You better travel to WDW now, 2011 going to get more expensive.

[misterID]

Disney probably needs to do this - but 2011? Everyone will just wait until 2013 to go. You can't get full price for FL expansion scrims

Personally? I wish WDW would end the discounts, and accept lower park attendance (read: fewer crowds, better vacation). So far, they have been discounting to death, killing their profit, and crowding the parks. Reminds me of the used car salesman that lost 10 cents on every sale & claimed he made it up on volume

It really wouldn't be a better vacation because you'd have less to enjoy as a result. I still don't understand how its killing their profit. The best thing that happened, not only were they keeping people coming to the parks, the big money maker was: People were extending their vacations for several days, thereby spending more money -- Money Disney would not have got otherwise.

Do you really think Disney would have kept the discounts going if they were losing money from it?

 

[VillanovaBlue]

If he isn't joking than that elitist mentality is irritating. But there are people out there like that. I thought he was joking and still hoping that is the case. The funny thing is the wealthy that do think that way always forget they wouldn't be wealthy without the middle class. The middle class supports everything in this county and make the rich richer. Without us the entire country would be in poverty. Same goes for Disney. They need the middle class to survive. Weather that is with discounts or not.

I know this is OT, but the wealthy are the reason most others have a job...they're the ones who own businesses, hire others, etc.

And no, I'm not one of the wealthy...but I'm working on it

/end rant

 

[VillanovaBlue]

Absolutely not true. I think Pop has the best bus service going... I consistently wait the longest for buses at Deluxe resorts.

This.

Pop gets its own busses...no stopping at other resorts or sharing (a la Epcot resorts, which are $$$), and, relatively, not a lot of rooms/people, so shorter wait times...

Bus service is Awesome at Pop...hopefully with the new resort, they won't have to share...

 

[andikaye78]

I know this is OT, but the wealthy are the reason most others have a job...they're the ones who own businesses, hire others, etc.

And no, I'm not one of the wealthy...but I'm working on it

/end rant

The business owners need the middle class to buy thier products. What happens when the middle class stops spending? Economy tanks, companies downsize. It is a nasty cycle. I don't blame people for being rich. I just hate the elitist attitude a lot them tend to develope. Some of those people have shown thier rear ends on this thread multile times already.

 

[UnrealFire]

Good thing I already have a 40% off code for October through December (select dates only)!

 

[Korfar]

The business owners need the middle class to buy thier products. What happens when the middle class stops spending? Economy tanks, companies downsize. It is a nasty cycle. I don't blame people for being rich. I just hate the elitist attitude a lot them tend to develope. Some of those people have shown thier rear ends on this thread multile times already.

Oops. This was my reply. I am on a different computer now that a different family member was signed in on.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I've always been under the impression that having wealth doesn't guarantee having any class.

As has been well demonstrated on this thread

 

[mickey2008.1]

I've always been under the impression that having wealth doesn't guarantee having any class.

As has been well demonstrated on this thread

No ____...! Some people think its a god given right to be the only ones to go to WDW. Get over yourselves. This is suppossed to be a thread about the discounts. A business can only discount so much until it evens back out with charging normal prices with less guests.

 

[tirian]

Actually, Disney's target demographic for their parks is the middle-class, middle-American family. Disney offers a range of resorts for various income levels.

The catch is that Disney's best resorts (Grand Flo, Yacht) are nowhere near as good as what they charge (Four Seasons/Ritz-Carlton prices). Disney's Deluxe hotels are priced like 5-star resorts, and they aren't. Wealthy people know this, and it's hard for Disney to justify their rack rates when they don't even offer the same basic amenities as comparably priced hotels. (E.G. mouth wash is only included in concierge.)

The fact is, very few elitists go to Walt Disney World. Their idea of a perfect vacation does not include standing in line with hundreds of other people to ride a fiberglass elephant. I should also mention that elitism is a state of mind, not an economic classification.

EDIT: As several people have already mentioned, Disney is aware of the predicament they've created through their overpricing/discounting cycle; and I'm interested to see how they manage to drop the discounts without losing their attendance.

 

[wm49rs]

So, we should definitely check the "state of mind" for some of the posters in this thread?

 

[stlbobby]

Disney probably needs to do this - but 2011? Everyone will just wait until 2013 to go. You can't get full price for FL expansion scrims

Personally? I wish WDW would end the discounts, and accept lower park attendance (read: fewer crowds, better vacation). So far, they have been discounting to death, killing their profit, and crowding the parks. Reminds me of the used car salesman that lost 10 cents on every sale & claimed he made it up on volume

To your first point the average person does not even realize there is a FL expansion, and if they do they don't know what it means or how long it will last. For the vast majority of people the FL expansion has no bearing on their vacation plans.

Secondly, do you honestly think Disney loses anything when they discount a room or package? I guarantee you they know exactly what the margin is on every transaction. Their goal is to set the prices at the point where they are getting the most out of each vacation and keeping the resorts and parks filled. It is literally an exact science.

