Maybe it's just me...

[ZephyrHawk]

Sometimes everyone needs a break from the things they love. Those of us who post on boards like this don't take much of a break from Disney even when we're not visiting, and it can get to be a bit much.

 

[Darklord77]

The problem with these extra events is that they reduce regular park hours. We first went in 2008 and purchased DVC in 2010. I would agree its not the same experience now as it was in 2008. We stayed at POFQ in 2010 with 7 day park hoppers and the dining plan for less than what I could get a value for 4 nights, base ticket, and no dining plan now. And yes, the Halloween parties in August are ridiculous. Like someone said before in another thread: If they stationed a cast member at the entrance to the parks giving premium punches to the face with a Mickey hand then some people would pay for this add-on experience.

 

[Ensusieasm]

But since a less than stellar trip this year and watching all the upcharges, add-ons, hard ticket events, and especially price increases and gouges, I'm feeling pretty disillusioned with Disney right about now. We're planning another trip probably in late 2020, but the shine is gone. Like I said in the thread title, maybe it's just me (and my DW) that're feeling this way. I guess the thing that bothers me most is that Disney doesn't seem to care about disenfranchising their long-time, loyal fans/guests. They just seem happy to take our money and offer us less and less value for it each time we come back. Won't be long before that money train runs out I suppose. Like I said, maybe it's just me...

Could it possibly be that all these up charges and add-ons help keep the regular price down a little bit?

 

[cel_disney]

But don't you agree that it's a little ridiculous to have Halloween Parties in the middle of August?

I have a lot of friends that travel in the last half of August (before school starts in September) and they are pretty happy about the chance to attend a party during their trip! I think that it’s gonna be awfully hot then so the candy selection will be limited but for those who want to go a great! For those that don’t want to go that early - atleast they will work out the kinks before the September parties!

For me - I wish they would bring back the Pirate and Princess parties they used to have in the spring! Although I would be equally happy if they had more Disney after Hours events for April! We have no optional events during our trip and the Frozen Fireworks Dessert Party is also not happening during most of my trip...

 

[quandrea]

Doesn't bother me because it doesn't affect me. I don't pay for the upcharges, add ons, or stay on site. However I don't feel like prices have gone up that much and I don't think they price gouge. Disney is just as expensive as Universal and right on par as far as ticket prices and in park food/merchandise

The add ons are great additions for those with extra money to spend and want to do more. Some of them allow people to do more with a short trip than they could on their own.

Agree with this. Sometimes the upchargeres are great opportunities. My friend joined me in October for just three days. We did the Day of Thrills tour and rode every headliner in one day. Had private guides. It was awesome. We did in one day what would have taken maybe six days. Great option for a short trip.

We are there about forty days a year. It’s busy, however, going in with a good plan still makes for a great experience. We don’t buy most of the add ons.

 

[AngiTN]

The best thing is Disney is not required. You don't have to go.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

The best thing is Disney is not required. You don't have to go.

 

[slpeters]

I feel really fortunate that I went when I did. We went for the first time last November. We hit that sweet spot before the board turned. If I first encountered Disney World through the board now I might not have ever gone. And I'm glad I did. We had an amazing time, of course by the time we got back I got to read about how awful it was while we were there, so... But I guess that's the other sweet spot we hit, no halcyon memories to compare it to--we just enjoyed it for what it was and we had an amazing time. When I told dh that a good portion of our trip turned out to be CL 10/10 his response was "you're kidding, it doesn't get more crowded than that?"

As far as the addons we did the HEA dessert party and had an amazing evening of it--yeah it was more about the fireworks viewing than the party, but we actually enjoyed the party too and there was something special about actually laying down in the grass of the hub to wait for the fireworks to start. We also did the Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam dessert party and we loved the party itself. Dh mentioned it just a couple days ago. To the extent there was any kind of disappointment associated with the trip it was that they didn't offer EMM. We would still like to do that someday. I really thought about the parties as akin to the really expensive dinner we had at the Hollywood Brown Derby. A splurge because we were on vacation--there were a lot of other splurges we didn't do--and I don't really see that it affected us that others did.

We had such a great time that we have two more trips planned. Maybe if everybody decides not to go back it will only be CL 9/10 when we do. And we're very much looking forward to MVMCP this December.

 

[Tomh]

But don't you agree that it's a little ridiculous to have Halloween Parties in the middle of August?

No, I think it is a smart move. Many visitors from the North East have kids that are back in school in the beginning of September. By having a couple of parties in the last half of August, they open the parties up to an entirely new demographic. My family, over the course of the past 10 years, has only gone to the Halloween party two times, both when we returned late for the opening of school. This year, we actually will have 3 parties to chose from before the end of our trip, and we won't have to miss any school to do it.

Could it possibly be that all these up charges and add-ons help keep the regular price down a little bit?

I believe so. I personally, am a fan of the upcharges. It means that I can chose whether or not to spend that money. I would prefer to see another desert party, or after hours event, or some other add on, instead of resort parking fees, or higher room rates / ticket rates. The up charge events, you have a choice whether to pay or not. When they start adding resort parking fees, and ticket price increases, that affects everyone. If you're going to get upset about something, get upset about those price increases and fees. Be thankful for the upcharge events.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Nope, don't feel that way at all. We don't feel like we're getting less. I don't understand why people have such a hard time understanding that Disney is a business

 

[LMA712014]

I have to ditto PP.

