Disney’s response was patronizing, at best; insulting at least. They FORMERLY provided a”worldclass experience”. Increased frequency & duration of ride/attraction breakdowns; adding a complex, smartphone-intensive “experience management” system, & MANY other negatives (mostly related
to crowds, pricing & unnecessary changes) has left us never wanting to go back (after 25 yrs of annual-ish trips). Disney seems content to keep building new resorts & DVC (meaning MORE park-goers at once) & that’s fine for stockholders & those who have oodles of money & don’t know the way it used to be. Y’all feel free to be the new Era of Disney guest. No it is NOT what Walt envisioned anymore, &that’s a damn shame.
Agreed! 10yrs straight and caught the last of the Magical Bubble in Jan 2020. No more magical express or luggage handling to the hotels which was an amazing weigh off traveling there. I feel as you do I will not be seeing Disney again.
So true, I’m hesitant to return because I’m not a crowd person, and the shoddy way things are being maintains ruins tge experience for me and impacts my memories of the good times when it was a world class experience. Now it’s pricey, tge lines are long, food portions are smaller but more expensive. I’m sad, Walt died when I was a kid, but I remember him on TV, and have fond memories of watching the Wonderfull World of Disney on Sunday nights with my folks. I miss the days when rides never broke down, and it was about tge experience, not the money alone.
I remember the exact same thing!!
I’ll never return to Disney…
At least I was fortunate to have went with my family and my grandkids!!!
It was a few years ago when we went and I’ll keep those memories alive with all the photos I took!
Yeah. In never returning. Wen Walt died so did the park. Walt cared about family fun and at these prices I got an entire extra week taking my kids to other places and having more and different experiences. Also get to see new places in general. A few places have a year pass for entire park for $100!!! We spent a week in Erie and had a blast and spent less then half of what I spent at Disney.
We have Kennywood park here and we can get a year pass for $100. I’ll never return. Not worth it at all to me. So many other places to explore and have fun doing different things at different places and seeing new places. We’ve had a blast not wasting our money at Disney anymore. I’ve saved so much and had so much more fun.
It is a shame that Bob greedy keeps raising prices, can’t control the people who fight or cause riots, bring weapons into the park, and the crowds are not that big, they are lying. They are getting more and more bad elements coming to the parks. Pay your workers better, better security, lower prices so good families can enjoy Walt’s vision of “A Happy Place For Families To Go and All be Children Again!”
Why do you think prices are bring raised? Have you ever gone to $1 movie night at a movie theater? The rowdiest crowd. The most fights/disruptions. Cheapest airlines are the same, the most confrontations, removal from plane, etc. You raise the prices, you get rid of the riff Raff. Not true for all cases but it prevents many low-income visitors from attending, and with low-income visitors comes problems and disruptions in the park. Fights, weapons, ridiculous behavior for a high-class family theme park. You ask for high-class prices, you get high-class people who know how to behave. They are making the right decision here! Shame for those who can behave and are of low income. But a few ruin it for everyone, so thank them not Disney! This move needs to be made. You price out a lot of bad behavior.
That truly is a very disgusting remark. Many low income families have little girls that just want to be princesses and they want to take this little girls to Disney. Or maybe there a little boy just loves Buzz Lightyear and wants to see him. Children are the reason that people go to Disney they’re not riffraff just because they don’t have a lot of money that’s a terrible thing to say and a terrible attitude to have. When Walt Disney was alive he wanted to make it a wonderful happy place for everyone he didn’t care about your status . Unfortunately Disney is losing sight of the main reason the park was open in the first place and one man’s dream.
Sad that this is your vision of how Disney should be which leads me to believe this your vision of everything in life. Price out the poor so the rich can enjoy themselves without life intruding in their comfort zone their Me Me Entitlment Bubble
Ohhh, so basically you’re saying poor people are the problem? We can’t afford $12,000 each year to enjoy the parks, but we can every 13-15 years. You “entitled” wealthy people are the problem thinking your money entitles you to everything and that us serfs should bow to your every need. I say you’re a douchecanoe.
I think he is. O mean it’s rich people that act entitled an like they deserve the best and don’t take others feelings into consideration Natalie deration more than poor people do.
Yup. This is what happens when you turn a family place into a TikTok place. Families don’t usually cause problems. Walt would hate what they did to Disney. He started this for family fun at a good price. It’s definitely not that anymore. I’ll never take my kids there again
We have been saving to return to WDW again. After the latest changes, we had to cancel our plans. We LOVE Disney and enjoyed all of our trips there. We just can’t afford to go anymore. If you don’t have endless money to spend, you do not have a great experience anymore. They have outpriced our families. We were looking forward to going with grandkids. Disappointed we can’t do it now. Shame on you Disney for being so greedy!
Walt did not intend for the park to be a scam. Theme parks are all about profits without concern of the product quality. Disney is the Walmart of shopping. Low quality, over prices, know. By name not quality.
Unpopular opinion here as i agree with the people saying they should raise the prices even more to limit the amount of people…I’m not rich in any way shape or form but IF I’m going to pay for example $500 for a ticket my biggest gripe is the fact genie+ will still be extra. Food will increase too, merchandise is already way too over priced and the crowds will still probably be the same.
You are an idiot! Normal families would like to attend also, but the prices are getting out of hand. You only care about yourself and others that can afford to pay these high prices. John Q. Public who has a little girl and boy who just want to visit the park. When Walt Disney brought the parks into being, it was for the people who just want to spend a fun day with their children.
It might be low for you but for the family who has to save for yrs to go it is not. You are also the one who did not want anyone below the age of 40 to go there. WALT wanted his parks for the whole family and do not forget that!
I have been going to Disney since I was a little girl with my family and continued to take my family. I am an annual Floridian pass holder and I do feel it’s So out of hand. Sad for parents who work so hard and still can’t afford to take their family to the happiest place on earth. It’s true Walt didn’t want it this way. Those greedy CEOs and higher ups only care about making money in their pockets and not caring for the dream that Walt put into place. He didn’t want it this way. Bring back the fast passes and get rid of the genie and lightening lane. Shame on you !!!!
He couldn’t “leave” it – it was a public company – but his relatvies were involved. But look at the grandkids now – the one with the biggest mouth seems to be having alot of influence lately. Disney is gone. And now I beleive Iger is one of the largest stock holder – wow thats comforting……
Everyone just keep calling or e-mailing Disney Guest services & tell them how upset you are. Keep those phones ringing off the hook and their e-mail stuffed. And this needs to be told to everyone you know & so on & so on let it snow ball plus go worldwide! AGREED
I just read that they are trying to get people back as Annual Pass Holders then I bet they will pull the rug out from them again. i also read that Biden is wanting kids to be able to have those transgender surgeries just like the woke people!
The price would be fine if the experience was worth it. But it simply isn’t anymore. The lack of upkeep, increasing food prices while decreasing portions and quality, nickel and diming everything, and getting rid of little perks that made the experience magical and reflected the amount you’re spending on the experience are all gone. Might as well go to Six flags.
This 100%! I would continue to pay more if the experience was worth it but it just isn’t anymore. So much lack of creating a magical experience. I don’t even mind the lightening lane or Genie + but you aren’t getting anything in return. The rides constantly break down and the hotel room and parks are not being maintained. If I am paying for luxury that is what I would expect.
I agree with you. The Magic is gone. Going to Disney use to be exciting and manageable but not anymore. As far as being affordable that’s a thing of the past. Disney is just another everday Theme Park that’s nothing special any more. It’s really sad that power and greed has once again ruined this once magical place for families all over the world. This was not Walt Disney’s vision.
He could not “leave it” it was a public company. And they booted his son in law who WAS running the show for a while. Read the history! And the grandchildren and other heirs are mostly a bunch of nutjobs!
Disney always gave you value for your money. They no longer do so. I was there in July and there is no magic, just big dollar signs. Last week, Universal had larger attendance than Disney. If cooler heads don’t prevail there (and fast). There won’t be a Disney.
Since the company doesn’t seem to care about the lawsuits, maybe a boycott will impress them. They want fewer people in the parks. Let’s give it to them.
Be careful what you wish for.
There will always be a Disney. Everyone that complains forgets its a business. And just like another business the number one thing is to make money. Instead of complaining about it choose not to go. It’s sad that every child may not be able to experience it but not everything made for everyone. Choose the things you can afford and injoy that.
Absolutely spot on..Magical express gone which was a great experience to feel like you were officially on vacation once you got on that bus. The feeling was surreal.
It’s Six Flags at best!! With Overpriced everything! Children can’t interact with characters because they walk by, and don’t want to be there either. Terrible experience for the $$!
