Did YOU cancel/postpone due to stale product and increasing costs?

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kane47

kane47

Well-Known Member
I have never canceled but have slowed the amount of trips I take to Disney World because of the continual dramatic increase in prices. I love Disney, but for the price you pay you can have a very nice vacation almost anywhere in the U.S. I have also found some very nice all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean for less than a WDW vacation. Now I know that no place can compare to the entertainment of Disney, but they are truly starting to price themselves out a lot of people price range. Their policy of increasing hotel room rares 5-10% a year for at least the past 5-10 years is crazy. I understand the reasons they do it, but I for one Iam tired of the price gouging and have learned there are some really great places around the world that offer some really great value. Although I will always love and visit WDW it will not be nearly as often as I used to.
 
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lilclerk

lilclerk

Well-Known Member
I was going at least twice a year, including every other year with a friend. I haven't been since 2/2012, and my friend and I were supposed to go this September, but we are postponing it indefinitely. Between the price increases and not much new stuff going on (I'm not that interested in FL... maybe after the mine train opens) we're just not excited enough. It's kind of a bummer. If we can get a good discount we might go for a quick trip during F&W, but it won't be a big 11 day blowout like we used to do.
 
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rudyjr13

rudyjr13

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
@kane47, exactly. We have a 2 and 3 year old and feel our options are limited for other vacations. It was a no brainer when both were free to fly and play but not so much now. It makes me sad. I'm a huge fan. And I still love it, just have to really think hard about committing those funds I was more loose with in 2008 and 2010 and 2011 and 2012
 
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M

MickeyPeace

Well-Known Member
I was going 3 times a year. I cancelled two last year and I have not yet made plans for this year. It is directly related to cost and stale product. I used to book based on that excited feeling. Since TDO keeps disappointing in product and continually targeting the toddlers I have not yet felt compelled to book a trip. I even have two free flights. I'm hoping to book at least one trip this year and still feel the magic.
 
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wendysue

wendysue

Well-Known Member
rudyjr13 said:
Last trip November. Planned on an April trip. Decided not to book due to stale product.

Though we enjoyed our vacation in November, there is not that burning desire to go back in 2013. Maybe in the Fall depending on discounts but no rush.

Post if you have done something similar.
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Yes, we feel the same. I do have a room only booked for September that we got a pin for, but since you only have to put down one nights deposit, it is always subject to change.... We didn't go last year for the same reason that you have stated. I wonder if Disney is seeing a bit of this decline, as I've noticed that they have saturated the t.v. stations with commercials.
 
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sweetpee_1993

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
rudyjr13 said:
@kane47, exactly. We have a 2 and 3 year old and feel our options are limited for other vacations. It was a no brainer when both were free to fly and play but not so much now. It makes me sad. I'm a huge fan. And I still love it, just have to really think hard about committing those funds I was more loose with in 2008 and 2010 and 2011 and 2012
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Wait until you have to pay for your little ones as adults across the board. Our boys are 20 months apart in age. Once we crossed that threshold at 9 years old it was a noteable sting to the wallet. And that was before the insane annual hikes really got going. I totally feel for families with little ones. I really do. Between the price increases and the unavoidable jumps as our little ones grow up, it makes it difficult for sure. I will say, Disney Cruise Line does sometimes offer a Kids Sail Free promotion. When they do it's a great deal because the "kids" applies to ages 17 & under. With older teenage boys that's a STEAL considering how much they eat alone. ;)




I can honestly say decline and stagnation of product quality paired with the crazy jumps in pricing has chased us away. We were annual visitors for 9-10 nights at a whack oftentimes in deluxe resorts visitors. We squeezed a few bonus trips in there, too. In Sept of 2011 we tried a short Disney cruise and it was like all the answers fell in our lap. We were arriving at the "over it" point with the parks. So many people packed in even during the former "slow" times. Less park hours. More things not working or not looking so hot. Less new things to be excited about. Affects being removed altogether from things that used to blow us away. All that with price increases that made even the best discounts offered still result in amounts of money pouring out that we found ourselves feeling like we were being raped by the Mouse. If it's not fun, why do it? But, like I said, we discovered the cruises and that's been our answer for now. Of course, we still travel in the traditionally "off" times of year which lends to finding some nice discounts on Disney cruises if you watch closely. Summers and holidays, when you know the parks will be jumping, I wouldn't cruise with Disney because the prices are absolutely absurd.

