Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World

[LittleBuford]

how do you feel about the pricing increases vs the cast member pay? Where do you think that difference goes? I’ll give you three guesses.

then you can tell me if you think that’s sustainable.

I certainly think CMs deserve to be paid more. That to me is a separate issue from whether I personally consider a Disney holiday good value for money.

 

[LittleBuford]

There is zero free option...

Except the standby queues, which, again, many here seemed to consider preferable to FP+ not that long ago.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I certainly think CMs deserve to be paid more. That to me is a separate issue from whether I personally consider a Disney holiday good value for money.

so our issue is philosophical. Which I expected up front.

 

[LittleBuford]

Could spend all your vacation money bettering human rights? I understand your point but anyone on this forum (more or less) feels WDW is important to them and thier life.

Of course it's important to us; we wouldn't be here otherwise. But words like "abuse" shouldn't get thrown around so gratuitously. It sometimes feels as if some here have convinced themselves that they are in Disney's thrall in order to have their cake and eat it too.

 

[LittleBuford]

so our issue is philosophical. Which I expected up front.

It's nothing that complicated. I enjoy the product and see great value in it. Personal preference, and not philosophy, is what's at play here, at least for me.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Of course it's important to us; we wouldn't be here otherwise. But words like "abuse" shouldn't get thrown around so gratuitously. It sometimes feels as if some here have convinced themselves that they are in Disney's thrall in order to have their cake and eat it too.

you’re zeroing in on a term I used to describe how I feel at the parks. Off the cuff. After a bottle of wine for the record. Lol

Why not focus on the issue instead of the word I used to describe how it feels to be nickeled and dimed to death?

simantics aren’t the issue. And you know that.

and I’ve already changed my habits. So saying “just don’t do it” isn’t a valid argument. With me anyway. And that was the term I used. No one else.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

It's nothing that complicated. I enjoy the product and see great value in it. Personal preference, and not philosophy, is what's at play here, at least for me.

when did you start going?

 

[Chi84]

I mean, I have no idea how one can say the parks have increased in value at anything like the rate ticket prices have risen. We’re talking about theme park tickets, so let’s focus there. Magic Kingdom added Splash Mountain in ‘92. That’s significant added value. Other then that, where, specifically, is the added value that justified exponentially increasing ticket prices? Buzz Lightyear instead of If You Had Wings? New Fantasyland instead of 20000 Leagues, Snow White, and Toad? I mean, those seem like very definite lateral moves - certainly not huge pluses.

And as for EPCOT - I would absolutely take the 1984 version over the current mess. No question, not for a second. What is there now is an absolute embarrassment - it’s inexcusable that they charge full price for it.

And those were the parks you could pay for in 1984. As for the newer ones, MGM has gotten better - but it opened as half a park, and most of the massive price increase took place while it stagnated. AK has improved with the addition of Asia and, to a lesser extent, Pandora. But the very fact that those two parks improved reveals part of the problem - they both opened during the period of massive inflation, and unlike their predecessors at opening, neither was a complete park, but they charged full price.

So no, I can’t see how the increasing value offered by the parks has come anywhere close to justifying the price increase.

For us it’s not all about the parks. There’s so much more to WDW. Our day could include a morning at a water park or resort pool followed by a late afternoon trip to AK (our favorite park) for rides and maybe dinner and drinks at Nomad Lounge. Other evenings could include dinner at Disney Springs followed by a boat ride to Port Orleans for boozy beignets and entertainment.

We often visit along with our adult children and their spouses (and next time with grandchildren). The variety of parks, water parks, shopping and entertainment allows us to split up some days so everyone can enjoy what they like most. The transportation systems allow us to get around without needing multiple cars.

When I go with only my husband, we often spend part of a day just visiting the resorts. Port Orleans Riverside has some gorgeous walking trails. AKL is a destination in itself. We have also enjoyed some of the special events such as the Highway in the Sky Dine-Around and behind the scenes tours.

I can’t speak to whether we would feel the same about WDW if we focused only on the parks and took everything else out of the equation.

 

[LittleBuford]

And while I was typing this I see that you have also insulted their intelligence by suggesting they don’t know they can vacation elsewhere.

I would love to go to Tokyo one day, not just to visit the Disney parks there, but also (and more so) to see Japan. However, travelling halfway around the world is obviously a far greater commitment than taking a short domestic flight down to Florida for a few days. I am saving my trip to Japan until I can set aside at least two whole weeks to explore the country properly. In other words, I have weighed up my options and am holidaying in a way that works for me and answers my own needs and preferences. Shocking, right?

 

[LittleBuford]

when did you start going?

My first time was as a child in 1991, then as a teen in 1996, and then as a young adult in 2001. I resumed going in 2017 and haven't looked back.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

My first time was as a child in 1991, then as a teen in 1996, and then as a young adult in 2001. I resumed going in 2017 and haven't looked back.

so 2001 is when you started paying for the trips?

