Josh D'Amaro comments on rising prices and "additional" or removed services: "An inevitable result of progress"

[Lilofan]

I did?

Did I have a good time?

I hope so…it ain’t cheap

One of the few things cheap is drive to the Coast for the day , pack a lunch and spend a day at the beach. The beach is free at least it is for now. Just be leery of New Smyrna Beach, shark bite capital of the world.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Lowering the experience in the parks goes hand in hand with lower guest spending. However that example doesn't fly. It has been an increase in guest spending in the quarterly earnings call Bob has with Wall Street.

The guests have not been trying to spend more. The guests have not been generously shoving money at the Disney CM's. The prices, fees, charges and general costs have gone up forcing guests to spend more. It's all about give up the money or don't bother coming. A rather arrogant, egotistical, self-centered and elitist attitude for a supposedly people friendly inclusive entertainment conglomerate.

 

[Lilofan]

The guests have not been trying to spend more. The guests have not been generously shoving money at the Disney CM's. The prices, fees, charges and general costs have gone up forcing guests to spend more. It's all about give up the money or don't bother coming. A rather arrogant, egotistical, self-centered and elitist attitude for a supposedly people friendly inclusive entertainment conglomerate.

It’s a slippery slope. Aiming for family friendly but at the same time looking and for the bean counters finding ways to increase revenue per guest spending. The choice is for the guest. Go and vacation at WDW or not and spend their money elsewhere.

 

[GimpYancIent]

It’s a slippery slope. Aiming for family friendly but at the same time looking and for the bean counters finding ways to increase revenue per guest spending. The choice is for the guest. Go and vacation at WDW or not and spend their money elsewhere.

Absolutely, Yes! The Disney Co. management is making the "Go and vacation at WDW or not and spend their money elsewhere." thought process lean more toward going elsewhere.

 

[Incomudro]

“Inevitable result of progress”?

Inevitable result of greed.

For sure.
Guests are paying more, but getting less - noticeably less, while Disney profits.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

If she needs Disney in her life, go to Tokyo.

The cost difference even with the flight is negligible if anything at all.

Our first trip to Europe was, in part, a result of high flight prices to Florida and low flight prices to London. We were pricing out a WDW vacation and realized we could go to London/Paris for the same price. As said the food price is similar, hotel price is similar, in the case of our first trip even the flight price was similar.

The one thing that makes Europe more expensive (for us) is the long flight and huge to do list inevitably results in us justifying a longer stay, so instead of a week in Florida we’ll end up with a 2 week vacation in Europe, twice the price but also twice the vacation.

We’ve done Europe 3 times now and by including a couple days at Disneyland Paris it satisfies our Disney craving while also providing an infinitely more memorable experience.

 

[Incomudro]

The guests have not been trying to spend more. The guests have not been generously shoving money at the Disney CM's. The prices, fees, charges and general costs have gone up forcing guests to spend more. It's all about give up the money or don't bother coming. A rather arrogant, egotistical, self-centered and elitist attitude for a supposedly people friendly inclusive entertainment conglomerate.

Yes, on our most recent trip this past March - we certainly spent the most we ever had and that was while staying at Swan rather than previous trips at Animal Kingdom and Beach Club.
We purchased far less merch., bringing home just about nothing - whereas previous trips included t-shirts for four of us from about 3 or more rides, plus various toys (when our sons were younger) and various commemorative items.
All we did was eat on this trip (no more than usual) less snacks, we refilled water bottles from fountains, and about the only thing purchased was one light saber.
Yes, the light saber was pricey - but it didn't add up to the costs of all of the other things we used to get.
But the bill...
Well, that exceded the bill from past trip by a long shot - so, less for more money.

 

[monothingie]

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Yes, on our most recent trip this past March - we certainly spent the most we ever had and that was while staying at Swan rather than previous trips at Animal Kingdom and Beach Club.
We purchased far less merch., bringing home just about nothing - whereas previous trips included t-shirts for four of us from about 3 or more rides, plus various toys (when our sons were younger) and various commemorative items.
All we did was eat on this trip (no more than usual) less snacks, we refilled water bottles from fountains, and about the only thing purchased was one light saber.
Yes, the light saber was pricey - but it didn't add up to the costs of all of the other things we used to get.
But the bill...
Well, that exceded the bill from past trip by a long shot - so, less for more money.

So you're saying that people spending more money doesn't necessarily mean they are getting a better experience? Who would have thought!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Well, I'd rather be called "dumb" while I'm happy and having a great time on vacation at WDW (that's still worth it to us) than "smart" while I'm cranky/complaining at home wishing I was still going to WDW.

When was the last time you been?

 

[dreday3]

When was the last time you been?

October 2021. Genie + debuted the day before we arrived

I will admit it was not a great trip. But...my siblings joined us and drove me bananas. I noticed nothing else.

So this coming April trip will be the real test. Back at our favorite Beach/Yacht and just the two of us. We'll see how much fun we have!

I'll be honest if we don't like it. I wouldn't be able to stop myself if I tried.

