AP prices increased [6/18/2019]

[Traveling on cc points]

Can anyone explain this to me? Why does Disney seem to want to curtail out-of-state visitors? First, they get rid of the NE tickets. And then with the increases hitting non-residents the hardest. I just don't understand. I mean, don't get me wrong....I am completely on board that Florida residents should get a discount. But, the fact that non-residents are already paying a premium since they cannot purchase the Gold pass (again, why?) seems like really sticking it to out-of-staters.

Now, I would venture to say the number of out-of-state visitors who would be coming twice (for full weeks) in a calendar year is minuscule in comparison to all park guests, and out-of-state visitors who come more than twice are probably a very, very small percentage. So, the idea that it is a crowd control thing doesn't make sense to me at all. Out-of-state visitors (most anyway) are going to use less than 5% of the days available as a passholder.

But, the financial thing doesn't make sense to me either. If you can get a non-resident to come twice a year, that is twice a year of merch purchases and food purchases, and for most, resort expenses. I have to imagine that opening Gold passes up to non-residents would more than make up for itself in miscellaneous expenses. And guess what, with more visits to Disney, that means there are going to be more non-park days and more Disney Springs days- meaning fewer people in the parks and more money being spent outside the parks....a win win.

I guess I just don't get it.

I wish I could explain but I’m at a loss too.
We live too far away (in Connecticut) for long weekend trips so we almost always go for a week at a time. We always have gone once a year but bought annual passes last year with the intention of doing our 2 yearly trips within the 12 month window. You know what happened right... we added a shorter 6 night trip in March “because the passes were already paid for” can you guess what happed while we were on the magical express heading to the airport.... you guessed it, we booked another trip for food and wine this September “because the passes are already paid for”.
I can guarantee you that we wouldn’t have booked 2 extra trips if we didn’t have the AP’s.
Our last trip is in December and it will be our last trip for a long time, not only because of the constant price increases but after this year, I think we will have had our fill.

 

[LSUmiss]

It is easy to see what they are doing. Instead of building a 5th gate for crowd control they are just trying to price people out of AP's so they can force people to daily tickets so they can price the peak season days higher to price more people out. it is all about crowd control

I agree with this, but then why give Florida residents a better deal? It seems they’d be more likely to go more often & crowd the park than out-of-state AP holders.

 

[StacyStrong]

Joining ebates was easy. I had to join Sams club tho. That was a royal pain in the .....

I used my mom's account haha. I did have to renew her membership...

(She goes there all the time so she needed to anyway)

 

[StacyStrong]

I agree with this, but then why give Florida residents a better deal? It seems they’d be more likely to go more often & crowd the park than out-of-state AP holders.

I am COMPLETELY making this up, but do they get some sort of state tax breaks for giving residents discounts?

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

Hopefully someone responded but if you plan to go back, keep the 8 day PH to use later?

No, nobody answered yet. I wasn’t sure about how the new tickets expire now and saving them works. And I had thought about using them towards a future AP renewal...haha..but now not sure I could afford it!

 

[hereforthechurros]

They know that end of the day, we will all be there.

Is that true though? I’m still a newbie for the most part but after APs this year and four trips, we are more than happy to not renew at this price and take some much needed time for new experience. Already have 2020 trips planned for Montana, Arizona, Maine among others.

People considering putting their vacation dollars elsewhere should look at this as liberation!

 

[mac_tlc]

Another new Sams Club member here. Joined at 9:20pm, bought two Platinum Passes for $1847, got receipt email immediately and voucher email at 10:12pm.

I bought them for my son and his fiancé, since they can’t get the DVC Gold, which my wife and I can get. Although the increase on the Gold was “only” $90, since we also have a house in Orlando, we will investigate either the Resident Silver or Select Pass. The additional summer blackout dates don’t bother us—- it’s too hot anyway.

mac_tlc

 

[HopperFan]

I am COMPLETELY making this up, but do they get some sort of state tax breaks for giving residents discounts?

Someone on twitter "said" that their memory is that way back 50+ years there was some kind of agreement between the State and Disney that residents would be given discounted options likely in exchange for something. They were going to try to dig for the info. So I suppose it is very possible.

