buying park tickets well in advance?

[supersuperwendy]

We have a trip planned for Dec. 2010 with friends of ours. She said they have the money right now to buy their park passes and I said it's a great idea since ticket prices will probably go up at least twice prior to our trip.

Good idea?

 

[mdinme]

Could be. Highly unlikely that they'd go down but I'm not sure they'd "go up twice."

It's possible if park numbers stay down disney could offer a promo for reduced tix, but in December? Still, seems premature this far in advance. Disney will announce a price increase before they kick it into effect. You can always buy then.

 

[jamstew]

I try to buy a couple every year to have extras on hand and save a few bucks. A couple of years ago, prices went up twice during the year. I think historically over the last few years the prices have gone up around August 1, so it's entirely possible they could go up twice between now and December 2010. I'd be willing to bet they won't be going down.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Disney will announce a price increase before they kick it into effect. You can always buy then.

There's usually little to no advance notice of a Disney ticket price increase.

I think historically over the last few years the prices have gone up around August 1, so it's entirely possible they could go up twice between now and December 2010.

Only Mickey knows when the prices will be increased. It's true that 3 of the last 4 price increases have occured in August. Is that a trend that will continue? It's anyone's guess. (In the larger context, only 3 of the last 29 price increases have occured in August.)

Dates of historical ticket price increases:

February 1990
February 1991
June 1992
May 1993
March 1994 (park tickets)
November 1994 (annual passes)
February 1995 (park tickets)
December 1995 (annual passes)
February 1996 (park tickets)
October 1996 (annual passes)
March 1997 (park tickets)
September 1997 (annual passes)
April 1998 (park tickets)
September 1998 (annual passes)
May 1999 (park tickets)
October 1999 (annual passes)

January 2000
January 2001
September 2002
June 2003
February 2004 (ultimate park hoppers)
March 2004 (annual passes)
October 2004 (single-day tickets)
January 2005
January and August 2006 (all ticket prices raised both times)
February 2007 (water parks)
August 2007 (all other tickets)
August 2008

 

[stopher1]

There's usually little to no advance notice of a Disney ticket price increase.

At least no advance notice FROM Disney - the past 2 years I saw Mousesavers and I believe either Mouseplanet or MiceAge warning/hinting/advising of it in the 3 or 4 days leading up to the actual increase, but I don't remember it being much more. Certainly NOTHING came directly from Disney though.

Only Mickey knows when the prices will be increased. It's true that 3 of the last 4 price increases have occured in August. Is that a trend that will continue? It's anyone's guess. (In the larger context, only 3 of the last 29 price increases have occured in August.)

I certainly don't have a crystal ball to give you a solid answer, but if you look at the various specials that they are running right now (Mousesavers.com lists them out), many have pricing that ends August 8...so my guess is yes, prices will go up again in August. And, with the past 3 years precedent, again next year in August - so yes, it's entirely possible and even likely that ticket prices will go up twice before your Dec. 2010 trip.

 

[tjkraz]

The third-party ticket sellers normally give customers a little extra time to buy at "old" prices while they go through their on-hand stock. Still you do need to be following Disney websites pretty closely in order to have any chance of getting in just under a price increase.

I'm usually an advocate of the "keep the money until you MUST spend it" mindset, but in this case I'd probably just tell them to buy now. They almost certainly will avoid one price increase...perhaps two. And it helps guarantee that they won't back-out on your trip at the last minute.

 

[jco_direwolf]

We have a trip planned for Dec. 2010 with friends of ours. She said they have the money right now to buy their park passes and I said it's a great idea since ticket prices will probably go up at least twice prior to our trip.

Good idea?

With things the way they are now. I wouldn't expect twice. In fact assuming things turn around sooner rather than later... I would guess once. Add to that Disney seems to think Ticket Media Prices are the only thing they won't cut.

THEORY- I think it's because that have always been very flexible about exchanging tickets and stuff...and if you drop the ticket prices everyone that paid more that have left over days on the media will want to exchange it for the cheaper tickets.

I wouldn't expect any ticket price drops. I'm not expecting any increases either.

johno

 

[supersuperwendy]

thanks everyone for the input!