Just What Is The $Tipping$ Point?

Hisgirl

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 8, 2011
I wasn't sure where to post this, so here it is.

I'm budget minded, financially conservative, nearing retirement, loving Disney.

But at what point do I say 'enough is enough' with the price increases? We used to get annual passes and actually go a few times. It was fun and an easy to plan trip for us. But I'm beginning to think at some point, I have to say it's just too much.

It's the resorts and tickets, the $3 bottles of water, the parking fees and on and on and on...

Do you think disney will just keep increasing the prices at the rate they've been doing to ' see how far they can'? I mean, if the crowd keep coming, what is to stop them? If I were in it, to please the stockholders, which is what any for-profit public company does these days, why not keep increasing the prices?

Do you think there will be a tipping point where folks say enough is enough?

I'm a financial professional and I cringe when I see folks spending thousands on repeat vacations but not investing in their future. I'm starting to wonder, where else can we go instead...Pigeon's forge? I don't know...I think I'm starting to try and have a talk with myself. Do you have a tipping point?
 
Its their fiduciary duty to maximize profits. Parks are full. If anything, they need to continue to raise prices so that they change the supply demand curve - fewer people in the parks paying more money would be better than overcrowded parks....and capital investment takes capital.

We have never been huge Disney people - every other year or so has been fine for us. We can spend a week in London for what we will spend in Disney. So do that. Make a list of all the places you want to go. Maybe you don't travel as often, but you take bigger international trips. Within the past twelve months we've been to London/Bath/Brighton, Hilton Head (not Disney), Boston a few times (my daughter goes to school out there), Tanzania (save your pennies now, a safari was not even on my list and I'm trying to figure out how to go again), Sydney Australia, and LA (where we did spend a few days at Disneyland, but also spent time with friends).

As a financial professional, you've got this. Budget for vacations - keeping in mind your priorities to retirement and the rest of it - and then figure out how to spend it. There is a whole world out there beyond the World.
 


I wasn't sure where to post this, so here it is.

I'm budget minded, financially conservative, nearing retirement, loving Disney.

But at what point do I say 'enough is enough' with the price increases? We used to get annual passes and actually go a few times. It was fun and an easy to plan trip for us. But I'm beginning to think at some point, I have to say it's just too much.

It's the resorts and tickets, the $3 bottles of water, the parking fees and on and on and on...

Do you think disney will just keep increasing the prices at the rate they've been doing to ' see how far they can'? I mean, if the crowd keep coming, what is to stop them? If I were in it, to please the stockholders, which is what any for-profit public company does these days, why not keep increasing the prices?

It not just "what any for-profit public company does these days," it what they're legally required to do. They have a fiduciary responsibility to increase profits

Do you think there will be a tipping point where folks say enough is enough?

If course there will be -- there always is. That's when they start giving more discounts. Just look back at what happened in 2001. And, to a lesser degree in 2008

I'm a financial professional and I cringe when I see folks spending thousands on repeat vacations but not investing in their future. I'm starting to wonder, where else can we go instead...Pigeon's forge?

It's a big world. There are literally hundreds of thousands of places you could go. I'm not sure Pigeon Forge would make my list, but if that sounds good to you, go for it

I don't know...I think I'm starting to try and have a talk with myself. Do you have a tipping point?

I probably won't go back to Disney more than a few more times over the next 40 years. I've seen it before and there are just too many great places I could go to for the same price or less. But, honestly it's not something I've really had to sit down and think about, it's just something that is

A couple of years ago, I spent a week in London and a week in Switzerland for the same cost as 10 days in Disney. Experience-wise that trip to Europe was worth 100 Disney trips
 
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I probably won't go back to Disney more than a few more times over the next 40 years.
Really? I assume being a very active disboards member that you've had your fair share of Disney trips. But once ever 10-12 years now? Or did you mean more than a few times per year over the next 40 years 🤣

I agree though, unless you can afford to do Disney AND other trips, the tipping point is close. I know a lot of people vacation only at WDW which really would never work for me. So, WDW being a supplemental trip to other trips is quite expensive now.
 
