2018 Price Increases

[tlmadden73]

20%+ increase in prices in the 4 years since I've started going again (with the kids). Crazy. I mean, I don't blame Disney .. people keep coming in record numbers and should (in theory) with the opening of two highly anticipated lands and even more new attractions at Epcot and MK.

I didn't pull the trigger for the AP I was thinking about for November. Just hard to justify (especially with some other big expenses in the family this year).So .. I could have "saved" $210 if I bought the AP now, but I figure I will just buy up Disney Gift Cards at Target to get the 5% red card discount to help offset ~$130 of that increase. (It wasn't like I was going to be able to get to Target and buy that many gift cards yesterday to make this purchase at the last minute).

I still may get one for my trip in November, but I think I will wait until I get there to decide and upgrade my 5-day tickets I bought in 2017 to "lessen" the blow. My goal is to go on two more trips before my daughter turns 3, and just not sure if I would go enough days to make an AP worth it. (I mean .. I could do it, but can the kids? LOL). The way I still calculate it .. going 9 days .. In two separate trips of 4 days and 5 days. Is the same price whether you get an AP or MYW tickets.

I just don't like having that much money tied up for a specific future use (especially since I already have 9 days worth of tickets banked up already). I'll just "save" for my future Disney trips by:
1) Going less days
2) Cutting out a Table Service Meal
3) Stay off-site
4) Go less often
5) Cutting cable (sorry kids, no more Disney Junior!)

So .. i feel that the price increases are to help reduce and spread attendance out. Because budget-minded families will cut costs somehow if the tickets and hotel prices keep going up greater than their income.

 

[Planogirl]

I still wonder how off-site resorts getting similar privileges to onsite ties into all of this. Like others have said, Disney must have a master plan that we just can't see yet.

 

[Disneymom1126]

So...my plan was to buy APs for us this year because we plan to go November 2018 and November 2019 (and maybe another long weekend in between) for enough days that it would make sense...but now I'm not so sure! The AP is a significant increase ($779-$849). I was planning on saving money over the next few months to pay for it...Everyone cross your fingers my tax refund comes before Sunday

“Your tax refund will be sent to your bank on February 14th”

 

[mshanson3121]

I still wonder how off-site resorts getting similar privileges to onsite ties into all of this. Like others have said, Disney must have a master plan that we just can't see yet.

I'm guessing they have something up their sleeves for on site guests, some new perk coming.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'm guessing they have something up their sleeves for on site guests, some new perk coming.

Perhaps - I also see this as a way for them to "build" more value rooms without actually having to build them and it keeps people away from staying at Universal which is building a ton of value rooms that will be cheaper than Disney's

You may be right - perhaps they do for Toy Story Land and/or Star Wars Land like they did with Pandora with the bonus EMH for just those lands and only for people truly staying in Fisney resorts. Or maybe it is more perks for only those staying deluxe (sort of like what they have started with the concierge guests able to buy more FPs)

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Agree, definitely. This is going to be a very painful year. On one hand I could see them waiting till October (the 6 month point), just to give a bit of a break, but then again, since they've already announced that it's coming, it's not going to be a real shock either. I could see them doing it in time for the opening of TSL, and all their "summer" stuff they announced the other day.

Could you point me to a thread that talks about all the summer stuff that they just announced?

 

[tlmadden73]

I'm guessing they have something up their sleeves for on site guests, some new perk coming.

I doubt it. They don't need another perk. People are coming anyway. All these perks were made ages ago when they were trying to draw more people in .. and it work.

All giving offsite hotels FP access does is try and keep customers close without having to build another value resort.

It "costs" Disney nothing (except perhaps disgruntled onsite guests who will struggle now to get Fast Passes even at 60 days (because more people are now using that perk).

 

[tlmadden73]

You may be right - perhaps they do for Toy Story Land and/or Star Wars Land like they did with Pandora with the bonus EMH for just those lands and only for people truly staying in Fisney resorts. Or maybe it is more perks for only those staying deluxe (sort of like what they have started with the concierge guests able to buy more FPs)

I could see the "more perks for Deluxe" thing .. It is pretty obvious that Disney is courting the "whales" now (with all the focus on DVC and the extra experiences and such).

Like a perk like:
Stay at a Deluxe and get the ability to buy a 4th fast pass per day.

(I mean they aren't going to GIVE that away if they can charge for it).

Until attendance begins to dip, you'll just continue to see:
- Price increases
- More "extra" events and special experiences you pay for (even at the cost of what you used to get "for free")
- Dropping of former perks (like EMH, free parking, etc.)
- Decline in former deals (free dining, room discounts, etc.)

Dropping "quality" or customer service could come too, but I doubt it since Universal gives Disney some steep competition.

Disney would be leaving money on the table if they don't have some special "Early Morning Magic" for Star Wars Land. Surprised they didn't really do it with Pandora.

