Buying park tickets...now or later?

[megs1313]

Just booked this morning for a trip in April, but staying off site for the first time. Is there a reason to buy tickets now or does it matter if we wait for a little while? Not sure if there will be a price difference after the first of the year. TIA!

 

[minnie mum]

Ticket price increases have occurred in Feb the last 2 years. Might want to get them sooner rather than later.

Also, Universal just announced that they are starting tiered pricing early in the New Year. While nothing has been announced by Disney, rumor has it that they may do the same thing.

 

[FirstDown]

Bought mine a few days ago for trip in April 2017. Prices will only go up I'm guessing that's why I purchased so early. I also bought the MM.

 

[ksueboo]

We are also staying offsite early summer and wondering about tickets. If we go ahead and purchase in January from Undercover Tourist and Disney changes their pricing does that affect our tickets?

 

[FirstDown]

I'm far from an expert, but I would say no. Hopefully someone else can chime in. Just link them to your MDE, and you are set.

I bought direct from Disney since I had lots of gift cards.

 

[tarheel618]

Ticket price increases have occurred in Feb the last 2 years. Might want to get them sooner rather than later.

Also, Universal just announced that they are starting tiered pricing early in the New Year. While nothing has been announced by Disney, rumor has it that they may do the same thing.

I did not see about Universal- do you have a link so I can read about it?

 

[minnie mum]

I did not see about Universal- do you have a link so I can read about it?

I saw it on the Rumors anspd News board. This is the article they referred to:http://insideuniversal.net/2015/12/...oduces-dynamic-ticket-pricing-with-discounts/

 

[mshanson3121]

Ticket price increases have occurred in Feb the last 2 years. Might want to get them sooner rather than later.

Also, Universal just announced that they are starting tiered pricing early in the New Year. While nothing has been announced by Disney, rumor has it that they may do the same thing.

See, at least they aren't raising their prices. They're offering a discount for the slower times of the year. Fine and dandy, I would have no problem with Disney doing this. But Disney's proposal has been the opposite - to RAISE prices for the most expensive time of the year, AND to reduce the discount offered on the multi-day tickets. I saw the article from Touring Plans, complete with survey pricing, and with the proposed new pricing, the price increases would be massive for those traveling during the gold season, and will mean we will never be back, which kinda breaks my heart. So, I'm definitely interested in seeing what happens with this. I'm hoping that perhaps Walt can somehow work some magic from the grave, and keep the corporate greed under control, lol.

 

[minnie mum]

There is no doubt that with Disney's history of price hikes and reducing any available discounts, the thought of tiered pricing at WDW is daunting. And may very well cross the no go threshold for many families. Ending the non expiring tickets was their first necessary step towards this.

I have no faith in any force being strong enough to hold the Disney bean counters in check. They have proven innumerable times that the bottom line is their only concern. All the more reason, IMO to grab tickets now, even if you aren't going again for a year or more.

 

[mshanson3121]

There is no doubt that with Disney's history of price hikes and reducing any available discounts, the thought of tiered pricing at WDW is daunting. And may very well cross the no go threshold for many families. Ending the non expiring tickets was their first necessary step towards this.

I have no faith in any force being strong enough to hold the Disney bean counters in check. They have proven innumerable times that the bottom line is their only concern. All the more reason, IMO to grab tickets now, even if you aren't going again for a year or more.

I was thinking that actually, after this thread. That if they haven't gone to tiered by March when we get our tax return, that I'll buy a set of 4 passes now and just hold onto them.

 

[5kitty]

We have an early December 2016 trip planned. We had planned on buying our park passes in January in hopes of missing the yearly price increase. If Disney goes to tiered pricing (not sure if early December would be one of the more expensive times) would our pre-purchased passes still be good regardless of the tiered pricing?

 

[sigepmike]

We have an early December 2016 trip planned. We had planned on buying our park passes in January in hopes of missing the yearly price increase. If Disney goes to tiered pricing (not sure if early December would be one of the more expensive times) would our pre-purchased passes still be good regardless of the tiered pricing?

Yes. Disney will honor tickets that you have purchased.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Anyone remember when they raised prices twice in 1 year? I do. Get them now, don't wait

 

[soniam]

I saw it on the Rumors anspd News board. This is the article they referred to:http://insideuniversal.net/2015/12/...oduces-dynamic-ticket-pricing-with-discounts/

I think this was only for Universal Hollywood, but I bet WDW and Universal Orlando won't wait much more than a year.

 

[FirstDown]

Anyone remember when they raised prices twice in 1 year? I do. Get them now, don't wait

Yikes! What year was that (if you remember)? Makes me feel better for buying 489 days early.

It was the tiered pricing that made me nervous. I am going Easter week, so that would be considered "gold" or something. ???

 

[scurvyfreedman]

I have no faith in any force being strong enough to hold the Disney bean counters in check. They have proven innumerable times that the bottom line is their only concern. All the more reason, IMO to grab tickets now, even if you aren't going again for a year or more.

You act like Disney bean counters hate its customers. That would be awfully counterintuitive. If they drive away customers, the profits decline. Their goal is to maximize income - which means - filling the parks to capacity each day at the highest possible price. The two things are somewhat, although not entirely opposite forces. The hotel fee structure shows how this would work for parks too. If Christmas time is going to be full capacity with park tickets costing from $0-$300/day, then that is close to what they will cost. At $301 the park is one family of 4 below capacity. At $302 it's 25 people below capacity. At $303 it's 100 below. At $304 it's 400 below. At $305 it's 1000 below, etc. $303 might be the best price mathematically to create the net highest income.

If even a price of $10 won't bring the park to capacity the week of Labor Day or the second week of January, they have to balance the equation to get the largest net income possible. Demand is lower then, but it's not lower based upon price alone.

 

[epcotty]

I still say that if Disney does go with tiered pricing anything like what they have proposed, they would be shooting themselves in the foot and driving lots more people to instead do Universal, who I'm confident would not implement this like Disney's proposal at all. Maybe this truly is what Disney wants though as they'd get more money from the people who are still going. This might not be enough to handle all the people who have stopped going however. Unfortunately they seem to have lost the philosophy that Disney should be generally affordable that the company adhered to until more recent years

 

[GaryDis]

I still say that if Disney does go with tiered pricing anything like what they have proposed, they would be shooting themselves in the foot and driving lots more people to instead do Universal, who I'm confident would not implement this like Disney's proposal at all.

How do you think Universal would be different? They're already doing tiered pricing at Universal Hollywood, and they sell their Orlando Express Pass with tiered pricing.

 

[epcotty]

As was said earlier in this thread, the tiered pricing at Universal Hollywood would be a reduction on certain days from the regular price without any increase past the usual on the regular price as opposed to the massive price hike proposed by Disney as the new regular price for the top tier days, with even second tier days also showing a large price hike, and only the 3rd tier days being what the price actually would be now if they had not gone for tiered pricing. Express Pass is optional and unnecessary so it's possible with that

 

[mshanson3121]

How do you think Universal would be different? They're already doing tiered pricing at Universal Hollywood, and they sell their Orlando Express Pass with tiered pricing.

Because Universal didn't raise their prices. They're offering cheaper rates for lower park days. Disney plans on raising rates, substantially.