Confirmed - Ticket Price Increases

[DDLand]

Hey @Reppstir, you broke your quote box. Simply hit edit and add a E] to the end of QUOT and everything will work properly.

Lockedout has extensive hospitality background and years of experience at Disney. I don't agree with everything said, but I just go along with it because it's more fun and I get unique insights from this intelligent poster. We'll find a plethora of different opinions here. We just have to respect each one. I'll leave it at that.

 

[dwheaton]

I think Disney will keep raising prices until they reach the tipping point, and it isn't there yet. Personally, I'm disappointed to see the place become such an expense, but I can recognize their business sense. I also agree with others that I'd gladly pay the price if there were more new attractions. It's harder to justify it when the experience doesn't change as much. Even so, I'm guessing we'll still go. We just will cut corners in other places (food, souvenirs) during our trip if the increases keep coming.

 

[Chrisbud]

I bought my tickets a few weeks ago, I hope I'm locked in with the current price.

 

[rteetz]

I bought my tickets a few weeks ago, I hope I'm locked in with the current price.

Yes if you already purchased you would be they wouldn't charge more if it went up after the fact.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The real estate bubble was a government sanctioned theft and Ponzi scheme...an elaborate pyramid scam set up by regulators and bankers for a decade.

That's what Ima talking about. It's not a conspiracy theory...it's a fact if you follow the paper trail.

As far as Disney went...they put the screws to the pricing from everything for food to passes at that time...
But they "soothed" everyone with hooks, gimmick pricing, and coupons...

And then the rug is/was yanked...predictably and inevitably

 

[crazy4wdw]

If you're saying permanent brand damage, I'm not sure. Disney has made a lot of mistakes. Everytime this happened guests have forgiven or overlooked their blunders. This fanbase may be one of the most forgiving out there. We'll complain loudly and go back to buying more tickets. As for the more mainstream individuals I think they'll be just as shameless. Disney already has a reputation as being expensive. Guests are willing to forgive them because it's Disney and the love they feel for the brand. You'd have to raise prices to unimaginable highs to really break the goodwill.

So it continues...

.....and I'm one of their "guests" that keeps right on paying the price increases, year after year. Each year I go, I say that's it for a few years but wihtin a few months I'm planning another visit.

 

[OldsDr]

(I thought I quoted the post directly above this one)

Most of the people on these boards do this. But look at your statement "Each year I go, I say that’s it for a while" While you are there immersed in all things Disney you think you are done for a while. Do you remember a time when on your last full day you were thinking of coming back, not thinking I am done for a while? I remember thinking that.
This is what scares me. When they hit that point where, you me and a large number of regulars are making that statement months after our trip. Then all of the sudden annual attendance plummets.
Why would we stop going I recognize two scenarios
1) We just don't think it is a value anymore
2) We feel ripped off
Number one is not too bad. They improve some things add some attractions (not necessarily rides but something other than gift shops and restaurants) and we will come back and give them a second chance.
But number two will be very hard to recover from if that becomes a prevailing sentiment.
How much price increase and stagnation can we absorb as customers? My sponge is getting close to saturation. This is the first time since 1993 that I have gone 2 full years without returning. I am not burned out on WDW, I still want to return. I am However, burned out on price increases, with corresponding a decline uniqueness and flexibility.

 

[rteetz]

By the way Orlando news stations are reporting the tickets will go up with Sunday.

 

[agrant]

So, we were waiting to buy our AP in person in March, with the DVC discount. Is price increase affecting APs too? Thanks!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

So, we were waiting to buy our AP in person in March, with the DVC discount. Is price increase affecting APs too? Thanks!

Typically the passes go up too...

If I might ask - why are you waiting? The passes don't go active until you use them...

 

[figment41]

so, that is my question...
If we buy a DVC discounted annual pass today to use in October 2015 and they come out with a DVC discount annual pass in April. Can i then purchase the April ap for Oct 2015 and save my feb ap until dec 2018? or is there a time limit or a limit for how many passes you can have on your account?

