Cost of Disney

ev01

ev01

Member
In my opinion, Disney is a premium resort and matches its premium prices. I complain about the price of a stay at WDW, but we the high costs are normally self inflicted.
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
You will glean alot just by reading through quite a few of the threads that have this topic brought up. Personaly as long ad I feel I am getting value for what I spend what Disney charges is a moot point because Disney is going to continue to charge what the market will support.
 
Glasgow

Glasgow

Well-Known Member
You're going to get a tremendous variety of answers here! To us, it used to be a much better value - over the past 10 years the prices have gone up way higher than the inflationary rate, but that is due to demand. You can't argue with the business reasoning for that, it's a public company after all and they're going to make the most money they can. The value is still there for many people (and lets be honest - its not the cost, its the value) but for us, the cost to content ratio has skewed exorbitantly lately because they haven't been developing at a rate parallel to the aforementioned cost increases. Bottom line, value has decreased, which is ostensibly the reason that I think you're seeing massive development over the next 5-10 years .. to make up for the last 10 years along with pushing the company into the future.

Cliff notes version - yes, the cost is too high based on my value scale. Will we go back? Yes, eventually.
 
S

spacemtnfanatic

Active Member
WDW is no longer a "premium product." When I think of hotels I have stayed in all across the country and compare them with what a WDW deluxe resort offers, WDW resorts are literally the biggest scam going in the hotel world in terms of the outrageous cost. Then look at restaurants on the same level as WDW dining, from counter service to signature. I'm not saying other restaurants aren't outrageously expensive and overpriced, but when you look at the product they are offering vs what you are getting at 95% of WDW restaurants, there is just a major gap in quality. My value menu burger for under $2 should not be of higher quality than a $10.99 quick service burger. That is just lodging and dining, let alone the current offerings in the parks.

I haven't spent a dime at WDW in a year and a half now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I just can't, in my heart, support the place anymore, after 20 years of love.
 
D

Driver

Well-Known Member
Oddly enough I'm on both sides of this fence. I see what it cost for an average family to visit and think "that's pricey" But I also know and understand what it takes to support such an operation. What I mean is, all the behind the scenes cost that people don't see and/or don't think about. WDW world is a 24/7 operation. When the parks are " not open" (overnight) there is still an army of people in there prepping for another day among other things. And there is new construction cost etc. etc. The proverbial meter is always running and the bills have to get paid. Are they making a lot of money? Of course, their in business to make money. And as mentioned they will price to what the market will bear.
 
raymusiccity

raymusiccity

Well-Known Member
Driver said:
Oddly enough I'm on both sides of this fence. I see what it cost for an average family to visit and think "that's pricey" But I also know and understand what it takes to support such an operation. What I mean is, all the behind the scenes cost that people don't see and/or don't think about. WDW world is a 24/7 operation. When the parks are " not open" (overnight) there is still an army of people in there prepping for another day among other things. And there is new construction cost etc. etc. The proverbial meter is always running and the bills have to get paid. Are they making a lot of money? Of course, their in business to make money. And as mentioned they will price to what the market will bear.
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Agreed. It's always a matter of supply and demand. Disney gets a bad rap for each time they raise ticket prices. There's hardly a peep when Universal falls into lockstep and raises their prices just as much.
 
Bairstow

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
From a supply/demand approach, they're certainly not overpriced. Compared to the 1990s, park attendance and resort occupancy is the same or higher (in some instances, much higher) than it has been over the last 25 years. Disney has no problem finding millions of people willing to pay their prices.

Park admission is steep, but considering that they're all day activities, and assuming you buy at least 4 days at a time, not outrageously more than, say, the likes of Universal.

Food is about on par for what you can expect to have to pay for in-park food at any major park, zoo, or museum.

Resorts are arguably the most overpriced if the total costs, but having recently traveled to Boston and San Diego, I have a better appreciation of how it's always expensive to sleep close to where you're going to want to be in the morning.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
This topic has been brought up many times. The the cost of everything increases over time and you cant buy much at the same price you could years ago. It is worth saving and budgeting for what we want to do and the extras we want to experience. Disneys value to everyone differs depending on how much pleasure they receive and how much they utilize the offerings on property. For us it has continued to be a good return in value for what it costs us for a trip. We will keep returning ... I cant say how much would be too much and at what point we would refuse to return. Right now its not so much the cost but the crowded conditions and longer waits that restrict the amount of things we can do and pleasure we get that are causing us to have second thoughts about trips in the future. We are returning in 5 months so this trip is already paid for.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
My opinion...

It's hard to gauge whether prices are "too high" in a sentence or less...because there are a lot of circumstances/factors.

However...based on the comparative investment in the parks combined with the rise in prices across the board...the last 5 years has been by far the worst value returned to the consumer in the history of the disney parks. If the current slate of additions is paired with modest increases and they continue to add to get ahead of what they're doing now - which is just catch-up - then the value may come back in.
 
