What is going on with Disney parks?

[mickeyluv'r]

I thing WDWs discounts are a lot like Gap/Old Navy’s, Gap/Old Navy even occurring more. Yet still when I talk to people about where I buy my kids clothing, they often talk about how expensive Gap is and are surprised when I say it’s almost always 40% off.

I think WDW is similar. It might seem obvious, but there are still people not getting discounts. There are also large number of people who travel during holidays where the rooms are at their most expensive and also without discounts. I wouldn’t do it, but someone out there is paying these rates.

I sometimes shop Gap, but I also find - even the 40% (plus extra bonus 20%) rates are STILL a bit high for many items.

Which kind of brings me to another point I was going to make.

We don't always have time to chase every coupon, but we are constantly flooded with junk mail, coupons, emails, ads, etc.

Finding discount offers isn't a challenge.

It just isn't.

 

[DisneyKoyote]

You've entirely missed the point. Then again that's sorta how the conversation went on the other thread too.

To give some information just from my 2017 trip:

You wouldn't catch my step-father-in-law on social media---for reals he just got FB, they haven't had cable in several years, he likes to call places not search the web, he would absolutely just accept the rate as is not going around hunting and hunting, etc. If we're all traveling together they leave the big planning to us, if they were going on their own all bets are off and they do things their way which means they'll pay the higher price and be fine with it because that's just how they roll.

I completely understand. As I have mentioned before, this is my first trip to DW and I knew nothing about it planning wise. I saw the summer discounts on the Disney site, but none for the Nov dates that I wanted. Most people would just stop there and be like well that sucks there's no discount for my dates- I'll just book what I can at the normal rate. Lucky for me, I'm a hardcore planner and researcher. I pulled up all the historical discount times/rates (seriously..who does this lol, my bf thought I was crazy) and found that they usually release Nov discounts, just at a later date. But I can guarantee the majority of my friends would not do this (and we're in our late 20's so not even that old that we can't navigate the internet). Usually you book it, and do not go back to your lodging situation until it's basically time for your trip.
FYI: I still didn't get the discount anyways despite my TA being on top of it cause they went too fast.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You've entirely missed the point. Then again that's sorta how the conversation went on the other thread too.

We are supposed to follow DISboard rules when posting.

I've done my best to respect your point of view.

Please allow me to politely encourage a review the DISboard rules.

and have a nice day!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We are supposed to follow DISboard rules when posting.

I've done my best to respect your point of view.

Please allow me to politely encourage a review the DISboard rules.

and have a nice day!

Say what? There's nothing that I said that goes against the DIS. Have a great rest of your day too!

 

[rteetz]

We are supposed to follow DISboard rules when posting.

I've done my best to respect your point of view.

Please allow me to politely encourage a review the DISboard rules.

and have a nice day!

I don’t see any rules being broken here. Maybe it’s best for some to move on from this discussion and/or agree to disagree.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No welcome ceremony in MK. No parades in any of Epcot/AK/HS. No evening parade in MK. (Fewer evenings at all in MK, given all the special events.) Far less live entertainment in general. Camera boxes! -- They really don't want any more CMs than they can get away with, do they!

As for the pressed pennies...

Is there no end to what they'll take away?

What's next?

It was nice being at DLR with Fantasmic!, Main Street Electrical Parade, and Halloween Screams w/fireworks all available plus a previously watched World of Color show over at DCA (watched back in March). Now a lot of that was timing on our parts because of right when we went.

However it just kinda makes it more sour I guess when you think about MK not having a nighttime parade which for logistics I get to a point though the plus is they have fireworks every night at MK vs only on the weekends at DLR. It was also nice to have park hours til midnight at DL without a paid event causing that. Now operationally speaking DLR and WDW are different so I get it but at the same time...gets your mind thinking ya know?

 

[sethschroeder]

Since when has this ever worked? Higher pricing does not ever mean lower crowds

Did I miss something or has not a bunch of people (including DIS) been talking about how the higher rates have caused a reduced number of people to travel to WDW. Thus they need to come out with these special tickets and hotel rates.

Higher prices if high enough will absolutely mean lower crowds at a certain point and many are saying that is now. Did you not see all the people (at least posting) that they didn't renew their APs?

