When will the Disney Money Grabbing End?

[DebbieB]

Say goodbye to extra magic hours for free. Im sure there is no limit to the amount of tickets that they will sell. We haven't been in 5 years- considered it this year and the more I read the more I think I will just stick to Universal for my theme park needs.

There's a fine line there. For the morning, there are only so many people they can feed at Pinocchio's plus there are only 3 rides. If that gets too crowded, people will not want to do it at $69. For evening, the draw is paying $150 and getting short lines. If they sell too many and the lines get long, people will not want to pay it. I think it's going to be interesting to see the reviews. I really don't care because I don't do EMH.

 

[kathy884]

Their parties where they have been double dipping have been so successful that many sell sell out. The parties are too crowded, though. They are probably testing the waters to see if this is another way to make money. // I resisted parties as I didn't approve of that for a long time. But then there was the trip with just one Disney day allocated and we just did the party (so much for sticking to that). // If they limit numbers I could see people traveling at busy time being tempted by this or considering this rather than a day at the MK. Get everything in after hours when lines are short -- could be heavenly if weather is nice and you are an evening person. One day costs are already super high -- don't know the new price for high season, but it may not be all that much less than $150.

My strategy now -- DS is in college so has longer breaks -- for next year at least is to go in January when he is still on break, but almost everyone else is back in school (no Christmas decorations, but lower crowds and lower prices). I also only do one or two Disney days in any given year, so have a very high cost per day. But I don't want to do more than that, so the multiday tickets with a low daily cost don't make sense for us. We tend to do an annual very short trip, so have paid those high ticket prices for what seems like forever, ever since they put expiration dates on multiday tickets at least. And we never knew for sure we would be back, so never wanted to pay extra for no expiration.

 

[wendow]

For people saying they will pay this How many of you have done late EMH?
We always do late MK EMH and can tell many of you are going to be disappointed with the wait times. Last time we did it 7DMT was a 45 min wait the whole time even when we got in line right before EMH ended we waited at least 15 min. I seen PPF have a 40 min wait too.

We have only done the late hours once and SDMT had a 50 min wait almost the entire night also. I was very disappointed. Now, I am not willing to pay for this new Disney late night thing but I would *think* the number of people would be less than a regular EMH since that is open to all resort guests. It will be interesting once it begins to hear reports of how busy it is.

 

[dvc at last !]

Not interested !

 

[Jake]

You don't get it. Disney wants to give the rich a way to see Disney with out dealing with the middle class and poor.
You have to be well off to spend ( family of 4 is $600, for three hours) the middle class can't do that. So the rich can enjoy Disney with out rubbing shoulders with the poor

 

[DawnM]

They will stop it as soon as people stop paying it.

We haven't been to Disney since 2014 (Dec) because the crowd levels, even during "slow" times, has gotten insane. It isn't as enjoyable to us. In 2015 we got Universal APs and it was far less crowded, we even went in August of this past year.

 

[EricInPA]

You don't get it. Disney wants to give the rich a way to see Disney with out dealing with the middle class and poor.

They've already have that for a long time. VIP Tours.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

You don't get it. Disney wants to give the rich a way to see Disney with out dealing with the middle class and poor.
You have to be well off to spend ( family of 4 is $600, for three hours) the middle class can't do that. So the rich can enjoy Disney with out rubbing shoulders with the poor

Isn't that about what it would cost a family of 4 to go to a pro football game? I'm sure not all the people in the stands are rich. There are thousands every Sunday in stadiums all over the country.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Isn't that about what it would cost a family of 4 to go to a pro football game? I'm sure not all the people in the stands are rich. There are thousands every Sunday in stadiums all over the country.

This is true and I am sure there are lots of other similar examples, such as 1 Starbucks drink ($5) per person per day for a month. It is all about how we are valuing the experience and our money.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

This is true and I am sure there are lots of other similar examples, such as 1 Starbucks drink ($5) per person per day for a month. It is all about how we are valuing the experience and our money.

I agree. The value isn't there for me on this either. But then again it isn't for football games either. It is there for a stay at deluxe resorts though. Guess the differences in how people spend is what makes the world go round... Even Disney World.

 

[GreatLakes]

When there is a downturn in the economy and attendance falls there will be a rollback in prices. It will almost certainly be in the form of offers as opposed to an actual lowering of prices but the end result will be the same. (General) you will just have to figure out which is more important. A thriving economy that allows more people to afford a Disney vacation but higher prices or a recession that lowers your net worth and investment portfolio (and possibly income) but means cheaper Disney trips.

Personally I'll take the current year over year growth over a cheaper Disney vacation but YMMV.

 

[manning]

149 bucks can get you a couple nice steaks at shula.

I paid to get into the park the first time. Why would I want to pay a second time?

 

[Eastern]

This is true and I am sure there are lots of other similar examples, such as 1 Starbucks drink ($5) per person per day for a month.

omg even if you want to spend money like that, what about the time factor? I have a Starbucks card that I never use because the line is always long. And then you have to wait for them to craft your beverage. It is a serious time waster!

 

[dcfromva]

This sounds like the 25th anniversary party DVC had on 24 Feb and 3 Mar (only it was free). $149.00 is too much for me. I would feel compelled to stay to the end. And, it is too late in the evening for me. Also, it would poach time from the next day's events.

DH and I generally do not go to the MNSSHP or MVMCP events because of the late hours--well, that and because it costs extra. On top of that, every time we have gone it was crowded (obviously, there is a demand for it). This fall, I am planning to go to MNSSHP with my SIL and niece. I hope it doesn't cost $149.00.

$149.00 for a whole day's admission into the park is too much, let alone just 3 hours!

 

[redgokart]

$149.00 for a whole day's admission into the park is too much, let alone just 3 hours!

its from 7pm to 1am (6 hours) and 7 hours some nights.

