The lack of empathy in these financial threads is staggering.
Although I do not disagree, no one has an entitlement to a WDW vacation. Stockholders, however, have a right and an entitlement to expect performance from a company they invest in- and if that means raising prices to offset expansion, new construction, etc.- then so be it. Many WDW attractions are outdated, and it costs money to replace/update them. What we on the boards might think about price increases is
irrelevant to the corporation and it's stockholders. Stockholders do not care how someone feels, or how much they love Disney, or how disappointed they are about price increases. Stockholders care about one thing- and one thing only-
profit margins.
Prices are going up, and people have to choose whether to deal with it and continue planning their WDW vacation (with or without compromises), vacation elsewhere, or not vacation at all until they save up enough money so that a WDW trip makes sense- those are the cold, hard facts surrounding these price increase issues. That said, almost anyone can make a WDW vacation work if they save up and make choices like staying off site, packing lunches, etc. It may not be what they did during past vacations- but it is still doable. Many of these posts make it seem like a WDW vacation is now out of reach. It isn't.
Some will have to compromise where they haven't had to in the past- and those areas where compromise is made will simply be 'filled in' by someone else in a better financial position- or someone that doesn't care as much about the increases. Every time there is a price increase these financial threads start on almost every WDW enthusiast site- last for a few weeks- then disappear. Many of those that have 'had enough' and 'reached their limit' and are 'done' with Disney are still here long after the price increases go into effect- and are still buying their passes and TiW cards and additional DVC points and whatever else.
It makes no difference to Disney or it's shareholders either way- go to WDW, don't go to WDW- the bottom line is financial accountability to stockholders, and
there is no empathy involved- only dollars and cents. There will always be someone else to 'replace' the person that chooses to 'boycott' Disney, or buy the extra DVC points, or use a TiW card, or buy an AP- it's just the way it is. The parks are bursting at the seams during busy seasons, and attendance is way up during what have been historically slower times. The quote in the movie Field of Dreams gets it right..."If you build it, they will come". Whether or not those of us on the boards are included in the 'they' in the previous quote doesn't matter to the stockholders. There will always be others to take the spot vacated by those that 'boycott Disney'.
. The thing I do find troubling is the lack of empathy of some. While I agree a vacation to WDW isn't a "right" it should be something that everyone can have a shot at...........without being considered a lesser being. And those who can't shouldn't be made to feel bad about themselves. I didn't have my first visit to WDW until I was in my 30's, because my parents couldn't make it work.....and that doesn't change my feelings of love for them in any way....
