How Fans Feel About Parades Returning to Disney (At an Extra Cost) - Inside the Magic

Comments for How Fans Feel About Parades Returning to Disney (At an Extra Cost)

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Credit: Disney

20 Comments

  1. The Christmas parade was part of Very Merry in the past; this is not a new concept. The Christmas parade they show on television is at Disneyland. All they do in Florida is have musical performances (example in front of the castle). They film that in the beginning of December and they edit it into the televised Christmas parade on Christmas day. We went to the magic kingdom (WDW) in the beginning of December and we saw a modest crowd around the castle waiting for a Frozen performance that was going to be filmed for the parade. It was a ticketed event. They had to be there very early and stand for hours. We walked past them and went to Adventureland. The Christmas parade at Very Merry is good. I remember sipping my hot chocolate and eating a cookie from Tortuga and watching the parade in Frontierland. Snoap falls on you on Main Street. It’s up to you and your family. If you want to see a holiday parade in the day time, go to the Easter parade on Easter Sunday.

    1. Kathryn

      I am both hurt and appalled at Disney’s money grabbing. It was already overpriced but now all the changes they are making are so expensive that families can’t afford this on normal salaries. Walt Disney designed it so that everyone could be included. This is horrible and a slap in his face. Im a travel agent and even with my agent discount I can’t afford to go to Disney anymore much less these add on.

      1. Ami

        Agreed! Terrible

      2. Barbara

        I’m as angry as you. It seems to me they are trying to ‘upscale’ the parks so only the very wealthy will be able to bring their families which, as you said, was not Walt’s dream for his parks. But sadly, greed has overtaken this country and in order to continue to pay the outrageous salaries of their ‘execs’ they have to keep raising prices! All I can say is, Bye-bye WDW. You’ve priced out!!! I feel sorry for my great grandchildren, they’ll probably never get to go!

  2. Jackie

    It’s a good idea to do the parades during an event which has a low capacity. Its acting as a trail for larger crowds and will allow disney to work out any kinks for when they resume parades for larger crowds

  3. Eric M

    Disney has become the most shamelessly cash grabbing company ever!

    “Parades are cancelled due to a public health crisis UNLESS you pay us a couple hundred bucks a person, in which case the parade is perfectly safe!”

    1. I agree Eric. I have been DVC since 1998 and can’t believe what Disney is doing. They are price gouging to make up for the pandemic. No more parades for regular guests, no more fast passes and no more Majical Express after this year. Can’t wait to see what’s next. I assume fast passes will be expensive. I read a blog that suggested it would be $9 per person for fast pass on Buzz Lightyear. Let’s not forget your ticket prices are also based on time of year now. I can understand making changes during the pandemic but it gave them a chance to make changes permanently. My family use to visit yearly from NJ that will change just to expensive.

    2. Ami

      Agreed! Everything is more and more money! Not very magical or fun!

  4. THX1138

    Cost, pandemic, pay, bad press, the end is near!
    But in the mean time when can we pay to drive up to each attraction?

  5. Richard Dauphinais

    First I would have to say you would have to be special kind idiot to keep paying these prices for less services or entertainment. Wow. You now have to pay to see a parade. I hope the performers are getting paid a lot more. I know the trip we have planned for March is going to be our last time. We have been to WDW 42 times since 83. It’s no longer a family destination spot. With the prices they charge and all the ways to get it. Middle class is being pushed out. We always thought it was magical. Not anymore. We will save our money and travel the country from now on. There are better things out there to see and do.

    1. Lorenzo

      Richard,

      You are right on so many points. We went from 72-89 so you saw what we saw. That WDW is dead and never coming back. But there are A LOT of idiots to make up for your absence. Things will only get worse…but its what most guests have been brought up with. It’s normal to them. Enjoy your future “real” trips!

