Spending Less with Disney

[RustySpork]

Let's start with a few:

The continual ticket price increases with little or no notice (I get the fact that prices will increase - It's the "no notice" way they go about it that irks me - give people some time to plan, adjust, or absorb.)

The percentage increases on many things (ex. food and beverage). - Again, I understand things increase. But they don't increase year over year to the extent Disney increases them.

Cost cutting in lieu of quality (This spans across food and beverage along with merchandise). This is one of the major ones for me.

Selling a park 3 times in a day thus devaluing the ticket of the individual who gets booted from the park early unless they fork over more cash for the hard ticket.

These are really fair complaints. I think for the first one though, unless you're renewing or purchasing on the day that it changes one could argue that you have some sort of notice. #2-3 are why I spend a lot less in the parks these days.

 

[jloucks]

So, I figure, annually I’m at the $5k mark right now. Its money I used to spend with Disney that I no longer spend with Disney. It’s not an affordability thing, nor have I cut out any vacations. I just decided I want to limit the money I give to Disney as my way of a silent protest for the many “cash grabs” and dumb policy decisions they’ve made.

A lot of people take the “That’s it, I’m done with Disney” approach. My take is – I’ll still go, but I’m just going to give Disney a little less of my money. Sure, there’s a mindset that Disney doesn’t care and I’m easily replaceable. In most cases yes, in some, no. But it works for me.

As an example, I go to the Orlando area about every month for 3-5 nights. 7 of those visits were with Disney, on property at a Deluxe or Moderate. The rest are at Uni or the Uni area.

I’ve cut my on property stays from 7 down to 5. Instead I opt for places like Hilton Bonnet Creek, Hilton Orlando, maybe somewhere over on Palm Pkwy or Western Way if I’m using points. I’ve also cut out 1 TS dinner from every trip and opt to eat and spend an evening outside the “World” at places that IMO have better a quality (and I’m actually beginning to enjoy escaping the resort for a few hours). Might be cutting my on-property stays down to 4 soon.

Anybody else do this? If so, what part of your vacation dollar are you keeping away from Disney.

Disney is out on average of $8,000 a year from me. For me, it is the crowding.

Sadly, somebody else just filled the hole left by me so nothing is going to change.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Disney is out on average of $8,000 a year from me. For me, it is the crowding.

Sadly, somebody else just filled the hole left by me so nothing is going to change.

I think this is the bigger issue. truthfully I think people will pay a bunch of money if they are assured a good time. Disney is getting the repetition of being ungodly overcrowded and that kind of word of mouth is going to be hard to overcome. No more slow times , just ungodly wait times. I really think that's going to kill them before prices will.

 

[ddbowdoin]

For me it was the reality of my work schedule that ultimately drove me from the parks... my wife and I used to have more flexibility in our schedule and a week in late February was always manageable and fun. Now we are both teachers and while I can't complain about not working a day between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it has made the prospect of a summer disney trip simply not doable. I guess if it were a first visit I'd still be pumped... but we've been spoiled with slower days and now I just can't handle the hoards of guests.

 

[graphite1326]

I only go when free dining is offered.
We never buy souvenirs.
We bring our own breakfast cereal.
I stay at the All Star resorts instead of Moderate (even though we love French Quarter, the cost just isn't worth it anymore).
Now we only go every other year instead of every year.

However, it is getting to the point that I may have to extend that to every two years. The last time I checked it now cost us more for two people than it it did for four people when we started taking our kids 20 years ago.

 

[John park hopper]

it is a shame Disney has forced many of us have to continue to down size our Disney vacations just to be able to go any more; which in my view diminishes the whole vacation experience.
"The last time I checked it now cost us more for two people than it it did for four people when we started taking our kids 20 years ago." My same thought graphite1326.

