Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Oh. Did it always also include free dining?
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HOW WILL UNIVERSAL'S EPIC UNIVERSE AFFECT WALT DISNEY WORLD?
- Thread starter yensid1967
- Start date
Not sure. It's a regular promotion offered by UK resellers.
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Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
This is a good sign, this means its business as usual for Disney and its not a panic move because of EPICNot sure. It's a regular promotion offered by UK resellers.
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osian
Well-Known Member
The combined offer was common before Covid.
However, before anyone gets too excited, I've a!ready made comments in other similar threads over the last few days that this UK offer is not unusual nor is it that special.
The ticket offer is not "half price". It has been known that the 7-day price is inflated to be the same as the 14-day price, rather than the latter coming down. And when it's not, the difference is negligible. But at certain times too, there's an e.g. 15% discount on the 14-day price but not the 7-day price.
The "rack rate" we pay for rooms is generally higher than the US rack rate. And there are no room-only discounts.
And international visitors tend to stay longer than domestic visitors because, well, it's a long way to come and flights are expensive. So we pay more and Disney makes more profit.
Bascially, we pay for own discounts. It's all smoke and mirrors.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
For a moment I thought Disney was giving folks a deal........ NOPE!
I really thought Disney was going to offer some folks WDW deals because of EPIC.
The room discounts for Disney+ subs is a joke. They just want to pump up their subscriber numbers.
I guess Iger was right, Disney already responded to EPIC.
Its business as usual at WDW...
osian
Well-Known Member
Let me say though it's very very difficult to evaluate Disney's pricing, offers etc. I've been doing it for several years to try to predict patterns and tricks, recording instantaneous pricing on specific things then seeing how they change over the year and year to year, just for my own interest really to try and work out best times to go and best times to book. Maybe I need to get a life!
But comparing US and UK pricing is even more problematic. Different deals at different times, aimed at different markets, almost impossible to get an instantaneous snapshot to work out who's getting the best deal (there are times when I look at US offers and wish we were getting that) and the exchange rate also gets in the way.
All you can say is that rack rates are there to be discounted. What exactly is the baseline price? And bundling add-ons for free, is it really doing that or just making an outrageous price seem more reasonable?
Don't know it it's applicable in this case but I think in the UK something has to be on sale at a higher price for a certain length of time before a lower price can be declared as an offer or a sale.
In mid March i made a reservation for Coronado for December. There was at the time a "free nights" offer and for my reservation of 8 nights I got 2 nights free. That effectively took the room price down from £300 to £225 per night. The offer was due to end on 31st March, which it did and currently there is no discount and the room is "full price" at £300. However, at a nice round 4 weeks later (28 days) on 29th April, the new offer is coming out. It's like the infamous Oak Furniture Land permanent sale.
Just a very quick unscientific observation on current prices, it seems non-discounted prices for hotels and dining plans are about 10%-15% higher in the UK than the US, but 7/14 day park ticket prices are lower (as best you can compare them). The 14-day ticket is about £40 more expensive than the 7-day (so definitely not twice the price and a 14-for-7 offer isn't the bargain it seems) but currently has a 15% discount so strangely it's actually cheaper at the moment.
But comparing US and UK pricing is even more problematic. Different deals at different times, aimed at different markets, almost impossible to get an instantaneous snapshot to work out who's getting the best deal (there are times when I look at US offers and wish we were getting that) and the exchange rate also gets in the way.
All you can say is that rack rates are there to be discounted. What exactly is the baseline price? And bundling add-ons for free, is it really doing that or just making an outrageous price seem more reasonable?
Don't know it it's applicable in this case but I think in the UK something has to be on sale at a higher price for a certain length of time before a lower price can be declared as an offer or a sale.
In mid March i made a reservation for Coronado for December. There was at the time a "free nights" offer and for my reservation of 8 nights I got 2 nights free. That effectively took the room price down from £300 to £225 per night. The offer was due to end on 31st March, which it did and currently there is no discount and the room is "full price" at £300. However, at a nice round 4 weeks later (28 days) on 29th April, the new offer is coming out. It's like the infamous Oak Furniture Land permanent sale.
Just a very quick unscientific observation on current prices, it seems non-discounted prices for hotels and dining plans are about 10%-15% higher in the UK than the US, but 7/14 day park ticket prices are lower (as best you can compare them). The 14-day ticket is about £40 more expensive than the 7-day (so definitely not twice the price and a 14-for-7 offer isn't the bargain it seems) but currently has a 15% discount so strangely it's actually cheaper at the moment.
