Disney World AP price increase? [Answer: Yes]

[Haley R]

What about FL resident APs? Why not go that route?

We currently have platinum and that was only so we could do the SWGE preview last year. I was thinking about going down to gold because it includes the photo pass. We’re having a baby in April and I know we’ll be taking tons of pictures with him.

 

[doconeill]

But the price you paid for the ticket is never lost. You'll always be able to apply that towards an updated, valid ticket. So while not "free" to use, it's a huge discount compared to new tickets.

As I understand it currently you lose the discount when it expires. You only get the purchase price in credit towards another ticket - so you have to pay the full difference to get the new ticket.

 

[lanejudy]

My 8 day Park Hopper for Nov 8th went up about $60 per person.

Good example. So the base price must have increased for your dates. The Hopper option only increased a few dollars.

 

[Joeboo25]

With the date-based pricing, it can be very hard to notice some changing in base tickets. However, a few folks have reported price increases, though whether that is just due to the Hopper option it's hard to say. But someone upthread noted a $300 increase for a party of 6, which would translate to more than just the increase for hopping (+$5). So I suspect there are at least some dates that increased in base price.

Enjoy your vacation!

Yeah, I'm curious how it will all shake out. I've been pricing out my trip for a couple days now, so I have all the various options in a spreadsheet. I just looked and I still get the same number. We aren't doing the Hopper Plus though, so maybe that's why it hasn't changed.

 

[lanejudy]

As I understand it currently you lose the discount when it expires. You only get the purchase price in credit towards another ticket - so you have to pay the full difference to get the new ticket.

If you bought at a discount (like from UT or other authorized reseller), you will retain that discount amount when you eventually upgrade to new tickets. But I agree, that isn't likely to make me stockpile tickets now for future use because of the added expense to bring them up to "current [in the future] value." It's not the same as years ago when tickets never expired so you could enter the park in 2020 for the price of a 2005 ticket.

 

[dlavender]

GAH - almost $1200 for a platinum pass?! That's roughly 6 days of tickets at their highest price. (for now!)

Did anyone think that we would see a $1200 AP?!

Wow......

I paid $800 for that pass in 2017.

Gold will be at $800 next year.

RIP my family getting AP's again.....

 

[han22735]

Did anyone think that we would see a $1200 AP?!

Wow......

I paid $800 for that pass in 2017.

Gold will be at $800 next year.

RIP my family getting AP's again.....

Its getting crazy. We used to buy the gold AP but not anymore. Crowds are still out of control(pics today show the line for the teacups stretched out towards SDMTR) so prices will continue to go up until it slows.

 

[Physics Guy]

Just grabbed from UT, saved over $230 vs. new direct prices for an 8-day and a 10-day hopper. Plan to upgrade the 10-day to a DVC AP, so happy to save on that end as well. Wish my paycheck went up like this every year!

 

[Pens Fan]

With the date-based pricing, it can be very hard to notice some changing in base tickets. However, a few folks have reported price increases, though whether that is just due to the Hopper option it's hard to say. But someone upthread noted a $300 increase for a party of 6, which would translate to more than just the increase for hopping (+$5). So I suspect there are at least some dates that increased in base price.

Enjoy your vacation!

Yep! We bought 9 day park hoppers two weeks ago for our Oct trip and paid $618.49 per ticket including tax. Those same tickets now would cost $684.71

 

[dlavender]

Just for historical sake, I'm taking what we paid for our AP in 2017 and looking at what it is today, 3 years later.

Feb 17 - $779
Feb 18 - $849 +70
Oct 18 - $894 +45
Jun 19 - $1119 +225
Feb 20 - $1195 +76

That's $416 in 3 years, or 53%.

I know they have built and are building a lot, but did anyone think we'd be paying 50% more in just 3 years time?!

For my fam of 5, I would pay $2k more today than I did 3 years ago.

 

[AngiTN]

As I understand it currently you lose the discount when it expires. You only get the purchase price in credit towards another ticket - so you have to pay the full difference to get the new ticket.

Yeah, that's what I said.
But you still have the price you paid locked in, no matter what. You never loose that
So while not the same it is a way to have future tickets partially paid for. Gonna be way less money to upgrade today's 10 day ticket to a new 10 day ticket than to buy outright a 10 day ticket in 5 years. You don't loose your money paid.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just for historical sake, I'm taking what we paid for our AP in 2017 and looking at what it is today, 3 years later.

Feb 17 - $779
Feb 18 - $849 +70
Oct 18 - $894 +45
Jun 19 - $1119 +225
Feb 20 - $1195 +76

That's $416 in 3 years, or 53%.

I know they have built and are building a lot, but did anyone think we'd be paying 50% more in just 3 years time?!

For my fam of 5, I would pay $2k more today than I did 3 years ago.

It's absolutely ridiculous. They priced us out with the last increase. There is no way I could ever justify it again. We had fleeting thoughts of upgrading our current tickets next year, but now we definitely will not.

I'm grateful we had 2 years of fun with APs. We will continue to go, but only every other year from now on.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Yeah, that's what I said.
But you still have the price you paid locked in, no matter what. You never loose that
So while not the same it is a way to have future tickets partially paid for. Gonna be way less money to upgrade today's 10 day ticket to a new 10 day ticket than to buy outright a 10 day ticket in 5 years. You don't loose your money paid.

No you don't lose it, but I would rather just leave it in my savings account until it's time to buy more tickets. I don't want to count on Disney not changing their rules in the future.

