Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I really don't have a problem with this at all since they're " Magical Price Increases ".<<<< But it's magic OUR way!!! Yeah. Right.
Originally Posted By SSE I really don't think I would be getting a great value for my money if I had to spend $82 just to get in any of the parks. I love Animal Kingdom, but I don't believe that it is worth an $82 admission fee and neither is Hollywood Studios.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Agreed. Though overpriced, only MK and EPCOT are "worth" it to me.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I'd consider paying the price for DHS or Epcot. MK is a hassle no matter what time you're there, so I have no desire to spend money to go to that park.
Originally Posted By MPierce Notice that the highest percentage of increases are for extended stays at WDW. The Mouse is very crafty. He lowers the daily price of extend stay tickets overall. Then he increases the percentage of price increase for longer stay tickets. That's why you can have 50% off sales on super inflated priced merchandise, and have the $38 a day Disney Dining Plan (that will be going up soon) on super inflated menu prices or buy 4 get 7 days at inflated room rates (which also will be going up shortly). Oh look how much money we are saving!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer The only real deal I see is the 3 park tic. 30-40 bucks a day really is much better.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys Price increases?? After the week from hell that I just spent at Disney they couldn't pay me to go back. I've been going since 1975 and have just about had it with Disney. Will not be going back any time soon.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys First off, I will say that I am not one of these people that calls or complains to Guest Relations about everything because I don't think it's is good use of my precious vacation time. Upon check in at the BW there was no soap or shampoo in our room, clogged drains, broken refrigerator, the door wouldn't close and lock behind us. All were taken care of when we called to complain but should have been addressed before we checked in. Our phone rang randomly night and day with a fax tone coming through which the staff could not figure out the cause of. The best they could do after 5 days was put our phone on DND which was in inconvenience because my sons and their wives were in other rooms. The bathrooms at the parks, in my opinion, were disgusting- soap dispensers empty, faucets not working and the ones that did had non existent water pressure. There was litter in the parks, one of which was a used baby diaper. I know Disney can't control the slobs of the world but they do have to pick up after them. What bothered me the most and I won't go into much detail was that we encountered 5 rude CM's which resulted in 2 trips to Guest Relations when 2 were actually aggressive toward us. I know it was very hot even for Florida and maybe people were a little testy, but there is never an excuse to be rude to paying guests. I don't know, maybe the heat made me grouchy or my expectations were too high but I'm pretty easy going and it just seems like I said "this would never happen at the old Disney" too many times to my wife this trip. Her reply was that the standards in the world overall are lower and so are the standards at Disney.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer That's terrible, demderedoseguys. Those things shouldn't have happened. But you are exactly right,,,,Lower standards for everyone means that Disney gets away with this...easily.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Notice that the highest percentage of increases are for extended stays at WDW. The Mouse is very crafty. He lowers the daily price of extend stay tickets overall. Then he increases the percentage of price increase for longer stay tickets. That's why you can have 50% off sales on super inflated priced merchandise, and have the $38 a day Disney Dining Plan (that will be going up soon) on super inflated menu prices or buy 4 get 7 days at inflated room rates (which also will be going up shortly). Oh look how much money we are saving!>> I'm saving more on Disney (WDW especially) than I ever have. Because while I may be dumb (I'm not, don't worry just saying ...) I am not stupid. Disney's entire business model and pricing structure is the problem, but they aren't changing it ... borderline depression or not. They'll keep raising prices at least twice a year. And they'll keep discounting like hell ... oh, and Iger and Staggs and Rasulo will lie to the analysts and financial press that they are not discounting as much as they were (I am sure that is why they were offering cast 60% discounts on resorts this summer!) I often wonder why they don't simply jump ahead and price a one-day ticket at $100 or $150 and just get it over with. ~WDW: Not Worth It!~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<First off, I will say that I am not one of these people that calls or complains to Guest Relations about everything because I don't think it's is good use of my precious vacation time.>> It's not ... and besides, most people don't care and do you really want them to create a file on you as a 'chronic'? <<Upon check in at the BW there was no soap or shampoo in our room, clogged drains, broken refrigerator, the door wouldn't close and lock behind us. All were taken care of when we called to complain but should have been addressed before we checked in.>> That's embarrassing considering the BW recently had a thorough refurb. But also realize they don't train their Mousekeepers to do much more than make towel animals for guests to get excited by. A housekeeper should make sure everything works in the room before it is cleared for the next guests. <<Our phone rang randomly night and day with a fax tone coming through which the staff could not figure out the cause of. The best they could do after 5 days was put our phone on DND which was in inconvenience because my sons and their wives were in other rooms.