Do Disney ticket prices seem like they are getting out of hand to you?

[jodifla]

We're planning a Feb. trip, and when looking at ticket prices, they seem really high to me now. I have sticker shock.


Anyone else feel this way?

 

[gppnj]

Whenever I'm tepmpted to think this, I'm reminded that the local Six Flags park charges pretty much the same thing, and I hate that place. It's not nearly as good as a Disney park in any respect. So although Disney isn't cheap, I do still consider it a good entertainment value.

 

[DaveO]

From a pure entertainment perspective it is a bargain !!! At least when looking here in New England. Even the one day ticket is a fair price. But if you look at the 6 or 7 day price it is about $30ish a day. Other entertainment examples:

Bruins tix (and they are horrible this year) = $60 for balacony seats (2 - 3 hours)
Billy Joel Tickets = $75
Disney on Ice Tickets (with service fees) = $45
Red Sox game = $60 per person
Even the movies = $15 person for 2 hours.
Six Flags NE = $45
Loon Mountian Ski Pass = $58

Maybe in other parts of the country entertainment is cheaper but for here it is almost cheaper for me to grab a $49 SW airfare and go to Disney for the weekend with my kids (annual passes), that it is to spend the weekend here doing other activities.

Dave O.

 

[bicker]

Yup, it is a bargain.

 

[CarolMN]

Take a good look at your touring plans to make sure you aren't buying options you don't really need.

If you don't plan to visit the waterparks, don't need to hop and/or are OK with tickets that expire 14 days from first use, the price isn't so bad. FWIW, the new MYW tickets reward longer stays - they are more expensive on a per day basis for shorter stays.

Other than that, I agree with the others - Disney doesn't seem so expensive if you compare it to what other theme parks charge.

Best wishes -

 

[utahkennedys]

Our best bet this last time was buying the tickets with the no expiration option. The price per day was cheap, and my 10 day pass plus 5 days at the water parks will last us a few trips. I think it hits hard when you have a few to buy -- yikes!

 

[jodifla]

I don't think I really understand the 10 day plus 5...so you get 5 extra days a water parks? When do those have to be used by?

 

[CarolMN]

I don't think I really understand the 10 day plus 5...so you get 5 extra days a water parks? When do those have to be used by?

The 10 day MYW passes come with 5 options. The options are good for admission to a waterpark, PI, the WWOS or DQ. The options do not have to be used on the same day as a park admission (you can if you want to, though).

Since the poster bought the no-expiration option and uses the options on days when they don't also go to a major park (MK, AK, EPCOT or MGM), the 10 day MYW ticket will last them 15 days - any 15 days they choose.

If they hadn't bought the no-exporation option, then the 10 Day MYW ticket would expire 14 days from the first use. Day 1 is the first day they use the pass. That means, they would have had to use at least one of the options on the same day they also went to one of the major parks. (Lots of people like to go to PI or DQ in the evenings).

Best wishes -

 

[AnnaS]

I feel the same way as Jppnj - and there is nothing there for me plus there are other things/rides in there that charge an extra fee. My two sons now buy a season pass.

I also feel that shows at night (Fantasmc, Illuminations, etc.) are worth a small price on their own. Of course, I hope they never charge a few

We are a family of five and it does add up, but they are worth every penny. Early 2005 I bought three 10 day MYW tickets, w/hopping, no expiry and the 5 plusses. (hoping to squeeze in at least two trips). Not sure if I will buy two more or two PAPs.

 

[InstImpres]

I too think it is a good deal for what you get but it can be overwhelming to buy several tickets at a time. I try to spread out my purchase so it isn't a big chunk of change at once.

 

[mcorbo]

Whenever I'm tepmpted to think this, I'm reminded that the local Six Flags park charges pretty much the same thing, and I hate that place. It's not nearly as good as a Disney park in any respect. So although Disney isn't cheap, I do still consider it a good entertainment value.

