At D23, even Disney’s biggest fans feel the pinch of high parks prices
As a dedicated Disney enthusiast who has been visiting the parks since I was a child, I can relate to the sentiments expressed by Wes Strickland and others at the D23 convention in 2022. Having grown up with memories of Disney, it’s hard not to feel a bit frustrated when the parks seem stagnant or overpriced.
Wearing a two-layer frilled dress, a set of Minnie Mouse ears, and a handheld fan fashioned from reused Disneyland souvenir sacks, Patt Haro nostalgically reflected on the times when an annual pass at Disneyland cost only $99, many years ago.
For over four decades, Haro (age 65) and her spouse Richard (age 66), who both share a matching style, have held annual passes. This duo from Fontana would often gift these passes as thoughtful Christmas presents to their loved ones.
“Harro remarked that the costs have undoubtedly risen,” stated a Disney trip planner named Haro.
Despite not being able to attend the D23 Disney convention every year, the couple maintains their tradition of visiting Disneyland every Sunday, both dressing up in matching, homemade outfits reminiscent of their attire at the Anaheim event this weekend. For their latest “Magic Key” annual passes, they spent approximately $1,600, which Richard Haro calculates as roughly $20 per day.
“It’s really worth it to us,” he said.
What keeps them coming back?
“The magic,” Patt Haro said, with a smile.
During Disney’s every-two-year fan gathering held at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend, even the most ardent fans conceded that the increased ticket prices for their theme parks and voiced displeasure over the shift towards paid line-jumping benefits. However, attendees of D23, a group of dedicated enthusiasts, showed no signs of reducing their trips despite these changes.
It’s beneficial news for the media and entertainment company based in Burbank, as it had recently disclosed less-than-expected financial performance from its experiences division (consisting of theme parks, cruises, and merchandise). For the fiscal third quarter, this division experienced a 2% rise in revenue compared to the previous year; however, there was a 3% reduction in operating income.
During the latest financial year, this particular sector accounted for approximately 70% of Disney’s overall operating earnings, standing out significantly in past reports. For some time now, this sector has been a beacon of success for the company, despite the fact that streaming services have been hemorrhaging money and undermining their cable networks and cinema divisions.
As a film enthusiast, I’m noticing an intriguing shift in the travel industry landscape. It appears that the pent-up desire for adventures outside, post the COVID-19 pandemic, might be easing off. Recently, company executives and analysts have shared this insight with me. Interestingly, they foresee a relatively stable revenue trend for the experiences division in the upcoming fiscal quarter and quarters to follow. This prediction is due to what they term as “flattish” revenue.
As a budget-conscious family who loves to visit Disney theme parks, I find myself frequently questioning whether the high ticket prices are making it difficult for lower and middle-income families like mine to enjoy the magic of Disney. The recent prices, with a family of three needing to pay at least $700 just for Park Hopper tickets in Anaheim, have left me wondering if we’ll ever be able to afford another trip. With inflation on the rise, it seems that the cost of visiting Disney is becoming more and more burdensome. I can only hope that Disney finds a way to make their parks accessible to all families who want to create lasting memories there.
“Ric Prentiss, from Raymond James, stated this in a message to clients: A Disney trip is well-known for being costly, but the rapid and significant price hikes over the last five years have shocked many people surveyed. He doesn’t think similar increases will occur over the next five years.”
A representative from Disney announced that their prices for admission at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim begin at $106, while at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the starting price is $109. This cost structure provides visitors with the chance to explore during times when they can reap even more benefits. The rep also mentioned that an average visit to a Disney theme park spans between 10 and 16 hours, and they’ve observed that guest satisfaction ratings are on the rise.
“For more than seven decades, Disney parks have weathered various ups and downs in the economy, and we’re confident that this is no exception,” the representative stated. “We remain optimistic about our company’s future and are dedicated to continued growth and development on a global scale.”
In order to maintain a competitive edge against rivals like Universal’s upcoming Epic Universe park in Orlando, Disney has decided to pump approximately $60 billion into their experiences division over the next decade. This investment will include a development of at least $1.9 billion specifically for enhancements at Disneyland Resort.