 

[jakeman]

The catch is that Disney's best resorts (Grand Flo, Yacht) are nowhere near as good as what they charge (Four Seasons/Ritz-Carlton prices). Disney's Deluxe hotels are priced like 5-star resorts, and they aren't. Wealthy people know this, and it's hard for Disney to justify their rack rates when they don't even offer the same basic amenities as comparably priced hotels. (E.G. mouth wash is only included in concierge.)

As a business traveller with a pretty random hotel per diem, I've stayed in pretty much every level of hotel.

I can say without hyperbole that Disney's top resorts don't hold a candle to what they aspire to be. Over the past 5 years, most hotel chains have upgrade the one thing that probably matters the most: their linens.

Disney's top deluxe resorts have linens that are of a lesser quality than Hampton Inn's. That is not an exageration. It has been years since I've seen a non-duvet comforter in a hotel room, except at Disney. To me, knowing what other hotel chains that charge a quarter of the price provide as basic (not talking about free breakfast or internet, just in room), it is obvious that Disney is relying on location.

Disney really, really needs to upgrade their in room amenities. Their decor is outstanding, but better linens, better coffee, better showerheads, better TVs are all needed at a minimum to stay competative.

EDIT: As several people have already mentioned, Disney is aware of the predicament they've created through their overpricing/discounting cycle; and I'm interested to see how they manage to drop the discounts without losing their attendance.

That will be interesting to watch as well. I would say that they are overpriced by about 40% in their current state. Probably about 25% if they are upgraded as I described. I wonder if we will just see a freeze in rate hikes over the next few years? Taper the discounts and not touch the rack rate at the same time.

 

[UnrealFire]

Interesting observation:

If you ask how to get to Downtown Disney from Pop Century, they'll tell you to take the bus located furthest away from the lobby.

If you ask how to get to Downtown Disney from the Grand Floridian, they'll tell you that you can take a taxi or the bus that comes every 20 minutes.

 

[Phonedave]

As a business traveller with a pretty random hotel per diem, I've stayed in pretty much every level of hotel.

I can say without hyperbole that Disney's top resorts don't hold a candle to what they aspire to be. Over the past 5 years, most hotel chains have upgrade the one thing that probably matters the most: their linens.

Disney's top deluxe resorts have linens that are of a lesser quality than Hampton Inn's. That is not an exageration. It has been years since I've seen a non-duvet comforter in a hotel room, except at Disney. To me, knowing what other hotel chains that charge a quarter of the price provide as basic (not talking about free breakfast or internet, just in room), it is obvious that Disney is relying on location.

Disney really, really needs to upgrade their in room amenities. Their decor is outstanding, but better linens, better coffee, better showerheads, better TVs are all needed at a minimum to stay competative.

I entirely agree. If it was not for the location and perks of staying on property, the WDW resorts would be barren. Aside from theming, my $100 a night at Bally's Atlantic City last week was better than a WDW Deluxe room. Of course the lobby theming was not there (unless you call slot machines a theme) but as far as room furnishings were concerned Bally's gets the nod.

-dave

 

[Andrew54]

Im sure it will spike up once the Florida Expansion is complete.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Dear Disney,

I encourage you to ween us off the discounts. I hope attendance drops off significantly and you realize that people won't continue to pay full price for a declining product.

Love,
Disney fans

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

God I miss those..Or the commercials they use to show in the begining of a VHS Disney Movie, yeah sometimes I whip out the old VHS's just to watch the Good Old commercials...Now those were classic!

Just like this ad...No Special Promotion, no discount, Just new rides and telling you Come to Disney!
[YOUTUBE]
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aUXhuSqpzsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aUXhuSqpzsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
[/YOUTUBE]

 

[PhantomX]

Just like this ad...No Special Promotion, no discount, Just new rides and telling you Come to Disney!
[YOUTUBE]
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aUXhuSqpzsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aUXhuSqpzsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
[/YOUTUBE]

Whats funny about that commercial is that now Disney can promote two of those attractions as brand new again (Captain EO and Star Tours). They should really bring back the original WDW logo. It was very distinguishing.

 

[disney magic 06]

you are doing something wrong, we get the best discounts going, much better than the USA ones.

Really??? Well please be kind enough to give me a clue :shrug:

 

[WDWLOVER1957]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Other/Walt-...tion-2009-attendance-report-now-available.htm



You were saying something about courtesy and getting facts straight?

my bad I was using the latest figures given this week 6% down , by Disney for the last quater, where Disney itself said they will stop discounting even if it means a drop in attendance, you dont think if you had less wait times at the major attractions that would not be a better vacation, you then go on to say they will get rid of CM'S they have already done that and yet you tell us attendance for last year is up (which I agree was), Disney does what it wants with no concern for any group but the shareholders, if we agree or not it makes no differance.