Prices for a family of four

[Chef Mickey]

Chef, Pretty much anything that can sell out is automatically not ridiculous? Are you serious?

How about the following:
if Disney ordered 500 pieces of Chinese rubber dog dropping out of Hong Kong(yes, I stole phrase from Top Gun) and decided to sell them on Main St and out of the 20 million or so visitors Disney somehow was able to sell out the entire stock of 500 units, that is not ridiculous to you?

If 500 people saw value in something to pay for it, I don't see what the problem is from a business perspective, assuming the items sold were ethical, etc.

You can have an opinion about anything. I could say it's ridiculous to spend $500 to eat at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant, but it's not to the people that pay.

You could say art is ridiculous too, but not for the person spending $100M on a painting.

 

[RustySpork]

If 500 people saw value in something to pay for it, I don't see what the problem is from a business perspective, assuming the items sold were ethical, etc.

You can have an opinion about anything. I could say it's ridiculous to spend $500 to eat at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant, but it's not to the people that pay.

You could say art is ridiculous too, but not for the person spending $100M on a painting.

This is absolutely right, and on the same note it's not an entitlement to have (or express) an opinion that it shouldn't cost $500 to eat at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant.

 

[eliza61nyc]

This is absolutely right, and on the same note it's not an entitlement to have (or express) an opinion that it shouldn't cost $500 to eat at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant.

The difference could be in subtitles. When a restaurant is too expensive, people simply say it's pricey and don't go. With Disney you hear about how horrible the corporation is, how Walt was a swell guy who wanted everyone to be able to come and how sad it is that they are pricing the middle class out.

 

[RustySpork]

The difference could be in subtitles. When a restaurant is too expensive, people simply say it's pricey and don't go. With Disney you hear about how horrible the corporation is, how Walt was a swell guy who wanted everyone to be able to come and how sad it is that they are pricing the middle class out.

Its not specific to Disney, there's just a community here that you're a part of so you're able to see it. If you create a community around any topic, people will find it and complain. It's what they do.

 

[aliceismad]

Its not specific to Disney, there's just a community here that you're a part of so you're able to see it. If you create a community around any topic, people will find it and complain. It's what they do.

It's true. I know of a somewhat local restaurant that was well liked. The chef got 15 minutes of fame on some tv show. Then demand to eat at his place went up. So he raised prices and redesigned the menu. And now people complain about how it was better before he got a big head and how the wait is terrible and price is too high and blah blah blah. Supply and demand doesn't have a warm fuzzy aspect.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Its not specific to Disney, there's just a community here that you're a part of so you're able to see it. If you create a community around any topic, people will find it and complain. It's what they do.

Good point. I will say though that this community seems more "emotionally " connected than I've seen at other forums I'm on. Lol seriously, some of the post for example about Bob Iger has left me seriously wondering if perhaps he stole some people's personal bank accounts. I'll admit that I've often said to myself "Are we still talking about an amusement park "??

 

[aliceismad]

Good point. I will say though that this community seems more "emotionally " connected than I've seen. Lol seriously, some of the post for example about Bob Iger has left me seriously wondering if perhaps he stole some people's personal bank accounts. I'll admit that I've often said to myself "Are we still talking about an amusement park "??

Disney has a brand loyalty and a “feeling of connection” that it tries to instill in customers. I’m sure if someone cares enough to follow a message board, you feel at least a little personal link to the subject.

 

[RustySpork]

Good point. I will say though that this community seems more "emotionally " connected than I've seen at other forums I'm on. Lol seriously, some of the post for example about Bob Iger has left me seriously wondering if perhaps he stole some people's personal bank accounts. I'll admit that I've often said to myself "Are we still talking about an amusement park "??

I've seen it on other forums as well, a lot worse than I've seen here. If you want enough drama to last a year just visit a tech forum for a minute.

I think the katiebug101 post is probably the finest example of genuine entitlement that I've seen here.

 

[erasure fan1]

The difference could be in subtitles. When a restaurant is too expensive, people simply say it's pricey and don't go. With Disney you hear about how horrible the corporation is, how Walt was a swell guy who wanted everyone to be able to come and how sad it is that they are pricing the middle class out.

It depends, a trendy restaurant that is a "must eat at" the people will still go, regardless of price hikes. The problem with this is that when you aren't the hip and trendy thing anymore, a lot of times it means game over for the business. Disney is riding this strategy right now. They have a product that obviously has a crazy demand right now. And since it's a trendy "must do" thing, they are going to push pricing until it breaks. What happens after? Who knows. You push too many people away, a lot might not come back.

 

[larryz]

Canada uses the Canadian dollar.
Right now, $1USD = 1.32CAD. Yeah, Google!

So $12,000 USD is approximately $9,080 $15,839 CAD. (The exact rate fluctuates a bit each day.)

FTFY. Still want a smiley face?

 

[whiterhino42]

The largest item on most families' budget is their mortgage, which goes up 0% per year. So 3% salary increases mean you're able to absorb significantly more than 3% increases in discretionary spending.

