News Disney Parks Chief Josh D'Amaro Says Pricing Model Aims to Keep Vacations Affordable for Families

[Bocabear]

a Disney vacation seems to be more about pre-booking everything and tactical planning so that there is no room for ad-lib experiences...it becomes a gauntlet rather than a relaxing fun trip... I don't know what the solution to this is other than go to the parks, be happy with getting on the least popular rides and enjoy only quick serve meals. When you figure in the expense, you are paying for a luxury vacation and having a budget experience.... Which seems wrong... The last few years we have been spending less time in the parks... More time hanging out at the resort... For less money we could actually just go on a cruise... Heck for less money we could go to Europe...
It is the nostalgia that brings us back...which they are for some reason trying to rapidly destroy....

 

[JD80]

This could just be me but for the public at large they wouldn't consider a trip to a regional theme/amusement park as a vacation (with a few exceptions like Dollywood). They may consider it a fun weekend getaway or trip maybe? I personally think of a vacation as a trip that's 5-7 days where I have fun and eat good food and I don't get bored at any point.

 

[JD80]

Disney has just made it complicated before and during a vacation. Vacation for us is is a time to relax escape from the chores of daily life -at one time Disney offered that not so any more.

That's a you problem. You can do a Disney vacation without the complexity if you want to, especially those that have been often.

 

[Biff215]

That's a you problem. You can do a Disney vacation without the complexity if you want to, especially those that have been often.

Completely disagree if you want to have the best opportunity to get in everything you want to do (attractions, dining, etc). Can you just show up? Sure, but unless you’re a local who doesn’t care, you’ll likely get a lesser experience. A day in WDW has been fairly complex since the introduction of FP+.

 

[JD80]

Completely disagree if you want to have the best opportunity to get in everything you want to do (attractions, dining, etc). Can you just show up? Sure, but unless you’re a local who doesn’t care, you’ll likely get a lesser experience. A day in WDW has been fairly complex since the introduction of FP+.

For first time/once in a life time or once every 5 year type of guests? Sure it can be complicated.

For someone who goes down once or twice a year? Nah.

 

[Bocabear]

That's a you problem. You can do a Disney vacation without the complexity if you want to, especially those that have been often.

We visit fairly often...But feel like it continues to get more and more complex with the amount of pre-planning you have to do for basic things.... Like I said...unless you don't care about getting on any attractions and are happy with quick-serve, it begins to feel less like a vacation and more like a job to make sure you get your money's worth.... I see people in the parks all the time now with their heads buried in their phones trying to plan the next move....
no one is relaxed and looking around and appreciating the little details....they are all trying to book a bathroom break and the next snack...lol Seems like then we were using the old paper fast passes it was easier.... Seems like before any such thing as a fast pass it was easier.... maybe there were just fewer visitors back then...

 

[JD80]

We visit fairly often...But feel like it continues to get more and more complex with the amount of pre-planning you have to do for basic things.... Like I said...unless you don't care about getting on any attractions and are happy with quick-serve, it begins to feel less like a vacation and more like a job to make sure you get your money's worth.... I see people in the parks all the time now with their heads buried in their phones trying to plan the next move....
no one is relaxed and looking around and appreciating the little details....they are all trying to book a bathroom break and the next snack...lol Seems like then we were using the old paper fast passes it was easier.... Seems like before any such thing as a fast pass it was easier.... maybe there were just fewer visitors back then...

You find picking a hotel and creating a few dining reservations complex?

 

[dmc493]

You find picking a hotel and creating a few dining reservations complex?

To be fair, trying to see all available rates for each type of discount for any specific hotel is hilariously difficult to do. If you just search dates on their main website, it might look like Pop Century is completely sold out. You have to click on Pop Century (where it says sold out) and click into it and click thru different offers to see what rooms are available.