 

[Willow1213]

I’m so upset. Our timing is terrible. We need to renew Gold APs, and I was waiting to renew in person this weekend, 2 days shy of our 30 day window. We had the funds budgeted just right, and now... I don’t have the extra cash. I’ll be even more short if I can’t make the renewal deadline, and there’s no way I can come up with the money in 5 days. So I have to go explain to my son how we won’t get another year of Disney. On one hand, they price us out. On the other, they offer steep discounts due to a “soft” summer

 

[focusondisney]

Just fyi, Sams Club still has the old pricing online. Grab em while you can

https://serviceshub.samsclub.com/packages.php?sub=packages&action=view&id=2538

Thank you for posting this so quick this morning. Myself & several family members bought vouchers for future trips. Really appreciate nice folks who are willing to share money saving info!

 

[Searc]

Reusable park bags increased $1 each today. Exact same bags, no new design, just $1 more.

 

[focusondisney]

Someone on twitter "said" that their memory is that way back 50+ years there was some kind of agreement between the State and Disney that residents would be given discounted options likely in exchange for something. They were going to try to dig for the info. So I suppose it is very possible.

I think there is something like that too. But don’t remember exact details either

 

[focusondisney]

Reusable park bags increased $1 each today. Exact same bags, no new design, just $1 more.

Why not......

 

[Willow1213]

At 8:40 pm, I joined ebates , went to Sams club thru there. Joined Sams club & bought the APs. Had my order order confirmation at 8:58 pm & my email with the vouchers at 9:13. A relative bought them earlier today, got her vouchers within half hour & then linked to MDE no problem.

I am not linking mine right now because I have a current AP & a free dining package with tickets booked for later in the year. I will save these vouchers for next year or 2021.

I see eBates has 1.5% cash back, Ibotta has 2% but specifically says that it excludes anything in the “services” section, which this is. Any success stories?

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I got Platinum AP from Plum Benefits (Tickets at Work) at the old price too. Had my email to link vouchers within a few minutes.

 

[cm8]

I see this as a crowd control method, not financial. Yes they'll make more money, and yes costs keep increasing for the mouse, but the theme parks make a very healthy return on revenue. They didn't need the increased revenue from this. This to me seems like nothing but trying to control the crowds IMO.

What makes you think this is about crowd control and not just greed?? Why is everyone always saying it’s the crowds and Disney is trying to thin it out? Has Disney ever confirmed it’s a form of crowd control?

 

[StacyStrong]

What makes you think this is about crowd control and not just greed?? Why is everyone always saying it’s the crowds and Disney is trying to thin it out? Has Disney ever confirmed it’s a form of crowd control?

Yes, when they increased prices and went date based.

But I don't personally believe increasing prices on a luxury product in high demand Is greed (though I do think that not paying their employees adequately is).

 

[ErinAlb]

Wow, I had no idea what APs cost and just opened this thread out of curiosity. That's a really rapid increase — but I'm also a little surprised it doesn't cost more. I don't have any frame of reference for this except the daily ticket price. There's a lot of skiing where I live, and a day at WDW is about the same as a one-day lift ticket. A season pass for a ski resort here also is about the same as the new out-of-state Platinum AP price — but that's only for a few months of winter operations, not a whole year.

Now I'm feeling a little bit screwed in the mountains. We don't even get locals discounts.

I don't mean to invalidate anyone's hurt over being priced out of something they love. I'm just surprised by the baseline that was set previously. I had been wondering how so many out-of-staters could justify APs at a park that isn't nearby, and now that makes more sense. Sorry to hear about this; I'd be bummed, too.

 

[LSUmiss]

I can't help but wonder how people afford to keep going and going and going, but I know it's none of my business. Can't help but think it, though!

But ppl might also make changes in their trips. We are going a few less days & staying in a cheaper resort both trips.

 

[stewart715]

What makes you think this is about crowd control and not just greed?? Why is everyone always saying it’s the crowds and Disney is trying to thin it out? Has Disney ever confirmed it’s a form of crowd control?

Yes, they have:

"We know how important making memories at Disney theme parks is to our guests and we will continue to evolve our pricing in a way that gives them a range of options to meet their budget and helps them better spread attendance throughout the year so they can make the most of every visit."