If Universal plays it's cards right...

[kimmyann]

I predict they could totally bank it. With Disney's out of sight new ticket prices I think that if Universal would hold steady for a year without an increase, it would totally benefit them. (Yes, a bit of wishful thinking) I know for a fact that my sister has now decided against another Disney trip because of the new increase & from reading on facebook, many others feel the same. I for one think that DH & I will plan a cruise for our 25th instead of the Disney trip that I was wanting. Heck, we could pretty much go anywhere for the price of the tickets alone...

We are set for a Universal trip this August in celebration of our oldest DD graduating with her bachelor's degree this year, New York is on schedule for her Master's degree next summer. She plans to be a middle school math teacher. I just can't stomach the price increase for a theme park & I hope that Universal doesn't follow suit.

 

[damo]

I was thinking the same thing. I would be neat if Universal announced that they weren't raising prices this year. I doubt it will happen, but it sure would be good marketing ploy.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Disney is chasing people away for more than pricing, but that isn't going to help. People like us are already jumping ship because of the limit of 3 fastpasses per day. Price isn't helping. As you can see in my signature, we were Disney loyals, and we jumped ship after 2 disappointing years in a row. So when they announced all this new stuff....bye bye. Hopefully universal will pick up all the disappointed Disney people and prevent a price increase because of an attendance hike.

 

[LilMommyBug]

Yep, we have decided to do Uni this year instead of Disney. With 2 adults and 3 kids (2 of which are considered adults) it's just way too much anymore and the Fastpass+ thing isn't helping us want to go either.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere ! I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

 

[keishashadow]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere !I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

Many people do scrimp and save to visit the parks, especially in this economy.sometimes, just a little thing can be the tipping point needed to get a person to switch their course, more often it's in combination of a lot of little things.

Try it, you'll like it! no, scratch that! All disillusioned WDW fans should stay very, very far away from the Universal parks.

I'm thankful I finally listened to my kids and spent the extra $ to visit Universal years ago, even though the mouse 'owned me'. Now, my ideal Orlando vacation includes both parks, to each their own

OP seems as though when one park ups the ante the others follow suit, it's a business; they'll charge what the market will bear.

 

[buckeev]

...... Now, my ideal Orlando vacation includes both parks, to each their own .

Ditto...Our family has gotten very spoiled...7 of our last 8 Orlando trips have included BOTH deities...errr...theme parks. We are trying to adjust "on-the-fly" to the never-ending, rapid-fire changes that The Mouse is ramming down our throats, and on this past Christmas trip, Comcrap...errr..Universal received extra funds originally "earmarked" -(get it...EARMARKED...???)-earmarked for Disney.
I do think I've finally got my son talked into trying DL though..gotta go there and scratch it off my bucket list!

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Many people do scrimp and save to visit the parks, especially in this economy.sometimes, just a little thing can be the tipping point needed to get a person to switch their course, more often it's in combination of a lot of little things.

Try it, you'll like it! no, scratch that! All disillusioned WDW fans should stay very, very far away from the Universal parks.

I'm thankful I finally listened to my kids and spent the extra $ to visit Universal years ago, even though the mouse 'owned me'. Now, my ideal Orlando vacation includes both parks, to each their own

OP seems as though when one park ups the ante the others follow suit, it's a business; they'll charge what the market will bear.

Don't worry..as stated will never go there. One thing you have wrong however is I am NOT disillusioned Very happy with WDW and again that "other" place is not even in Disneys radar ........or mine !!
I do agree to each their own however so enjoy.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Nevermind.. edited because I decided a post wasn't worth arguing over. If people want to limit their own experiences, that's their business!

 

[peaches00]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere ! I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

You're an angry elf!

 

[Viva Las Disney]

So you're fine paying $92 for Universal ($128 for a hopper for both parks) but $94-99 ($134 for a hopper for 4 parks) at Disney is out of sight?

I'm sorry but this made me chuckle, I can understand being upset and not going over FP+ changes or even because of uncertainty but because of a $2-6 price difference on a multi thousand dollar vacation?

Straw that broke the camels back I guess, enjoy your vacation.

 

[Silock]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere ! I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

That's not the point. This just solidifies Disney's commitment to wringing every nickel out of you that they can.

Universal does the same thing, though.

 

[aubriee]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere ! I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

If you hate Universal so much, why are you even reading and posting on a Universal board?

You're an angry elf!

 

[RAPstar]

It's funny, until I discovered this website, I thought it was normal to visit both parks when you went to Orlando. My family did every time we went down (Universal not as much since there wasn't as much back then my little bro could do). I've done trips exclusively to both Disney and Universal without visiting the other "side" and enjoyed them all immensely. Heck, if it weren't for having friends who work for Disney who get me discounts and free tickets (sorry not meaning to be a braggart), I would have switched to only Universal a few trips ago. It's always seemed that my money has gone a little bit farther at Universal for just the same, if not slightly better, experience.

