Well, not so fast...while hotel prices have not had the dramatic jump in price that is often cited on this board, ticket and food prices have.
In 2010, a 7-day park hopper (adult) cost $301 and could be used at any time of the year. In 2020, that same ticket would cost around $548 in September but $702 during Christmas week! That’s an increase that ranges from 82%-133% over a 10-year period (and we may see another increase before 2020 is over).
And looking at the
DDP in 2010, it was $42/night per adult but did not include alcohol and only provided 1 snack per night. In 2020, the cost has risen to $78/night per adult. But now it includes an alcoholic beverage with both QS and TS meals and a second snack credit per night. So, maybe it’s not an apples to apples comparison. Regardless, it’s an 86% increase over 10 years and it’s not as if you can choose to purchase the 2010 version of the plan today.
My point is, those who are venting about Disney’s prices rising at atrocious rates do have a valid complaint. But it’s not the resort costs that are driving it. Ticket and food prices have gone up at a dizzying rate. And I think Disney is beginning to see some backlash. In Q3, Disney reported that the resort occupancy was high but park attendance was lower compared to 2018. This in spite of the fact that Q3 2019 included Easter Weeks, while Q3 2018 did not. Overall, “per guest” spending was up, mostly due to increased ticket prices.
I fully expect Disney to continue to adjust their seasonal discounts on rooms to reflect what the market will bear. And they will find inventive ways to lure guests to the parks with ticket deals like the “after 12 PM” tickets that were recently introduced.