News Disney World Hits All-Time High Revenue in Q3 2025, Strong Bookings Continue into Q4

[Touchdown]

People have week long vacations elsewhere. Unless said concert or sporting event is in their community or surrounding area it’s happening as part of a vacation. Not sure why this is so difficult to comprehend.

 

[Chi84]

Then you yield your power in the marketplace…by not holding he seller to monetary based standards. It is what it is…that is how that turns out in wash.

“It was $15…then it was $27…then it was $38…then it was $44…then it was $55…now it’s $65

And they cut the offerings in half because of the Disney dipstick plan…

Who cares? I still make plenty!”

That would be the story of quite a few spots over 20 years…say ohana.

Does that lower the value proposition? Of course it does. But in the moment your glands flood you with enough serotonin to cancel it out

Fine… but a week later…it does not mean you got a good value. That’s revisionist

Stop with the “serotonin” stuff. It’s incredibly insensitive even if you don’t intend it to be so.

 

[DisneyHead123]

That’s a really good point. What also ramped up is this “think of the poor hourly worker” mentality that creates a villain (aka “Karen”) from a customer that expects basic customer service skills.

If I say something like “that costume doesn’t look professional” on this forum - many will say “what matters most is the cm is comfortable!!!!”

This one is a big topic. As a rule I am in favor of putting CM comfort first, as I think we’re actually extremely lucky to have them at all at this point. More and more people get to work partially from home and work largely on a computer all day. If someone is out there in the trenches - on their feet all day, in the heat, no office job where they can sneak a peek at the internet periodically, dealing with the rudeness of the public (I am extremely sympathetic to CMs and am embarrassed to say I’ve snapped at them on a couple on occasions, what with the stress and overstimulation of Disney - if I’ve had those moments I can only imagine what less CM friendly park goers are like) - and doing it for a wage that doesn’t cover rent on an apartment plus transportation? Again, I just think we should literally be thankful they’re even willing to be there at all.

I do think that everyone should be held to certain standards, of course. And with young employees, I think there are always some (not all, but some) where you’re going to have some “what the heck are you doing?!” moments. I say that as someone who worked customer facing jobs in my early 20s and can’t believe how questionable my judgement was in hindsight, lol. The bar should not be on the floor low - but I think they should be given tons of leeway given the hard work they’re doing.

 

[Dranth]

Then you yield your power in the marketplace…by not holding he seller to monetary based standards. It is what it is…that is how that turns out in wash.

It was $15…then it was $27…then it was $38…then it was $44…then it was $55…now it’s $65

And they cut the offerings in half because of the Disney dipstick plan…

Who cares? I still make plenty!”

That would be the story of quite a few spots over 20 years…say ohana.

Does that lower the value proposition? Of course it does. But in the moment your glands flood you with enough serotonin to cancel it out

Fine… but a week later…it does not mean you got a good value. That’s revisionist

Again, value is 100% subjective and heavily dependent on a person’s financial situation. It has to be as value is an amorphous measurement of what you get in exchange for what you give up.

For example, if I have Elon money, I don't care what anything at WDW costs because I am not giving up anything. With that kind of money, a sorry savings account with a sad interest rate could make more money in a day than I could possibly spend on vacation there. At that point money becomes meaningless so my value proposition is entirely based on convivence, time savings and avoiding annoyances.

On the other hand, if I am in poverty, EVERYTHING is weighed in monetary costs as anything I do is costing me elsewhere.

I think it is safe to say that most of us here are going to fall in between those two points so how much money ends up being a factor on how you judge value will depend on where you fall in that range.

Even then it doesn't mean people will just accept anything thrown at them. For example, I can afford it with no downside, but I will not pay for a desert party, almost never do character meals, and find LLMP mostly worthless so I don't generally engage with any of those.

Bottom line, the combination of how I do WDW provides enough value for ME to keep going, just like it does for you or neither of us would be going at all.

 

[Touchdown]

Then you yield your power in the marketplace…by not holding he seller to monetary based standards. It is what it is…that is how that turns out in wash.

“It was $15…then it was $27…then it was $38…then it was $44…then it was $55…now it’s $65

And they cut the offerings in half because of the Disney dipstick plan…

Who cares? I still make plenty!”

That would be the story of quite a few spots over 20 years…say ohana.

Does that lower the value proposition? Of course it does. But in the moment your glands flood you with enough serotonin to cancel it out

Fine… but a week later…it does not mean you got a good value. That’s revisionist

Psst, it’s dopamine, not serotonin. Dopamine is responsible for the wave of good feelings that forms the habit addiction loop not serotonin.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Psst, it’s dopamine, not serotonin. Dopamine is responsible for the wave of good feelings that forms the habit addiction loop not serotonin.

