Increased ticket prices coming soon?

[mshanson3121]

The Canadian dollar plunge (or US dollar surge) really is causing a lot of pain for travel to the US. That difference will be much worse than any tiered price increase. The fact is we want to do ANYTHING to make our kids happy, but really they are NOT scarred for life if they don't go back to Disney World every year, regardless of what Disney tells us.

The funny thing with the ticket prices is we complain about it endlessly - but typically you are talking maybe a $20 per person price increase year over year on the entire trip, which is nothing compared to the hotel increases and the food increases.

@lockedoutlogic point is good. Going more frequently can tend to lead to a case of diminishing returns, and force you to want to more expensive experiences to try and get the same high as the original trip. You also tend to see the cracks in the casing more. But unlike him, we've been 10 times in the last 10 years and while I won't blow smoke that "every trip is more magical than the last" we just had a wonderful trip this past August and for all the flaws and price increases we still love going.

Oh I agree, typically their price increases aren't "that" bad. But if they do the tiered change... that's going to hurt (since we can only go summer or Christmas). For us, right now, with the exchange, a 5-day base ticket is almost $1900 - an increase of $400 over what we paid a year ago. We are pretty well at our limit right now, without any increases, thanks to the dollar ($2000 is our limit, I just can't justify any more than that - not when we can play at Universal for 4 days, for half the price of Disney for 4 days). Our one constant is our lodging at least, since we rent off-site from a woman in Canada, and we pay in CDN dollars.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The Canadian dollar plunge (or US dollar surge) really is causing a lot of pain for travel to the US. That difference will be much worse than any tiered price increase. The fact is we want to do ANYTHING to make our kids happy, but really they are NOT scarred for life if they don't go back to Disney World every year, regardless of what Disney tells us.

The funny thing with the ticket prices is we complain about it endlessly - but typically you are talking maybe a $20 per person price increase year over year on the entire trip, which is nothing compared to the hotel increases and the food increases.

@lockedoutlogic point is good. Going more frequently can tend to lead to a case of diminishing returns, and force you to want to more expensive experiences to try and get the same high as the original trip. You also tend to see the cracks in the casing more. But unlike him, we've been 10 times in the last 10 years and while I won't blow smoke that "every trip is more magical than the last" we just had a wonderful trip this past August and for all the flaws and price increases we still love going.

It's the year over year aggregate across all the expenses, Pete.

I would say that the same trip bill in 2006 is now at least 50% more if you were to repeat it today. That's not "inflation" and spending cash hasn't increased nearly that much for the average joe in that time. We know who to blame though - yours and mine truly.

Have to push back and nobody is saying "no"

A $20,000 car then isn't $30,000 now in most cases...because it wouldn't sell. So how sustainable is a $3000 trip that is closer to $5000? And remember: these are "good" times (we're being told...but that is a pretty thin veil to see through).

I hate to be the canary in the coal mine...but I railed against the pricing policies almost daily during the housing crash. "Don't fall for the discounts" over and over again. Increasing base prices will come back to bite us no matter how much you're living it up on the dining plan in 2010...

Well?

It's easy psychology. People would overwhelmingly choose a bonus over a raise. DUMB! Instant gratification over longterm gain/pain.

I feel the pain. I could use what I pay in yearly upcharges for something far more important. Even though I can "afford it"...it's still a potentially a self destructive path.

The criticisms are real.

That doesn't even take into account the real obvious flaw in the Disney defense: the place is a quagmire at this point.

I like that they're building right now...but what the hell took so long? And I was charged while they let the place stagnate - no question.

