Are They TRYING to keep us away?

[beansmom]

disva,
My dh purchased 3 of those darn fp things..$20 for the first person and $10 for each additional (I thnk only up to 6, tho) and I told him I would strange him if he ever did it again. We had free tix from AOL so I guess that isn't too bad but it really just galled me.

I guess crisi is right, too, movies aren't cheap and neither is any of form of entertainment. I'll pay more gladly for WDW than anything else.

 

[*Flower*]

I just got back from CA and three wonderful days and nights at the DLR.

What I can tell you about the ticketing system there now, is that unless you have some kind of seasonal or annual pass, your ticket media will expire 13 days after the first use, and if you buy your media in an attempt to hedge against a cost increase, you have about 4 months to use your tickets. Then they expire, and you're out the money!!

At least the WDW ticket media NEVER expires. DL ticket media USED to never expire, but it does now.....

Just a thought..........

 

[Cindy B]

Wow, Universal/IOA tickets prices are going down and there are giving a third day free with a two day two park ticket...

Boy, Universal, has some wonderful timing...

(I love both parks, but the affordability for Universal pulled us this trip!)

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by *Flower*
DL ticket media USED to never expire, but it does now.....

I am not sure about this. As far as I can tell since they started having multi-day passes, they have expired. The first ones, in as little as 5 days, after first use. Now they expire 13 days from first use, if you buy them from AAA or with a package. They have hoppers you can buy that do not expire 2 years after purchase/use but these must be purchased at the gate.

 

[Traveliz]

I feel my real dilemma is - that if I only had known at least a few months in advance of the price increase - I could have prepared myself saved and bought prior to the increase. That is why I am upset - and of course it is not going to stop me from coming.

Glad it isn't going to stop you - but this comment always makes me wonder - I can't think of an industry out there that tells you in advance when prices are going to rise period. And Disney did give a hint earlier this year at the regular time of raising prices -- they put out a press release that they weren't raising prices for the summer vacation season -- so really a week after Labor Day (the traditional put away the white shoes time of year, school is starting and summer fun is over) I don't think its a huge shock.

Granted not everyone here read the press release last Spring but again just think ofall the people out there headed to Disney who have no idea what the price of admittance is at all til they get there and who don't know there is NOW a way to get tickets cheaper in advance. So in one way this group is lucky to be on top of it and know there is an advance ticket price.

Liz

 

[johde]

Six Flags may be $35-$45 per ticket (depending on the park) but most people don't need to pay that much. Annual passes normally cost only $60-$90 and get you into any six flags park. Last year we bought an annual pass and went to four different parks. Also, it is much easier to get discounts for a park like Six Flags. The AAA price for Six Flags World of Adventure (in Ohio) was $28. Most of the Ohio parks are in that same price range.

Not that being said, I think Disney is a cut above those parks but I think they may be pricing themselves out of the market.

Compared to other florida Attractions.

For $99.00 you can get a Universal Power Pass and for 129 you can get a Sea World/Busch Gardens Annual Pass. So for $228 you can go to these four themeparks as much as you want for a year. Thats Slightly less than Disney wants for 5 days. It's also alot less than the almost $400 Disney wants for annual passes.

 

[beansmom]

johde,
I agree with what you are saying about the other parks compared to WDW but you also don't get any other kind of discount when you purchase annual passes to six flags. If you stay at a nearby hotel, you pay whatever rate they charge. You don't get anything extra AND you have to purchase a separate parking pass for six flags season tickets...AND Disneyworld is open 365...6Flags is not...so theoretically you could use your AP every day of the year and that would come up to over $18,000 for the year---gee, all of a sudden $400 doesn't sound so bad.

 

[CARRIE0604]

I can understand reasonable price increases. What upsets me the most is the lack of forewarning in taking away the DC discount on 4 and 5 day hoppers. I was just there 4 weeks ago, luckily I got my AP w/ the dc DISCOUNT.
Now, they say you can save money is you pre-order. Are they offering free shipping, if not it's a bum deal!
I'm not happy. My DC expires in Dec and they took away a major perk!

 

[tink2dw]

you also don't get any other kind of discount when you purchase annual passes to six flags.

You also won't have to pay $200. a night for a room either. As you can chose from the free market of hotel rooms in the area chosing one that fits your budget!! Try doing that at Spring Break in Orlando! Even the off site Red Roof and Motel 8 raise their prices double or triple to take advantage of PEAK season.

 

[MinnieMe2]

The price of an AP with the increase is not that much more than what we paid for our APs in April. I've been waiting for this increase for awhile now, and I don't think it's that substantial.

As for perks, that's what they are: perks. You really shouldn't expect them or plan on them, they're like icing on the cake! Just being there is enough of a perk for us!

 

[musicfan]

Well, Disney sure is fortunate that so many of you are going to stick with them. Personally, I'm boycotting it for a few years. We've gone just about every year for the past seven, but price increases for the resorts and the tickets have been excessive in my opinion, so we'll have to find other ways of entertaining ourselves!

 

[beansmom]

You also won't have to pay $200. a night for a room either. As you can chose from the free market of hotel rooms in the area chosing one that fits your budget!! Try doing that at Spring Break in Orlando! Even the off site Red Roof and Motel 8 raise their prices double or triple to take advantage of PEAK season.