I guess everyone has to live with their choices and be comfortable in what they do. For us, we got to the point of feeling violated by the cost to quality ratio at WDW. We stopped going with the exception of a day or two at a value resort and/or a day at a waterpark pre-cruise. I'm happy for those who still feel okay with all. It's just not for us right now. I'm hoping someday things will shift again. Maybe so. For the time being I don't see us doing a dedicated WDW vacation again in the forseeable future. It's been since September 2011. We have no plans this year. I can't even fathom it next year. Too many other places we're planning to go.
 
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keylimesqueeze

keylimesqueeze

Active Member
rudyjr13 said:
Last trip November. Planned on an April trip. Decided not to book due to stale product.

Though we enjoyed our vacation in November, there is not that burning desire to go back in 2013. Maybe in the Fall depending on discounts but no rush.

Post if you have done something similar.
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Going to the theme parks can get a bit stale--you're right. Never canceled a trip though. But, last year we decided to do something different: instead of going to the theme parks we all got annual passes for the water parks and DisneyQuest. We thought it was a great idea not having to run all day in the theme parks trying to "get our moneys worth". We had time to leisurly do our thing and see and explore other things around the "World" too. We visited (leisurly) other resorts & DD, rented boats and personal watercraft, and still had plenty of time to take advantage of our annual waterpark passes. Best of all, we can use them again within a year.
 
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rudyjr13

rudyjr13

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
keylimesqueeze said:
Going to the theme parks can get a bit stale--you're right. Never canceled a trip though. But, last year we decided to do something different: instead of going to the theme parks we all got annual passes for the water parks and DisneyQuest. We thought it was a great idea not having to run all day in the theme parks trying to "get our moneys worth". We had time to leisurly do our thing and see and explore other things around the "World" too. We visited (leisurly) other resorts & DD, rented boats and personal watercraft, and still had plenty of time to take advantage of our annual waterpark passes. Best of all, we can use them again within a year.
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Thanks for your reply. Funny thing is we don't even do the crazy touring all day/night thing. Last trip we hit MK in morning, came back to GF for lunch and naps, pool afternoon and Maybe MK for night/dinner/dessert. So even though the kids would go ride Dumbo 12 times in a row again, the price to do even that type of relaxing vacation is too much right now.
 
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Computer Magic

Computer Magic

Well-Known Member
Yes, we postpone several trips until going back this year after 3 years. Guess what, still stale. I think I need a long term break, maybe 5 years. Duing the 3 year layoff, we did enjoy a Disney Cruise. So our next trip will be Non-Disney. Its a shame Disney has went this way. Disney focus is not our demographic.
 
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M

MickeyPeace

Well-Known Member
I think the common theme here is we all want to be excited by what WDW is offering and plans to offer in the future but TDO doesn't care.

Until they start putting in the effort to make the parks exciting again and appeal to ALL, then it will continue to feel like a one sided relationship heading toward a breakup.

It baffles mind how the parks are busy year round now and there are more cuts than ever. Insulting really.
 
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Tomi-Rocket

Tomi-Rocket

Well-Known Member
That is why we go every other year. By the time we go there has always been something new to see whether it be a ride or restaurant, what have you. Plus we are all so excited to go by that time, too, especially me, lol.
 
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surfsupdon

surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
We still go yearly, usually twice per year.

But 10 day vacations have shrunken to 4 day, extended weekend vacations. Which always focus on a runDisney event and a day over at Universal Orlando.

For our family, runDisney is their saving grace. If not for the competition, we would not be visiting because the parks ARE pretty stale. Market more towards adults!!
 
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rudyjr13

rudyjr13

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
keylimesqueeze said:
I'm enjoying this read on a cold Sat. afternoon. Please keep your opinions and ideas coming.
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I think you can also look at it as it's not just the lack of new and exciting attractions, but more the ever increasing cost in a time where many people have lost their jobs or income has remained stagnant.

I know someone who got a 1.7% raise this year due to poor company projections which turned out to be a 0.3% DECREASE in pay due to the payroll tax going up. Now I'm not getting into the politics of taxes but if Disney was cutting prices by 5-10% instead of raising them for the same (if not worse) product, I would not be spending part of my cold Saturday typing this. But that ain't happening unless the parks are empty.
 
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