We’ve been passholders for over 25yrs, and have spent thousands $$$ at Disney, especially at Christmas time. Unfortunately, we can no longer justify the expense, due to health and financial issues, and will let our passes expire. So disappointed in what is becoming of Disney, especially since Chapek’s takeover. We will instead be purchasing the much more reasonably priced Universal passes. Sorry Mickey & Minnie.
I too am a pass holder and have been going for many years. I just let my pass expire. I can’t justify the price. Plus you just don’t get Disney magic anymore. Sad.
They need to raise prices more and limit the crowds. It’s no fun waiting 1-2 hours for every attraction and walking even becomes an issue is certain areas.
This is what scarcity does. Disneyland/world is a resource with a fixed supply, as demand increases so should the price point. At least if your interested in maintaining an equilibrium.
I would be interested to understand what they don’t just get rid of so cal discounts and annual passes. I think that would move the dial on overcrowding quiet a bit.
Not true at all. Disney is not governed by Capitalism nor are other corporations – wake up! they are governed by “Wokeism”. If they were governed by capitalism management would respond to make their product desireable and affordable. Adam Smith’s first book was THE WEALTH OF NATIONS which was about the MORALITY governeing business and commerce. Good gosh the lack of education and awareness on these boards is outstanding! My family escaped communist Russia – well most of them the others were slaughtered in the Gulags. LEARN SOMETHING!
But Kris, that’s not what is happening really. They staff based on the reservations, and they determine the amount of ride cars to have in service based on reservations. They also manage the lines based on lightening lane, etc. Imagine it didn’t feel crowded. Would you still spend the extra $100 to take your family on Rise of the Resistance? They staff and run the minimum amount to keep guests barely serviced and upsell lightening lane passes. This then justifies the “we need to reduce crowds by raising prices” pitch. And so it goes.
When they reopened after covid closures, it seemed crowded despite greatly reduced capacity. That was because they were not able to pack everyone in lines and because they were spacing out ride cars, staff and people. Line management impacts the feeling of how crowded it is.
Guarantee if people get their wish for higher prices, less attendees – it will still feel crowded because there will be less staff, less ride cars in service (to reduce maintenance costs) and continued attempts to force you to purchase line passes.
Disney’s crowds are lower than they were pre covid, but it still feels much higher. That’s on purpose.
Pretty soon, that waffle will be in the shape of Chapeks head, like the dictator he is. He actually said himself he wants to move away from the “M” word.
Until the Parks start limiting the amount of people visiting, and STOP building so many Hotels, then Disney can concentrate on the “Disney Experience” and make sure all the rides are kept up and cleaned up.
Or people just get fed up with the price and quality and stop visiting, Disney Exc’s dismiss The “BOB” and get management that cares about Walt’s vision for Family Friendly entertainment.
The first time I visited WDW was in 1993, and there were only a few Hotels on site. We stayed at the Grand Floridian, and the crowds were manageable. We were used to Disneyland Crowds, since that park was in the state where we lived.
Now, there are so many Hotels and places to stay onsite, and Disney wants to fill those Hotels. Where do the people go? To the Parks and with so many hotels, that are typically all booked, that equates to overcrowding. Solution build more parks for the future. Expand the Magic Kingdom, which seems to get the most foot traffic.
Pricing the experience of Disney to extremes is not the answer.
Well said, and Disney has the property to do this. They should upgrade their existing experiences as well. Disney is obviously deviating from Walt’s vision and prioritizing profits over the people. The park is now a symbol of the true cause behind global inflation, corporate greed. It will not stop either until consumers start speaking with their purchase power and go elsewhere. Walt is turning in his grave!
Keep this up and Disney’s gonna bury them in a hole that they can’t get out of. At the rate they’re going, let them. For if all they care about are the elite and the wealthy than Disney parks deserve to die. Viva le revolution
The first common sense answer. Enlarge the Magic Kingdom, isn’t that the reason why most people go and isn’t that the reason why they have unlimited land for expansion?
They DID have unlimited expansion land. They sold off most of it, especially around the MK. You can see the castle from my local pizza place and our local Walmart has a fantastic view of the fireworks. That being said. They still do have plenty of room to expand MK and I think announced some blue sky expansion ideas at d23.
But it seems doubtful that they will anytime soon. At MK the big plans are to finally get Tron open and redo Splash Mountain. Expansion requires construction costs, developing, staffing, hiring, and maintenance. The only new things Disney is building right now around MK is the New DVC tower at the Polynesian. Better return per square foot.
Why expand MK when they can return record profits per guest, which is the current business model. (Return guests maybe not so much).
What are they spending more on? New tides are breaking down faster than tides that have been around for decades, the parks aren’t as clean, housekeeping at hotels is rare and frankly more and more of the cast members don’t seem to care and are rude.
Walt’s dream was for an affordable FAMILY playground and Since Eisener that dream seems to be in a closet and they are adulterating everything. Prices will eventually cause people to say no way. If prices don’t, the woke attitude will.
EXCUSE ME I am a stoock holder (so I can vote against management) and I have not gotten one thin dime in dividends in YEARS! And as far as the value I have watched my shres go from $212 down to $96. Exxecutive salaries ARE disgusting – period – nothing but greed. Get your facts straight!
Disney please keep increasing the prices until attendance is in line with a reasonable capacity experience. I stopped going, not because of high prices, because of poor experience and overcrowding.
The article says despite the price increases people are still coming in droves. That answers everything. I have been to Disney World many times and it’s such an unbelievable experience I really don’t care what the prices are. There’s no other place that compares.
As Disney has removed so many of the perks that used to come with the visit as well as raise prices we have to look outside the experience to save money. We get off site hotels because either way I have to pay for parking. Magic hours are only for the high end resorts. The parks have decreased characters and shows. Price increase on food and such I understand as it is more expensive now to get those ingredients. But tickets and Genie+ really should level off for a few years. Please
Just you watch! Florida’s going to see more former WDW Passholders going to Universal Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld / Anaheim is going to see more former Disneyland Passholders choosing Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain !!
You can’t keep increasing prices on everything and expect more Disney 🐑 (less Park Guests paying more for less experiences is not going to improve things!)
Over $7000 for a family of 3. Crowds were awful, I was stuck on my phone planning every day, waiting in lines for way to long…..I was mad and disappointed with myself for spending the money on what I felt like was a mediocre experience. We are trying out Universal, and will not be back to Disney. Could we go back to Disney…. Yes, we financially could, but we definitely did not feel the magic so we are done.
I just got married there. We have been going every year since I was little at least once if not multiple times. Went to school in Lakeland so I could be close to Disney, etc. As it stands now, this past August is my last trip for a while if not the rest of my life. There are other experiences I want that if I continue going to Disney I will never have. My goal is to have 2 trips a year. If it was viable, one would be Disney. I can’t justify it now. I can do other things a lot cheaper that can check off my bucket list. 💕
Disney has outpriced me. I will not visit again. I can not count how many times I visited the parks in Florida, as a past world pass holder. I got free parking, unlimited visits, any day of the week, 10% off food and merchandise. It was affordable and very fun. The pass is now unreachable and has numberous block out dates. The new Genie and lightening lane make it almost impossible to see the high tiered rides. Disney is gearing toward the more wealthy clients . Leaving the middle class and lower middle class to just dream and longingly wish to someday experience the magic. I am finished with Disney because my last visit was way too expensive and the quality was GREATLY reduced as well. Food was high priced and disgusting to taste. Smaller portions, stale bread, brown salads, watered down drinks. Yuk! The merchandise is junk. Mis- shapened T-shirts, poorly made hats, toys that break before you can get them out of the park. OMG I can go on and on. I recommend being very selective if planning to visit Orlando. For the money and value, you would be better served by booking Universal/Adventure Island and SeaWorld. Think long and hard before booking Disney!!!!!
The name of the game is money. Disney is there to run a business. Businesses only care about you for as long as you have money to spend on their product. The more people to spend, the better. They would pack the park up to the point of overflowing if fire regulations allow it. Like it or not, Walt Disney is dead and gone and with him went his ideas and dreams. The game is called MONEY, and if you don’t have it then there’s other alternatives to Disney in your future.
I agree Chris. They are cashing in more money and much less quality. These are not Walt’s Dreams but some money hungry CEO’s who are just power hungry crooks. Shame on them!!!
I’m not really a fan of Chapek and he’s certainly not the best person to have ever lead the company, but idk I’m a little less harsh on him than most. He took over as CEO during the start of COVID. So he was met with unprecedented challenges from day one that no other Disney CEO really ever faced before.
