I CANCELLED MY DISNEY TRIP

[Astro_Digital]

I seen the YouTube video and reached my tipping point long before Don did. I have not been to Walt Disney World in 3 years.... and I do not miss it much. If go back I am staying off site, no free parking, no magical hours, no magical express. Spend $50 a night instead of $250 is a no brainer. I will eat before driving to the parks, and after I leave in the evening food is too expenisive in the parks. I will not spend $15 for what used to be a free fast pass. One day I may go back but no more Disney bubble and paying through the nose.

 

[chriskbrown]

Mentioned several times - simple econ 101. Manage supply by driving costs up is the model.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Mentioned several times - simple econ 101. Manage supply by driving costs up is the model.

Isn't part of the Econ 101 that they also have to give the customer what they want and at a level that, at least, equals cost vs. value. They will get many people there once and contrary to chapter 2 of Econ 101 they need a reason to come back. No one makes it on just reputation. Reputations change and word of mouth starts to eat away at demand. A place the size of WDW needs repeat business. It's not hurting right now, but the day will come when everyone that is willing to pay that price will start to demand something new and interesting with a value. Without it they will find a new toy to play with. Disney has survived for all these years because they have always given more than expected for what was charged. Do they do that anymore?

 

[chriskbrown]

Isn't part of the Econ 101 that they also have to give the customer what they want and at a level that, at least, equals cost vs. value. They will get many people there once and contrary to chapter 2 of Econ 101 they need a reason to come back. No one makes it on just reputation. Reputations change and word of mouth starts to eat away at demand. A place the size of WDW needs repeat business. It's not hurting right now, but the day will come when everyone that is willing to pay that price will start to demand something new and interesting with a value. Without it they will find a new toy to play with. Disney has survived for all these years because they have always given more than expected for what was charged. Do they do that anymore?

Disney despite being priced point more than Busch Gardens or SeaWorld did provide an incredible experience. I have so many great memories.

Until the demand erodes to a point where it affects the net income, I don't see any of this changing. I bought DVC in 2015, and the prices are now through the roof, both direct and resale. The price point for SSR resale is at a level I never could have imagined.

So for now Disney is in the driver seat, but the pendulum will swing back. Based on crowd levels I have seen in 2022, the pendulum is pretty stuck in Disney's favor.

 

[Astro_Digital]

Mentioned several times - simple econ 101. Manage supply by driving costs up is the model.

Except so far ..... the parks are still packed and Disney is laughing and the guests who are putting up with the out of control prices and vanishing perks.

 

[wendysue]

We have taken a couple trips on our present AP's, so going forward the park days are free. With all of Disney's shenanigans we canceled our resort rooms at WDW for this year and are staying at an offsite hotel with free parking, free breakfast and no resort fees. Staying in between UNI and WDW, we can take the shuttle to Disney Springs and ride the buses to any parks that I have booked, or drive to the parks. Parking is free and all park days going forward are free. We won't be buying Genie, LL, food, or souvenirs there, just ride some rides and hang out. We will also go over to UNI and see what they have to offer...(maybe get their AP) if we like it.

 

[Nubs70]

A good old fashioned recession will fix this problem.

 

[Mickeyboof]

This video is exactly why I am not renewing my WDW pass. It will take some time, but many people will be priced out. While I have not been priced out, I have been “magic”-ed out. There is literally no feel-good energy at WDW.

Want some simple Econ 101? The product is a cheap quality for a premium price.

 

[GuyFawkes]

A good old fashioned recession will fix this problem.

That's coming up sooner than people think. Disney parks will get hammered, it has happened in the past.

 

[John park hopper]

That's coming up sooner than people think. Disney parks will get hammered, it has happened in the past.

I hope it does and Disney takes a big profit hit and resets their greedy way of thinking

 

[Roy G. Dis]

Yeah.. put me in the camp of people not rooting for an economic recession because a theme park isn't what I want it to be.

 

[lindawdw]

In November 2020, I moved away from Orlando back to the Panhandle of FL. I went to Disney again at Christmas, once in March, and one more time in May of 2021 before my annual pass expired.