 

[FCivish3]

The Bonnet Creek area is nice. Hilton has a great pool (if you're into that) - you do get EMH and the 60 day FP window

The cons are: Don't rely on their bus service. Too infrequent and unreliable. No charging privileges

Thank you for your info about Bonnet Creek. One of my main concerns about staying there has always been the bus service. I haven't stayed there yet, because I have heard the bus isn't that great. So, how do you get around the poor bus service? Uber? Rental car? Do you take your private car?

It looks like I am going to have some points banked with RCI next year, so I need to start using them.

 

[MAGICFLOP]

I am hoping that Disney has plans for the financial future, far to many companies have made bad decisions that cost them, Sears and Toys r us to name a couple. I was one of a smaller segment of the population that had no problem with flying after 911, but many people did and I was in WDW a lot the year afterwards and it was desolate, by today's standards, but now they have added enormous amounts of hotel rooms that could sit empty and must be maintained..

 

[graphite1326]

I am hoping that Disney has plans for the financial future, far to many companies have made bad decisions that cost them, Sears and Toys r us to name a couple. I was one of a smaller segment of the population that had no problem with flying after 911, but many people did and I was in WDW a lot the year afterwards and it was desolate, by today's standards, but now they have added enormous amounts of hotel rooms that could sit empty and must be maintained..

I actually had booked a vacation at WDW a few months before 911. I think we were going in October. I was a little worried when they grounded all the planes but it was far enough after that we had no problem. You are right. For a few years after the parks were less crowded.

 

[mdcpr]

lol
I do, I admit, I swear some times I can't figure out what some folks are talking about.

So you know the problem with living long enough is that you hear all types of prognostications about the younger generations demise that never seems to come to pass. lol,
Now I've got a few millennials in my house and they are pretty routine. 20's college, drink, chase after girls they have no chance of landing, they just got their first job and their first apartment. I beat in their heads about saving, spending and living below their means. some times they listen, some times they don't
when they get 30, they'll probably do the pretty routine things too, get married, have kids, swear they are so much better parents than the previous generation and go to Disney.

We've been hearing about how horrible folks are going to have it in retirement for the last 20 years and yet folks are still retiring.
One thing is true, a bear market recession is coming, no it will not be any where as catastrophic as the 2007/2008 freaky deaky meltdown.
Disney will probably see a dip and then they will give a bunch of discounts and the whole process will start again.

So yeah, when we stop going they will be a bunch more folks to take our places.

remember also we're getting old. so the youngins don't see all the complaints here as a problem. so they 'll keep going, disney is actually building their loyal clientele of the future. the new kids love ip, they aren't so hung up on Epcot not having a coherent theme.

These are all great points, but I really wonder how the much younger generations (tweens and below) will really feel about Disney when they are older. These are all things I have heard from /discussed with younger kids:
- Three Caballeros is full of stereotypes
- Joy and Sadness are more interesting characters than princesses
- Why all princesses have to be saved?
- Harry Potter and Hermaione (sp?) are way cooler
- Disney should be available to all kids--why it is so expensive and not everyone can go?

Times are changing.

 

[eliza61nyc]

These are all great points, but I really wonder how the much younger generations (tweens and below) will really feel about Disney when they are older. These are all things I have heard from /discussed with younger kids:
- Three Caballeros is full of stereotypes
- Joy and Sadness are more interesting characters than princesses
- Why all princesses have to be saved?
- Harry Potter and Hermaione (sp?) are way cooler
- Disney should be available to all kids--why it is so expensive and not everyone can go?

Times are changing.

lol, I think women have been asking about the "saving" thing for a while. I like that Disney is at least trying to give us "princesses" that can handle their own businesses.
for example Mulan and Tianna are two that are great.
I think HP is very much like Disney in that you either like them or you don't, I've got 7 nieces and 2 nephew, none of them are potter people, they saw the first few movies but then after that, it was "meh" for them.
They are huge marvel fans though.

I love the last one. I have recent college grads at home, my youngest could not wait to turn 21 so he could legally drink. well we went to the Phillies game last week and he brought 2 beers. then nearly passed out when they told him the price. I admit that I had a smug "mommy" moment. I said, "oh you thought beer and food were free when you hit 21"?