Prices just hit my threshold :-(

[3DisneyFanz]

The recession officially ended 5 years ago. When an annual pass was $499.00. (roughly 50% less) Good thing everyones employer has increased their wages by at least that much.

W ay out of touch
D igging ever deeper into your pocket
W ithout an end in sight

Not so coincidently that was the last year we bought AP.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

From what I just read this morning they are talking about tiered pricing already. Higher on the weekends and during the summer while lower on the shoulder seasons. I wonder where this will put an AP?

They might introduce some cheaper APs for everyone that have blackout dates.

Disneyland sells some passes that exclude Saturdays. I believe they sell them to Southern California residents only but they could give that cheaper option to others, and anyone who wants the option to go on weekends would pay more.

I also think tiered pricing for regular tickets is next.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

The rate of US inflation would put those $4 at $31.50 today. Pretty far cry from $105.

DLR was one park and the tickets were tiered. I think there was only 1 "E" ticket in the book. You had to buy more if you wanted to ride more.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

So, will I stop going to WDW? Probably not. But, I won't be buying anymore DVC points, as I had intended on doing in Jan. I won't be going 2 or 3 times a year, that's for sure. And when I do go? I won't be using the TiW card that they are increasing the cost of by $50! That means, fewer nice meals...and probably fewer QS meals as well.
It means I'll be visiting other areas..instead of just my beloved WDW!!!

THIS!!! ALL of this!!! Perfectly said!

 

[bpadair32]

I really think people here think that they are going to affect anything Disney does. Disney is a huge company that is making more and more money all the time. The few hundred (thousand?) people on this message board would not cause them any significant pain, even if they all stopped going. And we are not going to all stop going so they don't care.

 

[Bluegrrl]

I really was a Disney person, but this has put me over the edge. I loved the AP, it was so nice since I lived about 30min from the parks. I was able to come and go as I pleased. But now - this has done it. It really has. Thankfully, we can renew for one more year at our same price at with the postcard (God, I'm glad I saved that!), but after this - we are only going to use the Salute to the Troop tickets when we go. Universal is pretty cool, and my 3 yr old loves fish so Sea World is a go. We are also going to make it down to Legoland (even if it's a long trip). We only really go for the runs and the MNSSHP/MVMCH anyway. Still, it's a little heartbreaking that my boy will only be going to Disney once in a while.

It's like when I marched in the Star Wars weekends parade. At first, they gave us two multipark tickets. Then they got cheaper, and gave us two one park ticket. Then cheaper - one multipark. Then even cheaper - one one-day park ticket. Some would say that Disney didn't need to give us anything. But then, our stormtroopers made that parade look so much better. Our armor was better, and some of Disney's characters costumes (Zam Wesal) were made by our group. And it was HOT and physically exhausting (like one year, our ewoks passed out). So we EARNED those tickets. But when Disney got cheap, I stopped participating. Some would say that was my choice, but Disney getting stingy was a big part. Disney is getting greedy and I don't want to be a part of that. I can't deal, and it's not worth it - cost/benefit = not wanted.

 

[bpadair32]

I really was a Disney person, but this has put me over the edge. I loved the AP, it was so nice since I lived about 30min from the parks. I was able to come and go as I pleased. But now - this has done it. It really has. Thankfully, we can renew for one more year at our same price at with the postcard (God, I'm glad I saved that!), but after this - we are only going to use the Salute to the Troop tickets when we go. Universal is pretty cool, and my 3 yr old loves fish so Sea World is a go. We are also going to make it down to Legoland (even if it's a long trip). We only really go for the runs and the MNSSHP/MVMCH anyway. Still, it's a little heartbreaking that my boy will only be going to Disney once in a while.

It's like when I marched in the Star Wars weekends parade. At first, they gave us two multipark tickets. Then they got cheaper, and gave us two one park ticket. Then cheaper - one multipark. Then even cheaper - one one-day park ticket. Some would say that Disney didn't need to give us anything. But then, our stormtroopers made that parade look so much better. Our armor was better, and some of Disney's characters costumes (Zam Wesal) were made by our group. And it was HOT and physically exhausting (like one year, our ewoks passed out). So we EARNED those tickets. But when Disney got cheap, I stopped participating. Some would say that was my choice, but Disney getting stingy was a big part. Disney is getting greedy and I don't want to be a part of that. I can't deal, and it's not worth it - cost/benefit = not wanted.

Its the same principles at work on both sides here, you felt that what you were offering was worth more than Disney was willing to pay. Thats fine, its your decision. Disney has decided that what they are offering is worth more than what people are currently paying. You disagree, again your choice, but both are perfect examples of how economics work. The fact of the matter is that the crowds at Disney are going to stay, and probably continue to increase, despite what the tickets now cost. Disney isn't being greedy, its doing its job. Its job, like that of any public company is to maximize share holder value.

