I will put down my popcorn to join the discussion.
Why does Disney do stuff like this ? BECAUSE THEY CAN!
Some folks will pay it, some wont. Either way Disney wins, its money for nothing.
I rant when they raise the ticket prices, eliminate or change some food offering I loved, add another hard ticket event, etc, but I will keep renewing my family's APs until I am priced out and I can no longer do it. This is not a IF its a WHEN. For every family that is eventually priced out there are many many more new families with wallets open giving money to the mouse.
The only way to make Disney take notice is to stop giving money to the mouse. Can you?
Ah... Popcorn in hand and flameproof suit on