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Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
That is exactly why it’s a panic moveThis is a good sign, this means its business as usual for Disney and its not a panic move because of EPIC
There was a rumor…if I recall…of TAs being told that they were moving “beyond” discounting in 2017 or 2018…because it was obselete for such “one of a kind guest (accounting) experience” that only have ever been behind the Mickey spinner…
Appears not.
Though…the base prices are screwed…particularly as compared to tickets…in the past for our friends from across the pond. But still…I’m glad they seem to be passively admitting that they are far from invincible
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KikoKea
Well-Known Member
Families with small children will want to visit WDW, but older kids might find USO more attractive and fun. USO will see its numbers going up, but WDW will catch some of the visitors going to see Epic, as well. Public perception will probably favor USO, but I doubt it will affect WDW's numbers drastically.
For us, an older, young-at-heart retired couple who have been Disney fans and APs for several years, we are now splitting our time between WDW and USO when we visit- and a few visits we've skipped WDW altogether. We've been disappointed with WDW in the lack up updates on rides, cheaping out on new builds, cancelled projects, and the slow loss of the parks' identities and charm over the years.
Epic looks to be amazing and we hope it kicks the Disney organization into high gear and gets them back to what they used to do best: Imagineering and quality.
For us, an older, young-at-heart retired couple who have been Disney fans and APs for several years, we are now splitting our time between WDW and USO when we visit- and a few visits we've skipped WDW altogether. We've been disappointed with WDW in the lack up updates on rides, cheaping out on new builds, cancelled projects, and the slow loss of the parks' identities and charm over the years.
Epic looks to be amazing and we hope it kicks the Disney organization into high gear and gets them back to what they used to do best: Imagineering and quality.
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
If you're talking the dining plan for those staying in Disney hotels, then that was being offered for quite a while definitely before covid,
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
ok so the 14 days for 7 plus free dining (yes in a package staying on site) was always a thing for UK visitors?
Some of the fandom were saying this was new and was a reaction to EPIC.
It tells you something that it is business as usual at WDW.
To me the $99 a night at All stars if you have Disney+ sub is not a reaction to EPIC either, this is a try to pump up subs for Disney+ that's all.
Andrew25
Well-Known Member
Going to answer this question after experiencing more of the park now.
How will Epic Universe affect WDW? A couple of answers & observations:
MK will still be the king of Orlando, but there are a lot of things I see Disney doing in the future to go back into their existing parks and improve on to modernize.
How will Epic Universe affect WDW? A couple of answers & observations:
- Quick Service: While UOR can still be slow and inefficient at times, their newer quick service restaurants are fantastic. There is a vast difference in quality and experience between a place like Cosmic Ray's and Mead Hall/Das Stakehaus, etc. ALL of the Epic Universe quick service locations are fantastically themed and offer great menu options. Not a single option beats Satu'li Canteen (yet) in terms of food quality, but after that Epic is right there.
- Street Entertainment: Something WDW was great at, is now a Universal staple. Epic continues that, especially at Isle of Berk with all of the roaming characters and animatronics.
- Blend of Technology & Practical Effects: Universal went through a bad phase of making technology the sole experience; Epic Universe is a major correction. There are still screens, but they are done well and don't overburden the experience. They're blended with physical sets, and it's hard to tell where they start/end.
- Kinetics: Every area of the park has something in motion, whether it's water or some sort of mechanical figure or special effect. Not a single area of the park is drab or stale. This is something that I hope parks like USF & DHS take into consideration for future plans.
MK will still be the king of Orlando, but there are a lot of things I see Disney doing in the future to go back into their existing parks and improve on to modernize.
osian
Well-Known Member
Here's a screenshot from my 2019 invoice, 9 nights at French Quarter. Prices in GBP, obviously. You can see that I got:
$200 gift card
Book of discount vouchers (Magical Extras)
Memory Maker (and Park Hopper)
14-for-7 ticket
Free QS dining Plan
Magical Express
osian
Well-Known Member
Any my 2018 invoice for 7 nights at Pop Century, including flights. It says Magical Extras 2017 presumably because I booked it in 2017. Similarly, I got 14-7 and the Value resort dining deal which isn't a full dining plan but just 1 QS meal per night. (It says Breakfast Meal but was advised it can be used for any QS meal, and it did indeed work! It just went on my account as 1 QS credit. But I guess lots of people will have taken it literally and just used it for breakfast at the hotel, which will probably be a cheaper meal).