No $200 but LaQuinta by 6flags in Arlington TX is $102.99 at Xmas time...and it's not a disney hotel! Face it, they charge and we pay because it is Disney. And music fan, thanks for staying home for a couple of years....less folks waiting in front of me in line.

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by Cindy B
Wow, Universal/IOA tickets prices are going down and there are giving a third day free with a two day two park ticket...

Boy, Universal, has some wonderful timing...

(I love both parks, but the affordability for Universal pulled us this trip!)

Just to be fair Universal raised their prices early this year and Disney did not. They said they would wait till the summer was over. I am also paying less per night at POFQ this November then I paid in 93 at CBR!

 

[Kaa]

If you purchase your tickets before you arrive in Florida, there is no price increase. You can purchase your tickets online or at your local Disney Store (just not a Disney Store in Florida) or over the phone and save over ticket prices at the gates or resorts. You might want to check with your local Disney Store about their inventory. I don't think all the tickets are available at all the stores.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We visited WDW in June 2002.
Yes it's fun, yes you want to give the "magic" to your children, but I took my kids to Hurricane Harbor 2 weeks ago and they thought that was pretty magical also.
Universal is far cheaper than DW. The Ap with Parking and Discounts can be had for $99. Ap's to Hurricane Harbor are $55. Connections sells movie passes for $4.50. Ap's for Six Flags are $60. My Dh and I flew to Vegas RT and stayed at the Mandalay Bay for 4 nights for $850 with free parking. There are many choices to spend vacation dollars and I for one do not travel 1200 miles to stay in a budget hotel or eat peanut butter sandwiches. I have booked our WDW for next year and we will be using what's left of our PHP's and Universal AP's. After that I too will wait and see.
No wonder I see so many parents pushing strollers down the Las Vegas Strip!

 

[travelitis]

Originally posted by LIFERBABE
No wonder I see so many parents pushing strollers down the Las Vegas Strip!

Yes, Vegas is less expensive. For our family, taking our kids or ourselves to casinos really lacks the same magic of Disney. I realize there are many fun family things in Vegas, but there are plenty of casinos in between them. While some might find Vegas a great family destination, we don't think it comes close to competing with Disney even given the cut-backs and price increases. Anyway, I expect Disney to raise ticket prices yearly. What business doesn't raise prices?

This could spawn a new thread: If I weren't going to spend my vacation $$ at WDW, I'd spend them....

On a cruise
Atlantis in the Bahamas
Colonial Williamsburg and DC

 

[eeyore0062]

Oh Pu-leeze... ticket prices have not increased in almost 2 years. You cannot say that about the other theme parks. I don't think that it has anything to do with 9/11 or anything else. People have been complaining about the lack of fresh paint on the rides, the fact that rooms aren't as clean as they used to be, no Spectro or fireworks during the week, the cuts in hours... well, guess what? It takes money to have these things, and that sometimes means increasing ticket prices. We are in hard econmonic times...everyone is, including Disney! They have been offering terrific rates on hotels--some as much as almost 50% off. I can understand why this is disappointing, but we all expected for them to raise admission soon anyway, so why are we acting like this is such a huge shock?

 

[eeyore0062]

This could spawn a new thread: If I weren't going to spend my vacation $$ at WDW, I'd spend them....

For me...WDW...wins hands down. Nowhere else we could go would have something that appeals to everyone in the family. To us, it is THE vacation... and well worth the money! When prices are high, we just can't go as often.

As for Williamsburg... a nice 2 or 3 day vacation if you throw in the historic district, BG and Water Country. Or maybe, if you like the outlets you could stretch it into 4 days. Let me tell you, though, the prices for nice hotels up there are comparable, if not more expensive than staying on property at WDW.

DC... well, yeah, you could spend about a week up there if you wanted to. Very expensive hotels!

Cruise: sounds good, if it is a Disney cruise!

Atlantis..fine for me and DH, but not for DD.

Las Vegas... I still remember the street walkers when we went as kids. Even though it has cleaned up, it is not what I would consider an appropriate family vacation.

JMHO!

 

[travelitis]

As much as I love Disney and could enjoy visiting multiple times in a year, there's so much more of the U.S. and the world I want to see. We cruise (and scuba) every summer and do WDW every other year. If Disney's prices put you off, there are certainly other great vacation options that don't offer legalized prostitution and casinos.

btw, I'd combine DC and Williamsburg and skip amusement or water parks and outlet stores. The hotels are comparable in cost, but there's no $1300 of admission for 7days for our family of 5. It would cost about the same as WDW but is a totally different kind of trip. As the saying goes, "Variety is the spice of life."

I'm not annoyed by the price increases. I'm annoyed by the onslaught of sequels to animated films and FW attractions turning into infomercials for their corporate sponsors.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Oh Pu-leeze... ticket prices have not increased in almost 2 years. You cannot say that about the other theme parks. I don't think that it has anything to do with 9/11 or anything else. People have been complaining about the lack of fresh paint on the rides, the fact that rooms aren't as clean as they used to be, no Spectro or fireworks during the week, the cuts in hours... well, guess what? It takes money to have these things, and that sometimes means increasing ticket prices. We are in hard econmonic times...everyone is, including Disney! They have been offering terrific rates on hotels--some as much as almost 50% off. I can understand why this is disappointing, but we all expected for them to raise admission soon anyway, so why are we acting like this is such a huge shock?

THANK YOU for saying what I have been thinking since this thread began. You just said it so much better!!!!