Whatever…I’m engineer

(Not a train one…don’t get excited, dusters)

 

[easyrowrdw]

This is much more accurate description of what has happened to WDW this decade.

We know they've raised hotel and ticket rates, while offering less (no Magical Express) or charging for things that used to be free (FastPass). That's not up for debate, even if you still want to go and are willing to pay the asking price.

If people think that's fair, that's up to them, but please try to understand that's exactly why the rest of us may choose to go less or stay offsite because of these exact decisions that are obviously not ideal for prospective customers.

I lost something on my recent trip and filled out the form. Disney found the item and shipped it to me for free. (This has happened a couple times actually ). It’s great service, above and beyond. But it also reminds me that Disney used up do this in many other areas but no longer does. It’s great and frustrating at the same time

 

[DisneyHead123]

Psst, it’s dopamine, not serotonin. Dopamine is responsible for the wave of good feelings that forms the habit addiction loop not serotonin.

On that note - a random interesting “one to watch” will be how the rise of weight loss drugs influence consumer behavior. From what I’ve read these drugs curb spending via the same circuits that they curb appetite (involving dopamine among other things, I think). I wonder if we’ll see societal pattern shifts there at some point.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

People take trips to New York, the Olympics, Tennis events, and golf tournaments. While it’s more of a long weekend people also attend the NCAA and conference basketball tournaments as well. All of those trips are more expensive from an entertainment perspective with comparable food and lodging costs.

Or have season tickets…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

On that note - a random interesting “one to watch” will be how the rise of weight loss drugs influence consumer behavior. From what I’ve read these drugs curb spending via the same circuits that they curb appetite (involving dopamine among other things, I think). I wonder if we’ll see societal pattern shifts there at some point.

…bad news for the Biergarten

 

[Brer Oswald]

Whatever…I’m engineer

(Not a train one…don’t get excited, dusters)

Likewise, and I’ve confused the two before

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

People take trips to New York, the Olympics, Tennis events, and golf tournaments. While it’s more of a long weekend people also attend the NCAA and conference basketball tournaments as well. All of those trips are more expensive from an entertainment perspective with comparable food and lodging costs.

Or have season tickets…

All great stuff…

NOT the same as being in a spot for 168 straights more or less run by the same supplier/vendor.

And not at all “unique”…50,000,000 people don’t flow through 365 days a year from 8 am to midnight every day

 

[JD80]

People take trips to New York, the Olympics, Tennis events, and golf tournaments. While it’s more of a long weekend people also attend the NCAA and conference basketball tournaments as well. All of those trips are more expensive from an entertainment perspective with comparable food and lodging costs.

The original argument is that a days worth of a Disney park is a better value for entertainment per hour (assuming that entertainment is equal to you) than anything else. A broadway play, and NFL game, a Taylor Swift concert whatever.

The argument is not used to justify the cost, it's used to say that the alternatives are just as expensive.

 

[flyerjab]

All great stuff…

NOT the same as being in a spot for 168 straights more or less run by the same supplier/vendor.

And not at all “unique”…50,000,000 people don’t flow through 365 days a year from 8 am to midnight every day

I get it. But you will never convince me that the money I am spending is a bad choice. And vice verse. Wash, rinse, repeat. I just don’t appreciate the name calling. I don’t consider myself a rube for spending the money I do at Disney. Not saying you are the said name caller. But I certainly don’t talk down to people on here that clearly have fallen out of love with Disney either.

 

[Touchdown]

The original argument is that a days worth of a Disney park is a better value for entertainment per hour (assuming that entertainment is equal to you) than anything else. A broadway play, and NFL game, a Taylor Swift concert whatever.

The argument is not used to justify the cost, it's used to say that the alternatives are just as expensive.

More, more expensive.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I get it. But you will never convince me that the money I am spending is a bad choice. And vice verse. Wash, rinse, repeat. I just don’t appreciate the name calling. I don’t consider myself a rube for spending the money I do at Disney. Not saying you are the said name caller. But I certainly don’t talk down to people on here that clearly have fallen out of love with Disney either.

Just to be clear: I’m not telling you or anyone that it’s a bad choice. I’ve been there…maybe once or twice?

I’m just saying that trying to decrease the perception of the cost but throwing Taylor swift or Hamilton or the nba finals as a comp…doesn’t work.

The costs don’t equate.

 

[BrianLo]

I for one think WDW was at its nadir in 2014/2015 anyways.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

More, more expensive.

But not a 1:1 comparison

It’s a smokescreen…always has been

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’m just saying that trying to decrease the perception of the cost but throwing Taylor swift or Hamilton or the nba finals as a comp…doesn’t work.

People do go on vacation to nyc specifically to see broadway shows - and other sightseeing.

I’m not sure why the comparison can’t be made?

 

[Chi84]

I for one think WDW was at its nadir in 2014/2015 anyways.

Because of the crowds?