 

[Casper Gutman]

For us it’s not all about the parks. There’s so much more to WDW. Our day could include a morning at a water park or resort pool followed by a late afternoon trip to AK (our favorite park) for rides and maybe dinner and drinks at Nomad Lounge. Other evenings could include dinner at Disney Springs followed by a boat ride to Port Orleans for boozy beignets and entertainment.

We often visit along with our adult children and their spouses (and next time with grandchildren). The variety of parks, water parks, shopping and entertainment allows us to split up some days so everyone can enjoy what they like most. The transportation systems allow us to get around without needing multiple cars.

When I go with only my husband, we often spend part of a day just visiting the resorts. Port Orleans Riverside has some gorgeous walking trails. AKL is a destination in itself. We have also enjoyed some of the special events such as the Highway in the Sky Dine-Around and behind the scenes tours.

I can’t speak to whether we would feel the same about WDW if we focused only on the parks and took everything else out of the equation.

Yeah, I used to like visiting other resorts and leisurely wandering around, maybe shopping a bit. They absolutely don’t let you do that anymore - the resorts are “locked down,” to quote them. And things like boating on Seven Seas, things that made WDW a complete resort, are gone. As for the resorts, they’ve gotten more and more expensive as service has declined.

But this conversation was about ticket prices at the theme parks, so that’s where I focused. It makes no sense to use things outside the parks to justify ticket prices.

 

[LittleBuford]

After a bottle of wine for the record. Lol

See, as a lifelong teetotaler, I don't understand why anyone would pay money to ingest what is quite literally a poison. But I also realise that people are entitled to do what they wish (within the law) and that it's not my place to tell them they are wrong to enjoy what they do.

Why not focus on the issue instead of the word I used to describe how it feels to be nickeled and dimed to death?

We don't agree on the issue in the first place. You consider the product inferior and not worth the money, whereas I feel the opposite. The difference is that I have zero interest in convincing you that you wrong to stop going to WDW. It's your money, your time, and your preference.

 

[LittleBuford]

so 2001 is when you started paying for the trips?

Yes. Why do you ask?

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I would love to go to Tokyo one day, not just to visit the Disney parks there, but also (and more so) to see Japan. However, travelling halfway around the world is obviously a far greater commitment than taking a short domestic flight down to Florida for a few days. I am saving my trip to Japan until I can set aside at least two whole weeks to explore the country properly. In other words, I have weighed up my options and am holidaying in a way that works for me and answers my own needs and preferences. Shocking, right?

my daughter has $329 round trip tickets to Tokyo in January. From the Midwest. With one stop. With the lower cost tickets to the parks and cheap neighbor hotels, she’ll be going there for the same or less than what it costs at WDW for the same length. Especially adding in the additional cost that this thread is about.

that’s my point. With timing, the idea foreign parks on the other side of the planet are more expensive is a myth.

they’re also climbing mt Fuji. Not as cool as hitting up Shogun in Orlando, I know…

 

[Chi84]

Yeah, I used to like visiting other resorts and leisurely wandering around, maybe shopping a bit. They absolutely don’t let you do that anymore - the resorts are “locked down,” to quote them. And things like boating on Seven Seas, things that made WDW a complete resort, are gone. As for the resorts, they’ve gotten more and more expensive as service has declined.

But this conversation was about ticket prices at the theme parks, so that’s where I focused. It makes no sense to use things outside the parks to justify ticket prices.

There are a lot of people who see ticket prices in the context of the entire WDW vacation experience. It may not make sense to you, but that doesn’t mean it makes no sense to others.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

See, as a lifelong teetotaler, I don't understand why anyone would pay money to ingest what is quite literally a poison. But I also realise that people are entitled to do what they wish (within the law) and that it's not my place to tell them they are wrong to enjoy what they do.


We don't agree on the issue in the first place. You consider the product inferior and not worth the money, whereas I feel the opposite. The difference is that I have zero interest in convincing you that you wrong to stop going to WDW. It's your money, your time, and your preference.

so why not let me try to show people there are other options?

And if you don’t drink, you’re not a good target for food and wine. Mickey frowns in your general direction.

 

[LittleBuford]

my daughter has $329 round trip tickets to Tokyo in January. From the Midwest. With one stop. With the lower cost tickets to the parks and cheap neighbor hotels, she’ll be going there for the same or less than what it costs at WDW for the same length. Especially adding in the additional cost that this thread is about.

that’s my point. With timing, the idea foreign parks on the other side of the planet are more expensive is a myth.

they’re also climbing mt Fuji. Not as cool as hitting up Shogun in Orlando, I know…

I didn't mention expense; I mentioned time and convenience. None of my trips to WDW since 2017 has been longer than five days. When I have time to spare, I will go to Japan.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Yes. Why do you ask?

And you believe that since 2001, the yearly price increases are commensurate with the additional offerings you get at the parks?

 

[LittleBuford]

so why not let me try to show people there are other options?

Laying out the alternatives is one thing; telling people they're being duped is quite another.

And if you don’t drink, you’re not a good target for food and wine. Mickey frowns in your general direction.

Mickey can scold me all he wants. I'm the one in control of how I spend my dollars at Disney.