DCL to get rid of Placeholder Booking Perks?

[T & R]

Not a huge issue for us. With what we already pay for our Disney cruises, the loss of $200 will not push us towards another cruise line.

I agree but it's more of a totality of all the reduction in benefits and not just the single issue of the $200 loss. There has been a reduction in approx 10 to 12 different areas like cgolf described above. Seems strange for cruise prices to creep up to almost double and then couple that price increase with so much reduction in benefits. It goes against the old saying "you get what you pay for". Generally if you're continuing to pay more and more, you should get more and more, not the other way around. Obviously we will continue to sail DCL but the constant reduction of services is irritating.
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[cgolf]

To butcher an old gem: They will keep turning up the heat until all the frogs jump out of the pot. The problem being, some of those frogs are gonna stay in there until they cook.

The long term potential problem for them if they do finally turn up the heat too high, parks and cruises, is were we all burned enough to not come back when they need us.

 

[oufpat]

We just completed our third Disney Cruise and purchased the placeholder for the first time. While researching our next cruise we started looking at Princess, if Disney prices keep going up and perks keep disappearing, we may do a Princess Cruise next and see what the summer of 2021 Disney Cruises are while are placeholder and OBC is still good.

 

[AquaDame]

I was already feeling nickled and dimed when I saw Oga's had already increased their drink prices 6-13% this morning in Disneyland... now this? I do feel squeezed, even if overall its not that much money comparatively. Seems like everywhere I look its something.

 

[plutojudy]

We are Platinum and have cruised only on Disney since 2000. All the "little things" they have taken away are adding up to be "big things". There are so many special little touches that disappear on each cruise every year.
Little things:
Smaller, cheaper bandanas for Pirate Night
Live music at Sail Away
Returning cruiser Party (now only for 8 days or more)
Trading cards
Late night Chocolate Buffet
Real pins for birthdays, etc.
Cakes for birthdays and anniversaries
Castaway gifts are less and less (game box with Bananagram type game), luggage tags
to name a few

 

[Happy99]

Not cruise related but the theme parks have not been as busy as they hoped this summer. There is already turn over in the President of Disney parks and rumored that it has to do with the low attendance. I find it is the increase in cost people are not going as often or for as long. Just my 2cents.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Not cruise related but the theme parks have not been as busy as they hoped this summer. There is already turn over in the President of Disney parks and rumored that it has to do with the low attendance. I find it is the increase in cost people are not going as often or for as long. Just my 2cents.

Our experience on our upcoming trip to WDW in December. We booked it late last year and bought the mid-tier dining package. Free dining was released for our week so we had our TA price it out. Due to the increases, it was several hundred dollars more to take free dining at the lower tier in the same resort. We would then have to pay to upgrade it if we wanted the higher tier. Besides this year and the 50th in 2021, we won't be spending much more at the House of Mouse.
We are planning to do all 3 new ships and they may be it for us on DCL.

 

[cgolf]

Not cruise related but the theme parks have not been as busy as they hoped this summer. There is already turn over in the President of Disney parks and rumored that it has to do with the low attendance. I find it is the increase in cost people are not going as often or for as long. Just my 2cents.

We have a programmer at work that used to take his family every year and the changes in ticket pricing and how the tickets can be used has them visiting less now.

Sorry for off topic, but info fits with this reply

 

[Ravenclaw78]

Our experience on our upcoming trip to WDW in December. We booked it late last year and bought the mid-tier dining package. Free dining was released for our week so we had our TA price it out. Due to the increases, it was several hundred dollars more to take free dining at the lower tier in the same resort. We would then have to pay to upgrade it if we wanted the higher tier. Besides this year and the 50th in 2021, we won't be spending much more at the House of Mouse.
We are planning to do all 3 new ships and they may be it for us on DCL.

That's actually not because Disney raised prices. It's because the "Free" dining promotion requires booking a package with non-discounted tickets and a rack-rate room. 90% of the time, you come out further ahead booking one of their room discount promotions and paying for the dining plan separately.

 

[Happy99]

That's actually not because Disney raised prices. It's because the "Free" dining promotion requires booking a package with non-discounted tickets and a rack-rate room. 90% of the time, you come out further ahead booking one of their room discount promotions and paying for the dining plan separately.