Dining-wise, the system has gotten way better but the internet has convinced people to panic and try and figure things out right when the reservation window opens for your reservations. Not to mention the level of choice available is overwhelming even for frequent guests

 

[JD80]

To be fair, trying to see all available rates for each type of discount for any specific hotel is hilariously difficult to do. If you just search dates on their main website, it might look like Pop Century is completely sold out. You have to click on Pop Century (where it says sold out) and click into it and click thru different offers to see what rooms are available.

Dining-wise, the system has gotten way better but the internet has convinced people to panic and try and figure things out right when the reservation window opens for your reservations. Not to mention the level of choice available is overwhelming even for frequent guests

Do you panic at your 60 day mark? I'm talking to people in this thread as a placeholder for people who typically got 1-3 times a year.

I understand the complicated argument for people who are going for the first time or don't go very often. When you're spending 1000s of dollars any unknown or new system can be nerve wracking. Any new system or technology you've never used can be view as complicated. Everything has a learning curve and it sucks learning on the go - especially on vacation.

I'm specifically addressing people in this thread who claim their Disney vacation is too complicated for them. I will counter argue that a good portion of people going back on a WDW vacation after using the existing systems won't find them as complicated or complicated at all their second time using them.

 

[dmc493]

Do you panic at your 60 day mark? I'm talking to people in this thread as a placeholder for people who typically got 1-3 times a year.

I understand the complicated argument for people who are going for the first time or don't go very often. When you're spending 1000s of dollars any unknown or new system can be nerve wracking. Any new system or technology you've never used can be view as complicated. Everything has a learning curve and it sucks learning on the go - especially on vacation.

I'm specifically addressing people in this thread who claim their Disney vacation is too complicated for them. I will counter argue that a good portion of people going back on a WDW vacation after using the existing systems won't find them as complicated or complicated at all their second time using them.

Got it! Then in that lens, I still think browsing hotel availability is unnecessarily difficult, but who knows maybe Disney wants it that way. I've got my system for navigating it but it's still frustrating to use

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

We have taken our grands to WDW, DL, and on a few DCLs. A few years ago, we went on a cross-country and made stops at the Iowa State Fair, various Lewis and Clark sites, Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and many other places to and fro. That's the trip that they keep requesting again and again. These are kiddos who have lived and traveled to many other countries due to their dad's military career.

My grandsons too! They love the state parks and hiking, seeing all the natural sights. They have another trip booked this summer to Alaska, not the wilderness, lol, but along the river with lots of sightseeing and hiking in the wilds. They went to Yellowstone, Glacier and others last year. Their favorite by far was Glacier.

 

[JD80]

Got it! Then in that lens, I still think browsing hotel availability is unnecessarily difficult, but who knows maybe Disney wants it that way. I've got my system for navigating it but it's still frustrating to use

I agree the website for booking a hotel room really stinks, especially when their are multiple discount types.

The ADR website now is amazing. You can actually select multiple days and see all the available times.

 

[dmc493]

What do you mean you can't figure out which deal is best? There's only 6-7 offers for each of the 26 hotels onsite! And some are package offers so some people will have to throw park tickets into their whole evaluation which only makes things simpler!

 

[Jrb1979]

If you're someone that goes to Disney 1-3 times a year, it's not that complicated to book a vacation once you understand it. For some, especially when you compare it to Universal, it takes more work then it needs to be. Look at how simple doing a Universal vacation is.

 

[Bocabear]

Do you panic at your 60 day mark? I'm talking to people in this thread as a placeholder for people who typically got 1-3 times a year.

I understand the complicated argument for people who are going for the first time or don't go very often. When you're spending 1000s of dollars any unknown or new system can be nerve wracking. Any new system or technology you've never used can be view as complicated. Everything has a learning curve and it sucks learning on the go - especially on vacation.

I'm specifically addressing people in this thread who claim their Disney vacation is too complicated for them. I will counter argue that a good portion of people going back on a WDW vacation after using the existing systems won't find them as complicated or complicated at all their second time using them.

