What has Disney Become ?

[AdamEfimoff]

Is Disney becoming from an middle class to a high end destination. I say this because of the development of Be Our Guest, The Four Seasons,extensive villa additions to existing Disney Resorts. Also the Dining at DS. I also wonder because the Four Seasons is the First AAA Five Diamond in Central Florida. Is this drawing middle class that could afford it to no longer being able to afford it. And will incentives be provided to the top end as opposed to the moderate to budget. Like unlimited fastpass.

 

[kiford]

I think the answer is that they offer options in a lot of different ranges for both dining and accommodation. Not everyone who goes there wants either high end or value or mid-range. They appeal to a wide demographic.

 

[DanInMN]

They are certainly aware that WDW has been getting more and more crowded. Apparently it's more profitable to move upscale (increase prices) than to increase capacity.

 

[maryniafaith]

Of course, Disney is creating more luxurious options, there's still plenty of reasonable options! And come on, look at what you're getting... IMO it's all worth it!

 

[minnie mum]

Disney hasn't changed. It's still the mega corporation it's been for decades.

Or are you asking if WDW has changed its target demographic? It still has options for all price points.

I'm not sure why you singled out BOG. It is both TS and CS, depending on the meal, but it's prices are not out of line with comparable meals elsewhere in WDW. You apparently didn't finish your thought about Dining at WDW. What about it? There are all kinds of options, from CS to regular TS, to finer dining at the signatures. How do you think this has changed?

The Four Seasons is not a WDW resort, it is merely on property, just like the Swan/Dolphin or the Waldorf, or Bonnet Creek. None of these are owned or operated by Disney. The last Disney resort built was a value resort - AOA.

Most of the current room expansion has been to the DVC villas. These are a cash cow for Disney compared to regular hotel rooms. But nothing is stopping those on a more modest budget from booking a value or moderate resort.

Disney has given no indication that they are planning on changing FP allocations to guests that would differ depending on the level of their resort.

 

[msb578]

I think the Four Seasons was allowed/invited to come in because Disney itself doesn't offer any true luxury hotel options. Clearly there was a market for that.

Me, I've found some fantastic deals at the Value resorts, and I love them. If you only go during Christmas week, or Easter, or July... sure, everything looks like a ripoff. But in late August 2014 I paid $72 a night at the All-Stars.

So I agree that there are options for many income levels. You do have to work at it to sort it all out- some people don't like the work aspect of it.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Where is the Four Seasons located?

 

[msb578]

Where is the Four Seasons located?

Pretty close to Fort Wilderness. To the east of it.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

WDW and the Orlando area has accommodation and dining options at every price point, from ultra-luxurious (Four Seasons, WDW deluxe, deluxe dining plans, signature restaurants, etc.) to budget conscious (WDW values, off-site accommodations, house rentals, QS options, grocery deliveries or grocery shopping on your own). In fact, the new promo that came out is ONLY for value resorts, so no discount incentive for those staying mod or deluxe on that current promo. WDW has given no indication they will adjust on-site perks according to resort level.

When pricing out trips, what I find to be the possible deal-breaker for middle class families may be the ticket prices. When pricing out value resorts, depending on the number of people in your family, it is not uncommon to find the ticket prices exceed the costs of accommodations and dining. So, while I think, many families can find accommodations and food options within their budget, the ever increasing ticket prices may be the deal breaker for many.

 

[msb578]

With tickets, it looks like Disney either wants you to sink everything into one day; or stay for 10 days. At the back end of a 10-day ticket, you're only paying $10 a day per person. Average it all out and the cost per day for your "entertainment" isn't all that bad.

Two to four days is a tough pill to swallow with tickets. I would know that- I just dropped a grand for two days for 5 people

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

I am sure there are many, many families who are priced out of a Disney vacation at this point. Even at a value resort, by the time you add in admission, food, etc. it is pricey, especially if you need to go during either a school break or summer vacation. We take (treat) my husbands son, wife and granddaughter every couple of years. Both parents work, son works two jobs, and there is no way they could afford this on their own.

 

[tcherjen]

Disney is expensive. For my family we think we get a great value for our money. We enjoy coming, get entertained by rides, shows and characters. If I put a price tag going somewhere else, I probably wouldn't get the same value for my money. As I said though that is just my own opinion.

 

[siskaren]

What does this have to do with Disney Resorts?

 

[Goofey Drool]

I thought Walt himself said that he was not happy with how things worked out for Disneyland. He wanted Disneyworld to be in the image of his dream....without all the commercial development encroaching on his properties. Now it seems Disneyworld is filling up with Waldorf, Four Seasons, Hiltons, Bonnet Creek...they are not in the theme of Disney. You might as well throw some Motel 6 among the all stars. I am sure they could throw some mid level chain motels around the moderates as well. I wonder what Walt would think if he was around now. IMO, I think Disney still tries to cater to many income levels though.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am sure there are many, many families who are priced out of a Disney vacation at this point. Even at a value resort, by the time you add in admission, food, etc. it is pricey, especially if you need to go during either a school break or summer vacation. We take (treat) my husbands son, wife and granddaughter every couple of years. Both parents work, son works two jobs, and there is no way they could afford this on their own.

