Disney World Ranks as #1 Rip-Off
I’m not going to tell you that Walt Disney World is not a rip-off. What I am going to tell you is that the recent survey ranking Walt Disney World as the #1 rip-off of United States tourist attractions is, itself, a rip-off. That’s right, the survey is the rip-off.
It’s possible that you’ve seen reference to this survey on social media, as disenchanted Walt Disney World fans have been sharing it, feeling vindicated in their disappointment with the company. And it’s fair to be dissatisfied with what you experience (or don’t experience!) at the parks. But not everything that confirms your priors is instantly valid, even if it feels validating.
Enter the recent survey ranking Walt Disney World as the biggest rip-off tourist attraction in the United States. Again, it’s a conclusion that feels satisfying for many WDW diehards, especially those still airing their grievances about the demise of Disney’s Magical Express, end of free FastPass, erosion of Extra Magic Hours, and so forth.
According to this survey by Casino.org, the top three generalized rip-offs in all of society, I guess, were college textbooks, credit scores, and movie theater snacks. I agree in principle with college textbooks and movie theater snacks, even if both of those are essentially optional. Not sure how credit scores are a rip-off in the traditional sense of the term, but whatever.
Honorable mentions here included hotel mini-bars, airport food and drink, cable television, brand-name products, specialty coffee, alcohol and desserts at restaurants, travel deals, and landline phones. Again, agreed with several of these, whereas others are a bit confusing. Categorical inclusion of brand-name products or desserts is quite a choice, and travel deals as a rip-off is a head-scratcher. Then again, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard several Disney fans say, “Free Dining is a rip-off” so I guess that checks out.
But let’s fast-forward to the top 10 list of destination rip-offs in the United States…
Glacier National Park – Ranking as the #10 biggest rip-off tourist destination in the entire United States, this was the very moment I realized the list is complete and utter garbage. First of all, there is not a single U.S. National Park that’s a rip-off. Even if you disliked a certain destination or think it fell short of expectations for whatever reason, that’s a you problem. For another thing, the entry fee at Glacier National Park is $35 per vehicle for 7-days. Meaning that a family of 4 could do Glacier National Park for about $1 per person per day.
Finally, Glacier National Park is awesome. It ranks #2 on my list of the Top 10 U.S. National Parks. I cannot wait to get back and am really excited to take our daughter there. If you asked me whether you should take a year off from Walt Disney World or Disneyland to visit Glacier National Park, I’d answer an emphatic yes. It’s one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited.
I cannot even fathom what people would dislike about it. Are they upset that they didn’t see an iceberg? Too much incredible wildlife? Were the historic lodges frustratingly stunning? The lakes too clear? The huckleberry everything too delicious?! Make it make sense.
Old Faithful Geyser – Watching this geyser erupt is a Yellowstone National Park tradition, and people from all over the world have made the trek to see Old Faithful since it inspired the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872. I cannot fathom this being even “overrated” let alone a “rip-off” for all of the same reasons as above. Maybe this was a bunch of Wilderness Lodge fans saying, “I’ve seen the one at Walt Disney World, why bother taking the trip to Wyoming?!”
Statue of Liberty – A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States that’s recognized as a universal beacon of freedom and democracy. I guess in a world where those qualities are taken for granted, the Statue of Liberty has lost its luster for some. But that’s ludicrous. Nothing symbolizes the idea and ideals of America better than Lady Liberty; she is in no way, shape or form a rip-off.
Okay, I’ve had enough. I’m not even going to get through the rest of the list, which includes Seattle’s Space Needle, Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Navy Pier in Chicago, and Hoover Dam in Nevada. Not to mention the Alamo at #2 (I’ve never been, but am highly skeptical of this ranking) or the National Mall at #1. The National Mall is free! It’s incredible! Did a bunch of dummies all mistake it for the Mall of America, get annoyed that they were forced to learn against their will, and all respond to this survey?!