With the My Disney Experience how do they know what ap you want to use first?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

No...you're getting too complicated there. I think a pass has to be activated by 12/31 of the following year...in this case 12/31/16. They'll give you some leeway...but won't let you "pre buy" too far in advance to lock in the price.

I can't figure out why you think a discount is coming...if they do...good for you and me...but I dont see any reason for then to do it.

 

[Epcotfan64]

While Disney can increase prices, they can't increase the number of hours in a day. In fact, having an AP like I do doesn't mean I can enjoy the parks "whenever" I want, as Disney tells me. If I haven't paid for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, for example, I won't be able to ride attractions after 6 or 7 pm those days.

For those who aren't annual passholders or Disney hotel guests, parking is $17 a day. That's $510 a month, about the cost of a studio apartment where you have a roof over your head and where you can leave your car 24 hours a day--not so with a Disney World parking spot.

While I would like to renew my AP on 04/30, it's simply no longer a good value for my money. I'll get an AP to Universal Studios instead.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can access and enjoy the parks, attractions, shows... every moment Walt Disney World is open to the public. That's a minimum of ten hours a day at Magic Kingdom, nine hours at Animal Kingdom and DHS, and twelve hours at Epcot - 366 or 367 days per Annual Pass. So, no, an AP holder who doesn't also purchase tickets to a hard-ticket event needs to stop riding attractions in the MK at 7 and leave tge park - just like MYW ticket holders who paid astronomically more than $1.50 or $2 per day (fast calculation in my head, I can come back with more accurate numbers). At those rates, a day at just AK costs under twenty-five cents or potentially less per hour; a day at MK when it opens to everyone from 9-7 costs the AP holder under twenty cents per hour.

There probably aren't any non-AP holders who visit WDW for a month. Not buying an AP in that case would be a bad financial decision.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You can access and enjoy the parks, attractions, shows... every moment Walt Disney World is open to the public. That's a minimum of ten hours a day at Magic Kingdom, nine hours at Animal Kingdom and DHS, and twelve hours at Epcot - 366 or 367 days per Annual Pass. So, no, an AP holder who doesn't also purchase tickets to a hard-ticket event needs to stop riding attractions in the MK at 7 and leave tge park - just like MYW ticket holders who paid astronomically more than $1.50 or $2 per day (fast calculation in my head, I can come back with more accurate numbers). At those rates, a day at just AK costs under twenty-five cents or potentially less per hour; a day at MK when it opens to everyone from 9-7 costs the AP holder under twenty cents per hour.

There probably aren't any non-AP holders who visit WDW for a month. Not buying an AP in that case would be a bad financial decision.

I'm gonna oversimplify this...
But I think the original posters point is that the ten year assault on ticket prices has reach the point where some...if not many...are enjoying the product less due to cost. That's diminishing return and it represents a "jump the shark" moment for a consumer product.

It's been about a 100% increase in passes in 12 years....has anyone's pay gone up that much? Especially for something that's completely discretionary spending.

That's probably not the wisest business strategy - as the ap holders know what they're getting and what they're not...and represents a fundamental shift in philosophy away from the frequent customer - which the Iger regime seems to have rejected.

 

[crazy4wdw]

It will certainly be interesting to see what the price increase will be for multiple day tickets and the park hopper option. The official announcement should be sometimes today.

 

[Kajunswty]

has there been any indication of the amount of the increase for AP's?

 

[ThurlFan]

Clock strikes 6am, radio plays Sonny & Cher, Dinsey announces price increase. Haven't we seen this movie already?

 

[Reppstir]

Sadly, ticket price increases just mean fewer and fewer park visits for us. Love them, they are beautiful and fun, but just not quite worth the price anymore. At lease not for us.

 

[crazy4wdw]

It's official: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-tickets-100-20150222-story.html

Florida resident annual and seasonal passes will cost $529 and $329 before tax, respectively, up from $485 and $319. Renewals are discounted about 15 percent.