We went October last year and the park pass reservation system actually started for the first time in the middle of our vacation. Yes fast passes used to be free, but they aren’t now and they likely aren’t going away from the current model. We gladly paid the extra fees to skip the lines. In all cases it was well worth it. Especially with Star Wars Rise of the Resistance. Had a 2.5 hour wait and we got on in 3 minutes. A small price to pay for all the extra time you got back.
As far as the prices, we’ll we don’t go all the time. We take one big vacation there every 3 or 4 years. We only live 2 hours away from WDW, but going frequently dulls it down and makes it feel less special, we need to be gone long enough to miss it. So the prices aren’t a big deal to us and even for a single day ticket at about $110 a person, for the whole day and ride all you want is a bargain quite frankly. But we got a 4 day ticket and paid $62 per person per day. So a good deal. Since we don’t go often, we don’t mind taking that big vacation and really splurging on ourselves once in a while. The lifetime of family memories you gain from it make it well worth it. It’s so easy to be negative and complain, but just go, treat yourself, have a wonderful time and make the very best of it. We are all lucky for a wonderful place like that to even be there to enjoy.
What about all the people that have dreamed and have to scrimp and save every little bit just to try to make a tiny experience for their child or children that could now be impossible, because of inflation with gas prices, and food prices, and rent, people that do nothing wrong and they just dream of going and making a happy experience, now even the cheapest experience is too much, I honestly don’t think it’s right, I think there should be something for everyone.
Live been going to Disneyland since 1956. I had an Annual Passport for 30 years.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to back. Now that I’m disabled, I never know from one day to the next whether I will be up to go, so the reservation system won’t work for me. And they appear to be getting rid of all the moderate meals and purchases.
I miss it. And the Cams I’ve come to know. But it’s just not going to happen with the current situation. 😞
LOOK AT HIS HEIRS THEY ARE LUNATICS! And this shizzel started long before Chapek – Iger was the evil overlord. I worked there during the last of Eisners term and was so thankful when he left – time has proven me WRONG. His biggest sin was he lost interst and the parks declined. I was asked by imagineering to go through DL and document the lack of upkeep – it was bad. Greed has ruined the company and country for that matter.
Walt I take it that you were or are a CM, I was back in 06 but health problems cut me way short. Is there very many Original Imagineers still kicking? Maybe they could do something to talk some sense into Leadership. Just thinking out loud. I could tell you something else but not here.
You people that are getting upset about raising prices and Walt being upset etc. he didn’t leave it to his family before he died, so his version, dream etc is no longer. New owners only give a rats ass about making money and finding ways to make more. From what I’ve heard, they’re going to keep raising the prices as long as people keep going
Keep raising the price but decrease capacity. There are too many people. I would rather pay $250 a ticket and take my family once a year for a good experience than twice a year with overcrowding.
All whitey then….when you’re there your not contributing to overcrowding? It’s all the other people huh? Let’s all stay home so Ken and his brood can enjoy the park. Especially those pesky brown people. Let’s raise prices so only the rich can enjoy. All for an overpriced, over hyped, corporate circle jerk. Hard pass.
We won’t be going back to Disney any time soon. It’s not worth it to us. It used to be affordable but not anymore for the average family. Way to go to Disney. Nothing like screwing things up!
Just came back from Disney World, and visiting the 4 parks. Had mostly a great time, but agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment of this article. Charging for something that was once free (Genie+), and taking away features of the free offering is nothing more than a money grab. Park capacities need to be reduced. New rides are not creative and redundant implementations of the same technology (Ratatouille, Rise of the Resistance, Mickie and Minnie Railway). The magic is gone, and Disney Parks are no longer the best in the world.
I promised myself and family that we would make the 50th anniversary. We have been at each anniversary from the 15th. So this past March was our last. I am now retired. This was my last trip ever to a Disney park. The cost is prohibitive for me now. So now I will enjoy the rest of the sites in this country that doesn’t cost as much as one trip to Disney. There is so many beautiful places to see.
Besides, the people who go today are much more rude then in the past.
Just goes to show you American families will go further into debt just to escape reality for a day! Only for reality to hit them in pocket book when they can’t pay their bills!
Just got back from there in September and I agree the magical feeling is gone. I actually saw a young cast member yelling at guests in Epcot. They were taking a break and sitting on the ground waiting for the fireworks to begin. There was plenty of space for crowds to walk behind them as they were very close to the fencing. The cast member in a not so friendly tone yelled at them to stand up and told them if they didn’t understand she would help them do it. No magic there
“Provide world-class experience” Anyone who has been to the parks before the pandemic versus now knows that is total BS!! They no longer provide housekeeping for your overpriced room unless you bug them and even then it’s bare minimum. The lines are longer than ever before and now rides that you could normally get on easily have wait times. There is more trash lying around and the park infrastructure is not maintained as well as it was before and shows more signs of neglect or disrepair. Cast members no longer seem happy and they’re just going through the motions like robots. Everything is turning to pay to play status. Provide world class experience quote from Disney is laughable at best.
I think it’s terrible. Gone are the days when a Disney was affordable for families. I’m not so worried about myself since I don’t have children but what’s that family of 5 gonna pay now?? Going to Disney is a childhood rite of passage that will unattainable for many now. I went in April with my best friend and her son. We had wanted to return in 2024, but because of the expense, that’s not happening.
I don’t make a ton of money. We were able to go to Disney basically every year from 2017 to 2019. Since Covid started we haven’t been able to justify going to Disney with the price increases. It’s just too expensive now. We would now have to save for years to be able to afford what we use to be able to do.
It’s so sad that their GREED for money is OBVIOUSLY so much more important than making it the happiest place on earth as Walt wanted. They have completely lost the true vision and mission. They have completely cut out many people from attending the parks. And you can tell by people’s comments. If you want to take your family to the park you need to save for years or have a credit card with a decent limit on it. It’s EXTREMELY sad. My Daughter and Son in Law haven’t gone with their daughter because they can’t afford it and they refuse to go into debt to go. And she loves the place. She grew up going once a year. Now their Daughter won’t have the same kind of experience or love for the place. I’m a shareholder. Disney can keep my small checks if it means keeping the prices down. OH or maybe I guess I’m not greedy enough to be a part of this business.
I’m going in Dec and that will be my last time.way too much planning. I liked it better in the 1980 when you bought a ticket and just did what you wanted. No planning needed
My husband and I have been going to Disneyland since1955. Wehave been passholders since passes first came out. We have ben to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, but our top tiered Magic Keys will expire in November, and Ifear so willour patience with price gouging. The resrvation systemis stupid. It has only seemed to increase the crowds. Instead of going when we feel physically up to it (at 78 & 75) we have togo because we could get reservation weeks in advance, or we will be punshed for it.
Hey, instead of an increase we should get a senior discount! We have basically built this park and kept it alive all these years! Walt would have remembered that…but hey…let’s br real here. The real face of Disneyland is not Mickey Mouse…It’s Scrooge McDuck!
My wife and I were never able to afford many vacations while we worked. We did become annual passholders eleven years ago and retired seven years ago. My at the changes in the last decade. We have many memories and enjoyed our time we spent checking out the various resorts. It looks like time has caught up to us and the value for the price has passed my wife and I by. No regrets and who knows maybe we will drop by again to see Disney World again . Going to let those passes go . This is the right choice for us but for everyone see what is best for you. Headed to Dollywood this spring. We may see some of you there.
Until people stand up to this ridiculousness, they will continue to price out middle class families from going to the parks. Yes, some people would love to go and pay more for less people, but that just tells the greedy executives at Disney that they can continue to do this. One day they will price you out too. I can’t take my family anymore. A weekend and Disneyland used to be affordable, now it’s that would be my one year vacation savings! No way! I’d rather spend a week at Universal. Until the CEO at Disney resigns or is ousted, and the board realizes how much they have alienated so many families with all of these ridiculous changes that Bob had made, I refuse to go to Disney, buy anything Disney, see anything Disney, etc. I encourage more to do the same. Bob needs to go.
Kris makes a lot of good points. They are exactly what I have read, and seen for myself over the years. It’s hard sometimes to read the comments of naive people who believe the PR and don’t realize that Disney could stop the overcrowding in an instant–they’re a private company and they can impose attendance limits any time they want, in fact, they have in the past. They don’t now because they want it all–high attendance and high prices. It’s not the first time a company has lied about what they’re really doing. I judge them by their actions which Javie has mentioned–how they make things look more crowded to get those Genie+ sales and convince people that prices must be raised. Some people buy it, and that’s how they get away with it. Meanwhile they’re trashing their reputation, their brand, and more and more people realize what they’re really doing.