Literally everywhere I’ve been to on this list is a great destination, belonging on a ‘best of’ list rather than one of rip-offs. (We spent a lot of time in Chicago during college and didn’t love Navy Pier, but tourists should absolutely do a pass to cross it off their lists. The same could probably be said for a couple other spots. Like Times Square, none are downright bad, even if they are touristy. They’re touristy for a reason!)
It’s also worth noting that not a single casino or gambling destination made the list of rip-offs. Which is not to say that they are rip-offs, but the house does always win (statistically speaking). You’d think that maybe places that popularized the “resort fee” and are on the bleeding edge of charging higher parking rates would make the list. Probably just a convenient coincidence that their indirect competition–National Parks and theme parks–are deemed rip-offs instead. (Okay, the Sphere is a national treasure that needs to be protected at all costs–America’s next big infrastructure project should be building Spheres in every major city. But I digress.)
Which brings us to Walt Disney World, ranking as the #1 rip-off. According to the survey, 60% of respondents concluded that Walt Disney World is the biggest rip-off for US attractions. Knowing how many of you have become jaded by the company, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a lot of agreement with that ranking. I’d counter that methodology matters. That a survey that’s clearly garbage should not be touted just because it validates our preconceived beliefs. Confirmation bias is a helluva drug, and one that’s already caused plenty of problems for society.
I know I’ve already identified a bunch of reasons why this survey is junk, but the final thing I can’t get past is Walt Disney World ranking #1 and Disneyland not even being in the top 10. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that Walt Disney World is the worst–and claims that spot according to 60% of respondents–it follows that Disneyland should be #2. It not making the top 10, and instead a free destination in Washington D.C. being #2 is just the chef’s kiss on this list.
(For what it’s worth, we recently addressed value for money in Are Walt Disney World & Disneyland Good Per-Hour Values Compared to Other Entertainment? There’s a lot of rambling towards the beginning, so maybe scroll past that to the list of per hour costs of Disney vs. other attractions and entertainment options.)
Ultimately, my goal with this post was mostly to call your attention to the other conclusions reached by this same survey to cast doubt on its methodology, potential biases or conflicts of interest, and maybe give people pause before mindlessly sharing it or being emboldened or whatever by Walt Disney World being deemed the #1 rip-off. As should be obvious, this list is pretty far from authoritative, and most of the destinations on it shouldn’t feel ashamed, but rather, have a sense that they‘re in good company.
Our response to this mindless list isn’t just a mindless defense of Disney, either. (After all, if a Disney fan site ranked Walt Disney World as the #1 value-for-money tourist destination, you might give a little side eye and question the bias!) We’ve been critical of the company, with Is Disney Ruining Its Reputation? and Disney’s Reputation Falls Further covering this type of survey and why it really matters. The difference is credibility. The surveys that are the subject of those posts have it and this one doesn’t.
And for the record, these types of surveys do concern me and I hope they concern the company. Goodwill earned over generations is at risk of being irrevocably lost–Walt Disney World needs to make more positive changes to improve satisfaction and undo brand damage. We’ve been over all of this many times–but things needing fixing doesn’t make some suspect survey valid.
Finally, you know what, I do disagree with the ranking of Walt Disney World as the #1 rip-off. I’ve visited tons of roadside attractions, tourist traps, and regional amusement parks in my day. Even if Walt Disney World costs more than all of them (and it does!), it still delivers a better experience–and more commensurate value for money, by extension.
While we point out the problems at Disney, that comes from a place of love and wanting the parks to be their very best. We don’t think Walt Disney World is a rip-off at all, let alone the worst offender. Being expensive or arguably overpriced is not the same as being a rip-off. And it honestly surprises me when (former?) fans claim that it is.
Some of that, I assume, is venting or frustration about the experience and price as compared to 2019 or some other date in the past. Walt Disney World competing with former versions of itself, as it were. I get that and there’s a lot that I miss. I also think most of those people wouldn’t be on a site like this if they didn’t still hold love for Disney buried somewhere in their hearts and also want it to be better–they have good intentions, for the most part.
Beyond the fans–former and current–there are the casual visitors who obviously often have a different perspective. The proliferation of “Most Expensive Day Ever” and other such Etsy shirts is certainly concerning. But at the same time, it represents what I’d call a skill issue. You’re complaining about cost…by spending more money on a t-shirt?
