What is it with the Canadians?

[luckytso]

I just checked Mousesavers.com and found that WDW is offering discounts up to April for value resorts, plus they offer that park hopper discount (buy1, 2nd one half off I think).

Is it because the Canadians are not visiting WDW as much as before versus the Americans? I would love to see this type of hopper discount for us Americans too.

 

[Tense]

I believe they offer Canadians better deals because of their rate of exchange. To the Canadians it would be = to the americans because their money is something like 1.56 for every US dollar. So don't feel cheated.

 

[grover]

Yes-we lose a ton on the exchange rate and the deals for us don't run all year long.

I just went and bought 3 adult PHP and they cost me 447.00 each for a grand total of 1341.00 Canadian funds-I am travelling before the new deal takes effect so I got to pay the normal price!!

Believe me-we pay twice more than what you would pay for the same vacation. Our vacation will cost us about 7000.00 Canadian, that is for airfare,hotel (at a discount and most of it is at the allstars-only 3 nights at the akl),rental car,food(counter service and two mabey 3 sit down meals),park tickets(disney/us/ioa) and insurance--I am sure 7000.00 of your American Dollars would buy you alot more! But I love Disney as does my family so we try not dwell on what it costs-it is the memories that count!

People in the USA get discounts too-just gotta keep your eyes open for them!

I may now be broke but I am going to disney!!

Grover in Winnipeg

 

[epcotfan]

We also make up a large part of their business. If we can't afford to go then they lose business. They offer the discounts because (as others have said) our exchange rate stinks right now. More often than not the exchange works out to about $1.60 when you add on bank money exchange fees, credit card exchange fees etc... It is a lucky day when it goes to $1.55 or lower. Buying a hamburg and fries for about $6.00 US works out to about $10 Canadian. A $2.50 water is $4.00 Canadian...and so on. It is fortunate when we can have a bit of a discount on rooms or tickets considering everything else (food, etc...) will still cost as much.

 

[Joyce DC]

I think it's great that our wonderful neighbors to the north are able to get a break from the exchange rate. Hope to see you all soon!

 

[luckytso]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess now it is a great time to visit Canada too given the great exchange rate.

I certainly would like to see WDW have more visitors. One post somewhere on this Board said that the resort occupancy for Xmas was only about 40% (not sure as of what time or the source) makes me feel a little sad. I would like to see a much higher occupancy rate so that WDW can continue maintaining its high level of services and amenities.

However, many of us are avid Disney lovers and I would love to buy a 7-day hopper with a deal like buy one get the 2nd one even 25% off (does not need to be 50% off), but just something to help in this depressed economy.

I bought 4 AP vouchers right before the price increase in September and they cost more than $1,200 (even with DC discount). It was the biggest item on my credit card that month. There was so little discount in terms of the park passes ever offered to us. In this type of economy, it will be great if they can offer some park pass discounts for people who otherwise would not go, in addition to just the Canadians.

 

[zulaya]

I don't think Americans have anything to gripe about. Knowing the exchange rate, it must be twice as hard, especially for families to get to DIsney World. Yeah, ticket prices are getting higher, but if you watch Mousesavers or check out Ticketmania or FloridaOrlandoTickets, you can always find a deal.

And room rate codes have been pretty much a given, with the exception of Peak and Holiday Seasons since 2001. You just have to watch for them and take advantage of the ones that work for you.

 

[mom_rules]

Just to add my $.02 -

Went to buy some US $ yesterday and the rate improved??!?!?

They were charging 1.62.

Great time for Americans to come visit the Great White North-
Maybe Disney would like to build a Canadian Park-lol?

 

[vicb]

My father took all 12 of us up to Toronto over last Memorial Day to see the Lion King. We had a wonderful time there and yes the exchange rate was very helpful in making it an affordable trip. And the Canadians are very gracious hosts to American visitors. So I'm glad our northern friends are getting some consideration by Disney.

 

[NancyK]

You should also know that the special buy one. get one half parkhoppers aren't like your regular 7 day parkhoppers. They have an expiry date and can only be used from mid-November to the end of April. Still, it's a great deal for those travelling during that time frame. I think it would be nice if they could offer some kind of park hopper discounts for Americans too.

 

[PamOKW]

Canadians are a very vital part of the tourism industry not just for WDW but throughout Florida. Many, many Canadians come to Florida in the winter. The exchange rate and concerns about traveling to the U.S. are keeping some Canadians back home. These incentives from Disney and a really, really cold winter may help get our friends back down to WDW.

