Why is Disney so much more per day?

[coldflame]

I've wondered why they bother selling popcorn. They can't make that much money from it. Just make it free.

 

Many times mass service companies will do this type of thing in cases they don't want to add a "loss leader". If it was free, they would have to have at least 3-4 more staffers filling orders and virtually every one would get at least one serving. By charging a nominal price, you avoid that. I've seen that type of thing done in other industries where they charge minimal amounts for something.

[perditax]

Popcorn: I saw this conversation elsewhere I think (hopefully it wasn't this same thread, sigh) and I posted wondering whether the charge for popcorn isn't a gating mechanism to keep the MESS to a minimum. Imagine the typical movie theater popcorn mess level times about 100 if the popcorn was a free-for-all grab. Then the inevitable "someone trips on spilled popcorn" issue.

 

Just a theory, of which I have no proof.

[coldflame]

Popcorn: I saw this conversation elsewhere I think (hopefully it wasn't this same thread, sigh) and I posted wondering whether the charge for popcorn isn't a gating mechanism to keep the MESS to a minimum. Imagine the typical movie theater popcorn mess level times about 100 if the popcorn was a free-for-all grab. Then the inevitable "someone trips on spilled popcorn" issue.

 

Just a theory, of which I have no proof.

 

As I said in the post right before yours, it's not just a theory. That's _is_ the reason they do it. Mess and the extra staff and popcorn materials they'd have to get = higher cost. Also popcorn takes a bit of time between batches. If it was free, there'd be lines stretching back the animator's palate (yes, hyperbole), at least for the 6pm show since the people there are dining late and likely hungry.

[luv2gonow]

I like variety and I travel often.

 

I have sailed a short wonder cruise and I am looking forward to a 7 night fantasy cruise next year.

 

I am a frequent Wdw visitor and a Dvc owner.

I stay at all the hotels... Variety but great Disney experience.

 

So is Disney worth it yes...... For every cruise No.

I have a great cruise on all the lines. Disney does have that lil extra special

Magic especially for the kids... But other lines are great also.

I say try em all :-)

J

Kerri

[Dmgmd50]

As I said in the post right before yours, it's not just a theory. That's _is_ the reason they do it. Mess and the extra staff and popcorn materials they'd have to get = higher cost. Also popcorn takes a bit of time between batches. If it was free, there'd be lines stretching back the animator's palate (yes, hyperbole), at least for the 6pm show since the people there are dining late and likely hungry.

 

Good explanation. I never thought about it that way.

[rollingstone]

From what I understand, Disney does not have casinos on its ships. This is a huge source of revenue on other lines.

We are taking our grandsons on a Disney cruise for Thanksgiving and we can't wait!

[moki'smommy]

From what I understand, Disney does not have casinos on its ships. This is a huge source of revenue on other lines.

We are taking our grandsons on a Disney cruise for Thanksgiving and we can't wait!

 

You are correct, and this was discussed earlier in the thread. The only gambling on DCL ships is bingo.

 

Have a great cruise.

[perditax]

As I said in the post right before yours, it's not just a theory. That's _is_ the reason they do it. Mess and the extra staff and popcorn materials they'd have to get = higher cost. Also popcorn takes a bit of time between batches. If it was free, there'd be lines stretching back the animator's palate (yes, hyperbole), at least for the 6pm show since the people there are dining late and likely hungry.

 

While I do appreciate you clarifying and expanding, you didn't say anything about the mess aspect in your original post, which I did read.

[coldflame]

While I do appreciate you clarifying and expanding, you didn't say anything about the mess aspect in your original post, which I did read.

 

While I didn't explicitly mentioned the mess, it is implicitly included in the additional staff cost. Anyway, I wasn't trying to deny your contribution to the thread. Sorry if it came across that way =)

[perditax]

It was more that I thought you were saying I hadn't read your post before posting the same thing (if anything I was extrapolating based on your original post). :)

[LuCruise]

Haven't noticed anyone mention this, but I gasped when I saw the price of the Star Wars Cruises; a 1 week Carribean cruise costs $7000 and even $8000 (different weeks) for a family of four???? My DS loves Star Wars but it surely I'd not worth the extra 3 to 4K.

 

P.S. - and that cost us U.S. So for us, we would need to convert to CAD which is even more.

Edited May 14, 2015 by LuCruise

[coldflame]

Haven't noticed anyone mention this, but I gasped when I saw the price of the Star Wars Cruises; a 1 week Carribean cruise costs $7000 and even $8000 (different weeks) for a family of four???? My DS loves Star Wars but it surely I'd not worth the extra 3 to 4K.

 

P.S. - and that cost us U.S. So for us, we would need to convert to CAD which is even more.

 

Yes, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Same about the summer prices for '16 and beyond. They are exorbitant. But you know, apparently the people who choose the pixie dust and magic have no problem handing over money hand over fist to DCL. But hey, numbers have no meaning for these people.