Putting aside the paradox of that decision, there’s a certain tone that’s set by the premeditated act of buying that shirt before the trip, and then wearing it on the day of the visit. The person has made the purposeful decision to resist having a good time and–surprise, surprise–probably won’t have as much fun as someone who goes in with an open mind!
Even stopping short of this type of guest, there are tons more who are “dragged along” and have a negative mentality, bringing down the vibe of everyone else in their party. And beyond those people, there are others who want to have fun but don’t do their homework or put even a modicum of effort, but expect amusement to simply thrust itself at them upon stepping foot on Main Street. These are the same people, I would imagine, who are surprised that Glacier National Park is a long drive from Bozeman or Calgary, and are upset that they can’t see any glaciers from the roadside.
Sure, Walt Disney World planning is way too complex and maybe the National Park Service should pack up and relocate the park and its many glaciers to be closer to Salt Lake City. But people who decline to do their due diligence or put in any effort also shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t get as much out of the experiences. If you open your wallet and dump it out on the ground, you weren’t ripped off–you’re just dumb.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What’s your take on a casino company ranking Walt Disney World as the #1 rip-off of tourist destinations in the United States? Do you agree or disagree with the list and WDW’s place on it? Think that maybe there’s a bit of a methodology issue with this survey, or are you just happy and vindicated by Walt Disney World ranking so poorly? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Tom – my bad – I misread your “iceberg” sentence, I apologize for that. Also appreciate your other comments – two or three ways of looking at this, casinos have an axe to grind with their competition and my comments did not take that into account at all. I am, unfortunately, too aware of what’s going on inside and behind the scenes and that does make me take a look at Disney as a whole from a different perspective.
And yes – thank you – I did observe that you do present some of the “Disney in decline” perspective here. But on that particular topic, much more could be said. I think my words were too strong – I do that sometimes – partly becuase there is so much trash Disney blogging out there and I do jump too soon sometimes. Sorry again… Clearly the audience here is looking for more of the positive side of things, and I get that. Thanks Tom!!
Yes! Former raving fan here! The park is dirty and run down looking and so aren’t those stupidly expensive resort rooms! I want FastPass! I want the Magical Express! I want my luggage taken to the airport by magic! I want daily cleaning in my room! I do not want a trip to a water park on the first day of my stay. AT ALL!
Seriously, one of my favorite lines you have written, “If you open your wallet and dump it out on the ground, you weren’t ripped off — you’re just dumb.” Ha-ha! Had a much-needed laugh at that one. Well done!
We took a trip a few weeks ago to Disneyland for 5 days, then to Las Vegas to see U2 at the Sphere as part of a package that included two nights at the Venetian Resort. All of which was not inexpensive by any means. We very much enjoyed Disneyland and the U2 show knowing full well the “value” that we would get for them. But, the highlights of the trip were when we decided at the last minute to rent a car and drive from Anaheim to Las Vegas, stopping in Barstow for In and Out burgers, stopping at Mojave National Preserve for a hike, and going the next day to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. All of those were very cheap or free.
So if we enjoyed the less expensive parts of our trip as much as or even little more than the pricer parts, that doesn’t mean we were ripped-off. We knew what to expect from Disneyland, the Venetian, and U2. We enjoyed all of it. It’s all about expectations.
I think with the survey proves is that Americans vocabulary is not very strong, and they probably confused “overrated” with “rip off”. After walking the entire national mall in 100° heat I think my kids would also agree that it is overrated, but it certainly isn’t a rip off being 100% free! Haha! Disney has gotten crazy expensive but it’s both coasts, not just WDW. And everything has gotten expensive so it’s kind of hard to just blame Disney. I just had to pay $100 for four tickets to Dune 2 for my husband myself and my kids!! #worthit
Just a note on the Statue of Liberty – we’re from NY, but as such, we don’t do a lot of “touristy” things in the city very often. We took the kids to the Statue and Ellis Island last year, the first time they had gone, and the first time in years that my wife and I had gone. And I have to say, not only was it a cool experience, but the cost of the ferry (which includes tickets to these attractions!) is actually way cheaper than just about anything else you can find in NYC. Not a rip off at all!
