Len Testa - “Disney positions itself as the all-American vacation. The irony is that most Americans can’t afford it.”

[MickeyLuv'r]

Agreed.

Some friends and I paid just over $2k a person to have a 4 bedroom house for 3 nights with unlimited golf at a very nice resort with multiple courses. I thought that was a great deal because we all love golf.

If you don't enjoy playing golf, that would be a horrible deal. It doesn't make any sense to compare it to visiting a theme park, or taking a cruise, or whatever other dissimilar thing you could be paying for instead.

While in some ways WDW is unique, in other ways it isn't, especially current WDW. Parts of WDW are in sad shape. Too many.

Over the summer, gosh, Winnie the Pooh was in really sad shape. Tigger didn't bounce, the puff of smoke (as is often the case) wasn't working, and all throughout the ride the paint was in bad shape. The Heffalump room was especially in bad shape with missing paint. Parts of the rain room weren't lighting. The end scene was also malfunctioning. The fence along the ride exit was also missing a LOT of color. It is badly worn.

Perfect Pooh might be better than a comparable dark ride elsewhere, but sad-shape Pooh, sad shape DINOSAUR, sad-shape of the fake plants in AK, whole areas torn apart.

Oh, and the hotels are also not in great shape right now. I had a short stay at several hotels and the water slides at both Poly and CBR are just nasty. To access the water slide at CBR, you have to walk through what I can only describe as a moat of fetid water. It was dark, muddy, slimy, and the temp of warm pee. The Poly's slide also has a similar gross puddle. Blech!

I'm much rather stay at a pristine Stella Nova than a decrepit Poly. The current state of WDW makes other options more comparable than they might have been in the past.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

You wouldn’t think that looking at the most recent promotions just announced for January and beyond. Cheapest value comes in at $220+/night with the ($13) “discount” for my dates. Then about $3,000 for four basic park passes for six days.

I can only assume bookings are either up or they’re hoping the cheerleading groups fill the place. At these prices I’ll look offsite or rent DVC. We’ll get our fill after 3+ years going elsewhere and then spend our summer vacation on a cruise.

I’m willing to bet my teenagers will go the same direction as adults even though they each spent a decade plus of multiple WDW trips. That’s because we openly talk about money with them and they choose cruising based on the experience and value, despite their love of Disney and many great memories. Proud parents.

Maybe it is getting away from that next year or thinking other elements of promotions will make up for it?

I know this year we stayed at a value for $124 and have another satay coming up in November for $155/night. Think those are fair pricing

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Exactly! That's why comparisons of the sort I was responding to don't make much sense. Those of us who continue to go are aware of what we're paying and consider it worth the price overall, regardless of whether alternative options would be more affordable or not.

That doesn't mean there aren't aspects of the experience to criticise, of course.

Nope…

Again…no sense in making it black and white to run interference for bad management (I’m beginning to think that’s just schtick…)

It’s not “I go…so I think it’s worth it! No discussion needed!”

No, no, no…we have investment and emotional attachment…that isn’t up for debate…but many of us are altering our habits and investment levels and voicing criticisms and very legitimate concerns when that is not the patterns until recently…

I know it’s easier to live in a two color world…but the one we actually live is an unlimited shades of grey

“Value” in not an absolute, finite concept. It may be great or poor…it may he increasing or declining…
That’s what your provider must manage. They’re not doing a noteworthy job of it and it’s been worsening…not improving