Pricing the crowds away

[networkpro]

I'd like to add some thoughts to the pricing discussion at Disney and some of you won't like it or agree with it.

I guess you havent been watching what Disney has been doing over the past few years.

 

[Amos1784]

I was just there the last week in August 8/29-9/5. except for labor day crowds were extremely light. Animal kingdom? Pandora was the only ride over a 30 minute wait and the second time we went on it it was a 55 minute wait at 3-4 pm. Expedition Everest, routinely 20-30 minutes. single rider stayed at 10 mins darn near all day.
I did a trip report with pictures of the low crowds. I think thats about as light as it's going to get

This sounds amazing I have heard August is pretty dead, if only I could take the blistering heat at that time!!

 

[Ted Daggett]

I was just there the last week in August 8/29-9/5. except for labor day crowds were extremely light. Animal kingdom? Pandora was the only ride over a 30 minute wait and the second time we went on it it was a 55 minute wait at 3-4 pm. Expedition Everest, routinely 20-30 minutes. single rider stayed at 10 mins darn near all day.
I did a trip report with pictures of the low crowds. I think thats about as light as it's going to get

I was in WDW around the same time ... This picture was taken August 29 at 9:30 am. We just got off of 7dmt, on our way to ride Splash Mtn 3 times in a row w/ no wait. This is obviously early in the day during a slow period, but if you plan properly, you can get the park to yourself still.

 

[OneofThree]

I don't mind the price increases if they actually impact the crowds but thus far they haven't

I think what needs to be said here is that Disney likely wants their parks close to capacity year-round. This allows them to sell their their food, alcohol, and merch to the greatest number of visitors. They will continue to raise prices, but never to the extent which would allow those prices to tame demand. Where this is a problem for me (and others) is that Disney and I disagree with point at which their park experience is oversold -that point where demand would signal a corresponding price increase. To me, this is the worst of both worlds because the price continues to creep despite the fact that the experience doesn't improve anywhere near proportionately.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Keep raising the prices and I'll keep saving the money to go. Price increases wont keep me away but it may alter the extras I usually add into the trip.

 

[eliza61nyc]

This sounds amazing I have heard August is pretty dead, if only I could take the blistering heat at that time!!

And It was Africa, surface of the sun hot.

 

[Gitson Shiggles]

If Disney could only coerce me to pay them.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

One look at my sig and you'll see that I've continuously gone to WDW over decades. Price increases are a fact of life, and WDW is not immune. But... There is a difference between actual costs going up and outright robbery. And as much as I hate crowded parks, their approach to "congestion pricing" is not working. The parks are still full every day. Should they raise the prices even more? Where does it end - keep going until there's 10 people in any park on any given day? How about just not being greedy and closing the doors a little sooner (as if that'll ever happen).

I haven't stopped going because of the price increases... But I darn sure don't go as often as I have and/or would like to! Heck, we nearly went DVC/AP. We also don't do all the "special little things" (that cost money) anymore and only book trips (and especially lodging) when there's a steep discount. So if anything, Disney, your ploy to make more money off me and my family has failed. Keep it up and you'll lose us altogether.

This sounds amazing I have heard August is pretty dead, if only I could take the blistering heat at that time!!

Never. Go. In. August.

 

[cheezbat]

For those who think APs are the problem, I find that to be quite wrong. The WDW passholder Fan base is supposedly somewhere around 100,000 people. Compare that to Disneyland’s which is around 1 million...they definitely have that problem over there, but I don’t think that’s the same problem here.

 

[OneofThree]

For those who think APs are the problem, I find that to be quite wrong.

I can only speak for myself, but as passholders, we spent upwards of $250 per day, per person on our last trip, not including lodging. On a related note, the crowding problem we've experienced during all six of our trips this year has convinced us not to renew our AP's. Disney is going to have to address this somehow before we return.

 

[Think Tink]

Never. Go. In. August.

I always go in august! I love th heat and crowds are much better. I’m crazy, I know lol

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I always go in august! I love th heat and crowds are much better. I’m crazy, I know lol

I don't mind the heat as much as the humidity. Chilling in the AC, only to walk out and be instantly soaked. Yeah, no thanks. I'll wait for the 4pm thunderstorms another month.

 

[Dreamers Empire]

So...they should specifically not learn from past mistakes.

Plenty of thrill rides at Universal

 

[winstongator]

I can only speak for myself, but as passholders, we spent upwards of $250 per day, per person on our last trip, not including lodging. On a related note, the crowding problem we've experienced during all six of our trips this year has convinced us not to renew our AP's. Disney is going to have to address this somehow before we return.

I wonder the extent to which crowds and the 'there's no more slow time at WDW anymore' idea contributed to the softness in attendance in July-Sept. Not so much July, but going in late August/September had a great benefit of being low crowd time. If you read the news or talked to people who went in January or February you'd think, "those were supposed to be slow times, but were busy. If September is that busy, why go?" I think this summer, through September should bring back the existence of slow periods at WDW. Given I expect an AP price increase before Galaxy's Edge opens, and people waiting for that, I predict next summer to be close to the end of this summer.

 

[Dreamers Empire]

Question? where did you find the "money spent per person per day" information?

Just did a little digging. If I reserve a 5 night 6 day stay on site at a value resort with regular dining plan for 2 adults and 2 children, total cost at least $5k, which is roughly $250 per person per day. Take an AP holder who goes once a week, maybe does a quick service at $15 you average $30 a day, quite a difference. I believe Disney will price a large percentage of those AP folks out.

 

[Dreamers Empire]

For those who think APs are the problem, I find that to be quite wrong. The WDW passholder Fan base is supposedly somewhere around 100,000 people. Compare that to Disneyland’s which is around 1 million...they definitely have that problem over there, but I don’t think that’s the same problem here.

Yeah, much bigger issue at Disneyland. Disney is very cautious but I would guess over the next 3-5 years they will double AP and do it at both parks.

 

[Dreamers Empire]

Keep raising the prices and I'll keep saving the money to go. Price increases wont keep me away but it may alter the extras I usually add into the trip.

Agreed, same!

 

[Dreamers Empire]

I think what needs to be said here is that Disney likely wants their parks close to capacity year-round. This allows them to sell their their food, alcohol, and merch to the greatest number of visitors. They will continue to raise prices, but never to the extent which would allow those prices to tame demand. Where this is a problem for me (and others) is that Disney and I disagree with point at which their park experience is oversold -that point where demand would signal a corresponding price increase. To me, this is the worst of both worlds because the price continues to creep despite the fact that the experience doesn't improve anywhere near proportionately.

Perfectly said. Thats why I favor price hikes, I'll go less often but at least enjoy the experience and get on the rides I want to.

 

[Dreamers Empire]

I guess you havent been watching what Disney has been doing over the past few years.

LOL

 

[pax_65]

When someone complains that they got more for less in the past I just don't feel sorry for them because everyone of us is dealing with that and some are adjusting better.

I don't necessarily disagree with the rest of your post... as Disney gets more expensive we are going less often and cutting back on some extras to control costs but if it means lower crowds we will likely enjoy the trips we do take more.

But comparing current-day trips to past trips? In terms of value for your vacation dollar there is no comparison. It's relevant because Disney built their immense theme park popularity on quality + fair pricing which equals exceptional value. Today prices are much higher, quality is a little lower so the value is nowhere near what it once was.