For those of us here on the DIS we are fairly educated in all things Disney. Disney as we all know is pretty smart. They normally keep the increases fairly small percentage for the most part. However we know when and how often they increased ticket prices in the past few years. We know how much a Castle view room was 5 years ago and how much it is today so we know it's gone up say $95 a night in that time. We remember when a bottle of water was only $1.75 in the park. For us we see how much things have increased from either going to the parks or seeing things posted here. I work at a place (public transportation) that didn't have a price increase for about 10 years, then when they did it was huge. People were pissed and the biggest complaints was that they would rather see gradual prices increases every 2-3 year they one big one every 10. For others that want to go to Disney and it's maybe a once in a lifetime trip they will do what they can to afford it but they look at the prices as they are what they are and their tipping point isn't not going but not staying where they want to.

I think it will take a lot for Disney to reach a lot of peoples tipping point as there are so many variables involved and it would take some time. Disney will also throw things in from time to time such as free dinning in that encourages people to go. There are enough people who hear "free dining" and think it's the best deal going. But for them if they did some math they would realize that due to heir dining habits it would be less expensive to take the discounted room rate and pay OOP for meals. Add in that they might not normally park hop but now have to because it's a requirement and they could be spending a lot more. But again they hear "free" and feel it's a great deal even though it might not be and that helps to fill the parks.

For some people who stay on property a tipping point mean maybe they no longer stay at the the Contemporary/Poly or a deluxe resort and scale back to Moderate, those in a Mod scale back as well to either a Value or even off property, and those in a Value go off property. Maybe they don't go every year and still stay at their preferred resort. For those staying off property they scale back and don't go as often. Or they scale back and don't go as long. But for the most part for everyone who would scale back resorts there will be someone who will take their place.
 


We last went to Disney in 2016. With soon to be 3 in college, we can not afford to go often. That was our last week long family trip until this year.

Dh wanted to take a trip as our kids are getting older and family trips are becoming more difficult as our kids become adults.

We went to St. Louis for a week. Still cost us $4000 for 5 adults for 8 days and our son and his wife joined us for 2 of those days. So 7 people total. We had a great time together. And it was less than half the cost for us to go to Disney and Universal for a week. Hotels and food are expensive for large families. And we do not stay deluxe or eat extravagantly. We rented a KOA cabin outside St Louis this year.

As much as I love Disney the pull to go wanes as the days since the last trip move on.

Dh and I still want to do a couples Disney trip, but that's not on the horizon yet either.
 
I wasn't sure where to post this, so here it is.

I'm budget minded, financially conservative, nearing retirement, loving Disney.

But at what point do I say 'enough is enough' with the price increases? We used to get annual passes and actually go a few times. It was fun and an easy to plan trip for us. But I'm beginning to think at some point, I have to say it's just too much.

It's the resorts and tickets, the $3 bottles of water, the parking fees and on and on and on...

Do you think disney will just keep increasing the prices at the rate they've been doing to ' see how far they can'? I mean, if the crowd keep coming, what is to stop them? If I were in it, to please the stockholders, which is what any for-profit public company does these days, why not keep increasing the prices?

Do you think there will be a tipping point where folks say enough is enough?

I'm a financial professional and I cringe when I see folks spending thousands on repeat vacations but not investing in their future. I'm starting to wonder, where else can we go instead...Pigeon's forge? I don't know...I think I'm starting to try and have a talk with myself. Do you have a tipping point?

I it appears they are studying the casinos. Some of the folks least able to afford to go are the ones who have the angst over the CL at the Poly. Must have multiple dessert parties and go to every $$$ offering Disney has. Maybe the mortgage gets skipped, the credit cards don't get paid, who knows. There are a lot of people with marginal jobs that go back over and over again. I don't know how they do it. CM friends?

Also, WDW attracts people from all over the world - places where income disparity is shocking. I expect they will continue to raise the prices to be in align with those that have their own servants staff, private airplanes, etc...
 
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I don't think Disney is that out of line though compared to any other top tourist destination. I wonder if the question more is, do you want to spend the same amount of money and see something else? Or do you just not want to spend that much on a vacation in general?

