Are they Out of Control?!

[disneydudette]

I was discussing this with some family earlier...

We were wondering why Disney is cpmplaining?!?! Well not complaining...but upset over the great loses in there parks...( ok who wouldn't be)
I know that times are tough...and the vacation industry was hit hard...and prices had to increase to make up for loses...but its out of control....
-To stay on property...is at least $77/night...for an AS...(I know disney has other resorts...DTD area...and several others...they just don't have the disney magic)....
-Then to actually get into the parks...its another $300pp more...(it could be cheaper...or could be more)
-Then to actually eat...they whack ya too...+$7.00pp (yeah right) for a cheap meal at the food court...and sometimes $50pp for a fancy adult meal...
-then add on snacks and souviners...

Ok I think you all can see where I'm going with this...ITS HORRIBLE...I don't even know how families of 4 and more can do it...It ruins the fun...yes...we all could save for a few months and years...which I'm sure most do...but to me Disney is not worth it right now to save all that money for it...
and it seems as of right now...that not many people can do it...or want to do it...hence the low attendence...
but from what I am hearing...the parks are still crowded...and rides still have 30min waits...so what is Disney talking about:veryconfu...

Also...it seems as if people don't feel the need to go back to disney...once you've seen it...its over...and people move on to IOA and SW....(not anyone on this sit though:lol: :lol: )...

Now its obvious I do not have a bussiness mind ( I can't even spell the word right) but I would say that disney needs to do a lot more then just building thrill rides...cuz people don't go to disney just for the rides...they go for the magic and theme and resorts...if they only want rides...they go to IOA...I know I do...( shun my words)

Ok...so I'm just wondering where disney loses are coming from...I have a feelig it is in the resorts...but I dunno...
I know someone has to feel the same way...don't single me out here guys...at least correct me if I'm wrong...

sry the post was soo long...
thanx for any info...

 

[TURKEY]

I think it comes from parks and the resorts.

No matter how many people are going to the parks, the rides will be running/shows showing. You've got wear and tear on the rides that have to be maintained, everything has to be cleaned etc. Not to mention costs like electricity.

Your costs aren't decreasing unless you start cutting hours, closing shows/rides. With fewer people going right now, revenue goes down, so profits (Revenue - Costs) go down.


As much as I hate it, it makes sense to have shows like Timekeeper and COP shut down. It makes sense not to have Pop Centruy open and to shutter part of the resorts down.

 

[bhg469]

DAMN STRAIGHT

I Live in the northeast as well and theres nothing i would love more than to hit up disney a few times during the winter but theres no way i could afford it. First of all i have to stay on disney grounds because i am too young to rent a car. Now my girlfriend worked there for 6 months last year with the college program and i save bundle on the hotel room but i still ended up spending $1,000 each of the 3 times i went to see her. It is alot of money but as long as people are willing to pay it its going to be that high. Ill never stop going its just i cant go as much as i would.

well i have ranted enough.

Ill never stop going its just i cant go as much

If you look at the big picture unemployment is up, and alot of people are out of work. Not alot of people can afford to go to disney and when they dont have jobs theres no way they can go. Like i said before nothing is going to stop me from going but if i had to i would stay off disney property to save the extra couple bucks, and what what i think is happening.

 

[durhay]

From my first trip in '83 to the last one in '00 I've noticed that the type of people that visit has changed along with the price hikes. A lot of families that I saw back then couldn't afford to go now (at current rates) because they could only afford 1 or 2 days and who would travel a long distance just to spend 2 days at WDW? So now I'm seeing the richer people, who have everything and aren't especially impressed with anything. It's just something to say you've done. For years I assumed the parks were filled to capacity every day (didn't they stop admission at 10:00 at one point?) and Disney figured "since we're filling up we might as well fill up with rich people" and starting jacking prices up. I remember seeing PB&J sandwiches on the kids menu listed at $1.95 back in '84 or '85. I think now it's just the rising costs of maintenance costs. I think they built too much too quickly. Now there'll be a big gap of nothing where they have to spend money on upkeep while competitors are building up (like Universal).

