LETS FIX WDW

[Chef Mickey]

As far as demand-based pricing goes, I don't believe it's true goal is to decrease attendance. If Disney wanted to decrease attendance they would lower the daily cap and revise their phased closing strategy. .

I agree, but Disney wants to have their cake and eat it too. Lowering the cap while increasing prices might net them out as break even. They are currently trying to increase prices, perhaps lose a few guests, and still come out ahead. That's why they need to lower the cap AND increase prices more significantly.

I think people would be really surprised how much prices need to be increased to stop people from coming.

 

[erwinalber4]

I think people would be really surprised how much prices need to be increased to stop people from coming.

I couldn't agree more with this statement. Disney could charge almost whatever they want and people will pay. It's the nostalgia of generations of people who have gone to the parks and will take their children no matter the cost. Some may say they won't but they will. For example if you were to ask anyone in, say 1992, if they'd pay today's price for a one day ticket to Magic Kingdom they'd probably say no but here we are and guess who's still going. Of course we're talking about a large increase in a short amount of time but if you look a price history the past decade prices have been going up at a much higher rate and more and more people are coming and spending more and more money.
I found a price increase history with a quick Google search (it's a little dated) but you can clearly see the price difference year to year go up considerably around 2004-2005.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/new...fn/2014/2/27/disney_ticket_price_history.html

Edit forgot link

 

[rucifee]

My cameras haven't picked up any of this. I've heard about it from teetotalers such as yourself. But have yet to witness such drunken shenanigans. I have seen rotten kids doing such things though. Which leads me to my next suggestion for fixing WDW.

No more kids. Kids smell bad. Behave bad. Make too much noise. Get in the way. Hog the fun stuff like resort water slides. Honestly, WDW would be a much better place if we eliminated everyone under 18.

You just can't make this stuff up. At least this time someone caught the stupid on video.

"A video showing a man climbing Walt Disney World's Epcot Mexico Pavilion is getting a lot of attention online.

The daring climb at Disney's Food and Wine Fest was recorded by another guest and later posted by Instagram user Missinth, who wrote, "We saw this tonight. This man is going to ruin EPCOT for everyone."

It happened just before the park closed, said the man who shot the video, Robert Leininger. He told News 6 the climber was with a group of friends wearing matching T-shirts."

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/video-shows-man-scaling-tower-at-epcot/36373606

 

[rkleinlein]

I don't agree with the premise of opening a 5th park only because there are so many areas of improvement and expansion needed at the current parks, particularly EPCOT.

That said, my motivation for increased pricing across the board is primarily based upon controlling crowds. Disney is simply too cheap to deter people from going. I'd also vote for limiting outside Disney property guests or significantly reducing their access.

I also understand this isn't going to happen if it will affect the bottom line, so I'm willing to pay double to decrease crowds by say, 30%.

Disney needs to raise prices, but also reduce the allowed guests because I doubt they'd increase prices enough to actually deter enough people. They have been raising prices, but still draw record crowds.

I think $160 for a one day pass might be a start, along with increased hotel, food, and drink prices.

Why on earth would the people running the place want to deter people from going? Any future price increases will be pushed as high as they can without passing the point which would decrease attendance. The only way to fix the crowd problem is to give people more places to go and more things to do.

 

[Berret]

You know, this is how I envision conversations between the higher ups at Disney regarding prices, courtesy of Jurassic Park:

Donald Gennaro: And we can charge anything we want, $2,000 a day, $10,000 a day, and people will pay it. And then there's the merchandise...
John Hammond: Donald, Donald... This park was not built to cater only for the super-rich. Everyone in the world has the right to enjoy these animals.
Donald Gennaro: Sure, they will. Well, we'll have a, a coupon day or something.
Cue laughter

 

[Hakunamatata]

You know, this is how I envision conversations between the higher ups at Disney regarding prices, courtesy of Jurassic Park:

Donald Gennaro: And we can charge anything we want, $2,000 a day, $10,000 a day, and people will pay it. And then there's the merchandise...
John Hammond: Donald, Donald... This park was not built to cater only for the super-rich. Everyone in the world has the right to enjoy these animals.
Donald Gennaro: Sure, they will. Well, we'll have a, a coupon day or something.
Cue laughter

It's amazing how Disney has gotten away with being the only highly priced thing in this planet.

 

[Berret]

It's amazing how Disney has gotten away with being the only highly priced thing in this planet.

Indeed. Although, since this thread is about Disney, I thought it appropriate to actually mention Disney in my post.

 

[POLY LOVER]

Why on earth would the people running the place want to deter people from going? Any future price increases will be pushed as high as they can without passing the point which would decrease attendance. The only way to fix the crowd problem is to give people more places to go and more things to do.

