Ticket Price Increase - Feb 2014

[PhotoDave219]

I'll agree with this analogy. It worked very well for myself and family for many decades.

Universal broke the drug habit for my parents.
DVC broke it for me. I can now inhale the smoke from other folks partaking of the drug and get just enough Disney in my blood to satisfy while we head off in other directions. This of course requires a car, something it took me years to break down and try as I hate traffic and roads that I'm unfamiliar with.

The more you look at it, it's more than just a passing analogy. One is a legal form of giving you enjoyment and satisfaction where as the other is illegal but gives you a similar feeling of euphoria…. And general point being that you want to separate your customer from as much of their money as possible over a long period of time.

 

[Cesar R M]

Everest and Soarin' were also planned and had started construction under Eisner.
This just leaves Mine Train and Little Mermaid.

so Iger didnt build crap in all these years?

You found the: Most Typical Post on WDWMagic Award.

Being average is hard nowadays

Some folk just don't want to think about the numbers.

I took a friend with us back in 2005, an educated teacher. I'm very budget conscious, rented DVC points for $5/pt, we stayed in studios. I booked rt airfare from Boston for less than $100 per person. I strongly encouraged her buy multi-day passes through UT before we left home to save her money. She was insistent that she wanted to buy a pass at the window for each day her and the kids wanted to go into the park (which ended up being every day). I created a spreadsheet to show her the savings and it floored her. She bought them online, but blamed me for her credit card bill for a full two years afterward.

looool. I wonder how much extra she could have purchased if she had gone the package multiday route.

I agree with you. I think if you feel you are not getting your moneys worth you should not go to WDW. This is with any product your considering to purchase. And yes, there will always be someone else taking your place. Just like everything in life.

My only brain fart is when people say they are going to DL instead. I have not been to DL since 1980. And from what I am reading the place is fantastic and you get your moneys worth there. But to me you are still giving Disney your money and in turn still bank rolling the company. It is a win/win for them no matter where you go. Yes, WDW and those bonuses may be less but the company in general still wins out.

Personally I think the only people who loose out are the CM's and us. AS with any company's loss it is always passed on by firing employees and then made up by higher prices to the consumer.

that is sadly the neoliberal capitalist wet dream. Getting everything.. for nothing..
and the workers gets the hit if things go wrong... while the top executives run away with sacks of money.

My local news covered the ticket price increase this morning around 6:20am. The comment from the anchor was "...increased their prices to $99 a day for the Magic Kingdom, ehhh, it's only $4".

Dont TV anchors get way more than the average salary ?

 

[ford91exploder]

so Iger didnt build crap in all these years?

Being average is hard nowadays

looool. I wonder how much extra she could have purchased if she had gone the package multiday route.



that is sadly the neoliberal capitalist wet dream. Getting everything.. for nothing..
and the workers gets the hit if things go wrong... while the top executives run away with sacks of money.


Dont TV anchors get way more than the average salary ?

American Crony Capitalism at it's best "Privatize the gains, Socialize the losses" and we wonder why China and the EU are kicking our A--es economically.

 

[sshindel]

Dont TV anchors get way more than the average salary ?

This anchor in particular's dad is Lester Holt (from NBC News/Today Show fame), so I think he's doing ok.

 

[PhotoDave219]

so Iger didnt build crap in all these years?

Being average is hard nowadays

This goes way beyond things being built. It goes to Disney living quarter-to-quarter and beholden to the earnings calls.

To which I ask the following question: How can a company that reports record quarterly profits in its Parks and Resorts division continue to cut costs and raise prices and justify it?

 

[ford91exploder]

This goes way beyond things being built. It goes to Disney living quarter-to-quarter and beholden to the earnings calls.

To which I ask the following question: How can a company that reports record quarterly profits in its Parks and Resorts division continue to cut costs and raise prices and justify it?

It's a Ponzi scheme and soon it will all come crashing down. I have no PROOF but the numbers feel wrong.

