Get your membership magic folks!

[TinkTatoo]

I agree, it's expensive and not for everyone (me included) but I don't get why people are knocking Disney for it. At the end of the day they are a company, responsible to their shareholders, and there to make a profit.

They responded proactively to the slump post 9/11 with fantastic offers and promotions to temp visitors back and now a lot of people are miffed that they have been gradually reducing those offers as numbers increase. You can see it with free dining, it was a perk offered to visitors from the UK and Ireland and worked really well but it looks like they might have stopped it for 2020 and people are not happy. They have made lots of investments in the parks and now have a couple of premium products that will pull in huge crowds so the pendulum has swung the other way and they can start charging for extras knowing there are plenty of people willing to pay.

It's a matter of perspective, some people want to nickle and dime everything but for others this will be a must do event and will no doubt sellout. We're going to see a lot more of this as Disney continue to offer premium paid extras. They're not forcing anyone to attend, all the standard theme park rides and attractions are still there for everyone to enjoy so it's up to the individual if they're prepared to pay for "extras"

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by TinkTatoo

I agree, it's expensive and not for everyone (me included) but I don't get why people are knocking Disney for it. At the end of the day they are a company, responsible to their shareholders, and there to make a profit.

They responded proactively to the slump post 9/11 with fantastic offers and promotions to temp visitors back and now a lot of people are miffed that they have been gradually reducing those offers as numbers increase. You can see it with free dining, it was a perk offered to visitors from the UK and Ireland and worked really well but it looks like they might have stopped it for 2020 and people are not happy. They have made lots of investments in the parks and now have a couple of premium products that will pull in huge crowds so the pendulum has swung the other way and they can start charging for extras knowing there are plenty of people willing to pay.

It's a matter of perspective, some people want to nickle and dime everything but for others this will be a must do event and will no doubt sellout. We're going to see a lot more of this as Disney continue to offer premium paid extras. They're not forcing anyone to attend, all the standard theme park rides and attractions are still there for everyone to enjoy so it's up to the individual if they're prepared to pay for "extras"

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I agree with a lot of your points and yes people will pay for extra experiences or better offerings.

That's absolutely fine until it impacts on those not paying for them or not able to pay for them

More and more we are seeing those visitors penalised. For example, made to leave Parks early to cater for paid for evening events which are increasing year on year.
Areas blocked off to allow better viewing of fireworks etc.

The list goes on and on and we should note that this DVC event will also block the normal Park guests from the prime firework viewing area at Epcot.

[Shooby doo]

Tink to me that is the issue, they were quite happy to take their "Core fans" money whilst times were hard but now those same "Core fans" are being priced out of the market whilst Disney chase those big spending guests.
Personally we are now in the "stick or twist" conundrum, do we add on as planned or start going off-site again, added to that is the "value" in visiting Disney going forward - £450 for a pass where I'll perhaps get 3 FP+ & then crazy queues for the rest of the day or spend slightly less & stay at Universal & get FOLP any day every day !
SD

[PoohBears#1fan]

For me the payoff is that WDW is more than 1 park, admittedly if the events are restricting other guests with sectioned off areas or early closing that IS incredibly frustrating as we all pay a very large sum of money to be there, but generally I've found it relatively easy to avoid these events impacting on me by choosing to be in another park instead.

I (not a big Star Wars fan) was excited when they first announced this event, as it's while we're there, until I saw the price, I wouldn't even consider it personally, but I'm sure plenty of hard core fans will, - my friend's family (& us) just all clubbed together to get her husband the Lego Deathstar for his 50th at around £650 - so I'm sure they'll have no trouble filling it with fans who think it's worth it to them.

For me DDP has been horrendous, it's stopped us eating onsite over the years, we eat off site far more than we did 10-15 years ago, the restaurants are packed, harder to get into, wait times are ridiculous, prices inflated and the meal feels rushed BUT to many, many others, it's the best things since sliced bread.

Swings and roundabouts I guess, for all our moaning and whether it's right or wrong, I don't doubt for a moment that Disney will keep on raking in the big bucks and still be doing it when we're all long gone.

[BarryandCaron]

These extra events generate revenue, I’d rather have the choice to attend them than ticket prices rise even more than they do.

If I was a Star Wars fan and could afford it, then I’d probably buy a ticket if I wanted to attend.

[TinkTatoo]

Originally Posted by Shooby doo

Tink to me that is the issue, they were quite happy to take their "Core fans" money whilst times were hard but now those same "Core fans" are being priced out of the market whilst Disney chase those big spending guests.
Personally we are now in the "stick or twist" conundrum, do we add on as planned or start going off-site again, added to that is the "value" in visiting Disney going forward - £450 for a pass where I'll perhaps get 3 FP+ & then crazy queues for the rest of the day or spend slightly less & stay at Universal & get FOLP any day every day !
SD

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I hear what you’re saying but us core fans got some great benefits over the years and having experienced them if can feel like we’re loosing out when they dissapear and Disney reverts back to basics but there’s still plenty to enjoy even with only 3 measly fast passes 😄

[Noodlez]

It seems that everyone had the same feeling about the galactic gathering as it has now been cancelled!

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Brilliant news. Overpriced and under subscribed. Another egg on face fiasco for WDW

About time they smelt the coffee. You cannot milk the cash cow to death which they seem to be trying to achieve.

[YorkshireT]

Well I said I hope it falls flat on its face. DVC need to realise, greed is not good.

[2point]

That Woody BBQ at the Contemporary In July has sold out for each of the 3 days.

I wouldn't bank on the SW one being cancelled due to uptake, my guess is it will be rescheduled for GE.