Prices up…profits down…

[Mark Dunne]

Just priced up 2025, 14 nights, tickets, DDP, I arrived at £7500, we normally stay for 10 nights, but once it gets to £5k , we will look elsewhere, and I’ll be gutted to be honest ! All the folks on here over the last couple of years, are right! It’s becoming so expensive, and I’m guessing 99% of you love Disney like we do, and to stop us from visiting because the costs is to high, is a great shame

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Well let’s see… I used to buy an AP every year and stay at a Disney resort and visit 5+ times per year.

Now I stay at the Wyndham or hilton, spend time at springs and resorts, and buy a 1 day ticket - and visit 2-3 times.

Do the math Bob!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is my new catchphrase.

Mission statement…agreed

Just priced up 2025, 14 nights, tickets, DDP, I arrived at £7500, we normally stay for 10 nights, but once it gets to £5k , we will look elsewhere, and I’ll be gutted to be honest ! All the folks on here over the last couple of years, are right! It’s becoming so expensive, and I’m guessing 99% of you love Disney like we do, and to stop us from visiting because the costs is to high, is a great shame

I like hearing your perspective…as the UK travelers have always been amongst the most loyal…

It is lost in translation a bit…here in the land of “everyone’s rich!”…if we go for 10 days we usually get fired…let alone 14

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Well let’s see… I used to buy an AP every year and stay at a Disney resort and visit 5+ times per year.

Now I stay at the Wyndham or hilton, spend time at springs and resorts, and buy a 1 day ticket - and visit 2-3 times.

Do the math Bob!

You could also stay at Royal Pacific, still save a couple hundred a night, drive to Disney, use the money you saved for parking, go on a few rides, and then hit Portillos on the way back to Uni.

 

[HauntedPirate]

They should give a partial refund

This is why we are NOT going to Disney other than a Halloween Party! It's not worth the price anymore! We can get a better bang for our bucks from Universal and Sea World and Wild Florida!

****I NEVER thought the day would come that I would DISLIKE Disney so much. And that is coming from a former Cast Member! It's a sad day, but its Disney's fault. The Imagineers are OUT OF TOUCH...wanting to put CARSland in Magic kingdom only to ruin the Rivers of America, Frontierland and Liberty Square.

I'd say Burbank is out of touch, if we're being honest. I would opine that many within WDI are still capable (how many former Disney Imagineers went to work for Universal Creative and churned out Epic Universe?), but are hamstrung by management and their decisions.

 

[Bullseye1967]

You can still have a great time at WDW if you’re willing to spend the money. Fewer people leads to a less stressful experience.

But value is what it is. You know I can afford it, but it is not my habit to throw money into the wind. Your value and mine are probably very different. I have stayed off property on other timeshare points my last 3 stays despite owning multiple DVC contracts. I rent those points, it just makes more sense for us. Our last stay we were in central FL more than a month and went to the parks only four days. Yes we did visit property for dining and DS almost every day, but we saw the value there. If only those who "see the value and spend the money" make it to stay on property and grab all the upcharges, the model does not work. WDW is based on volume and we all know that as many lightning lanes the can sell, the resorts are where the money is. If people are not staying and dining on property, then Disney loses.

Does fewer people people really add to a less stressful environment? TSMM and ToT running at half capacity to have less CMs? That doubles the wait time of full capacity, but if you are a third down on park attendance, you have less crowds, but are still waiting longer. Did I say a third down on park attendance? Well then, we can cut staff at TS and QS places. Worse service, longer waits, possibly worse food quality. There are two sides to every coin.

So did the entire city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

You need to get yourself to Lincoln park once in a while. Not every place, and prices have gone up, but food quality is as good as ever. Look into Geja's for a special occasion and thank me later. Use the valet. street parking of any sort is nuts there. Luckily I can walk there from my house.

 

[Bullseye1967]

Yeah. But I don’t gotta pay $500 (for a family of four) for admission and the privilege of walking down Michigan Ave just to get overpriced food.

That’s why I go to the Billy Goat. “Cheezburga. Cheezburga. No Coke. Pepsi.”

I am a retired Chicago beat cop. My beat was very close to Billy Goat 2 on Ashland. You don't know how many hours on and off duty I have spent there. Fun Fact, that area was the projects and the red light district. It was not odd to see a self employed girl taking the stroll in a tiny leather mini and boots in January. That area is now million dollar condos and the United Center.