 

[Calcio]

I'd like to second the idea of helping out our Canadian friends, especially with the current Can $/US $ exchange rate.

This August my lovely spouse and I spent 6 days in Quebec City, staying at a glorious hotel (Dominion 1912, probably the nicest place we've ever stayed), dining at fine restaurants, and touring the city and region. With the exchange rate at Can $1.58/US $ the entire week cost us almost nothing.

I cannot imagine the strain on a Canadian family travelling to the US and spending US $. Anything that makes it easier for them to visit the US gets my support.

In every trip I've ever made to Canada, my hosts too have been gracious and wonderful. Let's make sure we reciprocate.

 

[luckytso]

I would like to clarify that this thread is not trying to complain about the discounts given to the Canadians, but that there are no great discounts offered to the people in the States.

I understand with the exchange rate, WDW becomes a much more expensive trip for the Canadians than before.

However, by checking out various websites and ticket brokers, including Mousesavers, I don't remember ever seeing any discounts that are remotely close to what is currently offered to the Canadians.

I just feel that Disney should give us a break too. It does not have to be all the time. Even just a window of opportunities will be great.

I love visiting Canada, there are so many great destinations. Maybe that will be where we are going next summer.

 

[vicb]

luckytso,

I reread your original post and did not think it was a complaint about Canadians at all. Your ? was a valid one. I think many of us feel strongly about our Canadian neighbors. You're right it would be nice to have that kind of discount window for Americans too but probably not going to happen. Sometimes I feel that way about certain states that seem to be favored with more codes or discount opportunities but rarely if ever for the one I live in. Oh well.....

 

[cinder1]

I agree. I don't begrudge the Canadians getting the discounts or other states, I just wish the more states (or preferably, everyone) would be offered discounts. Even though many experts say the economy is on the rise, where I live we certainly are not seeing it. My area has many technology companies that are not doing well. I have never known so many people who have been laid off or are scared they are next. So my point is that discounts would be great for everyone, including Disney. We all know they have had to lay off a lot of people too. Maybe discounts would bring more visitors at a time when Disney needs help too.

 

[Calcio]

What I'm trying to say is I'm cool with WDW helping out their Canadian guests.

I'd guess that most businesses in the Seattle area are doing what they can right not to help out their customers who work at Boeing (or have been laid off from Boeing), and are having very difficult times. I look at this the same way, taking care of valuable past and future customers who could use some help.

That doesn't mean I'm not waiting to see the discounts for coming months that are available to all, but I can accept and justify a little extra for Canadian visitors.

 

[DigitalDizzney]

Just to put it in perspective, Im from Canada, and I just bought my fiancee and I trip to disney in December.

For 10 nights at the AKL with Sav. view, ultimate park hopper tickets, and plane tickets cost me $6200 canadian dollars!

Thats as cheap as it gets for us too. That was Disney taking my money at par in the off season.

I was almost contemplating heading back over to europe for that price, but Disney is a MUST.

 

[erikthewise]

After firing up my gasoline-powered calculator, it seems that giving parity to Canadians at an exchange rate of $1.60CA = $1.00US amounts to a discount of 37.5%. The best resort discounts available to the general public are 35%-40%+ at certain times of year; you can get 45% discounts with AP. I don't see a problem here.

BTW if they build Disneyland Toronto (or Winnipeg!), I'll go! But perhaps not in December...

 

[Calcio]

Ah yes, Disneyland Winnipeg.

Just imagine the themed water park. Artificial mountains (no real ones in Winnipeg), slides, chutes, rivers.

January 15, it's 20 degrees below zero farenheit, wind blowing about 30 miles per hour across the prairie.

What to call the water park? Of course, a real Blizzard Beach!

Have I ever been to Winnipeg? No, but I'm trusting my Canadian friends who tell me it's the coldest place in Canada.

 

[Folkes4Fun]

Not to encourage under the age of 25 to watch this, but maybe the South Park guys were right when they wrote their song Blame Canada for the movie. First Terrance and Philip, now this.

In all seriousness, I think we (Americans) owe Canadians big time for the following contributions: Hockey, John Candy, Neil Young, the McKenzie brothers and the movie Strange Brew, SCTV in general, and Rush. Even when you subtract points for Alanis Morissette, Canada has a big net contribution. So I for one will gladly pop a Labatts and admire the architectural wonder that is Sky Dome and give it up for the Canadians.

It is the least Disney can do!!