 

[Hopelessly_Devoted]

The prices are insane.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

DLR was one park and the tickets were tiered. I think there was only 1 "E" ticket in the book. You had to buy more if you wanted to ride more.

$105 is the admission to one park and even tripping inflation rate to say there are three "E" tickets you're still below today's price.

 

[dlavender]

We really hit our breaking point this year too. Our Florida resident 4 day pass 4 years ago was 99.99 per person. This year, 209.99. A $400 increase in 4 years (family of 4). So, we didn't go this year, and we are still trying to figure out if we should go next year.

 

[Bluegrrl]

Understand. But it's getting out of hand. I got the whole business thing. Or as Unikitty from Lego would say, "Business. Business, Business, Business!" But where is that money going? That's one thing I would like to know.
And the lack of communication to the APs is terrible. I found out about the price hikes from you guys. Not from Disney. Now that's pretty unbusiness like. Lack of communication to its most "valued" costumes? At least that's what the Mickey Monitor calls us. That's not right. Even if this it business, it's still not right to not communicated with your customers.
And the lack of customizing? I don't want Memory Maker on the AP that I do want, and I can't remove the darn thing at all. At least if I could do that and cheapened the cost, I'd be OK. IDK. It being "business" doesn't make me - a Floridian and AP holder any happier.

And what they are offering is not worth what I am paying. DHS is a shell until Star Wars is built (who knows when that project will be complete.). Avatar and the AK light show aren't complete. DS (DTD) isn't finalized. EPCOT is basically a really big Mall of America. MK is crowded. I may sound bitter, but I loved Disney. Hell, I used to work there - I should love it, and it always has a place in my heart. This may be business, but it's not good business.

(BTW, Unikitty is the best)

 

[patrickpiteo]

They needed to eliminate that escape hatch before implementing the new plan.

Unfortunately I think this is only step 2 of 3.

I still think tiered pricing is on its way. Soon.

ohh for sure ...

 

[patrickpiteo]

I've been going to WDW since '99. Bought into DVC in '03. The lowest prices I've seen were right after 9/11...for obvious reasons. The costs have gone steadily up. In the past 8 years or so, we have seen fewer and fewer wonderful packages offered. Room rates have been high. Now, the cost of AP is making it hard to make the decision to renew in May. I don't take many photos in WDW..so PP is not a so called 'perk' for me. I've always had free parking, so no change there. But, I do get to pay $100 more for a Gold AP but get weeks taken away from me that I can't go to the parks during!
Does everyone deserve to go to WDW? Of course not. It's not a case of 'deserving'. Yes, it's expensive...always has been. But you realized you were getting a higher level of quality there. I've cruised with Disney three times now. I am hesitant to cruise with anyone else. BUT...I can cruise for twice the days with another company vs with Disney! No more kids at home, so don't really need all that Disney 'magic'.

Yes, Disney is a business. But I have to tell you..prices are as high as they have ever been. Resorts are fairly full...hence the few pkg discounts, or at least not great ones. The parks are crazy!!!! I haven't been to WDW, in the past year, when the parks weren't crowded. That would be Sept '14, Nov '14, May '15 and July '15. These were not peak times to go....all you had to do was look at all the various crowd calendars....none of them showed my dates as particularly busy. But wait times for attractions were all lengthy. 25 mins for IASW is just not right!!!!

So, will I stop going to WDW? Probably not. But, I won't be buying anymore DVC points, as I had intended on doing in Jan. I won't be going 2 or 3 times a year, that's for sure. And when I do go? I won't be using the TiW card that they are increasing the cost of by $50! That means, fewer nice meals...and probably fewer QS meals as well.
It means I'll be visiting other areas..instead of just my beloved WDW!!!

is it 100.00 more DVC for Gold?

 

[bpadair32]

Understand. But it's getting out of hand. I got the whole business thing. Or as Unikitty from Lego would say, "Business. Business, Business, Business!" But where is that money going? That's one thing I would like to know.
And the lack of communication to the APs is terrible. I found out about the price hikes from you guys. Not from Disney. Now that's pretty unbusiness like. Lack of communication to its most "valued" costumes? At least that's what the Mickey Monitor calls us. That's not right. Even if this it business, it's still not right to not communicated with your customers.
And the lack of customizing? I don't want Memory Maker on the AP that I do want, and I can't remove the darn thing at all. At least if I could do that and cheapened the cost, I'd be OK. IDK. It being "business" doesn't make me - a Floridian and AP holder any happier.

