The “wealthy” is not going to work

[Lilofan]

We just saw a video about that last night. That tells you they have to build the low income apts. so their employees can find a place to live. How sad is that?? I doubt Disney would build something like that out of the goodness of their hearts.

When companies do something in regards to staff, at times perhaps the company went the route of

You said
We listened

 

[jloucks]

Super rich people have diverse tastes, so doubtless some of them go to Disney regularly and some don't. If they have kids, the kids probably have some Disney interest/exposure that motivates them to visit the parks. But Disney theme parks aren't targeting the super rich as their primary consumer. There are just under 5000 deluxe resort rooms, just under 5000 deluxe villas, almost 7000 moderate rooms and over 10,000 value rooms, so almost 63% of rooms at WDW are priced to attract middle/lower middle class guests who they are nickel and dining with LL, parking fees and other new charges.

You have some interesting data here.

While, sure, they are not targeting the wealthy as "primary", I would say that targeting 37% wealthy as quite significant. Surprised me!

I suspect that 37% pays as much, maybe more, overall as the other 63%.

Good demo of the balance WDW plays with the wealthy -vs- not as wealthy.

 

[Toodycat]

The number of rooms comes from touringplans. They have exact numbers. I rounded up slightly. However, I did include villas in the deluxe numbers but I know some people buy them or rent points as a savings strategy, so I don't know if villas should count as being marketed to the rich. We just paid $3000 for 3 nights in a two bedroom savannah view villa at Jambo House. For comparison, two savannah rooms with a view which are $720 each. Since we have the kitchen, we can make our own breakfast everyday. It's not cheap, but it's an improvement.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I find it strange how almost everyone I see complaining about the price increases are people who are theme park enthusiast. I rarely see the GP mention it. Disney World is known for being very expensive though so I think it's just that it doesn't come as a surprise when someone books a trip nowadays and it's a very pretty penny.

Then you aren't reading trip advisor reviews. The newer reviews are pretty GP, and worse than what you read here.

Though what = a fan? Many avid forum members haven't been to WDW in years. Fan and frequent customer are two very different things when it comes to WDW.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

That’s a valid strategy for NYC.

Remember though Disney is layering systems on top of one another to encourage additional spending.

It’s becoming more in your face.

Want to ride some rides? That’s and additional $15 per person!

Want to stay in the parks late? Just stay at a deluxe resort !

There is a now a more obvious delineation between the haves and have nots even when your inside the parks.

Sure there was always VIP tours etc but it wasn’t jumping out at you.

I’ve been on both sides of the fence, staying at value resorts to now being fortunate enough to do whatever I want.

I say that to say this.

When I was at the value resorts I may have been vaguely aware that others had an “upgraded” experience. It was not however shoved in my face, that I was in a different tier of customer once I was in the parks.

I felt welcomed. I was having the same Disney day as everyone else.

How does that compare to a middle class family today that can’t afford a deluxe or a Genie?

The message seems to be we’ll let you in, but don’t have to much fun, that’s reserved for those who can afford the “Magic”.

Each of us chooses what upsells we want, but I think it is incorrect to assume deluxe WDW hotel = all $$$ meals. In many cases the opposite is true. Some trips people splurge for a nicer hotel, but skimp on food by eating breakfast in the hotel room. Other times, they skimp on the hotel, but splurge for pricier meals, or some other WDW splurge: hoppers, water parks, fireworks cruise, shopping...

I have done this myself to some degree. On some trips, I will even do this: if I have spent less on food than I budgeted, then maybe I splurge the last day. If I have overspent, then I skimp on food the last day.

though I agree with you post in general.

Except Genie+ really sucks. It doesn't really = more rides. It = MAYBE a shorter wait for a few attractions. You pay, but at HS it is purely a lottery. Both Rise and Slinky are sold out in the blink of an eye. Just because you paid for it, only give you a CHANCE of getting a pass for Slinky.

If you don't get one, you are just kinda screwed for the day. If HS is your park pass, that's still where you have to go. If you paid for a park ticket and G+, you don't get a refund, you just pay $100 plus $15 and get (almost) nothing in return. WDW doesn't care if you don't win their lottery.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

The bad vibes don't really last long though.

People are frustrated by the higher prices, but just like the $4 soda and $12 hot dogs, they still pay.

Once you are full and/or on the attraction, you tend to forget how frustrated you were a few minutes before.

I disagree. Some might forget, but others post on forums like this.

I've been reading forums for many years. Start a thread asking people to recall their WDW frustrations, and you'll get many that go back years, even decades. Dining is often in this category. One bad meal at Skippy's, and many folks will refuse to ever return to Skippy's.

Ask about strollers....and you'll also get many very specific posts about experiences that go back 10+ years.

Misbehaving children....

Public intoxication....

Unappealing critter sightings... Ever been at WDW during 'love bug' season? Ha!

 

[Vinnie Mac]

Then you aren't reading trip advisor reviews. The newer reviews are pretty GP, and worse than what you read here.

Though what = a fan? Many avid forum members haven't been to WDW in years. Fan and frequent customer are two very different things when it comes to WDW.

Fans are easy to spot. if you stalk these forums, you are a fan. If you enjoy consuming content on the parks even when you're not in the process of booking a trip, you're a fan. Even if you read WDW news overall (which let's be honest, isn't something the average person does), you are a fan. I lump fans and frequent consumers in the same group. You're obviously a fan to some extent if you keep making the effort to go back.

 

[Vinnie Mac]

I disagree. Some might forget, but others post on forums like this.

I've been reading forums for many years. Start a thread asking people to recall their WDW frustrations, and you'll get many that go back years, even decades. Dining is often in this category. One bad meal at Skippy's, and many folks will refuse to ever return to Skippy's.