 

[Bullseye1967]

…a strict “law and order” kinda place

Yes it is a law.

It’s not even a Florida law. Plus if it was the mouse I’m sure could lobby for the Florida law being changed, but again it’s not a Florida law unless someone can cite which law it is.

Yes, it is a law and will not be changed because it is common sense. Whether it is a monorail, a bus, a boat, a train or an airplane, you can not do something that will block the escape of people in an emergency. All fifty states have these laws. Some laws are dumb. Some are to keep you safe. Figure it out.

 

[Bullseye1967]

I'm with you on this. Our grandkids all went to DisneyWorld when they were younger, but now they go to other places, Universal, National parks, things like that. Disney is not even mentioned. The Disney Co. has lost sight of this fact. For example, I didn't see any disney related Halloween costumes this year, or last year. I did see a lot of Nintendo and other Universal type costumes.
I'm a baby boomer too and we grew up with Disney, watched it on TV, and dreamed of actually going there. I still have the nostalgia for Disney, but that's all I have at this time. I hope they wake up to what is happening, but sometimes arrogance clouds the vision.

Did you always order the free VHS vacation tapes? I know I always did. I am not even sure how I did it as a teenager but I managed. Were they in the same flyer as the Columbia records and BMG stuff? Pretty sure I owe them about six grand now between the two.

 

[Goofyernmost]

They should give a partial refund

This is why we are NOT going to Disney other than a Halloween Party! It's not worth the price anymore! We can get a better bang for our bucks from Universal and Sea World and Wild Florida!

****I NEVER thought the day would come that I would DISLIKE Disney so much. And that is coming from a former Cast Member! It's a sad day, but its Disney's fault. The Imagineers are OUT OF TOUCH...wanting to put CARSland in Magic kingdom only to ruin the Rivers of America, Frontierland and Liberty Square.

Imagineers are only one part of the problem. No matter what they come up with none of it happens without the upper level executives knowledge. They are probably spending more time figuring out what they are going to do with their bonuses than how a theme park should be run. I'd love to see a cars land, especially if it is a clone of the one in Cali, but the location is coming from brain dead leadership. They are taking what was once a Golden Goose and turning it into a sickly Albatross.

 

[John park hopper]

Have to agree with you Goofyer IMO that fact that Disney executives are in CA says a lot. CA is not at all like the rest of the US and does not reflect the majority of the country.

 

[Goofyernmost]

When figuring out value, I also made a priority of my time in the parks. A hotel is a hotel and having a 5 foot tall rodent as a mascot does not in itself constitute value. To many, however it does! I have revealed numerous time that I only stayed on site once in my 35 years of yearly visits. I never once thought that a $300+ a night stay in a room that we only used to sleep in was anything close to being a clever way to spend my money. Theme's don't exist when your eyes are closed.

The one time I did stay onsite it was one of those times when Disney felt compelled to offer a great sounding package deal that I thought would be the perfect way to see what value was given for that money. I decided that if the bargain resorts which were way overpriced compared to offsite accommodations, showed me that they did it better then I might reconsider may stand on offsite. I got a room at POP and I couldn't wait for my week to end. I was traveling by myself and even with that the room was cramped. I had to pay extra for a refrigerator and when they delivered it the only place they could put it is in a location that didn't allow one to open the door enough to walk straight in. The food court was AWFUL and the prices were outrageous. The bus rides were packed and smelly (humans do smell bad at the end of a long hot day, myself included), but my memories of just getting to the parking lot, sitting comfortable in my air conditioned car made it seem like a prison bus. (I think... never had the pleasure of that one).

I enjoyed going offsite and deciding from literally hundreds of restaurants on 192 alone that could cater to what my desire was on that particular day, not something I had to decide 6 months ahead of time. People have made it sound like it is a long amount of time to get from the center of any park to a very diversified offsite location. When one time meeting friends in the park, they stayed onsite and I was offsite. We left at the same time, they headed for the buses and I headed for the parking lot and I called them when I got to my hotel and they were still in line waiting for the next bus.

I guess everyone's concept of value is different, but I went to WDW to experience the parks and the parks only. Any quality hotel can offer the same things that Disney does except imagined atmosphere. I once figured that what I spent when staying offsite allowed me to save enough to finance a trip every third time I went. Three trips to my favorite place for the price of two just by sleeping a few hundred feet away from Disney property and getting my main meals outside of those confines. That to me is value.

