Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Kamikaze]

Yep exactly and even the parking fees at the resorts now… you could have easily baked that into the cost of the hotel as well now to “hide” the cost and we know everyone doesnt drive/rent cars. Same theory could have held to a degree with FP granted that is/was trickier but again add in price to both ticket/room and continue the “free” version of it. So many options/illusions that could have been done to hide the nickel and dime decisions they have made.

They got rid of parking fees.

But yes, they could easily 'bake in' the increased costs to a lot of things, but a bunch of those things they also want to monetize directly so they can see exactly how many people would buy something and if they can somehow tweak it to make more money.

 

[monothingie]

So just did a quick search for Disney Hotel availability over the July 4 Weekend 7/1-7/5....

If you want AP Discounted rooms you really don't have to worry about not being able find anything. Unless you want Poly, Beach, and Yacht, you can pretty much grab a "discounted" room anywhere on property.

TBH I am shocked. This is peak summer. I'd imagine that if July 4 bombs for the parks, draconian cuts to the parks will be coming soon.

 

[Lilofan]

So just did a quick search for Disney Hotel availability over the July 4 Weekend 7/1-7/5....

If you want AP Discounted rooms you really don't have to worry about not being able find anything. Unless you want Poly, Beach, and Yacht, you can pretty much grab a "discounted" room anywhere on property.

TBH I am shocked. This is peak summer. I'd imagine that if July 4 bombs for the parks, draconian cuts to the parks will be coming soon.

Paying more and receiving less comes to mind

 

[Disstevefan1]

To be fair to Apple, pretty much all phone/smart watch manufacturers are doing this now. They get to pretend it's about "sustainability" but it's really to save cost and get revenue from people buying chargers separately.

Poor Apple. They are not making enough money on their Chinese made devices they charge hundreds of dollars for. ....... Gotta go, my Apple watch needs me at the moment, it's my only friend.

 

[Lilofan]

Poor Apple. They are not making enough money on their Chinese made devices they charge hundreds of dollars for. ....... Gotta go, my Apple watch needs me at the moment, it's my only friend.

Apple currently worth $2 Trillion was looking to move some ops out of China into Vietnam and India . At that rate they should be worth $3T in a few years.

 

[Disstevefan1]

looking to move some ops out of China into Vietnam and India

Thats a good one. I feel better now..... "What's that Apple watch?", "Oh thank you, I guess I am doing a good job closing my rings".

My Apple watch really likes me.

 

[CntrlFlPete]

Paying more and receiving less comes to mind

I'm not sure on this one. I truly feel the 'regulars' are the ones that come during the off times for not so scary, run Disney, Verry Merry, Food & Wine, cooler weather. It is what they wanted, but now, those first time visitors, taking their kids on that summer trip -- maybe these are the ones not visiting at the moment?

I just feel it has been rather busy during these times were dynamic pricing feels it should be slow while no one is showing up when the pricing (for day tickets) suggest there should be high demand.

 

[the_rich]

Correct…it’s a legit criticism/tactic…

I just don’t know how that makes apple “more nickel and dime” than Disney?

They took a pro-Disney policy - magical express - and dumped it which I have zero doubt has already cost them many multiples of the overhead they paid in 1.5 years…
…and blamed Uber for it…very classy

They aren't more nickel and dime, but they aren't some benevolent entity that is going to swoop in and make everything like the good ol days.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

They aren't more nickel and dime, but they aren't some benevolent entity that is going to swoop in and make everything like the good ol days.

Agree there. Zero saints in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, DC or Wall Street

 

[Big T 1963]

I think it's because people are beginning to realize after post-pandemic that how much now a Disney World Vacation really is....Between the outrageous prices of a hotel room, park ticket and food you must decide on other daily needs like utilities, food shopping , gas , ect how far can the family budget can be stretched However there are deals to be had this summer if you do your homework and make it work it can be done

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think it's because people are beginning to realize after post-pandemic that how much now a Disney World Vacation really is....Between the outrageous prices of a hotel room, park ticket and food you must decide on other daily needs like utilities, food shopping , gas , ect how far can the family budget can be stretched However there are deals to be had this summer if you do your homework and make it work it can be done

Agree…but the increase inside of 10 years is the REAL problem.

People don’t talk/study it like we do…but when it starts to hit…it’s hard for them to make adequate responses.

Which is why the management - before what’s there now - always was aware to not exceed the “price Cliff”

Be expensive, don’t be a ripoff. That is a simple rule that worked for 30-40 years and has been abandoned largely since.

Money is not unlimited…and Disney’s draw can’t counteract the sequence of events that has lead to 2023.

A lot of it is their own fault.

1999-2002 followed a similar pattern with very different circumstances. But the safeguards then have been “bobbed away”

They HAD the warning there. They tend to repeat mistakes that they actually know about in their proprietary information.

I May have posted this idea…once or twice?

 

[Big T 1963]

Although I wish I was a Florida resident and get the better discounts Disney offers... Then I would be headed over to WDW before you can say : HI HO!!!!!

