WSJ: Even Disney Is Worried About The High Cost Of A Disney Vacation (gift link)

[Animaniac93-98]

And yet, in the heart of Europe and all the remarkable sights and experiences it has to offer, Disneyland Paris is the most visited tourist attraction on the continent by a significant margin. In my view, Disney offers a differentiated experience that can’t be compared.

Len's article was about people who want to go to Disney but are being priced out, and the impact that is having on the company. No one is saying everything is directly comparable to Disney, just that your vacation dollars don't get you as much Disney as you used to...even when accounting for inflation. Potential customers are not always Disney die hards who would chose them over anything else.

It has also significantly increased the return on investment for new attractions which incentivizes the company to build more, which, in the long-term, increases value for those that would prefer not to spend on Lightning Lane.

This ignores that Disney is still playing catch up for so many years of underinvestment, the cost of building new attractions has spiraled out of control for them (disincentivizing new builds of non headliners that provide flex capacity and can't sell LL on their own) and they are notoriously slow at doing so. It also ignores the company's focus to optimize existing space with replacements vs new builds.

Saying they have an incentive is not the same thing as them agreeing and deciding to follow through.

 

[splah]

It has also significantly increased the return on investment for new attractions which incentivizes the company to build more, which, in the long-term, increases value for those that would prefer not to spend on Lightning Lane.

I hadn’t thought about it that way. They can now specifically identify how much new attractions are worth, and to boot pay for them.

If a LL revenue stream starts declining. Build a new one.

 

[lentesta]

I know Len chose to compare to a football game, but Broadway is also something they use for comparison sake and we actually just went to a show last night and we got the tickets at a promotional rate and they were still about the same as a day at Disney (full price was over $200 a ticket and definitely not sitting front row or anything)

If you haven't seen Life and Trust, it's my current favorite.

 

[Jrb1979]

I know Len chose to compare to a football game, but Broadway is also something they use for comparison sake and we actually just went to a show last night and we got the tickets at a promotional rate and they were still about the same as a day at Disney (full price was over $200 a ticket and definitely not sitting front row or anything)

Yes. Very similar comp. Of course broadway and concerts often employ a lot of people, specifically from unions. So it’s not like I don’t understand the expense.

But compared to a full day at Disney…

I think about what my Disneyland 4 day park hoppers, with genie+, worked out to per day last June… compared to what I paid for Taylor Swift, at face value.

That's another thing I don't understand. Why are we comparing a theme park day with a 2-3 hour football game or Broadway show.?
IMO a Disney day should be compared to a day at Dollywood or Universal.

Many here overlook how the average GP looks at Disney and other parks. Too many have Disney blinders on. There is a reason Dollywood and other parks are being ranked right up there with Disney.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I hadn’t thought about it that way. They can now specifically identify how much new attractions are worth, and to boot pay for them.

If a LL revenue stream starts declining. Build a new one.

The old A-E ticket books allowed for this kind of data as well, but individual LLs only work for headliners that can get people to pay that extra cost due to high demand.

What WDW needs more of are those A-D tickets to absorb excess crowds, and unfortunately, flat rides are the only ones they can justify the cost for now.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

If you haven't seen Life and Trust, it's my current favorite.

I'll add it to the list - last night we saw Maybe Happy Ending and very much enjoyed it. Very cool stage production

 

[splah]

The old A-E ticket books allowed for this kind of data as well, but individual LLs only work for headliners that can get people to pay that extra cost due to high demand.

What WDW needs more of are those A-D tickets to absorb excess crowds, and unfortunately, flat rides are the only ones they can justify the cost for now.

Which then explains giant investments in this cycle versus quality updates

 

[Laketravis]

I’m believe it’s $8 for a Mickey Pretzel with cheese at MK. Auntie Anne’s original pretzel with cheese dip at my local mall is $7.

Not much difference there.

It was $8.25 in early 2024 when I took this picture. Noticed it was now $8.50 when I was there in December.

Haven't been in a mall in 20 years so I can't speak to your comparison but I do remember it wasn't too long ago the same Mickey pretzel was $3.50.