I guess you have never heard of things like property taxes, groceries, oil, insurance...heck insurance alone eats that 3%. Wages are stagnant and everything else goes up exponentially, there is a breaking point. I've hit mine. If you haven't, I'm happy for you but for me....things were better 10 years ago.

 

[whiterhino42]

Wow. We're paying less than that for 7 nights, 6 day hopper and we're staying 2 nights at a moderate and then 5 nights on rented DVC points. I guess timing is probably the difference.

I get what you're saying about the inflation vs. salary though. I think a lot of companies are sticking to a 3% flat increase regardless.

I've never rented points before, I should have looked into that.

 

[eliza61nyc]

It depends, a trendy restaurant that is a "must eat at" the people will still go, regardless of price hikes. The problem with this is that when you aren't the hip and trendy thing anymore, a lot of times it means game over for the business. Disney is riding this strategy right now. They have a product that obviously has a crazy demand right now. And since it's a trendy "must do" thing, they are going to push pricing until it breaks. What happens after? Who knows. You push too many people away, a lot might not come back.

I think the difference is Disney really does have what I call a renewable energy source. LOL, we are still having babies. I have a few new mothers on my job and they are already talking about when they are taking their kids to Disney. Disney has become sort of a "right of passage". Don't know why but for some reason it's almost as if your kids won't have a good childhood if they don't go to disney. so family after family will break their necks taking that once in a life trip. now they might not go back but they are going to try and get the kids there at least once.

Let's look at the anticipation for star wars land, it's through the roof and Disney really hasn't even started marketing it. You are absolutely right, most restaurants will go under within 5 years but Disney is a lot different. this is just my ramblings but I would bet big money that the next 10 years the parks are going to be pack. 10 YEARS easy.

Ever notice that Disney will release some of it's movies over and over again? with big fanfare and make crazy money. I just saw a commercial for the "release from the vaults" (I love that marketing genius line) of Aladdin. so now a boat load of little minions who never saw t he original are going to get the genie groove on. couple that with the release of the live action version.

Unfortunately I think the mouseworld expects to lose a percentage of their visitors and they are perfectly ok with that because they have 5 more folks who will take their place.

 

[eliza61nyc]

I guess you have never heard of things like property taxes, groceries, oil, insurance...heck insurance alone eats that 3%. Wages are stagnant and everything else goes up exponentially, there is a breaking point. I've hit mine. If you haven't, I'm happy for you but for me....things were better 10 years ago.

But this is nothing new or unusual. I'm in the planning for retirement, one of the things that is tricky is that you have to plan for inflation especially with healthcare.

Now you maybe one of the few who would say in 2008-2009 was better. sorry the stock market crashed on an epic level leaving most folks with 30% of their savings gone, a crap load of folks were underwater on their mortgages because of the housing crash and I don't know if you remember but I certainly remember every month companies were laying off thousands of people (2.6 million jobs were lost) If I remember correctly jan 09 the unemployment rate was about 8%

Yeah the crowds at Disney were lighter because people couldn't afford to go. If your economic situation was better during 2008-2009 you are definitely in the minority.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I guess you have never heard of things like property taxes, groceries, oil, insurance...heck insurance alone eats that 3%. Wages are stagnant and everything else goes up exponentially, there is a breaking point. I've hit mine. If you haven't, I'm happy for you but for me....things were better 10 years ago.

I'm sorry to hear that, but you're the exception, not the rule. In terms of "labor hours required to purchase goods and services," almost everything is cheaper than it was ten years ago.

Wage growth is outpacing inflation. Just barely, but it's going in that direction.

 

[Shouldigo12]

It depends, a trendy restaurant that is a "must eat at" the people will still go, regardless of price hikes. The problem with this is that when you aren't the hip and trendy thing anymore, a lot of times it means game over for the business. Disney is riding this strategy right now. They have a product that obviously has a crazy demand right now. And since it's a trendy "must do" thing, they are going to push pricing until it breaks. What happens after? Who knows. You push too many people away, a lot might not come back.

This is what I was trying to get at in a thread I made awhile back. Disney has been popular for decades. It will continue to be popular for decades. But I do think there is a certain trendiness to Disney right now. Even once the trend factor dies out Disney will still be getting plenty of business for the reasons Eliza listed, but I do think when millennials discover the next "it" place to travel crowds will go down. Not so much that all of us will be able to walk on every ride three times in a row, since this is Disney World we're talking about. But they'll go down.

 

[bigrigross]

This is what I was trying to get at in a thread I made awhile back. Disney has been popular for decades. It will continue to be popular for decades. But I do think there is a certain trendiness to Disney right now. Even once the trend factor dies out Disney will still be getting plenty of business for the reasons Eliza listed, but I do think when millennials discover the next "it" place to travel crowds will go down. Not so much that all of us will be able to walk on every ride three times in a row, since this is Disney World we're talking about. But they'll go down.

The reason millenials are coming in droves isnt because its trendy. Its because they are at the age right now where they have had kids, a career, and have money to spend and want to either take their kids because they loved going there as children, or going because they did not get to experience it growing up and now have the disposable income to enjoy it. Remember, millenials are in their late 20s and 30s.

