Why give Florida residents a discount?

[ArwenMarie]

I remember when they jacked up the local passes out in CA allegedly to reduce crowds, that was one thing that people kept bringing up...That if the goal was really reducing crowds, eliminating the payment plan would be the way to do it. I think the same concept applies here.

Back to the original question, the one thing we can assume is WDW is not giving discounts to anyone out of the goodness of its heart. There is a business reason, whatever it may be.

 

[kbelle8995]

Yes Florida has always had it beach tourism and yes Orlando was once, nothing but part cow town, part swamp, but Disney has brought Trillions of dollars to Orlando and the state of Florida. Without Disney, there would be no Universal, There would be no Legoland, no Sea World, no MCO, no NBA Basketball team, 90% of the golf courses would not exist around Orlando, no nothing. 95% of all other industrial/Commercial development would not exist. It would still be just a cow town in the middle of a swamp. And you probably wouldn't live there today.

Not actually members of my family were here long before Disney due to the farming and cattle industry. Certainly the state would be different had Disney not come here. However there is more to Florida than theme parks and a swamp.

 

[lovethattink]

Doesn't seem like crowd control with this new update. Spring break block out dates removed on the Florida Resident Disney Select ticket. http://www.**************.net/2016/...s-for-florida-resident-disney-select-tickets/

 

[Feralpeg]

If they didn't give Florida residents a discount, many locals would not go to the parks. In fact, I know people who live within ten minutes of WDW who have never gone. It just doesn't interest them.

Florida residents are at a disadvantage in some ways. People who live near the parks don't know 180 days out that they will want to visit a park. Most of the time, I go on very short notice. I almost never can get an ADR to eat where I want in the parks. I don't schedule FP way in advance, so the majority of the FPs for the good rides are gone.

Don't get me wrong. I love being so close, but I might not consider an AP if I didn't get a discount and an easy way to pay for it.

 

[missnic]

If not for the Floridian discount, I would not go to Disney. And it's not just Disney that offers it. And one day Disney might need those Florida Residents again. And some of my fellow citizens already have a sour taste in their mouth about Disney do you really want to increase that?

And for those who state that FL. Res do not spend money. I live far enough away that I need a hotel to go to Orlando. I also purchase food and merchandise in the parks.

Agree completely. My driveway is exactly 150 miles from the TTC, and we have weekday select passes. So far this year, I have spent 7 days in the parks, and 3 nights onsite (2 nights offsite because onsite was completely booked). We've eaten in Disney restaurants each of those 6 days, a mix of TS and CS.

Last year, I'm not sure how many days/nights were spent at Disney, but I do know that I spent 3 nights at the Contemporary, and 4 nights at the Poly, with at least 20 nights at Pop. We stay value most of the time, but spend special occasions at Deluxe. We always stay onsite if we can, and once we're in the 'bubble', we're in. We don't venture out for dinner or anything. Our 'trips' are usually 2 nights, and we eat at least 1 TS. Now, we also have the ability to just go for the day, also eating Disney food, buying Disney stuff. Prior to the AP changes, we also paid for parking for those trips. We had probably 5 or 6 days like that In fact, DH is bugging me right now - he wants Biergarten for lunch tomorrow.

Now, that said.. The price for my Weekday Pass is perfect. Without the FL Resident discount, there is no way I would pay for an AP. I'm even good with the blackout dates. I have zero desire to visit during spring break, or 400 degrees out.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Doesn't seem like crowd control with this new update. Spring break block out dates removed on the Florida Resident Disney Select ticket. http://www.**************.net/2016/...s-for-florida-resident-disney-select-tickets/

Well, now I feel bad for telling people since January that they can't come those days. Especially the guest I had the other day who already had the 4-day and was asking about coming on March 27th or something like that, and I told him his ticket wouldn't work then.

 

[lovethattink]

Well, now I feel bad for telling people since January that they can't come those days. Especially the guest I had the other day who already had the 4-day and was asking about coming on March 27th or something like that, and I told him his ticket wouldn't work then.

No reason to feel bad. You told them exactly what the rules were that day. Hopefully, they'll get an email or hear by word of mouth about the changes. You had no way to know.

 

[kandb]

Good discussion. I always wonder if I lived in Florida if I would ever get an annual pass. I think I might get "tired" of Disney or I wouldn't feel as excited to go. I guess many Florida residents don't feel that way (obviously).

