Communicore
Well-Known Member
Yea, even "Value" resorts aren't value.
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Can We Agree to Stop Complaining Disney About Prices? Let's Talk Value
- Thread starter Chef Mickey
- Start date
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
In regards to Disney, I think there is almost no monetary "value" involved. Just person "worth".
"I can afford it, and the expense is worth it to me. End of story!"
"I can afford it, and the expense is worth it to me. End of story!"
jakeman
Well-Known Member
That's pretty much the definition of value.
draybook
Well-Known Member
The sad part about that is that here in Memphis, where the CoL and all is lower than the national average, you'll pay that same high price for McD's.
HollyAD
Well-Known Member
All theme parks are expensive but I am more willing to pay for the quality of WDW as opposed to others. A single day ticket at Busch Gardens Williamsburg is now $72. I would much rather pay $99 and go to MK! There really is no comparison between the two places. And just at a $27 difference! WDW provides so much for the price. It really is possible to get a good deal out of Disney if you are careful. A value resort cost less than $100 a night and will bus you from the airport and provide transportation all around WDW for no added cost. A one way airport ride from MCO would probably be about $30 per PERSON. There is no "resort fee" or "parking fee." Even the most basic of hotels are charging these fees now in LBV and Orlando.
At WDW you get what you pay for, unlike many other theme parks. Yes the food is expensive but look around and you will not find theme parks with food that cost much less. There are countless rides for everyone no matter what age. You can experience top notch performances and entertainment.
People complain that can't manage their spending. For little effort you can really save money but still have a fun time at WDW. Yep it cost $99 for a one day ticket, but look how great that day can be...
At WDW you get what you pay for, unlike many other theme parks. Yes the food is expensive but look around and you will not find theme parks with food that cost much less. There are countless rides for everyone no matter what age. You can experience top notch performances and entertainment.
People complain that can't manage their spending. For little effort you can really save money but still have a fun time at WDW. Yep it cost $99 for a one day ticket, but look how great that day can be...
Club Cooloholic
Well-Known Member
The reason people complain is because Disney has a forced perspective "value". Buy a seven day ticket save hundreds of dollars off daily price of admission, that we never expect people to pay. Get the meal plan and save...but ignore the fact that all the DDP did was dumb down some menus and inflate others(2 cred dinner restaurant? Better add some dollars to that filet and chicken breast).
All that said, I always tell people that for a week trip it isnt badly priced, especially if you book ahead and avoid the crazy deluxe rack rates. You know more or less what it will run you as opposed to other trips, and compared to renting a beach house in jersey it can be a bargain
All that said, I always tell people that for a week trip it isnt badly priced, especially if you book ahead and avoid the crazy deluxe rack rates. You know more or less what it will run you as opposed to other trips, and compared to renting a beach house in jersey it can be a bargain
Dafid Duck
Well-Known Member
Disney has done a very good job at keeping you on their property and spending your money solely on them. If you do that, they reward you. A one day visit from the outside world is a horrible expense! If you stay on property, buy tickets for more than five days and use their transportation, it turns into a much better expense per day.
How about we get back on topic?: Let's Talk Value
What, in your opinion, is the best Disney value? Two things come immediately to mind for me. First, Magical Express from the airport to the resort, included (for free) in your total package. Second, Advanced Dining Reservations to the Crystal Palace before the Magic Kingdom opens. When else can you walk up Main Street practically by yourself?!
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
Hardly, Ive taken my negativity and wallet, elsewhere for the last three main holidays.
And nahhh I rent a car, theres more in Orlando than Disney and much of that is newer and better maintained.
RMichael21
Well-Known Member
To be fair...
My Aunt and Uncle just moved from where I live to a place about 4 hours away from WDW. They have 5 kids, so they thought that being close to WDW could be great and they figured they could go quite a bit. WRONG! It would have been 700 dollars for them to go for a day. So guess what? They drove to Orlando and stayed at Marriot World Center which is 5 minutes from WDW. AND THEY WENT TO SEAWORLD FOR TWO DAYS! I dont know about anyone else, but being 5 minutes from WDW and going in the opposite direction to SeaWorld would have driven me absolutely insane.
Club Cooloholic
Well-Known Member
That Magical Express is all part of the plan to keep you on property. If you rented a car you might drive off site to eat, pick up booze and groceries or even find yourself at universal!
Dafid Duck
Well-Known Member
Exactly my point! Disney is not stupid. They want you to stay in their magical bubble world, but if you do, I believe there is a lot to make it worth the expense.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I think the other reason for complaints is that all the "values" are created BY Disney, FOR Disney.
If you go to London, your perception might be "the room is overpriced, the restaurants is overpriced, the theater tickets are overpriced, the tourist trap admissions are overpriced." And maybe they are, maybe they aren't, but they are all different companies getting your dollar and as a result, you can find deals. You can find touring packages that include theater tickets or admission to the Tower of London or a hotel with free breakfast etc.
Whereas if you're doing a WDW trip, and staying on WDW property, all their packages and promotions benefit them directly. You're dining at their restaurants, lodging in their hotels. They try to minimize your need for a car, so there's no reason to go offsite, but if you do you'll find much less expensive dining and entertainment options (whether you'll like 'em is another story). There are no outlet stores on property so discount merchandise will be more scarce. They own so much of what you're doing and what they don't own, those companies pay a premium to hawk their wares on Disney property so they still profit. Universal is the closest anyone's come to creating a Orlando vacation destination that tries to occupy all your time and all your money. Everything else is a day or half-day visit.
