After three years in a row......

[paladin]

Prices are increasing across the board at all vacation spots, not just Disney; beaches, other amusement parks, movie theaters, skiing, etc.

Exactly - that was my point - prices go up everywhere (and not just vacation spots; in "real life" too), so I don't think we can expect Disney to not raise prices.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

While it would be great if the prices for these never increased, that just isn't going to happen. I know that my costs keep going up (electric, heat, groceries, etc) and if I were a business, I would raise my prices to go along with the price increases.

No one disagrees with that, a business has to keep up with inflation, but the increases in prices are way beyond inflation. It just seems that they raise the prices in order to see what happens in terms of crowd levels, last year the amount of people that visited WDW increase even though they raise prices. So the logic is they have not reach a breaking point, nest step :

Raise them again, and sees what happens this year. If they see a slow down they can always, as ussual, make special offers. It seems wise from a business point of view, but It does not seem magical.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Prices are increasing across the board at all vacation spots, not just Disney; beaches, other amusement parks, movie theaters, skiing, etc.

Agreed, and considering that Walt Disney World is the gold standard for theme parks, the recent park upgrades, cleanliness, and all around quality atmosphere that Disney presents 27/7/365 are well worth the minor price increases.

 

[DisneyDotty]

I'm not sure a vacation at WDW has to be any more expensive than any other vacation. I've been pricing out a trip to WDW vs. a trip to Williamsburg/D.C. for same amount of days--cost at WDW is still less than D.C. With anything else--you can spend a lot, or you can spend a little. Still the same magic, IMO.

 

[julieannbabe]

After seeing the same attractions and shows three years in row...here are my reviews. Epcot........after Mission to Space and Soaring what else is there. Test track is so weak...what a waste. We only spent 3 hours at Epcot I don't think will even bother going to that park again. MGM.....Two thrill rides and a bunch of fillers, by far the best time we had. Animal Kingdom.....a very nice zoo with no thrill rides beside Dinosaur. Mount Everest is going to be opening this year, it took how long to put in a thrill ride?????Magic Kingdom....a beautiful park with a bunch of old rides. The newest attraction...Stich...give me a brake. They continue to raise prices and provide us with the Stich attraction. Overall the kids had a great time...but I think Disney needs to put out more attractions and maybe upgrade the current ones. They make alot of money... there is no excuse. How about stop making $300 a night hotels and concentrate on bringing in new attractions. Everywhere we went and ate we were being bent over by everything being overpriced. We spent two days at Universal and had a better time then the Disney parks, attractions were newer and more exciting.
I won't be going back until each Disney park has atleast 4 to 5 thrill rides and newer kiddie rides.

This sounds like a very depressing post. but i can kindda relate to it because i went in march 2003 and i really loved it then i went back in september 2003 and instead of trying out different parks - i did the same parks that i did in the march.

so i felt too, that nothing had change, that i was going over old ground - well of course it would feel like that - i only went there 6 months ago!

so when i hopefully go back next month (i haven't been for two and a half years) - i will do different parks. (i haven't been to epcot or animal kingdom - so i am going to try them)

i think that is what happens - it isn't neccearily (sp) disney but us going back to the same parks over again.

xjx

 

[srpietrzak]

I am Confused, if you were unhappy and able to do the parks quickly, why go three years in a row, I think you could have fiqured it out on trip number 1. It is dissappointing to here about people like this. These visitors are the reason there is no more 20,000 leagues, AE, Horizons, WOM, and WOL. I love vintage Disney and I love new Disney, but do not go 3 years in a row if you do not like the parks.

 

[auntread]

I agree with you, DisneyDottie, a Disney vacation can be planned out carefully to be as affordable as any other trip. and i totally,100%, wholeheartedly agree with every one who has said let's not change WDW into a Thrill Ride Park!!
Let those who want that go to the 6Flags, and Island of Adventure, and we'll keep our magic WDW as is.

 

[dis4fun]

As much as it makes my skin crawl to hear someone talk down about Disney, I would never try to talk you into going back. Leaves more room for my family

 

[pplasky]

I am Confused, if you were unhappy and able to do the parks quickly, why go three years in a row, I think you could have fiqured it out on trip number 1. It is dissappointing to here about people like this. These visitors are the reason there is no more 20,000 leagues, AE, Horizons, WOM, and WOL. I love vintage Disney and I love new Disney, but do not go 3 years in a row if you do not like the parks.

I agree. Why go 3 in a row? We have gone more than 3 years in a row and still love it. The old and the new. My children are getting to the point where they prefer "thrill rides" so we do those every trip and add in a few of the others. We went to Universal for a few days last year, but after two days were bored. they may have a few more thrill rides, but they don't have enough to do for an entire week. If you're looking for an amusement park, try 6 flags, but Disney is the best "themed" park there is.

 

[Nancyg56]

It's funny how differently people can see the same place. When we were younger, DH and I loved Thrill rides and amusement parks. We always had seasons passes to Riverside Park, (now a Six Flags) and went to the fairs for the rides. This year we went to Disney with DD, SIL, and DGD, along with DS and DDIL. We experienced more of a "feeling" rather than an action packed vacation. I can see that the OP did not see Disney as a theme park, and was probably looking for more action. Perhaps 3 years in a row was too much of the same for him. For us, I was surprised that DH relax so fast. we both enjoyed being taken back to our childhood and the World of Disney on Sunday evenings. We loved watching the enchantment on DGD face as she met one of her "friends". This was a family time for us,a nd we are planning to go back next year. We may not have felt the same way years ago.

