Is WDW worth the ticket price anymore? I'm thinking 5 day tickets...

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

There's been a lot of chatter about the astronomical price of tickets and their escalation recently... have Disney pushed it too far?

 

[tvguy]

No for me , but for more reasons that the price. To your question specifically, WDW, we went to the first time 5 years ago and it just wasn't our cup of tea. We are DL people. While we frequently stay at one of the three Disney hotels at DL, the options for less expensive hotel options within walking distance is a HUGE advantage. Same for restaurant options.

But somehow business at WDW, DL and Disney Cruise Line is at capacity with the current prices, so until business drops, no, Disney hasn't pushed it too far. There are still more people than they can handle at the current prices.

 

[Smugpugmug]

All I'm going to say is that if I didn't have an annual pass, I definitely wouldn't be going as often. The ticket prices are kinda nuts.

 

[leebee]

We've cut back from 5 day tickets to 2 day park-hoppers. We've been to Disney dozens of times and can get our fill of our favorites this way. We've also started staying offsite at either Disney Springs hotels, or hotels in Kissimmee, utilizing credit card rewards points to offset the cost. It also makes it easier to eat more affordably.

 

[pookybean]

We still love to go, but our trips are getting shorter and shorter. My daughter wants to go for her 16th birthday in dec, just the 2 of us. It would be over christmas week, which i know is expensive, but a week at pop is pushing $5k! Ive taken ALL of my kids over christmas a few times and have never spent that much. She really wants to stay at pop and she really wants to go over christmas, but im thinking we may have to cut it down to a 4 or 5 day trip as opposed to a full week.

I get disney is a business, and people are obviously willing to pay what they are asking... but it still makes me sad.

 

[BrianL]

You know, it's not really the ticket price that bothers me, it's all the other nickel & diming that's going on and a reduction in services you used to be able to get either complimentary or for an upcahrge. I just don't like the trend. They did recently reinstate free parking for hotel guests - a step in the right direction anyway.

 

[FastPasser.]

If they pushed it too far why are the parks are as busy as they are?

 

[luvnwdwgal]

My husband and I went to WDW last August for 5 nights and we just bought 2 day tickets. We were staying at Pop Century so we went with Epcot and Hollywood Studios cause they are both on the Skyliner route. One of the trips ever! We have been to WDW many times and it’s not all about the parks anymore. We were able to relax and enjoy the pool, go resort hopping, spend time at Disney Springs and just relax and enjoy being in the bubble. Loved it! Next time we are thinking about staying at the Wilderness Lodge for 4 nights with 2 day tickets to Magic Kingdom.

 

[sam_gordon]

Haven't been in years. Don't have plans to return any time soon.

I would like to see Galaxy's Edge at some point though.

 

[Allison]

Not based on crowds.

 

[Moliphino]

I haven't been since May 2021. It's all gotten too expensive for a lesser experience and it's just not worth it to me anymore. We've done two weeks in Spain, two weeks in France, and a week in Belgium in the meantime and enjoyed those immensely. Those may sound like expensive trips, but they were less expensive than the same amount of time at WDW at a value resort with tickets and food.

 

[ronandannette]

I haven't been since May 2021. It's all gotten too expensive for a lesser experience and it's just not worth it to me anymore. We've done two weeks in Spain, two weeks in France, and a week in Belgium in the meantime and enjoyed those immensely. Those may sound like expensive trips, but they were less expensive than the same amount of time at WDW at a value resort with tickets and food.

Absolutely!! I think those that have frequented Disney over the years and endured the “boiling frog” effect of rising prices and diminished experience don’t realize just how far that kind of money will get you elsewhere.

Somebody upthread mentioned 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS for a week for two at a Value resort. Always assumed that dream trip to Hawaii, or an Alaskan cruise, or Europe or even an African safari was out-of-reach? Price them out and see!

 

[Moliphino]

Somebody upthread mentioned 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS for a week for two at a Value resort. Always assumed that dream trip to Hawaii, or an Alaskan cruise, or Europe or even an African safari was out-of-reach? Price them out and see!

Yup, two weeks in Spain for two was $6200 and the biggest expense were the flights. One week in Belgium for three people was $6400. It's made me realize just how insane Disney prices are, especially for food and drink.

 

[AnnaS]

We have been renewing our APs. I don't want to keep doing this forever since there are times when I don't want to make a second trip to Disney (to make it worth it). I have kept renewing since they are not selling new ones. I would not renew when out next trip was more than 6-8 months away (and then get another 2 or 3 trips out of the new one, and so forth).

We don't spend that much time in the parks - If we decide to give up our APs or they stop renewing/before I decide to stop renewing - we will purchase 2 - 3 days max of base tickets or hoppers every other trip.

We will use the resort as our winter getaway - happy with resort hopping, Crescent Lake, DS and perhaps visit Universal again if that time comes. We will also use our points at Vero and Hilton Head.

I never say never - but we want to venture out more and also tired of the nickel and diming, etc. - might try exchanging and if that does not work out, I might consider selling a few points down the road (shocking even to me/hopefully it won't come to that).

 

[njcoach24]

It is all relative. If I get a comped room at a casino I'm gambling away $300 bucks that night and another $200 for dinner = $500 at the minimum for a couple hours of "depressing fun." Going to a sporting event costs me roughly $400 in tickets for 4 people, food and drink at least another $100, and they get you on parking = $500 for 3 hours of fun if my team wins. They just opened a Nickelodeon Universe at the mall near my house, that costs $70 to go to per person. There are like 8 rides and you can do all of them in 2-3 hours. Disney costs roughly the same or slightly more but you get a full day of fun. I rather spend the money on Disney. I don't count the cost of the hotel since I have DVC and it was paid outright. Also, I try and look for $100 round trip flights which I just did last month. To me that equals gas/parking/toll money.

 

[Sacahara]

Speaking as someone with very little Disney experience (1st WDW trip was in 2018 and I'll be there next week for my 4th Disney trip overall), I don't really know what it was like in the 'before times' and my goals when I go are always rides and food, anything else was just a bonus whether is was included in the price or not. I normally save for a year to go but it's like that with any vacation for me so yes, I could travel other places and pay just as much if not less but I want Disney right now so that's what I go with. Personally, nothing is ever worth the cost to me and I'm always having to justify it to myself but that's me and I stopped buying my favorite ice cream at the store because the price went up $2. I think for people that KNOW Disney it's probably not but for people like me? I don't know but I'll be checking into Music on Tuesday.

 

[sam_gordon]

Always assumed that dream trip to Hawaii, or an Alaskan cruise, or Europe or even an African safari was out-of-reach? Price them out and see!

Actually I did price a dream trip to Hawaii. DW & I were going to go for our 30th. A 10 day trip I had estimated at around $10K (including flights, hotels, meals, some tours). Instead we're going to an AI for 6 days for around $6K. Disney (doing a quick look):
Flights: $700
Rooms (moderate): $1800
Park Tickets (5 day non hopper via Undercover Tourist): $1200
Meals (at least $75pdpp *& 6): 900
TOTAL: $4600

You could do cheaper (value resort, all QS meals), but this is how we like to tour.

 

[PezRuth]

We are going in April. Honestly I am not really looking forward to it but we have a 12 and 6 year old. The 6 year old last went when she was 11 months old so feel we should visit. For the first time, we will not be staying on property. We have 4 day park tickets. I am honestly more looking forward to just relaxing at the hotel. I just find visiting the parks very stressful. We will be going down for 7 days. Looking for other things to do in the area as well. We did Universal last year.