And what they are offering is not worth what I am paying. DHS is a shell until Star Wars is built (who knows when that project will be complete.). Avatar and the AK light show aren't complete. DS (DTD) isn't finalized. EPCOT is basically a really big Mall of America. MK is crowded. I may sound bitter, but I loved Disney. Hell, I used to work there - I should love it, and it always has a place in my heart. This may be business, but it's not good business.

(BTW, Unikitty is the best)

Its very good business. They are going to make more money. Any way you slice it. Even if they anger every current AP holder (they didn't) and they all stop going (they won't) the demand for Disney is higher than ever and they will still make more in the long run.

 

[GaryDis]

f you stay onsite at the deluxe US/IOA hotels, you get free express passes that work at most attractions in addition to early entry to one (sometimes both) park each day.

This needs some clarification:

If you stay at any of the Universal on-site hotels, including the value Cabana Bay, you get early entry. There are also some packages available at off-site hotels that include early entry. Depending on the time of year, early entry may be both parks (during busy seasons) or just one of the two parks (during low seasons). At the moment (last I checked), it's only IOA.

If you stay at one of the deluxe Universal hotels, you also get free Express Unlimited passes for everyone in your room. If you stay elsewhere, even off-site, you can buy these passes (or the cheaper Express ride-each-once pass). Thus, with kids in the room, it's often worth staying deluxe to get the free pass, but if it's one or two people, the value hotels plus a la carte pass purchase may come out cheaper.

 

[lugnut33]

Sounds like some first world problems.

People tend to forget how business have a margin of profit and when that margin is no longer there they have to increase prices.

Poor Iger, I'm sure it was cutting into his pay. Now he's all good.

 

[photogineer]

Am I the only person not really bothered by this?

I mean, it's not as if it's unprecedented, or that WDW is anything but a completely luxury and whimsical want, not a need, not a right, certainly not owed to anyone. Frankly, I'm perfectly ok if a bunch of people don't go due to prices, I am willing to pay the prices and if it means I get less crowds for the higher price, all the better. Would I prefer it were cheaper? Sure, probably, unless it meant the crowds got even worse, than it starts to not be so clear cut.

The nice thing about luxury things is that you get them because you work for them, I like the idea of WDW being a higher end vacation place, I work hard for my money, and I earn the option to spend it on a trip like this. If I'm being totally honest I'm ok with it being a bit more exclusive, and the same goes for tiered ticketing/FPs. If I can work harder and get a better experience for my family and myself, I'm all for it. I frankly don't love the idea that my vacation is somewhat limited by a perceived need to cater to people that don't have the same disposable income. I'm not saying those people shouldn't have access, but I think it's perfectly reasonable to have value levels of the vacation for them, just as they have value resorts. Life isn't fair, and while some of my available funds are good fortune, it's mostly effort, and even the good fortune required the right skills and effort to leverage.

I'm sure this isn't going to be a popular opinion, but that's how I feel about it!

Adam

 

[bpadair32]

Poor Iger, I'm sure it was cutting into his pay. Now he's all good.

I really don't understand all of the people that hate on others for working hard to get where they are and making money. That is what we should be encouraging in society. Get out there, work hard, and better yourself.

 

[bpadair32]

Am I the only person not really bothered by this?

I mean, it's not as if it's unprecedented, or that WDW is anything but a completely luxury and whimsical want, not a need, not a right, certainly not owed to anyone. Frankly, I'm perfectly ok if a bunch of people don't go due to prices, I am willing to pay the prices and if it means I get less crowds for the higher price, all the better. Would I prefer it were cheaper? Sure, probably, unless it meant the crowds got even worse, than it starts to not be so clear cut.

The nice thing about luxury things is that you get them because you work for them, I like the idea of WDW being a higher end vacation place, I work hard for my money, and I earn the option to spend it on a trip like this. If I'm being totally honest I'm ok with it being a bit more exclusive, and the same goes for tiered ticketing/FPs. If I can work harder and get a better experience for my family and myself, I'm all for it. I frankly don't love the idea that my vacation is somewhat limited by a perceived need to cater to people that don't have the same disposable income. I'm not saying those people shouldn't have access, but I think it's perfectly reasonable to have value levels of the vacation for them, just as they have value resorts. Life isn't fair, and while some of my available funds are good fortune, it's mostly effort, and even the good fortune required the right skills and effort to leverage.

I'm sure this isn't going to be a popular opinion, but that's how I feel about it!

Adam

I right there with you.

 

[atricks]

Attendance is higher, yet they haven't really been building to increase the capacity the last 15 years either (especially the non-magic Kingdom parks), so the easy way out is to raise prices. This may be changing soon, but it's a bit too little too late. But I think Disney World has been horribly strategically managed in the last 20 years.