What is going on with Disney parks?

[kymom99]

Maybe I’m completely wrong because I’m going off memory, but I don’t think there was the same kind of jump in prices across the board in the years between say, 2000 and 2010, to 2010 and 2020. If we looked I would guess even 2010-2015 saw less jumps than 2015-2020. Yeah things always go up and yeah people always complain but there may be something to it. I’m sure the economy was a factor.

Maybe just my perception, because again I didn’t seek out the numbers.

I think 9/11 and the recession that came after made an impact. Our first visit was in June 2004 and crowds were very manageable. Prices I thought were very fair too, and I probably paid rack rate since I didn't know any better.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I think 9/11 and the recession that came after made an impact. Our first visit was in June 2004 and crowds were very manageable. Prices I thought were very fair too, and I probably paid rack rate since I didn't know any better.

I think it would have been somewhere between 2005 and 2010 (talk about fuzzy memory, I need that big of a range lol) that they had 40% off rooms, and that awesome buy 4 get 3 deal where you paid for 4 nights and got 3 free! I didn’t imagine that last one right? I can’t find anything about it using google. These discounts on top of rates that were MUCH cheaper than current ones.

We did free dining at BC in 2008, and I want to say rack rate was $300 something.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I think it would have been somewhere between 2005 and 2010 (talk about fuzzy memory, I need that big of a range lol) that they had 40% off rooms, and that awesome buy 4 get 3 deal where you paid for 4 nights and got 3 free! I didn’t imagine that last one right? I can’t find anything about it using google. These discounts on top of rates that were MUCH cheaper than current ones.

We did free dining at BC in 2008, and I want to say rack rate was $300 something.

We got the stay 4 nights get 3 free deal in April 2009 for our honeymoon at the Contemporary.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

The price hike I find most outrageous? Dessert party. I mean the fact that they’re so prevalent is kind of outrageous in itself but go with me for a second.

In 2014 we considered doing it. It cost $25ish per person, so ultimately we decided that wasn’t worth it when we could get our own fireworks spot, and we spent a similar amount on a Crystal Palace breakfast instead (another big jump). In 2020, that dessert party is now $99! Approximately 4 times its cost 6 years ago. I guess there was the addition of booze?

 

[Itsnotmykitchen]

Maybe I’m completely wrong because I’m going off memory, but I don’t think there was the same kind of jump in prices across the board in the years between say, 2000 and 2010, to 2010 and 2020. If we looked I would guess even 2010-2015 saw less jumps than 2015-2020. Yeah things always go up and yeah people always complain but there may be something to it. I’m sure the economy was a factor.

Maybe just my perception, because again I didn’t seek out the numbers.

As previous poster mentioned its hard to compare with the economy being so much different. The 08 recession was really bad and Disney acted accordingly to get people to visit. My family actually got back into going to Disney with the deals that they were offering during the recession after forgetting about it for a number of years. I think a lot of the pricing we are seeing now is in response to the sustained good economy so we will see what happens when the next downturn occurs. I don't think it will be a disaster for them but I'm sure they will be offering more deals if they see a significant dip in attendance.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The price hike I find most outrageous? Dessert party. I mean the fact that they’re so prevalent is kind of outrageous in itself but go with me for a second.

In 2014 we considered doing it. It cost $25ish per person, so ultimately we decided that wasn’t worth it when we could get our own fireworks spot, and we spent a similar amount on a Crystal Palace breakfast instead (another big jump). In 2020, that dessert party is now $99! Approximately 4 times its cost 6 years ago. I guess there was the addition of booze?

We are officially priced out of the dessert parties with my kid turning 10. She barely ate enough to justify the child's price.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

As previous poster mentioned its hard to compare with the economy being so much different. The 08 recession was really bad and Disney acted accordingly to get people to visit. My family actually got back into going to Disney with the deals that they were offering during the recession after forgetting about it for a number of years. I think a lot of the pricing we are seeing now is in response to the sustained good economy so we will see what happens when the next downturn occurs. I don't think it will be a disaster for them but I'm sure they will be offering more deals if they see a significant dip in attendance.

Right but it’s not like people are making it up when they talk about price jumps. Whatever the reason, the prices are much higher than they were in the not too distant past. It’s more pronounced than looking back on 90s prices in the 00s, I think.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

We are officially priced out of the dessert parties with my kid turning 10. She barely ate enough to justify the child's price.

We’ve never done it. Guess we should have in 2014 lol.

You can eat an entire meal at California Grill and watch the fireworks from there for similar. It’s actually a money saver if you’ve got kids you’re paying for.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We’ve never done it. Guess we should have in 2014 lol.

You can eat an entire meal at California Grill and watch the fireworks from there for similar. It’s actually a money saver if you’ve got kids you’re paying for.

That's our plan, since we have seen HEA many times from the plaza garden.

 

[Firebird060]

Honestly if you have a large family its prob more economical to just do a fireworks cruise and anchor off in the 7 seas lagoon. I have done it with a group of 6 and it was nice and way more memorable then the lawn viewing package

 

[dlavender]

The price hike I find most outrageous? Dessert party. I mean the fact that they’re so prevalent is kind of outrageous in itself but go with me for a second.