It was so much fun going all the time when I lived there, and I have since sorely missed it- so I have been toying with the idea of getting the FL resident deal or even another annual pass to go down occasionally- but lately many changing things have been dissuading me to do that. I recently came across this video on Youtube and it sums up perfectly many of those reasons.

I'm curious to hear your all's thoughts on this.

Your sentiments describe what so many of us long time Disney fans are feeling about our beloved WDW. You are not alone in your disappointment.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Except so far ..... the parks are still packed and Disney is laughing and the guests who are putting up with the out of control prices and vanishing perks.

Meh - it may not be immediately, as in your face, obvious but packed Nah all a matter of perception. Let's see at which point not packed becomes the commonly used term. There was a time packed equated to if you looked down and could not see the ground because of all the feet! Pricing definitely is having an impact. Is Disney just wanting people to do only short-term visits?

Tickets for 1-3 days have not changed prices.

4 days were $434.83 — $596.74, now $447.70 — $596.74
5 days were $463.56 — $630.85, now $484.52 — $646.87
6 days were $477.79 — $645.91, now $496.43 — $672.25
7 days were $492.06 — $661.56, now $511.10 — $694.96
8 days were $518.17 — $678.83, now $545.19 — $716.20
9 days were $536.00 — $691.93, now $563.46 — $738.66
10 days were $553.69 — $703.65, now $582.09 — $752.40

 

[NickMaio]

People
PLEASE......share your thoughts and opinions with Disney. Copy and paste your posts.
You might feel like it does nothing, but in a actually, over time it does.
Saying nothing ALWAYS gets you nothing.
Let our collective voices be heard.

Help

Help

disneyworld.disney.go.com

Use this.

 

[Brad Bishop]

I like your post, except I think WDW could increase supply without too much strain. New rides don't all have to be in the realm of Rise. Look at the popularity of Slinky and Aliens. They could also - potentially- add (or have added) a daytime show to the Epcot lagoon. People also - at least pre-pandemic- go crazy for character greets at WDW.

I think that one of their major problems is that they're raising prices and, at the same time, cutting expenses.

They can make the resort a super-premium resort (more so than now) which, effectively, only the rich and super rich can afford. There's probably enough people high enough on the financial ladder where that is possible.

The problem is that they're killing the value at the same time.

It's one thing to position yourself as a discount regional park (Six Flags). It's fairly inexpensive but you know what you're getting. You're basically hitting the equivalent of a Denny's.

If you're going to go premium / exclusive, which looks to be what they're trying to do, you can't sell Texas Roadhouse dinners ($50/head) at chef prices ($500/head). You CAN satisfy someone at $500/head and make them think, "Wow.. That was expensive but you know what? It was worth every penny!" You HAVE to bring your A game. You have to be the best of the best. You can't cut corners while you do that and hope people won't notice when you give a couple a $1000 check.

Disney is like a Texas Roadhouse who decided:
- How can I get $500/head?
- How can I increase my profits even more by offering cheaper, and even smaller, cuts of meat?
- How can I reduce my costs even more? Paper napkins? Maybe have the cleaning crew come in once a week instead of every night? Maybe have them just come in once a month.. That'd probably work.

People simply won't go for that. You won't have a successful business when the experience made your customer feel like a chump instead of being wow'd. They're no longer wowing people (Well, SSE being the exception - that's pretty fantastic)- overall, it's cuts everywhere and increased prices. They still have a reservoir of nostalgia to go through. That normally keeps them going during the bad times. Now they're just draining the lake, in my opinion.

 

[Mickeyboof]

I think that one of their major problems is that they're raising prices and, at the same time, cutting expenses.

They can make the resort a super-premium resort (more so than now) which, effectively, only the rich and super rich can afford. There's probably enough people high enough on the financial ladder where that is possible.

The problem is that they're killing the value at the same time.

It's one thing to position yourself as a discount regional park (Six Flags). It's fairly inexpensive but you know what you're getting. You're basically hitting the equivalent of a Denny's.

