I've changed my opinion on park ticket prices

[pinnocchiosdad]

So my thoughts on park tickets have recently taken an about face. I had taken the thought that Disney was now only for the rich. I saw Disney filling its pockets with cash as park goers passed through the turnstiles each day. I empathized with the frustration of large families not being able to afford even one days park admission.

So while much of the above still holds true, I am OK with park ticket prices.

What changed my thoughts. I recently went to a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden with my son. Tickets were $175 each. A steak sandwich and a beer was $31. The game was about 2 1/2 hours long.

Next weekend my wife and I are going to see To kill a mockingbird on Broadway. Tickets are selling for $300. The play is also 2 1/2 hours long.

Keeping in mind that a Disney tickets gives you a full day of rides, shows, and entertainment, it is actually a bargain compared to the above.

Just my thoughts.

 

[siren0119]

So my thoughts on park tickets have recently taken an about face. I had taken the thought that Disney was now only for the rich. I saw Disney filling its pockets with cash as park goers passed through the turnstiles each day. I empathized with the frustration of large families not being able to afford even one days park admission.

So while much of the above still holds true, I am OK with park ticket prices.

What changed my thoughts. I recently went to a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden with my son. Tickets were $175 each. A steak sandwich and a beer was $31. The game was about 2 1/2 hours long.

Next weekend my wife and I are going to see To kill a mockingbird on Broadway. Tickets are selling for $300. The play is also 2 1/2 hours long.

Keeping in mind that a Disney tickets gives you a full day of rides, shows, and entertainment, it is actually a bargain compared to the above.

Just my thoughts.

I think it's not so much that DISNEY is just for the rich

I think that headline entertainment in major venues in GENERAL is becoming financially out of reach for many people.

 

[mustinjourney]

the hotels are still overpriced -- but as you said, the tickets are in-line with many other entertainment options.

 

[Liv&Leah]

I get what you are saying, but I think it would still be nice for them to offer discounts every once in while (to make it more affordable for the average family.) Disney is for families and kids. I think everything Disney is overpriced.

 

[Brett Wyman]

the hotels are still overpriced -- but as you said, the tickets are in-line with many other entertainment options.

This is how I feel. Their rooms are very high for what they are but I never felt the price for a day in the park was too high. In fact it's probably the best entertainment value for the dollar that I can think of.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We do see the value in all Disney experiences, including DCL and ABD. We enjoy the Festivals!

Phillies tickets for the family with refreshments are our other high expense experience.

On the other hand season tickets to Dollywood with parking and a 20% discount on all purchases, including sit down meals, bottles of water only costs $194 plus tax. Without the perks it’s $119, and only one of us needs the more expensive tickets. They have wonderful festivals, shows, and they certainly do Christmas right! It’s our second most go to destination, and you get the wonderful Great Smoky Mountain NP as a bonus side trip.

Then we live in Cape May NJ and get to enjoy the wonders of an Atlantic Seacoast town, all for our NJ real estate taxes, which are a bit less than our DVC maintenance fees!

 

[siren0119]

We do see the value in Disney experiences, including DCL and ABD.

Phillies tickets for the family with refreshments are our other high expense experience.

On the other hand season tickets to Dollywood with parking and a 20% discount on all purchases, including sit down meals, bottles of water only costs $194 plus tax. Without the perks it’s $119, and only one of us needs the more expensive tickets. They have wonderful festivals, shows, and they certainly do Christmas right!

Ugh I would LOOOOVE to make it to Dollywood at Christmas!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Ugh I would LOOOOVE to make it to Dollywood at Christmas!

Please try to go one year! The season generally runs from second weekend in November through January 3. They are NOT opened every day, and it could be cold!!

 

[siren0119]

Please try to go one year! The season generally fun’s from second weekend in November through January 3. They are NOT opened every day, and it could be cold!!

So pretty! And I'm in Massachusetts - cold is relative

 

[bobbiwoz]

That was Nov 14 last year. It was rainy and cold. Notice we were nearly the only ones in the light tunnel, well, there was one soul who took our picture, and maybe one out the other end.

 

[aoconnor]

I think a lot of the anger stems from the dramatic ticket price increases coupled with a general decline in the parks. The rate of new attractions added is dismal compared to the 80s, 90s and early 2000s and on top of that there has been a decline in maintenance and customer service.

It's still worth it to me, obviously, but I think the vast majority of long-time visitors would agree it's gone downhill under Iger while simultaneously getting 2x more expensive.

 

[ray3127]

I think a lot of the anger stems from the dramatic ticket price increases coupled with a general decline in the parks.

And yet, they continue to break attendance records...

Which brings me to my own pet peeve: people that simultaneously complain about ticket prices and crowds (haven't seen this on this thread, but I've seen it). Unless you believe in Socialist Disney, then prices will continue to go up as long as crowds do.

And I whole-heartedly agree that the entertainment value proposition actually compares extraordinarily favorably to the alternatives, even at today's historically high prices (which will only ever continue to rise, recession or not).

 

[DougEMG]

So my thoughts on park tickets have recently taken an about face. I had taken the thought that Disney was now only for the rich. I saw Disney filling its pockets with cash as park goers passed through the turnstiles each day. I empathized with the frustration of large families not being able to afford even one days park admission.

So while much of the above still holds true, I am OK with park ticket prices.

What changed my thoughts. I recently went to a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden with my son. Tickets were $175 each. A steak sandwich and a beer was $31. The game was about 2 1/2 hours long.

Next weekend my wife and I are going to see To kill a mockingbird on Broadway. Tickets are selling for $300. The play is also 2 1/2 hours long.

Keeping in mind that a Disney tickets gives you a full day of rides, shows, and entertainment, it is actually a bargain compared to the above.

