This doesn’t sound good (EMH going away?)

Wow luxury noun, luxury adjective. A lot of splitting hairs here today. Not denying that having the ability to take a vacation may be a luxury compared to those who cannot, but scrimping and saving to stay in a value room every couple years with your kids a luxury vacation? Maybe if you take multiple yearly trips and stay at deluxe resorts, your vacation does seem like a luxury and it might just be a bit hypocritical to chastise others who just want to be able to continue their traditions. What is the point? Do those value people not deserve to complain that they are being priced out because people in the world are starving or because others see it as a luxury? This is a Disney forum, not a social justice forum.
 
I mean I'm not sure a "year or two off" qualifies as a breaking point, but I get it.

Its a long way off for us, esp with the new stuff on the way.

I think a lot depends on how many times folks have visited. Much easier to take a break after 5, 10 (like you) or even 20 years of visits.

Then again we are over 20 years, but we mostly go for the weather and the DVC Resorts are soo cheap, as has been airfare these last few years.

I feel the opposite, that since I’ve been going to Disney since I was an infant and now take my own children it would be near impossible to stop going completely. If it wasn’t so woven into my entire life it would probably be easier.

Spacing trips further and further? Absolutely. But I truly can’t imagine cutting out Disney vacations. They would have to basically gut the place.
 
Wow luxury noun, luxury adjective. A lot of splitting hairs here today. Not denying that having the ability to take a vacation may be a luxury compared to those who cannot, but scrimping and saving to stay in a value room every couple years with your kids a luxury vacation? Maybe if you take multiple yearly trips and stay at deluxe resorts, your vacation does seem like a luxury and it might just be a bit hypocritical to chastise others who just want to be able to continue their traditions. What is the point? Do those value people not deserve to complain that they are being priced out because people in the world are starving or because others see it as a luxury? This is a Disney forum, not a social justice forum.
Agree 100%. I feel she is calling out those of us who have to save up for years to take our families and stay in values or offsite as entitled because Disney is pricing us out totally. Meanwhile she stated she goes frequently and at Deluxe levels and has no qualms about paying any number of upcharges and us plebs could kindly stop our whining.
 


Yeah, I doubt it to, but one can wish and it would make enforcing g the ban much easier.

Do you want your luggage searched too? Because your idea would suggest that all guests luggage, personal items would have to be completely searched in order to adhere to your little structure. I don't see a lot of people being super excited about such a prospects and WDW would likely lose some more business.
 


I feel the opposite, that since I’ve been going to Disney since I was an infant and now take my own children it would be near impossible to stop going completely. If it wasn’t so woven into my entire life it would probably be easier.

Spacing trips further and further? Absolutely. But I truly can’t imagine cutting out Disney vacations. They would have to basically gut the place.

Yep same, that's why I said "its a long way off for us".

But also said I can see taking a year or 2 off.
 
My breaking point is when it stops being fun to my kids. We’re pretty much done with the parks during non-ticket events — the everyday crowds are just too much for me now that I’m an old fart — but when they stop feeling excitement there, we won't go anymore until their kids are old enough for the first trip. Given that my kids are 145 and 11, I hope that's not for a really long long time.

I don't think luxury has anything to do with the actual conversation here, though. The question to me -- at least in this area -- is perceived value versus actual value. If the plans we've seen are what actually happens, and an evening EMH is replaced with a second AM one, then I don't think WDW is reducing actual value with this. They're exchanging two resort-only hours with two other resort-only hours. And the replacement might even be better, since we've had people here pointing out that evening EMH are often diluted by non-resort guests who stick around.

But the perceived value is different and individual. if you don't want to get up for AM EMH, then you don't. If you only like the MK at night, then again, this is a dilution of the resort stay's value. The hours don't seem to have changed -- not historically, but from pre-October to post October -- but if the only time you enjoyed EMH was at night, then of course you feel cheated. I don't think the value of the benefit has changed, but the perception of value for a lot of guests certainly has.

And Go Gators!
 
Wow luxury noun, luxury adjective. A lot of splitting hairs here today. Not denying that having the ability to take a vacation may be a luxury compared to those who cannot, but scrimping and saving to stay in a value room every couple years with your kids a luxury vacation? Maybe if you take multiple yearly trips and stay at deluxe resorts, your vacation does seem like a luxury and it might just be a bit hypocritical to chastise others who just want to be able to continue their traditions. What is the point? Do those value people not deserve to complain that they are being priced out because people in the world are starving or because others see it as a luxury? This is a Disney forum, not a social justice forum.
I’m gonna just have to move on.
My breaking point is when it stops being fun to my kids. We’re pretty much done with the parks during non-ticket events — the everyday crowds are just too much for me now that I’m an old fart — but when they stop feeling excitement there, we won't go anymore until their kids are old enough for the first trip. Given that my kids are 145 and 11, I hope that's not for a really long long time.

I don't think luxury has anything to do with the actual conversation here, though. The question to me -- at least in this area -- is perceived value versus actual value. If the plans we've seen are what actually happens, and an evening EMH is replaced with a second AM one, then I don't think WDW is reducing actual value with this. They're exchanging two resort-only hours with two other resort-only hours. And the replacement might even be better, since we've had people here pointing out that evening EMH are often diluted by non-resort guests who stick around.

But the perceived value is different and individual. if you don't want to get up for AM EMH, then you don't. If you only like the MK at night, then again, this is a dilution of the resort stay's value. The hours don't seem to have changed -- not historically, but from pre-October to post October -- but if the only time you enjoyed EMH was at night, then of course you feel cheated. I don't think the value of the benefit has changed, but the perception of value for a lot of guests certainly has.

And Go Gators!

