Disney planning dynamic pricing for domestic parks

WDW does have dynamic pricing already, even for multi-day tickets. The CFO was reported as saying that this is more about in-park prices (read: food), and extending the admisisons model into the park. I don't get the sense they are moving to airline pricing.

Given the CFO's tepid response when asked if it was airline pricing:

"I would like to not think about it that way, to be honest with you. But, yeah, similar."

I'm not surprised that the reporting has gone that direction.

Yeah, that was a flub, I think. There was a sentence that was quoted elsewhere that talked about this, let me see if I can dig it up...

...found it. It was not a quote, but paraprased it as:

He explained that Disney already uses variable pricing for hotels and date-based tickets, and the plan is to simply extend this existing, careful approach inside the parks while minimizing any potential negative guest reactions.

Source (not my favorite, but):

https://chipandco.com/disne...ld-621155/

So it’s going to be like, “ Eighteen dollars? It was twelve dollars when we were here yesterday.”

And the clerk say, yes sir, it was. To minimize your negative reaction to the dynamic price change, we will sell it to you for twelve dollars.”

So stupid. Kind of sounds illegal.

Does the price of gas changing overnight or from one hour to the next “sound illegal”? It’s not a matter of legality. It’s supply and demand.

This seemed to be the most recent active Disney conversation where posting this makes sense:

https://www.nytimes.com/202...ticleShare

In Florida there is a clear advantage to staying on property. Not only proximity but all the perks. So of course Disney can charge more for a room similar to other hotels.

I'm baffled by what's going on in California though. We have generally stayed at Grand Californian as a large family after buying in to DVC years ago. But now they have removed the perk of early entry for Disney resort guests. With so many other hotels in the area, is there a real benefit to staying on property in Anaheim?

bigboy:

Does the price of gas changing overnight or from one hour to the next “sound illegal”?

What is the marginal cost for another guest entry into the park? The fuel prices change in line with continuous variable costs on the supply side. Obviously the costs to run the park fluctuate, but not with the volatility of fuel?

That NYT op-ed has the same disingenuous arguments we see over and over. (Gift article link if it's paywalled.)

• The middle class has shrunk, yes, but more people rose higher than lower, by a lot.
• The existence of the King Kamehameha suite does not negate the existence of a room at All-Star Sports.
• Victoria & Albert's has not dispatched chicken tenders.
• Fast Lane, as much as I loathe it, has not eliminated standby.
• That Disney wants to land the whales doesn't mean that it can't see a long-tail in the middle class.

I'm not offended by the idea that people who can afford more get more. It has always been this way. I don't disagree that the current system isn't as good for the masses, but Disney has never been "cheap" for anyone.

TheMillenniumRider:

What is the marginal cost for another guest entry into the park? The fuel prices change in line with continuous variable costs on the supply side. Obviously the costs to run the park fluctuate, but not with the volatility of fuel?

I was referring more to the question of legality, but I agree that the basis for gas pricing is different than theme park admissions or food/beverages. I don't think Disney has stated that cost is behind their dynamic pricing as much as crowd control.

The marginal cost for another guest entry into the park is that the guests already at the park have a worse time. That's not a joke; that is a real cost and it sucks.
After almost 10 years deep in the Disney Kool-aid, the thing that still never ceases to amaze me is how people can complain simultaneously that it's too expensive and it's too crowded. One is the solution to the other.

We were at Grand Californian last February and I can’t imagine the experience without early hours. It was Tomorrowland and Fantasyland at DL and that extra hour allowed me to bust out a few traditional favorites, like the dark rides, then do a mini marathon on Space Mountain. Or Matterhorn. Or Mickey and Minnie RR.

Cal Adventure was a similar experience with the bonus of an exclusive entrance from the hotel. There was a bit of a snag at DL as everyone went in the park early but only resort guests could get past the hub for rides. They also had certain paths blocked so there were dead ends in the plaza and only one place to enter the Lands so there was a lot of backtracking, especially that first day.

Oh, anyway, I’m not sure why they would do that. Best Perk Ever. Would this encourage me to check the world’s fanciest Days Inn down the block?