Seriously? Not sure why you feel that way. I stay at Pop, a lot. I own DVC, at BWV and BLT. I can afford to stay just about anywhere I want at WDW. For me, the deluxe resorts aren't worth the extra money unless I'm not going to the parks very often. The moderates are nice, but not sure they're worth the addtl money over a value resort. I refuse to stay at an All Star resort though. I like AoA, but find the LM rooms to be overprices...yeah, they're nice and all, but having stayed there twice, don't feel the need to go back. If I'm at WDW on my own, I love staying at Pop!! Fits my needs perfectly! So NOT a piece of crap.
I've found Pop for under $90 recently. No, not on a weekend night though.
Thread is getting hysterical. Do I care about park attendance numbers? Nope, not really. I know, pretty well anyway, what times of year are going to fit my needs at WDW. You aren't going to see me there over NYE. Or over Christmas. Yes, if my dd works at WDW next fall, I'll be visiting her. And maybe for Christmas. But, I doubt I'll be in a park during that time, unless it's very early, or very late in the day. Not to mention that I'll have to buy addtl park passes since my 'gold' AP won't work on those days. A lose-lose situation for me.
I don't much care about why Disney is raising prices. What I do care about is how it impacts my 'experience'. I kept my mouth shut when they stopped allowing guests to 'stockpile' FPs...it was a wonderful thing, and yes, I did it on occasion. I kept my mouth shut when they went with FP+..it has negatively impacted my visits. With FP+, it makes other attractions, that normally didn't have long lines, have lines of at least 25 mins. I mean, seriously....who waits in line for 25 mins to ride Small World?! When the People Mover has a huge line....again, seriously? And the reason for this would be guests killing time until their next FP+ time opened.
As for planning, months ahead, vs no planning until you get there? Stop and listen to guests sometime. Yes, eavesdrop. I've heard more unhappy guests in my last 5 trips than ever before. They had no idea they had to book the FP before leaving home. They had no idea they had to book a restaurant...someone told them there were tables held for walkins. They had no idea that 'such and such attraction' was shut down for months for a rehab. I could go on and on. I've been saying it for 15 years....WDW is no place for spontaneity. You either plan ahead or you lower your expectations. How many people have come here to ask how long it takes to walk from MK to DHS? More times than I care to remember!! They had been to DL and thought it was the same thing...you can walk between parks.
Bookstores are full of Disney guidebooks. It seems like a good idea to spend the $15 in order to have a better, more informed trip.
The vast majority of people don't care about attendance numbers, now or 10 years ago. What some of us do care about it the 'experience' we are going to have. And those of us that have been going to WDW for more than 5 yrs. have seen changes...not such great changes. Two parks that have been almost emptied....Innoventions in Epcot is just sad..used to be fun. And DHS? Well, that needs no discussion. Sure, things are being built..or will be soon. But, to raise prices now, with so much emptiness? Just seems wrong. So much has been taken away, yet costs are higher. I truly think that's the issue so many of us have. We know what we're 'missing'. Those that have been going to WDW for 5 years have no idea how it 'used' to be. No, I don't believe we can go backwards.....but geez, give us something to feel good about if you expect us to pay those prices!! Why is Disney raising prices? Pretty much because they can. I think there is a lot of over-thinking going on here. Disney knows that people will continue paying. They aren't raising costs so much that people will say they aren't going. Disney knows what the limits are. So, why are so many of us complaining? Because we're paying more for a lesser experience.
I've gotten those surveys....sometimes two after a visit. Yet, I've never gotten one concerning ticket costs. Could be because I've been an AP holder for at least 10 yrs now...I obviously don't want a change to what I have. Disney seldom gives you something more for your money..they tend to increase your cost while taking something away and then 'giving' you something else, saying that feedback has indicated that this is what guests want.
And US/IoA? I have to tell you. My dd just visited the HP studios over in the UK last week. The photos she took had me in shock. I couldn't believe how alike those studios were to HP at US/IoA!!!! It was amazing. I have photos of her in Orlando, that look almost identical to the ones she has over in the UK!! US/IoA did an incredible job...I said that after visiting for the third time, and now, after seeing the photos from the UK? Believe it to be downright uncanny! If Disney did something like this, it would be worth the price increases. We shall see what they do going forward, with their planned improvements.
but the comment that others will take their place is meaningless IMO.