What some people don’t realize is that every time they raised prices in the past–attendance went up. Raising prices does not lower the overcrowding. The man who said he’s pay 1,000 if it was less crowded is deluding himself. They would give discounts, etc, etc., to fill the park and still charge him a 1,000 dollars–because he will let them. They will keep the park as crowded as possible, no matter what they say. If they cared about the guest experience, then the maintenance, the breaking down of rides, the manipulation of lines to justify Genie+, the way employees aee treated, which in turn affects the way we are treated, etc., WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. They could fix all of it–especially at the prices they charge.
As much as everyone is complaining now, let’s face it, Disney stopped caring about the average family more than 30 years ago. The fact that it costs a family of four a minimum of $450 just to get in is enough to eliminate from ever being able to go. Add to that Biden’s and Newsom’s nearly 9% interest and increased costs in rent and mortgage payments and no one making less than six figures can ever afford to go.
I don’t get it…
Lower prices and more people will go and more people will complain about crowds.
Raise prices to “price out” lower income people and people will complain for not being able to go.
Don’t like it?? Don’t go…it’s quite simple. Go to Dollywood or Wisconsin dells. Save $1000s…
They talk like it’s been getting out of hand the past couple of years, but it’s more like just over a decade. I first got an opportunity to get to a park in early 2012. Wound up getting an annual pass. Then within a year I watched it increase at drastic rates, and they kept saying it’s because they needed to pay for the new renovated areas (but you should’ve had the money to begin with and not paying for it after, so it certainly sounded like a crock with a comment like that). Within a few years it nearly tripled it cost, with bits of less features and benefits, which is just beyond ridiculous.
I agree with allot of the above in regards to the pricing. The prices are high enough let alone genie+ and paying $15 dollars extra per person to make sure we could ride, rise of the ressistance. I wish disney would find another Michael Eisner who followed Walt’s dream, not I’ll take every cent you have for my bonus “Chapek”. The man should have never got extended but it’s now revenue over a family experience.
They should not overload the park by NOT selling tickets at the gate. Everyone should get to visit at some point so tickets and food passes by income:)
I guess my family would be considered the “wealthy” clients Disney is attempting to lure in. We were annual passholders for forever, offered Club 33 membership, etc. But the thing is, we have money because we’ve been smart about money. We are well aware of our vacation options, we travel a bit. We’ll be taking our kids there for Christmas this year because they missed it during COVID. That will probably be the last trip for quite some time (I suspect much of the crowds these days are people in similar situations). We’re spending something like $6.5k for hotel and tickets. We just spent the same thing this summer for 3 weeks in southeast asia staying at 5 star resorts with private tour guides, the most amazing food, private butlers. Why would I seek out Disney world with small and mediocre food portions, rides chronically breaking down, understaffed parks, literally crumbing surroundings, and overpriced poorly made merchandise? The magic is dead. Killed by greed. And fyi, I see far more poor behavior out of wealthy clientele than the middle class “riff raff” so many of you seem to want to blame. We’ll go. We’ll pay for neither genie+ nor lightning lanes- the idea of paying for rides we’ve already paid for doesn’t sit well with us. But chances of us being back anytime soon are very slim. Next trip is to the French Riviera, again, for less than what we spend at Disney.
Please raise the prices so I don’t have to be around the idiots who frequent the parks. People who can’t get out of the way, are rude, and are entitled. Most people complaining about prices are entitled to something for less than it is worth. And it is worth a lot because, surprise, people happily pay the premium.
I pay for Genie+, moderate or better hotels, plan my reserved dinners, pay off my trip before I go over time, and expect to spend money b/c, surprise, I am on vacation. If you pay for a good trip and plan like a normal person, you’ll have a great time.
If you want to be cheap, stay cheap, eat cheap, and not plan your time well then likely you’re time will be cheap and not time well spent. Shocker, I know.
My family and I used to come to Disney world almost every summer. We haven’t been in at least 6 years. Even then it was becoming too expensive for us. It’s disappointing that we can’t afford to have a budget Disney vacation anymore.
I have been a season pass holder since I moved to Fl. However, I have watched prices go up and services go done. I have bought one of the more expensive passes because it had no blackout dates. In addition, the photo pass now has to be paid for. The lightening pass was taken away and now has to be paid for . When I did that I got 2 rides all day and paid a fortune. Now I’m paying much more and suddenly there are blackout dates. I am extremely disappointed that they are pricing me out especially now that I am living on a fixed income
Disney has become a greedy money hungry blob of incompetent management starting with Chapek. Walt is spinning in his grave. This is not what he would’ve wanted even though he always thought ahead and keep moving forward
My wife and I have been very regular attendees since 1955, two weeks after it opened. Up until the pandemic we held annual passes and came to Disneyland at least monthly. The magic never passed. Sadly, with costs as high as they have gotten, and the other impediments (think reservation system) we have been left behind. We can no longer afford it .
The problem with this business tactic is that it does not take into account the highest demand at each price point. If Disney economics was successful, there would be returns to shareholders. In fact, Disney has been losing money since 2019. For all that they say they’re doing well, and that people are still coming in record numbers, we have to ask if that is truly the case.
It would be one thing if they were using it for things other than profit, yet judging by a latest report where over 1/2 the rides in the supposed “Magic” kingdom have spent more time broken down than running and a number of buildings inside and out need maintenance, it looks like people are paying to give stock holders more profit than for a magical experience.
We looked at Disney, it was cheaper for our family of 8 to go to Ireland for 7 nights including flights from Maryland than to go to Orlando! Our family got to meet some unbelievable down to earth people vs some of the crackpots
Comments for Disney Responds to Backlash On “Pricing Out” Families
Steve
It’s too low to be honest, I would rather pay $1,000 and have 1/3 the people in the park.
Sean
The voice of intelligence here and the all American me, me attitude.
Robert
Disney’s response was patronizing, at best; insulting at least. They FORMERLY provided a”worldclass experience”. Increased frequency & duration of ride/attraction breakdowns; adding a complex, smartphone-intensive “experience management” system, & MANY other negatives (mostly related
to crowds, pricing & unnecessary changes) has left us never wanting to go back (after 25 yrs of annual-ish trips). Disney seems content to keep building new resorts & DVC (meaning MORE park-goers at once) & that’s fine for stockholders & those who have oodles of money & don’t know the way it used to be. Y’all feel free to be the new Era of Disney guest. No it is NOT what Walt envisioned anymore, &that’s a damn shame.
eric
Agreed! 10yrs straight and caught the last of the Magical Bubble in Jan 2020. No more magical express or luggage handling to the hotels which was an amazing weigh off traveling there. I feel as you do I will not be seeing Disney again.
MsChemicalEngineer
So true, I’m hesitant to return because I’m not a crowd person, and the shoddy way things are being maintains ruins tge experience for me and impacts my memories of the good times when it was a world class experience. Now it’s pricey, tge lines are long, food portions are smaller but more expensive. I’m sad, Walt died when I was a kid, but I remember him on TV, and have fond memories of watching the Wonderfull World of Disney on Sunday nights with my folks. I miss the days when rides never broke down, and it was about tge experience, not the money alone.
Linda
I remember the exact same thing!!
I’ll never return to Disney…
At least I was fortunate to have went with my family and my grandkids!!!
It was a few years ago when we went and I’ll keep those memories alive with all the photos I took!
J ugs
Yeah. In never returning. Wen Walt died so did the park. Walt cared about family fun and at these prices I got an entire extra week taking my kids to other places and having more and different experiences. Also get to see new places in general. A few places have a year pass for entire park for $100!!! We spent a week in Erie and had a blast and spent less then half of what I spent at Disney.
Donovan
Walt died before Disney World even opened its doors.
J ugs
We have Kennywood park here and we can get a year pass for $100. I’ll never return. Not worth it at all to me. So many other places to explore and have fun doing different things at different places and seeing new places. We’ve had a blast not wasting our money at Disney anymore. I’ve saved so much and had so much more fun.
Andrea
It is a shame that Bob greedy keeps raising prices, can’t control the people who fight or cause riots, bring weapons into the park, and the crowds are not that big, they are lying. They are getting more and more bad elements coming to the parks. Pay your workers better, better security, lower prices so good families can enjoy Walt’s vision of “A Happy Place For Families To Go and All be Children Again!”