Higher pricing means both an actual base rate bump as well as reduction in discounts offered. Both will add up to an overall higher cost and have people price out and then forgo Disney when they see the budget needed.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Did I miss something or has not a bunch of people (including DIS) been talking about how the higher rates have caused a reduced number of people to travel to WDW. Thus they need to come out with these special tickets and hotel rates.

Higher prices if high enough will absolutely mean lower crowds at a certain point and many are saying that is now. Did you not see all the people (at least posting) that they didn't renew their APs?

Higher pricing means both an actual base rate bump as well as reduction in discounts offered. Both will add up to an overall higher cost and have people price out and then forgo Disney when they see the budget needed.

I don't think I'm mentioned it in this thread, but for us, higher WDW prices cause us to make other smaller cutbacks as well.

I suspect that one of the biggest factors is the state of the economy. People take more vacations when the economy is strong, and less when it is weak. Disney's prices are generally a reflection of the economy.

When WDW prices are low, we stay longer, maybe stay at nicer resorts, hop, eat more TS, etc.

When WDW prices are higher, we go less often and cut down as much as possible. (assuming we can go at all).

Does anyone else remember the old DIS threads about making grilled cheese sandwiches in the hotel room with a clothes iron? I always drew the line at clothes iron sandwiches, but we have tried a wide number of budget-stretchers over the years.

 

[LizzyS]

I was thinking about this last night and what I thought of was this-

How many Star Wars fans do you think said "Oh cool, let's go to Disney and check out Galaxy's Edge!", but are not regular park visitors (or have maybe been once or twice as a child) and received a hefty case of sticker shock when they priced out a Disney vacation?

I bet it's quite a few.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I was thinking about this last night and what I thought of was this-

How many Star Wars fans do you think said "Oh cool, let's go to Disney and check out Galaxy's Edge!", but are not regular park visitors (or have maybe been once or twice as a child) and received a hefty case of sticker shock when they priced out a Disney vacation?

I bet it's quite a few.

While I think the park tickets are on average $$$ in comparison to Universal I'm betting it's just like what you had/have people who went and still go to Universal just for Harry Potter.

The only thing both companies require is park tickets to have been bought. The rest is whatever someone makes of it.

I guess said in a different way how many of those big star wars fans who are not regular park visitors want to explore much of the other parks? How many of those big star wars fans who are not regular park guests are pricing out a Disney vacation? As is what constitutes a Disney vacation? Are we talking the people staying on-site booking packages getting the Dining Plan? Other than intially at DLR and for the sole purpose of EEMH for WDW (though that includes partner hotels too) there's not much pull IMO to getting all that for the big star wars fan who is going for Galaxy's Edge. Now when the Star Wars hotel opens up you'll find a different scenario but until then I just don't know how many mega Star Wars fans that weren't already parks people going and doing up the whole thing. That's not to say that the park tickets alone wouldn't have them going

 

[NickC]

I imagine some of the price increases are also due to the astronomical amount they paid for Fox, which was also a very unpopular move

You might be right. I don't know how the financials work at Disney, but I always pictured WDW having a separate P&L than Disney Films, Disney Paris, etc. Either way, we do know that SWGE was a huge expense that isn't proving to be as profitable as they hoped. Maybe when it is fully operational, people will come. Though I have to say that I'm not upset that my November trip won't be as crowded as I thought once the SWGE date was moved up. After all the rumors and speculation this year, I am still going into this trip with the same excitement as every year...any time away with my family is time well spent.

 

[NickC]

While I think the park tickets are on average $$$ in comparison to Universal I'm betting it's just like what you had/have people who went and still go to Universal just for Harry Potter.

I think the difference between SWGE and Harry Potter, is that HP is based on the novels and movies that made HP a household name. I don't think Universal would have had as much success if you couldn't eat at the Leaky Cauldron, ride Hogwarts Express or get a wand from Olivanders, etc. After a little bit of research on the vision of SWGE, I think it's a cool concept (and now that it won't be too crowded, I'm excited to check it out) but I think going to the source material would have attracted more people. Or course, I'm just speculating and could be way off....

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think the difference between SWGE and Harry Potter, is that HP is based on the novels and movies that made HP a household name. I don't think Universal would have had as much success if you couldn't eat at the Leaky Cauldron, ride Hogwarts Express or get a wand from Olivanders, etc. After a little bit of research on the vision of SWGE, I think it's a cool concept (and now that it won't be too crowded, I'm excited to check it out) but I think going to the source material would have attracted more people. Or course, I'm just speculating and could be way off....