You mentioned Pigeon Forge. DH & I went there 2 years ago. Total trip cost for a week was a little more then half the price as going to Disney for a week. But we drove ($150 in gas vs $1k for 2 to fly to Disney). And, we spent 3 full days in the Smokies, doing day hikes. If we didn't enjoy our National Parks and hiking which is a free attraction, we would have needed to pay for attractions to fill 3 full days.
 
I always go to Disney for vacation. I'm handicap and in scooter and a widow. Haven't been able to find another place that will offer transportation from airport to hotel, to parks and dining and finally back to airport, all inclusive. Believe me, I've searched (not interested in traveling outside US for medical reasons.

Granddaughter has requested we go to Cedar Point. I know not a big trip, but big in her eyes. We would drive, (difficult) at best for me. Searched for hotel, tickets, fod, etc for us for a few days. Total for 3 nights, (including a discounted ticket), hotel and food. We can do Disney for a week. So it's all in perspective!
 
It's tough! I've been twice in the past 4 years. After my last trip I really felt a lot of the pixie dust had worn off which made me super sad. The very high costs, the pressure to book everything months in advance or not get in to any of the restaurants, etc, all the "exclusive" opportunities for extra $$, the scooters EVERYWHERE, so so many rude people, the ever increasing crowds even during what is supposed to be a lower population time--I don't know. It just took some of the joy away for me. I'm going back next month for a Disney Institute class that my office is paying for, and I'm excited for that. I think I will extend a couple of days on my own dime, but I don't see us going back any time soon. There's a lot of world out there to explore and we did a fabulous trip to Europe this year for not a lot more than a Disney trip.
 
For us I think when we go again it won’t be for a week. In October we are taking a beach vacation. I found a great price on a 2 bedroom condo. Most of the week will be low key and low cost. My son and I will drive to MK for one day. Even though I have loved our Disney trips, similar trips now are so much more expensive. A day trip is better than no trip.

I hope to take our grandson in a couple years. But as I said, I doubt it will be for a whole week. It doesn’t seem to hold the same value it once did. The incentives to stay longer aren’t there anymore.
 
I wasn't sure where to post this, so here it is.

I'm budget minded, financially conservative, nearing retirement, loving Disney.

But at what point do I say 'enough is enough' with the price increases? We used to get annual passes and actually go a few times. It was fun and an easy to plan trip for us. But I'm beginning to think at some point, I have to say it's just too much.

It's the resorts and tickets, the $3 bottles of water, the parking fees and on and on and on...

Do you think disney will just keep increasing the prices at the rate they've been doing to ' see how far they can'? I mean, if the crowd keep coming, what is to stop them? If I were in it, to please the stockholders, which is what any for-profit public company does these days, why not keep increasing the prices?

Do you think there will be a tipping point where folks say enough is enough?

I'm a financial professional and I cringe when I see folks spending thousands on repeat vacations but not investing in their future. I'm starting to wonder, where else can we go instead...Pigeon's forge? I don't know...I think I'm starting to try and have a talk with myself. Do you have a tipping point?
I have a tipping point and Disney is close to hitting it. There are so many other amazing places to go and see- just do some research! What cities would you love to see but haven’t gotten to? Chances are with how much you spend at Disney you could plan a pretty cool trip to National Parks, stay at some nice lodges, maybe dabble in international trips! It’s amazing what $$$$ can get for you outside the Disney bubble.

If you’re not sure- try it just once. One year, no Disney. If you’re not happy go back to Disney next year.

As far as will prices keep going up like this- yes, as long as they keep making enough sales to make numbers look good to shareholders. Disney is a business. Period.
 
