Price gouging

[Roger Miller]

I hear you!! We could all use that job .

 

[Roger Miller]

Again I love Disney just not the corporate money making mindset !!!!!!!!!

 

[Roger Miller]

This is supposed to be the happiest place on earth not the most expensive !!

 

[Roger Miller]

The Disney corporate executives have lost their way !! I personally think Walt would be a shame of them !!!!

 

[Roger Miller]

I correct myself I know he would be ashamed !!

 

[MillauFr]

I hear you!! We could all use that job .

Move to Seattle. We are desperate for workers. Many of my projects are behind schedule because we can't hire enough workers to fill positions. I stopped taking the bus to work because even at $100k per year they can't hire enough bus drivers. Many runs are canceled and just leave you sitting waiting for the next bus. When it shows you can't get on because people are packed in like sardines. I had to start riding my bicycle to get to work.

 

[MillauFr]

I correct myself I know he would be ashamed !!

Walt would probably like the 1947 Cheval Blanc though. I heard he was quite a drinker.

 

[Marionnette]

The Disney corporate executives have lost their way !! I personally think Walt would be a shame of them !!!!

I correct myself I know he would be ashamed !!

Walt was a businessman. He understood that there is a balance between keeping investors happy, as well as the customers.

 

[Marionnette]

A Disney vacation, heck any vacation, is a luxury. They can charge whatever the market will bear. It's not gouging. It's profit-making. If a family cannot afford to go to Disney World, so what? Their lives will go on and the kids can still grow up to be well-adjusted adults. No one is entitled to a Disney vacation and the Disney Corporation does not have to keep prices low just to make visiting their parks affordable to the masses.

In fact, one of the reasons for raising ticket prices is because they are seeking a balance. It's a double-edge sword. Raising ticket prices enough discourages some people from visiting. This keeps attendance down enough to make it more pleasurable for those who do go. Who wouldn't love to go to Disney and experience wait times under 20 minutes? But Disney still has operating costs to cover, so they have to sell enough tickets to cover those costs. So they cannot raise ticket prices too high.

Their bean counters have done their homework. They know how many people will visit once in their lifetime. They know how many repeat visitors that they get. They have expectations of how much a guest will spend based on data collected. And they know that they can charge more for parking, food and tickets because the market will bear it.

Do I like any of this? Does anybody like it when prices are raised? Of course not! No one says, "Gee, I wish Disney would charge more for tickets. I don't think that I pay enough." But these things I do understand:

• Disney is not a charity and as a business, it should turn a profit.
• No one is going to suffer harm if they never take a Disney vacation.
• There are enough people willing to pay what Disney charges that it makes up for those who decide to stay home.
• When a tipping point is reached or the economy takes a downward turn, Disney will adjust their pricing to increase attendance and maintain their profits.

 

[Marionnette]

This is supposed to be the happiest place on earth not the most expensive !!

Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. Disney World is the most magical place on earth. Magic comes at a price.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I’m curious as to when they will feel that enough money is enough.

Good question for the stockholders

 

[Eastern]

I think the prices are outrageous but people are still visiting in huge numbers. The parks are packed year round at these prices. Can you imagine if prices went down?

So the price increases are understandable. What is NOT understandable is selling exclusive events and letting too many people in. Paying money on top of the already high prices should pretty much guarantee you a less stressful experience, and that is not what I am seeing from the trip reports.

Another thing that really bugs me is when you stay at late hours, or go at a 'slower' time, and they have cut down the staff so that you are still waiting 30 or 45 minutes for a ride. That is just wrong.

They can charge whatever people will pay, but when they set visitors up for certain disappointment in terms of crowds, it is aggravating. And Disney knows what is and isn't a crowd. They are experts at crowd predictions, crowd control, and tracking your every movement on property. They can do better.

 

[missnic]

If you don't like the way they operate, stop going. I'm not a fan of several major companies and I just stopped patronizing them. Vote with your dollars.

Disney is a business, in it for the sole purpose of making money. They don't owe us a cheap vacation. They do owe us the level of service that Disney is renowned for, imo. And if prices have to go up to keep that, I'm okay with it for the mostpart. MNSSHP for example - I expected so much more from Disney, and they fell way short. Next year, I'm not purchasing a ticket. The value isn't there any longer.

 

[Marionnette]

I think the prices are outrageous but people are still visiting in huge numbers. The parks are packed year round at these prices. Can you imagine if prices went down?

So the price increases are understandable. What is NOT understandable is selling exclusive events and letting too many people in. Paying money on top of the already high prices should pretty much guarantee you a less stressful experience, and that is not what I am seeing from the trip reports.

Another thing that really bugs me is when you stay at late hours, or go at a 'slower' time, and they have cut down the staff so that you are still waiting 30 or 45 minutes for a ride. That is just wrong.

They can charge whatever people will pay, but when they set visitors up for certain disappointment in terms of crowds, it is aggravating. And Disney knows what is and isn't a crowd. They are experts at crowd predictions, crowd control, and tracking your every movement on property. They can do better.

If you don't like the way they operate, stop going. I'm not a fan of several major companies and I just stopped patronizing them. Vote with your dollars.

Disney is a business, in it for the sole purpose of making money. They don't owe us a cheap vacation. They do owe us the level of service that Disney is renowned for, imo. And if prices have to go up to keep that, I'm okay with it for the mostpart. MNSSHP for example - I expected so much more from Disney, and they fell way short. Next year, I'm not purchasing a ticket. The value isn't there any longer.

