Dining plan price increase

[PinnySmart]

For those that say "We won't be going back because of all of the price increases"... That's one reason Disney does it. Greed is another but they are trying to thin the herd as well.

 

[tk924]

2 out of those 3 happen every single year!! Lol And there are many additions in the US being worked on and already added across Disney Company including 2 new cruise ships also just announced besides all the many other projects and completed additions, and soon to be completed additions this year and the last several years in a row. People tend to forget all of this! And yes I also know they had record profits in 2015 too. Okay rant over! Lol

Glad you can afford it.

 

[sxeensweet]

Glad you can afford it.

People of all income levels find ways to visit WDW. Yes there is some that unfortunately it's not possible at all or any vacations at all for that matter and frankly I could be there one day but say my blessings I'm not every day. But I even know single parents that find a way to go and stay on property with dining and tickets added. You make due if you really want it. It might mean saving for several years, shortening your trips, etc but it can be done. We don't have all this extra money laying around either especially lately money is really tight for us, and why we are skipping a big vacation this year for a few short non WDW locations close to us for a few days if anything at all, but if it's something we want we find a way and cut back on other things if we want to keep visiting WDW.

 

[MinnieM123]

The same thing every year? Things get more expensive yet the parks still hit record levels with over 90% room occupancy. Prices are actually rising too slowly. A WDW vacation is still priced below the market's willingness to pay.

Each person's financial situation is unique, as are individual tolerance levels to price increases. Although I understand that many businesses raise rates, this latest uptick in 2016 prices was difficult (for me) to accept. (Others may have a different point of view, and/or have found creative ways to circumvent the price increases.)

My yearly visit to WDW is generally 4 nights/5 days. However, for the first time in many years, I'm going to have to cut it back to 3 nights/4 days. I've really struggled with this decision, and it's because of the higher price of everything (park tickets/food/hotel--as well as airfare).

I'm still looking forward to my trip this spring, and I am grateful for what I have. I hope that you, also, will be able to enjoy a visit to WDW this year.

 

[ford91exploder]

For some it's not a question whether they can AFFORD the WDW vacation, It's that the VALUE once inherent in a WDW vacation has been stripped away due to service, entertainment and quality cuts. To my mind that's a bigger problem for Disney because if 'Disney's not worth the price' takes hold things are going to get ugly fast.

We were at AKL for runDisney in Jan representatives of 3 families all of whom are senior faculty members or professionals with commensurate compensation, We ate in the room (we had a grand villa) because none of us felt the food offerings were WORTH the price being charged, And yes we skipped the MK too as the nuts to butts crowding was just not pleasant (1 day at AK).

AKL and AK remain probably the last bastion of the quality all of WDW was once known for which is a sad commentary on how the current management has used WDW as an ATM for the rest of Disney corporate.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

We get it for the free dining...sure the level of food has degraded but hey I need my steak dinners guy! don't hate me hate Disney for offering it for free.

Free dining is REALLY the reason we can't have nice things. Free dining served it purpose shortly after 9/11 but now it's demanded and not necessary.

 

[lostpro9het]

as the nuts to butts crowding

I'm stealing this for future use...

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Dumbed down menus for dumbed down palates, with dumb people paying over the odds!

Remember when the buffets had prime rib instead of roast beef? remember molded butter pats? I do. it's the little things.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

ok... is it just me or are they raising prices of EVERYTHING across the board (resorts, food, tickets, etc.) - which ends up costing the average family much more than before because increases are in everything. It would make more sense to stagger these things a little better... but people are still gonna come... so.... ugh....

Oh I guess you can put a price on ONCE IN A LIFETIME now right?!? C'mon Cletus, what are you gonna do.....FLY over to actual Norway and eat lunch THERE? Oh and just probably happen to casually bump into ACTUAL PRINCESSES that are wanting to each lunch with your family? Haha, not likely! Cause that would be thousands of dollars so this is a massive savings for the same experience.

Park ticket increases
Dining plan increases
Possible resort fee

Looks like there's no end in sight.

 

[BernardandBianca]

Its right in line with inflation since these things usually have a duration of a year. 2014 inflation-1.61%, 2015-.1%, 2016 projected 1.49 % .

Uh, according to your numbers quoted, the inflation for the past 3 years has been 3.2%. The increase is ~3%. So "in line with inflation" appears to be 3 years worth of inflation in one year. Now, if Disney didn't increase prices in the past 3 years, you would be correct; however, I do not believe that is an accurate statement.

