Disney Parks Price Increases-What is your breaking point?

[Gabby01]

As others have said, it's a combination of things:

• I'd like to go back, but at this point I've been to WDW enough times that I don't really have to go back.
• Even in the 5 years I've been going, I've noticed a decline in quality of food, souvenirs, etc. while at the same time the prices have gone up, which is disappointing.
• A single day at Hollywood Studios in January is now $184. This pricing just feels completely detached from reality.

It's not a breaking point so much as an, "ehhh, I'll think about it" point, and I'm already there.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was one of the rides I went on and I could see, what looked like black mold, on the safety bar!

Doesn't surprise me. The logs were not changed when the ride was rethemed.

The last time I rode it in MK, not a single one of the main animatronics was working (not counting the animal critters as they seemed fine). Every single Tiana, Louis and Mama Odie was broken in some way. For the price Disney charges for a one day ticket to MK, that is unacceptable to me.

 

[ExcitedForWDW]

For me, i know there is a limited window of time where we can enjoy disney as a family and the magic is still there. I don't take that for granted and although expensive (what isnt these days), disney is our go to place. Eventually we'll expand our horizons and travel to other notable destinations, but for now our once a year trip is to wdw. So no breaking point just yet lol

 

[Minnie1222]

Nothing I've read since the pandemic about apps, price increases, maintenance declines, cleanliness, etc. makes me want to go back.

What you read is wrong! If the parks are so bad, why do they keep increasing the price? More importantly, why do people keep paying when there are so many other entertainment venues?

 

[Brian Noble]

Partly, entertainment is just more expensive everywhere, though there are lots of options at various price points. Right now, the get-in price (as in: cheapest seats possible) for Ohio State @ Michigan later this fall is north of $400*. However, I can also get a 10-concert package in the balcony for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra this season for less than $200.

(We happen to like the sound in the balcony better than on the floor at Orchestra Hall. What can I say?)

I am not at the "don't go" breaking point---and realistically, I'm pretty far from it. But, I am at the "I'll be more discerning" stage. I have gotten picky about wanting the table service locations to either have better-than-decent food or be a fun experience most of the time. I am skipping LL more often than not. I don't buy much in the way of merchandise.

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*: Tickets will be quite a bit cheaper the day before the game....

 

[dreamer17555]

We’ve hit that point with the DAS changes. My son has qualified once since they went into effect, but it’s such a gamble now that I just can’t justify spending the money. He doesn’t rope drop (crowds like that are just too much for him), and while he can sometimes handle waits as long as they’re under 30 minutes and people aren’t too close, that can change fast. He can go from doing fine to having multiple rough days. We’ve had times where we couldn’t even get on a plane because security lines were too overwhelming, or I couldn’t get him through a grocery store without a meltdown. I just can’t risk that kind of uncertainty with thousand of vacation dollars when life already has enough ups and downs.

The parks also just aren’t what they used to be. Maintenance has slipped, prices are through the roof, and the whole LLSP/LLMP setup feels like constant nickel and diming. I hate that the pricing is variable and you don’t even know what it’ll cost until you’re already locked in. At least with Universal, I can price things upfront and know what I’m getting. I can buy Express Pass or stay at a resort that includes it right from the start.

We still do DCL, but even that takes backup plans (like flying in early enough that if he can’t handle the airport, I still have time to make the 10 hr drive). As for the parks, even taking my 23yo DD alone, it’s just gotten too expensive for what you get. I really miss Disneyland, but being an East Coast girl, getting out there is tough and WDW is not enough of a draw for us anymore.

 

[Gabby01]

We’ve hit that point with the DAS changes. My son has qualified once since they went into effect, but it’s such a gamble now that I just can’t justify spending the money. He doesn’t rope drop (crowds like that are just too much for him), and while he can sometimes handle waits as long as they’re under 30 minutes and people aren’t too close, that can change fast. He can go from doing fine to having multiple rough days. We’ve had times where we couldn’t even get on a plane because security lines were too overwhelming, or I couldn’t get him through a grocery store without a meltdown. I just can’t risk that kind of uncertainty with thousand of vacation dollars when life already has enough ups and downs.

The parks also just aren’t what they used to be. Maintenance has slipped, prices are through the roof, and the whole LLSP/LLMP setup feels like constant nickel and diming. I hate that the pricing is variable and you don’t even know what it’ll cost until you’re already locked in. At least with Universal, I can price things upfront and know what I’m getting. I can buy Express Pass or stay at a resort that includes it right from the start.

We still do DCL, but even that takes backup plans (like flying in early enough that if he can’t handle the airport, I still have time to make the 10 hr drive). As for the parks, even taking my 23yo DD alone, it’s just gotten too expensive for what you get. I really miss Disneyland, but being an East Coast girl, getting out there is tough and WDW is not enough of a draw for us anymore.

I'm sorry. I've heard multiple stories about people who really should be eligible for DAS, being excluded from it now, and it feels against the spirit of Disney to exclude people with differences from the parks in this way. Especially when you are already putting in so much effort to give your son these experiences.

 

[DCLMP]

What you read is wrong! If the parks are so bad, why do they keep increasing the price? More importantly, why do people keep paying when there are so many other entertainment venues?

It's not like every human in the world goes to Disney. i know it feels like this when your on this forum. People do other entertainment venues and other vacations. Everyone is increasing prices. It has nothing to do with demand.

 

[DCLMP]

Partly, entertainment is just more expensive everywhere, though there are lots of options at various price points. Right now, the get-in price (as in: cheapest seats possible) for Ohio State @ Michigan later this fall is north of $400*. However, I can also get a 10-concert package in the balcony for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra this season for less than $200.

(We happen to like the sound in the balcony better than on the floor at Orchestra Hall. What can I say?)

I am not at the "don't go" breaking point---and realistically, I'm pretty far from it. But, I am at the "I'll be more discerning" stage. I have gotten picky about wanting the table service locations to either have better-than-decent food or be a fun experience most of the time. I am skipping LL more often than not. I don't buy much in the way of merchandise.

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*: Tickets will be quite a bit cheaper the day before the game....

Ohio vs Michigan is a huge once in a year event, and yeah wait to the day before. I don't find that comparable to a day at a theme park that's open 365 days a year.