Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
The calendar has shifted...if it weren't for the oppressive weather in August, I'd be there every year
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Cost of Disney
- Thread starter kathy stomber
- Start date
The calendar has shifted...if it weren't for the oppressive weather in August, I'd be there every year
jloucks
Well-Known Member
Which is one reasonable explanation for why they are packing the parks to uncomfortable levels.
eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
Ditto.
Yes Disney is expensive but I will admit it's also a vacation that you can tailor to many budgets. As others have said, the question becomes "value". do you feel you are getting back what the your out put was.
Like Helena, we own DVC and we purchased back in the late 1990's when the prices were pretty reasonable. would I purchase today at what they are asking. no.
For me a lot of the value is "intrinsic". The feeling I get when I walk down Main street and the music is playing, the enjoyment I get when my family and I are at a Character breakfast laughing. those are all intangibles
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Has nothing to do with what I'm saying. All costs have to be accounted for when one considers a company's profit.
It's not like because the cost is fixed that it's not factored into the company's bottom line...
Disney's bottom line at Parks and resorts is perfectly reasonable.The business is a high cost, tough business that requires A LOT of people coming in to make it even approach worthwhile. Parks and Resorts have about an 18-20% operating margin. Decent profits, but there are much more profitable businesses like Visa, Microsoft, Google, or Facebook. Selling a real, tangible product is much more difficult and expensive to deliver.
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Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Consumer products have no where near 90% operating margin either. These numbers are public.
Consumer products did about 30% operating margin last quarter. Good margins, but no where near "pure profit."
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
If the parks have such ridiculous overhead...which they do...why run them?
$0.01 off Mickey bars?
Theres a shell game - legal but still a shell game - that goes on with parks accounting. I only believe what I have seen.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Because some profit is better than no profit? They DO have ridiculously high overhead and they ARE a tough business. But there is more than just the profit they generate. They keep the Disney cycle going too.
Public companies are highly regulated. Any accounting shenanigans are usually not worth the short term benefit...
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
Ha ha this is why I don't eat there as much - I feel like crap if I eat only Disney food every day for more than a couple days. Cannot do it.... and since we spend a ton of time at our resort it's easy to have sandwiches, bagels, cereals etc. Of course the cost of it all doesn't help.
Not just a feel for us, but it's also a super easy vacation for us to do. We go often, we chill, we relax, if something goes wrong, no big deal as we'll be back. We don't spend tons of times in the park either, but we like it all in the end. I can go there and not even think twice about what we'll be doing that week. virtually no planning for us either. It's become a nice getaway and real vacation for us. Something for all of us to do as well. My husband would hate those all inclusive in the Caribbean even though I'd love them. This is a balance vacation for us. Not easy for me to find places we'd all enjoy.
Not sure I'd pay double ticket prices, but I surely would pay more. I just think the ticket prices have jumped a lot in the last few years. Looking at AP prices we're nearly double what they were 10 years ago as it is.
Maybe. I've looked at their 10K and frankly the level of detail specific to theme parks is too sparse to really know how profitable they truly are. One huge problem in looking at the 10K is that in the one's I've seen they lump all the parks and resorts together. No way to actually look at the specific number of say Magic Kingdom all on its own. Nor is there anyway to know how much cross subsidies are going on in the SG&A which is often where diversified companies like Disney will make less than arms length transactions between operating units to move around profits such as the resorts buying advertising on ABC network, might not be at the going rate for ads space as it could be done at above market rates to shift profits, try and support the belief that ad rates are higher than they really or any number of other reasons. I suspect if you could get the real cold hard number on the theme parks they would likely generate a lot higher margins than other theme parks in the US, but that's something only folks inside Disney's accounting department are likely to ever really know.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Excellent...
wendysue
Well-Known Member
This is a tough one... Say, 15 years ago, my husband and I would book a 7 day at Caribbean Beach with park hoppers. The parks were open later and we didn't get upcharged for every little thing. A few years later, we stayed at Pop Century-room only, and would get a few days of tickets from Undercover Tourist. During this period, they decided to bring out "Free Dining" (haha) and the price of food got stupid, so we would make sure to bring a bunch of our own or eat offsite. Last year we sprung for 13 month AP's with the hope of going at least 3 times during that period, but now looking at the All Star hotels-room only. As it gets increasingly more expensive, we have to downsize to cheaper hotels or stay offsite to stay in the same budget. (We don't get raises each year). We are still hoping to go in January before the AP's expire, as we won't be renewing them, but am waiting to see what deals come out before then.
