Disney Sees More Profit in Cruise Ships than Theme Parks

[The Mom]

The wife did that and she will never set foot on another Carnival ship again because of it. It really had nothing to do with the guests but the ship itself. There was really nothing to do but drink, dance and gamble and the food was just flat out bad.

I will be taking one next week.

But, I'll be taking a review course for 5 hrs/day, and socializing with a lot of people the rest of the time, so it shouldn't be too terrible. My only concern is the food, but it's only 7 meals, so I should be able to survive.

I don't gamble and dance, but I do drink.

I have been on another cruise, but it was the only way to get to some of the Greek islands, so I considered it transportation rather than a resort. I didn't have any complaints, but others did. It was a hell of a lot more comfortable than the overseas flights. :lol:

But I'm not sure that I would cruise just to be on a ship for X number of days, although I know some people really enjoy it. Just as staying at an all inclusive resort was not one of our best vacations - if it hadn't been our honeymoon, it would have been the worst.

Just not my cup of tea, but I can understand the attraction.

 

[ddbowdoin]

this is common sense... of course the cruise line is more profitable! Disney gets me at their resort, and the admission gate. From there it really rests in the hands of the individual as to how much Disney profits from guests. I like to stay light and eat cheap throughout the day, because I don't want to be bogged down during my stay. I usually only spend for dinner.

Here is where a cruise makes all their money off me... BOOOZEEEEE! I'm sitting on a boat for x amount of days, no rides, no real attractions other than a pool (booze integral) and shows... booze is where I get nailed, whereas at WDW I barely drink at all...

 

[The Mom]

this is common sense... of course the cruise line is more profitable! Disney gets me at their resort, and the admission gate. From there it really rests in the hands of the individual as to how much Disney profits from guests. I like to stay light and eat cheap throughout the day, because I don't want to be bogged down during my stay. I usually only spend for dinner.

Here is where a cruise makes all their money off me... BOOOZEEEEE! I'm sitting on a boat for x amount of days, no rides, no real attractions other than a pool (booze integral) and shows... booze is where I get nailed, whereas at WDW I barely drink at all...

Some cruises have an "all you can drink card" for a flat fee, but it usually costs so much that you would have to be constantly drunk to make it pay.

I know we did the math, and it would only work if we drank a lot more than usual.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Some cruises have an "all you can drink card" for a flat fee, but it usually costs so much that you would have to be constantly drunk to make it pay.

I know we did the math, and it would only work if we drank a lot more than usual.

plus, on vacation... you're in the best mood, so when you hit the bar you tend to pass on the normal bud lights and start throwing back top shelf or maybe fruity exotic drinks... so for me, a normal 50 night tab becomes a 150, add in my gf and its WAY more than I spend on ANYTHING at wdw for our normal trips

 

[zulemara]

again though, for DVC members it is ALOT more expensive.
A DVC trip to WDW costs us a anual pass for 325.00 (renewal price)
Tables in wonderland card for 75.00 and 500.00 for a weeks worth of food (awesome discount with tables in wonderland)This is for 2. Double the food price for 4. This is 7 nights worth too.
Thats a whopping total for a week at 1225.00 compared to 1750.00 for my 3 night cruise


The land vacation costs us close to nothing compared to 3 nights on a boat..

but the service and environment is ssssooo much better than WDW. DCL is everything WDW should be, but isn't for various reasons.

Also on the alcohol thing, DCL lets you take alcohol on board AND they have a free drink station. Translation = no money spent on alcohol on 4 night cruise.

now the spa on the other hand....ate all my money LOL

 

[DisneyNut2007]

Oh no! This is turning into another "Let's Bash WDW" thread! This is not good.

 

[Jon_in_NC]

For two adults for a 7 night cruise in an inside stateroom is 1500 (1900 for an ocean-view) That includes your room, food, and activities.

A seven day park hopper for two is approx. $600. Say you get a room for $100 a night. That would be $1300.