Yup, Six Flags Great Adventure, Yuk!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

In a word...yes. Especially for the under 5 crowd. For 2006, it is the rate of increase that is ridiculous...quite a bit more than inflation. Also, since the admission ticket just gets you through the gate so you can do more spending, Disney park visits can result in lots of extra out-of pocket beyond admission. Having said that, we'll be shelling out $2000+ for passes this year. We will use them till we are sick of WDW then we will take 12-18 months off and do some other vacationing.

An annual pass at six flags is under $100. It lacks the Disney atmosphere, but some may acutally prefer the rides there to the ones at WDW. It's all what floats your boat.

 

[bsusanmb]

Hershey Park is pricey,and doesn't compare to Disney. I agree that the prices for preschoolers is way too high.
I bought 2 year annual passes for all the Bush parks and they do a monthly payment plan. Also got Sesame Place annual passes for DD, SIL and grandbaby - they charge for ages 2 up, and there was a two payment option. Disney doesn't have to do this, but it would be a nice option.
Fortunately, we have the benefit of getting our tickets at SOG at the military discount and tax freed - but the AP prices for DVC would be a better deal.

I know that if my 5 kids were young again, there would be no way I could afford to park hop every day.

 

[dsneygirl]

From a pure entertainment perspective it is a bargain !!! At least when looking here in New England. Even the one day ticket is a fair price. But if you look at the 6 or 7 day price it is about $30ish a day. Other entertainment examples:

Bruins tix (and they are horrible this year) = $60 for balacony seats (2 - 3 hours)
Billy Joel Tickets = $75
Disney on Ice Tickets (with service fees) = $45
Red Sox game = $60 per person
Even the movies = $15 person for 2 hours.
Six Flags NE = $45
Loon Mountian Ski Pass = $58

Maybe in other parts of the country entertainment is cheaper but for here it is almost cheaper for me to grab a $49 SW airfare and go to Disney for the weekend with my kids (annual passes), that it is to spend the weekend here doing other activities.

Dave O.

I think so too. I don't think Disney is that expensive at all in comparison. Like you said $100 for concert tickets. To see the Leafs in Toronto would be $100. $10 for parking and $12 for a beer. For 2 hours of entertainment as opposed to $50 at Disney for 8-12 hours or more.

 

[Ksp]

As much as I don't want to see prices go up, I have to say I still find Disney the best deal around. Fast passes are included in the cost of your ticket, which I believe would cost you extra from Universal. (or so I'm told by friends of ours who vacation at Universal...I'm pretty much a Disney fan and have only gone to U. once.)

 

[cobbler]

I think that they are ok but the huge increase this year was kind of startling. AP's went up $10 last year and $20 this year. But I guess it's still under a buck a day - if you go every day

 

[Blue&Gold]

Echoing what others have already written here---it is relative, but there is no doubt it can be a shock. We bought APs last year, but I am seriously considering going the 10 day no expiration route rather than renewing the APs. I'll undoubtedly break some pencil lead doing the math before our next trip down.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I didn't think AP's were high at all. The cost was $297 for the year, which is cheap when you go more than once a year, and so convenient, too!

 

[jodifla]

I think it's the fact that the broke $300, and that kids' prices are so much. The kids' tickets seem really out of whack to me. My son is only 4, but paying almost as much as I am.

I'm going to check out Universal tickets.

 

[jarestel]

Ticket prices won't be going down anytime soon, that's for sure. It's not only the ticket prices at WDW, but also the food and transporation costs that create the overall price. Though we like to think there's no cost for our prepaid DVC accomodations, in reality there is, so this is a "hidden" cost as well.

But since we like visiting WDW, it's easy to justify the cost. Many friends who aren't Disney fanatics find a trip to WDW extremely expensive and wouldn't even consider going more than once every 5 or 10 years. Needless to say, they think we're nuts for going 2 or 3 times a year.