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mergatroid
Well-Known Member
Well mate I've seen the free Disney dining plan available to UK guests for a good number of years. Up until the last 3 years having accommodation in Orlando meant that we didn't stay in Disney so I didn't really didn't look into all the precise details but remember clearly seeing the free dining plan offered in advertisements. To be honest when Galaxies Edge opened we stayed in a Disney hotel for 1 night just to get early entrance into the park even though we had a place in Orlando at the time and that was the only time in 20 odd years that we stayed in Disney.
The cheaper multi day tickets for UK guests has been a thing for many years. As others have stated us Brits usually stay for a minimum of 10 days but often 14 days. Disney knows offering 14 days for the price of 7 days means that many will be tempted into paying for the 14 and will therefore probably visit more than originally planned and thus pay for more food and parking than they would normally do. They might make a loss on a few people who will visit many days regardless and my wife and I would often get there for opening and leave around 1pm and head home eating either on the way home or when we got there avoiding paying for extra meals at Disney at inflated prices.
I can't answer specifically whether the '14 days for 7 plus free dining' has been there for many years as I never looked into the exact details but can confirm the many free days and free dining has been offered for many years in some form or other.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
I have no interest in visiting Epic Universe. I'm sure it's really cool and all, but all the IPs there I either am not familiar with (Universal Monsters) or am a casual fan of at best (Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon).
I have no interest in visiting Universal Studios either. There might be some fun rides there, I don't know, but again, a lot of the IPs there I really do not care about. I have never liked the Minions, and seeing as they dominate a good chunk of the park I doubt I'd have fun there. Islands of Adventure does look pretty cool, but I'll still stick with Disney, thank you.
As for how Epic Universe will affect Disney, honestly, I doubt it will no matter how profitable it is. Disney will probably just learn the wrong lessons from it like they did with Hogwarts...
I have no interest in visiting Universal Studios either. There might be some fun rides there, I don't know, but again, a lot of the IPs there I really do not care about. I have never liked the Minions, and seeing as they dominate a good chunk of the park I doubt I'd have fun there. Islands of Adventure does look pretty cool, but I'll still stick with Disney, thank you.
As for how Epic Universe will affect Disney, honestly, I doubt it will no matter how profitable it is. Disney will probably just learn the wrong lessons from it like they did with Hogwarts...
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
There are many folks like you that will simply not visit Universal.
There are many folks that will never visit SeaWorld
Consider attendance numbers:
EPIC may grab enough folks such that MK may fall from the top spot and DLR takes the top spot with the outside possibility Universal Studios Japan takes the top spot.
I think (and this is only my opinion) EPIC will never be at the top of the attendance list BUT EPIC could cause MK to not top the list and go to 2nd or an outside possibility of dropping to 3rd.
In my opinion the title of "top attendance" is a cool title to hold, but attendance for the sake of attendance does not make money. It appears to me Disney is learning this and that's why they are trying to get the most revenue per capita. LL for example is a massive money maker per capita!
Having said that, on the subject of revenue per capita, and I saw this posted in other threads, WDW merch seem more limited today than in the old days. In the old days in good 'ol MouseGear, there was a WALL of hats to choose from. This past Christmas, I wanted a hat I, had money to give the mouse, but there was like 3 or 4 to choose from and none grabbed me. Disney lost a sale.
It seems to me, there is far more kitchen stuff and much less hats for sale
Disney now likes to sell LLs and alcohol, the two highest margin items to sell.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
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Andrew25
Well-Known Member
Can I ask why you won't consider Epic Universe? I can understand the hesitancy of visiting USF or IOA, but Epic? Not trying to stir a debate or anything, just wondering what is holding you back? I think there's enough content here (forget about whether or not you like the IPs) to justify a visit. HTTYD feels alive, Potter is at a breathtaking scale, SNW is filled with energy, DU has its moments.
MK won't be touched. MK is king and will always be seen as "the" park in Orlando. Epic will take away interest from the other parks.
Epic was designed with APs/locals in mind. Once APs are available for upgrade to include Epic, we can see this park start to chip visits from the mouse (specifically Epcot).
DAK is going to suffer until Tropical Americas is up and running. DHS has the benefit of having Star Wars.
Epic Universe will become Universal's most popular park in Orlando within a few years.
KDM31091
Well-Known Member
Watching videos, it almost made me sad. Epic has a lot of things Disney used to care about. Kinetic energy, immersion within lands and no bad sight lines, etc. Disney has really slipped in comparison. In recent years they have delivered things like the Epcot hospital seating area/ central hub. I hope this will give them a reality check. They need to step it up. It’s not good enough.