Yes what businss model has that as their goal. No way would they want that to happen.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Why on earth would the people running the place want to deter people from going? Any future price increases will be pushed as high as they can without passing the point which would decrease attendance. The only way to fix the crowd problem is to give people more places to go and more things to do.

Easy answer. To maintain the quality for the guests who are in the parks. You have to have some standard and allowing people to come for any price would make parks even worse. You think if it were $40 to get into the MK the crowds would be bigger? I do.

Also, totally disagree on your stance for crowd problem. Crowds can be controlled (and are to some extent) through price increases. Everyone has a price at which they can no longer go or have to go fewer days.

That all said, I don't advocate price increase just because I like them. Disney didn't expand enough or maintain current attractions, so price increases are the quickest/easiest way to address the crowd issues.

My stance has always been fix what is there, use all the space, then expand, then increase prices, in that order. If you don't fix or expand and you have major crowd issues, the only lever you have left are price increases...which by the way, Disney has done. They are realising price increases have to be even greater to deter crowds, but they eventually will. I think many would be surprised how high pricing can go. $300/day during Xmas, New Years, and 4th of July are not unreasonable.

 

[POLY LOVER]

Easy answer. To maintain the quality for the guests who are in the parks. You have to have some standard and allowing people to come for any price would make parks even worse. You think if it were $40 to get into the MK the crowds would be bigger? I do.

Also, totally disagree on your stance for crowd problem. Crowds can be controlled (and are to some extent) through price increases. Everyone has a price at which they can no longer go or have to go fewer days.

That all said, I don't advocate price increase just because I like them. Disney didn't expand enough or maintain current attractions, so price increases are the quickest/easiest way to address the crowd issues.

My stance has always been fix what is there, use all the space, then expand, then increase prices, in that order. If you don't fix or expand and you have major crowd issues, the only lever you have left are price increases...which by the way, Disney has done. They are realising price increases have to be even greater to deter crowds, but they eventually will. I think many would be surprised how high pricing can go. $300/day during Xmas, New Years, and 4th of July are not unreasonable.

So if like KOHL's department stores attracted to much business and their stores were crowded their answer would be to raise prices so they chase away customers? I'm not trying to be nasty but that seems against all business logic. I can assure you that $300.00 a day will achieve your goal of empty parks.

 

[Chef Mickey]

So if like KOHL's department stores attracted to much business and their stores were crowded their answer would be to raise prices so they chase away customers? I'm not trying to be nasty but that seems against all business logic. I can assure you that $300.00 a day will achieve your goal of empty parks.

Sorry, but a retail store is a terrible example to use as a means of comparison to WDW, so I can't even take that seriously.

Price increases in conjunction with lower attendance can offset lost revenue if the prices are sufficiently raised.

I also don't think $300/day during peak times would result in empty parks. You underestimate people.

 

[wdwgreek]

Not really. One had an expensive upgrade and the other is getting one. Busy theatres in high capacity attractions would say your argument is wrong.

Carousel of Progress is getting an update?!? Did I miss the memo on that, that's awesome to hear.

 

[marni1971]

Carousel of Progress is getting an update?!? Did I miss the memo on that, that's awesome to hear.

No memo yet but it's on the list.

 

[POLY LOVER]

Sorry, but a retail store is a terrible example to use as a means of comparison to WDW, so I can't even take that seriously.

Price increases in conjunction with lower attendance can offset lost revenue if the prices are sufficiently raised.

I also don't think $300/day during peak times would result in empty parks. You underestimate people.

who could afford $300.00 a day with lets say a family of 4 ? $1,200 a day and that's just for the park tickets.

 

[Berret]

who could afford $300.00 a day with lets say a family of 4 ? $1,200 a day and that's just for the park tickets.

There are many who could. Maybe *you* could not, and that's ok, everyone is of different means. I know I sure couldn't in my current state. However, if I wanted to take my family to Disney World, which in July will be a family of four, I would make it happen, even if prices were $300 a day for a ticket. I would work extra jobs, sell things, and do whatever else would be necessary.

 

[Chef Mickey]

who could afford $300.00 a day with lets say a family of 4 ? $1,200 a day and that's just for the park tickets.

A lot of people, actually...

And you're taking my post out of context.

1) $300 is just a number I threw out. You might have a meaningful impact at $200/day. Of course, that is a "1 day price." Perhaps a 5 day ticket would just double from around $350 to $700.
2) Plenty of people can't afford today's price, but many people can (Clearly).
3) The price i quoted was for the MOST peak times, such as Xmas and New Year's.
4) Disney is already recognizing they might need to go to demand based pricing.
5) Quality experience is almost directly related to crowd control. If the crowds are too high, the experience suffers for everyone. Disney is concerned at that.