[gracey49]

I agree DCL cost more than other cruise lines but... it is more than equal to Disneys deluxe park hotels. At $250/per night per adult, a very full cruise day is less than a night at Grand Floridian ($517/nt) plus meals and entertainment (shows, movies, activities) are included. If you have kids with you it is more, but think of it as paying for their child care/summer camp experience and meals.

 

As mentioned, the DCL ships have no casino revenue to support the ship and probably less alcohol sales income because of the number of underage passengers and their very liberal policy about briniging alcohol on board. My understanding is that most cruise lines count on those revenue sources to break even.

 

Like the parks though, if the prices consistently increase they will soon take cruising back to the very days when only the super wealthy took cruises. My extended family Disney cruise is a bucket list item for me, but I could only manage a 3 night one since I am paying for 8. After this it is back to RCCL since we don't gamble or even drink that much; so other passengers will help pay for my cruise.

 

BTW: I would ordinarily never stay in the Grand Floridian because of the cost, but bucket lists need to be filled and maybe some day that could happen too. :)

[Tonka's Skipper]

Haven't noticed anyone mention this, but I gasped when I saw the price of the Star Wars Cruises; a 1 week Carribean cruise costs $7000 and even $8000 (different weeks) for a family of four???? My DS loves Star Wars but it surely I'd not worth the extra 3 to 4K.

 

P.S. - and that cost us U.S. So for us, we would need to convert to CAD which is even more.

 

 

Its called supply and demand..........if people do not book the prices will come down. DCL is providing a unique and special cruise in the Star Wars theme and to the people willing to pay the price is worth it to keep the Disney Magic.

 

If Uni was into the cruise market you can bet they would be charging the same for Harry Potter cruises. Look at the prices for the RCCL monster ships they was much more then the other RCCL vessels.

 

Time will tell if people book and the prices hold.

 

 

AKK

[Tonka's Skipper]

Haven't noticed anyone mention this, but I gasped when I saw the price of the Star Wars Cruises; a 1 week Carribean cruise costs $7000 and even $8000 (different weeks) for a family of four???? My DS loves Star Wars but it surely I'd not worth the extra 3 to 4K.

 

P.S. - and that cost us U.S. So for us, we would need to convert to CAD which is even more.

 

 

Its called supply and demand..........if people do not book the prices will come down. DCL is providing a unique and special cruise in the Star Wars theme and to the people willing to pay the price is worth it to keep the Disney Magic.

 

If Uni was into the cruise market you can bet they would be charging the same for Harry Potter cruises. Look at the prices for the RCCL monster ships and the DreamWorks characters (which are not near of popular as the Disney characters)and they was much more then the other RCCL vessels.

 

Time will tell if people book and the prices hold.

 

 

AKK

[Friend100]

But you know, apparently the people who choose the pixie dust and magic have no problem handing over money hand over fist to DCL. But hey, numbers have no meaning for these people.

 

Yes, we chose DCL in two previous ocassions (both 4 nights) because the timing and price were right and (I think) we got the "magical" feeling that people talked about. I still didn't quite get the so called "pixie dust" yet ... we have never been to the Walt Disney Word nor Disneyland and never stay in any Disney resort and have no desire to go anytime soon so not enough experience with the whole Disney thing to understand what it feels fully. Well, maybe until the day I can put in my CC profile that my past cruise experience includes 7 x DCL (4 x Dream and 3 x Fantasy) then I will finally get it. At that time I think number will have a lesser meaning to me than it is now.

[metairiegal]

Everyone says you are not nickel-and -dimed on DCL, but paying for popcorn would be the ultimate!

 

But on Pirate Night, it's all the turkey legs you want! :D

[Ex techie]

I've wondered why they bother selling popcorn. They can't make that much money from it. Just make it free.

 

I would think they make a significant mark up on the sale of prepackaged popcorn. Costs pennies to make and prepackage ashore.

Installing a popcorn kettle maker and staff to make it in the quantities of Guests that would take it if "included" would be expensive onboard for DCL.

 

I agree with Perditax about the mess it would also make if "included".

I think in our minds if you are not paying for a product, you are more likely to treat it as a throw away item, whereas if you have to pay for the product, you would only buy what you intend to consume, take better care of it, and not just discard it.

 

ex techie

[coldflame]

Well, maybe until the day I can put in my CC profile that my past cruise experience includes 7 x DCL (4 x Dream and 3 x Fantasy) then I will finally get it. At that time I think number will have a lesser meaning to me than it is now.

 

Not sure what you're getting at, but when we started cruising DCL, their prices were actually fairly reasonable and offered a good value proposition to our family. As prices have been increasing, the premium over the alternative has been wider and wider and looking to '16 and '17 prices is outright unfathomable and unjustifiable. I can (and are) literally take two cruises on premium rooms for the price of one summer '16 DLC in category 5A.

 

The counter point is usually other's cruise lines nickel-and-dime, but that's a rather lazy deflection. Some others cite $7.95 charge NCL has imposed on room service after 10am. But they haven't stopped to think you'd have to order room service 377 times (roughly 50 times per day on a 7-night cruise) so that the price of an NCL cruise + room service charges matches that of a DCL.