Just my thoughts.

That is way too expensive for me. I little to compare how long it takes me working to make the money for my entertainment. When the ratio gets too far out of wack, I'm not going to enjoy myself.

As you say, at least with a Disney ticket you get a day's entertainment; unless there is a party that evening.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

i agree that prices are crazy everywhere. A one day walk-up lift ticket at Vail is now $209. Once you add in lunch, parking and ski rental if you need it, Disney is a down right bargain.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Disney could probably raise ticket price 50% today and it probably wouldn't put that big a dent in sales. There is so much demand for a Disney Vacation that they can pretty much price it at whatever they want. They could lower prices 25% and the parks would be even more mobbed than they already are.

One thing that's great about Orlando is lodging and food options are pretty cheap if you are willing to look for a deal. There's some hotel (blanking on the name) that Mouse Savers always advertises for where you can get a 2br hotel room for like $159 part of the year. Coupled that with numerous off site eateries that are affordable the overall trip shouldn't be that much more expensive than any other family vacation. Sure, everyone wants to stay at the Grand Floridian and eat table service meals each night. But the core WDW vacation I think is attainable for a good portion of the US.

I agree with some other people that when you compare WDW to other events, it's not that terrible. I live 3 blocks from Wrigley Field in Chicago and took some extended family to a Cubs game last year in decent seats. 8 tickets @ $145 plus $10.50/beer, $6.50/hotdog, $14/helmet full of nachos, $25/t shirts for each niece and nephew. I spent north of $1,500 and honestly, the kids were ready to go after the 3rd inning.

 

[mustinjourney]

i agree that prices are crazy everywhere. A one day walk-up lift ticket at Vail is now $209. Once you add in lunch, parking and ski rental if you need it, Disney is a down right bargain.

wow -- 6 years ago it was $169 -- and I thought THAT was pricey. Throw in the equipment rental at $100+ per day and skiing is outrageously expensive.

 

[mustinjourney]

Disney could probably raise ticket price 50% today and it probably wouldn't put that big a dent in sales. There is so much demand for a Disney Vacation that they can pretty much price it at whatever they want. They could lower prices 25% and the parks would be even more mobbed than they already are.

One thing that's great about Orlando is lodging and food options are pretty cheap if you are willing to look for a deal. There's some hotel (blanking on the name) that Mouse Savers always advertises for where you can get a 2br hotel room for like $159 part of the year. Coupled that with numerous off site eateries that are affordable the overall trip shouldn't be that much more expensive than any other family vacation. Sure, everyone wants to stay at the Grand Floridian and eat table service meals each night. But the core WDW vacation I think is attainable for a good portion of the US.

I agree with some other people that when you compare WDW to other events, it's not that terrible. I live 3 blocks from Wrigley Field in Chicago and took some extended family to a Cubs game last year in decent seats. 8 tickets @ $145 plus $10.50/beer, $6.50/hotdog, $14/helmet full of nachos, $25/t shirts for each niece and nephew. I spent north of $1,500 and honestly, the kids were ready to go after the 3rd inning.

Went to a cubs game a few years ago when I was up for the Notre Dame v Texas game. Sat in the centerfield bleachers and it was the worst experience of my life at a game. It was in the 90s and oddly humid (and I'm from Houston -- so I know humidity). I was sitting there just dripping sweat. Finally had to get up and go to the top to get a water, and then I discovered that it was better to just stay up at the top where there was actual wind. I'm guessing that new giant scoreboard completely blocks all the wind from going into the seats?

I had way more fun going into the different bars in the area -- it's definitely a unique atmosphere around the stadium.

 

[TexasChick123]

We just went on a ski trip to Winter Park, Colorado. A 4-day lift ticket, with a special discount, was almost $400 purchased in advance. This did not include equipment rental, lodging, or food of any kind. Everything is getting expensive.

Some friends of ours asked if we wanted to get Hamilton tickets for the show in Houston. They were over $500/ticket. No thanks. I love plays and musicals, but I don't love them enough to spend over $1000 just for the tickets. However, those same friends that spent over $500 per ticket to see Hamilton think we are crazy for going to Disney and spent about that for an annual pass last year. Different strokes for different folks...

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

So my thoughts on park tickets have recently taken an about face. I had taken the thought that Disney was now only for the rich. I saw Disney filling its pockets with cash as park goers passed through the turnstiles each day. I empathized with the frustration of large families not being able to afford even one days park admission.

So while much of the above still holds true, I am OK with park ticket prices.

What changed my thoughts. I recently went to a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden with my son. Tickets were $175 each. A steak sandwich and a beer was $31. The game was about 2 1/2 hours long.

Next weekend my wife and I are going to see To kill a mockingbird on Broadway. Tickets are selling for $300. The play is also 2 1/2 hours long.

Keeping in mind that a Disney tickets gives you a full day of rides, shows, and entertainment, it is actually a bargain compared to the above.

Just my thoughts.

I would never pay that much for a sporting event or a play.

 

[Wakey]

I am not American. It amazes me what Americans will pay for stuff in good economy times. From park tickets to concert tickets to Broadway shows. For example you can go and see most West End shows for around $100 max in London (Hamilton more expensive, it’s about $250). Last one I saw was Dreamgirls at the Savoy theatre, think it was about £75 (if in London, highly recommended). One of the richest sports league in the World, the football (soccer to you lot) English Premier Leaugue, where teams have wage bills alone in some cases of £250m ($330m pa), has an average ticket price of £31 (1.32 to dollar so $41 including VAT at 20%) and people here moan about that !
I am not sure why such a discrepancy exists, but it is marked when we from Europe come over there.