 

[Hakunamatata]

who could afford $300.00 a day with lets say a family of 4 ? $1,200 a day and that's just for the park tickets.

You would be surprised. You need to grasp the concept that there are people who have accumulated the means to afford luxury and by honorable methods. Or are you part of the group that automatically assumes that those who have more stow it from those who don't.

 

[orlando210]

How about more meet and greets, getting rid of favorite acts/ actors / musicians, restrictive options for the fastpass system, more beauracrats and managers, almost prohibitive pricing, less magic/imagination, no what would Walt do?

 

[POLY LOVER]

You would be surprised. You need to grasp the concept that there are people who have accumulated the means to afford luxury and by honorable methods. Or are you part of the group that automatically assumes that those who have more stow it from those who don't.

First how you turn this into some social statement I don't get it but
maybe you are very wealthy but even if I had the money I would not spend $1200(assuming family of 4) a day for park tickets and additional money for food and lodging at an amusement park. It would have to be some major attractions to lure me in at that price level. So basically you want to create WDW for the wealthy only, all others can stay at home?
There is nothing wrong with Disney that simple expansion wont cure. If I were in business I wish I had the problem of to many customers.

 

[rkleinlein]

Easy answer. To maintain the quality for the guests who are in the parks. You have to have some standard and allowing people to come for any price would make parks even worse. You think if it were $40 to get into the MK the crowds would be bigger? I do.

Also, totally disagree on your stance for crowd problem. Crowds can be controlled (and are to some extent) through price increases. Everyone has a price at which they can no longer go or have to go fewer days.

That all said, I don't advocate price increase just because I like them. Disney didn't expand enough or maintain current attractions, so price increases are the quickest/easiest way to address the crowd issues.

My stance has always been fix what is there, use all the space, then expand, then increase prices, in that order. If you don't fix or expand and you have major crowd issues, the only lever you have left are price increases...which by the way, Disney has done. They are realising price increases have to be even greater to deter crowds, but they eventually will. I think many would be surprised how high pricing can go. $300/day during Xmas, New Years, and 4th of July are not unreasonable.

I agree, as would anyone, that crowds are detrimental to guest experience; I agree, as would anyone, that lowering prices to $40 a day would increase crowds; and I agree, as would anyone, that jacking up prices to $300 a day (!) for peak season is prohibitively high for many and would lower crowds.

My point, and I think others', is that Disney has absolutely no interest whatsoever in lowering attendance to solve the crowd problem. The more people, the more money for them, no matter what the ticket price. Even if they found that magic number where lower attendance was offset by higher admission, they would still lose money on food, souvenirs, lodging, etc. Tiffany and Company may be able to stay afloat by the catering to the super rich, but a place like Disney World cannot. It's all about big crowds for this kind of business, not a small number of select clientele.

And I question your implication that Disney has raised prices in the past and is considering the need to go to demand based pricing TO DETER CROWDS. Maybe they raised prices, and will raise prices in the future, because they have had no negative effect on attendance. And if they go to demand based pricing and jack up prices at peak times maybe it will be because that's the highest price they can ask that people are still willing to pay without decreasing attendance--not because they want to LOWER attendance. Isn't this why one day tickets to the Magic Kingdom are slightly higher than the other parks? It's not to deter people from going the Magic Kingdom. It's because they know they can charge more and people will pay it.

Disney World will never do anything to depress attendance. On the contrary, I'm sure the executives and accountants cheer every time an attendance record is broken or one of the parks reaches maximum capacity. When the parks become too crowded and reach maximum capacity, they stop letting people in. That's the point at which crowds become a problem for them and that's what they do to solve the problem.

When a movie sells out and people get turned away, the cinema doesn't raise ticket prices to $50 a seat to deter people from coming because the theater is too crowded. It may expand and increase capacity to accommodate more moviegoers (and make more money), but it would not raise prices so fewer people bought tickets in order that those who were willing (and able) to pay higher prices could have a better experience with less crowded auditoriums and shorter lines at the concession stand and ticket window. And if you think theme park and movie theater are a terrible comparisons, as you did with the department store comparison, give us a valid comparison. Please give us an example of a company that relies on attendance that has increased prices to lower attendance.

I am sure there are people at Disney who want to solve the crowd problem but they will do so by expansion to ACCOMMODATE the crowds, (in fact to encourage more crowds) NOT by prohibitive pricing to deter crowds.