Len Testa - “Disney positions itself as the all-American vacation. The irony is that most Americans can’t afford it.”

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Oh it's going to be far away from the Villages and we have family and friends already retired in places from the panhandle to Miami to Port Charlotte. No matter where you relocate, the inflated prices will be there.

Orlando in a slump is a very depressing place

 

[JoeCamel]

Orlando in a slump is a very depressing place

That's when Kissimmee/St Cloud hums

 

[CoastalElite64]

Interestingly, Dev just made a video related to this.

 

[Nubs70]

Next year we are doing a 10 night med cruise on NCL for 7k that includes gratuity, drinks and food of course. I guess I could do 10 days at WDW at CSR with dining plan for the exact same price not including tips and drinks. I priced it out just to compare.
I can't imagine 10 days at WDW being fun. It honestly sounds like torture.

I am going to DL next month, but I'm staying at the Hyatt for free and I got the 259.00 2 day park hoppers with LL. I like DL at Christmas. I like the way the do the ride overlays and the decorations. I feel like it has some value, and it's not costing me a lot of money.

Also doing a 4 night on Utopia in January. Got a smoking deal on that 1200 dollars for a balcony.

2026 will be the first year other than 2020 that we haven't been on a DCL cruise. I know they are discounting them like crazy, but they still don't compare in price to the two cruises I booked.

I certainly hope your cruise is not impa ted by the Mediterranean hurricane season.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I just read an article about the increase in prices at fast food places. Some chains as much as 70% in the last five years. I honestly don't know how they stay in business. On the rare occasion when I waste my money on one of them they are empty and I about pass out at the cost. 37 dollars for two bowls and one drink at Chipotle.

I can't imagine what it costs to eat at WDW right now. I honestly think restaurant prices have a lot to do with cruising being such a popular vacation option right now. Food may not be great, but at least it's plentiful and included.

Those fast foods places are all in trouble

Let’s see who has had to admit it in just the last year?

Mickeys
The King
Wendy
Starbucks

Seems like kinda a red flag

 

[Touchdown]

Food prices have caught up to theme park prices, to the point I’m pleasantly surprised with my food budget at parks. Clearly the parks have accepted less margin on those items due to demand which is a good thing.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I do think an outside buyer could help the situation, but only if the outside buyer is someone who actually enjoys the parks and not an Apple who just wants to monetize it. “Anyone who spend money like that on the parks wants to monetize it!” Yeah, I realize that. People want to get a return on investment. At current prices, you’ll get that. But what you do with what’s there and what will be there in the future doesn’t have to be the cheapest option available.

I’ve long said that the only way to save what Disney WAS is to have a group take it private…

Eliminate the “threat” to quality…the stock market is just a new gambling house…insisting on maximum yields and refusing to acknowledge that risk is part of the game. Can’t truss it, Flav.

But a move to private would require about ten entities like OLC to have any shot

 

[monothingie]

Per cap spending increases will only offset a declining bodycount for so long.

The model of WDW that we've known for the past 30 years is fundamentally incompatible with a shrinking customer base. Their focus on "short return visits" playing off of FOMO with special parties and cupcakes gave fewer folks incentive to book those once every few years, once a decade, or once in a lifetime trips. They became far too fixated on catering to a base of regular visitors, because reaching those people with treats and tchotchkes is far cheaper than consistent major, marketable attraction development.

This focus has removed plenty of diversity from their portfolio of potential customers, and left them extremely vulnerable to a situation like is starting to come into focus: A regular cadence of price increases outpacing inflation has brought them past the figurative mendoza line right at the outset of a "regular folk recession."

The product can't really be right-sized, quarterly-focused executives can't stomach the needed fix to their pricing model and perceived product value, and the company's other divisions can't handle the cashflow generated by the parks drying up.

Whatever they do will be in business books - assuming books are still allowed - for generations to come.

You're just a hater. Diznee is doing great and the parks are packed. Bob and Josh and Hugh and Jeff are geniuseses!

 

[networkpro]

You're just a hater. Diznee is doing great and the parks are packed. Bob and Josh and Hugh and Jeff are geniuseses!

In ridiculously tight pants....

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You're just a hater. Diznee is doing great and the parks are packed. Bob and Josh and Hugh and Jeff are geniuseses!

“Bookings are strong”

By the way…when is that circus of a call?

 

[monothingie]

“Bookings are strong”

By the way…when is that circus of a call?

not soon enough.

 

[Touchdown]

I’ve long said that the only way to save what Disney WAS is to have a group take it private…

Eliminate the “threat” to quality…the stock market is just a new gambling house…insisting on maximum yields and refusing to acknowledge that risk is part of the game. Can’t truss it, Flav.

But a move to private would require about ten entities like OLC to have any shot

Either that or have the parks spun off from the rest of WDC. Which, given it’s the only division that consistently makes money, is equally unlikely.

 

[HauntedPirate]

“Bookings are strong”

By the way…when is that circus of a call?

Next Thursday (November 13) at 8:30am ET.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Next Thursday (November 13) at 8:30am ET.

Why day is the contract extension announcement?

 

[HauntedPirate]

Why day is the contract extension announcement?

Whenever the Q1 ‘26 shareholder meeting is.

 

[Miss Bella]

Food prices have caught up to theme park prices, to the point I’m pleasantly surprised with my food budget at parks. Clearly the parks have accepted less margin on those items due to demand which is a good thing.

Can you share those prices? I have a feeling I'm going to find just the opposite.

 

[Miss Bella]

I certainly hope your cruise is not impa ted by the Mediterranean hurricane season.

I don't get the joke. I've cruised during hurricane season more than a dozen times.

 

[monothingie]

Why day is the contract extension announcement?

I actually can't wait. When Bob extends his term another 2 years that means Josh may be resigning, unless he's a total beta and will stick around.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't get the joke. I've cruised during hurricane season more than a dozen times.

Joke from another thread

 

[Touchdown]

Can you share those prices? I have a feeling I'm going to find just the opposite.

It’s not that the prices have gone down, it’s just that the prices at home are as expensive. I should add it’s also with the season pass discounts too which I tend to forget about and are a significant discount. However, 5-10 years ago it was more expensive in the parks (even with the discount.) Counter service runs $20-35 depending on the meal and additions, sit down $35-90 depending on the place ($90 is a steak restaurant.)