Is DLP becoming cost prohibitive?

[nathan detroit]

Wow! Kevin Yee! On our little old DLP forum!

You honour us sir!

[ladydiamond]

the only reason my friend and I are going when we visit Europe next month is because she received 2 free tickets to _any_ disney park. We figured since we already have DL AP's we might as well use it in Paris. Otherwise there is no way I'd go

[fizzog]

Unfortunately I shan't be staying in a Disney hotel but at a considerably less, uh, snazzy one, where even the buffet breakfast doesn't scream "make the most of me!" but hey, waste not want not. I'll be three full days in the parks so it's just a question of stocking up and making sure that the security people don't notice you're taking iun a whole supermarche. Not that they'd probably care. Of course there is always the McDonald's option, a tasty and cheaper alternative but is that even higher than usual?

[mister_peterman]

Yeah, I think the McDonalds at DLP was more expensive than regular (and fast food in France is already expensive!) and it is a bit out of the way if you are in the parks... it's right down the far end of Downtown Disney.

To be honest, when I was there in March, I didn't find it too expensive at all... apart from what I was expecting. Although we did go to Cafe Mickey for dinner one night, which WAS expensive haha. But it was my birthday :P

Anyway, if you are staying in Val d'Europe (or you can get there very easily) there is a huge, cheap supermarket in the shopping centre there. As long as you have no glass (or alcohol) they will let you bring stuff in.

[fizzog]

Well it wasn't too bad last time pour moi but it seems there's been a big change in price/exchange rate to an alienating extent

[davewasbaloo]

Well to give you guys a view in the Eurozone, we went to McDonald's in Spain (the kids needed a clean toilet). We had two adult meals and two happy meals. It came to 22 Euro, or £22 or $33. That was a normal McD's. So, the exchange rate is a killer and then add on the squeezing Disney does. I suspect I will be cooking far more meals in our villa than normal this upcoming May trip.

[fizzog]

Still, not entirely a bad thing, more money to spend on Disney tat! Nah not really...though I do love Disney tat... I wonder what DLRP make of the impact this will have.

[nathan detroit]

Originally Posted by fizzog

Still, not entirely a bad thing, more money to spend on Disney tat! Nah not really...though I do love Disney tat... I wonder what DLRP make of the impact this will have.

There are still plenty of folks out there who will fall for the 'kids eat, sleep, breathe, fly and evacuate their bowels FREE' deal that DLP always seem to be offering the great British public.
Of course their insidious plan is to get people there and then rip their eyes out with over-priced meals and expensive Disney tat (of which I am also a great fan!).
What seems like a good deal on the surface to John Q. Public, will (as we all know) turn into a horrendously costly venture and although many will return (including us lot!), many more will stay away after being bitten once - DLP may feel the pinch but there are many more suckers out there to reel in.

[fizzog]

Hmm, I suppose, but still, they're gonna run out of suckers eventually. Apart from all the MiceChat suckers of course hehe. Even they must know exactly what they're doing I guess, but it does seem a real repellent, especially in this - I hate this term - credit cruch. Makes it sound like a breakfast cereal...an expensive breakfast cereal... Mind you, the UK isn't their only market, perhaps the pricings are viewed very differently on the continent. It'll all come out in the wash, ie. the revenue reports.

[nathan detroit]

The exchange rate does not apply to all of the other major countries that are targeted by DLP. This is why they work exceptionally hard at trying to lure the British holiday makers over. And of course we generally seem to spend more money than any other nation on 'tat'!

[fizzog]

Well obviously, same currency hehe, but I wonder what the prices are like in comparison to ordinary European Euro-bought stuff, or rather how the different countries view those prices. In a way I mind less paying more for a table service restaurant but for fast food it bugs me. I know that's probably a psychological thing but at least with a sit-down meal you feel like you've got some kind of stable product for your money. My biggest pitfall is drinks, it's amazing how the price shoots up just from the vendors in the DLRP car park to inside the parks. Shocking! Best to stock up on water.