Originally Posted By oc_dean >>Call me cheap if you like, but I have no regrets.<< I'll call you - Afford what you can afford Like the vast majority of Americans!
Originally Posted By fkurucz "Makes you wonder what else they can make up." Keep in mind that the Sarbanes-Oxley act was passed precisely because of such shenanigans. Publicly held companies' management are held liable for false accounting disclosures. Doesn't mean that they won't cheat, but if they get caught the CEO and other bosses can't plead ignorance. When SarbOx became law companies hired armies of accountants to be compliant.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I'll call you - Afford what you can afford Like the vast majority of Americans!<< If only that were so. I wonder what percentage of AP purchases are an unpaid Credit Card balance?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Remember when the shareholders meetings would be in such far, out of the way places as to be impossible for people to attend? THOSE were the days of non-disclosure.<< Wasn't it just a couple years ago that it was held in Albuquerque? And maybe I'm confusing it with something else, but was this year's in Marceline? They still hold them all over the place, and in cities that aren't nessecarily the closest to southern California; with all of the Company's various business units headquartered throughout the country, it makes sense to use a variety of locations
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I'm sure Disney could charge $1000.00 for a premium annual pass and their sales would not be hit as much as you would think.<< I think that could be true. If they live close by, and enjoy going to the parks several times a month, it still works out to be fairly inexpensive (Under $100 per month -- my wife and I spend more than that on our bowling league!) at $1,000. Regulars will justify the cost because it's what they enjoy, just like season ticket holders of sports teams justify the expense. The parks are more popular than ever, so they'll charge as much as possible. The $1,000 AP will be here within 3 years I bet.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Regulars will justify the cost because it's what they enjoy, just like season ticket holders of sports teams justify the expense.<< Bingo. I don't get the need for comments about "Kool-aid." It reminds me of the threads where people insist spending X amount for GCH is too much—people like what they like. I'm not an AP holder and don't know that I'll ever be one. But I can see why people would think its a great deal for great entertainment. Me, I don't get people who spend thousands on season tickets to sporting events or a luxury car. But hey, to each his own. If people have a great time at DL, despite the expense, good on them. Me, I'll be taking my family to Manhattan instead of DL for our next vacation.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Hey Dean, I'm in complete agreement that Disney is greedy." So from that you've jumped to the conclusion that Disney may be doctoring its financials? Really Dean?
Originally Posted By SuperDry As others have already pointed out, even at today's prices, taking the family for a day at DL still compares favorably to other leisure activities, such as major league sports games, especially when you consider that a ticket to DL provides 16+ hours of entertainment. In that context, I find the price hikes far less offensive than those to major league games, where in addition to high ticket prices, the owners are benefiting from a taxpayer-subsidized stadium.
Originally Posted By mikeginla My thinking is that the pricing is getting to a point where a couple or family could have a much richer travel experience going somewhere else for not that much more money. When I think of great life experiences I've had on vacation it's: Running around on the Great Wall in China, seeing the Golden Palace in Bangkok, trekking thru Tokyo, visiting the Met in New York or even Zip Lining on Catalina. One could still visit the park less and save their money for something they will remember for the rest of their lives. Not that standing in line for Space Mountain is not a truly memorable experience.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Yes Disney is expensive, but guess what? Just about everything is. I want to take my kids to the crappy local fair, I have to ready to shell out the BIG bucks for everything. It's like 6 bucks for my two kids to get on one ride. I take my kids to the crappy local theme park, it's almost $40 for an adult to get in and ride unlimited. Guess what, they have 3 rides that adults can get on. 3 rides. Period. Disney at $87 for one day, doesn't seem all that bad when you compare it to other things.
Originally Posted By Kidz-n-k9s "My thinking is that the pricing is getting to a point where a couple or family could have a much richer travel experience going somewhere else for not that much more money." That's the conversation in my family right now. We bought Deluxe APs in March and we knew we'd be making the drive from AZ at least a couple of times over the year due to the new attractions, and I also figured the price would jump (but I didn't think it would go 30%) because of the new attractions. As a non-local APs, I have to include the cost of hotels and gas, so it isn't just the cost of the APs for our family of 4. I never planned on renewing my AP next year, but this cost increase sealed the deal. As a life-long Disney fan, I do plan on taking a break from Disney after going on average almost every other year over my lifetime. While this has turned me off for now, it won't keep me away forever.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>My thinking is that the pricing is getting to a point where a couple or family could have a much richer travel experience going somewhere else for not that much more money.<< That's been where I'm at for a few years now. Used to be an annual trip to Disneyland was something we did between other vacations. But with the pricing now moving us to have to choose either Disney OR something new, I'm afraid something new wins. That's not to put down people who love the parks and enjoying going again and again, by the way. Do what makes you happy.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <I firmly believe Disneyland, and WDW have been cash cows for ages. And beginning in the mid/to-late 80s ... every penny imaginable was to begin pumping the corporate side like mad.> Before the 80's, us old farts will remember when merch and (especially) food was quite reasonable at DL. There was a bit of a "captive audience" premium, but not nearly as much as at a movie theatre or sports stadium, and even less than Knott's or Magic Mountain. People noticed, and it generated a ton of good will. Now, I don't think the markup is any worse than a ballgame or other theme park, but it's just as bad.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Me, I'll be taking my family to Manhattan instead of DL for our next vacation. > ecdc, please let me know if/when that happens.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Before the 80's, us old farts will remember when merch and (especially) food was quite reasonable at DL." I remember that too. To be honest I think the overall quality of the food and dining options has improved tremendously since those days.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 No question. But a coke is a coke. Paying 75c for one when you could buy one in the store for 50c was okay. Now, what do you pay? 3 bucks? And it's only a buck in the store?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Three bucks for a coke is a rip off without question. I recently made the mistake of going to see Cirque du Soleil without eating dinner and ordered two hot dogs, a beer, and bottled water at the venue and the total came to $27. So while Disney's prices are high, what they charge isn't necessarily out of line with other entertainment venues.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I agree. But the point is they used to be BETTER than other "captive audience" places. It was cheaper to get a burger and drink at DL than it was at Magic Mountain, for instance, and it's not like MM's burgers were any better (at that time, they were both pretty awful.)
Originally Posted By disneyfreaksk No AP for me. I really wish they would allow non-residents to pay monthly payments. That was the only way I was able to enjoy WDW last year.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "I think I hear your mother calling you, SPP" LOL "Bingo. I don't get the need for comments about 'Kool-aid.'" Sour grape flavored Kool-aid? "Disney at $87 for one day, doesn't seem all that bad when you compare it to other things." Yeah. Lots of people invest more money in various hobbies over the course of a year. Concert tickets for the top acts can be pretty outrageous. Hey, you can be like Steve Martin and take roles in crappy movies to pay for an art collection. That must be Cristal flavored Kool-aid. "That's not to put down people who love the parks and enjoying going again and again, by the way. Do what makes you happy." Right. I'll probably renew. But I don't have any problem with someone deciding that the price isn't worth it to them. There are tons of great ways to spend that money. What I don't get so much is the bitterness. And in some cases, the sense of entitlement.