But from a personal perspective, it doesn't impact us at all. We've never done the DDP, nor willl we ever do so. The closest we came, and it was great, is that we used to do the Gold Key plan years ago, where everything was included (except booze) and the pricing was reasonable - we always "spent" more than it cost.

 

[networkpro]

Uh, according to your numbers quoted, the inflation for the past 3 years has been 3.2%. The increase is ~3%. So "in line with inflation" appears to be 3 years worth of inflation in one year. Now, if Disney didn't increase prices in the past 3 years, you would be correct; however, I do not believe that is an accurate statement.

But from a personal perspective, it doesn't impact us at all. We've never done the DDP, nor willl we ever do so. The closest we came, and it was great, is that we used to do the Gold Key plan years ago, where everything was included (except booze) and the pricing was reasonable - we always "spent" more than it cost.

The years I used were 2014, 2015, and 2016. As 2016 isnt even out of the first quarter, the numbers are projected so that trifling .2% variance could be over/under stated or even hedged by cost basis contracts for goods.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Each person's financial situation is unique, as are individual tolerance levels to price increases. Although I understand that many businesses raise rates, this latest uptick in 2016 prices was difficult (for me) to accept. (Others may have a different point of view, and/or have found creative ways to circumvent the price increases.)

My yearly visit to WDW is generally 4 nights/5 days. However, for the first time in many years, I'm going to have to cut it back to 3 nights/4 days. I've really struggled with this decision, and it's because of the higher price of everything (park tickets/food/hotel--as well as airfare).

I'm still looking forward to my trip this spring, and I am grateful for what I have. I hope that you, also, will be able to enjoy a visit to WDW this year.

That's a very fair take from an individual customer's perspective. Unfortunately for folks making tough budgetary decisions on whether to visit WDW or not, pricing strategies need to be based on broad market analysis, not individual families' financial situations. If the cumulative number of families wiling and/or able to pay more outnumbers the folks who would need to change their consumption with a price increase, then the cost/benefit analysis is pretty clear.

For some it's not a question whether they can AFFORD the WDW vacation, It's that the VALUE once inherent in a WDW vacation has been stripped away due to service, entertainment and quality cuts. To my mind that's a bigger problem for Disney because if 'Disney's not worth the price' takes hold things are going to get ugly fast.

That's a tremendous "if" that people have been saying around here for what, a decade? Over and over again we hear about declining quality and rising prices and how such-and-such isn't as great as it used to be and how Walt would be appalled at the company today. Yet we continue to see record crowds and record rates year after year. The perspective of the jaded superfan is not typical of the average WDW guest. People still go home after a WDW vacation and rave about the great time they had and that they can't wait to do it again. The only reason the biggest "fans" seem to feel otherwise is because we've all been a thousand times.

AKL and AK remain probably the last bastion of the quality all of WDW was once known for which is a sad commentary on how the current management has used WDW as an ATM for the rest of Disney corporate.

DAKL is the bomb for realz.

 

[ford91exploder]

That's a very fair take from an individual customer's perspective. Unfortunately for folks making tough budgetary decisions on whether to visit WDW or not, pricing strategies need to be based on broad market analysis, not individual families' financial situations. If the cumulative number of families wiling and/or able to pay more outnumbers the folks who would need to change their consumption with a price increase, then the cost/benefit analysis is pretty clear.


That's a tremendous "if" that people have been saying around here for what, a decade? Over and over again we hear about declining quality and rising prices and how such-and-such isn't as great as it used to be and how Walt would be appalled at the company today. Yet we continue to see record crowds and record rates year after year. The perspective of the jaded superfan is not typical of the average WDW guest. People still go home after a WDW vacation and rave about the great time they had and that they can't wait to do it again. The only reason the biggest "fans" seem to feel otherwise is because we've all been a thousand times.


DAKL is the bomb for realz.

Not even I've said that you cannot have a great vacation at WDW still, The problem comes in as is the experience good enough to make you go back year after year as it did for most of us who post here. That I think is on the bubble at the moment have we reached an inflection point, No not even I would say that however if WDW keeps on it's current trajectory that tipping point WILL be reached.

As to the VALUE in Dining right now the pricing at BOMA was out of sight in January, We collectively (runDisney group) are no stranger to paying north of 100 bucks per person for a meal at a GOOD restaurant, Boma has always been one of my favorites but when I vacation I don't toss fiscal sanity out the door when we were there Boma was at the high end of their price range and no matter HOW much I used to like the food I'm not paying north of 50 bucks PP for a BUFFET!!.

30 bucks I'm willing to spend, North of 50 no way.