another ticket price increase? really?

[smcabee]

I wonder how much that works out to per song...

...and then compare to how much the Disney ticket works out to per ride experience...

Hmm good question? I just dropped $300 for DW and I to see Jimmy Buffet in April. I would count the songs but I have a feeling the Margaritas "might" impair that so I will check the set list later and figure it out.

 

[raidermatt]

"Thank you, sir, may I have another."

At some point, we'll have to realize this isn't really a great strategy to live by.

It would be great if they skipped the price hike at least one year, it's getting crazy.

Heck, at this point they aren't even waiting a year. It's been less than 9 months since the last increase.

 

[smokeyblue]

Judging by the attendance during our late January early February trip and the reports of crowds on here people seem willing to take on the cost. Until people stop showing up and paying the price I don't expect the increases to stop.

 

[flicx]

Yes, it is a high price. But a show in Vegas runs an average of 125+ a ticket. I have tickets to see Celine Dion in March and they were 150 each. Yes, it's Celine, yes, it's my choice and yes, can't wait to see her (again), but I am dropping more to see her for 2 hours then I would for 12+ hrs at Magic Kingdom. And yep. still going to Disney again next year!!

Kecia

Not to be snarky but show tickets in vegas can be had for nothing if you play my vegas on facebook. My wife and I have seen two cirque de soleil shows, KA and Beatles Love. We also saw Terry Fator for free too. Not to mention all the free food and passes to the shark reef and secret garden at the mirage. All this at no cost just play some games and go collect. Vegas is way way cheaper for us than Disney. Sorry to venture of subject. Oh yeah the price increase.

 

[surferdave]

"Thank you, sir, may I have another."

At some point, we'll have to realize this isn't really a great strategy to live by.

 

[Ofinn]

...for now. Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld will usually match each others' price hikes within days.

They may match their prices, but you can get deals.
Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and just about every other theme park will have sales and special offers on tickets. SeaWorld and BG had the 50.00 weekday tickets last Fall. Universal has discounted tickets that are good until May 14. Universal offers Annual Passes with blackout dates. I bought 4 annual passes to Universal for a grand total of 765.00. I could only get 1 premium pass at WDW for that price. I have never seen WDW offer any deals or specials on tickets.

 

[ucfknight]

Universal offers Annual Passes with blackout dates. I bought 4 annual passes to Universal for a grand total of 765.00. I could only get 1 premium pass at WDW for that price.

Just to be clear... you are comparing the price of a 2 park seasonal pass (with blockout dates) at Universal with the price of a 4 park, 2 water park, Disney Quest, and golfing pass with no blockout dates at Walt Disney World?

Alright then.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

They may match their prices, but you can get deals.
Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and just about every other theme park will have sales and special offers on tickets. SeaWorld and BG had the 50.00 weekday tickets last Fall. Universal has discounted tickets that are good until May 14. Universal offers Annual Passes with blackout dates. I bought 4 annual passes to Universal for a grand total of 765.00. I could only get 1 premium pass at WDW for that price. I have never seen WDW offer any deals or specials on tickets.

The reason Disney doesn't offer deals for tickets is because they don't have to.

The only available attendance numbers are from the 2012 Theme Park Index:
MK 17.5 mllion
Epcot 11 million
AK 9.9 million
DHS 9.9 million
TOTAL of all 4: 48.3 million

Universal 6.1 million
IOA 7.9 million
TOTAL of both: 14 million

Sea World 5.3 million

Busch Gardens 4.3 million

It is a simple exercise in supply and demand: Disney Parks annual attendance in Florida (in total) is almost 4 times that of Universal, almost 10 times that of Sea World and 12 times that of Busch Gardens.

There is more demand for Disney Parks therefore they can (and do) charge more.

 

[Ofinn]

Just to be clear... you are comparing the price of a 2 park seasonal pass (with blockout dates) at Universal with the price of a 4 park, 2 water park, Disney Quest, and golfing pass with no blockout dates at Walt Disney World?

Alright then.

I was bringing up an example of how other parks offer less expensive options for their customers. I would love to have the option of purchasing tickets or AP's with blackout dates at WDW, but they don't offer it. I guess you need to work on your reading comprehension to understand my post.

 

[ucfknight]

Universal has discounted tickets that are good until May 14...
I have never seen WDW offer any deals or specials on tickets.

Disney is currently running and heavily promoting a special for Florida Residents good through June 6:

$129 for 3 days
Or
$149 for 4 days

 

[Mad Hattered]

Yes, it is a high price. But a show in Vegas runs an average of 125+ a ticket. I have tickets to see Celine Dion in March and they were 150 each. Yes, it's Celine, yes, it's my choice and yes, can't wait to see her (again), but I am dropping more to see her for 2 hours then I would for 12+ hrs at Magic Kingdom. And yep. still going to Disney again next year!!