 

[disneydudette]

TLB- your right..I did forget about them cutting hours and shows...I forgot how much those things can cost to run and opperate...
I won't even go into PC...I love the idea...but thinks its way to big...but I'm with you...it's too much to operate right now...

bhg- I hear ya...I'm dying to go now...and can't because I just can't afford it...between the room...air...and food...its rediculos...

Disney is becoming to challenging...theres no way I'm going to pay $77 a night in a crapped room...with kids screeming...even disney is not worth it...I'll take my chance at a local resort...and soak up the other attractions....eek: shun my words again)
It may be different for you guys...but you have to draw the line somewhere...

WEll SAID DURHEY....
WDW should not be about the rich taking from the poor...kinda what its like now...Its great that the upper class can do these things...I'm sure I would too if I could...but you cant forget about the little people...those are the people you want in your parks...the down-to-earth...don't-take-things for- granite folks...

 

[WDWKing]

Last time I went, Well we hadn't been there a good 8 years prior to that trip, my family spent atleast $7000 that week. That didn't include Airfaire or Hotel.

 

[RogueHabit]

From the UK, on a Virgin Holidays package. Last 2 weeks in July.

Family of 4, one being an Infant for 2 weeks.

Total Holiday Price, staying at PO:RS was £4,900.00 and the only extra was 3 day passes for 3 to USF/IOA.

And that was AFTER a 10% discount plus about £300.00 of other accumulated discounts..

Then there was the spending money on top of that.

 

[disneydudette]

WDWKING- thats crazy...I dunno how some people can do it...I dunno even know how your family did it...

CATCH- I bet it is even harder for the UK visitors....I mean this is your vacation...not a money pit for two weeks

ok..sry I don't mean to be commenting on what everyone is saying...but I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt this way...

and its a shame...cause Disney is losing its most valuable customers....were the ones that spread the Disney cheer around the world....and lately all I've been spreading...is...
"Go to Las Vegas...the rooms are cheaper and you have a better chance to win your money back!" :lol: :lol:

 

[bhg469]

Originally posted by disneydudette
WDWKING- thats crazy...I dunno how some people can do it...I dunno even know how your family did it...

CATCH- I bet it is even harder for the UK visitors....I mean this is your vacation...not a money pit for two weeks

ok..sry I don't mean to be commenting on what everyone is saying...but I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt this way...

and its a shame...cause Disney is losing its most valuable customers....were the ones that spread the Disney cheer around the world....and lately all I've been spreading...is...
"Go to Las Vegas...the rooms are cheaper and you have a better chance to win your money back!" :lol: :lol:

im going to vegas in may they have alot to live up to, so far im not looking forward to going but ill take your word for it

 

[MicBat]

With gas prices the way they are now, that's probably another contributing factor to the drop in tourism to WDW...

 

[disneydudette]

Originally posted by bhg469
im going to vegas in may they have alot to live up to, so far im not looking forward to going but ill take your word for it

Yes...but we always seem to be comparing vacations to WDW...

Las Vegas has its ups and downs...
-if your an adult...its more fun...
-theres plenty to do...besode gambling...
-theres a small water park at Mandalay Bay...nothing to big...
- there are several rollercoasters...some can be expensive...
-tour the resorts...some are very nice...
-depending on where your staying...you should really take a day -at the pool...and hotel
-don't forget all the shows...

LV can be pricey too though...but you can get free drinks in the Casino...and cheep all you can eat buffets....

Ok sry didn't mean to get sidetracked..

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

yeah, i agree! the prices HAVE become really outrageous! but i agree with Turkey Leg Boy...i think a lot of time we take for granted just how much Disney themselves have to spend in a day. electricity and water bills, almost every night firework shows in 3 out of 4 parks (plus PI), food, constant maintenence and janitorial work, up-keep of landscaping, paying their hundreds of cast members, and i don't even want to know what their property taxes cost! and, of course, this isn't like a one week a year thing, they have these costs ALL the time! i know costs are high, but at the same time, they have some pretty high costs themselves. BUT with aaalllll the people that come into the parks on any given day (and i know, some days traffic is heavier than others) you'd think that they'd have plenty of money...enough to lower costs at least a bit.

 

[bmxviper02]

my parents got us all annual passes and we go twice a year and its not really THAT much.. and ive been going to disney since i was 1 (im 15 now) and its stilL FUN FUN FUN!

