Has Disney gone to far?

[Monty]

This. Argue that they haven't added anything all you want, but the spending power of the dollar decreased this year.

More accurately, the spending power of your dollar decreased... The Canadian dollar is doing much better.

 

[Kamikaze]

I disagree with point A.

A lot of people only have time for one day, one park. Like on business trips, for example. Whats wrong with that?

Then you're doing it wrong. Thats why the tickets get so much cheaper.

 

[Mammymouse]

I don't think a $3 increase is going to make the difference of whether someone will be visiting or staying at WDW, or not. My concern is the ECONOMY!!! I haven't been to WDW more than 2 times ( a partial day each) in the last year and I am a DVC member since 1995 and Florida resident now for the last 4 years !! We, including our daughter and family who live in FL also, were not able to renew our annual passes this year because of our horrible income situations (we have only rental income and daughter is in real estate since 2007) that this depression - yes I am saying the big D word - has had on the middle class. I guess though there still are many people that have not been affected by this downturn - like government and muninciple workers. We originally come from RI (second highest unemployment) and I know a lot of posters on this site will know what I mean. The new pay by the month that Disney has now for FL residents will help us but I won't buy that until I know when I can go to WDW.

 

[marni1971]

After all, $82 is a whole lot to pay for a company that has been slow-footed in adding premium "E Ticket" attractions. Good luck justifying that kind of sticker price on a stormy day in Animal Kingdom.

Quoted for truth.

 

[Evil Genius]

Not withstanding the daily ticket increas...WDW is quickly pricing itself out of the range of middle America families.

I know we used to go virtually once a year, however as a family of five (sometimes six) even staying at a value resort has become incredibly expensive!

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't think that is what Walt envisioned.

 

[wizards8507]

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't think that is what Walt envisioned.

I think you're completely right, but in the wrong way. Walt most certainly didn't envision this. I know this is blashpemy, BUT if Walt were still around and running the company the way he would, they'd be insolvent, in mountains of debt, and most likely bankrupt. The attractions would be absolutely fantastic but they wouldn't do anyone any good if the place had to shut down because they're not generating cash flow.

I'm amazed at how oblivious people are to basic principles of business and economics. There's something called "price elasticity." Basically, the quantity that a firm is able to sell of a good or service is inversely related to price. This becomes a balancing act. Roughly, ticket prices this year are increasing by about 4%. If this results in 4% decrease in attendance, then it's essentially a wash to WDW. What they're banking on is the fact that they can increase prices by 4%, while attendance goes down by only 1 or 2%, if at all.

 

[fosse76]

I agree that comparing Six Flags and other traditional parks to Disney is not fair as they do not offer common attractions, the level of entertainment, or value.

The only thing Disney has to compete with these regional parks is themeing. If you took the themeing away from the rides, people wouldn't even bother going. Your average regional park has more rides than the Magic Kingdom, and they don't charge $82.

However, I also worry that the constant raising of daily tickets in order to entice longer stays may be, in the long run, throwing the baby out with the bath water. I love WDW and even with current pricing for the length of my stay (usually a minimum of 5 days or more) I still find the cost is excellent compared to the many options I have for entertainment.

As Disney continues to offer massive discounts on resort accomodations, they will get away with the ticket increases. I wonder how well the numbers would hold if they didn't offer discounts. I'm willing to be that attendance would drop.

But, the daily visitor offers a substantial profit opportunity, as well, and Universal and Sea Word, although their daily prices are comparable to WDW's, often offer great deals at certain times of the year to entice the daily visitor. I think Disney is right on target with making longer stays enticing as that is where the large profits come in; however, I would like to see WDW come up with some affordable offer to entice daily visitors, as well. I think, eventually, the company will realize that squeezing daily visitors may be costing them money. Especially when you get to the casual, non-disney nut, visitor who is looking for entertainment value versus, just the Disney experience. Should Universal continue to make heavy Harry Potter-esque investments, this could end up swaying the value conscious tourist in the Universal direction. Believe it or not, there is a segment of the population where cost outweighs all else.

