Not being obnoxiuos just curiuos .When you say your not paying rack rate does that mean you only book when they do the 10-15-25 % savings thing or is there another way. We have used those discounts before but most times they do not align them with the time we want to go so we book a package, maybe free dining (not sure it's really free) and away we go. Are there other ways to not pay rack rate. On another note I don't understand the defenders either. I made the statement that since I have been going to Disney with the Family, started in 1999 and have gone about 8 times I think, they have been charging more which is understandable becuase the price of everything Disney uses to give us the experience goes up but I found the quality was going down and down as very very many agree. These defenders will trash me and say they will continue going to Disney no matter what Disney does to the experience. I would respond with something like, so when you used to go to the hospital with a nasty cut they would stitch you up give you some antibiotics and charge you X number of dollars and home you went. But now they just give you a band aid and send you home with a bill for 2X what you used to and that's OK with you. They respond with well I can see were this is going so I'm done. They have no argument for commen sense so they just give up. P.S. For the moderators I am not attacking anyone!!!!!!!
I cannot speak for anyoen but myself, but I never pay rack rate. I book a bounce Back on every trip. I have a good idea when I can travel, and book a resort that falls within those dates. When a discount drops, it is is better than the one I already have in place, and if it coincides with dates that I am free to travel, I make the change. I also am among those who do not think that anything is free, so if I book FD, I consider that it is a resort off on sale, much like Kolhs friends and family sale. Call it what you want, but please be assured I have run the numbers for both room only and FD, and have chosen the offer that is best for my family on that particular trip. . I know my budget and I stick to it.
I also think that value is personal, so when you state that Disney has gone downhill, you are correct that in your experience the value for dollar may not be the same as in previous trips. Your perception may not be my reality. I do not quibble or question your opinion, and resent that someone would question mine.
WDW has always been expensive. There have been various levels of value for my family, in the many years we have been visiting, but compared to our frst family visit in 1987, today's experiences and value is much higher for us.
Now your bandaid analogy is an apples and oranges one for me, and I would also respond with "This discussion is over" because at that point I feel that we have left the "vacation value" behind and I just do not have time or energy to pursue a conversation that makes no sense to me.