Every time ticket price increases, I consider selling our dvc

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I expected ticket prices to increase. As well as food prices.

So, no the price increase won't cause us to think about selling.

We drive, so airfare doesn't effect us. And our child is 20. He has been considered a Disney Adult since we started going to Disney. So no change there.

 

[zemra406]

Same here! We like to go into the parks 1-2 days per trip. The non expiring option has lasted us years and going by today's pricing, hundreds of dollars each! Luckily we have another 10-day non-expiring with the water parks and more that should last us until 2020 or so. Then...we may seriously consider selling at least one contract. If they brought back non-expiration option for DVC members I think we'd be pretty happy.

Me too! I'm still working on a 10-day pass from 2011. Sadly I don't have any in reserve though. Ours have the 10 water park visits too and it's great that those never expire. We usually only do 1-2 park days and last time we did Blizzard Beach too. We loved it!

 

[keishashadow]

If I wasn't able to snag reasonably priced airfare, I'd likely just visit Florida for a two or three week visit, since the drive is just too long for my tastes from PA

We used to take one or two beach vacations (Myrtle Beach & Ocean City, MD), before realizing we could 'do' WDW for far less $ and skip the long drive to the beach. Wasn't a stretch to decide buying DVC would be an even larger cost savings. We still go to MB when we can grab a cheap Spirit or Allegiant flight.

Ran the numbers in the past, discovered an approx. 10% annual increase in WDW tix/CRO rooms last 10 years or so. Looks as though they are ramping costs up due to dramatically increased attendance at the parks. Can't blame them, it is a business, but not happy to see it by any means.

As a price comparison with Universal, I am still sitting on 7 day park to park tix I purchased thru AAA for under $70 before HP came to town. I recall buying our first APs @ U when they had a BOGO year free AP promo over ten years ago~WDW isn't alone in raising tix prices.

Orlando has many low-price food options as long as you are willing to venture outside of the parks, not to mention how many members save $ by cooking in the villas (not me, I'm on vacation lol)

Don't think I've ever purchased a single day ticket to WDW. If multi-day & APs skyrocket, we might just go with one or two tickets and spend rest of our visit at the WP/Universal/Sea World or even drive over to Cocoa or Daytona Beach for the day.

 

[DenLo]

I don't, but I can see why some members might. It can be hard enough to budget a Disney vacation as it is. We are planning a June vacation for my great niece and nephew, age 3, first visit to WDW. We used the 25th Anniversary ticket offer and the cost was over $1900 for the 4 adults and 2 children. I doubt they will be joining us regularly at WDW, way too expensive.

 

[JimMIA]

We're having a WDW price issue right now trying to plan a simple, low-profile short summer trip.

We want to go to Wyndham's Reunion Resort, which has a nice waterpark, for 3-4 days. The units are all 3 bedroom, so we would take guests. We drive up from Miami, so there is no big travel expense.

We have two different groups of friends, but when sounding them out to see if they were interested, BOTH groups said that if we want to go to WDW, that's a deal breaker for them because of the ticket prices. And these friends are neither poor nor cheap.

I think someone nailed it earlier, talking about the once-in-a-lifetime trip demographic. They will pay whatever it costs because they have no choice, and that's the market Disney is targeting. If DVC members or Florida residents go to WDW, that's fine -- but they can do just fine without us...and they know it.

 

[Popouri DVC]

I think you might be right there with your last paragraph, JimMIA.

I'll still go to Disney and I love my DVC, but I'm under no illusions that Disney cares about whether I'm a repeat visitor or not. They seem to have no problems filling their parks and resorts.... This is one reason why I'm pleased with whatever little perks or discounts that we get: I expect none, so everything is a pleasant surprise...

 

[jodifla]

I think I will be quite glad to have my DVC 5 years from now, when the new lands open and Disney hotel prices skyrocket even more.

 

[southerngirl528]

While it doesn't make me happy to see ticket prices going up I think it is a tad befuddling that people get so upset. Don't flame me, but if you look at any other them park, Six Flags, Silver Dollar City, Universal, Sea World, or wherever, prices have historically gone up as well. Ain't no cheap theme parks ANYwhere that I know of. Yes, Disney is pricier than most. But IMHO they do offer at least a little more. I have a very large family so I know how daunting it is to come up with the money to buy tickets for 10+ people. It's scary. But truthfully it would still be a huge chunk if we were going to any other theme park as well. Not as much, but still a truckload.

I cannot even fathom how much it takes to build, maintain and run a mega theme park. Electricity has gone up in price here in central FL over recent years and I can tell you that homeowners insurance has skyrocketed since the hurricanes of 2004. My own home insurance has DOUBLED. And I shopped the heck out of what was out there. Now imagine what it costs to insure an entire theme park. I'm not justifying the huge increases, but I think one must be realistic and have some clarity to make good decisions.

