What Does The Majority Think re: Prices

[Micca]

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 agree with you on all the points in your post. Most things increase in price over a period of time, and most people don't head to WDW with the frequency that many of us here do. I don't see the increases as having much impact on crowd levels, maybe the slower times will increase a bit.

I don't think the average park guest will care much or notice the price increase. They'll look at the cost and make a decision based on their budget and whether that's the way they want to spend their vacation dollars.

 

[tortilla24]

So I'm just now finding out about prices increasing. We're going June 14th this year to MK only - so peak season. Doing the other 2 days in Orlando at Universal Parks. I hadn't bought tickets yet as I'm waiting for some more funds to come through, but the ticket prices haven't jumped all that much have they? From my notes, the cost of each ticket went up by like $12. I get that it adds up with large families but can't people just make up for it by cutting down on a Dole Whip or two?

 

[Minniesgal]

I think it is what it is. Economics are and always have been cyclic. We are on the upswing at the moment and you make hay while the sun shines. There will be a corresponding down-swing where prices will crash again. This is true for house, true for oil, true for countries Disney is no different.

We don't find disney less affordable than 20 years ago when we first went. We save for the same amount of time to go.

We don't do annual trips we do about very three years so we have time to save and we feel we can justify splurging when we get there. I don't mind the cost of for example V&As i I can say it a once in three years treat.

 

[Minniesgal]

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.

I think you are so right, buy now and pay later is a big sickness of our time.

 

[GillianP1301]

The tiered pricing doesn't bother me at all, it's standard in travel. They already do it with resorts, why not the parks? IMO, paying less for a single day ticket on a day where the park is open 2 - 3 hours less than when the cost is higher makes perfect sense to me and probably even more so than the tiered room pricing, in which you get the same value for different pricing (a clean room, beds, facilities, etc...). Don't get me wrong, I understand how supply/demand works, so I'm aware I'm over simplifying.

Right now the change is only on single day tickets and I doubt the group of people buying a single day ticket will even notice or care. I don't claim to know their business plan, but I would venture to guess that the one day ticket buyer is not their target market anyway. They want the families who are staying on site, eating at their TS restaurants and booking their special events/tours.

People love to complain about change, so this is no different. Some will get outraged and claim they will never go to WDW again, most will anyway and even those who stick to their guns and don't, it obviously has no effect on sales because attendance just keeps increasing every year. They would be insane to not increase ticket prices when attendance is on the rise, any stakeholder would have a problem with that.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

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.”

Really like your post! Just one thing: Disney is consistently rated as one of the best places to work. No employer will be perfect from the POV of every employee. Their cuts may make the most business sense to anyone privy to all financial and business strategy data. I think the whole "execs are taking cuts first" sounds great, but it's nothing but PR most times. It's like saying "we'll pay for everything under the sun, free for all, by taxing 'the rich'" -- there aren't enough of them to make a dent if actual cuts in total dollars or in specific areas make the most strategic business sense.

 

[kyomagi]

looked at general admission for the park before MNSSHP this year. Pricing went up $5 per person. meh, dont mind it

 

[hookedonears]

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.

People throughout history have typically spent up to and beyond their means, especially when the economy is expanding and there's confidence in the future. That's all disappeared now. Government has completely gotten out of hand burdening corporate America with regulations and taxes and we're now reaping the rewards.

 

[tentaguasu]

Ag

Really like your post! Just one thing: Disney is consistently rated as one of the best places to work. No employer will be perfect from the POV of every employee. Their cuts may make the most business sense to anyone privy to all financial and business strategy data. I think the whole "execs are taking cuts first" sounds great, but it's nothing but PR most times. It's like saying "we'll pay for everything under the sun, free for all, by taxing 'the rich'" -- there aren't enough of them to make a dent if actual cuts in total dollars or in specific areas make the most strategic business sense.

Glad people like working for Disney!

As for the executive pay cuts, I completely hear you that they are likely meaningless in an economic sense.

However, they could be highly meaningful symbolically and emotionally for staff. That said, I might be overreacting to the recent cuts I've heard about. As you say, most of us know nothing about the inner workings of the company.