In 2014 we considered doing it. It cost $25ish per person, so ultimately we decided that wasn’t worth it when we could get our own fireworks spot, and we spent a similar amount on a Crystal Palace breakfast instead (another big jump). In 2020, that dessert party is now $99! Approximately 4 times its cost 6 years ago. I guess there was the addition of booze?

And back then you could get a FP for one of the lawn spaces......

They took that out real quick when they could run a second party....for a pretty penny.......

The best is when we did a Halloween party in 2017 (I know, I fed the beast) there were people who had the dessert party during the party. Upsell upon upsell......upselltion?

Before booze it was $79, right? So for an extra $20 at least you are getting a few beers in? Oof...

 

[clarker99]

The economic theory of marginal utility is at play here. The more you go or the more you have of something the less you get out it. Like eating a certain food or watching a movie. 1st try it is magical and every subsequent trip is a little less satisfying. Your marginal utility probably deteriorates faster if the price goes up. Everyone's threshold is different. Disney is testing some peoples thresholds.

Crazy as it sounds, over the long term, getting someone to go to Disney less 'might' actually benefit both Disney and the customer as the utility decrease is spread out over a longer period.

 

[kymom99]

I think it would have been somewhere between 2005 and 2010 (talk about fuzzy memory, I need that big of a range lol) that they had 40% off rooms, and that awesome buy 4 get 3 deal where you paid for 4 nights and got 3 free! I didn’t imagine that last one right? I can’t find anything about it using google. These discounts on top of rates that were MUCH cheaper than current ones.

We did free dining at BC in 2008, and I want to say rack rate was $300 something.

You are exactly right. We went one year under that deal. It might have been 2008. In 2010 they had a deal where you got a gift card with a package. My step daughter got one for $750! We had a pin code so didn’t get a gift card. I remember paying $132 a night for CBR preferred

 

[Itsnotmykitchen]

Right but it’s not like people are making it up when they talk about price jumps. Whatever the reason, the prices are much higher than they were in the not too distant past. It’s more pronounced than looking back on 90s prices in the 00s, I think.

I’m not denying that prices are increasing at all. I’m just saying that it’s been 11 years since the last recession which has never happened before in US history. There hasn’t been an economic reason for Disney to reign in pricing or offer deals and discounts like there have been in the past. Based on previous trends, this country would have already been in a recession when this thread was started so a lot of the complaints about prices/crowds would most likely not exist.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I think if this same thread was happening 10 years ago when you started going, there would have been people like you are now saying it is to expensive and losing its magic bc they paid a fraction of the cost only 10years ago. Meanwhile, you loved it.

In 10 years, I may be on here shaking my fist at Disney and making similar complaints. While 10 more people take my place loving it.

Maybe, maybe not. I didn’t really start to feel this way until recently. I think the increase and cuts to hours, and addition of paid parties have ramped up significantly over the last 5 years as opposed to the previous 5.

but i take your point.

 

[Mikey15]

Maybe, maybe not. I didn’t really start to feel this way until recently. I think the increase and cuts to hours, and addition of paid parties have ramped up significantly over the last 5 years as opposed to the previous 5.

but i take your point.

Not denying the continued increases, hours changes, additional party dates, etc., but I’m pretty sure I did my first Christmas party in 2013. Haven’t these been going on a long time?

 

[dlavender]

@notfrostyjosh kills it in the below article:

https://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/d...-morning-touring-with-smugglers-run-fastpass/
It’s the below line that highlights a lot of my frustration:

“Despite record crowds, incredible wait times, and the highest revenue that the Walt Disney Company has ever realized, cuts continue. The Toy Story Land characters, including Woody, Jessie, and Buzz, had appeared at Park opening every day since Toy Story Land opened back in June of 2018. Now, none of them appear until an hour after the Park opens.”

 

[kymom99]

Not denying the continued increases, hours changes, additional party dates, etc., but I’m pretty sure I did my first Christmas party in 2013. Haven’t these been going on a long time?

Yes but they have them more frequently along with the Halloween parties which close mk to day guests several days a week

 

[hertamaniac]

@notfrostyjosh kills it in the below article:

https://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/d...-morning-touring-with-smugglers-run-fastpass/
It’s the below line that highlights a lot of my frustration:

“Despite record crowds, incredible wait times, and the highest revenue that the Walt Disney Company has ever realized, cuts continue. The Toy Story Land characters, including Woody, Jessie, and Buzz, had appeared at Park opening every day since Toy Story Land opened back in June of 2018. Now, none of them appear until an hour after the Park opens.”

Couldn't agree more. I have zero issue paying a natural increase for an equivalent experience from years ago, but feel they have festivaled and partied us to infinity and beyond.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Not denying the continued increases, hours changes, additional party dates, etc., but I’m pretty sure I did my first Christmas party in 2013. Haven’t these been going on a long time?

It's a big staggering though just how long the parties take up these days. In 2015 when I first started planning our 2017 trip MNSSHP was in the middle of September. Then it moved to the beginning and now it's middle of August (2019). Now I haven't gone through all the years to see when they started but they have typically been increasing each year the number of days taken up by the parties which are multiple times per week.

For the most part you'll see the increase on the MNSSHP because of the timing of the year. There's only so far they can go with MVMCP. They do a very quick turnaround though between the two parties. In 2019 the last MNSSHP was November 1st and the first MVMCP was November 8th so 6 days in between.