What is going on with Disney parks?

[DGsAtBLT]

It's WDW's specialty right now. Manipulate supply, drive prices....

Is it ever.

Decrease general hours, scale back EMH, don’t run attractions at full capacity... oh look how crowded it is! Guess we have no choice but to raise day ticket prices and sell tickets to an increasing number of hard ticket events, the guests demand it!

 

[jkh36619]

I hate price increases like everyone else. That is why we're not doing the AP every year and going to a 3 year rotation. We stay offsite but we purchased camper recently so I have will have some stays at the Fort which is expensive for a campground but still not bad compared to the resort prices.

What keeps me from being as disgruntled as many people is all the improvements that are going on in the parks. I haven't seen this much work since the 4th gate opened. I know they are cutting here and there but nothing has been cut that takes me across the line. As far as park hours, we're not RD to park close people anyway. Now the day may come when I'm done with WDW. Who knows what the future holds.

In fact, I'm much happier with the park side of Disney than I am the film side...

 

[dlavender]

Is it ever.

Decrease general hours, scale back EMH, don’t run attractions at full capacity... oh look how crowded it is! Guess we have no choice but to raise day ticket prices and sell tickets to an increasing number of hard ticket events, the guests demand it!

And that's exactly what they are doing on the resort side, especially deluxes.

Not hard to see why the rates have skyrocketed. Take 150 rooms out of WL and voila, less supply and equal demand give higher pricing. Want to save? Give us $20k.........

Another advantage this gives them is the skyrocketed price on the deluxes has probably pushed some down to mods. These are people used to paying $350-400 night. Now $250 seems like a deal. And voila, we see skyrocketing moderate pricing.......

They are amazing at what they do, I'll give them that.

 

[dlavender]

I hate price increases like everyone else. That is why we're not doing the AP every year and going to a 3 year rotation. We stay offsite but we purchased camper recently so I have will have some stays at the Fort which is expensive for a campground but still not bad compared to the resort prices.

What keeps me from being as disgruntled as many people is all the improvements that are going on in the parks. I haven't seen this much work since the 4th gate opened. I know they are cutting here and there but nothing has been cut that takes me across the line. As far as park hours, we're not RD to park close people anyway. Now the day may come when I'm done with WDW. Who knows what the future holds.

In fact, I'm much happier with the park side of Disney than I am the film side...

You have a valid point. Before it was "I'm paying more for the same park?" Now they are finally building after at least a decade of nothing. But, the earlier price increases somehow didn't cover the cost. So they really are turning the screws now. That's why I have such a problem with it. We paid more and more for the same, and now we have to pay even more when we are getting something for it.

But to your point, they are adding a ton. Can't argue with that.

 

[Disneylover99]

That would make sense but I still think it makes for a bad comparison. Disney still offers discounts and free dining so comparing a trip with both to one without anything is not exactly fair. I get complaining about those things being limited or stripped down but that’s a different point.

I agree, it’s not an equal comparison to compare free dining to room discount or rack rate one year to a discount the following year.

For me, I’m comparing a standard discounted room at the Poly for the same dates in August over a 4 year period. So this is what I paid per night including taxes......

2017 - $266.63
2018 - $291.38
2019 - $418
2020 - $565.08 - This was as cheap as I could find It so far. But I’m not paying this. It’s way too rich for my blood. I’m just as happy at Pop.

A ridiculous jump in price the past two years.

 

[Disneylover99]

That's because they converted some of the rooms to DVC.........

Reduced inventory for the hotel side.

It's WDW's specialty right now. Manipulate supply, drive prices....

I guess I see some validity in that. But that was five years ago for the Poly. Wasn’t it? I just see huge price increases in the last two years.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I hate price increases like everyone else. That is why we're not doing the AP every year and going to a 3 year rotation. We stay offsite but we purchased camper recently so I have will have some stays at the Fort which is expensive for a campground but still not bad compared to the resort prices.

What keeps me from being as disgruntled as many people is all the improvements that are going on in the parks. I haven't seen this much work since the 4th gate opened. I know they are cutting here and there but nothing has been cut that takes me across the line. As far as park hours, we're not RD to park close people anyway. Now the day may come when I'm done with WDW. Who knows what the future holds.