There have been some good tips and ideas posted here for stretching dollars and non-Disney vacations while still using DVC points. For those like the OP that are really upset and want to sell their DVC membership, the nice thing is that they can do just that. Sell their membership. I thought the TIW increase was so ridiculous that I decided I just wasn't going to buy it this year and I've had a TIW card for many years as a FL resident and DVC member. But ya know what? I thought they were doing away with the free valet parking when I made that decision not to purchase. My DS and DIL were in town and we went to lunch at the GF and I valet parked (talk about increase, it went from $17 as I recall to $25). I said something to the valet about them not taking TIW anymore, he brightened and asked, "Do you have TIW?". Turns out TIW still DOES include valet parking when you can produce a receipt from that same day at that resort along with your TIW card! So.....I was like, Hey I live right here, we come to WDW regularly to dine and like to valet park during our blistering weather most of the year. It takes just 2 valet parking fees to make up the difference in the increase so off to DS I went to buy another TIW!

 

[Judique]

I can tell you that homeowners insurance has skyrocketed since the hurricanes of 2004. My own home insurance has DOUBLED. And I shopped the heck out of what was out there. Now imagine what it costs to insure an entire theme park.]

I would think that WDW self insures, but I am sure the costs to run the operation are astronomical.

 

[mort1331]

Well lets see now, my house was 220,000 in 2004. Today we could sell for over 700,000. But where would I live. Could I afford my house today if I had to, no. For us to travel to the islands would be min $5000 for a week. Travel including tickets and food to WDW just under $5000. DVC has actually made it very affordable for us to go every year, sometimes twice.
Our hockey team, baseball team, and basketball team tickets have increased well over inflation every year, people still go. For my family to go to one game is equal to one day with tickets and food at WDW. The major differences are full day compared to 2 hours, and family leaves with big grins on their faces leaving WDW after a full day, not so for the teams. Mainly cause the Toronto teams all suck and lose.
We gave up seasons tickets to instead go to WDW every year because there is more enjoyment out of it. I would expect nothing more than our dues to go up, just like my taxes. And the gate prices to increase.
If you think some people complain right now about lack of CM or service, think what would happen if they did not raise prices, less revenue, and we know the end result.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm under no illusions that Disney cares about whether I'm a repeat visitor or not.

I've said it before (maybe even in this thread!) but it bears repeating:

Disney is in the business of selling happiness. That's not quite the same thing as "Disney wants me personally to be happy." When people first realize that, it can be disappointing, but once you come to grips with it, well....it's not so bad spending your money with a company that sells happiness. You just have to spend it reasonably wisely.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

I can fly to Disney and stay a week in a studio cheaper than staying at Ocean City, Md.

wish we could OC for a week for our family of 5 costs us about 1500 since we can drive. flying to DW costs us more than our annual OC trip for DD birthday over July 4th

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Does anyone else think this way? Every time the tix price increases, I think about the absurdity of spending $1500-2k for just tickets per trip.

I think about how our DW trip is $6-7k each, even with our DVC.

I think about how the monies might be better spent on another vacation, for the same money or even less.

I think about the fact that our dvc has actually appreciated since we bought, and we should just take the profit now.

But DH said he wants to keep for another 7 more years, until our youngest is 9 years old, before selling. It really is all about the kids sometimes, isn't it?

But I think about selling dvc and no longer going to DW to save money very time the ticket prices go up.

And when I see the new dues statement - significant increases - 56/month to 176/month.

 

[DebbieB]

And when I see the new dues statement - significant increases - 56/month to 176/month.

$56 to $176? Did you addon? All the resort increases for 2016 were under 10%, maybe not even that much.

 

[RAD]

I'm glad I've got a bunch of non-expiring park hoppers sitting in a baggie here, which should hold me over for a few more visits. Which frankly are becoming less frequent, we've gone from a visit a couple times a year to once ever couple years. Maybe that will change if all the expansion plans happen as advertised. That said I don't plan on selling our DVC, while I'll visit less I'll be renting out points when not needed to help pay for other vacations. As long as a rental will cover the annual dues and a bit of a profit I won't be selling.

 

[beer dave]

$56 to $176? Did you addon? All the resort increases for 2016 were under 10%, maybe not even that much.

I think they were 3 to 5%. something is up here.

 

[ACDSNY]

Yes, I've considered downsizing how many points we have as our extended family (adult kids) can't afford the tickets anymore to go with us. We rarely go to WDW so we may sell our points there and just keep VGC.

 

[moericus]

OP, that's what the RCI exchange system is for! Disney Adventures, Cruise, Hilton Head, etc... You can also visit the other great parts of Orlando. Don't regret your investment when you can start taking advantage of your options.

This is true! We live 2-3 hours from there and never go...too crazy expensive and too dumpy and commercialized.

I avoid Ocean City too. Who wants to deal with traffic on vacation?

 

[suebeelin]

So..... What's the attraction to ocean city?!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

So..... What's the attraction to ocean city?!

Ocean City, MD is 3 hours away from our home by car. It's considered a top destination on the east coast. My point was that as close as this beach town is to us it's cheaper to pay the expense to fly to Orlando and rent points for 7 nights in a studio than it is to go to our home town beach. Food and entertainment are about the same so that expense remains neutral.