Disney increased prices on rooms and tickets before the free dining offer was released. So when you go to add the discount it reprices at the new rates for everything else.

 

[Garyjames220]

Well in the UK royal carribean does free all inslusive offers all the time

I always said to my wife well all least the first 200 in drinks is free with Disney

Now I can no longer do that. I may just change to royal. Sick of the greed

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

That's actually not because Disney raised prices. It's because the "Free" dining promotion requires booking a package with non-discounted tickets and a rack-rate room. 90% of the time, you come out further ahead booking one of their room discount promotions and paying for the dining plan separately.

When we booked, it was at regular rate with no discounts. It was also before the change in ticket pricing.

 

[n2mm]

We are Platinum and have cruised only on Disney since 2000. All the "little things" they have taken away are adding up to be "big things". There are so many special little touches that disappear on each cruise every year.
Little things:
Smaller, cheaper bandanas for Pirate Night
Live music at Sail Away
Returning cruiser Party (now only for 8 days or more)
Trading cards
Late night Chocolate Buffet
Real pins for birthdays, etc.
Cakes for birthdays and anniversaries
Castaway gifts are less and less (game box with Bananagram type game), luggage tags
to name a few

I remember most of that stuff. Nice to see someone else remembers too. I feel like a Disney cash cow.....I’m still not over the parking fees and the huge increase in my DVC HOA dues. Add the huge ticket increase and the price of food! I stay at Bwv most trips and continue to meet many guest there that just stay at the resort and no longer go to the parks anymore because of the price.

 

[smmco]

So the only real maybe "benefit" now is a reduced deposit and 10% off?

I’m guessing we’ll see more GT rates and targeted discounts as less people book in advance.

 

[mousefan73]

Us too. We were on that cruise too. Actually got 2 placeholders

Us too! but I honestly dont think we will use them. We are maybe holding off for the new ships.. and those will expire by then... and the prices have gotten insane IF we go again we look out for VGT rates and placeholders are not valid on those.

 

[smmco]

I remember most of that stuff. Nice to see someone else remembers too. I feel like a Disney cash cow.....I’m still not over the parking fees and the huge increase in my DVC HOA dues. Add the huge ticket increase and the price of food! I stay at Bwv most trips and continue to meet many guest there that just stay at the resort and no longer go to the parks anymore because of the price.

Didn’t platinums used to get 300 OBC. They also used to change the gifts. I think we’re going on three years of the same rcastaway gift and the same Pali menu. The new gold platinum party ion the Walt Disney theatre is lame.

 

[Garyjames220]

Let's be honest it's not just more and more perks going it's always the heavy price increases every year on the cruises too, I don't see any other cruises line putting there prices up like dcl does each year

Adds up to hundreds if not thousands of a difference all in. I think this has just pushed me away from dcl

The 10% discount will be the next thing to go

 

[mmmears]

I woke up this morning and read the news on social media today, but just found time to finally get here and see if others are thinking what I'm thinking. There are already so few benefits for repeat cruisers (not to even mention the fact that someone's GT rate on a 2-night nets them the same benefits, status wise, as my longer, expensive cruises in Europe) that I'm wondering if this will finally push some people away from booking with DCL. I'd like to think there might be some pushback (like what happened in Disneyland this summer) but I doubt it. People seem to not care what it costs if it has the name Disney on it. As for me, I have another cruise already booked (with the OBC) and after that one I will likely be looking elsewhere for more creative and interesting itineraries. I really want to take a PC cruise, but the DCL itinerary is one of the most uninspired ones out there and I won't book it. Basically, I'm sad to see what little perks are left go.

 

[cgolf]

Didn’t platinums used to get 300 OBC. They also used to change the gifts. I think we’re going on three years of the same rcastaway gift and the same Pali menu. The new gold platinum party ion the Walt Disney theatre is lame.

I think it was 250 and we were really looking forward to it.

 

[bcwife76]

We were on the Wonder last month and I debated waiting until we are on the Magic to get a placeholder - glad I got one last month! And both of our cruises in 2020 were booked with placeholders so at least that's 3 more cruises that have OBC.But boy oh boy.....what is next to go, eh?