Cruise deposit

[DecWDW]

My friend and I had recently booked the Western Caribbean cruise and were able to take advantage of the half price deposit. So, when the Alaskan cruises were announced, we pretty much knew they wouldn't have it available for that. What we didn't know, was how much the deposit would be! We were pretty shocked, $1200! That's almost half the cost of the cruise! So guess who's not going to Alaska?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

My friend and I had recently booked the Western Caribbean cruise and were able to take advantage of the half price deposit. So, when the Alaskan cruises were announced, we pretty much knew they wouldn't have it available for that. What we didn't know, was how much the deposit would be! We were pretty shocked, $1200! That's almost half the cost of the cruise! So guess who's not going to Alaska?

I was sad about that one, too. But I'm still going!

 

[magic2me]

Unfortunately it seems Disney is really singling out the average guest these days and offering perks to only the DVC members and guest who have spent a lot of money with them in the past. It is almost in "Titanic" style...if you are not wealthy...you don't sail! Next they will be introducing the "steerage" class staterooms on the ships.

Disney's pricing is a bit over the top for the industry standards for what is offered. Now don't get me wrong I love DCL and will continue to keep cruising with them. We just got off the Magic on the 19th and had pretty much the best vacation ever and of course re-booked for another while on board. I feel sorry for the average family of four who will never be able to experiance a Disney cruise do to the high prices.

I am sure I will be flamed for my reply...but these are the observations I have made over the years.

There will be many things that the average family of four cannot experience. One can have a complete life and never go on a DCL.

I for one have never been on any cruise and I do not feel my life was ruined.

I did book the DCL Alaska cruise and did not consider paying $1200 was out of line when my cruise was costing well over $5K.

 

[Phonedave]

My point was that "ALL" Disney entertainment was originally intended for everyone...not just the wealthy.

I agree with you.

I don't necessarily thing it is "wrong" but I have found myself thinking along those lines myself. A DCL cruise is quite a bit more than a cruise on any other line. Especialy now that I can cruise out of NYC to places other than Canada on a number of different cruise lines. (It saves me the airfare).

WDW and DCL are not, especialy in this economic climate, something an average family can do every year. Before I get a lot of "I consider myself average and I go every year" lets just define average. It's roughly a family of 3, with an income of $50,000 a year.

For anyone that has to fly to FL to go to WDW or on a cruise, that is a big dent to the family budget. Yes some people drive, some people ship boxes of snacks down, some people split double cheeseburgers, some people make salads off the fixings bars. I contend that is not a vacation as Disney intended it. If you were looking at any other sort of resort, and they advertised "We are a great resort, we know our prices are higher, but you can afford to come if you make a meal out of catsup packets once a day" nobody would come. It's the allure of Disney that makes people go to such cost cutting measure to be able to afford to go.

So yes, I think WDW and the DCL is out of the range for an average family to take an average trip to (moderate resort, eating TS a few times, CS the rest) to once a year.

It is something that the average family can do every so often as a "big trip" or special event.

Again, I don't know if that is a bad thing or not. Disney has had the "premium destination" image for quite some time now. WIth a premium image comes a premium price"

-dave

 

[magic2me]

My point was that "ALL" Disney entertainment was originally intended for everyone...not just the wealthy.

No it was not. When DL opened Joe average living on the east coast NEVER could afford to go. When WDW opened it was still very costly for the average American family to get to FL. Flying was not even an option for Joe Average's family.

Due to the cost I never stepped foot into a Disney park until I was 17 and then it was only for two or three days total. I never stepping into DL until I was in my 30s.

When WDW opened the only resorts available were the CR and Poly. That was NOT for the average family. When we went to WDW when I was 17 we could not afford ANY Disney resort and stayed at a Days Inn.

The next time I returned to WDW I was married and in my late 20s. We took a week vacation FL and went to WDW for two days.

Disney movie tickets cost the same as any other movie.

The only inexpensive part of Disney was the WWOD on Sunday nights.

 

[Master Yoda]

People didn't consider taking the vacations back then like they do today. When Disneyland opened it sure was intended for "everyone". Take a look at the history of ticket prices.

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/history-of-disneyland-ticket-prices/



In 1978 my parents stayed at the Poly for a little over $100.00 for the week...I don't consider that unaffordable.

Looking at then and now prices is always misleading. The average family income in 1955 was $4,100 per year. In 1978 it was just over $15,000 per year. As of 2007 that number has risen to over $50,000.

 

[Phonedave]

Looking at then and now prices is always misleading. The average family income in 1955 was $4,100 per year. In 1978 it was just over $15,000 per year. As of 2007 that number has risen to over $50,000.

Just to put it in concrete amounts

In 2008, $100.00 from 1978 is worth:
$330.12 using the Consumer Price Index $268.52 using the GDP deflator $362.42 using the value of consumer bundle $307.19 using the unskilled wage $460.26 using the nominal GDP per capita $629.58 using the relative share of GDP

Source: http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

It still seems "cheaper" than it now is. What does a week at the Poly run you in 2008. More than $629.58 I'll wager.

-dave

 

[Master Yoda]

Just to put it in concrete amounts

In 2008, $100.00 from 1978 is worth:
$330.12 using the Consumer Price Index $268.52 using the GDP deflator $362.42 using the value of consumer bundle $307.19 using the unskilled wage $460.26 using the nominal GDP per capita $629.58 using the relative share of GDP

Source: http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

It still seems "cheaper" than it now is. What does a week at the Poly run you in 2008. More than $629.58 I'll wager.

-dave

It certainly does seem cheaper but I will also wager that that $100 for a week at the Poly in 1978 is not all that accurate either. That breaks down to $14.29 per night. I am only going off memory but I am pretty sure the room rates were higher than that when it opened 7 years earlier.

 

[Master Yoda]

I am digging through my archives as we speak to look for the receipt for proof, yes I have the receipt for my parents stay at the Poly in 1978...but I am certain the rate was right around there somewhere.

What is killing me it I can find prices for nearly every ticket ever sold in WDW since in opened in 1971 but I can not find room rates any farther back then 2008.

 

[Phonedave]

What is killing me it I can find prices for nearly every ticket ever sold in WDW since in opened in 1971 but I can not find room rates any farther back then 2008.

Just looking for averages, to get a feeling. I find loads of current (Sep 2009) articles stating that "Hotels are at their lowest rate in 5 years" but not a single one states where they are getting that historic info from.

-dave

 

[worldfanatic]

I love cruising (just finished my 7th) and I'm a freaking Disney Fanatic.
But at this point, I don't ever see myself going on the Disney Cruise line. The prices are just so out of line with what you can get on other lines.
Carnival does a fantastic job, as does Royal Caribbean.
I'm not gonna pay almost double for my balcony cabin just because it's Disney.

They have a monopoly at their parks, and I happily pay a premium to stay on Disney World and Disneyland property.
But the ocean is wide open.
Every cruise I go on, I meet people who say they went on DCL and loved it, but wouldn't again because it's just not that much better than the competition.