I was a bit surprised at Magic Kingdom last night

[DawnM]

My friend and I got to the gate a little after 8pm, after the fireworks were just ending. We stopped at Guest Relations for some ticket issues with her AP and there was a family in the booth next to us. There were 5 of them and the father asked, "What is the cheapest price to get all 5 of us in the gate?" He was told $500 for the 5 of them. They balked a bit about the price but paid it and went in for just the remainder of the evening (they closed at 1am.)

I suppose if that is your only opportunity to see WDW ever, it would be worth it, I was just surprised at paying $500 for 5 hours.

Dawn

 

[LJSquishy]

It only took my husband and I a half-day at each of the parks to ride everything and wander around so 5 hours was probably adequate for MK. Now, if the crowds were high, that would make a difference...or if the kids were really little.

5 hours is what I consider almost a full park day...but I wouldn't shell out that much money for one park day!

 

[mm1971]

We paid that for a day at USF and IOA to see the Harry Potter and show the kiddos the parks. I think we were there a little longer than 5 hours, but not much. It's amazing when you think about it. I would easily pay $500 to see my children happy in DW for 5 hours.

 

[DawnM]

And it cleared out after the Electric Light Parade! So I am sure they got to walk on everything as we did, BUT, I they didn't seem to know WDW enough to have that information at hand.

And I do remember when DL was $25 to get in. I came one afternoon and paid the full price because an out of town friend was visiting. She thought I was crazy to pay that much! I was single then and working full time and thought nothing of it.

I assume they have the means as they didn't seem to bat much of an eye at the price. The wife did say, "That is high, maybe we should just go to dinner somewhere." But that was the most of their comments.

It only took my husband and I a half-day at each of the parks to ride everything and wander around so 5 hours was probably adequate for MK. Now, if the crowds were high, that would make a difference...or if the kids were really little.

5 hours is what I consider almost a full park day...but I wouldn't shell out that much money for one park day!

 

[Marionnette]

My friend and I got to the gate a little after 8pm, after the fireworks were just ending. We stopped at Guest Relations for some ticket issues with her AP and there was a family in the booth next to us. There were 5 of them and the father asked, "What is the cheapest price to get all 5 of us in the gate?" He was told $500 for the 5 of them. They balked a bit about the price but paid it and went in for just the remainder of the evening (they closed at 1am.)

I suppose if that is your only opportunity to see WDW ever, it would be worth it, I was just surprised at paying $500 for 5 hours.

Dawn

They were probably hoping for some sort of "after X PM" discount ticket. A lot of theme parks offer them. But nothing surprises me any more when it comes to how people spend their money.

 

[seashoreCM]

My first trip to WDW was ca 1975 when they had the ticket books with individual ride coupons. There were a few different sizes and after briefly thinking things over I got the cheapest one for something like an outrageous eight dollars.

(On a later trip I went on a time share presentation and they gave me a 3 day hopper for Magic Kingdom and Epcot, all they had then. Wow! Three days of fun and not having to shell out any money!)

 

[pixiewings71]

So there were 5 of them, they paid $500 so that's $100 each, divide that by 5 and it comes out to $20 an hour. I think I'd pay that. lol Seems reasonable to me.

 

[Burnedout]

No way I would pay that. I remember when dl was $13 with $2 parking.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

We spent 4 hours at EPCOT a few years ago & paid around $500 for the tickets. It was well worth it to us.

 

[ToddyLu]

I paid $25,000 to stay once a year at AKV for a week...until 2057. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. I agree $500 does seem a bit much for after 8p.m. My $100 meal at Cali Grill is always worth it though.

 

[Burnedout]

So true! A good meal is well worth it. So 5 hours would be akin.

 

[talulabelle]

It's the people with that kind of money that ruin it for the rest of us that are sane. Since there are so many people with enough money to "justify" being absolutely robbed because they "want it", Disney is able to keep their prices crazy high. If everyone had that had that much money, had more sense - they wouldn't pay those prices even though they can afford it. Then , Disney would be forced to reenter the "real world" statasphere of pricing.

