Thoughts on ticket price increases?

chalee94 · Feb 27, 2015

Husurdady said:
Please correct me if I am wrong.......didn't I read somewhere where Disney's CEO made something like $47 million this past 2014?

1) rounds down to $46

and

2) i guess that means he is doing a good job?

dwight16 said:
What was the price difference between a 10 day no exp pass and an dvr annual pass????? I don't think its that much if any Disney really jacked the NEpass if I remember correctly

NE is over $700, even at a discount. a lot more expensive than a DVC AP.

keishashadow · Feb 27, 2015

I expect close to 10% increase a year. Most DVC members at least get to escape the accompanying on-site room increases. I've seen prices for value resorts double in less than 10 years for dates I check annually.

We have found that stockpiling tickets gives a good rate of return. Non-expiry tix ceased be a good option for us when they had the last big price adjustment however, for those who prefer them, likely still be found on the broker sites. If you do pay cash, it's a likely good return on your 'investment'

dwight16 · Feb 27, 2015

here is an idea BUY disney STOCK if your worried about prices increases.....stock was about 80 bucks 1 year ago and is around 105 now that out paces the increase in park passes every year.......so please please please stop complaining about prices increases i have said a ton of times before DISNEY HAS TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES THEY DONT WORK FOR FREE.......EVERY YEAR THEY DESERVE A RAISE AND THERE FOR YOUR PARK PASS AND CAKE WILL GO UP IN PRICE........next time you complain about your cake prices think about the people who work down there to give us a good time....i don't get some of you at all.......

JimMIA · Feb 27, 2015

The ticket price increases have been more important to us than rising prices of "trinkets" like teeshirts, but the real issue with us has been our daughter's widening scope of interests as she gets older (13 next month). She still loves Disney, but realizes there is a lot more to the world than Disney World.

That's why Disney banks on upcoming little kids, and why it's a sound strategy.

We scaled back our Disney involvement years ago (in 2010-2011). Instead of going several times a year, we started going once. In the last 4 years, we have made numerous trips to Orlando where we did not go to WDW. Most recent was a parents-only trip last summer where we stayed just offsite for a full week and never set foot on Disney property...while DD attended a week-long Duke University TIP camp at Eckerd College in St. Pete.

Our last WDW trip was December 2013 on an RCI exchange into OKW, and we have no trips planned. During that Dec 13 trip, DD's BFF family flatly refused to pay WDW ticket prices, so we went to Universal with them instead for $70 vs $100 per day with WDW. That's the only trip where we actually changed our plans specifically because of prices.

But most of our redirection has been because of other interests, rather than financial. DD is a competitive figure skater and we currently have 4 trips planned, three of which are skating related -- performing in US Figure Skating's "Stars on Ice" show in Ft. Myers in March, the Florida Open competition in Orlando in April, a US Figure Skating technical camp in Chicago also in April, and a Grand Canyon/Northern AZ trip in July. And then skating competition trips to Ellenton FL in September and Philadelphia (US Figure Skating Regional Championships) in October.

We probably will not return to WDW until Spring 2016, but mostly because we're just too busy doing other things.

bams50 · Feb 27, 2015

dwight16 said:
here is an idea BUY disney STOCK if your worried about prices increases.....stock was about 80 bucks 1 year ago and is around 105 now that out paces the increase in park passes every year.......so please please please stop complaining about prices increases i have said a ton of times before DISNEY HAS TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES THEY DONT WORK FOR FREE.......EVERY YEAR THEY DESERVE A RAISE AND THERE FOR YOUR PARK PASS AND CAKE WILL GO UP IN PRICE........next time you complain about your cake prices think about the people who work down there to give us a good time....i don't get some of you at all.......

Absolutely. Well said. None of us knows what goes into the CEO's salary, or what percentage comes from the theme parks. People here want to ignore the fact that theme parks are only one part of Disney. Makes it easier to spout their jealousy.

I know we are being bombarded from every direction with class envy and divisiveness, starting in Washington. But choosing not to think and just buying into it doesn't help a thing, and makes us look stupid. Please, Disney fans, THINK!

disneybass · Feb 27, 2015

The rise in prices has changed the way we view our future with Disney. We sold half of our points last year and kept just enough to take our granddaughter once a year for 3 or 4 days. We still love Disney but just can't justify multiple trips a year like we used to.