Every single entertainment offering in history will STAGNATE if you let it slide and try to increase the profit margins. It is 100% truth. No matter how much people love the dining plan or the rapunzel bathrooms. Disney has been foolish in Florida thinking they were above it. Now if they hussle to get AK and MGM up to speed...Epcot is going to become a big problem. It already is...they gave up on needed enhancements when Eisner was still there. You just can't...you want to make the money? - you pay the bills

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Oh I agree, typically their price increases aren't "that" bad. But if they do the tiered change... that's going to hurt (since we can only go summer or Christmas). For us, right now, with the exchange, a 5-day base ticket is almost $1900 - an increase of $400 over what we paid a year ago. We are pretty well at our limit right now, without any increases, thanks to the dollar ($2000 is our limit, I just can't justify any more than that - not when we can play at Universal for 4 days, for half the price of Disney for 4 days). Our one constant is our lodging at least, since we rent off-site from a woman in Canada, and we pay in CDN dollars.

Canada tied itself to a bad, risky economic trend...I grew up near Pittsburgh. Fossil fuels are NOT the answer.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wi-Fi really is tough to provide to so dense a population. The more "chatter" going on with all the phones trying to get wi-fi connections, transfer data, etc. the more difficult it is to get anything. And with so many apps wanting to keep you connected, its getting worse.

Wi-Fi itself is vendor-agnostic (or it should be... ), regardless of who is providing the service. If it's bad for you, it is likely bad for others. Some devices are a bit better than others. I've found that on crowded days, my phone battery spends so much time just trying to stay connected to wi-fi that the battery drains. I often turn wi-fi off and just go with my data plan in the park, and my battery lasts a lot longer and its generally more dependable.

Yep...it usually takes me a day each time to remember to shut down the wifi and the battery is destroyed until I do.

This is a top of the line apple, on AT&T, in wdw...

I mean...if it doesn't work for me, who does it work for?

"Who does #2 WORK FOR?!?!"

 

[skier_pete]

It's the year over year aggregate across all the expenses, Pete.

I would say that the same trip bill in 2006 is now at least 50% more if you were to repeat it today. That's not "inflation" and spending cash hasn't increased nearly that much for the average joe in that time. We know who to blame though - yours and mine truly.

We argue a lot - but we agree quite a bit too. Prices have gone up significantly, but people keep coming...so why blame Disney for it? Cause they don't have the foresight to see someday it will end? People keep lining up to pay. They are undoubtably pricing some people out in the process, but obviously those people are being replaced by enough others.

It's like if my wife and I sold cupcakes:
Me: "We sold, 10,000 cupcakes last year and we have a line around the block"
Wife: "We're selling them for only $2 a piece, let's raise the prices to $3 a piece"
Me: "IDK, who'll pay that?"
Next year
Me: "We sold 12,000 cupcakes! Let's raise it to $4 a piece."
Next Year
Me: "Now we're up to 14,000 cupcakes. $5 a piece."
5 years later
Me: "Hmmm...no one buying our $12 cupcakes."
Wife: "But we sure made a lot of money!"

For us - our trips have increased in price, but not quite at Disney's rate. We DID change our strategy from a "utilize fee dining" to "buy into DVC and eat less", which works for us as we get older we find we can't eat as much food anyways, so less big meals works well for us.

When the bottom drops out (and you and I know it will) Disney will respond. They could even roll back ticket prices. They did it before, when they first instituted the Magic Your Way tickets, many mulit-day tickets became significantly cheaper than they were before. It's all supply and demand. We complain about ticket prices in Florida, but look at DLR - they've increased APs by about 100% in the last 4 years alone - and still they can't get the numbers below one million. Lately Disney can't KEEP people away.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Well...the stock price will slip into the 80's by week's end (it was there yesterday)...

Keep scrambling, Bob...have the lawyer review the language on the opt out clauses.

 

[Goofy4life1969]

And if ticket prices are the only concern, they also raise the prices on dinning. They had mentioned on news they Disney stock is falling yet, the parks, ships and movies are pulling in record cash. Go figure.

 

[Eoghann]

Wdw...for those of you out there that know what I'm saying...had an absolutely Horrid computer/network/infrastucture system. It wasnt 5 years behind the times as many businesses are...in some ways it was 20 until fairly recently.
I think the RFID system and the fastpass booking system and the app were a minor part...they have their advantages but it was more the dressing on the salad.

