...and now you’re paying for parking at some venues.
About the same as a ski ticket. Killington Resort Resort Lift Tickets | Most Current Pricing Day Child Adult (19-64) Weekday - US$ 115.00 Weekend - US$ 115.00
Disney World is proof that PT Barnum was right.
I’m not convinced that that’s what it proves. Disney parks, like Las Vegas, are now going for the very highest prices they can possibly charge, and that doesn’t mean that they expect only Americans to pay it. There are more, and bigger, wallets available when you include all the rich people from China, Japan, Russia, the Middle East, etc., and that’s in the calculations now.
We went to The Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center for one day each just a couple of weeks ago. Once the daughter found that the last Ladies restroom in the “United Kingdom” part of World Showcase had two stalls, one of which was out of service...... she then knew why the last time we went to Disney World was about twenty years ago.
What’s the percentage of foreign visitors to Disney World now vs. 1971?
Cultural attractions like Disney are now huge draws for the upper classes of Japan, Korea, China, and South America. You don’t need huge percentages of them to translate into massive numbers, and huge spending, at Disney.
Went to Orlando and Disney back in 4th grade around 1977 then again around 1990 with friends during a road trip from MA to FL.
Both times thought it was great.
Now?
Never again..
No ride is worth standing in line that long.
Why would ANYONE want to experience this horror, let alone shell out thousands for it? I'd rather take my kids out to the wilderness, to camp, hike, fish and shoot.
We have lived in Florida for 15 years, an hour and a half drive to DW. Never been there and never had the desire. Neither have our kids, who grew up here.
The last time I went there, there were as many South Americans there as North Americans.
This is complete BS based on the people I saw in the parks last time I was there a year ago.
Have been going for the last 15 years or so and thank God all my kids have grown out of it.
Saw a lot of well off folks, but lots of rich FOREINGERS and tons of domestic white trash with really BAD tattoos that must be spending the tax “refunds” they get despite paying no taxes.
I spent a week there in the 1990’s on a business trip, studying the way they did service. It was a remarkable week. They have the whole environment set up based on providing the right service at the right time and anticipating the needs of the customers.
Some people walked away cynical—feeling like Disney manipulates their customers. We did a real deep visit behind the scenes, and the training was incredible.
I found it fascinating. It changed the way I did my job. But, I went back a few years ago and I was looking at every experience, trying to find the “tricks.” Everything that you see, hear, and smell is carefully choreographed. Knowing that takes some of the fun out of it.
Comparing the park admission price in 1971 to today is a bit of comparing apples to oranges. Prior to the early 80’s you had to pay both admission to the park AND buy tickets to get on the different rides (remember the coveted E-tickets?). Now the entry fee is significantly higher but you get unlimited rides on whatever you want to go on. Not a fair comparison to just compare park entry price from then to now.
Disney World is proof that the American Middle Class is insane. My step-brother has spent a fortune taking his my two nieces to Disney World every two or three years and buying them stuff there (two years ago, it was the “Princess” Christmas Tree). You can spend a down payment on a house there.
Been to the Disney’s in Anaheim from when it first opened and the one in Florida in the mid ‘80’s with baby. I much preferred Colonial Williamsburg where I learned more about American history than in school. When I was a young teen, the girls there made the ones in Disney Anaheim look like dogs. And the foreigners who visited Williamsburg came from cultures where deodorant is de rigeur.
here's a link to food prices at the resort
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/dining/dininglist.cfm
Take a look at The Blue Bayou and Steakhouse 55, but also at how the captive guest is raped over the simplest fare and beverages. This is what greed looks like, this isn't honest profit it's rape, and anyone that says "well they don't have to go there" doesn't have children.
My BIL works at Disney Anaheim and while he can get us in for free, well the twenty dollar parking, it's not worth it. It's always over sold and crowded and even water is astronomically priced and all it leaves us is irritated. We, haven't been in years and don't anticipate going again for years either.
Alternatives to this racket (with blow-your-mind-thrills for a fraction):
Slingshot (various parks)
https://youtu.be/q440I34UKAI?t=445
Terror Dactyl (Cave of the Winds, Manitou Springs CO, which has caverns and a climbing park, etc.)
https://youtu.be/-mPjxUICE18?t=72
Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster (Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg)
https://youtu.be/QzVGf-K2heg?t=304
Etc. And all with no preaching of silly myths.
My kids survived the journey to adulthood without ever darkening the gate at Disney.
A while back, I was at Orlando Airport. A family of four was walking past with their dumb Mickey Mouse shirts all custom made with their names. They had an airport porter with a large luggage cart. There must have been fifteen suitcases and duffel bags for one family.
Just the flight alone with all the excess baggage charges was more than we’ve ever spent on a vacation.