A 12.3% decline in hotel occupancy from the height of the financial crisis to now when we have been in a 'recovery' for years. Something is rotten in Burbank

 

[alphac2005]

It’s not about supply-and-demand. WDW can print millions more tickets. WDW has over 5,000 empty hotel rooms every night. Hundreds of WDW restaurant tables are empty every day.

WDW has plenty of supply.

It’s about what consumers can afford.

You really should evaluate the full implication of the numbers you used.

Based on WDW's reported numbers, it looks like the first thing to go has been onsite stays. WDW's hotel occupancy rate is down from 89% in 2008 to 79% in 2013.

Right on. The supply and demand arguments are already getting hard data to show that increasing the prices dramatically are masking several fundamental red flags in their business model.

If your occupancy numbers have dropped 10% in five years while during this time period leisure travel has rebounded and is doing exceedingly well in many places after the fiscal collapse, then something is the matter already just as you've noted.

The supply of rooms as you note are in exceedingly excess supply, there are plenty of places to dine (because they build dining, not attractions :/), yet there is an issue of supply vastly outnumbering demand.

While we don't have numbers to delve into, I'd love to know the combination of events that are going on concurrently including the prime notion that they're pricing themselves out of the market for many tourists and the flip where tourists with the money see that the product has declined and/or they know what a true luxury resort is and they aren't paying for Holiday Inn Express comparable lodging while paying the rates of the Four Seasons and many times quite a deal higher.

The noted perpetual price increases are a sign of long-term issues and I personally believe that the breaking point will happen sooner rather than later particularly if Universal continues their relentless growth while adhering to Disney's former business principals of offering quality and value for their product.

Disneyland's numbers are only going to mask the Florida mess for so long.

 

[GoofGoof]

It wasn't name-calling. I was referring to WDW1974's frequent assertion that the "lifestylers" who continue to spend money at WDW and defend everything it does are mentally ill, not making that assertion myself.

The lifestylers he is referring to are people who run businesses and make money or a living from WDW. The podcasters and web site or travel guide people who look for handouts from the mouse and don't say anything critical or negative for fear of losing their benefits. I think you are mixing those people up with the average Disney fan who visits the parks and spends money.

 

[flynnibus]

Price increase? Are we really that surprised?

Increase in Feb instead of the usual late summer increase... and more recently the Late spring increase. Here we have an increase in Feb for the first time... I can even remember? Used to be an annual thing.. then disney snuck in the 9month cycle.. what's next.. 6m?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Increase in Feb instead of the usual late summer increase... and more recently the Late spring increase. Here we have an increase in Feb for the first time... I can even remember? Used to be an annual thing.. then disney snuck in the 9month cycle.. what's next.. 6m?

Starting in 2015, ticket prices will increase by 2 cents EVERY DAY. This will be marketing as Disney's Throw in your Two Cents of Magic Campaign.

 

[rob0519]

I would gladly pay $100+ for a ticket if the content in the park was mind-blowing and it had new rides that are amazing but sadly its the same old MK that has been falling apart since the late 90s with only small upgrades and changes here and there (some for the best, others for the worst). I cannot recommend people visiting the WDW parks anymore until substantial changes are implemented across the board.

If a family has never been to WDW before, a $100 for the entertainment value they have never seen before is actually quite reasonable. There are rides, parades, fireworks, characters and live entertainment.

It's only the seasoned WDW visitor who remembers the quality of the parks in the 80's, 90s and maybe even the early 2000's that have a problem with the prices. I agree. The park experiences are nowhere near the quality they used to be. However, it costs me more to take a family of 4 to a Chicago Blackhawks hockey game that lasts 2.5 hours than to go to WDW for the day (excluding transportaion and lodging of course) where we can spend anywhere from 12 to 16 hours in the MK depending on the season.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

I thought we were upset, but they are even more upset in the comments on the Huffington Post article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/disney-ticket-prices-jump_n_4844995.html

 

[ford91exploder]

I thought we were upset, but they are even more upset in the comments on the Huffington Post article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/disney-ticket-prices-jump_n_4844995.html

If only WDW fans could sustain the level of outrage seen on the HuffPo and complained EVERYWHERE...

