Discover Disney/3 Day Play for 2016?

[dlavender]

I can't believe they are not offering the Discover Disney this year. I agree that it's ridiculous. They've changed the annual/seasonal pass options and of course raised the prices and now the FL Res "Discount" tickets are higher with more black out dates. How is that better or a good deal? I emailed also to express my aggravation. Maybe if enough people do complain .... who knows.

Just have to say I love the name, well, the FSU part!

 

[FSUGAGirl]

Thanks!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

Here's your answer:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trav...rs-past-but-more-flexible-20160112-story.html

That ticket is not new. I know I saw that ticket as well as the discovery ticket last year and maybe even the year before that too. I remember looking at it and at the time thinking the discovery ticket was $50 cheaper than that, so if I missed getting the discovery ticket it wasn't that big of a deal I would just go for that one. They just marketing it like it is new.

 

[fla4fun]

Someone mentioned much cheaper pricing several years ago. I remember visiting in January 2009, and there was hardly anyone there. Keep in mind that it was the depth of the recession at that point, so we can't expect recession-reduced pricing and crowd levels to persist for years on end.

I live out of state and have to fly in to visit Disney. Even that 3-night 2009 trip for my 5-year-old and I cost over $2,000. When some Florida residents complain bitterly about price increases on their bargain-basement cost passes, it's hard to comprehend from an out-of-state perspective. Florida residents get by far the cheapest tickets & other discounts, plus they don't have to fly in and some don't even require lodging or ground transportation expenses to visit WDW. And then for them to complain it's unaffordable is astonishing.

Why are Floridians more entitled to a Disney vacation than anyone else? I have to budget & save for every trip we make, & Disney World keeps getting more crowded. A sizable percentage of the crowds are Floridians who have discounted annual passes, so raising pass prices & putting blockout dates on those discounted passes makes sense to reduce crowding.

After the thousands of dollars that out-of-state families have to pay just to get to WDW, it's disheartening for massive crowds to prevent enjoyment of the trip, & we don't have the option of just going home & coming back another day. I think pass prices should be the same no matter where you live. Florida residents would still save money in many ways by living closest to the parks.

Since this is a thread about resident tickets, you shouldn't have been surprised that it's primarily residents discussing issues that affect them, just as the thread about the AP changes was mostly AP holders, or a thread about airfare would be dominated by those who fly. Everyone has the right to express concern about things that affect them.

I would be interested in seeing your source that says most of the guests in the parks are locals. This is Florida, not California. Disneyland has had a lot of issues with crowding due to locals for years, and it is well documented. However, if you look back at times when out of state guests weren't coming to WDW, such as after 9/11 or at the worst point of the recession, the parks were not overrun with crowds of locals. I haven't read anything that supports the theory that a large percentage of guests on a regular basis are local. I personally do not know another local family other than my own who has passes, and we have the full pass, not the lesser resident passes.

As far as discounted tickets for residents are concerned, although we get discounts, our tickets have more restrictions than regular tickets. So there is a trade off. That is one reason we have the full pass.

We also stay on property instead of doing day trips from home. So our vacation costs are comparative to yours. Just because we live close enough we wouldn't have to doesn't mean we want less than the full vacation experience. We also have to scrape and save for those trips.

It seems like recently there has been a growing opinion that if the locals went away the parks would be empty. I believe there are a lot fewer locals than you might think.

 

[Shanti]

I would be interested in seeing your source that says most of the guests in the parks are locals...It seems like recently there has been a growing opinion that if the locals went away the parks would be empty. I believe there are a lot fewer locals than you might think.

I said "a sizable percentage" of crowds are locals, not "most". I know it's sizable from CM's & from mingling with guests at the parks over the years. Obviously, if "most" visitors were locals, the locals' discounts would not be decreasing as WDW would need them desperately. That was my point, that there is no need to give a privileged discount to residents of one state when the parks are severely overcrowded. This is likely one reason the discounts are being reduced by park management. They know that to just take them away at once would alienate people, so they're doing it gradually.

A thread about resident tickets featuring those residents bitterly complaining about the great discounts that only they get seemed in need of a wake-up call.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I said "a sizable percentage" of crowds are locals, not "most". I know it's sizable from CM's & from mingling with guests while at WDW. Obviously, if "most" visitors were locals, the locals' discounts would not be decreasing as WDW would need them desperately. That was my point, that there is no need to give a privileged discount to residents of one state when the parks are severely overcrowded. This is likely one reason the discounts are being reduced by park management. They know that to just take them away at once would alienate people, so they're doing it gradually.

A thread about resident tickets featuring those residents bitterly complaining about the great discounts & special offers that only they get seemed in need of a wake-up call.

A thing that used to be offered, is not being offered. I feel, as a resident, who is impacted by the loss of this perk, it is worth discussing, at least by the people being impacted by the change.
I don't begrudge anyone their discounts, in any way shape or form. Disney vacations are not cheap, no matter where you live.
And FWIW, all my day trips have my 7-year old nephew in tow, I'm not getting out of even an afternoon in MK without being loaded down with things the child "needs".

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

I said "a sizable percentage" of crowds are locals, not "most". I know it's sizable from CM's & from mingling with guests at the parks over the years. Obviously, if "most" visitors were locals, the locals' discounts would not be decreasing as WDW would need them desperately. That was my point, that there is no need to give a privileged discount to residents of one state when the parks are severely overcrowded. This is likely one reason the discounts are being reduced by park management. They know that to just take them away at once would alienate people, so they're doing it gradually.

A thread about resident tickets featuring those residents bitterly complaining about the great discounts & special offers that only they get seemed in need of a wake-up call.

I don't think anyone is bitterly complaining they took it away, I think people are frustrated because they had plans for those tickets because Disney had them for so many years and now they don't without any warning.

 

[Isildur's Bane]

A thread about resident tickets featuring those residents bitterly complaining about the great discounts that only they get seemed in need of a wake-up call.

So? Others are obviously reading and sharing now. Comments left will help others who look this topic up.

If you don't like this thread, why are you posting on it? Trying to embarrass someone?

 

[epcotty]

What they really want to do is force all FL residents who go there into getting an annual pass. However this isn't possible for a lot of them and with fewer good deals fewer and fewer will go. FL residents are more necessary to them than they realize

 

[dlavender]

I said "a sizable percentage" of crowds are locals, not "most". I know it's sizable from CM's & from mingling with guests at the parks over the years.

That has to be one of the most scientific studies I have ever come across. I'll have to take a few days to process all of that data that you just presented. Mind Blowing....Have you shared your data and findings with Disney? I'm sure your "research" could save them some money and efforts.

 

[Jenorsi]

I'm the OP on this thread, which I posted seeking any info on whether the discounts would be offered before I bought my tickets for an impending trip. While I was sorry about the answer I was glad it proved to be a source of information for people who might have wanted that news.

Never did I imagine it would spark an out of state vs. Floridian clash or cause someone to chastise us for "crowding" the parks so their own vacation is not enjoyable. That seems so mean spirited to me! I agree with the poster who said they wish Disney was more affordable for all. But perhaps the out of state visitor will take some comfort in knowing that my family will be paying $200 more than one year ago as a penalty for overcrowding their park.

 

[1craftymama]

That's a big bummer. That 3/4 day Florida Resident ticket special is great for budget planning. It is going to cost my family of 5 a lot more for next year's trip.