In fact, I'm much happier with the park side of Disney than I am the film side...

No you're right the immense work they've been doing in the last couple of years and the next couple of years is fantastic for the parks overall. And I can appreciate your more positive viewpoint.

BUT they've increased the park tickets when they've had a ton of construction going on and not that I truly expected any decrease but it smacks ya in the face that you're paying even more when the parks are/have been/will be a mess. Do they have to raise them is the ultimate question? versus stagnant pricing for even just a couple of years.

And I think people get tired of increase after increase after increase. I mean you have several increases in a 12month time period that are really becoming the norm, then you add on parking fees (so an additonal charge to something that wasn't an additional charge before), then you have increases on the parties and the dessert parties, then the paid events and you increase the amount of time taken up during the year with these paid events. It can take a normally optimistic person and turn them into not so much in spite of all the growth and attention they are doing now (though they sat on their hands for too many years lol).

 

[LSUmiss]

That would make sense but I still think it makes for a bad comparison. Disney still offers discounts and free dining so comparing a trip with both to one without anything is not exactly fair. I get complaining about those things being limited or stripped down but that’s a different point.

They offer fewer discounts & the discounts are not as good.

 

[LSUmiss]

And that's exactly what they are doing on the resort side, especially deluxes.

Not hard to see why the rates have skyrocketed. Take 150 rooms out of WL and voila, less supply and equal demand give higher pricing. Want to save? Give us $20k.........

Another advantage this gives them is the skyrocketed price on the deluxes has probably pushed some down to mods. These are people used to paying $350-400 night. Now $250 seems like a deal. And voila, we see skyrocketing moderate pricing.......

They are amazing at what they do, I'll give them that.

I’ll admit that’s us. We usually pay deluxe,
but refuse to pay current deluxe prices. We went with pop this trip without a discount but still “saved” $1000 so it seemed ok.

 

[kymom99]

They offer fewer discounts & the discounts are not as good.

Nowhere close to being as good

 

[Disneylover99]

They offer fewer discounts & the discounts are not as good.

And even if they we’re discounted at 50%, the rack rate prices at most deluxe, especially in some room categories, are so inflated, it’s just not worth it.

 

[dlavender]

I guess I see some validity in that. But that was five years ago for the Poly. Wasn’t it? I just see huge price increases in the last two years.

Yes, will be 5 years this April.

There was still more deluxe inventory then. WL conversion didn't happen until 2017. I think it took a few years to really see the affects.

Also, demand has risen some against the declining supply. Makes for a fast moving curve....

I'm also guessing that whoever set the pricing in 2015-2016 has moved on.........lol

 

[dlavender]

I’ll admit that’s us. We usually pay deluxe,
but refuse to pay current deluxe prices. We went with pop this trip without a discount but still “saved” $1000 so it seemed ok.

And to be fair, they've added a lot to make the increased costs on the lower levels seem more palatable. You have gondola access, and refurbed rooms.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm also guessing that whoever set the pricing in 2015-2016 has moved on.........lol

Haha. Where are they? Bring them back!!!!
Gone forever I guess. RIP fair pricing Gods.

 

[dlavender]

Haha. Where are they? Bring them back!!!!
Gone forever I guess. RIP fair pricing Gods.

I think they went to Universal..........Probably Cabanna Bay. For my money, probably the best hotel still for value in Orlando.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think they went to Universal..........Probably Cabanna Bay. For my money, probably the best hotel still for value in Orlando.

I really love Cabana Bay too.

 

[Remy is Up]

SO just keeping things in perspective. Its hard to do a comparison with any other "theme" park group but since it is in proximity:
Universal - WDW
Hotels June13-20

Hard Rock	401​
Portofino	395​
Royal Pacific	375​
Aventura	163​
Cabana	170 ​

In comparison WDW:

Saratoga	297​
Pop	159​
Port Orleans River	221​
Carribean	213​
***	131​
AKL	300​
Coronado	222​
Riviera	425​
Cont	450​
BDW	372​
Beach Club	419​
Poly	498​
GF	410​

ALL now have parking fees so thats a wash. To say Disney is outpricing their hotels,,,,ummm nope dont see it here other than Poly being out of line which is typical, nothing else is out of line.

