True, more then once I have gone down there and used Kissimmee as a central staging area. I would go to WDW, Universal, Sea World, Kennedy Space Ctr, Cypress Gardens, St. Petersburg Beach, Sunken Gardens in Tampa, Boc Gardens, Citrus tower, Silver Springs, Cocoa Beach, taken a helicopter ride over the theme parks (from 192) and even a two day jaunt to Key West. Didn't do all of the in one trip, of course, but, over the years I got to know Florida quite well. Never went to Gator World though. I suppose I should add that to my non-existent Bucket list.There are plenty of fun things to do in Florida, not just Disney. Years ago, I also checked out Cypress Gardens (no longer there), the Kennedy Space Center, the Florida Citrus Tower (in Clermont--close to Disney), an old aviation museum, Gator World, and rode an airboat over in the Kissimmee area.
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We tell the kids we are good for four hours at their speed. We go off and do other things, nap back to the room watch cartoons. And have an early dinner for hubby and me. Or just sit in a lobby listening to music. The kids go for the hours they want to, and we get the rest we need.
I love cats, and dogs....because they are so different. Dogs love their owner's unconditionally. Cat's take their owner's in their own terms. They represent people, in many ways.Ohh sweet kitty! Our cat sometimes does the "look you left me, what do you expect me to do? Run into your arms and let you love on me?" Or the opposite-she won't leave us alone at all the whole night! Cats do have a mind of their own.
I'm so happy for you, and Phil. Life is so much better when people compromise! xoxo to you and Phil...Okay, so as some of you know, I'm taking Phil to Key West for his birthday and that satisfies the "We have to go somewhere else before we go back to WDW" requirement, and although he has continued to say no, no, no way in hell, I finally made some progress and got him to agree to a short trip for Food & Wine. I know, ohh the torture,right?Anyway, I'm going to post some details in a pre-trip report, but looks like this Fall is going to be a Key West-a-palooza!! Real Key West in September followed by Disney Key West in November! Whoo-hoo!!!
I so want to move in your area. I just can't convince the son-in-law!
Interesting post. I need to think about this....Well, you're not wrong on many of your points, but let's talk about why Disney would not want to decrease their prices. And it's not so much a marketing issue as it is an operational issue.
Let's take the mouse ears, for instance. If Disney could sell an unlimited amount of mouse ears, then yes, they would want to try to sell as many as possible, thereby lowering the price. The thing is that Disney cannot sell an unlimited amount of mouse ears. For one, their shops can only sell so much merchandise. If they lowered price, likely their demand would increase. That would make their shops, and therefore, their checkout lines, even more crowded. How many people, then, would decide to give up on their purchases and walk away because either the shop or the checkout line is too crowded? And then if they run out of an item too quickly, or many items too quickly, without the ability to restock, then customers walk away not finding what they wanted, which isn't good for business either. Also, there's the overhead costs to think about. Their factories can only make so many mouse ears at a time. They get another factory to make more, but that would increase their manufacturing overhead. They might not find it worth it to increase their overhead costs just to sell more mouse ears. They have to find a balance in their pricing where they are not selling too few and not too many. Unfortunately, that means the price is high, higher than many are willing to pay.
When they do find that they have rooms that aren't selling or resorts that aren't filling, that's when they run promotions, similar to the ones you found through the European site. They get the higher-paying crowd, but then they can lower prices to fill those rooms. But if for the most part, they're filling those rooms, then why would they lower their prices? It's also not necessarily a bad thing for them to not fill every single room. They can take rooms out of the rotation if need be for maintenance and service, and they also have a few left in case of last-minute trips and for anyone needs/wants to extend their vacation. We had to extend ours a few years back because of a hurricane...here.
Basically, we like to think that WDW is our personal playground that caters to us, but in the end, they are a business. They need to make money. We also need to keep in mind that Disney does not have unlimited capacity and unlimited amounts to sell. Would decreasing prices increase demand? Absolutely. Would Disney be able to sell more and make more money by decreasing their prices? Maybe...but there's a good possibility the answer would be no.
I tend to wait for my friend who has a 40% CM discount for some higher-priced items. My AP discount also helps somewhat. I was pretty desperate for new purses this trip, though, and decided to bite the bullet on them and just use my AP discount. I actually bought the same purse I've had for a few years (and basically loved to death). Couldn't find another purse I liked better than that one. The price went up $10, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got home to find it's actually bigger than my old one.Maybe, but it sure doesn't make it any easier on my wallet!
Oh, I wish you and Phil were going in October. I would love to catch up with your fun and drinks!Okay, so as some of you know, I'm taking Phil to Key West for his birthday and that satisfies the "We have to go somewhere else before we go back to WDW" requirement, and although he has continued to say no, no, no way in hell, I finally made some progress and got him to agree to a short trip for Food & Wine. I know, ohh the torture,right?Anyway, I'm going to post some details in a pre-trip report, but looks like this Fall is going to be a Key West-a-palooza!! Real Key West in September followed by Disney Key West in November! Whoo-hoo!!!
Are you wild enough to keep up with those two? 
Thanks so much! He actually didn't compromise that much though. I'm
It's always something. We had to have an old stump taken out today. We see another tree that needs to come down. We were told it would only get 8 ft. tall, it's over 40 ft. and still growing. Why do nursery's tell you one thing, and you spend a premium for a special Alberta Spruce, and get a regular spruce, that can get to 100 ft?
Maybe it can be the Rockefeller Christmas tree!
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Great idea! That would be wonderful. It's a very beautiful tree...
It's possible that they might be there, however, I cannot honestly say that I remember seeing any, but, I really wasn't looking either so it means nothing at all.
I closed down a bar on a ship, back in the day at 3 A.M. So....maybe....If you and @BuddyThomas and Phil went out for drinks, you'd be out very late, you know. Those two have a history of being the last patrons, and shutting down the place!
Okay, so as some of you know, I'm taking Phil to Key West for his birthday and that satisfies the "We have to go somewhere else before we go back to WDW" requirement, and although he has continued to say no, no, no way in hell, I finally made some progress and got him to agree to a short trip for Food & Wine. I know, ohh the torture,right?Anyway, I'm going to post some details in a pre-trip report, but looks like this Fall is going to be a Key West-a-palooza!! Real Key West in September followed by Disney Key West in November! Whoo-hoo!!!