Many people are priced out. But many others have higher priorities than a Disney vacation. A new(ish) car, a large(ish) home, nice clothes, eating out a couple of times a week--those are all things that many people choose to not cut out, even if it means they can't afford a trip to Disney World.

 

[disnut8]

Is Disney becoming from an middle class to a high end destination. I say this because of the development of Be Our Guest, The Four Seasons,extensive villa additions to existing Disney Resorts. Also the Dining at DS. I also wonder because the Four Seasons is the First AAA Five Diamond in Central Florida. Is this drawing middle class that could afford it to no longer being able to afford it. And will incentives be provided to the top end as opposed to the moderate to budget. Like unlimited fastpass.

I don't agree. We live eight hours away so we drive and can stay offsite at a ton of different places. We haven't been for over a year and don't have annual passes anymore (thanks to jobs disappearing) so when we do go back, we will not look at "top end" things. We will stay offsite, we will have tickets that make sense for us, we will not eat at high end table service restaurants (we like Disney counter service and snacks), we will pay the parking fee each day but only once. And we will enjoy immensely.

I go to Disney World for a vacation and I go when I can afford it. Looking at what other people do is just not why I'm on vacation.

 

[DanInMN]

I thought Walt himself said that he was not happy with how things worked out for Disneyland. He wanted Disneyworld to be in the image of his dream....without all the commercial development encroaching on his properties. Now it seems Disneyworld is filling up with Waldorf, Four Seasons, Hiltons, Bonnet Creek...they are not in the theme of Disney. You might as well throw some Motel 6 among the all stars. I am sure they could throw some mid level chain motels around the moderates as well. I wonder what Walt would think if he was around now. IMO, I think Disney still tries to cater to many income levels though.

Yes, although the area around DL became blighted with trash. At least the Waldorf, Four Seasons, and WBC are much nicer!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I thought Walt himself said that he was not happy with how things worked out for Disneyland. He wanted Disneyworld to be in the image of his dream....without all the commercial development encroaching on his properties. Now it seems Disneyworld is filling up with Waldorf, Four Seasons, Hiltons, Bonnet Creek...they are not in the theme of Disney. You might as well throw some Motel 6 among the all stars. I am sure they could throw some mid level chain motels around the moderates as well. I wonder what Walt would think if he was around now. IMO, I think Disney still tries to cater to many income levels though.

Yes, Disney bought enough property in FL to make sure they could control the "sight lines" so to speak in WDW, unlike in DL where you can basically cross the street and be off property - can't do it in WDW.

Bonnet Creek is not on WDW property, though. However, you can only access it FROM WDW property. The Bonnet Creek area was the only hold-out when Disney was secretly buying land in FL to create WDW. Disney could not buy the land. All other non-Disney hotels on property (Swan, Dolphin, Four Seasons, etc.) were built in cooperation with Disney. They are just managed by others. No companies are simply coming onto property owned by Disney and willy, nilly, building hotels . . .

BTW, Disney didn't intend to even manage the first hotels on WDW property (CR and Poly) when they first opened in 1971. Western International and Marriott were supposed to manage them, but, after they entered an agreement with US Steel, Disney agreed to manage them themselves. They knew nothing about the hotel business at the time. Even the Disneyland hotel in CA was being managed by another company. So, working in conjunction with other hotel management companies on Disney properties is completely in step with Disney theme park history.

 

[minnie mum]

I thought Walt himself said that he was not happy with how things worked out for Disneyland. He wanted Disneyworld to be in the image of his dream....without all the commercial development encroaching on his properties.

This is true. But Walt was unhappy with the tackines of the low level motels and tourist traps that sprang up along the streets that bordered DLR. There was no 'bubble' to surround DLR. WDW does afford that cushion. There is plenty of separation between the occupied areas of WDW and the tourist trap areas of Kissimmee and some of the other neighboring areas. And the non Disney operated hotels on property were carefully vetted, and I would wager that there was heavy veto power in the design process of those hotels so they would 'fit' with the Disney esthetic. Walt was never against commercialism per se. After all, DLR had corporate sponsorship up the wazoo right from day 1.

 

[DanInMN]

It is still possible for middle income families to visit WDW. Airfare from many cities to Orlando is cheap, since it is a popular and competitive destination. Orlando is grossly overbuilt with rental properties, so off-site hotel/condo/house pricing can be very reasonable if you shop around. Rental cars are also really cheap, again if you shop around. Off-site restaurants cost about the same as anywhere, or with a condo you can eat some meals in. We have done this many times.

Admission prices keep rising, yet not bad with multi-day passes. In April we will fly down on Friday and return home 9 days later on a Sunday. We don't go to the parks on travel days, and take one additional day off to swim, etc. So we have 7 day passes, which are currently $335. That is $47/day... which is not that bad.

WDW competes with cruises, Caribbean resorts, Hawaii, and Europe trips for the family vacation dollar. We have done all of these (except Hawaii) but have chosen to visit WDW the most. If the prices get too out of line we will shift to other enjoyable options. I think that a Royal Caribbean cruise may be on the agenda for 2017 (DCL is double the RCL price, and our last trip on RCL was great!)