Do you think there will be a tipping point where folks say enough is enough?
Multiple random thoughts here:

- I agree with those who say Disney will keep increasing prices as long as people keep attending. That's basic supply and demand.
- Prices are so high now that a whole lot of Americans are already "priced out".
- Thing about a Disney vacation is that it has a lot of "moving parts". Maybe you can't afford to stay on site ... but you still have a whale of a lot of choices off site in a wide variety of prices. Maybe you can't afford a week's worth of tickets ... but you can still buy three days' worth. Maybe you can't afford the "extras" like desert parties and fireworks cruises and holiday parties ... well, you get the idea: It's hard to put a finger on "what a Disney vacation costs" because they offer so very many choices. In contrast, a cruise is a whole lot easier to analyze.
- To some extent, people will keep buying Disney vacations (even the checkbook says they really shouldn't do it) because it's so well merchandised /so well advertised ... Disney is not JUST a vacation; it's genuinely a thread in American society.
- Similarly, to some extent, people will buy Disney BECAUSE it's expensive /because it's a status symbol. Same reason people buy designer this-or-that ... because everyone CAN'T buy it.
- Last thought: a small segment of Americans ONLY vacation at Disney, which I find kinda odd. My daughter's college roommate, for example, is an only child from a wealthy family ... she goes to Disney 3-4 times a year but has literally NEVER been anywhere else. Never. At least they CAN afford it. People in this category are so entrenched in the Dis-Universe that they'll keep paying no matter what.
- A whole different tipping point: It's not reasonable these days to just buy a ticket and GO to Disney. If you're going to do anything at all, it requires research, preparation, counting back X number of days to get your Fast Passes ... at what point does it become "too much" effort?
I'm a financial professional and I cringe when I see folks spending thousands on repeat vacations but not investing in their future.
Luxury today while ignoring tomorrow should be a red flag for every reasonable person.

Last thought: Everyone's going to have a different "tipping point". Mine, personally, I think is set lower than other people's. For example, when gas skyrocketed a couple years ago, I thought people's behavior would change when gas hit $3 ... but, no, it seemed that happened around $4 instead.
 
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I think we have reached that point now. I have reservations for January in my favorite resort (AKV) on the concierge floor through DVC and I think we are going to cancel. It’s just not worth it when I can have a lovely vacation elsewhere for the same amount of money or less. We cruised on NCL last December and had a blast. Our January WDW trip? Ho-hum.

I am excited about my trip next week because we get to spend time with my DD. I am excited about our October trip because we’re going with friends. I simply can’t work up any excitement when I just go with my DH. I would much rather do something less familiar with him. Especially for the amount of money it costs!

I think 2020 may be our first non-Disney year since 1997. It’ll be strange but I’m looking forward to doing exciting new things instead.
 
Interesting thread.

We're getting there, but there are more factors involved.
We are doing Disneyland Paris next month-costs:

DLP-4 day tickets(2 people), 4 nights value, 1 36K Run Disney event=$1275(1100ish Euros) Flights $798
WDW=4 day tickets, 4 nights value, 1 Wine and Dine challenge+5K=$1925 Flights $598

For us, DLP is going to be cheaper. We did a London/Edinburgh Scotland-Highlands/Dublin trip last fall for around the same price as a DW trip.

With that being said, our biggest variable isn't Disney related, it's flight costs. I've never seen $116 RT nonstop in Delta from CVG to MCO before-but we have them for a winter trip. We fly in, take Magical Express so no parking cost is involved. We have food delivered, very little additional cost over home. A sit down meal onsite(no alcohol) is about $5-7 more per person than we would pay here. A McD combo is $8 here, a burger and fries at Disney is in the $12 range. Tickets are usually some type of promo, bought through UT, or we try to do multiple trips in a 12 month period to make an AP worth it-then take the next 12 months off and do it again.

With that being said, Pigeon Forge was mentioned. We live 3 hours away and think Disney is cheaper. Once you add in an attraction during the day, maybe a dinner show at night, mini golf, some go karts/laser tag, that trip adds up very quickly. If you spend the time in the mountains hiking, then the cost isn't bad.
 
I wasn't sure where to post this, so here it is.

I'm budget minded, financially conservative, nearing retirement, loving Disney.

But at what point do I say 'enough is enough' with the price increases? We used to get annual passes and actually go a few times. It was fun and an easy to plan trip for us. But I'm beginning to think at some point, I have to say it's just too much.

It's the resorts and tickets, the $3 bottles of water, the parking fees and on and on and on...