 

[HopperFan]

Good discussion. I always wonder if I lived in Florida if I would ever get an annual pass. I think I might get "tired" of Disney or it wouldn't feel as excited to go. I guess many Florida residents don't feel that way (obviously).

What you have to remember is that there are two kinds of Florida residents. The locals who can drop in when they want, even after work just for an ice cream and fireworks, that would make my day. But those people may go in, buy dinner, buy drinks, spend money ... and never get in one line, just spend money.

And there are many who live in Florida but not so close they go there for the day. Those folks still spend plenty on hotels, food, drinks and more. They may go once a month for long weekends and in the end spend way more than one family might spend traveling once per year.

Having an AP doesn't mean you hang out there all the time, it only means that it make financial sense. If they want to go one day a month, it makes sense. I have an AP, leave 8 hours away (not FL) and try to get there 5-6 times a year for 35-45 days total. If I moved somewhere in Florida (would not be close to Orlando) I would probably go more often but stay less days. FL AP rate gives me that little extra cash to make it more often and spend more money - and in the end they will probably make more money from me than I saved.

I don't think the price increases have anything to do with trying to thin or spread out crowds. Disney is loving the crowds. It's because people will pay it.

 

[goofyernmost]

When you say Disney uses Florida's land. Does that mean Disney doesn't own the land the parks are on? Just curious, I was under the impression Disney owned all the land they have their parks on. Does Disney pay their fair share of taxes to Florida? I would imagine all the taxes that Disney brings into Florida really helps the Florida residents, not vice versa.

This might have been addressed already... if so sorry. Disney, of course, owns the land, but, the taxpayers have to pay for all the infrastructure that is required for the park to work. Highway, bridges, police and fire to cover the areas that have become packed with people and are not on the Disney property itself. Disney also continues to ask for more and more support in tax cuts and even the roads inside the property are publicly maintained to a large degree. They need to keep the local taxpayers happy and willing to shill out more and more money to support the area. I'm sure that Disney does pay out a lot in some form of taxes, but, nothing compared to what any other private enterprise might be doing.

 

[Nancyg56]

It's a symbiotic relationship. a lot of times company's actually get huge tax breaks for doing business in a state. So I'm willing to bet Disney doesn't have a huge tax burden.

One shining example of how pissing your return visitors off can bite you in the you know where is the Casino industry in AC. Which is for all purposes dead as a door knob. Now a number of folks say it was because local casinos popped up but it really started with the casinos cutting little perks and customer service issues. AC used to have tons and tons of daily bus trips, especially with it's seniors, who people laugh at but seniors have disposable cash to spend.
raised the bus prices, cut the free drinks, cut the staff. then when the local casinos started popping up, people started asking "why go to AC"?

Now I absolutely know it's not the exact same industry but losing your tried and true business can cost you

True story! I live in CT and one n a while we go to the casino. DH and I are not gamblers so we are not frequent flyers, but the kids gave us three nights there I January. YAY! Holy Monday!!!! It was senior day...now it turns out that we are seniors!!! BOGO at the buffet! The place was mobbed, and the folks at the casino were prepared. Servers all through the gaming area handing out beverages, servers in the little show area with free bottle of water. I think the folks there know that one day a week they can count on the bus trips filled with seniors spending a little each week adds up.

 

[opal]

Before we moved to Florida, we would visit once a year for 5-7 days. We would stay onsite and dine at table service restaurants 2-3 times during our stay and counter service for the remaining meals. Every other year we would purchase an annual pass and schedule our trip for the following year within that one year period to maximize the annual pass. We now live a little over an hour away. We have seasonal annual passes. We average one trip a month during the allotted seasonal calendar. We usually stay 1-2 nights onsite. We average 1 table service meal a day. In addition, we almost always spend a day or two whenever family/friends visit. We still buy Disney apparel to wear when visiting. We purchase gifts for our family members etc. I look for the best room rates so by Disney standards I am looking for the less crowded days. Because we live fairly close, we don't stress over what we will be able to do while we are there......there is always the next visit. We usually schedule our 3 fast passes and maybe will do a couple more attractions, line lengths permitting. The rest of the time we spend dining, enjoying the street entertainment or shopping. If the wait for an attraction is more than 20 minutes, we will almost always skip it.

Given the current level of guests at WDW, I don't believe that Disney "needs" Florida residents today, but I think Disney recognizes that they could need us if there is a change in the economy as has happened in the past. Since we have lived in Florida, we have seen Value rates as low as $59. Why would they go out of their way to alienate a guest that may be getting a discount but still regularly spends money in the parks? After all the bottom line is profits.

