Disney Has Too Much Money

[christyca]

What happend to Walts request of haveing*Daddy's Day* when most dads cant afford to spend the day at Disneyland.For my hubby,myself,and my daughter to walk through the gate it runs $120.00.That dosnt include food or souviners.Then they rape you on everything in the park.I leave feeling cheated because what my daughter wants is always somthing I cant afford there.Im not poor but there are some people out there that are and will never be able to go to The Happiest Place On Earth which should really be called we pay our employees minimum wage,over price nickel items and take a second out on your home to make your kids happy place on earth.If Disney wasnt so tight with their money and stopped complaining on how much money it would take on the up keep I would be happy ,oh and by the way,bring back the People Mover and The Main Street Electrical Parade!

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[MiCkEy PaRk]

Yep your right Disney seems pretty corrupt nowadays. But this business and its all about supply and demand. Disney knows it has the reputation to support all of the high prices and will charge the high prices. If anything the whole high price thing is the fault of the consumer. If we didn't give into all the hype put onto every single little Disney Product we wouldn't have to pay so much for them! oh well

[ismael flores]

I understand your concern, i myself think that prices are very high. But you have to realize the amount of money that is spent on just the smallest of things. I am involved with finances where i work a company of 310 employees. Electricty charges are close to a million a year. water is in the five digits. Insurance and benefits for employees are just super ridulus. The upkeep of the parking lot is in the high thousands.
Then you have people that sue pecause they got scratched and hurt and make things impossible. At my work we do lots of the printing for Disney and believe me the prices they have to pay. (and we usually have the lowest bid on there work) is in the very high thousands for just small brochures and posters. Just as an example Do you remember the attraction "CAPTAIN EO"? This attraction cost Disney over seventeen million dollars to make just the film. Thats over one million dollars a minute. That did not include the building structure, the sound system, the qeue area and all the media time this ride cost them more the 50+ million dollars to build and then still had to keep it up. You might not also be aware but Disney spends thousands of dolars in give aways. They give away small Disney toys, candies, lollipops, food to many people while in the park. Hey just the opther day they gave out rain ponchos to children because of the intense rains. Yes Free

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[PlaidPrincess]

Another thing to consider, is the other Disney Enterprises that Disneyland is currently supporting. You may not know it, but Disney has a few parks and stores which are currently running at a defecit. Pile that on top of the money being sucked in for California Adventure and a few dud movies, and when you think about it, Disneyland is supporting a lot right now.....mainly peoples jobs for places that are making negative dollars. Where would those people be without their job if Disney had to shut that park/enterprise down due to negative income.....they'd be jobless. There is more on this in the archives at mouseplanet.com

Also, I remember a time when souvenirs cost more than they do now. A decent sized stuffed animal cost around 20-30 bucks in the 80's and now they are down to around 10. The quality of food has gotten better as well, and if you think about it, a trip to the Plaza Inn, or French Market, isn't more costly than a trip to Sizzler, and in my eyes, much more satisfying.

Disney also does a lot for non-profit organizations....of all types. This doesn't mean just little orphans, but some school groups, organizations for disabled persons, "Make a wish Foundation" are just a few examples, as well as some guests who come in the park and something unfortunate happens during their trip (and I don't just mean people who get hurt on rides). Did you know that if a little kid's mom buys him a balloon, and it pops or floats away.....and the kid is really upset, they WILL replace it? Little things like that, and large things. Once a family came from Europe, and they got here and something happend to their credit card, and it wasn't approving sales. Disney gave the whole family comp tickets to come in to the park, so that their vacation wasn't ruined, and also gave them a room and a phone where they could call over seas, on disney's pocket, so that they could straighten the mess out.

Also, all that freeway work and Anaheim city improvements you've been seeing....guess who footed the bill for a lot of that? Yes, Disneyland is giving to the city and county around it. My Uncle works for the city of Anaheim and said that if Disneyland hadn't given the city so much money, instead of being improved, Anaheim streets would be sitting in desperate need of repair, and the highway construction would have stopped mid project, and not been completed for who knows how long in many ongoing highway projects in Orange County. Not to mention, he and many of his buddies would have been laid off!!