 

[kymom99]

its from 7pm to 1am (6 hours) and 7 hours some nights.

True but only 3 of those hours are exclusive to ticket holders

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

This sounds like the 25th anniversary party DVC had on 24 Feb and 3 Mar (only it was free). $149.00 is too much for me. I would feel compelled to stay to the end. And, it is too late in the evening for me. Also, it would poach time from the next day's events.

DH and I generally do not go to the MNSSHP or MVMCP events because of the late hours--well, that and because it costs extra. On top of that, every time we have gone it was crowded (obviously, there is a demand for it). This fall, I am planning to go to MNSSHP with my SIL and niece. I hope it doesn't cost $149.00.

$149.00 for a whole day's admission into the park is too much, let alone just 3 hours!

This sounds exactly like the DVC party, even down to the Mickey bars and drinks. Except DVC got an exclusive fireworks display at midnight, which was awesome. I think it was fun, but I would not have paid $300 for DH and I to attend. It was just a nice perk of being DVC members and we just happened to have trip at the same time.

 

[Mrlogboy]

OK for weeks now I've been researching the net to do with all these price hikes probable price hikes and I got an idea in my head . I start to look on the Internet to see if there's any reports on the percentage of people in the park based on their nationality . The reason why want to do this is because I gone to the park since 1971 I was only four months at the time and don't remember much . Then frequented the parks a bit me 80s more in the 90s and prior to going to last July 4, 2002 was the last time I went to Disney World. So my thinking is in the 80s and 90s the percentage of people in the park that were from America with maybe 60 or 40% . And add the years progress that percentage might be dropping a little bit and or changing because the percentage of international travelers is picking up . Heck if you don't make a reservation at least maybe a year out you'll have a hard time really getting what you want to get sometimes depending on the time of the month . So on the disboards, please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the majority of the people posting are from United States of America .Who have traveled quite frequently yearly if not every few years and have gotten used to the way the park is the way The Disney dream is . and like others I believe this last July vacation will be the last one for a little bit maybe five years to Disney World I can always go to Disneyland or heck maybe Shanghai I'll be cheaper. so yes prices will continue to increase even more than mess things that were free will get parsed out and have fees attached to them again because they can .let's go back to the 20% to 40% that are American. It's a 10% drop off Bella be a very little blip to Disney because I'm sure the international travelers will pick up and fill in the gap's plus as well ride Lines to get a little bit shorter. don't want to be a bearer of bad news but I do unfortunately greet hundred percent with Pete . This will change when overall demand changes which I do not see any time soon . Heck even if demand changes and say about five years well guess what we got toys story land we got Star Wars land avatar lands been up for a while so I see this as sustaining for maybe 10+ years unfortunately . Now that's not to say they will not have deals hopefully the Disney folks are smart enough to realize that maybe there are more international people coming then local people and like they give deals to Canadians maybe they will give some deals to Americans similar to they give deals to the Florida people might be harder to grab but hey we can always hope. And if that does not work we can just try and sprinkle pixie dust .

 

[LizzyS]

I don't see the huge "to do" about this or why people are freaking out. They are not replacing EMH with this. They're not taking away any park time for this (like with parties). You can choose to do it or not. I just don't get being upset. There was obviously a demand for it or Disney wouldn't be doing it. I think it's a good business move that doesn't hurt me as a guest in any way.

Honestly, I think it sounds fun depending on how many tickets are sold.

I have to agree, this doesn't bother me. What I find sort of irritating is parks closing early for parties that require an extra ticket.

 

[CT15]

2016: The Year of the Hungry Mouse!

Disney has announced yet another upsell - Magic Kingdom After Hours.

http://www.inquisitr.com/2912667/wa...sney-after-hours-paid-event-at-magic-kingdom/

For $149 PER PERSON, you too can enjoy 3 extra hours in the MK after the park closes! Seriously. This is not an April Fools joke!

So far, the dates scheduled are:

• 
  
  
  • April: 14, 21, 28

• 
  
  
  • May: 5, 8, 12, 19

No special parades or entertainment are planned for those nights. Food venues will be closed. It sounds like only attractions will be open during that time period.

I wonder how this will affect evening EMH for onsite guests? And if there is no effect, is this a way for Disney to add "value" to onsite stays?

So sorry - but I need to vent - I am an avid Disney fan, have been going to the parks 2-3 times a year since '90, take Disney cruises, am a DVC member, LOVE all things Disney- just like all of you. After reading about these "add-on" price tags to items which were previously part of my ticket I am VERY SAD and DISCOURGED. Disney vacations were never cheap, but the quality and the attention to detail was unsurpassed.

Disney has ALWAYS been my haven- my go to place to get away from the stress of live to forget the horrible things that are going on - and be happy. The parks, the rides, the resorts, The cast members, the flowers, the music, all these little things make my trip special. When you go to Disney you KNOW what to expect- a great trip.

But now I fear that my Disney bubble may burst, I see Disney trying to make me pay for things that were previously part of my tkt, and it makes me sad to see this occur. With my Disney vacation I always felt I was getting "top quality" and "exceptional service" special things for what I was paying for, but with these petty increases, and most recently the change in removing live actors from the parks [the bands at EPCOT, Studios street performers] Disney is not only making us pay for items that we once received as part of admission, but they are now removing things that I looked forward too, and valued during my visits.

I truly hope that this trend will not continue, because if it does, Disney will be lowering itself to become just like every other mediocre theme park- and that special sparkle, will be lost. If the Disney "bubble" is broken then there will be nothing special to draw me in. I can spend my money anywhere and visit other places and see other things, and perhaps, maybe not be disappointed spending my money.

Disney please rethink what you are doing.