Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[DisneyHead123]

I was joking with you in regards to things being wrong… lol

Oh good, lol!

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Based on some of the recent write ups one of the things that struck me was:

Disney is not now nor ever has been a “luxury brand”.

It’s been a brand that is associated with middle class (maybe there’s an argument for upper middle class) - but luxury it’s not.

Because you can’t square the luxury price point with the sheer disregard for the upkeep of the product.

Yet the prices continue to increase.

 

[Thepuma]

Based on some of the recent write ups one of the things that struck me was:

Disney is not now nor ever has been a “luxury brand”.

It’s been a brand that is associated with middle class (maybe there’s an argument for upper middle class) - but luxury it’s not.

Because you can’t square the luxury price point with the sheer disregard for the upkeep of the product.

Yet the prices continue to increase.

Well, it's luxury price for middle of the road quality.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Staying in a value resort does not imply that you're lesser though. I'm sure many people have stayed at the All Stars because they only really need a bed to sleep in and don't see higher costs as necessary when they're going to the parks open to close.

Club 33 & VIP Tours don't impact your wait-time nor do they make you feel as if your missing something from your experience. VIP tours are so small they don't impact wait-times significantly.

The goal posts have moved from "Disney treats all guests equally" to "You don't notice you're not being treated equally despite having a smaller room and having to take the bus and you don't notice all the perks the 1% are getting."

 

[MisterPenguin]

Which impacted <1% of guests.

Getting back to the rooms that only the 1% can afford...

Isn't the whole deal with the lake in front of the MK that the guest experience begins at the TTC?

Deluxe guests don't have to drive or take a bus to get to MK. They can walk to the gate or use their own express Monorail, which at one time, other guests had to pay for while those deluxe guests got it for free.

And heavens forbid if they have to bus it to EPCOT. They got a track to whisk them there.

And as mentioned above, the original A-E Ticket system allowed those with greater means to spend all day riding E-Ticket rides, while the poor shlubs buying the special-deal coupon books were steered into B-level experiences and just a limited E-experiences. This is on top of park entrance fee, too.

Classic Walt & Co. loved a good upsell.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I have zero debt and plenty of zeros in the accounts. Also have a business (well 2 if you count the rentals as a business) and enough in retirement accounts for a couple generations.

Irresponsible spending on Disney trips will not be the end of me.

Well, then it's not irresponsible spending... If you racked up debt and wiped out those accounts just to Disney like you want, then it would be irresponsible.... Just lavish

 

[Jenny72]

I mean...no one's arguing that you couldn't buy your way to a better experience at Disney previously, but now it's very much in your face. Previously, once I was in the park no one knew that I was a poor (relatively speaking of course) schlub, but now it's kind of advertised. Can people really not see the difference in how that makes people feel? I can guarantee you it's not just me that feels this way, and it's not just weirdos on a Disney message board. I understand the academic argument, but I'm telling you from what I hear from others like me, this feels different.

 

[dreday3]

I mean...no one's arguing that you couldn't buy your way to a better experience at Disney previously, but now it's very much in your face. Previously, once I was in the park no one knew that I was a poor (relatively speaking of course) schlub, but now it's kind of advertised. Can people really not see the difference in how that makes people feel? I can guarantee you it's not just me that feels this way, and it's not just weirdos on a Disney message board. I understand the academic argument, but I'm telling you from what I hear from others like me, this feels different.

I can't tell where anyone is staying. Not even when at the hotel, so many guests come and go. I don't notice what perks people are getting that I don't.
How would someone know what anyone's financial class was in a park? Serious question.

I never feel like a poor schlub, no. Not when buying economy seats on a plane, not when buying from an outlet store and not when staying at a moderate hotel at Disney.

Don't let people make you feel like that!

And just saying, you pay more to get more everywhere. Even on this site!

Also, I can't pay for a lot of the extra stuff and deluxe hotels are insanely priced. So yes, I agree prices are crazy.

 

[Lilofan]

No wonder you aren’t focused on saving anymore. I would be in the same boat. That’s awesome

I'd purchase umbrella insurance. All it takes is one incident and at fault one's assets are the ones that are targeted in a lawsuit and one's gold mine will be no longer.

 

[Poseidon Quest]

The goal posts have moved from "Disney treats all guests equally" to "You don't notice you're not being treated equally despite having a smaller room and having to take the bus and you don't notice all the perks the 1% are getting."

A dumb take. Guests don't resent other guests for somewhat more convenient transportation options or inconsequentially larger rooms.

And as mentioned above, the original A-E Ticket system allowed those with greater means to spend all day riding E-Ticket rides, while the poor shlubs buying the special-deal coupon books were steered into B-level experiences and just a limited E-experiences. This is on top of park entrance fee, too.