Do you think disney will just keep increasing the prices at the rate they've been doing to ' see how far they can'? I mean, if the crowd keep coming, what is to stop them? If I were in it, to please the stockholders, which is what any for-profit public company does these days, why not keep increasing the prices?

Do you think there will be a tipping point where folks say enough is enough?

I'm a financial professional and I cringe when I see folks spending thousands on repeat vacations but not investing in their future. I'm starting to wonder, where else can we go instead...Pigeon's forge? I don't know...I think I'm starting to try and have a talk with myself. Do you have a tipping point?
Of course there is a tipping point. The question is where that point is for the majority of potential visitors. As long as Disney continues to increase profits each quarter, they are going to push the envelope. From a free market standpoint, this is what every publicly traded company should be doing. As a stockholder, I would expect it.

Everyone has their own breaking point. But TBH, it seems that threads like this one and the ones on the Resorts Board can be predicted every time there is a rate hike at resorts, a ticket price increase is implemented or a new pay-to-play fee is introduced. Yet, people still go and Disney still makes a profit.

When your personal tipping point is reached, then obviously it is time to explore vacationing elsewhere. Disney may miss you when the economy takes a downturn. Until then, someone else will be planning that once in a lifetime trip with no idea that water was $2.50 last year or that they could have stayed at a Value Resort for under $100/night in 2015. They just know what it costs now and they make it work for their own vacation budget.

As for us, we own DVC. I have a folder of unused, non-expiring tickets that will last several vacations. And enough credit card points to fly to the moon and back if my husband is to be believed. We’re not at a tipping point yet. We may slow down. We may skip a year here or there in order to vacation elsewhere. I may even downsize our DVC if the annual dues get to be too much for our retirement years (or rent out those points to cover the MFs). But as of right now, we are not close to that tipping point.
 
Of course there is a tipping point. The question is where that point is for the majority of potential visitors...
Everyone has their own breaking point...
When your personal tipping point is reached, then obviously it is time to explore vacationing elsewhere.


Excellent points. For each of us there will be a different tipping point. For us, I'm not sure what it is...honestly I think it would be when we didn't enjoy it and it wasn't fun. Disney has morphed from a full on vacation spot for us to a "in between real vacations" long weekend every other year or so.
We still enjoy ourselves when we go there, so we will keep going. It's not about how much it costs - it's about perceived value for what we've paid for from our perspective. If it's to expensive we don't go - and save up until we can afford to go. I have a hard time feeling priced out of something that is a entertainment luxury - something that is not needed to sustain day to day life! Paying to go there is a choice, no one is hiding what it costs. Everyone just needs to decide "is the cost of this trip$XYZ, affordable to me and a good value for what I'm looking for in terms of entertainment?"
I admit, I don't understand the whole concept of Disney owing anyone an affordable vacation. Does Target owe me a affordable TV? Does the furniture store owe me a affordable couch? Does the car dealership owe me a affordable vehicle? Nope - I OWE MYSELF to find a affordable TV, couch or vehicle..... Target, the Furniture Store & the car dealership is just trying to get what they can for their bottom line. Doesn't make them the bad guy -
 
For me the tipping point to WDW is more likely to be the hassle involved and what a planning nightmare it has become. As someone who has no desire to stay on site (we rent a villa offsite), I can't book fastpasses until all the good ones are gone, etc. And no, I don't want to stand around hitting refresh on some app all day hoping to ride a good ride.

I am a west coaster originally (British Columbia), so Disneyland, California is more my "home" - and I still think they do it way better than WDW. You can go and have a much more spontaneous good time.

I am pretty much decided that I will likely only do the parties (at least the crowds are more manageable) if at WDW, and might just go to Universal instead for any park time.

I'd actually rather go less often and pay more to be in less crowded parks. So, as far as the price thing - I'd find it more enjoyable having less crowds even if it meant I could only go every few years instead of every year. I am always shocked by how many people seem to go several trips a year. Honestly, there's only so much Disney I can handle. I'd rather do other things. Once a year is plenty for me, and once every few years would also be fine (if the experience itself was better).
 

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