Mark
Why do you think prices are bring raised? Have you ever gone to $1 movie night at a movie theater? The rowdiest crowd. The most fights/disruptions. Cheapest airlines are the same, the most confrontations, removal from plane, etc. You raise the prices, you get rid of the riff Raff. Not true for all cases but it prevents many low-income visitors from attending, and with low-income visitors comes problems and disruptions in the park. Fights, weapons, ridiculous behavior for a high-class family theme park. You ask for high-class prices, you get high-class people who know how to behave. They are making the right decision here! Shame for those who can behave and are of low income. But a few ruin it for everyone, so thank them not Disney! This move needs to be made. You price out a lot of bad behavior.
PePennipkwassPenninn
You must be one of elite, rich persons that doesn’t think average middle class families should be able to enjoy Disney Parks anymore. Shame on you.
DeanaDeaDeaDeeDee
That truly is a very disgusting remark. Many low income families have little girls that just want to be princesses and they want to take this little girls to Disney. Or maybe there a little boy just loves Buzz Lightyear and wants to see him. Children are the reason that people go to Disney they’re not riffraff just because they don’t have a lot of money that’s a terrible thing to say and a terrible attitude to have. When Walt Disney was alive he wanted to make it a wonderful happy place for everyone he didn’t care about your status . Unfortunately Disney is losing sight of the main reason the park was open in the first place and one man’s dream.
Damon
Sad that this is your vision of how Disney should be which leads me to believe this your vision of everything in life. Price out the poor so the rich can enjoy themselves without life intruding in their comfort zone their Me Me Entitlment Bubble
Nancy Thorsby
You don’t have a very high opinion of people do you Mark? Low income riff raff? That’s what think?
Manny
Ohhh, so basically you’re saying poor people are the problem? We can’t afford $12,000 each year to enjoy the parks, but we can every 13-15 years. You “entitled” wealthy people are the problem thinking your money entitles you to everything and that us serfs should bow to your every need. I say you’re a douchecanoe.
MMeganMegan
I think he is. O mean it’s rich people that act entitled an like they deserve the best and don’t take others feelings into consideration Natalie deration more than poor people do.
Gary
Walter Elias Disney will be smiling down on you!
Gary
Walter Elias Disney is smile down on you!
Gary
It was not put where I thought it would be twice
J ugs
Yup. This is what happens when you turn a family place into a TikTok place. Families don’t usually cause problems. Walt would hate what they did to Disney. He started this for family fun at a good price. It’s definitely not that anymore. I’ll never take my kids there again
Mary
We have been saving to return to WDW again. After the latest changes, we had to cancel our plans. We LOVE Disney and enjoyed all of our trips there. We just can’t afford to go anymore. If you don’t have endless money to spend, you do not have a great experience anymore. They have outpriced our families. We were looking forward to going with grandkids. Disappointed we can’t do it now. Shame on you Disney for being so greedy!
Ladyredrider
Walt did not intend for the park to be a scam. Theme parks are all about profits without concern of the product quality. Disney is the Walmart of shopping. Low quality, over prices, know. By name not quality.
Rj
Unpopular opinion here as i agree with the people saying they should raise the prices even more to limit the amount of people…I’m not rich in any way shape or form but IF I’m going to pay for example $500 for a ticket my biggest gripe is the fact genie+ will still be extra. Food will increase too, merchandise is already way too over priced and the crowds will still probably be the same.
M. Dundas
You are an idiot! Normal families would like to attend also, but the prices are getting out of hand. You only care about yourself and others that can afford to pay these high prices. John Q. Public who has a little girl and boy who just want to visit the park. When Walt Disney brought the parks into being, it was for the people who just want to spend a fun day with their children.
Megan
Thank you. I’ve only been able to go once because of the price
Nick
Lol, $1,000 🤣🤣🤣🤣
This isn’t 1997, bro. That’s like an 8th of a Disney vacation…lmao…
Jak
And what about the people who could no longer afford the ticket price?
SELFISH attitude
Megan
Yep
Megan
And you are rude in a way so what? Would you like it if people didn’t want you around? You may say no but wait till we t happens and then answer.
Gary
It might be low for you but for the family who has to save for yrs to go it is not. You are also the one who did not want anyone below the age of 40 to go there. WALT wanted his parks for the whole family and do not forget that!
Karen
agree walt would turn over in his grave if he knew this is where his company was heading
Tbh
He didn’t leave Disney to his family before he died, so the new owners don’t give a rats ass
Anne
I have been going to Disney since I was a little girl with my family and continued to take my family. I am an annual Floridian pass holder and I do feel it’s So out of hand. Sad for parents who work so hard and still can’t afford to take their family to the happiest place on earth. It’s true Walt didn’t want it this way. Those greedy CEOs and higher ups only care about making money in their pockets and not caring for the dream that Walt put into place. He didn’t want it this way. Bring back the fast passes and get rid of the genie and lightening lane. Shame on you !!!!
Megan
I’ve only been once to all the parks though. Went for my high school graduation/birthday in 01
Walt
He already did…. many times
Agree
The new owners don’t give a rats ass what Walt wanted. He should have been smart and left Disney to his family before he died
Walt
He couldn’t “leave” it – it was a public company – but his relatvies were involved. But look at the grandkids now – the one with the biggest mouth seems to be having alot of influence lately. Disney is gone. And now I beleive Iger is one of the largest stock holder – wow thats comforting……
Gary
Everyone just keep calling or e-mailing Disney Guest services & tell them how upset you are. Keep those phones ringing off the hook and their e-mail stuffed. And this needs to be told to everyone you know & so on & so on let it snow ball plus go worldwide! AGREED
Gary
I just read that they are trying to get people back as Annual Pass Holders then I bet they will pull the rug out from them again. i also read that Biden is wanting kids to be able to have those transgender surgeries just like the woke people!
Jeff
Huh? What? Ain’t nobody talking politics. Sit down
Rox
They talk big inclusive talk but the inclusion is only for people who can pay $54 pp for breakfast.
Aunt Pudge
The price would be fine if the experience was worth it. But it simply isn’t anymore. The lack of upkeep, increasing food prices while decreasing portions and quality, nickel and diming everything, and getting rid of little perks that made the experience magical and reflected the amount you’re spending on the experience are all gone. Might as well go to Six flags.
Aimee
This 100%! I would continue to pay more if the experience was worth it but it just isn’t anymore. So much lack of creating a magical experience. I don’t even mind the lightening lane or Genie + but you aren’t getting anything in return. The rides constantly break down and the hotel room and parks are not being maintained. If I am paying for luxury that is what I would expect.
me
you are paying for a theme park hotel not luxury. i write this from a room w giraffes playing just below my balcony. i paid $300 the rate is $832.
Margaret Phillips
I agree with you. The Magic is gone. Going to Disney use to be exciting and manageable but not anymore. As far as being affordable that’s a thing of the past. Disney is just another everday Theme Park that’s nothing special any more. It’s really sad that power and greed has once again ruined this once magical place for families all over the world. This was not Walt Disney’s vision.
Agree
Because he wasn’t smart enough to leave it to his family before he died
Walt
He could not “leave it” it was a public company. And they booted his son in law who WAS running the show for a while. Read the history! And the grandchildren and other heirs are mostly a bunch of nutjobs!
Dph
Disney always gave you value for your money. They no longer do so. I was there in July and there is no magic, just big dollar signs. Last week, Universal had larger attendance than Disney. If cooler heads don’t prevail there (and fast). There won’t be a Disney.
Since the company doesn’t seem to care about the lawsuits, maybe a boycott will impress them. They want fewer people in the parks. Let’s give it to them.
Be careful what you wish for.
Joseph
There will always be a Disney. Everyone that complains forgets its a business. And just like another business the number one thing is to make money. Instead of complaining about it choose not to go. It’s sad that every child may not be able to experience it but not everything made for everyone. Choose the things you can afford and injoy that.
eric
Absolutely spot on..Magical express gone which was a great experience to feel like you were officially on vacation once you got on that bus. The feeling was surreal.
Rich Ostriker
You hit the nail on the head. Upkeep is awful. If you’re going to charge outrageous prices, everything should be like opening day.
Jeremy
It’s Six Flags at best!! With Overpriced everything! Children can’t interact with characters because they walk by, and don’t want to be there either. Terrible experience for the $$!
CoachB
We’ve been passholders for over 25yrs, and have spent thousands $$$ at Disney, especially at Christmas time. Unfortunately, we can no longer justify the expense, due to health and financial issues, and will let our passes expire. So disappointed in what is becoming of Disney, especially since Chapek’s takeover. We will instead be purchasing the much more reasonably priced Universal passes. Sorry Mickey & Minnie.