Disneyland isn't ass "full of money" as we think they are....In fact throughout the past they have always had financial difficulties. It really bugs me when people just "ASSUME" Disney is full of money and complain! You don't have to go to Disneyland at all, if you don't want to. You do have a choice. And before you complain about somethng such as a company supposedly having money, why not research it first!

[DoodleDuck]

Yeah..get a rope!

[raisun]

I just wanted to agree with most of what PlaidPrincess had to say, and emphasize the fact that last year, the theme-park division of Disney really did subsidize quite a bit of the rest of the company. Now WDW does well too, but thats not the point.

The only other comment that I wanted to make (and I'm sure that this comment will open a can of worms - it always does)...but Disney is a corporation that has investors. It is up to Eisner and Co. to make the company profitable so that investors will be happy, and so they can make more money. We live in a society that is ruled by money (like it or not).

I mean, Id love to see prices go down, and make the park more affordable for everyone, but I just don't see that happening. Oh well, I think I rambled too much...sorry

[DoodleDuck]

There is a happy balance however.
Cost cutting zealots can ruin a product. With out the public acceptance of the product and consistant IMPROVEMENT of that product..no money will be there to be made.
I never am bothered by paying the price for THE BEST. The best costs more. Some people can afortd a Caddilac and others a Yugo. That's the way of the world.
It is up to the company to create a product that appeals to the vast majority and price it for that majority.
Some folks have to scrimp and save for a year (Or more) to afford a vacation. Some can never afford it and take food off the table to experience a little magic. Some like me and my wife (not at ALL well off..heck, I'm unemployed this month!) make DL a priority no matter what the finances. It costs what it costs. The benefits have been so far worth it. My concern is a loss of the magic that makes it all worthwhile..if the company delivers on THAT..then the stockholders deserve their profit. The unfortunate potential here is that there are those in the company that do not SEE the real source of the money coming in..don't 'get it'..The Product is EVERYTHING..the EXPERIENCE is everything..the CM's are much of the product and a huge percentage of the experience..the entry cost and those that will pay it is directly influenced by the above elements.
It ain't broke YET.
DD

[toominnie]

Whoa Christyaz are you sure you are on the right bulletin board here. No offense but in case you don't know WE LIKE DISNEY. I understand your concerns but everything costs money and Disney isn't any more expensive than any other amusement park. They are a business and they do have expenses. It is almost like you are saying Disney should cut expenses more than other parks just because they are Disney. If you want to do Disney you make it a priority and save. I don't believe any of us have a money tree growing in our backyard.

[christyca]

I did'nt mean to upset anyone with what I said.I'm just upset because I want to go to Disneyland in april real real bad and we cant afford it due to having our new baby girl in October,plus we just bought a new home.I promised my daughter(6) that I would take her which I should'nt of done but I did.I remeber it took us $500.00 for two days just to have a nice time there so I'm a little upset on all the ride closures due to these freak accidents people are having,which could of probably been prevented with adult supervision.I am not down on Disney at all,I would work there if I could.I do appreciate all that they do,but since I live now in Arizona I wasnt aware of all that they have been doing for the community.They still need to bring back the Electrical parade.I apologise to anyon who's feathers I ruffled....

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"Sunday will be Daddy's Day"Walt

[DLMAGICDARREN]

I think everybody on this thread has brought up good points points. I would assume that some of the avenues the company has taken were never a part of Walt's vision. He just wanted to make the best park possible, the money issues bored him. Roy was forever figuring out ways to keep paying for the magic Walt built.

Unfortuanately today that image haunts Disney. Disney is no longer run by a man like Walt, but this happens at every company over time. If you look at any company nearly 100 years ago to today comere their past with their present and you will see many similitaries at Disney.

It's true you can spend a fortune at Disneyland, but you can also budget wisely, research before you vist. You can know of scheduled ride closures ahead of time. Make use of annual passes, it's a little more up front but worth it in the long run. Consider packing a lunch if you simply can't afford the food on site. Yes it's a hassle to bring your luch to a locker, and use the picnic facilities, but it will work.

It's like everybody says, the more you can afford the more you will enjoy, but if you are willing to be a little inconvienced, there are options to get throught your day without giving Disney every cent you own.

Disney is overpriced it is true, but most anybody can cater there day to suit their budget, with a little planning.

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Darren
Mouseinfo.com staff

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