Absolutely. The Statue of Liberty can’t be missed IMO. Just an incredible piece of history and architecture. Blew me away when I visited. If you want to climb to the crown you must get advanced tickets just an fyi.
Oh and WDW is a rip off. Haha
Tom, I thoroughly enjoyed your takedown of this list! Everyone here has it right – I have spent more than the price of a one-day WDW pass on tickets for the Yankees, US Open Tennis, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, HALF-PRICE Broadway seats, rides at Coney Island’s Luna Park, and even a 50-minute massage at a chain spa!! It could be fair to debate value for money at WDW’s on-site resorts and even restaurants, but I’ll stand by my belief that the price-per hour of parks admission is one of the best bargains in the entertainment space today.
It might be more accurate to have called this list “most overhyped places,” and while that’s misleading, honestly, I can’t disagree with all of the places they brought up. It could be said that I have a few contrarian thoughts on some of the things on this list. Some of those places are at least overrated:
-Navy Pier, for one. As someone who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, Navy Pier has a whole lot of hype for not a lot of payoff. That said, as a place that technically doesn’t have a cost to enter (other than parking), it’s hard for me to consider it a rip-off, though I suppose you’re getting a markup on food and shopping that’s probably disproportionate even for Chicago.
-I looked into visiting Glacier this summer, and honestly decided not to go for a few reasons: 1.) the whole park is only open for a few months of the year, which naturally happen to be peak season; 2.) Lodging costs. Don’t get me wrong, National Parks are very affordable if you’re just looking at entrance fees and are fine sleeping in a tent. But some of us need beds, and lodging near most national parks is limited and extremely expensive, even if the accommodations are pretty basic, to the point that I, as a person who travels solo and is a teacher, came to the conclusion that I couldn’t justify the expense. Also, it is reportedly easier to see Glaciers at other national parks than Glacier, which is ironic and potentially a reason for others’ disappointment.
-The Alamo is free but really anticlimactic even so compared to how hyped up it was in history classes.
As for Walt Disney World, as someone who has been to all of the Disney parks around the world…I kind of agree, actually? To me it’s not a mistake that WDW is included on this list and Disneyland is not. Disneyland is much, much less complicated, has cheaper tickets, cheaper close accommodations, requires less time, has less punishing weather, has longer park hours, and is dismissed out of hand by many people who have never been as “smaller, so obviously inferior.” It’s just not the destination that WDW is to many people who aren’t closer to it than WDW. There’s much less of a seemingly-mandatory learning curve at DLR, much less pressure, and most people can satisfactorily do everything they want to do at DLR within about three days or so.
But WDW is a different animal. All of the complexity required to visit is off-putting for me, and I’ve been doing this for years and have been to all the Disney parks and dozens of dozens of others. Now, not all of this is within Disney’s control (Florida weather, for one), but a lot of it is: compared to other Disney parks, WDW is more expensive in terms of tickets, lodging, etc. Park hours have been cut back even as crowds have grown, and there are far more attractions that have shorter hours than the rest of the park than there are at other Disney parks. The parks are in general underbuilt from a capacity perspective for the guests they receive. Most of the more interesting food options are behind a paywall by virtue of being at table service restaurants. Most of the characters are behind paywalls (character dining) or are inside off of the walkway in closed off indoor spaces, so the likelihood of just running into or seeing a character is much more limited than other Disney parks. Maintenance is arguably worse than the other Disney parks. The park everyone cares about closes MUCH more frequently than any other Disney park in the world for upcharge parties. Ticket rules are stricter (anywhere else, you’d have 14 days to use multi-day tickets; at WDW this changed at some point, because in 2021 I went to buy a two day ticket, with five days between the two park days. But WDW decided that because it was past four days, I would need a second one day ticket. I ended up just buying a one day ticket when I was ready to go for two days before I learned about their changed policies). Multi-day tickets are tiered. There’s less entertainment than most if not all of the other resorts. And there’s a pressure to “do it all” to get one’s money’s worth, which those of us who have been there know is impossible but is nevertheless an ever-present, psychological thing many people feel, and it feels more pronounced there than the other parks. There’s a lot more that you need to know as a baseline to have a good experience than elsewhere, and if you’re out of the loop on anything, you’re punished (for lack of a better word) much more quickly and consequentially than in other parks IMO. Genie and FP+ only exacerbated many of these issues. And all of that is more expensive than anywhere else.