Kecia

How many "kids" are you taking to the Celine concert with you?

 

[Mad Hattered]

Disney is currently running and heavily promoting a special for Florida Residents good through June 6:

$129 for 3 days
Or
$149 for 4 days

They always runs specials for FL residents. It's the other 49 states that don't get that option that people take issue with.

 

[ucfknight]

I was bringing up an example of how other parks offer less expensive options for their customers. I would love to have the option of purchasing tickets or AP's with blackout dates at WDW, but they don't offer it.

Disney offers a 4 park seasonal pass for Florida residents with blackout dates for $319. That's cheaper per park than the 2 park Universal seasonal pass for $175.

 

[Ofinn]

Disney offers a 4 park seasonal pass for Florida residents with blackout dates for $319. That's cheaper per park than the 2 park Universal seasonal pass for $175.

That's flipping awesome if you live in Florida. I don't live anywhere near Florida.

 

[ucfknight]

I was bringing up an example of how other parks offer less expensive options for their customers...
I guess you need to work on your reading comprehension to understand my post.

I understood your post just fine. Look, I can do the same thing:

I just bought my family four "Epcot After 4" annual passes. I wouldn't even be able to get 2 Universal Premier passes for that much money.

 

[Ldynred812]

Not to be snarky but show tickets in vegas can be had for nothing if you play my vegas on facebook. My wife and I have seen two cirque de soleil shows, KA and Beatles Love. We also saw Terry Fator for free too. Not to mention all the free food and passes to the shark reef and secret garden at the mirage. All this at no cost just play some games and go collect. Vegas is way way cheaper for us than Disney. Sorry to venture of subject. Oh yeah the price increase.

Not being snarky back, but my husband and I spent a day at Epcot one month ago and paid NOTHING to get into the gate....he had an old ticket with a day left from 1999 that he cashed in and I cashed in my Disney Visa rewards and used those (and had a bunch left over) to cover my admission. It can be done at Disney too. Just sayin......

Kecia

 

[Ldynred812]

How many "kids" are you taking to the Celine concert with you?

Just my husband and I....kids will be going to Disney with us in July 2015...and my husband and I just spent a day at Epcot last month...paid nothing to get in. He cashed in an unused day on an old ticket from 1999 and I cashed in (and had money left over) my Disney Visa rewards and that is what we used for admission. Damn, it was a fun day!! LOL

Kecia

 

[Ofinn]

The reason Disney doesn't offer deals for tickets is because they don't have to.

The only available attendance numbers are from the 2012 Theme Park Index:
MK 17.5 mllion
Epcot 11 million
AK 9.9 million
DHS 9.9 million
TOTAL of all 4: 48.3 million

Universal 6.1 million
IOA 7.9 million
TOTAL of both: 14 million

Sea World 5.3 million

Busch Gardens 4.3 million

It is a simple exercise in supply and demand: Disney Parks annual attendance in Florida (in total) is almost 4 times that of Universal, almost 10 times that of Sea World and 12 times that of Busch Gardens.

There is more demand for Disney Parks therefore they can (and do) charge more.

I can afford AP's. I can afford to go three times a year stay Club level and mix in a couple of cruises. It's reached the point where I don't think its' worth the cost. I'm glad there are people out there like yourself that support the cost increases and will continue to go. That's great more power to you. The only reason we are going this year is because I got a great deal on the BC 198.00 a night plus discounted tickets. I really hadn't planned on going back for a few years. I'm not saying I won't go to Disney again, but they have lost a very lucrative frequent flyer. They haven't added any new rides. In fact a lot of the rides are starting to look tired and old. Most of the resorts need a refurb. I can afford Disney, but my kids are getting older, and they actually prefer Universal. I feel like I get more for my money at Universal despite there only being 2 parks. The 2 parks at Universal have more rides that my kids like than all four parks at WDW combined.

 

[Ofinn]

I understood your post just fine. Look, I can do the same thing:

I just bought my family four "Epcot After 4" annual passes. I wouldn't even be able to get 2 Universal Premier passes for that much money.

Awesome you live in Florida. Good for you. I live on the west coast and can still get deals at other theme parks in Florida.

 

[ucfknight]

Awesome you live in Florida. Good for you. I live on the west coast and can still get deals at other theme parks in Florida.

Given the price you quoted for 4 Universal Power Passes, I could only assume you lived in Florida. The non-resident price on the Universal site is listed as $199.99 each plus tax. So $842 total. The only way to get down to the $765 you quoted right now is to be a Florida resident.

Besides, someone living 2,500+ miles away isn't really the target audience of an annual pass program.