Increased ticket prices coming soon?

[lugnut33]

I truly think Disney could get away with a $20 price increase across the board and other than some negative press for a few days the parks would set attendance records in 2016.

 

[freediverdude]

Sadly, I agree. Maybe if the one day ticket got up to $500 or $1000 or something, then people might start to rethink, but short of astronomical I don't see any consequences.

 

[skier_pete]

Most likely it will happen this weekend. Universal and Disney don't keep things far apart. I'd love them to hold off another week though - we book our flights for our trip next Thursday, and I really want to get the flights booked before I buy the tickets.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It would completely buck the trend of how and when Disney does price increases. For at least a decade they've only ever done them on a Sunday, but April 1st is a Friday. It would also be over 13 months from the last increase, which over the same decade has generally been within a week of 12 months after the last increase, if not sooner.

With Universal having already done theirs, I still think the most likely target is the 28th (last Sunday of Feb, as with the last two years), but now I'm thinking that it's more like 10% the 14th, 15% the 21st, and 75% the 28th.

It's an interesting play to say the least...

I have to buy two, two day tickets for inlaws for the delightful new "blackout Windows" on those great new annual passes...but I make it a policy to never give one cent one second earlier than necessary.

It's like "Mickey roulette"

 

[doconeill]

It's an interesting play to say the least...

I have to buy two, two day tickets for inlaws for the delightful new "blackout Windows" on those great new annual passes...but I make it a policy to never give one cent one second earlier than necessary.

It's like "Mickey roulette"

Not having looked, is that cheaper than upgrading the APs?

I wonder if Disney might hold off a little longer (as in not this weekend) just to make it look like they aren't playing "follow the leader"...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Not having looked, is that cheaper than upgrading the APs?

I wonder if Disney might hold off a little longer (as in not this weekend) just to make it look like they aren't playing "follow the leader"...

My mother in law has a Florida seasonal (based on an ID she got off of MY house before the national grid went into effect...can't wait till that expires)...

If I had been dealing with a regular AP...I would have just done the upgrade from gold to platinum...but seasonal to gold doesn't solve the issue

So no, upgrading isn't a better deal.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

=]

 

[tlmadden73]

At this point .. Disney NOT raising their prices is almost political. I would think they would raise their prices just for show.

People see price as the "better" product. If Disney isn't the most expensive theme park in town, then people may see them as "second best". Disney will raise their prices to be the most expensive ticket on the block. We all know they will STILL see record setting attendance.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

At this point .. Disney NOT raising their prices is almost political. I would think they would raise their prices just for show.

People see price as the "better" product. If Disney isn't the most expensive theme park in town, then people may see them as "second best". Disney will raise their prices to be the most expensive ticket on the block. We all know they will STILL see record setting attendance.

The question is not whether they are gonna raise this week/month/year...it's whether or not they are ready to make the jump to an entirely new pricing matrix.

 

[adam.adbe]

As far as I can tell, jacking up the gate price is just a way of incentivizing the 5-day or 7 day passes. I.E. drive away some of the one day visitors, but convert others to week visitors, where the resorts can soak up more of their money.

What's more interesting to me here, is that both Uni and Disney have to know they're playing Chicken with each other here. Let's say I buy a 5 day Disney Pass, a gate increase at Universal makes taking a day away from Disney (which I'm already paid up on) to do the UNI parks, disproportionately less appealing, and vice-versa.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Given the (semi) recent revamp / price increase on the AP system, are we confining the conversation to just the actual park tickets? Whether that turns out to be increases to ticket prices or logic's aforementioned new pricing matrix, can we assume the AP prices will remain the same when the speculative ticket changes come in Feb., Mar., or April? Thoughts?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Given the (semi) recent revamp / price increase on the AP system, are we confining the conversation to just the actual park tickets? Whether that turns out to be increases to ticket prices or logic's aforementioned new pricing matrix, can we assume the AP prices will remain the same when the speculative ticket changes come in Feb., Mar., or April? Thoughts?

I would imagine the AP prices are set for at least 6 months. That was step 1 towards the tiering.

 

[Planogirl]

As far as I can tell, jacking up the gate price is just a way of incentivizing the 5-day or 7 day passes. I.E. drive away some of the one day visitors, but convert others to week visitors, where the resorts can soak up more of their money.

What's more interesting to me here, is that both Uni and Disney have to know they're playing Chicken with each other here. Let's say I buy a 5 day Disney Pass, a gate increase at Universal makes taking a day away from Disney (which I'm already paid up on) to do the UNI parks, disproportionately less appealing, and vice-versa.

The problem for Disney is all of the construction. You can easily spend the day at Universal and drive over to Disney to spend the evening at a park that might have fewer attractions. Strangely FP+ helps with that.

 

[jade1]

You can easily spend the day at Universal and drive over to Disney to spend the evening at a park that might have fewer attractions. Strangely FP+ helps with that.

Strangely? That's one of the best things about FP+. As it does for opening (RD) any park we want that morning with a clean slate, fishing morning, golfing morning, Citrus Bowl morning, beach morning etc. It also brings us back to WDW Resorts each night, which we far prefer anyway-esp after a night show which we enjoy as well.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think the point was that universal has a more complete experience within their parks right now that the Disney parks do...lb for lb. that's makes big ticket increases a more risky prospect for Disney at the moment.

They just all But shut down MGM...soarin is offline...the frozen Norway thing is dragging to a typical Disney level...and animal
Kingdom is in year 18 of what shoulda been a 5-10 year plan.

Disney likely doesn't care...but if they have any sages left they should be saying "wait a minute...we might not want to tick off the locals...especially if we go from 0 to recession in 6 months"

 

[mshanson3121]

I think the point was that universal has a more complete experience within their parks right now that the Disney parks do...lb for lb. that's makes big ticket increases a more risky prospect for Disney at the moment.