If you're going to go premium / exclusive, which looks to be what they're trying to do, you can't sell Texas Roadhouse dinners ($50/head) at chef prices ($500/head). You CAN satisfy someone at $500/head and make them think, "Wow.. That was expensive but you know what? It was worth every penny!" You HAVE to bring your A game. You have to be the best of the best. You can't cut corners while you do that and hope people won't notice when you give a couple a $1000 check.

Disney is like a Texas Roadhouse who decided:
- How can I get $500/head?
- How can I increase my profits even more by offering cheaper, and even smaller, cuts of meat?
- How can I reduce my costs even more? Paper napkins? Maybe have the cleaning crew come in once a week instead of every night? Maybe have them just come in once a month.. That'd probably work.

People simply won't go for that. You won't have a successful business when the experience made your customer feel like a chump instead of being wow'd. They're no longer wowing people (Well, SSE being the exception - that's pretty fantastic)- overall, it's cuts everywhere and increased prices. They still have a reservoir of nostalgia to go through. That normally keeps them going during the bad times. Now they're just draining the lake, in my opinion.

Your “reservoir of nostalgia” comment is something I’ve been thinking about recently.

Disney should focus on widening that reservoir, an endless cycle. They must build the foundations of nostalgia every day, as an investment for the future. Are they doing that now? Are the younger generations going to remember the “magic” or will they remember the shocking and laughable prices their parents griped about ?

Bob’s financial gains are great for this quarter and maybe next, but isn’t this going to stain the next decade? What happens in 20 years?

The illusion that Disney goes above and beyond, and the illusion that their cast members are world class hospitality experts is fading rapidly. I think younger generations see right though it.

 

[yensid1967]

We have been coming to WDW since 1998 and have been 11 times, last was 2015. We were planning to come last year, but Covid stopped that. We were planning to come this December - until I looked at prices, the state of the parks, park reservations, parking charges and worst of all - Genie+.
We used to love being spontaneous, taking us to WDW parks/attractions as the mood takes us on the day. But that is no longer possible, and I have no desire to drag a mobile phone around with me.

Our once-magical place, rich in pixiedust, is now dead and no longer holds any value or meaning like it used to. We even had our honeymoon there. Going to WDW now - as it is - will probably leave us feeling cold, ripped off and financially violated and we will sit back and wait to see if any of the Magic returns, if it ever does. We intend to return to Orlando at some point, but WDW will no longer be our "focal point" of our vacation, as we will stay off-site and concentrate on non-WDW parks instead. We may poke our heads into HS and AK, as we are curious to see certain things, but it will definitely be just a day visit, nothing more.

I wish everyone who feels cheated would do this! I hope that someone e from Disney DOES read this site an sees all the complaints about the currents state of the parks and they do pass it on to someone who has the chance to change things!(BIG DREAMS-I know!)

 

[G00fyDad]

I wonder if there are forum boards for Hawaii, Gatlinburg, Paris and the UK, etc? After this trip in October I will not have much use for coming to these Disney forums.

 

[hanwill]

I think the executives at Disney should all have to spend a weeks vacation at Disney- Florida once a year, and go through a vacation like the rest of us- no special treatment, stand in the heat like the rest of us, pay the food costs, ride costs, hotel costs and wait for the bus like we do- on their dime. And report back on what they got for their vacation. I do agree they are quickly dwindling their pool of people who see the value of their vacation based on what they receive for increasing costs. It's quickly drying up and I think people are really reaching their tipping point. I know we are... and we have been taking lots of kids for a long time- but that window is quickly closing for us.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

This is factually wrong. TWDC has made it quite clear that their only interest is in high margin guests. They are not looking to broaden there customer base, in fact to the contrary they are using price to narrow their guests to only the most profitable under the guise of controlling capacity. (LOL). There’s a reason why the value resorts were/are the last to open. There’s a reason why the upcharge parties deliver less and cost so much much more, How about those APs, pricing out the least profitable guests…. Yes Disney may throw a bone every now and then to some groups, but is 25% off a $1000 rack rate room that’s no better than the local Marriott really showing that they want to broaden their customer base?

huh? That's kinda what I said: Disney is focused on upselling as much as possible.

I think perhaps you misunderstood part of what I wrote.