 

[Shouldigo12]

The reason millenials are coming in droves isnt because its trendy. Its because they are at the age right now where they have had kids, a career, and have money to spend and want to either take their kids because they loved going there as children, or going because they did not get to experience it growing up and now have the disposable income to enjoy it. Remember, millenials are in their late 20s and 30s.

Yes, I'm aware what age groups millenials are in. My oldest brother is one, my other brother and I were a few years too late to be one. That's why I mentioned them. Like you said, they're the age group with money to travel and so they're the ones that decide which places are the it places to go. And like you said, it's a place people want to take their kids which is why I stated that it will continue to be a popular vacation destination.
But it is a pretty trendy place right now. Keep in mind that trendy does not equal bad. In the thread I mentioned, I used Portland, Oregon as an example. It's a great city with a lotbto do that, for awhile there, I couldn't sneeze without finding an article about how to plan a trip there, what the best places to eat where, which stores I should go to, etc etc. It was just the place to go. Now last i checked, tourism is still good there. There's still lots to do and people still visit. It's just not the place to go anymore. Same with Disney World. It was popular before and will definitely be popular after, but right now it has the honor of being the current "must do" vacation which is giving it an even bigger boost in attendance. Eventually, something else will come along and people will flock to that as the new place you just absolutely have to go to. Again, and I can't stress this enough- this doesn't mean the parks will be empty. Crowds will go down, just not super dramatically (see Portland).
But, this is all just opinion. Maybe the current Disney Mania going on in my age group (well, a little older than my age group. My age group is poor college students) will never die down, who knows?
Edit: I'm not sure how much time you spend on websites used frequently by that age group (early twenties to thirties) like Instagram or Buzzfeed, to a lesser extent. I spend more than I care to admit. And what I see on the sites is not usually the rides, or the shows, or anything like that. Typically I see:
The latest cupcake creation. Bonus points if it's a mernaid or unicorn cupcake.
The latest pair of minnie ears.
The cliche location of Cinderella's castle.
A shopping list of cute clothes or accessories you should buy for the next trip.
Or other things like that. Aside from the occasional "20 things you NEED to know about planning a trip to the World" list, very very few articles or pictures on tgose websites are about the actual experiences of DW. I'm sure the Instagrammars and Buzzfeed writers like the rides and shows too...but if the cupcakes and accessories are what's getting them and that demographic excited, then I can't see DW holding their interest forever. Not that there's anything wrong with liking those things. But the fact that they seem way more interested in that aspect of it than anything else is what makes me think it's a trend.

 

[Dr. Ludwig von Drake]

Read and article if you go budget all the way, least expensive "All Stars Resort", no sit down meals, you will spend on average $4000.00 Canadian, and if you upscale get a dining package, moderate hotels it can cost up to $10,000 Canadian for a Disney Vacation.

Weird that so many people have that much disposable income.
Nobody has a problem with the price of a Disney Vacation ?

Regarding disposable income, 3% of US households have an income of $250,000 or more. That's 3.7 million households! Add in the fact that there are 3.24 people per household in this group, and that's a lot of people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States (data from US Census)

And there are certainly wealthy people from other countries making the trip to WDW as well.

I'm not in that group, but I am a Florida resident. We get seasonal passes and have only a 4 hour drive to the parks. If I did not live in Florida, I would certainly go much less! I was there for 3 days in November, 3 days in January, and have 6 days coming up in May. I doubt it would be even an annual event if I was not living here.

 

[MichiganDisneyDad4]

It isn't so much I feel owed a cheap WDW vacation, as much as I feel disappointed when prices skyrocket to the point that I can no longer afford things I have enjoyed doing for oh, like, the last 40 years.

To be honest, the list of things that have been around that long, and that I still wish to do, isn't all that long. I think i'd be upset if felt I could no longer afford grapes though. I mean, grapes often run about $1.50-$2/pound. Last week, when they were $4/pound I didn't buy them. Sure, I could have bought them. I could have bought a 2 pound bag for $8, or even 1/2pound at $2, right?

I didn't.

Today, grapes were on sale for $1/pound! (I bought 3 pounds!)


WDW is a bit the same, to be honest. When prices are too high, we:
A.) stay home
B.) take a shorter trip
C.) go to Universal or a WDW/Uni combo.
D.) go to WDW but go low budget
E. ) visit one of FL's other lovely vacation destinations
F.) some combo of the above options

When fewer people go to WDW, they lower the prices with bigger discounts. WDW's always trying to find the sweet spot. Mind, I'm not saying they will offer any big ones this year, just that rack rates aren't the full story (going back to my earlier post- i. e. the 1st post in the thread was too vague.)

Everything you mentioned above, is something that 99% of WDW guests do. Just because I can afford a $7000+ vacation, doesn't mean I won't search for the best deal. Hell, I could buy grapes for $24 a pound if I wanted to, but I won't; $2.99 a pound is my limit. The things I started doing 30 years ago, like paying for gas, buying milk and eggs and going on other vacations have gone up tremendously, just as my WDW vacation has and I am personally ok with that.