I wonder how many people aren't visiting Disney because the one day admission is priced too high. I'm sure there are many people who are travelling to or through Orlando, who may have gone to Disney for one day but have otherwised opted not to go because one day is too expensive. I think if they want to keep these prices, they should include park hopping in that price.

 

[lightning509s]

I think you're completely right, but in the wrong way. Walt most certainly didn't envision this. I know this is blasphemy, BUT, if Walt were still around and running the company the way he would, they'd be insolvent, in mountains of debt, and most likely bankrupt. The attractions would be absolutely fantastic but they wouldn't do anyone any good if the place had to shut down because they're not generating cash flow.

Where do you come up with such ideas? Snow White was supposed to be a bust, according to experts, and yet made over $8 million dollars at a time when most movie tickets were between 10 - 25 cents. Disneyland was supposed to be a bust, according to experts, yet 16 years later they opened the grandest vacation property in the world known as "Walt Disney World."

You say Walt would be "Bust/Bankrupt/Insolvent." How do you explain the massive projects that occurred at Disneyland from 1955 - 1971, all while they were spending $450 million dollars to build WDW? And, yes, they were raking in millions of $$$'s during this time at guest friendly pricing. Walts ways were visionary and he encouraged pricing that would ensure repeat visits year after year after year. That's how the company was able to flourish financially! A typical family, nowadays, can only afford a trip to WDW every 5 years on average. Not very "family friendly" in my humble opinion...

Apologies...Your statement has no merit.

 

[lightning509s]

Compare historical pricing for yourselves...Be aware that the ticket books were discontinued June of 1982...

http://allears.net/tix/tixincrease.htm

Very enlightening...

 

[powlessfamily4]

Six Flags??? No comparison at all!! Try standing in line for an hour and a half in the 100 degree Georgia sun to get on a roller coaster ride that will last just a couple of minutes. If you look for air conditioning to get cooled off.. you might be lucky enough to crowd into the Crystal Palace for a few minutes to see a show because is about all the A/C you will find at that park. BTW did I mention that they are selling their tickets for $31.99 for all age groups and still have problems getting people to buy them?

It should be a vilotation of TOS to mention SF in the same sentence as WDW!

 

[wizards8507]

Apologies...Your statement has no merit.

No need for an apology. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm not going to be offended or resort to person attacks.

I can't cite anything right now, but I know that Roy Disney had to ultimately "reign in" Walt on several occasions because Walt's creativity and mastery of his art form(s) was often blind to good business practice. I'd ask you to take a look at the most recent annual report from the Walt Disney Company. Parks and Resorts is among the LEAST profitable of their divisions, and it is my opinion that they could jack up prices even more than they are and people would continue to pay. If you're paying for a premium product, you will pay a premium price. The *more* premium the product, the higher the prices will soar. People here tend to blindly demand a new E-ticket every third Tuesday with $20 admission and free dining year-round. Obviously, I exaggerate, but those sentiments and attitudes definitely exist.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Who's going to pay $83 for a one-day, one-park ticket? Nobody. That's why they get a multi-day pass and end up spending more money on food, merch and hotel accommodations in a week then they ever could in a single day, which makes Disney better off not trying to appeal to single day visitors.

This extends to all theme/amusement parks, not just Disney, and has so for a long time now.