Mousewerks · Feb 27, 2015

Economic ignorance is rampant. This is clear to see from those of you who chose not to see how economic transactions really work. Those that complain about Disney ticket prices are likely to be the same ones to claim 'gouging' when a natural disaster happens. In point of fact, 'gouging' doesn't exist, it is just the natural market restricting access to those that need it the most. Same goes for Disney. When they raise their prices, yes, they price some folks out of the market. But more importantly, WDW is a scarce resource. That is, it doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. Thus, the only way to regulate park entry (i.e. not be overrun with people) is to signal to the market by raising prices. The fact that they have to pay employees, pay utilities, and everything else, just creates a floor for the prices. I would hope that they set prices a good distance ABOVE this floor. I would not be opposed to them raising the prices even more than they have to further restrict the amount of people that go to WDW. Popular times are a bit too popular.

For those that this prices out the market, the proper response is, "How do I increase my income to do the things I want to do?" This is much healthier than the reflex reaction to complain. We that live in the US have access to the greatest market the world has ever seen. The amount of money flowing through our economy is staggering to say the least. This market has many different ways to acquire wealth. Figure out how much income you need to ignore Disney ticket price increases and go get it!

Sur · Feb 27, 2015

There's a cap to which I feel entitled to expend. Even if I could "go get it," it wouldn't be spent on Disney. It's difficult to explain what I'm trying to say.

shonadamson · Feb 27, 2015

I always love the fact that when people discuss ticket prices other people feel the need to join the discussion with an economics lesson. Thank you for explaining how the world works. I would have never known that the rich make all the rules if you wouldn't have keyed me in.

JimMIA · Feb 27, 2015

tjkraz said:
Pretty simple...I think Disney will charge whatever the market will bear....

...IF guests suddenly start thumbing their noses at Disney, they will respond accordingly.

Actually, I think Disney has already started to respond partially -- just not regarding DVC.

Last Friday, I received an email announcing Florida Resident Discover Disney tickets (as if we didn't know it was there!). Discover Disney is a 4-day, one park per day ticket formerly about $220, and offered recently to DVC for $199-- $159 now for Florida residents. And there is a 3-day, one park per day ticket, formerly about $200 for $139. $60 discounts for both.

So they are raising overall ticket prices, but offering discounts to certain other targeted groups. I haven't done any detailed market research on this, but I'm inclined to believe that Florida residents are more likely to respond to a nice discount like that with a spur of the moment short trip than DVC owners who tend to plan further ahead and take longer trips.

Brian Noble · Feb 27, 2015

shonadamson said:
I always love the fact that when people discuss ticket prices other people feel the need to join the discussion with an economics lesson

It is sometimes necessary. This thread isn't a good example, because most of us are already pretty cynical when it comes to the Mouse and his Cheese. But, on the "general" board, you'll see a lot of people who feel betrayed by a price increase. That's not surprising if you think about it---Disney is in the business of selling happiness. That's not the same as "Disney wants me to be happy," but it is easy to confuse the two. Sharp price increases make it more obvious that Disney and its customers are in an adversarial relationship. Disney's goal is to get as much of my money for the lowest cost possible. My goal is to get as much fun possible from each dollar.

kirstenb1 · Feb 27, 2015

We used our last NE tix 3 yrs ago. We've had DVC since 1993, so I feel a bit shackled to the mouse. I'd love to go to Vero or HHI instead, but the kids would probably revolt. We're really lucky that we live near enough Busch Gardens Williamsburg to have Platinum Passes there. Now in Orlando, we go the SW/Busch parks for free, and skip WDW. Our passes give us free parking and food/merch discounts as well. Last year, we bought one day tix to the MK, again for the kids more than dh and me. This year, after reading POTC will be down, we'll probably skip WDW.

yitbos96bb · Feb 28, 2015

Except that price gouging is a crime in several states, Florida included. Yes, it's a market demand, but when that market demand takes advantage of certain conditions to the detriment of a local community, it then becomes a crime in some states. Your example of prices rapidly increasing before and after a disaster is by legal definition in some states, Florida included, a crime and is in fact....price gouging.

This doesn't apply to Disney tickets of course. No one would state that not going to Disney causes a detriment to society. Demand is high due more to international travel than anything else (although with a strengthening dollar against many currencies, I'll be curious to see how much it continues). Disney is taking advantage of this and pricing a certain population segment out. Do I think it's a good long term strategy... No. Yes, I saw the salary and benefits argument but Disney is making significant profits in its Theme Park division... And that's fine. Every company and person sets their own greed.

