This Rick guy...
Universal is doing exactly what it should be doing. They can leverage their unique market position and additions to make these increases. They're well below Walt Disney World pricing, and it's well within the realm of reason. Especially if Water Park (#volcanobay) entrance is included in the premium passes (which I suspect it will) limiting the APs makes perfect sense. New additions are coming. Rick needs to calm down.
Walt Disney World apparently has shed APs (those are the rumblings at least). Which is reasonable. Unlike SoCal there are legitimate competitors in the market.
Disneyland can get away with huge prices for APs because all they have is the mediocre Universal Hollywood and Knotts to compete with. Also the locals are fanatical in their loyalty to the original park and 2nd resort (for good reason too).
Now we'll see if WDW really cares... It is true WDW was basically starting to overcrowd. They even said that the price increases and use of block out dates was a means to control attendance. Creating a better guest experience at the expense of attendance. We'll see if they really meant that by how they price APs if we see stagnation for several years or increases just to keep up with inflation that will be the indicator we need.
paid EMH. Even giving it away didn't make people want to pay for it so it went away.
It's interesting people reacted so vehemently to this. I thought it was actually a unique/compelling offering for a certain market. Either the high income or day visitors would've benefited. It's a shame. I know if in future years I was dropping into Orlando for a conference or work, a night out at MK with limited crowds would've been an awesome option to have instead of regular admission.
Though I digress...
Sounds like a lot of whining to me. So you pay $80/day for 5 days and I pay $25/day for about 45 days. That's $400 compared to my $1125. I also spend more on hotels. I spend more on meals. I may or may not spend more on merch cause I don't always buy stuff when I go and you probably do. If you wanna go more often, get a better job or move closer. However, my status as an AP holder does absolutely nothing to ruin or cheapen YOUR experience.
Though you need to look at how other guests and Disney view it. In general APs come and spend less per day in food, beverage, and merchandise. There are exceptions, but they generally don't spend as much on hotels. They also come at the most crowded times; like at nights for fireworks and on weekends/holidays.
If Disney could stuff 70,000 people into the Magic Kingdom there's no doubt they'd choose Week long visitors over APs any day. Why? Because each unique visitor has bigger vacation funds than one AP spread of 30 visits for just a nightly drop in to watch the fireworks or hangout on a Saturday.
APs are very helpful for slower times (hence the blackouts) when the parks aren't filled with normal guests.
Before you wonder, I am an AP...
When I say a recession will change things is I mean Disney will discount heavily and won't raise prices as much or as high because people don't have the money.
Indeed, though it's an open question to how they respond. Walt Disney Parks is leaps and bounds stronger than the last time undergoing hard times. Except maybe at WDW. There it's probably break even in terms of offerings. Their response should be better this time, which means less benefit for us the consumer.
That will be interesting, but I'm hoping we can put off that study for a while...