So tickets There is a difference:

Uni	2park	3park
Uni 3 Day	272​	285​
Uni 5 Day	315​	373​

	Hopper
WDW 3 Day	419​
WDW 5 Day	502​

So WDW tickets are more expensive..Difference 4 parks vs 2..if I total up attractions across all parks, Disney dwarfs the # of attractions at Universal.

Nighttime shows daytime parades---Not even a contest here...WDW has waaaay more options

Disney gives you 3 Free FPs a day plus the ability to make as many more as you want. Unless you stay at Hard rock, Portofino or RP you have to pay for it at Universal.

Park Hours: Complain all you want. Facts are facts..Where in June WDW has MK open till 10 or later much of the month, Epcot 9, Studios 9, AK 9.....Uni is open till 8..Yaaaay.

EMH- Disney does it for on site guests at one of the parks pretty much daily...Well Uni does too and they will let you in Harry Potter land for one of the 2 rides available....Oh my.

With my AP I get discounts galore, my food options (TIW), entertainment ( Springs is much more fun than Citywalk), 2 water parks vs 1, etc etc.

So when you put it in perspective to the closest competitor..its not unreasonable for what you get in comparison. The complaining rings hollow when you look at real comparisons

 

[Farro]

SO just keeping things in perspective. Its hard to do a comparison with any other "theme" park group but since it is in proximity:
Universal - WDW
Hotels June13-20

Hard Rock	401​
Portofino	395​
Royal Pacific	375​
Aventura	163​
Cabana	170​

In comparison WDW:

Saratoga	297​
Pop	159​
Port Orleans River	221​
Carribean	213​
***	131​
AKL	300​
Coronado	222​
Riviera	425​
Cont	450​
BDW	372​
Beach Club	419​
Poly	498​
GF	410​

ALL now have parking fees so thats a wash. To say Disney is outpricing their hotels,,,,ummm nope dont see it here other than Poly being out of line which is typical, nothing else is out of line.

So tickets There is a difference:

Uni	2park	3park
Uni 3 Day	272​	285​
Uni 5 Day	315​	373​

	Hopper
WDW 3 Day	419​
WDW 5 Day	502​

So WDW tickets are more expensive..Difference 4 parks vs 2..if I total up attractions across all parks, Disney dwarfs the # of attractions at Universal.

Nighttime shows daytime parades---Not even a contest here...WDW has waaaay more options

Disney gives you 3 Free FPs a day plus the ability to make as many more as you want. Unless you stay at Hard rock, Portofino or RP you have to pay for it at Universal.

Park Hours: Complain all you want. Facts are facts..Where in June WDW has MK open till 10 or later much of the month, Epcot 9, Studios 9, AK 9.....Uni is open till 8..Yaaaay.

EMH- Disney does it for on site guests at one of the parks pretty much daily...Well Uni does too and they will let you in Harry Potter land for one of the 2 rides available....Oh my.

With my AP I get discounts galore, my food options (TIW), entertainment ( Springs is much more fun than Citywalk), 2 water parks vs 1, etc etc.

So when you put it in perspective to the closest competitor..its not unreasonable for what you get in comparison. The complaining rings hollow when you look at real comparisons

Where are you getting those Disney rates? I don't see those when I plug in your dates.

 

[ChipnDale79]

So when you put it in perspective to the closest competitor..its not unreasonable for what you get in comparison. The complaining rings hollow when you look at real comparisons

I think Disney and Universal compete with other vacation destinations. I think their competition is greater than just each other.

They have to compete for vacation dollars, not just theme park dollars.

 

[jkh36619]

Maybe Disney is preparing to use the old jewelry store playbook. Mark it up 400% then give you 1/2 off. Move deluxe rates to $1000 a night then give you a room package discount of 50%. People will be fighting for those $500/night rooms. haha