 

All in all, going back to the title of this thread ("Why is Disney so much more per day?") when you boil it down to cold numbers, there just isn't a contest. Traveling DCL, at currently-published '16-'17 prices is unjustifiable from the numbers perspective. So the answer to OP's question is: because 1) they can and 2) people will pay for it even if makes no economic sense whatsoever.

[Ex techie]

All in all, going back to the title of this thread ("Why is Disney so much more per day?") when you boil it down to cold numbers, there just isn't a contest. Traveling DCL, at currently-published '16-'17 prices is unjustifiable from the numbers perspective. So the answer to OP's question is: because 1) they can and 2) people will pay for it even if makes no economic sense whatsoever.

 

My question to you, is why are you still on the DCL board when you have no intention of cruising with them at current and forecasted prices?

 

You just sound sour and disillusioned with DCL, so I'm not sure why you are trying so hard to persuade others away from DCL if they are happy or willing to pay their prices?

 

ex techie

[Dmgmd50]

 

All in all, going back to the title of this thread ("Why is Disney so much more per day?") when you boil it down to cold numbers, there just isn't a contest. Traveling DCL, at currently-published '16-'17 prices is unjustifiable from the numbers perspective. So the answer to OP's question is: because 1) they can and 2) people will pay for it even if makes no economic sense whatsoever.

 

I am the OP. We will take a five-night cruise on the Wonder next March, paying the same total amount for five Oceanview cabins that we paid this year for five verandah cabins for seven nights on the Allure. But we were so bothered by the poor service on RCCL that we decided to try DCL. I just hope the Disney service and activities will justify the higher per diem!

[Ex techie]

I am the OP. We will take a five-night cruise on the Wonder next March, paying the same total amount for five Oceanview cabins that we paid this year for five verandah cabins for seven nights on the Allure. But we were so bothered by the poor service on RCCL that we decided to try DCL. I just hope the Disney service and activities will justify the higher per diem!

 

I'm sure you will have a great cruise!

 

ex techie

[coldflame]

My question to you, is why are you still on the DCL board when you have no intention of cruising with them at current and forecasted prices?

 

You just sound sour and disillusioned with DCL, so I'm not sure why you are trying so hard to persuade others away from DCL if they are happy or willing to pay their prices?

 

ex techie

 

Fair question.

 

1) Just because I have no plans to cruise DLC in the near future, doesn't mean I can't drop in and see on this board or any board in these forums for that matter and answer questions I know the answer to; after all that's what forums are for, not to circletwerk about intangible and impalpable je ne se quoi of DCL. To this end, I've answered questions (recently) about dress code at Remy and the paid popcorn thread.

 

2) I'm not trying to persuade or coerce anyone. And definitely not bitter about something as first-world-problem as a taking a cruise is. I simply putting forth facts so that those asking about the price difference can have a substantive answer. Because telling people that "I loved the experience and there's something magical about it and it's worth it" is absurd when they are explicitly asking for prices.

[Ex techie]

Fair question.

 

1) Just because I have no plans to cruise DLC in the near future, doesn't mean I can't drop in and see on this board or any board in these forums for that matter and answer questions I know the answer to; after all that's what forums are for, not to circletwerk about intangible and impalpable je ne se quoi of DCL. To this end, I've answered questions (recently) about dress code at Remy and the paid popcorn thread.

 

2) I'm not trying to persuade or coerce anyone. And definitely not bitter about something as first-world-problem as a taking a cruise is. I simply putting forth facts so that those asking about the price difference can have a substantive answer. Because telling people that "I loved the experience and there's something magical about it and it's worth it" is absurd when they are explicitly asking for prices.

 

I agree for the most part with your first paragraph.

I still do not know why you would care how a DCL Guest spends their money though unless you wanted to persuade them to another line?

 

But I do disagree with your second.

"I simply putting forth facts so that those asking about the price difference can have a substantive answer."

This is not fact, just your opinion and you are as free as I or anyone else to express it. But it is not fact, just opinion and subjective.

 

ex techie

[coldflame]

I am the OP. We will take a five-night cruise on the Wonder next March, paying the same total amount for five Oceanview cabins that we paid this year for five verandah cabins for seven nights on the Allure. But we were so bothered by the poor service on RCCL that we decided to try DCL. I just hope the Disney service and activities will justify the higher per diem!

 

Yes, I have heard bad things about Allure and Oasis' customer service (I mean a colleague openly crying about it), so I'm not surprised. Her son has special needs, and let's say they made her trip harder, not easier than "real life". In her case (and anyone in a similar situation) I wholly recommended DCL over any other line, should she ever want/dare to cruise again. I have seen the way the staff treat special needs people on board and it's just simply amazing, credit where credit is due.

 

As for your trip, sounds like you're in good company and that's 90% of it right there, regardless of ship or cruise line :)