 

[twoweirdos]

ok..here is my take on the whole thing which Im guessing will be widly unpopular.I really do think Disney costs WAYYY too much.
AM i still going?yes..lol
With the idea built around families going,,I feel prices could and SHOULD be a lot better
Better deals on packages...play and stay..etc
Payment plans to pay for an annual pass like Universal does,,,etc
At times i feel like people in my income bracket dont have a huge place or thought in DIsneys plans...:shrug:
Im not whining about it....just my 2 cents
I can much easier plan for a trip to many more places w/o having to take a 2nd job as we do with WDW
BUT.......nothing and I mean NOTHING beats that magical,im a 3 year old again watching Disney on Sunday night with my Grandmother feeling Disney gives me
As i have said before..I am not am "normal"Disney girl..i look weird..dress weirder and dont like 98% of the human race...hahahah
But I get to Disney..and the world,,,,is just alright again
I cry like a baby when I see Tink fly..i dance at parades and hug Winnie the Pooh
Have they gone too far?Thats not for me to say
Does it cost too much?YESSSSSSSSSS
Do i wish they would do a bit more to take the bite out?yes
will I go an anyway?you bet your tiara i shall

 

[thelookingglass]

This extends to all theme/amusement parks, not just Disney, and has so for a long time now.

What? Most theme/amusement parks are a 1 day thing, 2 tops.

 

[CaptainWinter]

I can't cite anything right now, but I know that Roy Disney had to ultimately "reign in" Walt on several occasions because Walt's creativity and mastery of his art form(s) was often blind to good business practice.

Wizards: You're absolutely right. Walt Disney only cared about quality and had a poor nose for business -- at least with respect to turning a profit. Snow White was indeed a huge success, but was followed immediately by a series of expensive misfires, including Pinocchio, Bambi and Fantasia. They all lost lots of money (at first -- payback came much later). Walt Disney was strapped for cash for most of his life because whenever he made a dollar he turned around and immediately invested it in a new project. Only near the end of his life, after Disneyland opened and was a surprise success, was Walt actually possessed of lots of extra money.

Don't take my word for it -- read The Animated Man by Michael Barrier. It's all there in great detail.

 

[CaptainWinter]

...Roy Disney had to ultimately "reign in" Walt on several occasions...

Two examples:

1) the original EPCOT, a radial city with cars banned from the core, and an enormous, air-conditioned dome over said core, and

2) the gigantic Mineral Basin ski resort, an "American Zermatt", car-free and accessible only by train.

Both these massive projects limped along in the planning stages for years; both were scrapped after Disney's death.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What? Most theme/amusement parks are a 1 day thing, 2 tops.

Then why are season passes sometimes less than 2 individual visits? Clearly, they want you to spend more than one day at their park, just not all at once.

It's a similar pricing strategy, just designed to make day-tickets reasonably priced too since that market can still exist.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Quote:
After all, $82 is a whole lot to pay for a company that has been slow-footed in adding premium "E Ticket" attractions. Good luck justifying that kind of sticker price on a stormy day in Animal Kingdom.

Quoted for truth.

It was my favorite part in his entire article. He's right. Disney doesn't enjoy putting e tickets in their parks.

Like some other posters said, some people are only going to go to Disney for one day. They try to do everything in Orlando that's possible. SeaWorld, Universal, and now Legoland.

 

[DisneyNut7578]

Ok, so it's only 3 dollars a ticket. Then add in the hotel rate increases. Overall, the price of a week at disney has gone up a couple of hundred dollars this year.

I don't think people will stop going in masses (I know I won't), but they are really testing the waters here. For example, we just made a decision after the rates came out to stay at BC instead of Poly in Feb. It just came to a point where we said it was too much. What happens when someone who isn't from FL just says, "It's too much" and doesn't come?

You add these increased rates with the fact that they are no longer building any E tickets and and you have a problem. My brother came in July for the first time in 4 years and said to me "Not a whole lot has changed". After thinking about it, I had to agree. There have been some additions, but it is basically the same thing for a lot more money. Then you have Universal building a whole new land, which is making WDW look kind of stale to you average vacationer.

 

[Disneykidder]

Have they gone too far? Maybe but as long as peole are still going, they will keep raising it. I really think their one day price is waaaay too high but staying for a week is not so bad. Disney wants us to stay longer because then we will spend more on hotel nights, food and souvenirs.