 

[Planogirl]

Perhaps - I also see this as a way for them to "build" more value rooms without actually having to build them and it keeps people away from staying at Universal which is building a ton of value rooms that will be cheaper than Disney's

You may be right - perhaps they do for Toy Story Land and/or Star Wars Land like they did with Pandora with the bonus EMH for just those lands and only for people truly staying in Fisney resorts. Or maybe it is more perks for only those staying deluxe (sort of like what they have started with the concierge guests able to buy more FPs)

This makes it potentially easier for us to do our split Disney/Universal trips. We might be able to save some money and not have to drive too far. I like the possibilities.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Could you point me to a thread that talks about all the summer stuff that they just announced?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...will-bring-new-experiences-to-all-four-parks/

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/summer/

 

[PuppyJonathan]

I’m just throwing this out there for the heck of it. I was on the annual pass holder Facebook page and of course all the comments were “it’s so busy anymore ugh!!!” Well I got curious and looked up pre-9/11 attendance numbers. Apparently Epcot is doing around the same as it did in 2000, about a million guests difference between the two years. Both MGM and Animal Kingdom brought in 8.9 million guests and 8.3 million respectively as opposed to today’s 10 million each. I’m not sure if for the later two if that’s a 125% increase or a 25% increase but it seems to me, yeah it’s busier based on that but not by that much!!! I always remembered it busy but “so busy anymore” just seemed to me such an exaggeration! When I was there last month soarin had a stable 35 minute wait with frozen broken down! Flight of passage even had a stable 135 minute wait. If you ask me for Disney that’s not busy! I want to know if they were judging from immediate 9/11 crowds or recession crowds!
The only one that exploded in between then and now is Magic Kingdom with a five million guest increase

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I’m just throwing this out there for the heck of it. I was on the annual pass holder Facebook page and of course all the comments were “it’s so busy anymore ugh!!!” Well I got curious and looked up pre-9/11 attendance numbers. Apparently Epcot is doing around the same as it did in 2000, about a million guests difference between the two years. Both MGM and Animal Kingdom brought in 8.9 million guests and 8.3 million respectively as opposed to today’s 10 million each. I’m not sure if for the later two if that’s a 125% increase or a 25% increase but it seems to me, yeah it’s busier based on that but not by that much!!! I always remembered it busy but “so busy anymore” just seemed to me such an exaggeration! When I was there last month soarin had a stable 35 minute wait with frozen broken down! Flight of passage even had a stable 135 minute wait. If you ask me for Disney that’s not busy! I want to know if they were judging from immediate 9/11 crowds or recession crowds!
The only one that exploded in between then and now is Magic Kingdom with a five million guest increase

Well, adding those numbers up and it is nearly 8m more people which is about 22k more people per day so that is more crowded

Also the addition of FP, while helping ensure you can get on some big rides negatively impacted rides that weren't designed for it - Pirates for example used to always seem to be near walk on before FP now often sees decent sized lines

Lastly l, with the internet being more prevelant more people know some of the tricks to avoid crowds, etc - but also word spread snore for the "must do" rides and dining locations so all of those are more crowded

So I think a combination of actual numbers being up combined with perceptions

 

[dlavender]

We just returned from our “breakeven” AP trip. If we get another AP when this expires, we will downgrade from the premium. No way could we justify the $300 increase for our family of 5. Then next year we will follow a similar path.

 

[TsWade2]

No! That's not fair. I didn't get a job yet. Mine expires December 2018, but still that's not fair. Now I don't know what to do.

 

[Upatnoon]

I still wonder how off-site resorts getting similar privileges to onsite ties into all of this. Like others have said, Disney must have a master plan that we just can't see yet.

I do think Disney, with all the money it has sunk into Disney Springs, wants to see those hotels next door improve. One way to do that is to help out with demand, and perks will help. With more backing from Disney, those hotels will be more inclined to invest in upgrades. As they upgrade, they can increase their prices and attract more affluent guests that will spend more at Disney Springs.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I do think Disney, with all the money it has sunk into Disney Springs, wants to see those hotels next door improve. One way to do that is to help out with demand, and perks will help. With more backing from Disney, those hotels will be more inclined to invest in upgrades. As they upgrade, they can increase their prices and attract more affluent guests that will spend more at Disney Springs.

Which in turn will allow Disney to increase rent, etc - definitely think Disney is committed to making Disney Springs a success

 

[TsWade2]

This is hard for me right now. I wish Disney was never like this.

 

[rteetz]

I'm starting to hate Bob Chapek now. People of micechat and wdwmagic were right about him. He's nothing but a greedy money grubbing miser to ruined Disney fans lives. If I was a CEO of Disney, I fired him. I'm sorry. This is hard for me right now. I wish Disney was never like this.

Um.... raising prices is not because of Chapek. Interchange anyone in that role with how things are currently and ticket prices would still go up. It happened before Chapek and will happen after he is gone.

 

[TsWade2]

Um.... raising prices is not because of Chapek. Interchange anyone in that role with how things are currently and ticket prices would still go up. It happened before Chapek and will happen after he is gone.

Well I apologize for being hasty, but how am I going to renew my pass later this year while getting myself a job is in the works?

 

[rteetz]

Well I apologize for being hasty, but how am I going to renew my pass later this year while getting myself a job is in the works?

That’s for you to figure out. Everyone justifies their purchases somehow.