What is going on with Disney parks?

[ChipnDale79]

Not only is that a family of 4, but it's one with 2 Disney-aged kids...I don't think any of your bills will be under $200 when your kids turn 10 and 11...and that's crazy for what's mostly TGIFridays/Chili's/Cracker Barrel food quality...

Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that. That age limit to be considered an "adult" at disney is another thing thats crazy.

 

[dez1978]

Not only is that a family of 4, but it's one with 2 Disney-aged kids...I don't think any of your bills will be under $200 when your kids turn 10 and 11...and that's crazy for what's mostly TGIFridays/Chili's/Cracker Barrel food quality...

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks the food quality is not worth the cost. I know its about the "experience" but for the price the food should be better

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks the food quality is not worth the cost. I know its about the "experience" but for the price the food should be better

I agree but I also can't think of an amusement park/theme park where the quality of food justifies the price.

Wish Disney was different! I tell myself I'm paying for the experience I don't get at other locations.

 

[Searc]

Yes to most of that, but I don’t agree with the line where APs don’t break even for 98% of people.

DH and I paid I think $20 ish less for our APs (with the increase) than we would have for hoppers for our two trips. That’s forgetting pictures, discounts, etc. Locals have to be breaking even if they go somewhat frequently. People taking at least 2 trips have to be pretty close to break even even with shorter trips with how front loaded tickets are.

The APs are very expensive, but the regular tickets are too.

Locals also get a huge price break on AP's and have more options than us out-of-staters.

 

[Searc]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks the food quality is not worth the cost. I know its about the "experience" but for the price the food should be better

It used to be, before the dining plan became popular (and free).

 

[Q-man]

Each person is different. I like booking our dining first then working our FP's around that. But that's just me.

Most planners do since dining opens 120 days before FP.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I agree but I also can't think of an amusement park/theme park where the quality of food justifies the price.

here's where disney should stand out. How many other theme parks are open year round and are crowded every day? There arent many.

There's no reason why Disney isnt pumping out higher quality food at all the counter service locations. The profit margin on those alone have got to be through the roof.

Id understand if the location sat empty 60-70% of the year, its not a "full time restaurant" when thats the case. However disney has no excuse for poor quality food.

They should be embarrassed by the burgers and nuggets the sell.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes to most of that, but I don’t agree with the line where APs don’t break even for 98% of people.

DH and I paid I think $20 ish less for our APs (with the increase) than we would have for hoppers for our two trips. That’s forgetting pictures, discounts, etc. Locals have to be breaking even if they go somewhat frequently. People taking at least 2 trips have to be pretty close to break even even with shorter trips with how front loaded tickets are.

The APs are very expensive, but the regular tickets are too.

Really depends on when you're going though with blackout dates and dynamic pricing involved (which affects your base pricing of your tickets)

APs can make a lot of sense but people have to look at it all the way through. From blackout dates to what discounts they'll get and if they will be utilizing them.

CA and FL residents get the option to pay monthly. That can be a real helper there. Sticker shock and paying all at once AND actually using what comes with an AP can make it so someone doesn't get it.

 

[Q-man]

Yes to most of that, but I don’t agree with the line where APs don’t break even for 98% of people.

DH and I paid I think $20 ish less for our APs (with the increase) than we would have for hoppers for our two trips. That’s forgetting pictures, discounts, etc. Locals have to be breaking even if they go somewhat frequently. People taking at least 2 trips have to be pretty close to break even even with shorter trips with how front loaded tickets are.

The APs are very expensive, but the regular tickets are too.

Do you think more than 2% of guests can go twice a year?

 

[Arthur2990]

How many in your generation are having children? Going from the "baby boomers" to "generation x" to "millennials" to now "generation z" (or whatever you want to call it), the trend has gone from couples having children in their early twenties, to having children in their late twenties/early thirties, and older. Obviously, its too early to know the definitive trend for millennials and generation z; but, I know quite a few young couple who proclaim that they don't plan on having children at all. This is anecdotal, of course, and certainly subject to change as they age into their thirties and beyond (particularly, millennials as they are first up). But, it makes me wonder if the relative lack of younger couples with children is having a current impact on attendance at Disney parks.

Rhino said once to twice the new large demographic going to Disney Land are childless millennials. So its already a trend.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Do you think more than 2% of guests can go twice a year?