  6. Carl

    Why on earth anyone would be foolhardy enough to pay up to $249, primarily to see the same old parade (same tired floats, same character costumes, same music etc.) that’s been running for over 15 years is beyond me!! Some people have more money than sense, it would seem. It’s quite an embarrassment to Disney, that their flagship resort, can offer so little, whilst demanding so much from their guests! Especially, when you compare it to the international parks, like Tokyo Disney Resort! They have two dedicated Christmas parades, one in Disneyland and one in DisneySea. Each character- even minor ones like Max Geef, for example, get beautifully elaborate costumes every few years, with the parades refreshed and cycled for around 5 years, before a new one is produced. Even year on year, the parades aren’t identical. Costumes for performances and characters are frequently refreshed, often to tie in with the new year’s seasonal merchandise. Again, something that is unsurpassed by any other park and resort. The final slap in the face to domestic Disney guests, is that you have to pay a hefty premium to experience these quite lacklustre offerings. Again, compared to what Tokyo seasonally offer, it is all included in the admission price and lasts for the whole season, not just selected dates. There is no guest discrimination and crowds are managed, by making it available every day. How can it be that a resort not even owned and operated by Disney, can deliver such a mind blowing guest experience, yet Walt’s original parks (including their Paris abomination) can’t?

  7. Jason T

    The parades used to be beautiful and magical. Now the last few times I’ve been there they were obnoxious and annoying. I don’t visit magic kingdom any more simply because of the parades. They cause crowds and make it impossible to get anywhere but you get yelled at if you don’t keep moving to nowhere.

  8. Tlaw

    I can only hope that Chepak gets booted before he destroys Disnry beyond repair.

    While he is maximizing returns in the short term, he is making goodwill damage that the company may never recover from.

    As a two time DVC owner who recommended the club to numerous others, I can no longer do so, and have actually considering selling my interest due to Chepak’s management.

  9. Kenny

    As long as folks are willing to pay they will charge for it, it’s the Disney way. They are using financial exclusion to limit attendance. My family of 5 we’re annual passholders for 5 years, however they became more restrictive and more expensive. Consequently, my hard earned money goes to other theme parks and has since 2017. My kids have enjoyed the competition just as much and it leaves more money in my pocket for other things.

  10. KTS

    Disney will end up losing visitors not only from overseas but in America, fastpasses was a big lose, & paying for each ride people just won’t go.
    I have always said if it works it don’t need fixing & fastpasses worked for everyone, why change it.
    We know everyone has suffered with the pandemic, but if Disney continue to add costs then people won’t go & disney will lose out.
    Taking fastpasses, dining plan, & adding cost to uping their prices on ride, Enterance to parks, then it soon won’t be the most magical place on earth it will be become a fairground for the rich, as people won’t be able to afford the cost to go to Disney
    Disney makes enough money from their merchandise, the cost for park Enterance, food, but to add more cost Disney is getting greedy due to a pandemic
    Disney don’t get greddy, keep your fast passes, your dining plan, & disney transport, this is why people flock to Disney the deals you give & if they have worked throughout the decades why change
    We a family from uk & it cost us over 10k to travel, & stay in a Disney value hotel, you will lose custom from families if you keep adding cost that people can’t afford, they making it a park for the rich & not for everyone
    We were planing on going in 2024 after out holiday was cancelled in 2020 & also 2021 but we go elsewhere if disney takes fast passes, disney dinning & we have to pay for each ride each person, when we pat enough to get into the park, its a rip off disney charging more when we pay enough just to get into park for each person
    Disney is using the pandemic issue to cash in on losses, that people can’t afford to pay
    But all they be doing is losing visitors as noone will pay those costs Disney if still alive would never of cashed in DISNEY JUST GOT GREEDY NOW

  11. DisneyMom73

    No matter your opinion on the costs vs. experiences, it’s really not very nice to call people you don’t know “idiots” or “foolhardy”! My son and I will be there for the 50th in October and are excited for our trip and our visit to Boo Bash. I am neither foolhardy nor am I an idiot. Everyone be kind to each other and Have a Magical Day!

  12. Rick

    Congrats, Disney, on weeding out the riff-raff, the unwashed masses who supported Walt’s dream. Here’s one very ashamed shareholder.

  13. William Wells

    Disney is becoming extremely greedy, parades are unsafe for regular guests, but hey, if you’re willing to shell out an addition $200 for an after hours event ticket, well I guess that would be safe for a parade or two. It’s just a matter of time before they start charging for fast passes, bus transportation, room service, dinner reservations and wake up calls.

  14. Karuune

    I can honestly understand the parade being only for a smaller event, due to the ability to better socially distance with less people.

    However, there should be a caveat that, once the pandemic is truly over, all of these exorbitant (and, quite frankly, unnecessary) charges will go away. I can appreciate that the bottom line has been affected in the past year and a half, and will continue to be so until the pandemic is truly and fully behind us; but, Moore’s Law should not be related to pricing at Disney. Doubling the prices yearly will just wind up making Disney completely inaccessible to the 99%.

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