We have friends who live just a few miles from WDW. They are in the Parks 3-4 times a week. They are not really interested in the more popular attractions and mostly just walk around the Parks and have a meal at a table service restaurant........they represent pure profit for Disney.

 

[hookedonears]

This might have been addressed already... if so sorry. Disney, of course, owns the land, but, the taxpayers have to pay for all the infrastructure that is required for the park to work. Highway, bridges, police and fire to cover the areas that have become packed with people and are not on the Disney property itself. Disney also continues to ask for more and more support in tax cuts and even the roads inside the property are publicly maintained to a large degree. They need to keep the local taxpayers happy and willing to shill out more and more money to support the area. I'm sure that Disney does pay out a lot in some form of taxes, but, nothing compared to what any other private enterprise might be doing.

I believe that the salaries and indirect salaries paid by Disney are paying those taxes. I believe Disney is substantially contributing by paying pretty healthy property taxes as well. Also, taxes generated from ticket sales, hotel, merchandise and food revenue also contributes mightily. You want to pay high taxes, go to California, go to New York.

 

[larryz]

... and even the roads inside the property are publicly maintained to a large degree.

By the Reedy Creek Improvement District. See "Governance:Roads" in ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reedy_Creek_Improvement_District

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The reality - Disney makes more money if they offer FL residents discounted tickets than if they did not. It really is that simple. They are not trying to help anyone or reward anyone - they are trying to make more money. And the best way to make more money from people who live near a place like WDW is to get them into the WDW parks more often.

It is all in the name of improved profits.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I know the parks are more crowded then ever. Attendance is up a lot and it doesn't seem like it is going to slow down anytime soon. I always wondered why Disney gives a great discount to Florida residents. There are many amusement parks that don't give discounts just because you live in the same state the park is in. I don't think Disney owes anything to Florida residents and since they are looking to cut down on crowds, maybe they should not discount Florida residents anymore. I am sure if I was a Florida resident, I wouldn't go for this idea but why crowd the parks with Florida residents who pay considerably less? Does anyone else in other parts of the country, get discounts because they are a state resident? Why does Disney discount Florida residents?

I don't think they are looking to cut back on crowds at all...

 

[mom2rtk]

I imagine that as a group they are far easier to get to move quickly than the ones of us who have to travel a long distance and plan ahead to get there. That way they can remove blackout dates and mobilize large groups on short notice when they need to. Parks looking a little slow? Do something to invite them in. Oh yeah. That's what they just did.

 

[PrincessV]

What you have to remember is that there are two kinds of Florida residents. The locals who can drop in when they want, even after work just for an ice cream and fireworks, that would make my day. But those people may go in, buy dinner, buy drinks, spend money ... and never get in one line, just spend money.

And there are many who live in Florida but not so close they go there for the day. Those folks still spend plenty on hotels, food, drinks and more. They may go once a month for long weekends and in the end spend way more than one family might spend traveling once per year.

Having an AP doesn't mean you hang out there all the time, it only means that it make financial sense. If they want to go one day a month, it makes sense. I have an AP, leave 8 hours away (not FL) and try to get there 5-6 times a year for 35-45 days total. If I moved somewhere in Florida (would not be close to Orlando) I would probably go more often but stay less days. FL AP rate gives me that little extra cash to make it more often and spend more money - and in the end they will probably make more money from me than I saved.

I don't think the price increases have anything to do with trying to thin or spread out crowds. Disney is loving the crowds. It's because people will pay it.

I think you nailed it, HopperFan! I'll add a third Floridian category, though: I'm close enough to go for the day, and we do - and I spend money on food while I'm there - but far enough that we also take multi-day trips, during which I spend money on lodging, food, merchandise. Minus a discount on APs I wouldn't go at all.

 

[dlavender]

The FL resident ticket price is the same ticket price someone gets when they book a package. Since they cant fill every hotel room, they count on those close by to fill the gap. Pretty simple.

 

[Amunet]

I just wanted to chime in that I don't ever plan on moving to Florida. I seriously considered it for the Disney benefits ... but I just can't do that level of heat for too long! lol
Ultimately, those that do not live in Florida are jealous of the discounts. However, we often forget what locals must put up with as well (as clearly illustrated in previous posts). While I do wish I had the same discounts, I also recognize that if I were a resident, I would be grateful for it. Thus, I am okay with residents having discounts.

Though, I do wish that WDW would have similar reward tiering like cruise lines for those of us out of state or out of country.