eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
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CRT New Upcharge
- Thread starter DisneyDreamer08
- Start date
eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
true but what you find as a "ripoff" someone else might not. that's the problem with blanket statements like that. value is a perception. it differs for everyone.
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
Preface: I have never dined at CRT. Iām not interested in doing so.
From what Iāve heard, I can raise similar points about those who book dinners there as are being made about those who would book this event: āItās overpriced, not impressive food, and not worth it.ā
I can, but I donāt. I understand some will find both experiences worth it, worth trying once, or worth it for a special occasion.
To represent a perspective that I donāt think has been so far: as someone who goes fairly regularly, I like to look at the extras - the tours, the special events - to do something different. It might not be for a random Tuesday, but for a birthday or anniversary, sure. And many people going to WDW on any given day are celebrating something.
Not a lot of the āextrasā speak to me; Iād like to see more - something Iād value, fewer sweets (as others have mentioned, though Iāve heard some or all dessert parties have savory options.)
On the subject of money: we donāt have a ton; we appreciate what we have. Weāve gone to WDW when we had to eat off property at a 2-4-1 buffet for $5.99 with a coupon, so we could pay for our 2 or 3 day park tickets, and stay at a $35 motel. Weāve since celebrated an anniversary at Victoria & Albertās. I write TRās under the ā2 broke guysā moniker, because we find ways to do nice things that are affordable.
The biggest way for us has been earning Chase Visa rewards dollars. I use that card to buy inventory for my business. We end up getting a few to several thousand dollars a year in āfree money.ā So spending $400 for the two of us - in points - on a special experience, thatās not such a big deal. We routinely spend $150-$200 on a nice meal for two; and theyāre often āfree.ā
Some people might think thatās a waste when they could meet Cinderella instead. OK. Cool. Different people have different priorities.
Itās not hard to imagine there are people who make a lot more money than I, such that a $100 bill to them is like a $20 bill to me. Good for them if they want to do this - even on a random Tuesday.
Iāll wait to read some personal reviews before judging value, though. Sometimes the biggest benefits are the intangibles.
From what Iāve heard, I can raise similar points about those who book dinners there as are being made about those who would book this event: āItās overpriced, not impressive food, and not worth it.ā
I can, but I donāt. I understand some will find both experiences worth it, worth trying once, or worth it for a special occasion.
To represent a perspective that I donāt think has been so far: as someone who goes fairly regularly, I like to look at the extras - the tours, the special events - to do something different. It might not be for a random Tuesday, but for a birthday or anniversary, sure. And many people going to WDW on any given day are celebrating something.
Not a lot of the āextrasā speak to me; Iād like to see more - something Iād value, fewer sweets (as others have mentioned, though Iāve heard some or all dessert parties have savory options.)
On the subject of money: we donāt have a ton; we appreciate what we have. Weāve gone to WDW when we had to eat off property at a 2-4-1 buffet for $5.99 with a coupon, so we could pay for our 2 or 3 day park tickets, and stay at a $35 motel. Weāve since celebrated an anniversary at Victoria & Albertās. I write TRās under the ā2 broke guysā moniker, because we find ways to do nice things that are affordable.
The biggest way for us has been earning Chase Visa rewards dollars. I use that card to buy inventory for my business. We end up getting a few to several thousand dollars a year in āfree money.ā So spending $400 for the two of us - in points - on a special experience, thatās not such a big deal. We routinely spend $150-$200 on a nice meal for two; and theyāre often āfree.ā
Some people might think thatās a waste when they could meet Cinderella instead. OK. Cool. Different people have different priorities.
Itās not hard to imagine there are people who make a lot more money than I, such that a $100 bill to them is like a $20 bill to me. Good for them if they want to do this - even on a random Tuesday.
Iāll wait to read some personal reviews before judging value, though. Sometimes the biggest benefits are the intangibles.
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ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
All I'm gonna say is that we had prime rib there BEFORE it was princessed, and it was amazing. Got seated right in front of the center window, there were few people there, the food was fabulous and the view spectacular.
When I heard that they made it Princess central I knew we'd never dine there again.
When I heard that they made it Princess central I knew we'd never dine there again.
This is a package for people that can afford it and are happy to pay, not someone who needs to scrape it together. If all these upcharges were to go away the ticket prices would sore. The people paying for these effectively subsidise the people who won't. I know people don't like it but Disney need to make their money.
Brad Bishop
Well-Known Member
They would both soar AND sore!
I disagree with your premise, though. I don't think these "special events" are what they're using to hold town ticket prices but, instead, just using them to pad the bottom line.
If the day's price is $125 and then the after hours price is $150 and the morning price is $80, that doesn't mean that if they went back to regular operations (staying open later, not opening an hour early) that the price for your ticket would be $355. It doesn't even mean it'd be $200.
All Disney has found out is that:
- They can sell the park multiple times a day and people will pay for it AND defend it
- If they see enough people doing the same thing, they can rope it off, throw cupcakes at it, call it a "Magical Experience," and get $50-80/head for it (and, again, people will pay for it and defend it).
As with others, I'm not faulting anyone for doing whatever they want with their money. If Disney wanted to offer the first sections of the parking lot at $100/space then, yes, there's someone who'd pay for it and, yes, they're free to do so.
The cold hard reality of all of this is that if you don't earn as much you're either not going to get to go OR you're going to have to really scrimp and save to make it happen. That's part of being poor, though. If you're wealthy, you get to do more. That's life.