I quite agree about the special events being oversold, which is why I haven't done MVMCP in over a decade and also why I've skipped MNSSHP the past two years. The last time that I did MNSSHP, it felt like there were more people in the MK that night than there had been during most days during the week. The special shows, parade and fireworks are great but not when you're packed in, shoulder to shoulder, to see them.

I did get a chance to do the DVC Member Moonlight Magic at HS earlier this month and it was way less crowded than either of the MK parties. Plus. It was a free event.

I don't mind paying a premium price for an exceptional experience. I just object to paying thru the nose for mediocrity.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

A Disney vacation, heck any vacation, is a luxury. They can charge whatever the market will bear. It's not gouging. It's profit-making. If a family cannot afford to go to Disney World, so what? Their lives will go on and the kids can still grow up to be well-adjusted adults. No one is entitled to a Disney vacation and the Disney Corporation does not have to keep prices low just to make visiting their parks affordable to the masses.

In fact, one of the reasons for raising ticket prices is because they are seeking a balance. It's a double-edge sword. Raising ticket prices enough discourages some people from visiting. This keeps attendance down enough to make it more pleasurable for those who do go. Who wouldn't love to go to Disney and experience wait times under 20 minutes? But Disney still has operating costs to cover, so they have to sell enough tickets to cover those costs. So they cannot raise ticket prices too high.

Their bean counters have done their homework. They know how many people will visit once in their lifetime. They know how many repeat visitors that they get. They have expectations of how much a guest will spend based on data collected. And they know that they can charge more for parking, food and tickets because the market will bear it.

Do I like any of this? Does anybody like it when prices are raised? Of course not! No one says, "Gee, I wish Disney would charge more for tickets. I don't think that I pay enough." But these things I do understand:

• Disney is not a charity and as a business, it should turn a profit.
• No one is going to suffer harm if they never take a Disney vacation.
• There are enough people willing to pay what Disney charges that it makes up for those who decide to stay home.
• When a tipping point is reached or the economy takes a downward turn, Disney will adjust their pricing to increase attendance and maintain their profits.

Well said. Who are we (as consumers) to decide if a company "makes enough profit" in a given fiscal year? I do know that their share holders and board of directors sure do. If the numbers don't come in as intended, they will make sure they do next year. Capitalism is great, companies are free to try and make as much money as possible......America is great (again) as this is a great concept to encourage the most out of a company. It is not a "right" to a Disney vacation. When I first went in 1976, you could take a family of 4 into the park and ride the rides for about $20 for the day (unless you wanted more E tickets). Look at the billions of dollars Disney has invested in FL since then and what you get for your price of admission. I can go to 6 flags for the day and not spend much less than what I would have done at Disney. Have you parked at an NFL football game lately ($60+) for just parking. Have you bought a soda or beer at a ballgame lately? Disney is not out of line with what they charge. If it keeps capacities down, I am not upset over that. If it prices people out, I am not upset with that either. A business is a business and it is ran to make money and it is not for us to determine the level of profit to be made. If you are that upset by all of this, you just don't go....pretty easy concept.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

What goes up must come down. Eventually Disney will hit a wall, or the economy will take a hit, and they’ll have to adjust and offer extreme discounts. Until then they’ll continue to take your money if you’re willing to give it to them. Including price increase.

 

[MikeNamez]

As most of you I love Disney. I have been coming to the parks and staying at the resort for 14 years. But the latest decisions being made by Disney‘s corporate entity about charging for parking at the resort and increasing parking at TTC is just petty greed on their part. I’m curious as to when they will feel that enough money is enough. My hope is they will again make Disney just a little more affordable for those of us who love it as much as we do. I know there will not be a response from Disney on this. But I would like to know how my fellow Disney lovers feel, because I am upset about those issues as well as ticket increases and increases in food items. They are really really starting to bring me down about my whole experience. If you read all of this then thanks for allowing me to vent!!

Disney is a publicly traded company with shareholders. All the money is still not enough money as far as they are concerned and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[missnic]

Been to a concert lately? Bob Dylan is playing in my town this weekend. I wanted to see him, but not for $100/ticket plus fees for a couple of hours. Plus parking. And we would probably have dinner beforehand. That's about $350 for the evening. Or, I could spend $400 on a Disney AP.

 

[hsmamato2]

What goes up must come down. Eventually Disney will hit a wall, or the economy will take a hit, and they’ll have to adjust and offer extreme discounts. Until then they’ll continue to take your money if you’re willing to give it to them. Including price increase.

I predict this will happen,but it takes a while for the momentum to hit the wall. And it will. I personally think the current crop of vacationers is still going along on past price models...trying to 'make do' and figure out how to still do a vacation like in previous years...and after a year or two of the new 'reality' of the new pricing structures,and horrendous increases that are unattainable for many, it'll start to slow down.People will begin to understand there is no going back to previous deals. I predict eventually we'll start to see discounts again,but it'll take a while,how long? I have no idea but I'll wait. It's morphing into something completely different than it was,and I'm waiting to see exactly what that is. For those here who think it's all fine to jack up prices of things so quickly and so fast,that's fine for you. Staying onsite EVER if you have a car is now ridiculous. Not when you can drive 5 minutes in any direction,save money and park your car for free as part of the package.

 

[MillauFr]

What goes up must come down. Eventually Disney will hit a wall, or the economy will take a hit, and they’ll have to adjust and offer extreme discounts. Until then they’ll continue to take your money if you’re willing to give it to them. Including price increase.

I already only go to Disneyworld when I get the extreme discounts like 55% off at the Poly.