The attack on WDW tends to be focused on the idea that by occupying all your time, they're getting all of your money.
Dafid Duck
Well-Known Member
Both Disney and Sea World have annual passes. If you live close to either, you could go very often and save on the price per visit.
You really can't start making these types of comparisons by throwing in comparisons to how much you would spend on a Broadway play or a day out in Tokyo. WDW is located in Orlando which is hardly anywhere near the price of of New York or Tokyo.
To talk value you need to look at it in comparison to other entertainment venues in similar cities (cost wise). You also need to look at more than just the cost of admission. You need to look at the add-on fees like parking. The cost of food and drink once you are captive. And then top it all off with the amount of actual entertainment you get per day.... If I go spend a day at the beech I get a day at the beech, I don't have to stand in line for 90 minutes before I get to spend 90 seconds splashing in the water to then get out and spend another 90 minutes waiting... In that sense I think WDW has become one of the worst value deals for the money when you look at the actual entertainment. EVEN if you compared it to a Broadway show, at the broadway show you get 120 minutes of entertainment. You would have to include your time on the monorail parking lot tram and all that combined with a full day in the park riding rides wouldn't get you 120 minutes of actual ride time... Maybe its just me but standing in a queue isn't my idea of quality entertainment.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
I think a "value" is paying $184/night (with AP discount) at Portofino Bay Resort (which is a nicer hotel than The Grand Flo), use my $159 AP for entrance into the parks that have new state of the art attractions. Dining at nice restaurants like The Palm without making ressies at the crack of dawn 180 days from when I want to eat there. And getting food quality that justifies the price.
Disney is really only worth the price if you have been bitten by the Disney bug.
Disney is really only worth the price if you have been bitten by the Disney bug.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
Exactly.
Dafid Duck
Well-Known Member
So what? If you don't want Disney to have your money, then why go there? Live in the bubble, escape from the real world and enjoy yourself.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Tokyo Disney Resort Ticket Prices
One Day (No Park Hopping): ¥6,400 / $62.37
Two Days (No Park Hopping): ¥11,000 / $107.20
Three Days (Park Hopping on Day 3): ¥ 14,200 / $138.38
Four Days (park Hopping on Days 3 and 4): ¥16,500 / $160.80
That's value.
One Day (No Park Hopping): ¥6,400 / $62.37
Two Days (No Park Hopping): ¥11,000 / $107.20
Three Days (Park Hopping on Day 3): ¥ 14,200 / $138.38
Four Days (park Hopping on Days 3 and 4): ¥16,500 / $160.80
That's value.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
I want to throw my money at Disney. But I want a reasonable value for my money, and that isn't something I get from Disney any more. Sure, I don't have to stay at The Poly. The "Values" are cheaper. I would rather have a root canal that stay at the gaudy, loud, frenetic motels that Disney has rack rates of $160/night Summer Season. I don't love Disney anywhere close to enough to deal with a place like the "value" resorts on my hard earned and much needed vacation.
disneyflush
Well-Known Member
[QUOTE="
The point is, Disney has a built in draw for me. Guaranteed fun and it's all right there. In many other vacation destinations, there is no "set it and forget it" like you get at Disney. You'll have fun at Disney pretty much no matter what unless you go on a overcrowded day or just have a completely negative attitude. Other places, you have to be your own travel planner and make the best of what's there. It all will cost you money too.
Disney, if anything, is way down the list of price gouging when it comes to vacation destinations.[/QUOTE]
1. Unless I am wrong you are taking all the blame (or assigning it if it is someone else visiting) for having a bad time unless it is an "overcrowded day" or have a bad attitude. If you set up an equation such as x=not overcrowded Disney day and y=overcrowded Disney Day then what percentage out of the 365 days of the year would y be greater than 75% of the days of the year? Understanding it is a personal measurement for the most part obviously. Is overcrowding measured by a park shutdown or just by having an uncomfortable amount of people around you most of the day?
2. It makes me so sad to read the business choice of price gouging being accepted as business as usual for the company.
The point is, Disney has a built in draw for me. Guaranteed fun and it's all right there. In many other vacation destinations, there is no "set it and forget it" like you get at Disney. You'll have fun at Disney pretty much no matter what unless you go on a overcrowded day or just have a completely negative attitude. Other places, you have to be your own travel planner and make the best of what's there. It all will cost you money too.
Disney, if anything, is way down the list of price gouging when it comes to vacation destinations.[/QUOTE]
1. Unless I am wrong you are taking all the blame (or assigning it if it is someone else visiting) for having a bad time unless it is an "overcrowded day" or have a bad attitude. If you set up an equation such as x=not overcrowded Disney day and y=overcrowded Disney Day then what percentage out of the 365 days of the year would y be greater than 75% of the days of the year? Understanding it is a personal measurement for the most part obviously. Is overcrowding measured by a park shutdown or just by having an uncomfortable amount of people around you most of the day?
2. It makes me so sad to read the business choice of price gouging being accepted as business as usual for the company.