I sent an email last week to the big 3 on the first page of this thread and guest relations. I did not leave my phone number or last name, or ask for a call back, but I received an email and a call today from a gentleman who said he was calling on behalf of Robert, Bob and George. I am travelling today so missed his call but he left a number for me to call back so they could hear my comments.
I'm guessing my email links to my personal information so they were able to find my number for a call back. I just tried him back and got his VM and said I'd be happy to talk to him, even though I doubt I have much to say that he hasn't heard. Since I'm traveling today I said I'd also be happy to communicate by email if he prefers, and if so he can shoot me another email.
I don't want to be redundant but for me it's just always something. Maybe for people who don't go to WDW enough they don't see all the changes but over the years it's some price increase 'here' for a decreased value 'there.' It's like death by a thousand paper cuts.
Hotel and ticket prices go up - ok. But hey, there are always winter, spring, summer and fall discounts available! 15-30% off rooms or free dining woo-hoo! Factor it all in then even though it's still expensive, a $500 room is now $350, or at least free food balances it out.
Oh ok, now the discounts are offered for smaller periods of time. Guess I can plan around that. Now the discounts are less...hmmm...only 10% -20%. Oh, and now free dining includes less food. Ok...well I still feel like that's ok because FD was a lot of food to begin with.
Oh, now I have to buy PHs to get free dining even though I don't need them? Hmmm...
Now, I have to plan around special ticketed events because the park hours are shorter. But, I do love the special ticketed events so I'll plan around them at Halloween and Christmas. Now the special ticketed events are extended? And now there are new ones all year round almost? But the regular park ticket prices didn't go down, in fact they went up for less hours!
Hmmmm....
Well, at least they have
MDE! So...why do i have to wait for 3 buses to come and go for 45 minutes during a slow season to get back to my resort? Maybe I'll take a car some days if I plan on being in the park all day. That gives me flexibility! Good thing there's free parking...oh, no free parking any more? Hmmmmm....
And now next year we'll see resort and ticket prices increase, as normal, and probably tiered ticket pricing (but I doubt there will be a decrease in prices for slow season, that will be current prices) and maybe resort fees? And I'm sure less room and FD deals!
It just never stops...
And in all everything seems slower (lines and buses) and more hectic (crowds and planning) every visit.
And the argument that other hotels charge parking is silly. Many around Orlando may charge parking but you're getting the same quality room for half the price, so sure, charge me parking. And I never believed it was free at Disney anyway. I assumed it was included in the high prices of the resorts. Also, as others have pointed out, these other hotels also have loyalty points that can be used for future stays. So all the money I spend at Marriott, Hilton and IHG can be used for free rooms later.
At this point, as others have said, we will all take the news how we choose to take it and at some point, if we haven't already, spend our dollars where we value spending our dollars. At the end of the day our dollars are really what any business wants, right?