I will never get the logic of people who think it's ok to pay twice for something they have ALREADY PAID FOR. The cost for the maintenance of the parking lot is already factored into the exorbitant room rate. Disney is not dumb but you might be if you think it's ok to charge people twice or to unbundle.
This unbundling is merely a money grab. All Disney is doing is unbundling and up-charging for things that used to be included (ex: Extra Morning Magic Hours). Remember when Disney had a lot more Extra Magic Hours? They went away and now we are being charged for some of them. The Disney apologists will say yes but there are less people in the parks so I can ride more.... but that's what EMH were doing in the first place... Duh!
People said they would never charge for fast passes but guests who stay at
Club Level at the deluxes can pay $50 for 3 more. The creep is insidious and yet the Disney apologists will be there to defend a company that is making money hand over fist. Meanwhile rides are operating at half capacity or broken, Housekeeping is shoddy or nonexistent, the bus drivers are screaming at people to cram more folks onto an already full bus or they won't leave AND you are paying $17 for a crappy, happy meal hamburger (Now with an added upcharge for the guacamole)
Then we get to the big one, the thing that no guest even thinks about. Disney is making a ton of money yet they refuse to pay their Cast Members a living wage. This to me is the most shameful money grab that Disney executes. No wonder they can't hire enough people to clean the facilities and drive the buses. Their refusal to pay a living wage and the resultant employment shortages are
yet ANOTHER problem that Disney expects the guest to shoulder, all while increasing prices and offering less.
Of course they are going to start charging for the Magical Express. The only question is will it be a per room charge, per person charge or per day in the resort charge. Since Disney has no shame I'm betting it will be per person per day with an added upcharge connected to how many rooms you have. What is to stop them?
I'm betting that Disney will eventually charge by what part of the day you are allowed into the parks. Morning might be one price ex: $125 and then noon till 5pm might be another $125 and then the evening hours would be $150 because they unbundled the Fireworks and there is an up charge for that. The people that think it's ok to do this will be very happy, I'm sure.
Don't believe me? Think about Star Wars Land and then maybe you will see it coming. I'm betting that at a minimum SWL will be a separate entry fee, you know, to keep out the crowds.... Because they can.
I, like many other people, are disheartened by the Disney Company's turn away from making the guest experience a priority. Disney's entire effort has shifted into a money grab to boost the stock price. I'm sure that the Disney apologists will jump right in here and say that that's just the way it is these days and I should just bend over and accept it. I disagree.
There is no need to erode the brand with shameless money grabs and degradation of the experience. Disney is at a place where enormous amounts of money can still be made without the sell outs and compromises and trashing of the guest experience. The blame for this profits above all mentality rests squarely and securely on park management. It won't take long for most people (Disney apologists excepted) to realize that they are paying a premium price for a shoddy experience. If this is allowed to continue the Disney vacation experience will be something that people will turn away from for sure. After all, how many people are clamoring for the 6 flags experience at astronomical prices?
And finally, yes, I did send my thoughts in a letter to Guest Services. Here is the address so you can send yours as well. I'm sure they are looking forward to hearing from the Disney Apologists, who can be counted on to be suckered again and again.
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
~NM