The just all
But shut down MGM...soarin is offline...the frozen Norway thing is dragging to a typical Disney level...and animal
Kingdom is in year 18 of what shoulda been a 5-10 year plan.

Disney likely doesn't care...but if they have any sages left they should be saying "wait a minute...we might not want to tick off the locals...especially if we go from 0 to recession in 6 months"

As much as I am dying to go back, we are now starting to seriously consider a Uni trip instead. With the deal on UT, you can get 4 day passes to US, for the price of 2 day. Which works out to half the price it would cost us to go to Disney for 4 days. We could then use the extra money and get 14-day passes to Busch, Sea World, Adventure Island and Aquatica, which would give us a total of 18 days worth of parks... for still less than the cost of 6 days at Disney, and that includes parking for those 14 days, too. So an even bigger savings.

I agree that Disney just has a magical feel about it that is hard (impossible even?) to get elsewhere. But I DO think they will eventually price themselves out. The economy is unstable, and there's going to come a price point where people stop caring, and are going to realize that they can get as good as/better rides elsewhere, just minus the theming, for less money.

 

[jade1]

I think the point was that universal has a more complete experience within their parks right now that the Disney parks do...lb for lb. that's makes big ticket increases a more risky prospect for Disney at the moment.

The just all
But shut down MGM...soarin is offline...the frozen Norway thing is dragging to a typical Disney level...and animal
Kingdom is in year 18 of what shoulda been a 5-10 year plan.

Disney likely doesn't care...but if they have any sages left they should be saying "wait a minute...we might not want to tick off the locals...especially if we go from 0 to recession in 6 months"

I disagree. Although we do sneak in a US/IOA day each trip and knock that out.

The 'complete experience" goes to WDW in a landslide IMO. I often hear the same argument "park by park" but that makes no sense to me. Granted it takes a hopper or AP, but you can't even ride Hogwarts Express without a hopper. Just because WDW is spread into 4 parks instead of 2-doesn't reduce the amount of attractions available each day. AK could be a land in MK, and DHS could be a land in EPCOT-why would anybody want that? HP "lands" should have been a 3rd park IMO. Instead they are crammed in and look out of place. Change of scenery and themes from park to park is a nice change even on the same day IMO. Crowds get dispersed better as well. Plus the 4 parks can continue to expand-as they are.

Now they (WDW) have FP+ so you can do one park (land like AK) in the AM without FP+ needed, then a second park (Land like MK) that evening with FP+.

Every day we start out doing what we want, anything we want.

Night shows and evening hours are far better at WDW.

ME brings our bags from MPLS curbside to our room that night. Then we have a ride to our hotel when we get to MCO. Then we can send our bags from our hotel back to MPLS and have our boarding passes if we want on check out day.

The amount of resorts, pools, shopping and dining is far greater and better at WDW.

DVC-an amazing program that keeps offering more deluxe resorts to stay at with just dues, lately CR, GF, and POLY-far cheaper than cash stays were.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

As much as I am dying to go back, we are now starting to seriously consider a Uni trip instead. With the deal on UT, you can get 4 day passes to US, for the price of 2 day. Which works out to half the price it would cost us to go to Disney for 4 days. We could then use the extra money and get 14-day passes to Busch, Sea World, Adventure Island and Aquatica, which would give us a total of 18 days worth of parks... for still less than the cost of 6 days at Disney, and that includes parking for those 14 days, too. So an even bigger savings.

For the first time...really ever (since I lived there)...we will be in Orlando/wdw in March - with family visits in Florida mixed in - and we are spending at least two days staying at okw/Saratoga and going to Seaworld and aquatica...maybe Busch gardens too. We got the holiday price for supergrover pass at sesame pace ($169...and they let you do installments at no charge) and it gets us unlimited visits to the AB parks. Disney lost business from me because the October AP hikes and lack of a decent DVC price allowed my mind to wander.

We will still be In Disney parks...but anyway they slice of their business will decrease from me.

That's what happens when you play with the flame...and as I always point out to 90% of the pounders - I go and spend more than they do - legit.

 

[jade1]

For the first time...really ever (since I lived there)...we will be in Orlando/wdw in March - with family visits in Florida mixed in - and we are spending at least two days staying at okw/Saratoga and going to Seaworld and aquatica...maybe Busch gardens too. We got the holiday price for supergrover pass at sesame pace ($169...and they let you do installments at no charge) and it gets us unlimited visits to the AB parks. Disney lost business from me because the October AP hikes and lack of a decent DVC price allowed my mind to wander.

We will still be In Disney parks...but anyway they slice of their business will decrease from me.

That's what happens when you play with the flame...and as I always point out to 90% of the pounders - I go and spend more than they do - legit.

Love that plan.

So you did buy the AP anyway? We did to.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Every time I've been to Orlando I've spent time at both WDW (typically 5 days) and Universal parks (typically 2-3 days)..always less days at Universal given it's size and appeal to me but still.

I do think a larger price increase right now could shoo away those close enough to experience WDW more often. I've made it there every 5 or 6 years (my husband has not made it that often) and so when I do come I stay 8 to 10 days which includes travel time by plane (2 1/2 hr flight). I can't expect the prices to stay low in between the times that I am able to make it (though they are now significantly higher than they were in 2011 at both WDW and Universal) but for those that can make it more often it can be offputting to see increase after increase after increase but the overall experience either staying the same (though a few dollar increase here wouldn't be so bad) or currently where there is much construction that will be gong on for several more years (even a few dollar increase could make people upset over the money spent and the value given).