All that being said, most of us are complaining about these things because it seems a bit "unseemly" as to what Disney has been doing over the last few years with looking for absolutely any opportunity to make something a special event and charge more for it. Yes, there are some who will say, "Disney is only going to be for the elites!" There's a lot of truth in that. That's not what the rest of us are arguing, though. We think that most of these things are just cash grabs to add more to the bottom line and, long term, it's going to hurt the parks we all grew up with, love, etc. That's what the arguing is really about: We see the parks that used to have cohesive theming going away and just is becoming IP attractions shoe-horned in here or there and it doesn't matter. Sight lines no longer matter. At the same time we see, in our minds, ridiculous cupcake parties and cabanas happening at an up-charge and we think that the parks we knew are dying. They are.
I think for a lot of people it's just sad to watch "their parks" die and their own nostalgia die with them.
I'm there but I'll add: I think, business-wise, that these decisions will hurt them in the long run. To me it looks like Universal is figuring out how to be a better Disney and, at the same time, Disney is figuring out how to be more like Universal (or how they were - just throw a ride wherever).
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networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
They would both soar AND sore!
I disagree with your premise, though. I don't think these "special events" are what they're using to hold town ticket prices but, instead, just using them to pad the bottom line.
If the day's price is $125 and then the after hours price is $150 and the morning price is $80, that doesn't mean that if they went back to regular operations (staying open later, not opening an hour early) that the price for your ticket would be $355. It doesn't even mean it'd be $200.
You're omitting the fixed costs Disney has that dont stop no matter what the operating hours are. Operating hours=income. Income-costs=profit which is what companies that continue as a business have to have and stockholders demand.
Reselling the same park day is a misconception, they are selling reduced capacity access for the addtional time of the event with some sort of foodstuff depending on the event which is in addition to park admission.
The cold hard reality is the equal access groups' argument based is socialistic in nature with the premise that everyone should have equal access to everything.
ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
It isn't socialistic at all. We aren't getting the same value for our dollar on the days they close the parks early for events. That's a very valid complaint.
BigThunderMatt
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry, but in this age of information, ignorance is absolutely 100% a choice. If you don't do one iota of research before going somewhere like WDW and expect it to be stellar, I don't care how much money you dropped, you deserve a crap vacation. This is not the kind of place you can just go to on a whim and there is literally decades worth of historical information and constant updates reinforcing that idea. It is practically spoon fed to you. One quick search on Google and you can find a wealth of information on how to cost effectively plan your trip.
The only people that can go to Disney on a whim and have a great vacation are the super rich because they can literally pay to bypass all the hoops the rest of us have to jump through to have anything remotely close to a comparable experience.
networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
Where does your admission media state how many hours it entitles you to be inside the park? Oh that's right it doesn't, furthermore if you look at what the Disney company has published, you acquiesce to its terms and conditions when you enter its property.
Your remedy? Don't go.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
Park hours have always fluctuated. For decades there have been days where the park may be open 9-7 with no special events along with days the park was open 8-1. Thatās the difference between 10 and 17 hours in the park and he admission cost was the same either way.
VaderTron
Well-Known Member
We have a friend who was stuck in the birth canal and deprived of oxygen during birth. She is "not all there". Her mother received a huge settlement years ago. He mother is now dead and the money passed on to her. Sadly her extended family often swindles her out of money all the time. One cousin convinced her that she should move out of her house and into a trailer on the property. Now he and his family live in there for free. Another "friend" said he would help rebuild the front steps/porch for her trailer. (10x10 made mostly of 2x4's) He charged her $20,000 and she paid it because she said, "That's what he said it cost."
I'm just saying...the fact that people WILL PAY does not indicate that the practice of price gouging isn't predatory or wrong. There are a variety of reasons people will pay. As others have stated, a big one is lack of knowledge and understanding of what other options are available and the extent of emphasis placed on advertising. If there was more transparency such as showing ALL the options in the listing (Dessert Party - $84 adult $50 child; Cinderella's Castle Royal Table Dinner - $65-$80 adult $45-$65 child; Whole package deal with special meet and greet and reserved fireworks access - $199 adult $169 child.) THEN while I wouldn't be interested myself, I would at least not be angered by the attempt to scam the unsuspecting novice.
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VaderTron
Well-Known Member
If you are so against equality I suppose you prefer selfish bigotry? Even the US Constitution promotes equality. I mean...if that's your stance...
eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
Serious question,
Are there a large population of people that show up to Disney, knowing nothing? The fact that they booked a meal at CRT means they must know something.
I really think its jealousy that makes folks assume that anyone that pays for these extraa are some uneducated hicks incapable of booking a vacation without getting scammed.
Do you guys any proof that people purchasing upcharge events don't know exactly what they are getting??
networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
I do know that reserving a Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party gives us a dedicated place to sit before and during the fireworks so we dont have to be in the mosh pit known as main street or the Hub.
Are you saying most Disney afficionados are suffering from diminished mental capacity?
Because I think you may be right. I know that I suffer from Disneyitis and Pixie Dust Poisoning from time to time...
That's why there are sites like this one... so those of us with a few functional brain cells left can provide our own price/value analyses and opinions on trends in the parks and resort.
eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
I always admit to being a koolaid drinker,
but seriously I can't imagine in today's information availability culture anyone not getting basic basic information or not asking anything specific. Not just Disney, anyplace!!
Equality of opportunity -- not necessarily equality of outcome.
This one is 3 courses of dessert. First with dinner, second with the take home box of chocolates, and third with the full on dessert party. I love dessert and that's too much for me.
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
Does "always" mean something different where you are from?