So as a Disney fan, I absolutely understand why people might go, be caught flat-footed by the complexity of the place (among other things), and feel ripped off. People don’t expect a theme park destination to be one of the most complicated to plan places out there and react accordingly when they find themselves out of the loop, justifiably or not. Yes, people should research places they’re going on vacation, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that WDW is much more complicated than it needs to be, which has a tendency to exacerbate negative feelings. So I can’t really be frustrated at people who feel ripped off. I’ve stopped going at least in part because I, too, feel ripped off pretty egregiously by WDW.
Excellent and fair points.
With regard to Glacier, I’d recommend visiting in the fall. I see you’re a teacher–perhaps you have a sufficiently long fall break? It’s a beautiful time of year, lodging is cheaper, and the wildlife is more active. Despite its name, I probably wouldn’t visit Glacier National Park for the express purpose of seeing a glacier–it’s everything else that’s the highlight. If you do want to see a glacier, Grinnell Glacier Trail is an incredible hike. Start early in the day!
We went to Glacier in late September and stayed 5 days in Columbia Falls. Several cheaper hotels there and is about 30 minute drive to the NP. Wonderful hikes. Drive around the lake. Went to the sister city in Canada. While we didn’t see a lot of glaciers we saw so much wild life and beautiful country. If you really want to see glaciers I suggest a cruise. But I don’t need to get right up on a glacier so there is that.
This post reads as though the “Rip Off” mindset came from aggravated visitors. Honestly though, most people I know who don’t go are shocked to hear the price tag. They can’t phantom why it costs sooo much more than the local six flags. They can’t imagine why anyone would go to fake France in Orlando rather than the real one for less money.
“But people who decline to do their due diligence or put in any effort also shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t get as much out of the experiences”. Regarding this statement, not to pick nits, but to people who go to regular amusement parks, the necessity of 7am wake ups, Genie+, rope drops, etc, all seems insane. More specifically, if I want to ride the new ride at Six Flags, I show up and wait in line. If I want to ride the Guardians ride, I CAN’T unless I knew to be ready with a cell phone at a precise moment in time. Saying “you should have planned better” doesn’t resonate in those situations.
That’s an absolutely fair point. I included the Disney Dining Plan and Genie+ in a prior comment as things I could fairly see viewed as a rip-off since they don’t work intuitively, as an average planner might expect. It’s also fair to add virtual queues to that growing list–which is why we recently (yet again) said that Disney should eliminate them for being guest-unfriendly.
Thanks for a great blog as always.
I guess the point is with many things that are clearly a rip off, there are ways around them to do it more economically and still enjoy it. In the case of the movie theater, bring your own snacks. When talking about Disney, it is problematic as the company has gone out of its way in recent years to lock down any discounts except those that they arbitrarily hand out to customers. Over the years the magic has dwindled away.
Disney has always been expensive in relation to regular inflation. However, what we have seen over the last 5 years is disgusting. The value argument is interesting because those of us who have been going since the beginning could always justify the cost. You were given the best entertainment, the best customer service, the cleanest environments, innovative improvements and experiences you could have nowhere else. While almost all of that has diminished, the prices have not. And to add insult to injury, it appears the suits at Disney do not care. Why? All one has to do is look at some of the comments posted already. People with money do not care and do not blink an eye. Disney loves these people. They never question, just keep coming with big smiles on their faces. We live in Toronto, so you do not need to tell me about sporting venues. To see the Leafs in pre-season, you are at over $100 CDN per seat, $40 to park, $25 for a beer, $15 for a pop and $12 for popcorn. Saturday night games, in nose-bleeds $500/pair, anything half decent $1000.00+ per seat! But again, rich folks just want to be seen down there eating their sushi and drinking their wine.