I liked your post even though I can’t agree with everything you said. ;)
 
Back in the mid-90s they used the regular old Mears buses, booked through Disney as part of the package. Pretty sure it was an extra cost though. Also remember we used to book our Delta flights through Disney back then too. Times have changed!

I remember booking Eastern Airlines through Disney!!!
 
What is everyone's breaking point with disney?

Ours was the parking fees. We're wrapping up our APs in August, when they're done, we're taking a year or two off.

We've been every year since 2008 minus the 2 years the boys were born in 2011 and 2012, sometimes multiple times a year (14 trips)

The parking fees were a big one for us too. We have been to many hotels and resorts that charged a parking fee but it’s easier to justify when you see the reason (lack of parking) or feel there that the fee doesn’t make the cost of the room too much for its value.

Now that on top of all the upcharges and taking away of things. I am not sure when or if we will be back. It will definitely be a different trip than we have done in the past. And honestly with less of our vacation dollars going to Disney.
 
If they lowered, froze, or even slowed price increases while making things "a la carte," you'd have a better argument. As it is, general prices are still going up at a faster rate than inflation (the general measuring stick). On top of that, we have to pay extra for many of the things that were once baked in. But now, we see that cost front and center.

Take resort parking. It's not hidden inside an expensive rack rate anymore. It's sitting right next to that expensive rate. It's blindingly noticeable and unavoidable for onsite stays for many people. What did Disney say was the reason for the new fee? Industry standard? Riiiight. It's industry standard for areas where land is scarce and parking is hard to find. That doesn't describe WDW at all.

And Disney isn't paying for parking with those charges. It's creating a new revenue stream. Even at the "cheap" price of $13 per night, per car, it doesn't cost near that to maintain those parking lots.

Disney is the last major hotel group in the Orlando area to charge for parking. It is the industry standard for hotels like these. Yes, Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place, etc. don't charge for parking. Go onto I-Drive. The Hyatt, the 3 Rosen properties, the Hilton (along with the Hilton in DS), they all charge for parking and have been for some time. Same thing for Valet parking. Disney was the last to charge for it. The Swan & Dolphin have charged for parking since at least the late 1990’s. I stayed there for several conventions from 1998 - 2002.
 
Disney is the last major hotel group in the Orlando area to charge for parking. It is the industry standard for hotels like these. Yes, Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place, etc. don't charge for parking. Go onto I-Drive. The Hyatt, the 3 Rosen properties, the Hilton (along with the Hilton in DS), they all charge for parking and have been for some time. Same thing for Valet parking. Disney was the last to charge for it. The Swan & Dolphin have charged for parking since at least the late 1990’s. I stayed there for several conventions from 1998 - 2002.

We could do this again, but the Disney I fell in love with set the standard, not followed it.

Also if we’re going with industry standards, I’d love prices to fall in line, breakfast included too please!
 
But they will probably need to pay for extra CMs due to SWGE. So they are funneled to DHS & the parties pay for the extra staff with extra revenue.

It really isn't "extra" revenue. Conventions and groups that book these night time parties often book them a year, if not several years in advance. They know, from the signed contracts, how much they are going to get paid, and schedule CM's accordingly. And Disney most likely has projected revenue from these events based on prior years.
 
Disney is the last major hotel group in the Orlando area to charge for parking. It is the industry standard for hotels like these. Yes, Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place, etc. don't charge for parking. Go onto I-Drive. The Hyatt, the 3 Rosen properties, the Hilton (along with the Hilton in DS), they all charge for parking and have been for some time. Same thing for Valet parking. Disney was the last to charge for it. The Swan & Dolphin have charged for parking since at least the late 1990’s. I stayed there for several conventions from 1998 - 2002.

I can't say I know the Orlando hotel landscape all that well, but the hotels I've stayed in that charge for parking do so because they were in a downtown location where land and therefore parking was a premium already.

Maybe the city creeping of Orlando has come out toward Disney, but they specifically bought all that land because they didn't want to be locked in like they are in California. They have land to burn (yes, I know they have some restrictions with respect to how much they can develop).

Heck, I could even swallow something like 5-7 dollars per night, but $13 per night for values that are already pretty far from the parks and the size of motel sixes?

I mean, is All-Star Sports comparable to these hotels amenity-wise? Are they struggling for parking spaces? Are they locked in land-wise? I'm running out of actual reasons. If I bring a food receipt or a gift shop receipt while staying there, can I get my money back like a day guest can?

Industry standard is a pretty bad excuse, and judging by the reaction, I'd say quite a few agree. Out of all the price hikes, I don't get the need to defend this particular decision.
 
We stayed at Beach Club last year over Thanksgiving Week, one of the top 10 busiest weeks of the year. The parking lot at Beach Club was probably no more than half full. Anyone on here that is trying to justify the parking fee as something Disney has to do because it's 'Industry Standard' has been drinking way too much of the Mickey Kool-Aid. Disney's parking situation is not remotely the same as a hotel on International Drive. To compare the two is ridiculous.
 
Ok so just for fun what would you consider the price point of a vacation you would be comfortable defining as a luxury?
Vacation may not be a luxury but it is most certainly discretionary. No one needs or is entitled to any kind of vacation.

I remember going to a customer service class given by Disney. The instructor opened by asking the attendees who they thought were considered to be Disney’s competition. All the answers you would expect were shouted out. The answer was “everyone”. Disney is competing for our discretionary dollars.

A long time ago, staying on property was, in my mind, a luxury. There were three hotels on the monorail. They were more expensive than we were comfortable paying. The dining plan was a high end add on that made a stay at one of these resorts feel more like an all inclusive cruise.

We stayed in DTD in those early years. Not a luxury vacation by any standard but most surely a discretionary spend. And a fabulous time.
 

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