If they cannot and also aren’t local I also don’t see why they would be buying APs?

Believe me, I don’t think they’re a bargain , but considering the ticket prices I don’t think it’s that difficult to break even for those actually in the market for an AP.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Really depends on when you're going though with blackout dates and dynamic pricing involved (which affects your base pricing of your tickets)

APs can make a lot of sense but people have to look at it all the way through. From blackout dates to what discounts they'll get and if they will be utilizing them.

CA and FL residents get the option to pay monthly. That can be a real helper there. Sticker shock and paying all at once AND actually using what comes with an AP can make it so someone doesn't get it.

I’m just considering the full priced platinum pass, we don’t qualify for anything cheaper. If we can break even using that for 2 trips I don’t think it’s true that 98% of passholders can’t.

Obviously it speaks to the crazy prices of tickets, not that APs are a bargain. Just saying, they match.

 

[Jack_Sparrow_NJ]

So let’s see

Attendance is down in general
SWGE is not performing as anticipated

Changes to senior management

Stock volatility which certainly hurts the largest share holder.

Brand seems a bit tarnished in the eyes of its consumers.

What happens next ?? They can’t ignore it.

 

[dez1978]

I agree but I also can't think of an amusement park/theme park where the quality of food justifies the price.

Wish Disney was different! I tell myself I'm paying for the experience I don't get at other locations.

I've never been anywhere else at a theme park where a meal is $50 a person though.

 

[rteetz]

So let’s see

Attendance is down in general
SWGE is not performing as anticipated

Changes to senior management

Stock volatility which certainly hurts the largest share holder.

Brand seems a bit tarnished in the eyes of its consumers.

What happens next ?? They can’t ignore it.

I don’t know if the brand is a bit tarnished. Seems to be a lot of excitement around Marvel and Disney+ still.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Rhino said once to twice the new large demographic going to Disney Land are childless millennials. So its already a trend.

We are millennials with kids, we would probably go more often if we were childless. Could funnel all the kids activity fees directly into a vacation account haha.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’m just considering the full priced platinum pass, we don’t qualify for anything cheaper. If we can break even using that for 2 trips I don’t think it’s true that 98% of passholders can’t.

Obviously it speaks to the crazy prices of tickets, not that APs are a bargain. Just saying, they match.

It for sure didn't work out for us for DLR in terms of their AP pricing but DLR is different in pricing than WDW.

One thing I will note is you'd have to compare what your price is with buying tickets through a 3rd party reseller because that can widen the gap on it in terms of financials.

How many days were you going for each trip?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

It for sure didn't work out for us for DLR in terms of their AP pricing but DLR is different in pricing than WDW.

One thing I will note is you'd have to compare what your price is with buying tickets through a 3rd party reseller because that can widen the gap on it in terms of financials.

How many days were you going for each trip?

A 5 day and 10 day hopper put us over the price of the AP by $20-50 (fuzzy memory) with ticket price to ticket price alone. With the new Canadian discount released yesterday it’s a lot murkier, but we’re 20 something days out and couldn’t have waited on tickets.

For the rest, we buy memory maker anyways or at the very least would have on the longer trip. We eat at lots of TS, and will make moderate use of the merchandise discount.

We break even (and even come out ahead) because everything is proportionally expensive lol.

 

[Q-man]

If they cannot and also aren’t local I also don’t see why they would be buying APs?

Believe me, I don’t think they’re a bargain , but considering the ticket prices I don’t think it’s that difficult to break even for those actually in the market for an AP.

We always did one member of the party bought an AP for the food and merchandise discounts and free parking.

 

[mshanson3121]

After school/summer vacations, I'll hear about some trips to Disney, but more to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Europe, National Parks, etc. And again, these are generally middle class families, not super wealthy. And when I do hear about Disney trips, the parents often talk about it as if it was something they had to endure, not enjoy! Like, the kids enjoyed it, but thank goodness we never have to do that again! Or they just wait the kids out until they outgrow asking to go! I would think Disney would not want to cultivate that kind of reputation over the long term.

I see this a lot, too. Most people I know are not vacationing at Disney. They're going to the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, across Canada/the US etc... International travel has gotten so much more affordable. Those that do Disney, it's a one and done.