Terra Salazar
I too am a pass holder and have been going for many years. I just let my pass expire. I can’t justify the price. Plus you just don’t get Disney magic anymore. Sad.
Kris
They need to raise prices more and limit the crowds. It’s no fun waiting 1-2 hours for every attraction and walking even becomes an issue is certain areas.
Sean
So you could care less about the average person who can’t afford. This is what capitalism does.
JT
This is what scarcity does. Disneyland/world is a resource with a fixed supply, as demand increases so should the price point. At least if your interested in maintaining an equilibrium.
I would be interested to understand what they don’t just get rid of so cal discounts and annual passes. I think that would move the dial on overcrowding quiet a bit.
G
Probably because they get some kind of tax break or subsidy by giving cali residents a discount…they wouldn’t just leave money on the table otherwise.
Walt
Not true at all. Disney is not governed by Capitalism nor are other corporations – wake up! they are governed by “Wokeism”. If they were governed by capitalism management would respond to make their product desireable and affordable. Adam Smith’s first book was THE WEALTH OF NATIONS which was about the MORALITY governeing business and commerce. Good gosh the lack of education and awareness on these boards is outstanding! My family escaped communist Russia – well most of them the others were slaughtered in the Gulags. LEARN SOMETHING!
Javie
But Kris, that’s not what is happening really. They staff based on the reservations, and they determine the amount of ride cars to have in service based on reservations. They also manage the lines based on lightening lane, etc. Imagine it didn’t feel crowded. Would you still spend the extra $100 to take your family on Rise of the Resistance? They staff and run the minimum amount to keep guests barely serviced and upsell lightening lane passes. This then justifies the “we need to reduce crowds by raising prices” pitch. And so it goes.
When they reopened after covid closures, it seemed crowded despite greatly reduced capacity. That was because they were not able to pack everyone in lines and because they were spacing out ride cars, staff and people. Line management impacts the feeling of how crowded it is.
Guarantee if people get their wish for higher prices, less attendees – it will still feel crowded because there will be less staff, less ride cars in service (to reduce maintenance costs) and continued attempts to force you to purchase line passes.
Disney’s crowds are lower than they were pre covid, but it still feels much higher. That’s on purpose.
Cat Mac
I hope Bob Chapek chokes on a Mickey shaped waffle.
D Bruner
Lol!
ann
Pretty soon, that waffle will be in the shape of Chapeks head, like the dictator he is. He actually said himself he wants to move away from the “M” word.
David M
Until the Parks start limiting the amount of people visiting, and STOP building so many Hotels, then Disney can concentrate on the “Disney Experience” and make sure all the rides are kept up and cleaned up.
Or people just get fed up with the price and quality and stop visiting, Disney Exc’s dismiss The “BOB” and get management that cares about Walt’s vision for Family Friendly entertainment.
The first time I visited WDW was in 1993, and there were only a few Hotels on site. We stayed at the Grand Floridian, and the crowds were manageable. We were used to Disneyland Crowds, since that park was in the state where we lived.
Now, there are so many Hotels and places to stay onsite, and Disney wants to fill those Hotels. Where do the people go? To the Parks and with so many hotels, that are typically all booked, that equates to overcrowding. Solution build more parks for the future. Expand the Magic Kingdom, which seems to get the most foot traffic.
Pricing the experience of Disney to extremes is not the answer.
D Bruner
Well said, and Disney has the property to do this. They should upgrade their existing experiences as well. Disney is obviously deviating from Walt’s vision and prioritizing profits over the people. The park is now a symbol of the true cause behind global inflation, corporate greed. It will not stop either until consumers start speaking with their purchase power and go elsewhere. Walt is turning in his grave!
Mike
Like George Lopez said “take a good look around kids cuz we ain’t come ng back”…….”you want a churro? Here’s one now take a lick and pass it on!”
Sean
Keep this up and Disney’s gonna bury them in a hole that they can’t get out of. At the rate they’re going, let them. For if all they care about are the elite and the wealthy than Disney parks deserve to die. Viva le revolution
Ken
The first common sense answer. Enlarge the Magic Kingdom, isn’t that the reason why most people go and isn’t that the reason why they have unlimited land for expansion?
Javie
They DID have unlimited expansion land. They sold off most of it, especially around the MK. You can see the castle from my local pizza place and our local Walmart has a fantastic view of the fireworks. That being said. They still do have plenty of room to expand MK and I think announced some blue sky expansion ideas at d23.
But it seems doubtful that they will anytime soon. At MK the big plans are to finally get Tron open and redo Splash Mountain. Expansion requires construction costs, developing, staffing, hiring, and maintenance. The only new things Disney is building right now around MK is the New DVC tower at the Polynesian. Better return per square foot.
Why expand MK when they can return record profits per guest, which is the current business model. (Return guests maybe not so much).
Honestly
Walt didn’t leave it to his family
Kit
What are they spending more on? New tides are breaking down faster than tides that have been around for decades, the parks aren’t as clean, housekeeping at hotels is rare and frankly more and more of the cast members don’t seem to care and are rude.
Walt’s dream was for an affordable FAMILY playground and Since Eisener that dream seems to be in a closet and they are adulterating everything. Prices will eventually cause people to say no way. If prices don’t, the woke attitude will.
countesspetofi
What are they spending more on? Stockholder dividends and executive salaries.
Walt
EXCUSE ME I am a stoock holder (so I can vote against management) and I have not gotten one thin dime in dividends in YEARS! And as far as the value I have watched my shres go from $212 down to $96. Exxecutive salaries ARE disgusting – period – nothing but greed. Get your facts straight!
Mason
By 2032 watch Disney Parks being only available to the upper class. Well if they are still open.
Joe
Raise the prices it keeps the savages out and improves the wholesome experience.
Mike
Savages AKA the dark people……it’s all whyte though, I get your point.
Dr Jasper Croqsoir
If you hear the word “savage” and your mind immediately goes to “dark people”…you are a r@cist…
J
Disney please keep increasing the prices until attendance is in line with a reasonable capacity experience. I stopped going, not because of high prices, because of poor experience and overcrowding.
countesspetofi
They could achieve the same results by capping attendance at a reasonable capacity. But they’d rather only have rich people like you attending.
Jim
The article says despite the price increases people are still coming in droves. That answers everything. I have been to Disney World many times and it’s such an unbelievable experience I really don’t care what the prices are. There’s no other place that compares.
countesspetofi
I’m waiting to see how much of that is fueled by demand that was pent-up during the lockdown and restrictions.
Jim
You may be right. My family certainly had some of that, but we just have never experienced all the negative things people have been writing about.
Dawn
As Disney has removed so many of the perks that used to come with the visit as well as raise prices we have to look outside the experience to save money. We get off site hotels because either way I have to pay for parking. Magic hours are only for the high end resorts. The parks have decreased characters and shows. Price increase on food and such I understand as it is more expensive now to get those ingredients. But tickets and Genie+ really should level off for a few years. Please
Karen
agree
CC
Just you watch! Florida’s going to see more former WDW Passholders going to Universal Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld / Anaheim is going to see more former Disneyland Passholders choosing Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain !!
You can’t keep increasing prices on everything and expect more Disney 🐑 (less Park Guests paying more for less experiences is not going to improve things!)
Christan
Over $7000 for a family of 3. Crowds were awful, I was stuck on my phone planning every day, waiting in lines for way to long…..I was mad and disappointed with myself for spending the money on what I felt like was a mediocre experience. We are trying out Universal, and will not be back to Disney. Could we go back to Disney…. Yes, we financially could, but we definitely did not feel the magic so we are done.
Karen
removing Magical Express was a huge mistake
Jim
I agree
Amanda
I just got married there. We have been going every year since I was little at least once if not multiple times. Went to school in Lakeland so I could be close to Disney, etc. As it stands now, this past August is my last trip for a while if not the rest of my life. There are other experiences I want that if I continue going to Disney I will never have. My goal is to have 2 trips a year. If it was viable, one would be Disney. I can’t justify it now. I can do other things a lot cheaper that can check off my bucket list. 💕
Mary
Disney has outpriced me. I will not visit again. I can not count how many times I visited the parks in Florida, as a past world pass holder. I got free parking, unlimited visits, any day of the week, 10% off food and merchandise. It was affordable and very fun. The pass is now unreachable and has numberous block out dates. The new Genie and lightening lane make it almost impossible to see the high tiered rides. Disney is gearing toward the more wealthy clients . Leaving the middle class and lower middle class to just dream and longingly wish to someday experience the magic. I am finished with Disney because my last visit was way too expensive and the quality was GREATLY reduced as well. Food was high priced and disgusting to taste. Smaller portions, stale bread, brown salads, watered down drinks. Yuk! The merchandise is junk. Mis- shapened T-shirts, poorly made hats, toys that break before you can get them out of the park. OMG I can go on and on. I recommend being very selective if planning to visit Orlando. For the money and value, you would be better served by booking Universal/Adventure Island and SeaWorld. Think long and hard before booking Disney!!!!!
