How Long Before Disney Starts Charging Infants?

[UncleMike101]

I have a question for all of you posters who are completely disillusioned with Disney and the decisions they are making when it comes to the parks: does it really help the situation or make you feel better when you are posting on here over and over how mad or upset you are and how you are not going to have anything to do with WDW any more? Say it once, and then get away from everything associated with WDW, including this forum. Wallowing in negativity does not help you or the situation.

You damn betcha it does.
Disney monitors this site, and others, closely to gauge reactions to company decisions.
I have that from a member of George Kalogridis's staff.
Even though it looks like this crappy decision concerning parking fees will stay he told me that the sheer number of emails and phone calls have caused the WDW Management to rethink other potential powder keg situations.
If nothing else comes from our protests at least the Management knows that we will not simply set by and let them rape the very people, us, who've made Disney the empire that it currently is.
I told him that Disney, like many other big names in Business, is not too large to fail.
He agreed with me.

 

[NelleBelle]

Eagles don't coast you anything huh?

What do tickets to the game cost you?
Parking at the Stadium?
Paying for cable to watch the games?
Jerseys?
Other clothing, Eagles related? hats, etc.
Food for Sunday games, for 17 weeks

Seems like there definitely is a cost to being an Eagles fan to me?
Years of frustration of losing until 2018, must of cost you a lot of money for Dr appts, lolol

Not an Eagles fan (Seahawks) but we've never gone to a game--so no cost for tickets, parking, stadium food, etc. We do have jerseys/t-shirts, so small cost. But all our games have been broadcast on network channels (all but 1 and that was this year), so don't know why you would need to have cable to watch the games (actually, I've seen people watch on their phones). So don't see a huge cost to being a fan of your favorite NFL (or other sports) team.

 

[Dave B]

I was responding to the OP that stated they were Eagles fans

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

This implies that that they charge for things because they have to offset the cost of something which often isn't the case, they just charge for things because they can. If they thought they could charge for infants and it would help them financially more then it would hurt them in dollars or bad PR, they would do it.

Agree.. But keep in mind that Disney would have to follow the norms of the local competing parks. Otherwise parents would have the mindset of "why go to Disney if Junior is being charged and really isn't going to remember much", considering hypothetically they charge and Universal wouldn't. That would impact the bottom line and Disney won't have any of that.

Now if those entities collude (which they aren't supposed to) and say they all adopt the "We'll charge everyone" mentality.....then youbetcha, Disney wouldn't think twice no matter who it alienated.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

They already consider a 10yo an adult. Why not a 2yo a child.

That's so true. I mean I'm aware of the age cutoff, but when I read your post.....I'm like...yeah!

I'm waiting for the 10 Year Old that goes on a media outlet claiming discrimination....."Well I'm being charged as an adult...but can't partake in any adult activities......Let me buy a beer, damn it"

 

[JohnD]

How about charging for stroller parking. It's gotten insane. Those things aren't just for the kids anymore. They're all-terrain vehicles for carrying everything and proliferating everywhere.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I have a question for all of you posters who are completely disillusioned with Disney and the decisions they are making when it comes to the parks: does it really help the situation or make you feel better when you are posting on here over and over how mad or upset you are and how you are not going to have anything to do with WDW any more? Say it once, and then get away from everything associated with WDW, including this forum. Wallowing in negativity does not help you or the situation.

For the record, I am not one of the disillusioned individuals. And I assume your reference is to the posting on the parking fee. That being said, I figure what is happening is akin to the 5 stages. This board is catching stages 2 and 3 which are anger and bargaining. Once the stage 4 depression hits there will be less venom. At stage 5, the issue will vanish into the WDWMagic netherworld.

 

[networkpro]

There are charging stations at every park and resort. Your child might complain as you insert the new power bank.

 

[John park hopper]

Disney charges 10 year olds adult prices (their not adults in any respect) but they must be accompanied by someone who is at least 14 years old. So how many 14 year olds act like adults ----kids supervising kids ---scary thought.

 

[Raineman]

For the same reason I am a Bills fan. Yes, you read that correct, a Buffalo Bills fan. They create more aggravation than Disney, and I still support both.

So, are you suggesting everything you enjoy always makes all the perfect decisions? People vent, look for validation from others, and hope for better. There is not too much more to it than that.

I’m just saying make your point when you want to, but don’t make the same point over and over.

 

[mergatroid]

My first thought reading the title was "Do infants even have money?"

 

[Rumrunner]

Right now there is no fee for children under age 3 to enter the parks or eat at the restaurants. Disney gets ancillary business from stroller and crib rentals (to say nothing of what the parents pay), but I have to believe this is another "loophole" they would like to close. Especially as infants make up a larger % of park guests than they use to.

Would a $15 or $20/day flat fee for admission or $5 per character meal really deter people from taking their babies to Disney? How much money would Disney really gain from doing so?

It used to be free to have your mouse ears embroidered at the gift shops. There wasn't a surcharge on one-day tickets for MK compared to other parks. It used to be free to park your car at your resort. The trend is finding new ways to generate revenue, and I have to believe this is one of the bigger "untapped markets".

One of the problems is that many three year old kids pay full price but are not tall enough to ride some of the more popular rides. That has been a downer for our young grand children.

 

[FigmentJedi]

How about charging for stroller parking. It's gotten insane. Those things aren't just for the kids anymore. They're all-terrain vehicles for carrying everything and proliferating everywhere.

All-Terrain Vehicles is being generous. They're more like Thundertanks, War Rigs, or Mobile Command Centers.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Mobile Command Centers.

Guilty.

 

[draybook]

Not long. I’m sure they will lower the age from u3 to u2 soon enough. And why not? Look at the threads here lately. Folks will line up to defend Disney regardless.

They already consider a 10yo an adult. Why not a 2yo a child.

 

[WDW_Jon]

Slightly off the original point but they already do kind of add a charge for under 3’s at meal times as on our last trip our 9 month old had to be added to all dining despite not eating which put us into the auto gratuity bracket which ultimately is paying staff bills for them...
Realise you’d need to tip anyway before the tippping police come out!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

My first thought reading the title was "Do infants even have money?"

Do 3 year olds? It costs at least $102 + tax to bring them into MK for a day.

 

[Willmark]

Some good point s brought up here. I hadn’t thought about the proliferation of strollers from the standpoint of “get the kids in while under 3” there by saying “we’ve taken the kids to Disney.”

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

One thing I've always thought was lame is that you have to pay full price for an annual pass and don't get a "3 to 9" rate on those. The reason I don't like that is because if the kids are clearly not big enough to ride everything then I don't see why we should have to pay full price for them. The only tickets we get discounts on as DVC members are AP's and we always get them but I just hate having to pay full price knowing there are still quite a few things our little girl can't do yet. Doe anyone else know the rationale behind this? I've talked to DVC agents about it and they agree there should be a "3 to 9" rate or something on AP's. Or at least a rate for kids who are for sure not gonna be big enough to do everything. At this point though it wouldn't surprise me for expectant mothers to have to buy a ticket for their fetus though. LOL!

 

[networkpro]

I've talked to DVC agents about it and they agree there should be a "3 to 9" rate or something on AP's. Or at least a rate for kids who are for sure not gonna be big enough to do everything.

They will agree to anything to sell a few more points