As the first snows begin to fall here in the Northeast this week, so do the “snows” at Disneyland, courtesy of the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular (beginning this Friday). The first letter in the mailbag this week concerns MousePlanet writer and MouseTales author David Koenig’s recent discussion of the proposed sale tax increase in California (“80 Bucks?!?” November 11, 2008)
Tony R. writes:
One note on your article: In your first snippet on rising admission prices where you mention the Governator’s new sales tax proposal, you write, “Orange County’s current sales tax rate is 7.75%, which Schwarzenegger also wants to increase by 9.25%.”
I read that to mean the current 7.75% rate will increase by 9.25%, which would yield a tax rate of 17%, something I imagine would have Californians lined up in Sacramento with torches and pitchforks. I suspect you meant to indicate that the current 7.75% rate would be increased to 9.25%, but I don’t live in California these days and wouldn’t want to speculate, especially since I know everything you say is gospel truth.
I know detail-oriented people like me can be annoying as heck, but I hope you don’t mind a little good-natured ribbing. Write on, my friend… Keep the articles coming!
Thanks for catching that typo! I’ve asked the MousePlanet editor to correct it. However, I think my typo actually underestimated the Governor’s increase rather than overstated. He wants to increase Orange County’s sales tax from 7.75% TO 9.25%. If he wanted to increase the 7.75% rate BY 9.25%, 9.25% of 7.75% is just under .75%, bringing the total tax to almost 8.5%. To hit 17%, he would have to add an additional 9.25% to the 7.75%, thereby increasing the current rate by 235%. In that scenario, a 2009 one-day ticket to Disneyland would cost $84.24. Yikes! We better stop complaining!
Tony replies:
Oh man, you hammered me on that one my friend… That is the best laugh I’ve had in days… The scary thing is the one-day admission price is moving dangerously close to three figures. I have to imagine there’s going to be a point at which the average potential non-AP Disneyland visitor looks at the admissions menu and decides the mouse isn’t worth the expense. That will be a shameful day.
You’re right. They’re raising their prices so frequently and in such significant chunks, that I don’t see that there’s any way to avoid it. If the 9.25% tax is approved and Disneyland continues raising admissions by $3 to $4 a year, you’ll hit $100 in six short years.
The next group of letters are answered by MousePlanet staff, and include questions about the MousePlanet website, Disneyland promotions, and our message board, MousePad.
Jeff B. writes:
Boo for having political ads on MousePlanet. I don’t know how much money the sponsors throw your way, but I do know that these ads are alienating and offensive to a large portion of your readers. And by the way… such ads don’t help bring the country together to get on with the big problems we all face… they simply help propagate fear, divisiveness, and misunderstandings.
Thanks for your comments. MousePlanet does not take a position on any political advertising appearing on our site, however we have taken steps to block the specific ads in question. For technical reasons that block will not completely take effect for 24 to 48 hours after it is initiated.
Brian writes:
We had a question about the Costco Annual Pass (AP) promotion that includes a $50 Disney gift card. Would you happen to know if that is a $50 gift card with each AP purchased or just one gift card per Costco membership? Also, would Costco give you a voucher to pick-up the AP at the ticket booths—usually the AP card has a photo, right? Thanks for the great Disney info you folks always put out!
Our understanding is that each AP purchase includes a gift card; it’s not one gift card per member. You take the voucher you purchase at Costco and exchange it at the Guest Relations window where they will give you your AP and a gift card. You will then have to go inside to the AP processing center to get your photo taken. I suggest you check the ongoing discussion thread on this topic on MousePad: Disneyland Deluxe AP Deal at Costco (Bonus $50 Gift Card).
Mousecanuck writes:
I would like to add a picture of my kids with Mickey and Goofy from our last trip as my avatar. I have the picture on my computer. How do I add the photo—can you enable me to? I’ve tried via the radio button on my profile but nothing happens.
Avatars are a feature reserved for MousePad members who subscribe at either the Basic or Premium levels. More information is available here and you can subscribe here. Thanks for writing.
Finally, Steve Russo continues to receive reader mail on his two part series analyzing the Walt Disney World Dining Plan.
Chuck M. writes:
I have used the Disney Dining plan several times in the past and was very satisfied. However I can no longer say that.
You should make your readers aware of one pitfall with the ‘new’ dining plans. If you choose the “Quick Service Plan” you cannot use any of your meal credits to go to a restaurant and have a table service meal. Also if you choose one of the ‘upgraded’ plans with one or more table service meals (the Standard, the Deluxe or the Premium), you cannot use a table service meal credit at a counter service restaurant. With the popularity of the dining plan you may get stuck with unused table service meals just because you could not get a table at a restaurant.
I recently went to Walt Disney World with a family group of six and got the standard dining plan (seven days and nights for six people). On several occasions I could not get into a restaurant for a table service meal, so we went to a counter service restaurant for the meal. We ended up paying cash for counter service meals because our dining plan credits got used up; we were also left with eighteen unused table service meals because I could not get into a table service restaurant.
In short I feel I got ‘ripped off’. If they allowed you to use a Table Service credit for a Counter Service meal, it would be cheaper for them as the cost of a counter service meal is cheaper than a table service meal, and I might continue to purchase the Standard Dining Plan. As it stands now, when I go back after New Years I am going to get the Counter Service Meal only package. It’s not as good,at least I will get my money’s worth.
Thanks for the information. You make some great points and show how a specific situation can really result in very bad value. That’s why so many are making multiple reservations in advance and making it difficult for anyone to get one on short notice. It’s really becoming a problem.
Jeannie M. writes:
My husband and I just got home from a five-day stay in Walt Disney World. We learned soon after becoming empty nesters how nice it was to go as a couple instead of as a family of six; this was our twenty-seventh visit.
We used the Dining Plan two years ago when there was only one choice offered and it was great. We got one snack, one quick service meal, and one table service meal per person. The table meal included an appetizer and the tip. It was a good deal.
This time we had the regular plan, and didn’t get the appetizer or the tip included. I can understand about the tip but we were really disappointed with the changes that had been made. I would rather have the option of dessert or appetizer. I found myself ordering a salad at my dinner meals and then not finishing my dessert. The included snacks were nice since we were there during the Wine and Food Festival; we had eight “free” offerings from the different countries.
However, we won’t be using the plan anymore; it’s just not worth it. We eat too much and I don’t feel like we are saving that much money. Thanks for this web site. It’s been the source of invaluable information through the years.
Ashleigh writes:
It was mentioned in the article that the dining plan might be purchased without the Magic Your Way package. I would like to do that, but how do I go about it? Online or do I call someone? Do you know more specifics?
Let me clarify… What I wrote was:
“Initially, the Dining Plan was only available as part of a Magic Your Way package so, guests staying on a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) reservation were excluded from participating. Also left out were those Annual Passholders that preferred booking room-only reservations to take advantage of Passholder discounts that might be available. In short order, Disney rectified both situations by establishing a daily price for the Dining Plan that could be used by anyone, leaving us where we are today; the Plan is now available as part of a Magic Your Way package or as an add-on to a room reservation made using cash or DVC points.”
Disney allowed the Dining Plan to be purchased by DVC members (staying on points) or Annual Passholders booking a room-only reservation to get their AP discount. The Dining Plan was previously unavailable to those two groups.
When you add the Dining Plan to a cash reservation, you’re really making it a package—but without the requirement for adding Magic Your Way park passes to it. I don’t think you can do this via the website so I would suggest calling Walt Disney World directly at 407-WDISNEY (407-934-7639).