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Minnesota disney fan

Minnesota disney fan

Well-Known Member
I'm with a PP, and can sympathize with both sides. The cost surely has increased a lot with all the add on parties, etc. I can see it clearly when comparing what I paid just 6 years ago to now.
But, when I think of all that we can do at WDW, I think it's a bargain (yes it's pricey). You can eat at any level of restaurant you want, you get to ride innovative rides/attractions, absorb the intricate architecture of each park, see numerous quality shows. The list goes on, and I know I've forgotten a lot. We feel safe while at WDW. Where else can you wander til early am hours and feel safe? The resorts are pricey but they are all so wonderfully presented and immersive.
I can think of no other place like it. We have gone to Universal and love it, but it doesn't have the total package that Disney does, for us.
So, for us, the value remains for now.
We have taken a weeks trip at a lake near us in a cabin that sleeps 10. It cost 4000.00 for the week. It had a hot tub, but was a basic cabin on the lake. So, I can still see the value compared to other vacation sites.
I guess even with all Disney's faults, I can still see the value in a visit.
 
Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
I think they're too high, but that's only because I don't believe that the prices should increase exponentially more than inflation (or more than the rate of my salary, which is very similar to the inflation rate). Add to this the fact that over my family's past three visits, each has offered fewer attractions than the visit before because the newer attractions are outpaced by the shuttered ones (e.g., close 4 attractions and open 2), in addition to longer lines, and the value-for-the-price hasn't increased at all.

Does that mean we don't go to WDW anymore or that it's "no longer worth it"? No, but it does mean we look for more ways to decrease our spending (traveling during lower-priced seasons, no more souvenirs, not purchasing parkhopper or other upgrades, bringing more of our own meals, shorter visits as there are fewer new/repeatable attractions, etc.). I don't think the higher prices will ever stop us from going to WDW every 2-5 years, but they will certainly whittle away at what we consider to be our "must-dos" on a WDW vacation, because even though the prices have gone up significantly, our vacation budget hasn't.

I used to view the Disney price hikes more gently, until recent travel to Europe and Scandinavia helped me get a better perspective of travel costs on a bigger scale, and opened my eyes to the fact that for little more than we'd spend on a week at WDW, our family can spend a week in Europe. Once you've had Swedish meatballs in Stockholm, for example, Akershus and its bevy of polyester-clad princesses lose all of their appeal...
 
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R

Rumrunner

Well-Known Member
Disney is such a unique experience and we are willing to pay the prices and are booked for June in 2018. However we have decided that with the elimination of the night parade-the closing of MK earlier and earlier-this next trip will determine if we will return. If we feel Disney is being cheap it will be a long time before we reschedule. I am hoping for another great trip but have some trepidation that it won't be the same as it has been.
 
correcaminos

correcaminos

Well-Known Member
I'll be honest here. We're DVC members which takes part of the costs out of the equation. We also can purchase an AP at a good discount which also really helps with it all. We have a tendency to eat 2 meals in our rooms (2 bedroom villa after all) so again, costs are lower for us. Do I think Disney is high? Yeah, but not enough to stop us. A part of me (this is where I will get slammed) wouldn't mind to pay more for less crowds. So... we can go higher and still go but realize it's becoming a lot for many people.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
helenabear said:
I'll be honest here. We're DVC members which takes part of the costs out of the equation. We also can purchase an AP at a good discount which also really helps with it all. We have a tendency to eat 2 meals in our rooms (2 bedroom villa after all) so again, costs are lower for us. Do I think Disney is high? Yeah, but not enough to stop us. A part of me (this is where I will get slammed) wouldn't mind to pay more for less crowds. So... we can go higher and still go but realize it's becoming a lot for many people.
Click to expand...

Yeah...I'm mostly with you. Though I don't want to eat in the room. The whole thing about disney is getting ripped off for unhealthy amounts of fatty/sugary/salty foods...

But to that point...the menu prices at sitdowns have increased 100%+ in less than 15 years. No sense questioning it...it's a fact.

So is that too high? It is...without a doubt and has priced a significant chunk of the consumers out.

Tickets? Up over 100% in the same time
Hotels? Some more modest (the expensive ones they can't sell and convert to dvc anyway) of maybe only 25-40%

Moderate and values? We're in that 100% range again. A room at port orleans for $300 a night is clinical insanity...no question.

But...as far as too high? People can't say no...keep coming and keeping eating the increase or racking up debt on it (silly...without a doubt).

If I didn't have dvc...and I didn't feel any need to renew passes if they don't lure me...and I didn't only go when I can evade the crowds and walk out of there if thick and do something else...and I didn't know what food is crap and should never be considered....????

...then there would be little if any value for me.

The cost to product ratio is off because in large part iger has had a reign of stagnation...we are about net zero in additions during his tenure...give or take. At double the price.
 

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