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

[Mickmse2002]

It is expensive, no question about it. We are a family of five and the tickets really dent the budget. But it is a good entertainment value when compared to other types of entertainment. It has also been said, and I agree, that the family time and the whole quality experience is priceless.

 

[DVCJEN]

WDW is a bargain! Look at the prices of regular old amusement parks and them compare price and product. Disney wins every time!

 

[Kenswing]

Having been an Operations Manager at a Fortune 500 company and having been on several of the Backstage tours at WDW, I tend to look at the overhead costs that drive ticket prices. If you consider what it takes to put on the "show", you will see why it costs so much. Just a few examples.

How many buses does Disney operate? Now consider the price of diesel and maintenance.

WDW is the world's largest consumer of commercial fireworks. Not cheap.

Consider how many live shows that are there. Now look at the cost of costuming.

How meticulously the grounds are kept.

These are just a few things to consider.

There are also the 55,000 + employees. Payroll taxes, benefits......

Disney does it like nobody else.... It's not an inexpensive place to operate.

Just some things to think about.

Ken

 

[bicker]

I spent half my career doing operations research and so I got a lot of exposure to what Ken's talking about. The problem is that I spent the other half of my career working with CEOs and other executives; What I learned was that, in most consumer-facing businesses, they only care about costs when determining whether it is worth doing something, after they've already determined the price that they'd charge, which was based on their forecast of customers' perception of value.

So while I agree that what we're getting for the money is justified by all that goes into providing it to us, I don't believe that's how the PTBs arrive at the price they're going to charge us for it.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I have bought AP's for the last 4 years and think they are a great value. If you go more than once per year last year we went 4 times!!! I got my moneys worth for sure! Typically we go in August over my twins Birthdays and they requested The Hard rock Hotel. Since my Ap's are expired.
I bought my Universal tickets in fact recieved them today. I paid 323 dollars for 5 day park hoppers for 6 people.
That averages to ten dollars a day per person. Even with my DVC paid for the value of my tickets for Universal means my vacation dollars will go to Universal this year.

$323 park tickets for 6 people.
Universals hard rock hotel 7 nights club level. $1453 AAA rate.

So far $1776
Now I rent my points to my SIL for $1500
-700 plus for my taxes and fees at the end of the year.
That leaves $700 towards Universal itself. Bottem line I am going for $1,076 it's a great deal and nothing to shake a stick at.

I figure I am going to do Disney next year with Ap's. another trip at less than a year to take advantage of the year window and then back to Universal.

 

[yitbos96bb]

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?

They are actually pretty on par with the rest of Orlando. Considering what Disney has to offer it is a decent value in comparison. Plus they are the only group to offer a MAJOR discount the more days you stay with MYW. I think after 4 days or so, the price goes up minimally.

 

[La2kw]

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.)

I think the passes are expensive, but so is everything else. I don't think that makes them a good deal though.

Universal Express Passes (Universal's version of fastpass) come three different ways. You can get them free, just like fastpass. You can buy a booklet with an express pass for each ride and ride them right after another (the free ones have time constraints just like fastpass). You can also stay at a Universal Resort and your room key is an unlimited fast pass for the length of you stay. IMO, that's a much better deal than Disney's fastpasses.

 

[Tiger926]

I have to say that since my DD (who will have just turned 3 for our next trip) is costing a few dollars less than our tix (we are buying DVC AP renewals and her ticket is reg., first time DVC AP purchase) - that is a bit crazy. We do love Disney, but the ticket prices for young kids ages 3-5 approx. who can't do much are getting out of hand, IMHO.

Tiger

 

[InstImpres]

Honestly the ticket prices don't bother me as much as the change that now has me paying adult prices for bufftets for my 10 year old!

 

[kjm4]

I think it's a good deal. Especially if you buy the AP with a DVC discount or get a 10 day no expiration. I have so many half used passes around here that I'll have to take a few vacations just to use them all. But the prices just keep going up and I know I'm going to go back so I keep getting the 10 day passes. I know it's silly. This year we just got AP's and planned a few extra trips.

 

[mikesmom]

Ever check the pricing on College football tickets? Makes Disney look like a real bargain!

 

[jarestel]

Comparing WDW ticket prices to sporting events, concerts, or local amusement parks is a little misleading since those are all one day events. Most people don't go to Disney for just one day unless they happen to live in the Orlando area in which case their discounted ticket prices for Florida residents are indeed a bargain. The cost of WDW tickets generally runs a family of 4 or 5 well over a thousand dollars just for admission for 5 - 7 days.

As I said before it's easy to justify the expense since we like going, but I don't think I could convince anyone who's not maniacal about WDW that a trip to Disney is no more expensive than engaging in local activities.

 

[Laurajean1014]

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?

Sorry, but I disagree. Don't get me wrong, I would rather pay $20 per day than $60, however, if you look at rates for live theatre (Broadway plays), WDW is a steal - for $60 (rack rate), you can get to see (MGM) Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, Stunt Spectacular, Little Mermaid, Rockin Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Great Movie Ride, Muppets, Fantasmic and much more.......

Sounds like a good deal to me.

I also do not consider myself or my friends maniacal - we're magical!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I'm going to check out Universal tickets.

So, what did you find out about Universal?

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Current Universal promotion is buy one adult 2 day ticket for $99 and get a childs 2 day ticket for free with each adult. There is also a bonus of 3 free days with each of these tickets even the free ones.

Bottem line, for us with 4 kids.. 1 over 18... I purchsed 3 adult tickets w/tax and shipping somewhere around $323. and got 3 free kids tickets.

5 days of admisson for 6 people for $323. That works out to about $10 per day for me to do Universal this summer.

 

[Hibernians]

WDW has that uniqueness factor which always let them overcharge. They have a special brand that demands a premium; they really are the gold standard.

I agree that they could go a little less on the 10 yrs olds. it hurts to think that my children will no longer be children at age 10 in Disney's eyes. You almost think they could come up with another price category for 10 - 15 yrs old.

 

[MrShiny]

Hey, a movie is nearly $10 and only lasts 2 hours. You get a lot of entertainment time for your money at Disney.

Until attendance drops, expect prices to rise. Now if they only had "Annual Pass Ownership" like they have "Vacation Ownership!"

 

[La2kw]

Current Universal promotion is buy one adult 2 day ticket for $99 and get a childs 2 day ticket for free with each adult. There is also a bonus of 3 free days with each of these tickets even the free ones.

Bottem line, for us with 4 kids.. 1 over 18... I purchsed 3 adult tickets w/tax and shipping somewhere around $323. and got 3 free kids tickets.

5 days of admisson for 6 people for $323. That works out to about $10 per day for me to do Universal this summer.

Universal also gives AAA discounts at most restaurants and shops as well. You can get some good deals at Universal.

 

[La2kw]

Movies in my area are only $5.25 before 6pm. I'd never pay ten bucks for a movie!

 

[MrShiny]

For a THX theatre, possibly with digital projection and great seats, $10 is fine by me. I've even paid more for this:
http://www.moviewatcher.com/theatres/theatre_information.jsp?unit=832

and not to much less for this:
http://www.atriptothemovies.com/

Still, even at $5.25 for 2 hours, that's $63 for 12 hours. I bet you can have more fun spending 12 hours at a Disney park than watching 6 movies!

As for Universal, I'm less and less impressed with them. One of the only theme parks to drop in attendance last year! Studios only had the Mummy as a new attraction in 2004, and IOA has had basically nothing new (OK, the X-Men tea cup ride - but they lost Triceratops Encounter) since it opened going on 7 years ago. It seems to be getting more and more "six-flagsy" to me (although their hotels are great!)