 

[Disneyliscious]

And people will STILL throw their money at Disney.
Imo, one of the bigger problems with long lines and lack of FP+ is BECAUSE of AP holders (mainly locals, who didn’t appear to get an increase). Those same people entering the parks day after day after day and riding the top tier rides numerous times while others literally spend YEARS with numerous trips and never get a single FP for those rides. And let’s face it, the reality of 3-7 hour lines is not realistic. It’s just not.

The answer is not price increases. The answer is to either limit how many times AP holders (locals) can ride the new rides and restaurants OR do what Discovery Cove does and limit daily attendance to a reasonable number so that guests are comfortable. Their current system of simply raising prices isn’t working.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I’m pretty sure Dh’s new job has access to it so I’ll ask him. Thanks! I haven’t even looked at the price increase. Dh will probably not want to get them because we’ve had a lot of expenses lately and will continue with the baby coming but I know we’re planning to renew anyway

Maybe someone already mentioned this, but I noticed Tickets At Work also offered Florida resident annual passes.

 

[dlavender]

And people will STILL throw their money at Disney.
Imo, one of the bigger problems with long lines and lack of FP+ is BECAUSE of AP holders (mainly locals, who didn’t appear to get an increase). Those same people entering the parks day after day after day and riding the top tier rides numerous times while others literally spend YEARS with numerous trips and never get a single FP for those rides. And let’s face it, the reality of 3-7 hour lines is not realistic. It’s just not.

The answer is not price increases. The answer is to either limit how many times AP holders (locals) can ride the new rides and restaurants OR do what Discovery Cove does and limit daily attendance to a reasonable number so that guests are comfortable. Their current system of simply raising prices isn’t working.

I’ll disagree here. I’ve had APs for 2 out of the last 3 years. Do you know how many 7DMT FPs we have gotten? 0
FOP: 1
SDD: 0

It’s the 60+7 folks that are having all the fun.

 

[skippytx]

And people will STILL throw their money at Disney.
Imo, one of the bigger problems with long lines and lack of FP+ is BECAUSE of AP holders (mainly locals, who didn’t appear to get an increase). Those same people entering the parks day after day after day and riding the top tier rides numerous times while others literally spend YEARS with numerous trips and never get a single FP for those rides. And let’s face it, the reality of 3-7 hour lines is not realistic. It’s just not.

The answer is not price increases. The answer is to either limit how many times AP holders (locals) can ride the new rides and restaurants OR do what Discovery Cove does and limit daily attendance to a reasonable number so that guests are comfortable. Their current system of simply raising prices isn’t working.

You can't anger the locals. They are the ones that vote on the local laws, local govt reps, etc. They also spend a ton of money over the course of the year.

I haven't reached a breaking point with WDW yet, but I do know we're skipping our annual trip in 2021 in favor of something else. We've already adjusted our spending to compensate with increased ticket costs. We leave in a couple days for a 10 day trip, we'll see how we feel when we get back.

 

[yulilin3]

And people will STILL throw their money at Disney.
Imo, one of the bigger problems with long lines and lack of FP+ is BECAUSE of AP holders (mainly locals, who didn’t appear to get an increase). Those same people entering the parks day after day after day and riding the top tier rides numerous times while others literally spend YEARS with numerous trips and never get a single FP for those rides. And let’s face it, the reality of 3-7 hour lines is not realistic. It’s just not.

The answer is not price increases. The answer is to either limit how many times AP holders (locals) can ride the new rides and restaurants OR do what Discovery Cove does and limit daily attendance to a reasonable number so that guests are comfortable. Their current system of simply raising prices isn’t working.

Not sure where you're getting your info on the visiting practices of locals but, locals do not go to the parks everyday, do not go on rides every time they visit, rarely use fp. And maybe you don't know, local ap without a hotel ressie can only book fp 30 days in advance, it's very hard to find a FoP, PP, 7DMT, MFSR, SDD, MMRR, FEAA, fp at 30 days
I visit the parks 3 times a week because of what i do for a living, but rarely visit the top attractions.
My parents and sister visit maybe 6 times a year even though they live locally and have aps
Know a lot if locals who visit often but don't necessarily go on rides when they do

 

[Tormania]

I’ll disagree here. I’ve had APs for 2 out of the last 3 years. Do you know how many 7DMT FPs we have gotten? 0
FOP: 1
SDD: 0

It’s the 60+7 folks that are having all the fun.

We are one of those 60+8 folks this year. But we also go once every 3 to 4 YEARS so when we go we are gonna stay for at least 7 nights. We have to fly to get to WDW so that adds another huge expense to our trips, it would be an 18 hr drive and we just can't justify losing 3 days on the road plus pay for gas and hotel stays on the road trip. On our last trip to WDW in Dec 2017 we got FPs for both FOP (next to last day of trip) and 2 FPs for 7DMT on two different days (one was our last half day there).

In some ways I envy those AP holders that live close enough to go several times a year or even more. The price increases are no fun, the cost comparisons for us between our 2013, 2017, and now 2020 trip is substantial. And funny thing, the cost of our airfare for these 3 trips has stayed pretty much the same......hmmmm. But the price increases, while decried by everyone, sure doesn't seem to be resulting in smaller crowds. Keep waiting for the higher prices to really impact the # of people going to WDW, apparently there is still room to go up for that. Ugh!

Hope folks that were just about to get tickets got them today from UT like we did, saved $110 off the new WDW price.

 

[queenofthehive]

Next year a one day pass will be $1,295 - lol!