We know that this is the last hurrah for us at Disney, and no, we don't think it's worth the cost any longer.
We know that this is the last hurrah for us at Disney, and no, we don't think it's worth the cost any longer.
MrHappy
Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Well since you brought it up and tiptoed into my wheelhouse...
15 years ago...at Caribbean...
Your room would have started at $84+ a night in the low season and peaked at $154+ for Christmas...your one day base price was $52.63 with tax and on the park hopper protocol, the hopper was almost nothing and the cost per day of ticket significantly decreased after 4 days...
And the current $55 dollar le Cellier filet mignon was $26 dollars...and most restaurants had an actual lunch menu that charged accordingly. Character buffets were $9.99 for kids and $16.99 for adults for breakfast.
Erides were $14 plus tax and the Halloween/Christmas tickets started around $30 and went to about $45 on the holidays themselves...
In case anyone was wondering.
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jimbojones
Well-Known Member
oh oh ,you have me nervous now, I truly hate the big crowds! I use "Dads Guide" crowd calendars and he still has late august looking ok
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
In 1977 the Contemporary Resort (luxury) cost us $40/ night for our honey moon, breakfast at the Contemporary was $1.99 Fast forward 2017 we stayed at CBR (moderate) $196/night. Like many we have had to down grade our resorts due to the never ending price increases. In the late 90's we stayed at POR family of four cost far less than DW and my trip in 2017. For us we are planning for the 2021 50th anniversary @ a luxury resort with the granddaughters it will be a last hoorah trip for us. Between now and then we may tent camp at FT WIlderness as a cost cutter. WDW has simply priced us out; it's unfortunate I grew up on Disney and have alot of great memories.
ppete1975
Well-Known Member
Id love for lower costs. But can you imagine the crowds? Honestly if you book your trip right its not toooo expensive especially if you stay multiple days (the park ticket and hopper get reasonable) the prices inside are cheaper in some cases to six flags and better options of food and souvenirs. My issue is the closing early for parties without giving you anything. I do the Christmas party so i add to that issue. But if im a first timer and dont research and get kicked out at what is it now 6pm because of a party id be ed. Those being kicked out shoupd get park hoppers for free. It wouldnt cost tge parks anything and would keep people happy while introducing some people to the other three parks. My other issue is until recently the lack of adding new things to space out the crpwds. Honestly travel as far as flights are concerned has become so affordable that the crowds are my only complaint.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
No no...I'm saying August is GOOD now..."summer" ain't really "summer"
Anymore...
It's just so damn hot
spacemtnfanatic
Active Member
Why would they give a free park hopper to day guests at MK on part nights? There are literally dozens of A-frame signs on the way in warning you the park closes early. And since guests are forced to be chained to their technology now to experience the parks, they can see it there too. There is a reason park hoppers cost more... because it is a perk. Giving it away for free because a park closes at its scheduled time is ridiculous. Now, say a park had to close early due to overcrowding or other situation (water main break, etc) then of course you offer it, and that is what they always do.
wendysue
Well-Known Member
Wow. Thanks for breaking that down. I don't have the patience to pull out all the old receipts, (i still have them). Your figures have shown us that we cannot afford to ever go again with todays prices.
Walt Disney1955
Well-Known Member
Is it too high? Yes it is. Disneyland in 1955 cost $1. Magic Kingdom in 1971 cost $6. Even when you factor in inflation it is insane to see the difference. Look, I realize you need to pay for the things that are worth it. Disney is worth it, I never have a bad day there. However, adding some more dark rides to spread the crowds out would help. I guess the good news is that if you want to spend 4 days in the park the tickets get cheaper on a per day basis the more you go.