I think it was just a massive, desperately needed IT retrofit...one that has to be lied about in a public entertainment stock company because Wall Street only wants sales. I think Iger was more wise here than I gave him credit for...

There is a lot of truth to this. The IT desperately needed modernized (not just the age of their systems but the fact they had multiple entirely separate systems) but it's not a "money maker" so you have to attach it to other things.

 

[Eoghann]

For us - our trips have increased in price, but not quite at Disney's rate. We DID change our strategy from a "utilize fee dining" to "buy into DVC and eat less", which works for us as we get older we find we can't eat as much food anyways, so less big meals works well for us.

We recently came to the conclusion that Disney priced buffets are a waste of money for us because we just can't eat that much food.

Unless someone desperately wants to meet a character I don't think we'll be doing any more of those.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

And if ticket prices are the only concern, they also raise the prices on dinning. They had mentioned on news they Disney stock is falling yet, the parks, ships and movies are pulling in record cash. Go figure.

That's ESPN, China, Paris, and the threat of Comcast in the Orlando market...

Not even Star Wars and marvel can dent that.

What's "good" for consumers is that they HAVE to reap
More money from Orlando than just price increases...it's gonna have to be to gain market share or at least pull back a little of the bleed.

They're in a tough spot...more increases will price market out while they have to build a lot now to get the places aligned longterm.

What they are actually constucting now...not just park additions...represents by far the most amount of work since the mid 90's. The problem is they sat.

It's actually good for consumers right now. At least trending right.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We recently came to the conclusion that Disney priced buffets are a waste of money for us because we just can't eat that much food.

Unless someone desperately wants to meet a character I don't think we'll be doing any more of those.

I admit...I have a soft spot for breakfast buffets down there...

But we can certainly take them or leav them. One thing around here I will never grasp and therefore won't really comment on is the psychotic fervor to get into character meals. They certainly have sold their product well to the masses there.

But that's also what happens when they de-emphasis park renewal and attraction development...people subconsciously fall into the void of be our guest and standing for two hours to watch fireworks that last 8 minutes.

 

[mshanson3121]

And if ticket prices are the only concern, they also raise the prices on dinning. They had mentioned on news they Disney stock is falling yet, the parks, ships and movies are pulling in record cash. Go figure.

In the report that I read, it's because Disney has a "disproportionate" amount of money tied into ESPN, which is struggling hard financially. They said they're losing subscribers by the millions.

 

[Eoghann]

But we can certainly take them or leav them. One thing around here I will never grasp and therefore won't really comment on is the psychotic fervor to get into character meals. They certainly have sold their product well to the masses there.

I don't personally care about character Meet & Greets, but my last three visits I've had very young kids and they love that stuff. The Character Meals in my experience give more interaction and photo time than the queued meet and greets.

 

[mshanson3121]

I don't personally care about character Meet & Greets, but my last three visits I've had very young kids and they love that stuff. The Character Meals in my experience give more interaction and photo time than the queued meet and greets.

I agree. Although I have to say, the interaction with Woody & Jessie was amazing, by far our best M&G (it was also the longest wait). And the characters in the Circus tent were really good, too. Mickey (at Town Hall) was honestly, "okay". I mean, sure it was great because it was "Mickey", but it was definitely not one of the more interactive ones. To us, CRT was 110% worth it. Expensive? Yes. But we found the food excellent, and to be able to meet that many characters without having to wait in line was great. The interaction was good, too. But it was also a one-time thing for us.

 

[rteetz]

I admit...I have a soft spot for breakfast buffets down there...

But we can certainly take them or leav them. One thing around here I will never grasp and therefore won't really comment on is the psychotic fervor to get into character meals. They certainly have sold their product well to the masses there.

But that's also what happens when they de-emphasis park renewal and attraction development...people subconsciously fall into the void of be our guest and standing for two hours to watch fireworks that last 8 minutes.