I think the point you and the people who for some strange reason seem to have a need to defend the price increase for some reason is this... While Disney has the right to do it, doing so makes it harder for many people to experience the joy of a visit to WDW than many of us want others to be able to experience. You can make a statement of "Figure out how to make more money" but any study of sociology will tell you that's a very simplistic statement. Some groups just have very little ability and opportunity to change their socioeconomic situations. They don't have the access to the education or resources. Individuals from these groups can defy the norm, but ultimately, the group as a whole needs generational change to improve the socioeconomic situation. To some of these groups, making a statement of "Figure out how to make more money" is about the equivalent of saying "Figure out how to win lotto". There may not be a realistic way to do so.

But to offer another point.... You are mistaken. Price increase is not the only way to prevent the parks from being overrun. Offering caps on entry, which Disney does, is actually the only true way to prevent parks from being overrun. And since Disney rarely hits these caps, overrun parks is not an issue... Although I concede the term overrun is subjective.

Mousewerks said:
Economic ignorance is rampant. This is clear to see from those of you who chose not to see how economic transactions really work. Those that complain about Disney ticket prices are likely to be the same ones to claim 'gouging' when a natural disaster happens. In point of fact, 'gouging' doesn't exist, it is just the natural market restricting access to those that need it the most. Same goes for Disney. When they raise their prices, yes, they price some folks out of the market. But more importantly, WDW is a scarce resource. That is, it doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. Thus, the only way to regulate park entry (i.e. not be overrun with people) is to signal to the market by raising prices. The fact that they have to pay employees, pay utilities, and everything else, just creates a floor for the prices. I would hope that they set prices a good distance ABOVE this floor. I would not be opposed to them raising the prices even more than they have to further restrict the amount of people that go to WDW. Popular times are a bit too popular.

For those that this prices out the market, the proper response is, "How do I increase my income to do the things I want to do?" This is much healthier than the reflex reaction to complain. We that live in the US have access to the greatest market the world has ever seen. The amount of money flowing through our economy is staggering to say the least. This market has many different ways to acquire wealth. Figure out how much income you need to ignore Disney ticket price increases and go get it!

yitbos96bb · Feb 28, 2015

shonadamson said:
I always love the fact that when people discuss ticket prices other people feel the need to join the discussion with an economics lesson. Thank you for explaining how the world works. I would have never known that the rich make all the rules if you wouldn't have keyed me in.

I like the fact that the economics lessons come from people with very little true understanding of micro and macro economic principles and instead seem to come from the talking points of various media groups and other special interests. It amuses me greatly.

yitbos96bb · Feb 28, 2015

Brian Noble said:
It is sometimes necessary. This thread isn't a good example, because most of us are already pretty cynical when it comes to the Mouse and his Cheese. But, on the "general" board, you'll see a lot of people who feel betrayed by a price increase. That's not surprising if you think about it---Disney is in the business of selling happiness. That's not the same as "Disney wants me to be happy," but it is easy to confuse the two. Sharp price increases make it more obvious that Disney and its customers are in an adversarial relationship. Disney's goal is to get as much of my money for the lowest cost possible. My goal is to get as much fun possible from each dollar.

Is that truly adversarial though? Disney is a service company. They sell their services at a rate that they feel that enough of the market will bear while maximizing their profits. There are really only three ways to increase profits... Increase demand (thus increasing consumers), increase consumer cost of services or decrease the provider costs for service. Disney is balancing all three. The big question is will this keep long term. I have no idea. I think international demand will lessen as the dollar strengthens against other currencies. But to what extent... Well if we see some big discounts then we know it was significant.

Judique · Feb 28, 2015

Sur said:
There's a cap to which I feel entitled to expend. Even if I could "go get it," it wouldn't be spent on Disney. It's difficult to explain what I'm trying to say.

Sur, it may be because you have 'been there, done that'. Spending the high price the first time is almost a no brainer. The first timer is going to pay it.

It's the repeating of the experience. It becomes less of a value. So when the price goes up, it's like I've already done this for half the cost, I think I'm nuts to keep paying higher prices.

That's what I mean by priced out. I have the money if I 'choose' to give it to Disney.

So now I choose to buy an annual pass and do a couple of trips at both ends of a year, thereby reducing my costs to what I see as somewhat reasonable, although I would prefer even the annual pass to not have risen about 9-10 percent. I also have no expiry stockpiled, for when I go and just want a day. The AP works for my F&W trips where I want to go into Epcot more often.