We live in Florida and go multiple times a year and with Brightline we would run up there even more often, but frankly the overcrowding and excessive planning needed just make it a hard sell. We don't even have to worry about standard hotel because we have DVC, but even booking DVC is a pain...plus having to book the park we will visit...and often there is no availability to the park we want to visit so we have to book another park and go there for a while until we can hop to the park we wanted... they are all individually not too complicated, but when you add it all up, yes it is a PITA. We used to just run up after work on a Friday night, we had annual passes, there were no lightning lanes or FP+ back then...we could and frequently did run the gauntlet...all 4 parks and all the E tickets in each park on a Saturday... None of that is possible anymore...not even close... So I totally know HOW to book things, I just feel like it is a hassle to have to pre-plan everything.... It is not enjoyable when there is no spontaneity...we are always on a schedule....

 

[Lilofan]

This could just be me but for the public at large they wouldn't consider a trip to a regional theme/amusement park as a vacation (with a few exceptions like Dollywood). They may consider it a fun weekend getaway or trip maybe? I personally think of a vacation as a trip that's 5-7 days where I have fun and eat good food and I don't get bored at any point.

Luckily a WDW makes our family get a good night sleep at the resorts . Not that the mattress and pillow are good ( they are not ) . It’s just we are so tired at the end of the day we just fall right asleep.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

As great as that sounds, I will say it I find it fascinating how so many of you choose a cruise in replacement of a Disney trip.

I'm always amazed that the many don't pick other parks to visit instead.

We go to some other amusement parks - and have fun and will continue to do so occasionally but generally just reminds us how much more we prefer WDW

So I don't think other parks are a substitute for WDW but there is a lot of "other" stuff that people love about WDW beyond rides and the like which other parks don't offer

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We’ve replaced our WDW trips with cruises. In some ways they are similar, for example, Royal Caribbean ships are loaded with great entertainment, activities, and even thrills. In other ways a cruise is the anti-theme park vacation. Less lines and stress, more relaxation. At the end of the day, we just find cruising to be a better value since so much is included, and even the upcharges are more reasonable. Prices are climbing with demand, but dynamic pricing typically rewards those who plan in advance.

We done that to and really enjoy Royal but the pricing for the new ships really has gotten up there, even if you plan on advance, at least what I have found (though know as a family of five not many options on most ships) so that it doesn't work out much cheaper for us than WDW

I have mentioned doing older ships but my kids got spoiled I think and aren't interested lol

 

[LSLS]

Other parks usually open seasonally are just glorified carnivals with rides . I don’t know anyone saying they are going to OH and PA to visit an amusement park.

There's a ton of travel to Ohio for Cedar Point and Kings Island trips, which is why random Sandusky Ohio has a Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, and dozens of hotels/motels. Cedar Point does about 4 million people a year. But, if we factor in they are only open roughly 140 days a year, that averages out to just under 29K a day. More than DAK, DHS, and California Adventure. Just because you don't know someone in your circle does not make it some big fact. Which is why me saying I know more people that have planned Cedar Point and Universal trips than Disney doesn't mean Disney is some unpopular place that nobody visits.

 

[LSLS]

I'm not saying they are. All I said is if Disney is no longer an option why not go to Dollywood or a Knotts for 3-4 days instead.

I think you are talking different cliental at this point. Disney trips for me were chance to take our young kids to this magical place with characters from TV and rides we could all go on. When I think of the regional parks, I think of a lot of things the smaller kids wouldn't be able to do. Now that they are older, while they will still talk of wanting to go to MK to ride Haunted Mansion or Pirates or GotG, Disney is just not a big deal to them (interestingly, the younger kid has almost no connection to any characters he could meet in the parks, so he could care less about any of the characters, or really even the IP stuff). They want the thrill rides, so Universal makes an appearance on the list. BUT, I just can't justify the insane expense for Universal when we could make a trip to Dollywood or Hershey Park and get those awesome thrilling rides, pretty similar theming, and pay fractions of the price.