My wife and I bought into DVC back in 2004 as an investment into future Disney vacations before we even had children. We bought resale with all of the perks. We were Disney fans and loosely continue to albeit we often question ourselves. We could never afford the prices DVC is asking today, not even close! And as many of you know, Disney stopped many perks and put other restrictions into place for resales in the last number of years. Yet, another flex to cut people off from savings. The cost of fees has skyrocketed over the last 8 years. We make decent salaries but they have not been able to keep up with Disney’s increases.
We last visited Disneyworld during Christmas 2018 and splurged on a 2 week-stay. Did it all and most of it was worth the price tag. Fast Pass + worked very well even during those busy holidays. Looking at pricing in 2023 beyond, we could never repeat that trip again due to the gouging. When Chapek brought in Genie and LL we had zero interest to return. We took a break and the pandemic let us focus on other things outside of Disney. We rented our DVC to fund other trips and had wonderful experiences full of value. There is life outside of Disney and it is hard for super fans and those who rely on the House of Mouse to pay the bills to see beyond Mickey. I encourage families to explore.
That brings us to 2024, the kids now much older are asking for another Disney trip. We are going to head down this summer but we are so hesitant. With Genie+ and LL planning and everything else involved, it has not been a very enjoyable planning experience. We will give Disney another chance and reserve judgment until our return.
In sum, is it a true rip off? Not yet, but it’s almost getting to the point that it will be.
Fingers crossed the suits can come to their senses.
Every person makes a conscious decision as to how they want to spend their vacation dollars. We do. We choose to come to WDW 1-2 times per year because we get to have fun and relax. We have certain restaurants we enjoy and specifically come for Food&Wine.
Vacations are a choice. If you choose to go somewhere else GREAT!!! Have a wonderful time making memories with your family. If you choose Disney, GREAT!!! Have a wonderful time making memories with your family. However, if you’re upset that Disney chooses to nickel and dime, just find another place to vacation and stop complaining… no one cares. We made the decision to vacation in Disney back in 2007 when we became DVC members and we just doubled down by purchasing more points in 2022.
There may be a time when we choose to vacation somewhere else but right now… we choose WDW.
I noticed that in the original article, “casino.org” was the entity performing the survey. Possibly these sites are ranked so low because none of them have a casino. Possibly the people surveyed would be kinder if Adventureland had slot machines or if Raglan Road had sports betting.
Disney went from a great value (#1) prior to Covid to a place that will nickle and dime you to death. It was easy to plan for and the crowds were moderate. Now it seems a bit chaotic and very difficult to plan.
Anyone pissed about the the cost of their hot dog and pretzel at Disney hasn’t been to a professional sporting event in recent years–where the price is higher, the floors are stickier, the bathrooms are dingier, the parking is sketchier, and the counter servers are infinitely more likely to spit in your soda than any cast members. Nevermind the ticket pricing. In St. Louis, where I live the average cost of professional baseball tickets is $69/person, NHL –$135, average cost of MLS tickets here–$147 per person. And that’s for games that last what, 3 hours at most? Makes Disney’s $160 for 14 hours of access to one of a kind rides in a clean environment with helpful cast members sound like a steal.
It is certainly more expensive, that doesn’t make it a rip off. It makes it more difficult to go. I am now on a fixed income and being able to go twice a year is not happening . My real problem with Disney is when there are so many people ,we are shoulder to shoulder.
That is not enjoyable, they need to set limits so the people that do go can enjoy it.
I’m so sick of complaining whiners. It’s a rip off? Don’t go. Everything cost more. I just went to an outdoor hockey game with my daughter. I was literally in the last row sitting in 26 degree weather. I paid $40 to park my car. I bough 2 hot chocolates($12) . A hamburger($15) A pretzel ($8) and the tickets were $320! For a 3 hour event. And you know what? It was awesome. My point is it cost $109-$125 a day to do a Disney park. It is a bargain in my book. If you go from opening to close it’s a 12 hour day. That’s less than $12 per hour. Where else will you get that value.? Football games. Concerts. Baseball games. There is barely a ticketed event that you can get away with for under $100. Stop complaining. Enjoy life.