The difference is $200. If you can go to WDW and eat all week for $200 then kudos to you. If you plan your cruise right, go on off times, and get onboard credits, the cruise can be a lot less expensive than WDW. It's all how you plan it.

I'm not disagreeing with your math. But for a lot of people activities on a cruise ship do not equal the Disney theme parks. So the comparison of "activities" on even a Disney cruise ship is a far cry from a park hopper ticket to a Disney theme park. Also, those "activities" do not include any excursions you would definitely want to take in a port of call. And while I'm sure the meals on a Disney ship would be good, they would not equate to some of the better restaurants at a Disney park.

Again, I'm not nit-picking your argument, just saying that it is a tough comparison to make between a Disney cruise vs. a theme park. But, people like both...otherwise Disney wouldn't invest so heavily in them.

 

[StageFrenzy]

Granted my sample size is incredibly small but my experience is no. Of the cruises I have booked none have had longer than a one night stay at a Disney resort prior to the cruise and half have had no Disney resort stay at all.

Not true I stayed 2

 

[gallerie]

thats not too obvious.
We booked a Dream cruise for april for 1700.00 for 3 nights. After evaluating the price tag we backed out and cancelled the cruise.
Why spend 1700.00 for 3 stinkin nights when we can do a carnival or norweigan for half the price for a full week with more stops.
It just doesnt add up to us. We can get our disney fix on land and do a more worthy cruise for half the price

comparing marble to formica. I am glad there is something out there for all kinds of people.

 

[VillanovaBlue]

again though, for DVC members it is ALOT more expensive.
A DVC trip to WDW costs us a anual pass for 325.00 (renewal price)
Tables in wonderland card for 75.00 and 500.00 for a weeks worth of food (awesome discount with tables in wonderland)This is for 2. Double the food price for 4. This is 7 nights worth too.
Thats a whopping total for a week at 1225.00 compared to 1750.00 for my 3 night cruise


The land vacation costs us close to nothing compared to 3 nights on a boat..

You say $1225, but that doesn't include what you actually paid for the room...I understand you use points as DVC, but you paid $$ for those points, and you also pay maintenance fees...so it probably at least a few hundred more on top of the $1225 for a week's stay...still maybe less than a 3 night cruise (depending on when you book, available deals, etc.), but you're not really representing the cost of a DVC stay correctly...

 

[paul436]

If you usually stay in a Value resort, yes, it's going to be more expense than what you're used to. But the prices are not out of line with other segments of the Disney brand.

That's what makes the big difference for me and my family of 5. We almost always stay at the Values in order to be able to afford to go to WDW. Throw in free dining or other promotions and it gets cheaper. I've priced both and so far a Disney cruise is out of my price range. But I can still visit WDW so I am not complaining. :animwink:

 

[llrain]

paid is in past tense...we've taken way more trips that well covered what we paid for DVC. We paid 15,000 for our DVC and have already prob taken about 25,000 worth of trips since
so our rooms are now free...up to that 15,000 contract we were paying for the rooms but now we've broken even and have saved over 10,000 that we would have paid if it were a cash room...

Its a total waste if we used our dvc points for this cruise...
we would have paid well over 1700 if you convert DVC points to cash

just in case....we pay 0000.0000 for a room now (outside maintenence each year) ...we've outlived DVC from what we've paid....A room you would pay 300.00 a night for costs me nothing anymore..
thats the beauty of people who frequent disney and can afford DVC,,,you do make out in the end....I love it when I see people paying 300-400-500 a night for the beach club and I know I am paying nothing
It used to but not anymore

You say $1225, but that doesn't include what you actually paid for the room...I understand you use points as DVC, but you paid $$ for those points, and you also pay maintenance fees...so it probably at least a few hundred more on top of the $1225 for a week's stay...still maybe less than a 3 night cruise (depending on when you book, available deals, etc.), but you're not really representing the cost of a DVC stay correctly...