Dean Marino
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2015
.
Last edited:
I keep receiving crowd calendar updates showing expected crowds lower than expected for my vacation time period. Yay Star Wars construction!
My pins have mostly been your regular 20-30% discounts from Disney Destinations. However, the other day we had an offer from DVC for 40% off a 3 night (or longer stay) if I agree to take an Open House Tour and learn more about DVC. I have never, ever received anything like that before.
However, the other day we had an offer from DVC for 40% off a 3 night (or longer stay) if I agree to take an Open House Tour and learn more about DVC. I have never, ever received anything like that before.
They have been offering this for at least the past 12 months. I think it's highly targeted to people that they deem likely to buy DVC. I had received two such offers... the last one I got also stated the cost (after 40% off) could be applied to your membership (if you join while on that trip). I could never make the dates they had work, unfortunately. And now that we joined DVC we obviously don't get these offers anymore...
People are not getting raises, and Disney are increasingly prices across the board. Tickets, hotels, food, parking
People just can not afford it. Like Disney took away a plan hamburger for $10. but now has a southwest burger for $14 That a 40% increase
I think there are still a lot of people that can afford it, but are choosing not to go. They're finding other vacation destinations for cheaper, when in the past that wasn't always the case.
The competition isn't just Universal and Seaworld, it's also other vacation destinations that do not include theme parks. People are finding out that for what they're paying for Disney, they can do something like fly a family of 4 across country and do other things for cheaper than a disney vacation.
I think disney is banking a lot on Star Wars, I wonder if those Star Wars fans come once and pay the prices, but because of the pricing and the crowds, they never come back.
I get people's frustration that things have gotten too expensive for them and they don't want to spend the money on it anymore, but the actual facts remain there's willing customers in line right behind them. WDW resort hotels are still booking up, and the parks are still crowded. The people who choose not to pack PB&Js or other sandwiches (Disney does still let you bring food into the park) are still paying for their $12-$15 counter service meals (try getting tables some nights... seriously, and long lines to order & pay).
I don't buy into the "someone will always replace you" argument, thats only true if the parks and hotels are at 100% occupancy, and they aren't.
Sure .. Disney could be seen as "decreased value" for those who go every year simply because prices go up every year more than one's income.I think you missed my point entirely. My comments that you decided to make a clever meme about were about Star Wars and people coming and paying a high price, and not coming back because of the price, and how crowded its going to be. I think the Star Wars area is going to be flooded with people, and people are going to be upset that they've paid so much money, and they aren't going to have the run of the area, and might not come back.
I love Star Wars, and I love Disney World, but because of the decreased value, after our scheduled trips for this year and next year, we won't be back until at 2021 or 2022.
We're skipping 2020 and going else where because the decreased value, we've been to disney at least once a year for every year (many times multiple times a year) minus the two years our kids were born since 2008.
I'm not sure how many people that are going to be "new to disney" because of star wars, are going to be repeat customers.
I don't buy into the "someone will always replace you" argument, thats only true if the parks and hotels are at 100% occupancy, and they aren't.
Sure .. Disney could be seen as "decreased value" for those who go every year simply because prices go up every year more than one's income.
But, are new lands and attractions not added value?
As someone who has been going frequently to Disney since 2010 . .the amount of stuff they've added is incredible .. three (and soon 4) new lands with at least 2 rides each .. and 4 new attractions on the horizon (two of which are net new) (Ratatouille and Tron).
Are replacing old, outdated, and unpopular attractions not added value? As much nostalgia as GMR gave me, I think I would prefer a new ride there.
Are new food and hotel choices not added value? (Between Disney Springs and the new restaurants in the parks (and more to come) .. you have a lot more food options now then in 2008.
Are more dates for things like the festivals and holiday parties not added value?
IF Star Wars land is anything like the Wizarding World, I think you will have plenty of Star Wars fans come once .. enjoy the rest of the parks and keep coming back.
Agree.We just aren't going to agree. And honestly, that's ok. There's nothing wrong with disagreeing.
I think all the things being added are fantastic and i look forward to them, but the price point for what you get has reached the tipping point for me, at least to visit on an annual basis. It's not that i can't afford it, its just to the point where I don't want to shell out that kind of money for the same trip year after year.
Why do you include the mall called Disney Springs into the added restaurants at WDW? Do you include a new Holiday Inn being built close to DLR or WDW as a new hotel for Disney too?Sure .. Disney could be seen as "decreased value" for those who go every year simply because prices go up every year more than one's income.
But, are new lands and attractions not added value?
As someone who has been going frequently to Disney since 2010 . .the amount of stuff they've added is incredible .. three (and soon 4) new lands with at least 2 rides each .. and 4 new attractions on the horizon (two of which are net new) (Ratatouille and Tron).
Are replacing old, outdated, and unpopular attractions not added value? As much nostalgia as GMR gave me, I think I would prefer a new ride there.
Are new food and hotel choices not added value? (Between Disney Springs and the new restaurants in the parks (and more to come) .. you have a lot more food options now then in 2008.
Are more dates for things like the festivals and holiday parties not added value?
IF Star Wars land is anything like the Wizarding World, I think you will have plenty of Star Wars fans come once .. enjoy the rest of the parks and keep coming back.
Because it is on Disney property -- accessible by Disney buses and available to make ADRs via Disney.Why do you include the mall called Disney Springs into the added restaurants at WDW? Do you include a new Holiday Inn being built close to DLR or WDW as a new hotel for Disney too?
The difference is you don't need a ticket to go, and therefore i don't count it as part of WDW. If i buy a ticket, I spend the entire day in the park or a very nearby resort to eat like the Poly. I am guessing a significant portion of all WDW guests never go to DS and wouldn't consider their options as part of their Disney World vacation offerings any more than you would include other nearby restaurants. The fact is locals can go there to eat and shop without ever going near a park so no, this isn't really in the consideration in the equation.Because it is on Disney property -- accessible by Disney buses and available to make ADRs via Disney.
While it is not part of your ticket price .. it is part of the "resort" area... Just how Downtown Disney is part of DLR and how City Walk is part of Universal Studios.
It is something else to do while you on a Disney vacation -- thus it is added value.
My family goes to Disney Springs every trip and listening to the Disney music in the background, going to Guest Services (if needed), Pin Traders, World of Disney, Lego Store, Christmas store and grabbing a bite to eat and seeing what other extra attractions there (like Christmas Tree Trail .. or one time there was a Lightning McQueen M&G) is just as much part of the "value" of going to WDW as walking inside a park and riding a ride.
While yes, the "mall" part of Disney Springs is "meh", the rest of it is still pretty fun and exciting and filled with more exotic food and shopping than all of World Showcase.