 

[FettFan]

Disney's Theme Park Division Reports Lowest Profit In Two Years

Earlier this month Disney announced sparkling results. However, buried at the bottom of the key points on its earnings report was the news a dark cloud hangs over its theme parks.

www.forbes.com

Can someone please explain to me how this can be? (Use small words)

Well, when you spend millions upon millions to build a Star Wars LARP hotel only to shut it down, a new Epcot fireworks show that people don’t like but is so big that its permanently anchored in the lagoon only to demolish it, and then demolish Comminicore’s southwest annex only to say “Whoops” and rebuild it as a cut-rate airport terminal….yeah not a lot of good money decisions being made.

 

[Chi84]

But value is what it is. You know I can afford it, but it is not my habit to throw money into the wind. Your value and mine are probably very different. I have stayed off property on other timeshare points my last 3 stays despite owning multiple DVC contracts. I rent those points, it just makes more sense for us. Our last stay we were in central FL more than a month and went to the parks only four days. Yes we did visit property for dining and DS almost every day, but we saw the value there. If only those who "see the value and spend the money" make it to stay on property and grab all the upcharges, the model does not work. WDW is based on volume and we all know that as many lightning lanes the can sell, the resorts are where the money is. If people are not staying and dining on property, then Disney loses.

Does fewer people people really add to a less stressful environment? TSMM and ToT running at half capacity to have less CMs? That doubles the wait time of full capacity, but if you are a third down on park attendance, you have less crowds, but are still waiting longer. Did I say a third down on park attendance? Well then, we can cut staff at TS and QS places. Worse service, longer waits, possibly worse food quality. There are two sides to every coin.

You need to get yourself to Lincoln park once in a while. Not every place, and prices have gone up, but food quality is as good as ever. Look into Geja's for a special occasion and thank me later. Use the valet. street parking of any sort is nuts there. Luckily I can walk there from my house.

You’re absolutely correct about value being entirely subjective! I wasn’t “throwing money into the wind.” I spent it on one of our best WDW vacations ever.

 

[Ayla]

Well let’s see… I used to buy an AP every year and stay at a Disney resort and visit 5+ times per year.

Now I stay at the Wyndham or hilton, spend time at springs and resorts, and buy a 1 day ticket - and visit 2-3 times.

Do the math Bob!

The point is, you're still visiting and spending money.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

The point is, you're still visiting and spending money.

He might be, but I'm not. When I lived in NJ, I used to take a week-long trip every other year. When I lived in Los Angeles, I had an annual pass. Now? I haven't been back to a Disney resort in over a decade.

Do I miss it? A little. But what I miss is the WDW that used to exist, not the one that is currently there. The last time I visited, I felt like I was in a staring contest with Disney over every little thing they thought they could nickel-and-dime me on. And everything I've seen since then makes me believe the situation is worse. Hell, I'm convinced upper-management at the company hates me. It's not the same company as it was from 1955 until 2000.

 

[Chi84]

He might be, but I'm not. When I lived in NJ, I used to take a week-long trip every other year. When I lived in Los Angeles, I had an annual pass. Now? I haven't been back to a Disney resort in over a decade.

Do I miss it? A little. But what I miss is the WDW that used to exist, not the one that is currently there. The last time I visited, I felt like I was in a staring contest with Disney over every little thing they thought they could nickle-and-dime me on. And everything I've seen since then makes me believe the situation is worse. Hell, I'm convinced upper-management at the company hates me. It's not the same company as it was from 1955 until 2000.

It’s definitely been different in the last 25 years.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You can still have a great time at WDW if you’re willing to spend the money. Fewer people leads to a less stressful experience.

Fewer people means they will extract I from the remaining with unfriendly moves

It would be one thing if they charged more for better products…but that is most definitely not grounded in reality

People tend to be more stressed when they feel neglected or exploited

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It’s definitely been different in the last 25 years.

It’s been a declining value…which isn’t all that subjective over the last 5 or so years

 

[Lilofan]

Have to agree with you Goofyer IMO that fact that Disney executives are in CA says a lot. CA is not at all like the rest of the US and does not reflect the majority of the country.

Disney is an entertainment company and logically entertainment besides Disney is in CA ( ie Hollywood etc ), also to mention the beautiful round weather in Southern Cali. Enjoyed my time back in the day in the Newport Beach area. Didn’t need AC and didn’t even have it.