You went to the Winter Classic?! If that’s what you’re referencing, I’m very jealous–that’s on my bucket list!
Stadium Series would also be pretty cool, but there’s something special and unique about the Winter Classic IMO.
Here here! I totally agree. I am tired of people saying it is a ripe off as well as the dining plan. It works for a great many and are happy. Where are you going to find an amusement park that has FOUR PARKS and TWO Water parks. There is always a lot to do and enjoy.
Totally agree! Well said and great points.
Tom, not sure if all stadiums do this went hosting the winter classic but Fenway at least always hosts college games that same weekend/ around the same time. Good way to get a similar experience without paying quite so much, especially when getting tickets for the whole family. And if you get a good rivalry game can be more fun then some NHL games.
I have had so many people tell me that it’s really cheesy that hubby and I own DVC & go to WDW almost annually (from MD). They say things such as “go see the REAL world!”, “why do you waste your $$ that way?” and such. I answer that it’s the most relaxing and entertaining place we visit together and there’s a lot of nostalgia and almost all happy, special, and thrilling memories we’ve made there. Rip Off is such a loaded term, and not at all objective. I hope these “survey” results keep people away. Easier for us!!
I just got home yesterday from Disney, 1st trip since December 2019. I’m not going to say DW is a ripoff, we had a blast and knew it was going to be expensive. However, I personally feel like the dining plan was a ripoff, we are non-drinkers. There were several things we wanted that were not included in the plan that we thought were and was annoyed that folks could get expensive drinks included but not an expensive snack, wish things were more transparent and just easier to understand. I also felt like I had to search and search to get information and understand all the genie plus stuff before I arrived which is time consuming. Those of us who go every 4 years or so don’t know how to work the system which can cost you in the end. My biggest complaint tho, is the party atmosphere in Epcot on Saturday, so many drunk folks, not how I remember it from last time. We saw several altercations through out the day. In the end, if Disney could just make going to the parks easier for those of us who aren’t there every year that would be great, there is too much money on the line to miss out on an experience just because we didn’t understand how it all worked.
I can get behind people saying the Disney Dining Plan is a rip-off. Not because I necessarily agree (I don’t), but because it doesn’t work the way a lot of people would expect, and it’s hard to understand without extensive research. It’s marketed in a way that suggests it’s at least quasi all-inclusive, and it really isn’t. So I can definitely see your point there!
If someone called Genie+ or Lightning Lanes a rip-off from that same perspective (not working intuitively or as expected), I also wouldn’t dispute that point.
YUP! Completely agree. I also think that many of the people who would consider WDW to be a rip off generally do not value that experience or “get it” anyway. I would imagine that any amount of money spent would feel like a waste to them.
I love when you can read a post on here and just see Tom’s mind going into overdrive, with a free flowing verbiage assault on it’s way.
I read this same “survey” and came to the same conclusions. Besides it being published by “casino.org”, anytime there is a hot clickbait survey and they only surveyed 1,500 people, you can no way shape or form extrapolate that out to anything reasonable or representative of the population at large. Might as well be a Family Feud survey at that point….
“Rip-off” is all relative as it suggests being duped in some way. Like the movie theater popcorn.. yes that is a rip-off since you can get the same item at 600% less the cost outside of the theater itself. While Disney might be very expensive, you CANNOT replicate it not get the same experience anywhere else. (Additionally notice Universal Studios isnt on the list…)
I agree that “rip-off” has a certain connotation; it suggests something shady, preying on unsuspecting consumers, duping people, etc.
That’s precisely why I probably would not include movie theater popcorn. Everyone knows markup is insane at movies, sporting events, concerts, etc. It’s very much common knowledge. Not only that, but one is forced to buy popcorn as part of the movie-going experience. Trust me–I haven’t bought any food or beverage at a movie theater in the last decade-plus, I know it can be done!