I'll preface this post by saying this is clearly one person's opinion, and I respect and understand why many, especially here, may disagree. Just want to give some insight, if anyone cares, as to why I no longer consider Disney in my vacation plans.
My Families Disney trip, essentially included one week, at the Beach Club, rental car and Park Hoppers. I always considered vacation a special time, a time of few "no's" and a time to splurge. This likely goes back to when I was a kid, we were a middle class family, and let's just say mom was TIGHT with the purse strings. Perhaps the only week of the year where a simple thing like getting whatever we wanted from hotel the vending machine and almost everything was always a yes, was vacation. So, yes, we did stay deluxe resort and the whole 9. I've been fortunate in this life, and could afford this vacation - I still can, but the RELATIVE cost (along with nickel and diming which we'll get to) has just gotten too great. What I can do with the thousands of dollars that it now costs - thousands of dollars that doesn't give me the "luxurious" vacation of a decade ago at Disney, where elsewhere it does. I understand I could cut down levels of resort, eat some meals in the room or off site - but again, that's not vacation to me. I used to say ten years ago we could go anywhere domestically and have a week like kings - any restaraunt, any tours, on the water accomodations etc., for well under a Disney Trip. Now I can go many places in the WORLD with those same standards. It's getting hard to justify - especially with my kids now older.
HOW it's gotten to this point with pricing is the other issue. Parking was the last straw for me. and I don't understand rationalizations I've read on this board concerning it. Just as yesterday, with the announcements of refreshment increases, thousands were saying "increases are happening in your town, why wouldn't they there?' Well, for one, no grocery store in my town was already charging 800 plus % over cost on Coke products before all this started. Their margins are still laughable. Same with "You have to pay to park in every major city." Yes, but I see the premium on parking and land in downtown Chicago, NOT in Disney World with it's acres and acres of land AND acres and acres of parking spots already there. Furthermore, that patch of ground my rental car stays overnight - someone still has yet explained to me why I, as a customer at the Beach Club, pays more for it than someone at the all-star. It's ridiculous, it's a slap in the face, and an insult to my intelligence. And there are many other examples of where I feel played a fool by currents operations, and that's never a great thing.
If the idea was to reduce crowds (which again, laughable) then I'm obliging. I'm a Disney Fan, love Disney history, the parks are fascinating in many ways from construction, design, architecture, urban planning Americana and beyond, Imagineering and cast do wonderful things, but no longer will I be taking part in the circus that it has become. Bottom line, and my opinion only, is Disney is well aware of the demographics in this country. Their target and concern is at the top, and we're currently being caught in their path to get there. Pete, on the Podcast has mini ranted several times when there is a change - usually the annual ticket cost increase, to not complain if you're still gonna come, well, I'm out. Sad. I have memories I'll have forever from the place, and I wouldn't trade em. Best of luck to all Disney fans staying the course.
My Families Disney trip, essentially included one week, at the Beach Club, rental car and Park Hoppers. I always considered vacation a special time, a time of few "no's" and a time to splurge. This likely goes back to when I was a kid, we were a middle class family, and let's just say mom was TIGHT with the purse strings. Perhaps the only week of the year where a simple thing like getting whatever we wanted from hotel the vending machine and almost everything was always a yes, was vacation. So, yes, we did stay deluxe resort and the whole 9. I've been fortunate in this life, and could afford this vacation - I still can, but the RELATIVE cost (along with nickel and diming which we'll get to) has just gotten too great. What I can do with the thousands of dollars that it now costs - thousands of dollars that doesn't give me the "luxurious" vacation of a decade ago at Disney, where elsewhere it does. I understand I could cut down levels of resort, eat some meals in the room or off site - but again, that's not vacation to me. I used to say ten years ago we could go anywhere domestically and have a week like kings - any restaraunt, any tours, on the water accomodations etc., for well under a Disney Trip. Now I can go many places in the WORLD with those same standards. It's getting hard to justify - especially with my kids now older.
HOW it's gotten to this point with pricing is the other issue. Parking was the last straw for me. and I don't understand rationalizations I've read on this board concerning it. Just as yesterday, with the announcements of refreshment increases, thousands were saying "increases are happening in your town, why wouldn't they there?' Well, for one, no grocery store in my town was already charging 800 plus % over cost on Coke products before all this started. Their margins are still laughable. Same with "You have to pay to park in every major city." Yes, but I see the premium on parking and land in downtown Chicago, NOT in Disney World with it's acres and acres of land AND acres and acres of parking spots already there. Furthermore, that patch of ground my rental car stays overnight - someone still has yet explained to me why I, as a customer at the Beach Club, pays more for it than someone at the all-star. It's ridiculous, it's a slap in the face, and an insult to my intelligence. And there are many other examples of where I feel played a fool by currents operations, and that's never a great thing.
If the idea was to reduce crowds (which again, laughable) then I'm obliging. I'm a Disney Fan, love Disney history, the parks are fascinating in many ways from construction, design, architecture, urban planning Americana and beyond, Imagineering and cast do wonderful things, but no longer will I be taking part in the circus that it has become. Bottom line, and my opinion only, is Disney is well aware of the demographics in this country. Their target and concern is at the top, and we're currently being caught in their path to get there. Pete, on the Podcast has mini ranted several times when there is a change - usually the annual ticket cost increase, to not complain if you're still gonna come, well, I'm out. Sad. I have memories I'll have forever from the place, and I wouldn't trade em. Best of luck to all Disney fans staying the course.