I do agree that the prices are high if you stay in the World, but vacations can be very expensive at any resort.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

Exactly - that was my point - prices go up everywhere (and not just vacation spots; in "real life" too), so I don't think we can expect Disney to not raise prices.

Come on People, let's not fool ourselves, don't get me wrong I love Disney, I go every year and will continue to go every year as long as It keeps making my family happy and filling our lives of wounderful memories and enjoyable moments we rarely savor anywhere else, but the fact remains:

" In the early 1990s, the company raised ticket prices more than 6 percent for two consecutive years. "This aligns with other price increases, which in recent years have typically been between 3 and 6 percent," Sylvain said. What it does not align with is inflation. Since 1989, the average price of goods and services purchased by Americans has increased 48 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. In that same period, Disney tickets have gone up 96 percent, a Sentinel analysis shows. If Disney's ticket increases had matched inflation since 1989, a one-day admission would cost $42.05 today."

 

[freakylick]

Prices are increasing across the board at all vacation spots, not just Disney; beaches, other amusement parks, movie theaters, skiing, etc.

While I don't agree with the OP's opinions, I will mention that there is at least one major amusement park that is decreasing the price of it's tickets next year. A park that is right up OP's alley...Cedar Point.

Ticket prices have little to do with inflation. It's all about supply and demand. If people pay the higher prices, they will keep increasing them. That's why Cedar Point is decreasing their prices. The realized that they priced themselves a little too high in 2005 as the attendance numbers did not meet expectations, so they are decreasing their prices in 2006.

 

[Allison]

Oh I so agree with the posters who say, don't change! Walt had a dream and people have tried to stay that course. Disney requires you to be a kid again, to have an imagination, to dream. It's not all about the loops and dips and speed. I'm taking my little ones next week for the first time and I can't wait to see their faces when they walk down Main Street for the first time or see Spaceship Earth at Epcot or numerous other firsts. They aren't going to care that we don't go fast or high or upside down. I hope WDW stays on the road they are on right now.

Have a great time taking your kids for the first time (from a fellow Iowan).

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

While I don't agree with the OP's opinions, I will mention that there is at least one major amusement park that is decreasing the price of it's tickets next year. A park that is right up OP's alley...Cedar Point.

Ticket prices have little to do with inflation. It's all about supply and demand. If people pay the higher prices, they will keep increasing them. That's why Cedar Point is decreasing their prices. The realized that they priced themselves a little too high in 2005 as the attendance numbers did not meet expectations, so they are decreasing their prices in 2006.

High School Economics 101.

We all love Disney, but in the end, and I know that it's been said here over and over again, it is a business.

 

[paladin]

In the early 1990s, the company raised ticket prices more than 6 percent for two consecutive years. "This aligns with other price increases, which in recent years have typically been between 3 and 6 percent," Sylvain said. What it does not align with is inflation. Since 1989, the average price of goods and services purchased by Americans has increased 48 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. In that same period, Disney tickets have gone up 96 percent, a Sentinel analysis shows. If Disney's ticket increases had matched inflation since 1989, a one-day admission would cost $42.05 today."

Interesting statistics, however, no where is it written that a business can only raise their prices to match the inflation rate. Disney is a business (however un-magical that may seem) and they will continue to raise their prices as long as it is working for them. If the continued increases have an adverse affect on attendence/hotel bookings, they will offer discounts.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

While it would be great if the prices for these never increased, that just isn't going to happen. I know that my costs keep going up (electric, heat, groceries, etc) and if I were a business, I would raise my prices to go along with the price increases.

I agree with you on your last post, but in this one it claim inflation as the reason, and I think we can all agree it just has to do, as I mentioned before and you also mention, it comes down to how much can they can increase their margin without their volumes decreasing.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

You know I work in the Travel business and I do sell alot of Disney packages, but I have not sold as much as I have this past Fall into Winter (now)

To me the package prices have stayed the same and now they have become more economical then before 2001.

Their base ticket is quite cheap.

Also their hotels the Value Resorts in 3 years they have not changed at all in price nor has the Moderates or Deluxe

The only ones that have gone up in price are the Home Away from Home or DVC as you Dis'ers refer to them

Because they are highest in demand. I finally have families of 5 and 6 who could never afford to stay onsite let alone offsite traveling to Disney and going for a week.

This latest structure has been the best that Disney has offered in many many years.

To the OP, after the second year, why did you go again?

I do feel that maybe Universal is more to what you are looking for because DisneyWorld is an experience and there is Magic as soon as you walk through the turnstiles You hear the music walk under the train station and there it is Cinderella Castle.

A great sight to see, hope you get to enjoy your next vacation where ever that may be.

 

[lorli]

Disney is the ambience, atmosphere and theming. If I wanted thrill rides I could get that at any amusement park.

 

[MCazer]

Nothing beats walking around the world showcase as the sun is setting. Start at Mexico, and have a Marguerita, by the time you get to Norway, you will want to go to Kringa and have a cup of coffee and a pastry. Keep going and maybe just one beer in Germany, a glass of wine in France, some fish and chips in the UK/Ireland and your'e ready for Illuminations and Jenny Craig!

 

[karen l]

Sorry that you were disappointed with your trips. I'm planning my annual April trip right now & we're all very excited. My family always has a fantastic time @ WDW. We don't all go on every ride, some like the thrill rides, others go for the milder & more traditional WDW rides. However, we all enjoy the various shows such as Mickey's Philharmagic, Fantasmic, the fireworks, etc.
The best thing about WDW for us is being together as a family & sharing the magic that can't be found anywhere else. As some of the previous posters suggested, maybe you'd be happier at a different park that focuses more on thrill rides. good luck.