Classic Walt & Co. loved a good upsell.

Also, incorrect. Disneyland admission in 1955 was $1, about $11.35 today. Standard ticket books were $2.50 for adults, around $28.37. A total of $39.72 is a lot less than $190, plus Genie+, ILL and stagnant wage growth.

 

[Jenny72]

Personally, I think you're being a little deliberately blind if you don't think Genie+ is on a different level than just having different hotels, etc. And here we are on a board talking about fewer people at Disney. I don't think I'm wrong that a lot of people feel pretty unspecial watching hordes board the ride before they're let in bit by bit...but management seems to share your opinion that it's all fine, so...I guess we'll see.

 

[dreday3]

Personally, I think you're being a little deliberately blind if you don't think Genie+ is on a different level than just having different hotels, etc. And here we are on a board talking about fewer people at Disney. I don't think I'm wrong that a lot of people feel pretty unspecial watching hordes board the ride before they're let in bit by bit...but management seems to share your opinion that it's all fine, so...I guess we'll see.

Well, okay.

 

[Nubs70]

How is this not a bigger story? This is dare i say it legit fraud… i dont mind them inflating them a little bc you rather have a guest wait say 10 minutes less than expected than 10 minutes from a psychological pov but this is getting bad…

Class action is an option. You may get $0.75 after attorneys fee

 

[monothingie]

And as mentioned above, the original A-E Ticket system allowed those with greater means to spend all day riding E-Ticket rides, while the poor shlubs buying the special-deal coupon books were steered into B-level experiences and just a limited E-experiences. This is on top of park entrance fee, too.

“In 1971, the entry fee for the Magic Kingdom was $3.75. Ride tickets ranged from A tickets at 10 cents to E tickets at 90 cents. There was an “8 Adventure Ticket Book” (contained 1-A 1-B 1-C 2-D and 3-E) that sold for $5.75 for adults and a “12 Adventure Ticket Book” (contained 1-A 1-B 2-C 4-D and 4-E) that sold for $6.75 for an adult.”

Even Adjusting for inflation this hardly supports your claim.

 

[JoeCamel]

“In 1971, the entry fee for the Magic Kingdom was $3.75. Ride tickets ranged from A tickets at 10 cents to E tickets at 90 cents. There was an “8 Adventure Ticket Book” (contained 1-A 1-B 1-C 2-D and 3-E) that sold for $5.75 for adults and a “12 Adventure Ticket Book” (contained 1-A 1-B 2-C 4-D and 4-E) that sold for $6.75 for an adult.”

Even Adjusting for inflation this hardly supports your claim.

I seem to remember being able to purchase individual rides in park as well or was that Disneyland in the 60's?

 

[MuteSuperstar]

Made me think, we went from oh cool, they finally got rid of those annoying ticket books and went to one price, to.....what we have now.

 

[Splash4eva]

Class action is an option. You may get $0.75 after attorneys fee

There was actually a lawsuit filed last week against them. Not sure the details tho lol

 

[seabreezept813]

Is that worth $600 extra a night? I can be at the parks in a nice cool air-condition car in 5 to 15 Minutes depending on the park.

The values still have the Disney service. The themes are fun, the transportation is convenient, and if I find a bedbug I know they’ll fix it. There is something to be said for the bubble. Even if some think they’re just fancy motels, you still feel like you’re at a part of Disney at the resorts for many reasons…pool games, scent in the lobbies, it’s just different. We do a resort day and enjoy the hotel. As a kid we stayed at a Days Inn, as kids we just loved being on vaca, but it didn’t compare to the bubble. I also don’t think I’d really save staying off property between hotel fees, parking, renting a car, paying to park, etc. We do a weekend in NH at Christmastime for Polar Express and Santa’s village and one night at the holiday inn express there costs us almost 400.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

I seem to remember being able to purchase individual rides in park as well or was that Disneyland in the 60's?

You are correct. They also sold individual ride tickets and it was probably 99.9% for the E tickets which were always the first to get used out of the ticket booklet you bought. I remember buy ing, or should I say my parents buying them all the time. I always had the A and B tickets left over. Wish I had them now but they were probably trashed back when they switched from selling the booklets.

 

[JoeCamel]

You are correct. They also sold individual ride tickets and it was probably 99.9% for the E tickets which were always the first to get used out of the ticket booklet you bought. I remember buy ing, or should I say my parents buying them all the time. I always had the A and B tickets left over. Wish I had them now but they we’re probably trashed back when they switched from selling the booklets.

Thank you, I wasn't sure if I remembered Disney or a regional park. Still have the old books with the E's missing but they don't sell for much