Chris
The name of the game is money. Disney is there to run a business. Businesses only care about you for as long as you have money to spend on their product. The more people to spend, the better. They would pack the park up to the point of overflowing if fire regulations allow it. Like it or not, Walt Disney is dead and gone and with him went his ideas and dreams. The game is called MONEY, and if you don’t have it then there’s other alternatives to Disney in your future.
Pat
I agree Chris. They are cashing in more money and much less quality. These are not Walt’s Dreams but some money hungry CEO’s who are just power hungry crooks. Shame on them!!!
CWK
I’m not really a fan of Chapek and he’s certainly not the best person to have ever lead the company, but idk I’m a little less harsh on him than most. He took over as CEO during the start of COVID. So he was met with unprecedented challenges from day one that no other Disney CEO really ever faced before.
We went October last year and the park pass reservation system actually started for the first time in the middle of our vacation. Yes fast passes used to be free, but they aren’t now and they likely aren’t going away from the current model. We gladly paid the extra fees to skip the lines. In all cases it was well worth it. Especially with Star Wars Rise of the Resistance. Had a 2.5 hour wait and we got on in 3 minutes. A small price to pay for all the extra time you got back.
As far as the prices, we’ll we don’t go all the time. We take one big vacation there every 3 or 4 years. We only live 2 hours away from WDW, but going frequently dulls it down and makes it feel less special, we need to be gone long enough to miss it. So the prices aren’t a big deal to us and even for a single day ticket at about $110 a person, for the whole day and ride all you want is a bargain quite frankly. But we got a 4 day ticket and paid $62 per person per day. So a good deal. Since we don’t go often, we don’t mind taking that big vacation and really splurging on ourselves once in a while. The lifetime of family memories you gain from it make it well worth it. It’s so easy to be negative and complain, but just go, treat yourself, have a wonderful time and make the very best of it. We are all lucky for a wonderful place like that to even be there to enjoy.
Jim
Couldn’t agree more!
AnneMarie
Chapel works for Universal Studios to bring down the Mouse.
Renee
Just got back from Disneyland. Outrageous prices and it’s the first time I’ve seen the park dirty.
Laurie Bacheldor
What about all the people that have dreamed and have to scrimp and save every little bit just to try to make a tiny experience for their child or children that could now be impossible, because of inflation with gas prices, and food prices, and rent, people that do nothing wrong and they just dream of going and making a happy experience, now even the cheapest experience is too much, I honestly don’t think it’s right, I think there should be something for everyone.
Lisa
Raise it. I will happily pay and save to keep the park less crowded.
Lynn
Live been going to Disneyland since 1956. I had an Annual Passport for 30 years.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to back. Now that I’m disabled, I never know from one day to the next whether I will be up to go, so the reservation system won’t work for me. And they appear to be getting rid of all the moderate meals and purchases.
I miss it. And the Cams I’ve come to know. But it’s just not going to happen with the current situation. 😞
Sad
And he never will, because Walt didn’t leave it to his family
Walt
LOOK AT HIS HEIRS THEY ARE LUNATICS! And this shizzel started long before Chapek – Iger was the evil overlord. I worked there during the last of Eisners term and was so thankful when he left – time has proven me WRONG. His biggest sin was he lost interst and the parks declined. I was asked by imagineering to go through DL and document the lack of upkeep – it was bad. Greed has ruined the company and country for that matter.
Gary
Walt I take it that you were or are a CM, I was back in 06 but health problems cut me way short. Is there very many Original Imagineers still kicking? Maybe they could do something to talk some sense into Leadership. Just thinking out loud. I could tell you something else but not here.
JM
You do realize it was/is a public company so he couldn’t just “leave it to his family” as you keep insisting.
Irritated
You people that are getting upset about raising prices and Walt being upset etc. he didn’t leave it to his family before he died, so his version, dream etc is no longer. New owners only give a rats ass about making money and finding ways to make more. From what I’ve heard, they’re going to keep raising the prices as long as people keep going
G
You keep saying this over and over again, are you part of Walt’s family? Because you sure seem to be hung up on this.
Phil
Keep raising the price but decrease capacity. There are too many people. I would rather pay $250 a ticket and take my family once a year for a good experience than twice a year with overcrowding.
Mike
All whitey then….when you’re there your not contributing to overcrowding? It’s all the other people huh? Let’s all stay home so Ken and his brood can enjoy the park. Especially those pesky brown people. Let’s raise prices so only the rich can enjoy. All for an overpriced, over hyped, corporate circle jerk. Hard pass.
Stefanie
We won’t be going back to Disney any time soon. It’s not worth it to us. It used to be affordable but not anymore for the average family. Way to go to Disney. Nothing like screwing things up!
Frank
Just came back from Disney World, and visiting the 4 parks. Had mostly a great time, but agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment of this article. Charging for something that was once free (Genie+), and taking away features of the free offering is nothing more than a money grab. Park capacities need to be reduced. New rides are not creative and redundant implementations of the same technology (Ratatouille, Rise of the Resistance, Mickie and Minnie Railway). The magic is gone, and Disney Parks are no longer the best in the world.
Christine M Carroll
In 2020 Disney World…
CEO Bob Chapek made $14M in total compesation (salary and stock awards)
Executive chairman Bob Iger made $21 million in total compensation
I couldn’t find current compensation reports but im sure its more…not less.
Perhaps they could ‘get along’ on 1 million a year?
Just sayn!
Richard
I promised myself and family that we would make the 50th anniversary. We have been at each anniversary from the 15th. So this past March was our last. I am now retired. This was my last trip ever to a Disney park. The cost is prohibitive for me now. So now I will enjoy the rest of the sites in this country that doesn’t cost as much as one trip to Disney. There is so many beautiful places to see.
Besides, the people who go today are much more rude then in the past.
Kenneth
Just goes to show you American families will go further into debt just to escape reality for a day! Only for reality to hit them in pocket book when they can’t pay their bills!
Jacki
Just got back from there in September and I agree the magical feeling is gone. I actually saw a young cast member yelling at guests in Epcot. They were taking a break and sitting on the ground waiting for the fireworks to begin. There was plenty of space for crowds to walk behind them as they were very close to the fencing. The cast member in a not so friendly tone yelled at them to stand up and told them if they didn’t understand she would help them do it. No magic there
JP
“Provide world-class experience” Anyone who has been to the parks before the pandemic versus now knows that is total BS!! They no longer provide housekeeping for your overpriced room unless you bug them and even then it’s bare minimum. The lines are longer than ever before and now rides that you could normally get on easily have wait times. There is more trash lying around and the park infrastructure is not maintained as well as it was before and shows more signs of neglect or disrepair. Cast members no longer seem happy and they’re just going through the motions like robots. Everything is turning to pay to play status. Provide world class experience quote from Disney is laughable at best.
Lisa
I think it’s terrible. Gone are the days when a Disney was affordable for families. I’m not so worried about myself since I don’t have children but what’s that family of 5 gonna pay now?? Going to Disney is a childhood rite of passage that will unattainable for many now. I went in April with my best friend and her son. We had wanted to return in 2024, but because of the expense, that’s not happening.
Steve
I don’t make a ton of money. We were able to go to Disney basically every year from 2017 to 2019. Since Covid started we haven’t been able to justify going to Disney with the price increases. It’s just too expensive now. We would now have to save for years to be able to afford what we use to be able to do.
Marie
It’s so sad that their GREED for money is OBVIOUSLY so much more important than making it the happiest place on earth as Walt wanted. They have completely lost the true vision and mission. They have completely cut out many people from attending the parks. And you can tell by people’s comments. If you want to take your family to the park you need to save for years or have a credit card with a decent limit on it. It’s EXTREMELY sad. My Daughter and Son in Law haven’t gone with their daughter because they can’t afford it and they refuse to go into debt to go. And she loves the place. She grew up going once a year. Now their Daughter won’t have the same kind of experience or love for the place. I’m a shareholder. Disney can keep my small checks if it means keeping the prices down. OH or maybe I guess I’m not greedy enough to be a part of this business.