I sure hope we enjoy ourselves.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

October 2021. Genie + debuted the day before we arrived

I will admit it was not a great trip. But...my siblings joined us and drove me bananas. I noticed nothing else.

So this coming April trip will be the real test. Back at our favorite Beach/Yacht and just the two of us. We'll see how much fun we have!

I'll be honest if we don't like it. I wouldn't be able to stop myself if I tried.

I sure hope we enjoy ourselves.

None of that is unreasonable…at all.

When I say “wdw customers are dumb”…it’s taken as though I am stating (by Chi) that every single person has no clue what they’re doing.

Not true at all. That’s not the gist. It’s that doing anti-best interest things like accepting bad or diminished value products and then asking for more completely is contrary to what a business/consumer relationship needs to be.
They only want your money…not you…and you need to consider that before giving it.

That’s all. The relationship does not work otherwise. Disney isn’t any ones friend. Life sucks sometimes.

 

[monothingie]

Paid $34 for the two of us to ride Guardians.
Paid $30 for two G+ at Hollywood Studios for two redemptions.

Paid it not by choice but by the fact Disney knows they can squeeze it out of me.

 

[Chi84]

October 2021. Genie + debuted the day before we arrived

I will admit it was not a great trip. But...my siblings joined us and drove me bananas. I noticed nothing else.

So this coming April trip will be the real test. Back at our favorite Beach/Yacht and just the two of us. We'll see how much fun we have!

I'll be honest if we don't like it. I wouldn't be able to stop myself if I tried.

I sure hope we enjoy ourselves.

Our October 2021 trip for two was just fine, but the park reservation, Genie+/ILL, limited park hoppers didn’t work for the family trip (6 adults and 3 young kids) in April. We’re planning our next family trip elsewhere.

I’ll be surprised if you don’t have a great time because you seem to have the right attitude toward both WDW and wine.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Paid $34 for the two of us to ride Guardians.
Paid $30 for two G+ at Hollywood Studios for two redemptions.

Paid it not by choice but by the fact Disney knows they can squeeze it out of me.

…based on the system in place…that’s the “right play”.

Sadly…but that battle was lost 5-10 years ago.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Our October 2021 trip for two was just fine, but the park reservation, Genie+/ILL, limited park hoppers didn’t work for the family trip (6 adults and 3 young kids) in April. We’re planning our next family trip elsewhere.

I’ll be surprised if you don’t have a great time because you seem to have the right attitude toward both WDW and wine.

What?!?

Et tu, Brute?

 

[matt9112]

Yes you are. (God it’s like shooting fish in a barrel).

First he’s 4, so no he isn’t grasping the concept of value. Nor was that the discussion point. The point is that making statements that are about “value” which is a subjective evaluation, when you have no personal experience with what your talking about, when you making statements based on what something looked like on YouTube or what the park was like 20 years ago, makes you way less qualified than a 4 year old. In fact making any statements about something you have no personal knowledge or experience with makes you a fool.

No one cares about what was going on 10 or 20 years ago. It makes a good Pepperidge farm commercial with old men talking about back in their day gas was a quarter and you could get a soda for a nickel at the soda fountain but that’s about it. No one has a time machine, no one cares what you could get 10 years ago, or what costs where 10 years ago. Hell no one cares what prices were LAST year, when your trying to plan a vacation this year.

Yeah I mean I’m not the one calling people stupid on the internet…… but sure.

You seem to feel some kind of way about this
It’s almost like you can have an opinion and other people can have there’s. The value of the parks has decreased period…case closed. You legitimately pay more or less. That’s hard facts. You might still find the “new value” worth it HOWEVER it is still less. If a bag of chips gets smaller yet the price is the same or goes up. The value of the chips has decreased. There is less value period….full stop. However it might still be enough value to enough people to sell chips.
Amazing isn’t it.

 

[matt9112]

Paid $34 for the two of us to ride Guardians.
Paid $30 for two G+ at Hollywood Studios for two redemptions.

Paid it not by choice but by the fact Disney knows they can squeeze it out of me.

And to think my rooms in December will come with unlimited express pass. Paying less a night than the swan and dolphin. It’s embarrassing.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yeah I mean I’m not the one calling people stupid on the internet…… but sure.

You seem to feel some kind of way about this
It’s almost like you can have an opinion and other people can have there’s. The value of the parks has decreased period…case closed. You legitimately pay more or less. That’s hard facts. You might still find the “new value” worth it HOWEVER it is still less. If a bag of chips gets smaller yet the price is the same or goes up. The value of the chips has decreased. There is less value period….full stop. However it might still be enough value to enough people to sell chips.
Amazing isn’t it.

Reminder: don’t feed the Animals

And to think my rooms in December will come with unlimited express pass. Paying less a night than the swan and dolphin. It’s embarrassing.

It’s not THAT simple…to be fair.

 

[matt9112]

Reminder: don’t feed the Animals

It’s not THAT simple…to be fair.

Why don’t you fill me in?