Judique · Feb 28, 2015

Mousewerks said:
Economic ignorance is rampant. This is clear to see from those of you who chose not to see how economic transactions really work. Those that complain about Disney ticket prices are likely to be the same ones to claim 'gouging' when a natural disaster happens. In point of fact, 'gouging' doesn't exist, it is just the natural market restricting access to those that need it the most. Same goes for Disney. When they raise their prices, yes, they price some folks out of the market. But more importantly, WDW is a scarce resource. That is, it doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. Thus, the only way to regulate park entry (i.e. not be overrun with people) is to signal to the market by raising prices. The fact that they have to pay employees, pay utilities, and everything else, just creates a floor for the prices. I would hope that they set prices a good distance ABOVE this floor. I would not be opposed to them raising the prices even more than they have to further restrict the amount of people that go to WDW. Popular times are a bit too popular.

For those that this prices out the market, the proper response is, "How do I increase my income to do the things I want to do?" This is much healthier than the reflex reaction to complain. We that live in the US have access to the greatest market the world has ever seen. The amount of money flowing through our economy is staggering to say the least. This market has many different ways to acquire wealth. Figure out how much income you need to ignore Disney ticket price increases and go get it!

I disagree with several of your remarks.

First of all, Disney controls the gates. Once they have reached capacity, they are obligated to close until some people have left. If the parks are over run as you say, Disney is probably having a good day. If this is happening frequently, Disney is not trying to stop it by raising prices. They've seen an opportunity to capitalize and make more money.

Second, so long as they have the ability to fill the parks at their price, they will keep raising the prices. None of our complaining is going to stop that.

And, with regard to 'Economic ignorance is rampant'.......wow, you think all these people on these boards are really that dumb?? I don't think so.

dwight16 · Feb 28, 2015

I think most people think they deserve a cheap trip to Disney. This is why every year these threads get put up. People get mortaly offended when Disney raises their prices and they come on the board and complain and then you have people on my side that fight back and then we get into a big argument. I understand it sucks when someone might not be able to afford a Disney trip with their families but I don't think it's anyone who owns a dvc lets be honest they are just complaining. We all had the ability at least at one point to have bought in and can pay dues. It infuriates me that people's first though it's a fat cat profit hunger that is stealing your money to line some bank Iger has hidden under the parks. I try to get people on here to think about the bigger picture. Where that money is really going. It's going to the workers, improvements, maintance, and then profit. You know the majority of the "people" who can't afford Disney trips probably work in the parks for Disney. Does anyone here realize how hard it is to live off of 10 bucks an hour? It's basicly impossible so if my prices go up do the person greeting me when I get to the park can make an extra 40 dollars a week I welcome it. Disney announced they will be getting the starting wage to 12 dollars an hour with in the next year or two. Google it. So I get it it sucks to have to pay more for something you love but think about the whole picture before you sign on here and complain and make yourself look like a selfish person. LLAP

keaster · Feb 28, 2015

Because we are in Canada and our exchange rate has taken a hit, we have to pay even more for Disney tickets. So for us a $529 DVC AP is actually $661 dollars. I wish they would allow Canadians to pay for tickets at par on the US dollar.

DVCPAT · Feb 28, 2015

dwight16 said:
I think most people think they deserve a cheap trip to Disney. This is why every year these threads get put up. People get mortaly offended when Disney raises their prices and they come on the board and complain and then you have people on my side that fight back and then we get into a big argument. I understand it sucks when someone might not be able to afford a Disney trip with their families but I don't think it's anyone who owns a dvc lets be honest they are just complaining. We all had the ability at least at one point to have bought in and can pay dues. It infuriates me that people's first though it's a fat cat profit hunger that is stealing your money to line some bank Iger has hidden under the parks. I try to get people on here to think about the bigger picture. Where that money is really going. It's going to the workers, improvements, maintance, and then profit. You know the majority of the "people" who can't afford Disney trips probably work in the parks for Disney. Does anyone here realize how hard it is to live off of 10 bucks an hour? It's basicly impossible so if my prices go up do the person greeting me when I get to the park can make an extra 40 dollars a week I welcome it. Disney announced they will be getting the starting wage to 12 dollars an hour with in the next year or two. Google it. So I get it it sucks to have to pay more for something you love but think about the whole picture before you sign on here and complain and make yourself look like a selfish person. LLAP

I must be a selfish person because I always try to get the best price when I make a purchase. I see shopping at efficient, well run businesses as a win/win situation. I’m helping well run business expand so they can hire more employees and help the consumer. Disneys growth will come from customer service, innovation and efficiency. Your actually hurting business and employees if you think the consumer is Robin Hood.

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