Over the weekend, executives from the company revealed plans for a new area inspired by “Avatar” and a “Coco” boat ride in Disney California Adventure, as well as a land dedicated to villains in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Additionally, they announced attractions themed around “Encanto,” “Indiana Jones,” and a “Monsters, Inc.” land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, all located in Orlando.
Despite several unanswered questions about the opening times and specific locations within the parks, it’s clear that these new attractions are currently being developed, as stated by Josh D’Amaro, head of the company’s experiences division, who could potentially succeed current CEO Bob Iger.
“Disney’s plans are drawn,” he said onstage at Saturday night’s presentation at the Honda Center arena. “This means the dirt is moving.”
Fans were pleased with the clearer action plan presented, as they had criticized Disney’s park presentation at the 2022 D23 convention for being heavy on possibilities but light on specific details. Many expressed a desire to see new attractions that would bring something fresh and exciting. They don’t want to feel like they’re paying extra for the same old experiences.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m Wes Strickland, aged 27, and I must admit, these movie parks have been somewhat stationary since the pandemic hit. It’s been quite frustrating, really, as I can’t wait to see them bustle with life once more.
Disney’s price hikes are not being justified by enough new additions, according to Strickland, a local Anaheim resident who spent three years at Disneyland and is an annual pass holder. He also pointed out the paid line-skipping service, which used to be free, as a point of worry.
Even so, he continues to visit every fortnight. For him, the park is overflowing with nostalgic reminders – from childhood visits and his initial date with his present fiancé.
Strickland described the location as enchanting, despite its high cost, while donning a purple shirt adorned with spooky eyes reminiscent of the Haunted Mansion ride’s wallpaper. He deemed it the ultimate choice among theme parks.
With discontinued Disney FastPass replicas around their chests, longtime pals Ryan Wenzel and Allie Ring accept the reality of increased costs.
“Wenzel, aged 31 and hailing from Chicago, clad in a large FastPass replica for the Haunted Mansion ride, expressed his sentiment: ‘It seems to me that inflation is prevalent everywhere.’ He added that he’s consistently received the worth he anticipated from these places.”
“Everything has gotten more expensive,” added Ring, 31, who wore a Jungle Cruise FastPass.
The longtime buddies, who’ve been inseparable since their high school days and frequent Disney theme parks annually, acknowledged that modifications were necessary within these parks. However, they perceived the company as receptive to suggestions from visitors, pointing out tweaks made to its pay-to-skip-the-line service as evidence.
Some individuals have expressed dissatisfaction about their latest trips to Disney theme parks, mentioning an overwhelming sense of being persistently promoted with souvenirs.
“Marie Santos, a 37-year-old resident of San Francisco, recommended the following: ‘Purchase items related to Coco, The Avengers, and Avatar.’ To address the company’s issues, she suggested a straightforward solution: ‘Create new attractions.'”
But the parks still hold a particular draw for Disney superfans, particularly at D23.
On Saturday, there was a gathering for taking photos of cosplay enthusiasts. A group of participants dressed up as various famous attractions at Epcot, including the Spacehip Earth ride, an ax-wielding bride from the Haunted Mansion, and characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland. One woman carried her own green shutters while cosplaying a character from that ride who yells at a man named Carlos.
That nostalgia keeps devotees coming back.
33-year-old Darryl Paltao expressed concern about the increase in the cost of his annual pass, stating he needs to calculate his trips to Disneyland carefully so as not to overspend. He lamented certain alterations made to the parks throughout the years, including the implementation of a reservation system during the pandemic, which has disrupted his previous practice of spontaneous visits to Disneyland following a meal at Downtown Disney.
However, he consistently returns due to the nostalgia it evokes, as it recalls fond memories from family vacations when his grandfather would wheel him along Main Street in a pram.
“It always brings back memories,” said Paltao, a Foster City resident.
He said he’d deal with the consequences to his wallet later.
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2024-08-12 02:32