I also like the breakfast buffets. This last trip we did two which were also character with 1900 park fare and Cape may cafe. Two of my favorite are Tusker House and Boma. I don't need characters but with two younger sisters they like it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

In the report that I read, it's because Disney has a "disproportionate" amount of money tied into ESPN, which is struggling hard financially. They said they're losing subscribers by the millions.

Without going too deep, here's how Disney's revenue breaks down:
10% merchandise (shockingly low)
15% movies (why Star Wars can't save them)
30% parks and cruiseline (that's the key number going forward)
40% television

Now...here's the problem with that tv number: it's 90% ESPN.

Disney has charged every household in the US that has cable (aka all of them) $6 per month for ESPN. And the product has fallen off in quality vastly. It's really crap now.

So as the US market starts to dump their outrageous cable prices...Disney loses free money.

That's why parks are being pushed forward now. It's their second easiest source of revenue/profits.

Now - many here will say "they'll just charge a fee for ESPN standalone...what's the problem?"

Because if you are watching the stock and look at what Iger has parsed about it - it's fairly obvious they don't think its gonna work. $20 a month for ESPN and the Disney channel is going to get a lot more "no thanks" than "yes please". That's the way the tea leaves are reading.

Disney has a big problem developing.

 

[mshanson3121]

Without going too deep, here's how Disney's revenue breaks down:
10% merchandise (shockingly low)
15% movies (why Star Wars can't save them)
30% parks and cruiseline (that's the key number going forward)
40% television

Now...here's the problem with that tv number: it's 90% ESPN.

Disney has charged every household in the US that has cable (aka all of them) $6 per month for ESPN. And the product has vastly fallen off in quality vastly. It's really crap now.

So as the US market starts to dump their outrageous cable prices...Disney loses free money.

That's why parks are being pushed forward now. It's their second easiest source of revenue/profits.

Now - many here will say "they'll just charge a fee for ESPN standalone...what's the problem?"

Because if you are watching the stock and look at what Iger has parsed about it - it's fairly obvious they don't think its gonna work. $20 a month for ESPN and the Disney channel is going to get a lot more "no thanks" than "yes please". That's the way the tea leaves are reading.

Disney has a big problem developing.

Definitely. And I'm one of those - no way would we pay $20 a month for ESPN and Disney channel. Quite frankly, other than a few things on Disney Jr., we (including our children) really don't like any of the Disney TV programming. And ESPN is not worth it, not the way all the major networks are covering sports, and with other less expensive options out there.

 

[Eoghann]

I also like the breakfast buffets. This last trip we did two which were also character with 1900 park fare and Cape may cafe. Two of my favorite are Tusker House and Boma. I don't need characters but with two younger sisters they like it.

They can be very nice (depending on location) but the bottom line is I have one, or very occasionally two helpings and frequently for lunches or dinners I don't even have desert. It's not a good deal.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Definitely. And I'm one of those - no way would we pay $20 a month for ESPN and Disney channel. Quite frankly, other than a few things on Disney Jr., we (including our children) really don't like any of the Disney TV programming. And ESPN is not worth it, not the way all the major networks are covering sports, and with other less expensive options out there.

ESPN is all canned shows with on air talking heads. Nobody is paying out of pocket for access to that.

And there primary on the field product - the NBA...is costing them a fortune and they have run that league into the ground in terms of broad appeal and quality of the sport. It's 90% an exhibition now.

Are NBA fans diehard enough to pay Disney for it each month? Enough of them?

And the other leagues have gotten smarter about it - the MLB digital Package is the best deal out there. The NFL is the king but they are only on direct tv and then will go straight to the consumer and bypass the networks before too long.

ESPN as a profit center's days are numbered.

 

[rteetz]

They can be very nice (depending on location) but the bottom line is I have one, or very occasionally two helpings and frequently for lunches or dinners I don't even have desert. It's not a good deal.

It does depend on the person I have at least two plates plus dessert at a buffet.