>> See, that for me has FREE TRIP written all over it. Sleep is very important to me and if my phone rang and woke me up at say 3:11, I wouldn't be able to sleep anymore. Of course, and I'm not being critical just saying what I'd have done, I wouldn't have stayed in the room beyond the first night if they couldn't solve the problem immediately. A small leak in the sink might be minor. Random phone calls at all hours isn't. <<The bathrooms at the parks, in my opinion, were disgusting- soap dispensers empty, faucets not working and the ones that did had non existent water pressure.>> Yes. I have been hoping that Jason Garcia might get off his lazy arse and write about this. Especially in an era where we are concerned about the spread of germs and illness, it amazes me that WDW theme parks all have sinks that trickle coolish water on your hands and shut off after 10 seconds. At least at DL and DLP you actually get HOT water and some pressure. I know the PR (aka BS) response would be they are saving water and being green, but c'mon ... people need to be able to really clean up after using Disney's magical facilities! <<There was litter in the parks, one of which was a used baby diaper. I know Disney can't control the slobs of the world but they do have to pick up after them.>> Exactly. Nothing angers me more than seeing CMs walk by trash. Sorry, that isn't the Disney Way. Well, the old one anyway. Of course, I was thinking the same thing a few days ago when my local Super Target looked like a pig farm and there were plenty of employees standing around with hands on their hips! <<What bothered me the most and I won't go into much detail was that we encountered 5 rude CM's which resulted in 2 trips to Guest Relations when 2 were actually aggressive toward us.>> I would really love to hear this (I love Spirited ugly stories!) ... you sure you don't want to spill? <<I know it was very hot even for Florida and maybe people were a little testy, but there is never an excuse to be rude to paying guests. >> Guess what? It's Florida. It's summer. It's always hot and disgusting. But that's no excuse for ever being rude to guests. You just don't tolerate that because as bad as Disney's pay is, if people are that unhappy there's a Wendy's, CVS, Chili's or Mobil down the street where they can work and maybe earn a quarter more an hour. <<I don't know, maybe the heat made me grouchy or my expectations were too high but I'm pretty easy going and it just seems like I said "this would never happen at the old Disney" too many times to my wife this trip. Her reply was that the standards in the world overall are lower and so are the standards at Disney.>> Your wife was right. But I think that answer isn't an excuse ... and doesn't make things OK. I don't want to live in a Walmarted world and I sure as blank don't want to spend my $$$ vacationing in one. ~Sorry about your less than magical visit~
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >Of course, and I'm not being critical just saying what I'd have done, I wouldn't have stayed in the room beyond the first night if they couldn't solve the problem immediately. A small leak in the sink might be minor. Random phone calls at all hours isn't.< In retrospect, I would have done just that. However, in this age of technology, I guess I was naive in thinking thought that the fix would be a no brainer. That, coupled w/ the fact that we arrived at the BW our first day at 10:00 am and our room was not available until 5:30 made me a little leary about a room change since I thought it would take up or waste part of another day. >I would really love to hear this (I love Spirited ugly stories!) ... you sure you don't want to spill? < All I will say is that I was so angry at the way we were being treated that my wife and I got up and walked out of one of our favorite restaurants at the Magic Kingdom. We checked in for 8 nights last Thursday and seriously considered leaving after the 3rd day before deciding to stay for the benefit of our son's and their wives.
Originally Posted By MPierce When they start losing long time fans like demderedoseguys Disney is in trouble. I felt the same wayas doseguys my last 2 trips. I tried to make the most out of both trips, but I just didn't care if I was there or not, and it didn't bother me when I left.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> All I will say is that I was so angry at the way we were being treated that my wife and I got up and walked out of one of our favorite restaurants at the Magic Kingdom. << Would you mind mentioning the restaurant?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> See, that for me has FREE TRIP written all over it. Sleep is very important to me and if my phone rang and woke me up at say 3:11, I wouldn't be able to sleep anymore. << You'd complain if it woke you up at noon though. >> Yes. I have been hoping that Jason Garcia might get off his lazy arse and write about this. << Next time he post one of his little columns, and list his e-mail address, why don't you contact him. I bet he would love hearing from you. >> I would really love to hear this (I love Spirited ugly stories!) ... you sure you don't want to spill? << Me too! It will stir all the natives up, and get them posting. >> Your wife was right. << It wasn't his wife who said it, it was doesguys who said " like I said "this would never happen at the old Disney" ". Put that Mojita down, and follow the conversation!
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >Would you mind mentioning the restaurant?< It was The Plaza, which I still think is the best kept secret at Disney. We eat lunch and dinner there all the time. It has good food and the prices aren't too bad.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>When they start losing long time fans like demderedoseguys Disney is in trouble.<<< I am really starting to believe that Disney goes through a cycle with their fans.... And as quality goes down, they loose the old ones and gain the new ones. Maybe it's a 40 year thing. I have 20 years left...not bad.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> The bathrooms at the parks, in my opinion, were disgusting << Heresy! You're talking about holy ground, my friend.