 

[Marionnette]

It's the people with that kind of money that ruin it for the rest of us that are sane. Since there are so many people with enough money to "justify" being absolutely robbed because they "want it", Disney is able to keep their prices crazy high. If everyone had that had that much money, had more sense - they wouldn't pay those prices even though they can afford it. Then , Disney would be forced to reenter the "real world" statasphere of pricing.

Disney is a business and they price their product according to what the market will bear. They have no responsibility to make it affordable when their "crazy high" prices are gladly paid by thousands every day. And many of those thousands do not have "that kind of money". Nor are they less sane than you. It's simply that they choose to spend their money differently than you do.

BTW, compare prices to some other theme parks. Universal is $88+tax for an adult. Disney is $89+tax. Not much of a difference.

 

[Burnedout]

It's the people with that kind of money that ruin it for the rest of us that are sane. Since there are so many people with enough money to "justify" being absolutely robbed because they "want it", Disney is able to keep their prices crazy high. If everyone had that had that much money, had more sense - they wouldn't pay those prices even though they can afford it. Then , Disney would be forced to reenter the "real world" statasphere of pricing.

I don't know. Some people think that what we pay for our vacation is absurd, too. I can't imagine why their logic is the cause for all evil and yours is perfect. Just different people with different lives and choices.

 

[disney1990]

No, I absolutely would not pay that. Did the CM even try to explain to the family that they would come back the next day and spend the entire day for that same $500?

It only took my husband and I a half-day at each of the parks to ride everything and wander around so 5 hours was probably adequate for MK. Now, if the crowds were high, that would make a difference...or if the kids were really little.

5 hours is what I consider almost a full park day...but I wouldn't shell out that much money for one park day!

I could skip around and do some of the parks in 5 hours; but I don't think that does any of the park justice. IMHO We are open the park, close the parks kind of people.

 

[Jaya]

OK, you're gonna love this. Disclaimer, I found this on the internet and we all know that the internet ISN'T always correct, but here goes:

TICKET PRICES TO WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 1973:

General Admission (no rides, just use transportation and get in):
Adults: $4.50
Junior (12-17): $3.50
Child (11 and under): $150

8-ticket package (includes general admission & transportation):
$5.75, $5.25, and $4.75 respectively

12-ticket package (same as above):
$6.75, $6.25, $5.75

A guided tour (admission, transportation, five attractions with a guide and two E-tickets):
Adults $7.50, Juniors and Children $4.50

I started going to Disney in 1975 when e-tickets were still used. That was followed for at least a year or so by the infamous "tag-on-a-string" that you attached to your clothing to show that you had "paid to play". Can't remember how long that lasted but I don't think it was very long. Of course, back in 1973 I was making, I think, about $80 a week, so taking a family of four would have taken a chunk out of my paycheck. I have no idea what parking cost....assuming they charged for parking....can't remember.

Those were the days, huh?

 

[KCmike]

It's tough when you have a family of five but I would have planned much better and made better use of the $500. It would have been an all day affair.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Have you taken a family of five anywhere
Take them to a play, at 125. a ticket, plus parking, a meal and the rest of the Xtras and you are easily paying much more for probably the same if not Less time...
So I guess its all relative....When/If I get stuck paying for a full price 1 day tix (for whatever reason....like Oops, I really only have water parks left on my Non expire tix and not the 1 park day left )...you do what ya gotta do...its worth it to me....

Hope they had a great time!

 

[DawnM]

OP here and yes, we are a family of 5.

I did say that if this is their only time available then I guess it was worth it. I just said I was surprised, that is all.

We personally don't do $1,000 dinner, play, and parking outings for a one night event.

Have you taken a family of five anywhere

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

That is a lot of money!