It's totally a fair and valid point.

I was more responding to the sticker shock part of planning a Disney vacation when you're talking about the big star wars fan. Are the big star wars fans who aren't park people planning a Disney vacation in the way that we think of here? My opinion was probably not, but absolutely that was just my opinion.

 

[LizzyS]

While I think the park tickets are on average $$$ in comparison to Universal I'm betting it's just like what you had/have people who went and still go to Universal just for Harry Potter.

The only thing both companies require is park tickets to have been bought. The rest is whatever someone makes of it.

I guess said in a different way how many of those big star wars fans who are not regular park visitors want to explore much of the other parks? How many of those big star wars fans who are not regular park guests are pricing out a Disney vacation? As is what constitutes a Disney vacation? Are we talking the people staying on-site booking packages getting the Dining Plan? Other than intially at DLR and for the sole purpose of EEMH for WDW (though that includes partner hotels too) there's not much pull IMO to getting all that for the big star wars fan who is going for Galaxy's Edge. Now when the Star Wars hotel opens up you'll find a different scenario but until then I just don't know how many mega Star Wars fans that weren't already parks people going and doing up the whole thing. That's not to say that the park tickets alone wouldn't have them going

I agree with many of your thoughts here. Overall, it's a tricky fan base to target.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I agree with many of your thoughts here. Overall, it's a tricky fan base to target.

Agreed. And I think as we've seen hard to guess what will make them happy but appeal to the average park guest too. Not an easy position for Disney to be in in that respects that's for sure.

 

[fatmanatee]

I was thinking about this last night and what I thought of was this-

How many Star Wars fans do you think said "Oh cool, let's go to Disney and check out Galaxy's Edge!", but are not regular park visitors (or have maybe been once or twice as a child) and received a hefty case of sticker shock when they priced out a Disney vacation?

I bet it's quite a few.

I think a lot of the people who are going specifically for GE will go to DL, it's a better option if that's the main purpose for the trip and it's what I decided to do for my first visit (staying in LA, doing one park hopper day, and that's it). On the other hand I'll be at WDW for Rival Run in April and budgeting for that one is a concern.

 

[EmJ]

Does anyone else remember the old DIS threads about making grilled cheese sandwiches in the hotel room with a clothes iron? I always drew the line at clothes iron sandwiches, but we have tried a wide number of budget-stretchers over the years.

Clothes iron sandwiches

I just binge-read like 15 pages of this thread, and it was so worth it to get to this part! “Mom, I’m hungry!” “Hang on son, I’m ironing your sandwich right now!”

 

[jkh36619]

I think Disney has realized that SW fans aren't necessarily Disney park fans but as usual, it is us that pays for the mistake.

As far as prices...For the last 7 years, the only way we have "justified" is to AP, off-site with enough trips to where you don't even care about FPs. It's actually pretty nice to visit with no plans and just wing it.

However, we let our APs expire last month. Going to do some different things for the next couple of years. Not saying we won't go. Talking about a poor man's trip next spring break. Hitting DS and just resort hopping a few days. We enjoy that anyway. Plus I will need 2020 pin

 

[mshanson3121]

No welcome ceremony in MK. No parades in any of Epcot/AK/HS. No evening parade in MK. (Fewer evenings at all in MK, given all the special events.) Far less live entertainment in general. Camera boxes! -- They really don't want any more CMs than they can get away with, do they!

As for the pressed pennies...

Is there no end to what they'll take away?

What's next?

What about the pressed pennies? What did I miss?

 

[shh]

I think the difference between SWGE and Harry Potter, is that HP is based on the novels and movies that made HP a household name. I don't think Universal would have had as much success if you couldn't eat at the Leaky Cauldron, ride Hogwarts Express or get a wand from Olivanders, etc. After a little bit of research on the vision of SWGE, I think it's a cool concept (and now that it won't be too crowded, I'm excited to check it out) but I think going to the source material would have attracted more people. Or course, I'm just speculating and could be way off....

And that's mostly due to the HP author - who retained full creative rights and stayed on UO nonstop to make sure the new lands met her vision and high standards - they wanted to cheap out, cut corners, or take liberties with storylines and characters many times and she shot them down. That's why HP blows people away and Pandora and GE, while thematically and visually beautiful, are still lacking in many ways. WDW didn't have a gatekeeper like that to hold their corporate/non-creative execs' feet to the fire integrity and quality-wise.