 

[bumbershoot]

Try it, you'll like it! no, scratch that! All disillusioned WDW fans should stay very, very far away from the Universal parks.

Good point.

Don't worry..as stated will never go there.

If you would never give them money, then I suppose you have never gone? If that's true, you don't get to judge the place AT ALL. And if you haven't been there in years, again, you cannot state your opinion on anything but the specific ownership of the place. I don't understand why you have a problem with Comcast; doesn't make sense to me, but we get fabulous customer service from them here in the Seattle area and I haven't had a problem with them that I haven't had with other companies like them.

But seriously, you have no idea if it's like 6Flags or not, if you haven't been there.

And of course Disney thinks about them. Or they wouldn't have huge WDW billboards as you approach Universal from every direction. Come on now.

It's funny, until I discovered this website, I thought it was normal to visit both parks when you went to Orlando

It's normal for us! Since our first trip in 2010! First trip was 10 park days at WDW, 4 nights at Universal. Last trip was officially 9 nights at WDW and 8 nights at Universal, but the more nights at WDW were only because of trying to ward off jetlag, using up DVC points, and because of the event.

Except that right now it's only rundisney events drawing us to WDW. Problem...we own DVC.

 

[schumigirl]

Nevermind.. edited because I decided a post wasn't worth arguing over. If people want to limit their own experiences, that's their business!

You're an angry elf!

I am totally stealing that line......love it.......it sums some people up to perfection

It's funny, until I discovered this website, I thought it was normal to visit both parks when you went to Orlando.

We did both parks first 2 years we visited, but quickly got very bored with Disney. It's not for us. I certainly don't feel the need to go Disney boards and spectacularly announce the fact........who cares

But a lot of people do visit both parks, and that's ok too. But in the last year particularly we have all noticed the huge numbers of people who are now turning to Universal where they never would have before. How many posts on here alone from people who have never considered a Universal visit but now want to know everything they can for their first visit after only going to Disney for years.

Universal can no longer be seen as the poor relation in Orlando......for some of us who love Universal it never really was anyway.

But there has been massive investment in the parks last few years particularly, and new rides and attractions have popped up very quickly which is all to Universals credit. They are doing an amazing job and the parks are truly amazing and so much fun to be in.

I hope all newbies to Universal have a wonderful time when they do visit

 

[tstidm1]

Hope a $4 price increase is NOT what's chasing people away because if it is you shouldn't be going on vacation anywhere ! I will NEVER give Comcast a dime of my money and frankly it makes me laugh out loud when people compare WDW to those wannabees up I-4. If I wanted to go there I would stay local and go to Six Flags.

Something you want to remember about this is that it isn't always about a four dollar increase. It's the other things plus the increase. At Universal, I can see the value of the price increase because they're adding new things. If I wasn't going on ABD, this would be the year for me to spend all my time at Universal. That will be 2015 for me due to taking that trip. I enjoy Disney, but Universal has some pretty awesome attractions that aren't roller coasters.

 

[damo]

Ditto...Our family has gotten very spoiled...7 of our last 8 Orlando trips have included BOTH deities...errr...theme parks. We are trying to adjust "on-the-fly" to the never-ending, rapid-fire changes that The Mouse is ramming down our throats, and on this past Christmas trip, Comcrap...errr..Universal received extra funds originally "earmarked" -(get it...EARMARKED...???)-earmarked for Disney.
I do think I've finally got my son talked into trying DL though..gotta go there and scratch it off my bucket list!

Bite your tongue with the "Comcrap", . What they have done for Universal is wonderful not only for Universal but for all of Orlando. We need to speak their name with more reverence...

You should definitely try DL. It's such a great place.

 

[tweak89]

Universal is quickly becoming our park of choice, and price is only a small part of it. One big part of it (for us) is the speed at which new attractions appear (I've been waiting for that Mine Train for years ). Universal just seems to concentrate on one thing and gets it done. It's been almost two years since our last visit and we will have the new Transformers ride, Springfield area and updated projection on The Simpsons and Forbidden Journey (and if we waited a couple more months the all new Diagon Alley). Yet, I have yet to ride Expedition Everest with a working Yeti

The resorts are also a big part the overall more "streamlined" feel of the overall Universal Resort/Park experience. With Disney diminishing the usefulness of the Fast Pass system, the Unlimited Express Pass is even a bigger plus than it already was.

I love Disney and will always patronize their parks, in fact, our goal is to visit every one before out time is up (we have WDW, DL and DLP under our belts)!! But, there is no denying that Universal is closing the gap when it comes to cost/convenience/fun, at least as it applies to me and the wife!

 

[jon18uk]

Universal will almost certainly raise prices to match Disney just before Diagon Alley opens. In fact $95-97 at Universal wouldn't surprise me.