Although I’ve only made one trip personally to Disney, my husband went many times as a child. We had a nice trip last time, and we will return. But at the end of the day, no matter how many ‘feel goods’ Disney elicits for folks it is a business.

It’s always about the bottom dollar. That’s just reality.

As far as things that are ‘crazy’ I’d say that’s really situational. If we return, we’re taking an RV and staying at the Fort. Our vacation will cost $3-4K. Some people spend FAR more than that, and that’s totally okay by me. Disney having parties four times a week would only be outlandish if no one showed up. And we all know that isn’t the case.

 

[mom2rtk]

Could it possibly be that all these up charges and add-ons help keep the regular price down a little bit?

Nope. Those have gone up pretty substantially as well. Last I heard margins were at 24% in the parks with hopes to go higher. They are looking under every rock and sofa cushion looking for ways to increase profits. It's definitely an "all of the above" approach.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We started taking our kids in 2003- 25 trips later I am feeling disillusioned. Don't get me wrong, I love being at Disney but I've seen things change- and not in a good way

EMH- reduced so you can have more upselk extra hours. Now offered to some off site guests also

Resort prices have become ridiculous and have more than doubled since we started coming. Now of course I don't expect them to stay the same for 15 years- but doubled?

DDP- was a great plan when it first started. Included appetizer and gratuity at a reasonable price. Now we only get it if we do free dining

Fireworks dessert party was originally $30 a person. Now that it's become popular it's $60 per person. Again doubled

We are going in August but this is the first trip ever where I don't have that "can't wait" feeling

 

[BK2014]

The thing that I notice about most of these "Disney is alienating its long-time guests by increasing fees/prices" threads is that they start with a post indicating one's unhappiness with Disney along with a plan to still return in the future. I am not questioning the sentiment, or saying it is not a valid feeling to have. But Disney knows that there is such an emotional attachment to its product that it will take a lot for long-time guests to stop coming. And as for new guests, well they never knew Disney any other way. So unless these new fees/price increases/upcharges actually cause significant amount of repeat guest from coming, Disney has no reason not to do what publicly traded companies are supposed to do - maximize profits.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Making up for lost time when they should have been doing something other than sitting on their laurels? And how do you measure the value of new lands not opened yet? For that matter, how do you measure the value of new lands when so many of the older attractions are running at reduced capacity because of staffing cuts? Especially when the result of the reduced capacity (longer waits and the appearance of bigger crowds) seems to be being used as an excuse to create all these upcharges and add-on special events? Again, maybe it's just me but when you artificially create a bigger demand and then create an extra charge way to circumvent the artificially created demand, I can't help but feel that that's just sneaky and manipulative. And those are two words I never thought I'd associate with Disney.

I've never experienced reduced capacity or anything that appears to be staff cuts. Not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it.

 

[jhoannam]

But since a less than stellar trip this year and watching all the upcharges, add-ons, hard ticket events, and especially price increases and gouges, I'm feeling pretty disillusioned with Disney right about now. We're planning another trip probably in late 2020, but the shine is gone. Like I said in the thread title, maybe it's just me (and my DW) that're feeling this way. I guess the thing that bothers me most is that Disney doesn't seem to care about disenfranchising their long-time, loyal fans/guests. They just seem happy to take our money and offer us less and less value for it each time we come back. Won't be long before that money train runs out I suppose. Like I said, maybe it's just me...

I think Disney knows they make more money from the “one and done” crowd than us regulars. We just keep their rooms full but don’t buy their overpriced souvenirs. We aren’t their target, they don’t care about us.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I think Disney knows they make more money from the “one and done” crowd than us regulars. We just keep their rooms full but don’t buy their overpriced souvenirs. We aren’t their target, they don’t care about us.

Then why so many discounts for AP holders? I buy MORE stuff now, because I get an AP discount. I book more extras, because I don't have to buy tickets.

 

[odd man out]

Reminds me of the old adage "Nobody goes there anymore, It's too crowded." It's all supply and demand. Disney has created a huge demand and a very limited supply (there's only one WDW). Their job isn't to make ME happy; it's to make money. Thus to me it makes no sense to complain about crowds and extra fees. If attendance and profits drop due, they will adapt. If not, they wont. That's how free market economies work. I don't know of a better option. We only go to WDW about every 7 years and just got back from our most recent trip and had a great time. I think what made the difference for me on this trip is that I made a point not to plan every minute. I never once worried about what I wasn't doing but just enjoyed what I was doing. We splurged for one "extra", the Wanyama Safari, which we thought was a great. Otherwise we went to the parks, rode the busses, saw the new stuff (even Fantasyland was new for us), and had a great time.

 

[FastPasser.]

Their job isn't to make ME happy; it's to make money.

Can't it be both, make you happy and make money?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Can't it be both, make you happy and make money?

They make me happy and they take my money happily.

When I get to the point where I am not happy I will stop going.