 

[DVCcurious]

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.

read my signature

 

[jtowntoflorida]

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 is where I stand. Except after our last trip in October, I decided that the bang for my buck at Disney just isn't there anymore, so we've chosen to stop vacationing at Disney until they do something to improve my ROI. So I'm keeping an eye on things here, but until some of these Super Big Huge Projects are done, I don't intend on giving Disney any of my vacation money.

 

[maulers40]

This will be the second year I will not be buying a park ticket or stay at a WDW hotel (did so 5 previous times). We stay at Universal and buy there multi-day park tickets. Like the previous posts stated, just do not see the return on the investment right now. They have raise prices and have provide very little new entertainment and ride maintenance and cleanliness of the parks. We do spend time at Disney Springs. Maybe when all the new attractions are in place (Disney pace 5 years) we will once again see the inside of a park.

 

[kittyab]

It's too hot

I agree, but some people can only go in the summer. Many states do not allow for parents to take their children out of school for any length of time for a vacation.

People will go, when it makes the most sense for them to go according to their schedule etc not just the pricing. I live in Canada, I would love to go in January if DH would let me.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

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.

We do it the same way here in TX, we fly cause there's no way I'm driving 16 hrs/1,124 miles, stay on site cause I like it like that. we do the bus service my husband like not driving and we usually have the dinning plan.
My sister and her family are joining us on our December trip. First thing I told her was its not cheap she has accepted this and how we are having a fun time planning.

 

[epcotty]

I wonder if in the past 10 years (when they started raising ticket prices much more than before) they have actually CAUSED a lot of the old people to schedule new trips and new people to start coming like never before in order to go while they still can afford to, or go while they feel the value is still there. I think the big price increases could've caused the crowding problem (consider that in most years before that it wasn't as crowded). Their greed might've created a sense of urgency to go there like never before

 

[Brancaneve]

Ultimately, people are going to be loyal to their brands. Some people would not mind a price increase for let's say, a pair of Air Jordans or a Chanel bag, because they identify with that brand so much that it has become an extension of themselves. Disney is a brand with a loyal following that garners about as much money as a Chanel bag or a many pairs of sporty sneakers, but with an emotional connection that other brands would love to have. Is the emotional connection and the loyalty strong enough despite an increase? With so many people complaining of the crowds, I wonder if the emotional experience (hate to say it....the "magic") is becoming diluted for those of us who have been fans for some time. Meanwhile, Disney ushers in a new generation who haven't experienced non peak times (yes they once did exist), and who don't remember that it was a better deal to buy an AP than a multi day ticket. While Disney seems to favor this new generation, is Disney being loyal to us?

What I am noticing of late is that Disney is offering a lot more hard ticket events so that people can have a unique and more intimate experience in the parks. For example, the VIP safari experience at Animal Kingdom, or the Jungle Cruise breakfast in DLR to name just a few. I would love to do something like that but can't believe the price! It's telling me that you can be one of the masses and pay A LOT, or be one of the few and pay EVEN MORE!!!!

Despite all the thoughts racing through my head, I still love to go to DLR and WDW. We have gone on many family vacations (with two kids) that are quite adventurous; traveled around Mexico on buses twice, 7 cruises, cross country trips, etc. and still our favorite trips are the ones to WDW. There's something in it for everyone and all the serious cares of travel abroad fade away. I think it's all worth it to me.

 

[Michele Christian]

While almost nothing will keep a die-hard fan like me away, my friends who don't "get" my Disney obsession will give up on Disney entirely because of this price hike. It is just too darn expensive for a first time visitor! The non-Disney-obsessed will not pay this much for a ticket. I have friends that will never go back, and I will stop trying to convince them it is worth it. Better to not know what you are missing.

I am super annoyed. I think Disney is alienating the folks that have never been to WDW.

 

[Planogirl]

People might not react that strongly to a single price increase. However they might react to high prices plus crowded parks and lack of maintenance and cleanliness and other cutbacks. These things don't happen all at once but change slowly over time. If at all of course.

 

[Yarbogash]

Imho Planogirl is on the right track but I'm more concerned people won't react.

They have record breaking attendance and are cutting services and instituting one of their biggest ever price increases; I really worry that if attendance continues to climb thru this year and next that the Disney execs are going to learn from this some lessons that will not be favorable to us as guests.