 

[sshindel]

If only WDW fans could sustain the level of outrage seen on the HuffPo and complained EVERYWHERE...

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Some folk just don't want to think about the numbers.

I took a friend with us back in 2005, an educated teacher. I'm very budget conscious, rented DVC points for $5/pt, we stayed in studios. I booked rt airfare from Boston for less than $100 per person. I strongly encouraged her buy multi-day passes through UT before we left home to save her money. She was insistent that she wanted to buy a pass at the window for each day her and the kids wanted to go into the park (which ended up being every day). I created a spreadsheet to show her the savings and it floored her. She bought them online, but blamed me for her credit card bill for a full two years afterward.

I had a friend do the same. She wasn't sure how often they would or wouldn't go to the parks so they bought tickets per day. She is heading back this year and plans to do the same thing... smh..

 

[ADP2]

If a family has never been to WDW before, a $100 for the entertainment value they have never seen before is actually quite reasonable. There are rides, parades, fireworks, characters and live entertainment.

It's only the seasoned WDW visitor who remembers the quality of the parks in the 80's, 90s and maybe even the early 2000's that have a problem with the prices. I agree. The park experiences are nowhere near the quality they used to be. However, it costs me more to take a family of 4 to a Chicago Blackhawks hockey game that lasts 2.5 hours than to go to WDW for the day (excluding transportaion and lodging of course) where we can spend anywhere from 12 to 16 hours in the MK depending on the season.

This is not the response I hear from first time visitors. What I typically hear is why on earth would anyone go there to wait in those long lines? I felt like a herd of cattle. What's the draw, what's the allure of the place? That's what I typically hear. Not saying I share that opinion, just what I hear most.

 

[Pixie VaVoom]

For the last 20 years or so, Walt Disney World management has been pursuing a strategy of cutting attractions, entertainment, maintenance, and anything else that might contribute to a positive customer experience while constantly raising prices.

It's time to stop giving them our money.

No, I'm not saying that "voting with your wallet" and spending your vacation money elsewhere will somehow cause WDW management and Disney corporate leadership to reverse course and stop fleecing their customers. I'm saying that since they're never going to stop fleecing their customers it makes no sense to continue to be one. And if you're the kind of person who knows he's getting the worse end of the deal and continues to come back anyway, then may the deity of your choice have mercy on your soul, assuming you have one.

Yeah - i think that DH and I are DONE!! I went for a week in January, and while it was fun...it was so hectic with trying to make sure we didn't run overtime on out FP's even with a 15 minute grace period...it was REALLY Stressful and I am in NO hurry to do it again. i think DH and I will go lay on a beach somewhere and relax for our next Vacay...drinks with little umbrellas, sandy beach, blue water.

 

[Pixie VaVoom]

OMG I bet she was. As much as I feel sorry for her I also blame her for not doing ANY research at ALL.

One simple Google search would have saved her hundreds. This kind of information is certainly no hidden secret even on Disney's website.

Sheesh!! She would not even have had to actually do the research herself if her life is that freakin' busy. Just give a couple of the kids computer access..."whoever saves mommy the most money on tickets gets to pick the first ride." Done...and done !!

 

[WDWLOVER1957]

No offense, but the first part is total BS. If the most loyal oldtime fans decide to not go (speak with their wallets), then Disney will just replace us with some rubes from New Jersey ... or a Mommy Blogger from Denver ... or an awkward fanboi from Atlanta ... or some Brits who would be considered trash here, but are middle class there ... or some Brazilians etc ... Folks who have either no clue the product is stale or have a mental condition where they are addicted to it (like some folks and food!) or have Disney lifestyle businesses.

So, no, speaking with your wallet and not visiting doesn't harm them (not saying it may not be the right choice for some, though).

UNI will go higher than MK. Take that to the bank.

But this increase was/is all about MM+ and making the next quarter's numbers look good.

And why exactly would us brits be considered trash, is your money better than ours?.

 

[DaveN1996]

While I hate price increases, I get that it's just part of the game....

That being said, I can't fathom how you can really be serious about paying 90 + on what are essentially half day parks in Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.....