Looks like your mall is ripping you off. Here's a different mall:

 

[lentesta]

It was $8.25 in early 2024 when I took this picture. Noticed it was now $8.50 when I was there in December.

Haven't been in a mall in 20 years so I can't speak to your comparison but I do remember it wasn't too long ago the same Mickey pretzel was $3.50.

The price actually depends on WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PARK!

 

[Laketravis]

The price actually depends on WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PARK!

Sure does! I've noticed the cheapest funnel cakes are at that little concession stand in Hollywood Studios - subtantially lower than MK or EP.

I have noticed over the last half dozen or so trips that there aren't really any lines for concessions anymore and I don't see very many people walking around the parks munching on a pretzel or churro. Which makes me question the business decision - is it better to sell just 100 pretzels a day for $8.50 or 500 pretzels for $3.50?

 

[JoeCamel]

I’m believe it’s $8 for a Mickey Pretzel with cheese at MK. Auntie Anne’s original pretzel with cheese dip at my local mall is $7.

Not much difference there.

Auntie Anne's Universal is $8.29 original with cheese sauce

 

[Laketravis]

Auntie Anne's Universal is $8.29 original with cheese sauce

Voodoo Donuts is substantially overpriced as well, but there always seems to be a line of people willing to pay big bucks for a dozen. My biggest pet peeve when I was at USO last week was the $11.50 for a draft beer at either the resort or the parks. Universal is also to blame for jacking up F&B but I will say that $85 a night for Dockside was a great deal.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The price actually depends on WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PARK!

So what you're saying is the cheapest pretzels are at the very back of the park?

 

[JoeCamel]

Voodoo Donuts is substantially overpriced as well, but there always seems to be a line of people willing to pay big bucks for a dozen. My biggest pet peeve when I was at USO last week was the $11.50 for a draft beer at either the resort or the parks. Universal is also to blame for jacking up F&B but I will say that $85 a night for Dockside was a great deal.

Money does not matter inside a theme park.......

 

[Laketravis]

Money does not matter inside a theme park.......

Apparently, according to the article, it's beginning to. I share the sentiment of one of the people interviewed who stated it's difficult to enjoy the experience when cost is a constant thought.

 

[lazyboy97o]

it's definitely a unique spot to be in where the 2 biggest complaints are that a) it's too expensive and b) it's too crowded

Now there are other ways to address that - namely by adding capacity - but that can only go so far as it isn't fiscally responsible to build for the maximum crowd levels as then far too empty on other days. Plus if you build more overall that will also attract more people no matter what they do (e.g., build a 5th gate) people will still want to go to MK making that more unbearable.

So they are adding capacity to MK, and that makes sense but they are also just trying to catch up after going for a while without adding capacity in general

It’s not a unique spot. Crowding is relative and can be manipulated. Disney has spent the past 20 years trying to make the parks more crowded and the right amount of miserable. Even when visitation is low they work to maintain crowding.

Adding capacity is only fiscally irresponsible now because they deliberately spent (wasted) billions trying to avoid adding capacity. It’s like someone complaining that it’s going to cost a fortune to fix their car because instead of doing routine maintenance they paid a shaman to cast spells instead.

 

[Jrb1979]

It’s not a unique spot. Crowding is relative and can be manipulated. Disney has spent the past 20 years trying to make the parks more crowded and the right amount of miserable. Even when visitation is low they work to maintain crowding.

Adding capacity is only fiscally irresponsible now because they deliberately spent (wasted) billions trying to avoid adding capacity. It’s like someone complaining that it’s going to cost a fortune to fix their car because instead of doing routine maintenance they paid a shaman to cast spells instead.

You have to remember, D+ is the reason they couldn't add capacity. They didn't have the money to do it.

 

[DCBaker]

The price actually depends on WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PARK!

Though the $7.99 becomes $8.51 with tax. The cart in front of the castle has tax included, no?

 

[lazyboy97o]

You have to remember, D+ is the reason they couldn't add capacity. They didn't have the money to do it.

Disney+ wasn’t a thing when NextGen was being developed.

 

[Jrb1979]

Disney+ wasn’t a thing when NextGen was being developed.

I know. It was joke as some say Disney didn't have the money til now to invest in the parks due D+ not making money.