 

[bhg469]

Originally posted by bmxviper02
my parents got us all annual passes and we go twice a year and its not really THAT much.. and ive been going to disney since i was 1 (im 15 now) and its stilL FUN FUN FUN!

my girlfriend worked there and i bought an annual pass so it would save me in the long run. but it was not cheap by far it was almost $300. and the hotel was abount 90 a night after her discount. its alot more when your paying for yourself. if someone buys the stuff for you, you never get a grasp of how much it reall is.

 

[strobe]

I think the parks probably have a ton of overhead, but I doubt they are losing too much money on them. Many of the attractions still have sponsers, and most of them have probably already been written off on the books. I am sure the expenses are still huge, but I would tend to think that the parks in and of themselves are profitable.

If I had to guess (and by no means have I really looked into this), Disney's subsidaries are probably where the problem is. I know for example, that over the last couple of years the major ticket sports teams that Disney owns didn't fare well. Neither did ABC.

There is supposedly a pretty good article in Forbes this month about this situation. I haven't read it yet, but when I do, I will be sure to post more.

 

[DAKTOLCMM]

I think that before bashing can take place a good strong game of roller coaster tycoon has to be played. It is interesting really. You get to see what it is like to run a park...keep it clean, keep the prices fair...fix everything...crazy really. It is interesting to see that some months you will be in the red, then like may through september you make tons of money...its just how you use that money the rest of the year that counts. I don't know....I am not Eisner...lol or Al Wiess for that matter.
anyway just my .02
Take it for what its worth.

 

[BUZZ BABE 34]

some of the attractions have lost their sponsors and their future is undecided. i know space mountain lost theirs for sure cause i work in tland. also spaceship earth lost theirs. i think COP lost theirs too but not sure. also,the upkeep is high for the parks. i was told just the fireworks for illuminations alone-nightly- costs close to 20,000. a night. if you have seen the show you know why. its incredible! so yeah i agree some prices need to go down but some things are worth paying for too.

 

[disneydudette]

I'm not trying to bash disney...
I have played RcT...it can be hard...I can only imagine what disney has to go through....

BUT...

In all these past years...Disney has never really complained....well there were several loses....but only more recently did the red numbers start to come in...
Of course I would expect it...since 9/11....

My question was...with prices so high...in almost every catagory...disney has to be making a profit now somehow...
-they cut hours...show..and parades...
- I don't even wanna know how much a profit they make on the food...
-and then the resorts....

Now I know Disney works the a$$ off year round...and that its hard to keep up rooms and parks and food....CMS and bills...
But somewhere disney is going wrong....
Again the Vacation industry was hit hard...but I went to WDW 3 times after 9/11....but we won't go back...not untill its worth it...

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Originally posted by Catch 22
From the UK, on a Virgin Holidays package. Last 2 weeks in July.

Family of 4, one being an Infant for 2 weeks.

Total Holiday Price, staying at PO:RS was £4,900.00 and the only extra was 3 day passes for 3 to USF/IOA.

And that was AFTER a 10% discount plus about £300.00 of other accumulated discounts..

Then there was the spending money on top of that.

Its a miracle us Brits actually go to Disney.

OK so flights from the UK aren't cheap but the thing that gets me :hurl: is ticket prices - next month 10 day park hopper = £260 per adult ( x five adults = )

But lets face it - there is no place on earth like Disney :sohappy:

 

[BRER STITCH]

Originally posted by CAPTAIN HOOK
Its a miracle us Brits actually go to Disney.

OK so flights from the UK aren't cheap but the thing that gets me :hurl: is ticket prices - next month 10 day park hopper = £260 per adult ( x five adults = )

But lets face it - there is no place on earth like Disney :sohappy:

LOOK OUT - - HERE COMES THE DRIFT.....YOU"VE BEEN WARNED! :lol:

HEY CAPTAIN HOOK! :wave:

Just curious.....why would you come to Florida instead going to Paris? Or do you do both?

Are the two parks really so different that it's worth the cost of the flight to the USA?

I'm looking forward to my first trip to DisneyLand Paris this Fall and was just wondering......

Thanks!