

 

[malba2366]

They just raised prices by something like 22%. Unless you have some data showing otherwise I will stick to my conclusion that there will be ZERO relief for the lines. History has shown that there is no correlation between increased ticket prices and decreased attendance... I'd wager a pretty penny that 2016 attendance will be UP at all the parks. You can argue that they would be up even MORE, but there is nothing to support the concept that crowds will decrease.

That is only on a very small proportion of tickets...single day tickers during a few weeks of the year. It will likely have a very small impact, but this is likely disney trying to gauge the effect of price hikes which if increase revenue will spread to the multi day passes in the next few years. Disney is in competition with Universal in the Orlando theme park business, they can not just raise prices to whatever they want. In fact, for one day tickets, Disney is still cheaper than Universal except in the peak times.

 

[♡ Mimi ♡]

This is not true. There is still a middle class, in fact all the data shows that more people have moved above the official definition of middle class than below it since 2000. The problem in this country is that too many people in the middle class are willing to leverage themselves to the hilt so that the can have a big house, drive luxury cars, go on expensive vacations and buy designer clothes. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood and my classmates and I all saw Disney World once in our childhoods if we were lucky, and vacations often consisted of a road trip to visit family. This mentality that if someone else can do xyz, then I should be able to as well is what is ruining this country, especially all of these "millennials" who are looking for government wealth redistribution rather than hard work to give them all these things.

You might find this article to be an interesting read: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-boomers-american-economy-20151107-story.html

I mean, if you want to generalize, we might as well all play.

(Just to clarify, the notion that each generation can somehow be "personified" by a series of sweeping generalizations is ludicrous to me.)

 

[Jennygt]

I am not surprised or upset that the pricing has changed. We only go now every 3-4 years, when its too much we will just stop going. I am more disappointed that they are removing so many M&G from the parks.

 

[Dis703]

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

Didn't notice with the candy bar but definitely noticed with other things. Drink sizes have gone down and a few years ago a 1/2 gallon of ice cream was reduced to 1.5 quarts. I'm also pretty sure Cadbury Crème Eggs are smaller this year. All while the prices keep going up. So I guess for those who think Disney is offering less and charging more it's pretty much in line with other companies.

 

[malba2366]

You might find this article to be an interesting read: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-boomers-american-economy-20151107-story.html

I mean, if you want to generalize, we might as well all play.

FYI I am not a baby boomer. I was born just before the earliest "millennials" would be. While agree the baby boomers did drive up a lot of debt, the sense of entitlement these millennials have, and their desire to have government "level" the playing field will hurt this country much more than anything the baby boomers did. These are the same people who are complaining that Disney took something from them by raising prices....Disney didn't take anything from anyone, If you don't find value in the prices they charge then don't go!

I am sure disney will be figuring out how to raise revenue from the fastpass system very soon. Do you honestly believe they spent $1 billion on this stuff just to make the waits shorter...They are collecting data right now and we will soon see what the end result is

 

[dlavender]

If they can raise prices an average of 10% now, imagine how high they will be able to raise them in a few years when the new lands open......

A 5 day non park hopper will probably go for at least $500. And that will be a steal.....

 

[tlmadden73]

They just raised prices by something like 22%. Unless you have some data showing otherwise I will stick to my conclusion that there will be ZERO relief for the lines. History has shown that there is no correlation between increased ticket prices and decreased attendance... I'd wager a pretty penny that 2016 attendance will be UP at all the parks. You can argue that they would be up even MORE, but there is nothing to support the concept that crowds will decrease.

Eventually there is a price point where attendance will decrease with the rise in ticket prices. The fact that attendance is up despite the rise in ticket prices the last few years means that Disney World (to the average consumer) is a good vacation value.

But yes, there is nothing to say that attendance will decrease this year BECAUSE of this price increase.

I would suspect that attendance may be down this year simply because a lot of people may wait on their next (or first) Disney vacation until one (or more) of these next big lands are complete .. but with Frozen and Rivers of Light opening this year .. maybe that will increase attendance? Who knows.

 

[Hibiscus]

You might find this article to be an interesting read: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-boomers-american-economy-20151107-story.html

I mean, if you want to generalize, we might as well all play.

(Just to clarify, the notion that each generation can somehow be "personified" by a series of sweeping generalizations is ludicrous to me.)

I'm not a Millennial (Gen X) but I'm so tired of hearing "it's all those Millennials' fault!" Now it's reached the Dis. Amazing.

They'll move on to complaining about the next generation as soon as the first of them reach adulthood. Just give it a few more years. Don't worry lol, we X-ers were all the devil once too. Some of us just forgot.

 

[♡ Mimi ♡]

FYI I am not a baby boomer. I was born just before the earliest "millennials" would be. While agree the baby boomers did drive up a lot of debt, the sense of entitlement these millennials have, and their desire to have government "level" the playing field will hurt this country much more than anything the baby boomers did. These are the same people who are complaining that Disney took something from them by raising prices....Disney didn't take anything from anyone, If you don't find value in the prices they charge then don't go!

I am sure disney will be figuring out how to raise revenue from the fastpass system very soon. Do you honestly believe they spent $1 billion on this stuff just to make the waits shorter...They are collecting data right now and we will soon see what the end result is

I am a Millennial & stated earlier that I would welcome the opportunity to pay $100 for an unlimited FP.

 

[hookedonears]

This is not true. There is still a middle class, in fact all the data shows that more people have moved above the official definition of middle class than below it since 2000. The problem in this country is that too many people in the middle class are willing to leverage themselves to the hilt so that the can have a big house, drive luxury cars, go on expensive vacations and buy designer clothes. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood and my classmates and I all saw Disney World once in our childhoods if we were lucky, and vacations often consisted of a road trip to visit family. This mentality that if someone else can do xyz, then I should be able to as well is what is ruining this country, especially all of these "millennials" who are looking for government wealth redistribution rather than hard work to give them all these things.

Your data is incorrect. The most recent Census Bureau statistics say the opposite. For the first time, less than 50% of Americans are considered middle class or higher. Kind of hard to understand what you're saying here. What's wrong is the lack of mentality that everyone can be successful and go as far as they want with desire and hard work. Too many have the mentality that the only way to succeed is through government handouts.

 

[malba2366]

Your data is incorrect. Census bureau statistics say the opposite. For the first time, less than 50% of Americans are considered middle class or higher. Kind of hard to understand what you're saying here. What's wrong is the lack of mentality that everyone can be successful and go as far as they want with desire and hard work. Too many have the mentality that the only way to succeed is through government handouts.

That was in reference to material things. The middle class in this country has leveraged themselves buy trying to spend and do things like wealthy people do. I was referring to people spending beyond their means now , NOT people wanting to work hard to be able to spend more in the future.