Linda
I’m going in Dec and that will be my last time.way too much planning. I liked it better in the 1980 when you bought a ticket and just did what you wanted. No planning needed
Susan Mayer
My husband and I have been going to Disneyland since1955. Wehave been passholders since passes first came out. We have ben to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, but our top tiered Magic Keys will expire in November, and Ifear so willour patience with price gouging. The resrvation systemis stupid. It has only seemed to increase the crowds. Instead of going when we feel physically up to it (at 78 & 75) we have togo because we could get reservation weeks in advance, or we will be punshed for it.
Hey, instead of an increase we should get a senior discount! We have basically built this park and kept it alive all these years! Walt would have remembered that…but hey…let’s br real here. The real face of Disneyland is not Mickey Mouse…It’s Scrooge McDuck!
Cathy
Last trip for us….to expensive, food is not very good for the prices, many rides are breaking down and need repair, lines are too long.
Really Blankenship
My wife and I were never able to afford many vacations while we worked. We did become annual passholders eleven years ago and retired seven years ago. My at the changes in the last decade. We have many memories and enjoyed our time we spent checking out the various resorts. It looks like time has caught up to us and the value for the price has passed my wife and I by. No regrets and who knows maybe we will drop by again to see Disney World again . Going to let those passes go . This is the right choice for us but for everyone see what is best for you. Headed to Dollywood this spring. We may see some of you there.
Sid
Paying more and getting less. Wokism at its best. Walt is turning over in his grave.
B
Until people stand up to this ridiculousness, they will continue to price out middle class families from going to the parks. Yes, some people would love to go and pay more for less people, but that just tells the greedy executives at Disney that they can continue to do this. One day they will price you out too. I can’t take my family anymore. A weekend and Disneyland used to be affordable, now it’s that would be my one year vacation savings! No way! I’d rather spend a week at Universal. Until the CEO at Disney resigns or is ousted, and the board realizes how much they have alienated so many families with all of these ridiculous changes that Bob had made, I refuse to go to Disney, buy anything Disney, see anything Disney, etc. I encourage more to do the same. Bob needs to go.
pattimarie
Kris makes a lot of good points. They are exactly what I have read, and seen for myself over the years. It’s hard sometimes to read the comments of naive people who believe the PR and don’t realize that Disney could stop the overcrowding in an instant–they’re a private company and they can impose attendance limits any time they want, in fact, they have in the past. They don’t now because they want it all–high attendance and high prices. It’s not the first time a company has lied about what they’re really doing. I judge them by their actions which Javie has mentioned–how they make things look more crowded to get those Genie+ sales and convince people that prices must be raised. Some people buy it, and that’s how they get away with it. Meanwhile they’re trashing their reputation, their brand, and more and more people realize what they’re really doing.
What some people don’t realize is that every time they raised prices in the past–attendance went up. Raising prices does not lower the overcrowding. The man who said he’s pay 1,000 if it was less crowded is deluding himself. They would give discounts, etc, etc., to fill the park and still charge him a 1,000 dollars–because he will let them. They will keep the park as crowded as possible, no matter what they say. If they cared about the guest experience, then the maintenance, the breaking down of rides, the manipulation of lines to justify Genie+, the way employees aee treated, which in turn affects the way we are treated, etc., WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. They could fix all of it–especially at the prices they charge.
John
Impose limits and people will still complain…1st world problems
John
As much as everyone is complaining now, let’s face it, Disney stopped caring about the average family more than 30 years ago. The fact that it costs a family of four a minimum of $450 just to get in is enough to eliminate from ever being able to go. Add to that Biden’s and Newsom’s nearly 9% interest and increased costs in rent and mortgage payments and no one making less than six figures can ever afford to go.
John
I don’t get it…
Lower prices and more people will go and more people will complain about crowds.
Raise prices to “price out” lower income people and people will complain for not being able to go.
Don’t like it?? Don’t go…it’s quite simple. Go to Dollywood or Wisconsin dells. Save $1000s…
CJ
They talk like it’s been getting out of hand the past couple of years, but it’s more like just over a decade. I first got an opportunity to get to a park in early 2012. Wound up getting an annual pass. Then within a year I watched it increase at drastic rates, and they kept saying it’s because they needed to pay for the new renovated areas (but you should’ve had the money to begin with and not paying for it after, so it certainly sounded like a crock with a comment like that). Within a few years it nearly tripled it cost, with bits of less features and benefits, which is just beyond ridiculous.
Joxua
I say raise the gate fee but make everyone wait in the same line as if they are all equal
T kankiewicz
I agree with allot of the above in regards to the pricing. The prices are high enough let alone genie+ and paying $15 dollars extra per person to make sure we could ride, rise of the ressistance. I wish disney would find another Michael Eisner who followed Walt’s dream, not I’ll take every cent you have for my bonus “Chapek”. The man should have never got extended but it’s now revenue over a family experience.
jake
universal studios has twice the magic and half the crowd
Aileen
They should not overload the park by NOT selling tickets at the gate. Everyone should get to visit at some point so tickets and food passes by income:)
Samantha
I guess my family would be considered the “wealthy” clients Disney is attempting to lure in. We were annual passholders for forever, offered Club 33 membership, etc. But the thing is, we have money because we’ve been smart about money. We are well aware of our vacation options, we travel a bit. We’ll be taking our kids there for Christmas this year because they missed it during COVID. That will probably be the last trip for quite some time (I suspect much of the crowds these days are people in similar situations). We’re spending something like $6.5k for hotel and tickets. We just spent the same thing this summer for 3 weeks in southeast asia staying at 5 star resorts with private tour guides, the most amazing food, private butlers. Why would I seek out Disney world with small and mediocre food portions, rides chronically breaking down, understaffed parks, literally crumbing surroundings, and overpriced poorly made merchandise? The magic is dead. Killed by greed. And fyi, I see far more poor behavior out of wealthy clientele than the middle class “riff raff” so many of you seem to want to blame. We’ll go. We’ll pay for neither genie+ nor lightning lanes- the idea of paying for rides we’ve already paid for doesn’t sit well with us. But chances of us being back anytime soon are very slim. Next trip is to the French Riviera, again, for less than what we spend at Disney.
Cory S
Please raise the prices so I don’t have to be around the idiots who frequent the parks. People who can’t get out of the way, are rude, and are entitled. Most people complaining about prices are entitled to something for less than it is worth. And it is worth a lot because, surprise, people happily pay the premium.
I pay for Genie+, moderate or better hotels, plan my reserved dinners, pay off my trip before I go over time, and expect to spend money b/c, surprise, I am on vacation. If you pay for a good trip and plan like a normal person, you’ll have a great time.
If you want to be cheap, stay cheap, eat cheap, and not plan your time well then likely you’re time will be cheap and not time well spent. Shocker, I know.
Kim Tyler
My family and I used to come to Disney world almost every summer. We haven’t been in at least 6 years. Even then it was becoming too expensive for us. It’s disappointing that we can’t afford to have a budget Disney vacation anymore.
Robin
I have been a season pass holder since I moved to Fl. However, I have watched prices go up and services go done. I have bought one of the more expensive passes because it had no blackout dates. In addition, the photo pass now has to be paid for. The lightening pass was taken away and now has to be paid for . When I did that I got 2 rides all day and paid a fortune. Now I’m paying much more and suddenly there are blackout dates. I am extremely disappointed that they are pricing me out especially now that I am living on a fixed income
maria
Disney has become a greedy money hungry blob of incompetent management starting with Chapek. Walt is spinning in his grave. This is not what he would’ve wanted even though he always thought ahead and keep moving forward
Kelly Hutchings
My wife and I have been very regular attendees since 1955, two weeks after it opened. Up until the pandemic we held annual passes and came to Disneyland at least monthly. The magic never passed. Sadly, with costs as high as they have gotten, and the other impediments (think reservation system) we have been left behind. We can no longer afford it .
Romyeaux
The problem with this business tactic is that it does not take into account the highest demand at each price point. If Disney economics was successful, there would be returns to shareholders. In fact, Disney has been losing money since 2019. For all that they say they’re doing well, and that people are still coming in record numbers, we have to ask if that is truly the case.
Stephen
It would be one thing if they were using it for things other than profit, yet judging by a latest report where over 1/2 the rides in the supposed “Magic” kingdom have spent more time broken down than running and a number of buildings inside and out need maintenance, it looks like people are paying to give stock holders more profit than for a magical experience.
Matt
We looked at Disney, it was cheaper for our family of 8 to go to Ireland for 7 nights including flights from Maryland than to go to Orlando! Our family got to meet some unbelievable down to earth people vs some of the crackpots
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