Ask about strollers....and you'll also get many very specific posts about experiences that go back 10+ years.

Misbehaving children....

Public intoxication....

Unappealing critter sightings... Ever been at WDW during 'love bug' season? Ha!

I seriously don't understand how people let stuff like that ruin their trips. Like you had this great time but the only thing you choose to take away from the trip was the fact that someone bumped into you with a stroller?

 

[Vinnie Mac]

Except Genie+ really sucks. It doesn't really = more rides. It = MAYBE a shorter wait for a few attractions. You pay, but at HS it is purely a lottery. Both Rise and Slinky are sold out in the blink of an eye. Just because you paid for it, only give you a CHANCE of getting a pass for Slinky.

I would agree but Genie+ saved our butts on our previous trip. Highly doubt we would have experienced FOP or RoTR without it.

 

[bdearl41]

I seriously don't understand how people let stuff like that ruin their trips. Like you had this great time but the only thing you choose to take away from the trip was the fact that someone bumped into you with a stroller?

I agree. In the end it’s up to each of us how good a vacation is. Sometimes you just gotta take so accountability for how happy you are.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I seriously don't understand how people let stuff like that ruin their trips. Like you had this great time but the only thing you choose to take away from the trip was the fact that someone bumped into you with a stroller?

The mental trick I use when I go to WDW is to go with the lowest expectations possible. Anything better than that is a win for me.

 

[WDWJoeG]

The mental trick I use when I go to WDW is to go with the lowest expectations possible.

Written on the wall in WDI in Glendale as inspirational quote.

 

[Joffrey]

I don't know why people keep saying Disney needs high prices to keep the crowds at tolerable levels. Disney doesn't have to sell unlimited tickets. If the parks are comfortable at 30K people per day then only sell 30K tickets per day.

The parks are crowded because Disney wants them to be crowded. It has nothing to do with price.

 

[drizgirl]

I don't know why people keep saying Disney needs high prices to keep the crowds at tolerable levels. Disney doesn't have to sell unlimited tickets. If the parks are comfortable at 30K people per day then only sell 30K tickets per day.

The parks are crowded because Disney wants them to be crowded. It has nothing to do with price.

Exactly that. They even have the reservation system in place where they decide each day how many tickets to sell.

 

[Trackmaster]

I think that the reality is that 1%ers, socialites, and intellectuals don't see theme parks -- even Disney -- as the kind of thing that they're going to spend their money on. They spend their money on the stuff that rich people spend their money on -- Fancy houses, yachts, mistresses, nightclubs, international travel (not to theme parks), etc. Theme parks are a middle class hobby. Its a simulation of luxury -- not luxury in itself. Its like going to a chain restaurant in your local shopping center that simulates what its kind of supposed to be a fancy restaurant -- its not actually the quality of a 5 star restaurant in Manhattan, but it tries to act like it to save people money and travel time. The regional parks try to be as affordable as possible, and Disney tries to convince middle class families to save up and let Disney be what they splurge on.

Yes, Disney would welcome 1%ers in with open arms -- and yes, some will go to Disney -- but the supply of 1%ers willing to go to Disney is finite, and much smaller than the legions of people that Disney needs to fill their parks out. That's where the middle class comes in.

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

With just a brief perusal of this thread.....most are saying Parks will be crowded, no matter the price?

- reservation system in place where they decide each day how many tickets to sell
- parks are crowded because Disney wants them to be crowded. It has nothing to do with price

What a place for a business to be......

 

[Goofyernmost]

Trust me, when a lot of the current guest get home and see their credit card bill next month it will really hit home. A one and done is more likely the case where it used to be a "Hooked on Disney" scenario. Or the next planned trip will be spaced out more if not completely abandoned. Those that put the entire expense on a play now, pay later system will probably take at least twice as long to recover.

 

[Willmark]

I think there's a lot to this. We have friends that never left town for the last two years, and finally went on a vacation, dropping big bucks at Disney. That is not replicable. There are tons of people that are still cash heavy, or using credit from cancelled vacations.

What happens when that sugar rush is over, and the market corrects and interest rates rise to stymie inflation and...there's a recession on par with 2001/2008? What will attendance look like then?

These two are likely key contributors. Trillions pumped into the economy has created scarcity, Disney is not immune. High demand, low availability in many areas of the experience? Sure looks like it.

 

[kingdead]

I think that the reality is that 1%ers, socialites, and intellectuals don't see theme parks -- even Disney -- as the kind of thing that they're going to spend their money on. They spend their money on the stuff that rich people spend their money on -- Fancy houses, yachts, mistresses, nightclubs, international travel (not to theme parks), etc. Theme parks are a middle class hobby. Its a simulation of luxury -- not luxury in itself. Its like going to a chain restaurant in your local shopping center that simulates what its kind of supposed to be a fancy restaurant -- its not actually the quality of a 5 star restaurant in Manhattan, but it tries to act like it to save people money and travel time. The regional parks try to be as affordable as possible, and Disney tries to convince middle class families to save up and let Disney be what they splurge on.

Yes, Disney would welcome 1%ers in with open arms -- and yes, some will go to Disney -- but the supply of 1%ers willing to go to Disney is finite, and much smaller than the legions of people that Disney needs to fill their parks out. That's where the middle class comes in.

Part of it is that middle class tastes have changed. Anecdotal but the wealthy folks I know who went to Disney World wouldn't go back because the fast casual wasn't up to their standards. They were just used to a different level of variety.

 

[spock8113]

The “wealthy” is not going to work =​

Kardashians Go On Disneyland Rides Alone While Customers Fume!​

"We don't care"
What's the old saying, "If you give them enough rope............................................"
And the Governor just came back from the hardware store