 

[PREMiERdrum]

I know there are several posters here that are TAs so maybe they will fill in the details

We own a host agency... we currently have 15 active agents who work under our umbrella as Independent Contractors, but only about 4 or 5 who specialize in Disney destinations.

Generally, Disney pays a 10% pre-tax/final cost commission on packages and room-only stays. Ticket commissions are tiered, with no commission paid out on 1 or 2 day tickets. The dining plan was previously fully commissioned along with the package, though with the return it has a lower payout value.

Commissions are the same regardless of the agency's size or total sales, but through the "EarMarked" program agencies can earn rewards like free stays, gifts, and program influence through points awarded for sales.

As an agency, we typically do $1.2-$1.8Million in total sales each year, and the Disney chunk of that - WDW, DL, DCL, and ABD - is anywhere between $450,000 and $650,000.

Agents split their commission with the host agency, earning a larger share with higher sales. I have a few agents who regularly take home $1,000-$2,000 monthly after the split, so it can be a worthwhile side hustle for many. Before I bought out this agency, I was making an extra $15,000-25,000 annually on top of my day job.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have.

 

[monothingie]

I think it's because people are beginning to realize after post-pandemic that how much now a Disney World Vacation really is....Between the outrageous prices of a hotel room, park ticket and food you must decide on other daily needs like utilities, food shopping , gas , ect how far can the family budget can be stretched However there are deals to be had this summer if you do your homework and make it work it can be done

Disney has always been expensive, from the parks to the cruise line. People paid extra with the expectation of getting something exceptional.

After Eisner left, Bob and is cadre of dolts managed to take the exceptional experience and transform it into sub-par. Also keep in mind an exceptional experience may not be solely dictated on cost. Other factors such a quality, cleanliness, values, etc. determine that. It's quite possible that Disney has done a great job pushing away guests for multiple different reasons.

 

[Lilofan]

Although I wish I was a Florida resident and get the better discounts Disney offers... Then I would be headed over to WDW before you can say : HI HO!!!!!

Mist be nice to be a local , work all day, drive to park have a nice dinner , fireworks then drive home.

 

[flynnibus]

Because you don't have dozens of other USB chargers?

And if you're buying cases and chargers from Apple instead of third party, you're doing it wrong.

Apple made the choice to design a tag that NEEDS a case as an economic driver. Who you buy from is irrelevant… you’re ignoring the design choice.

You already have a charger? As if the capabilities never change? Or that the charger you have, may already be in use?

The ‘you already have a usb charger’ argument is just apple’s excuse… congrats on taking the hook.

 

[Jenny72]

I'm not a fan of any of the recent changes, but after returning from a trip, I'd say it was...not all that expensive, relatively speaking? But we also did it on the cheap. We used the Sunshine Flyer, had groceries delivered for breakfast/lunch/snacks, ate dinner at quick service only, had room discounts, and didn't buy any genie+ or ILLs. We used the free transportation only. I realize that this is not the way other people probably want to experience the parks, but it was actually a pretty easygoing trip for us. The only part that was very pricey was the park tickets. But the cost was comparable to other fairly modest trips we've made to the beach, etc.

 

[JoeCamel]

We own a host agency... we currently have 15 active agents who work under our umbrella as Independent Contractors, but only about 4 or 5 who specialize in Disney destinations.

Generally, Disney pays a 10% pre-tax/final cost commission on packages and room-only stays. Ticket commissions are tiered, with no commission paid out on 1 or 2 day tickets. The dining plan was previously fully commissioned along with the package, though with the return it has a lower payout value.

Commissions are the same regardless of the agency's size or total sales, but through the "EarMarked" program agencies can earn rewards like free stays, gifts, and program influence through points awarded for sales.

As an agency, we typically do $1.2-$1.8Million in total sales each year, and the Disney chunk of that - WDW, DL, DCL, and ABD - is anywhere between $450,000 and $650,000.

Agents split their commission with the host agency, earning a larger share with higher sales. I have a few agents who regularly take home $1,000-$2,000 monthly after the split, so it can be a worthwhile side hustle for many. Before I bought out this agency, I was making an extra $15,000-25,000 annually on top of my day job.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Thank you for doing this I knew there were experts here.

My only other question would be the original where a poster mentioned TAs making more when rebooking, that is incorrect right?

 

[GhostHost1000]

I'm not a fan of any of the recent changes, but after returning from a trip, I'd say it was...not all that expensive, relatively speaking? But we also did it on the cheap. We used the Sunshine Flyer, had groceries delivered for breakfast/lunch/snacks, ate dinner at quick service only, had room discounts, and didn't buy any genie+ or ILLs. We used the free transportation only. I realize that this is not the way other people probably want to experience the parks, but it was actually a pretty easygoing trip for us. The only part that was very pricey was the park tickets. But the cost was comparable to other fairly modest trips we've made to the beach, etc.

Just think you used to get magical express for free and well as fastpasses

 

[Ayla]

Thank you for doing this I knew there were experts here.

My only other question would be the original where a poster mentioned TAs making more when rebooking, that is incorrect right?

I think if a customer upgrades their resort when rebooking, the commission increases.