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

[Nubs70]

Can you identify one current Disney offering that you actually like? One positive thing? I mean seriously, not as a backhanded insult or a snarky remark. This isn't an attempt to be a jerk to you, I'm legitimately curious if there is anything of current Disney that you are actually fond of.

From years ago, MDE. It was convenience. With 2 toddlers in tow, check bags at airport and the stress of claiming bags, hearding spawn through MCO, arranging transport to WDW was gone.

Recent stop at tambu lounge for bread pudding was disappointing. It was some type of compressed pinapple "cake" with Smuckers caramel sauce. They couldn't even take the effort to make a proper bananas foster sauce.

A luxury guest looking for a dish topped with bananas foster sauce would take 1 bite and be immediately turned off.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Can you identify one current Disney offering that you actually like? One positive thing? I mean seriously, not as a backhanded insult or a snarky remark. This isn't an attempt to be a jerk to you, I'm legitimately curious if there is anything of current Disney that you are actually fond of.

Many things actually

But I’m not In the cult of mcboats…and never have been.

I don’t need to pump air in a monoliths tires to “show my loyalty”

Credit where due…criticism where due

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Disneyland just broke the $200/day dollar mark I read

Disneyland doesn’t have the issues WDW has.

 

[Jrb1979]

Disneyland doesn’t have the issues WDW has.

Overcrowding? Less rides?

 

[Jrb1979]

quick price comparison- a 1 day ticket at Dollywood or Silver Dollar City is $92

Still cheaper than MK. A 2 day ticket to Dollywood is $122. The more days you go the cheaper it is.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Disneyland doesn’t have the issues WDW has.

I always wonder if this is a familiarity thing, as a DL regular I see tons of issues at DL that I don’t see at my once a year (or 2) trip to WDW.

Overcrowding?
Line scheme issues?
Nickel and Diming?
Maintenance issues?
Cleanliness issues?

DL has more rides but shares the same problems as WDW, I think most people here are out east so they just don’t see DL enough to realize it.

 

[Ayla]

*snip*

Disney is more expensive than other premium cruise lines because 1) the base fare has more inclusions and 2) they can charge more because they're Disney and you're paying for the intangible (or in this case literal) "Disney Magic".

*snip*

What does DCL include that other lines don't, other than soda?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What does DCL include that other lines don't, other than soda?

I think other food and non-alcoholic beverage items on the ship? More restaurant options with only 1 or 2 specialty dining.

More onboard activities too, I believe. I'd have to do a more in depth comparison.

 

[lentesta]

A week…

What’s Generally stupid about this wsj exchange is that they responded…and failed…with the skill of chapek

Stripped down the actual costs to say it’s “$3400 for five days”

Yeah…which is not the benchmark travel dates and the took out flight and food

Kinda “necessary” costs

They’ve been found out and called out.

Terrible management building for years

And it's still more than 80% of American households spend on travel (including non-vacation trips) per year.

 

[Ayla]

I think other food and non-alcoholic beverage items on the ship? More restaurant options with only 1 or 2 specialty dining.

More onboard activities too, I believe. I'd have to do a more in depth comparison.

We have been on a Carnival and 2 RC cruises (and Viking, but that doesn't count in this discussion) and never paid anything additional for food. These were all pre-covid, so maybe their policies have changed since then, I don't know.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think other food and non-alcoholic beverage items on the ship? More restaurant options with only 1 or 2 specialty dining.

More onboard activities too, I believe. I'd have to do a more in depth comparison.

Not more activities and definitely not more variety, especially comparing to newer ships in other fleets

I do think the rotational dining experience is better than the main dining room in other cruise lines (excluding upcharge), the entertainment/stage shows is largely better (though I would argue some of the productions Royal has done of late are pretty comparable).

Service tends to be better, obviously have the Disney elements (no meeting Mickey on other cruise lines).

I don't think it is DCL offering "more" just what they offer is (or has tended to be) of a higher quality and better maintained than other major ceuis lines

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We have been on a Carnival and 2 RC cruises (and Viking, but that doesn't count in this discussion) and never paid anything additional for food. These were all pre-covid, so maybe their policies have changed since then, I don't know.

We've done 3 Royal cruises post Covid and you definitely do not have to pay anything extra for I have a great cruise, have sufficient food.

They do offer many more specialty restaurants that are up charges so I would say a higher percentage of guests do pay extra for food than on DCL, but definitely not needed

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I always wonder if this is a familiarity thing, as a DL regular I see tons of issues at DL that I don’t see at my once a year (or 2) trip to WDW.

I was talking about attendance issues.

After Covid I visit Disneyland much more frequently than WDW. (Used to be the opposite).

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Not more activities and definitely not more variety, especially comparing to newer ships in other fleets

Certainly Royal Caribbean's newer, bigger ships can't be beat for sheer volume and variety of things to do on board.

But if I were to ever cruise again it would be more about where the ship goes than the ship itself.

With Disney deciding to build more ships it means they can have more itineraries and dates available.

 

[Jrb1979]

And it's still more than 80% of American households spend on travel (including non-vacation trips) per year.

That's thing. If go back to the 80's and 90's, while Disney was expensive, it was never to this point where it was more than most Americans spend on travel per year.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I was talking about attendance issues.

After Covid I visit Disneyland much more frequently than WDW. (Used to be the opposite).

I think WDW's attendance issues are more pronounced because they rely on so many of those guests staying in their hotels and eating at their restaurants for longer periods of time.

Disneyland has no trouble filling their significantly smaller hotel inventory and the average guest doesn't stay as long.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I think WDW's attendance issues are more pronounced because they rely on so many of those guests staying in their hotels and eating at their restaurants for longer periods of time.

Disneyland has no trouble filling their significantly smaller hotel inventory and the average guest doesn't stay as long.

Yes and…. WDW has 4 theme parks. They also don’t have the same local population to pull from.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yes and…. WDW has 4 theme parks. They also don’t have the same local population to pull from.

They never relied on locals as much as Disneyland as they have no issue filling the place with week long guests

 

[Ayla]

Certainly Royal Caribbean's newer, bigger ships can't be beat for sheer volume and variety of things to do on board.

But if I were to ever cruise again it would be more about where the ship goes than the ship itself.

Disney having more ships in total means they can have more itineraries and dates available.

DCL has six ships. RCL has 24. There is no comparison.

 

[Chi84]

We have been on a Carnival and 2 RC cruises (and Viking, but that doesn't count in this discussion) and never paid anything additional for food.

If you don’t pay extra for specialty dining are you in the same dining room each night? I haven’t been on other ships yet, but I love the DCL dining rotation.