New Park Tickets Announced for 2005 - "Magic Your Way"

[LIFERBABE]

If these tickets (MYW) are all going to be bio-metric media (finger scan) then that throws another consideration in the comparison between PHP's.

Right now PHP are not bio scan tickets. You can pretty much use these as you wish. Got an extra person along for the day, here i have a day on a hopper you can use. Dh and I were in WDW in October for a wedding. My best friend joined us for a day at Epcot F&WF. I let her use an extra hopper I had. As a DVC member, I liked this option because you could "treat" day guests. I always keep an extra stash of hoppers.

 

[poohj80]

Have you read somewhere that these passes will include the biometrics or are you just hypothesizing?

 

[mochabean]

To everyone who is complaining about paying "extra" for park hopping or "insurance", my math shows the following comparisons (Disney prices, since we don't know how these new tickets will be sold by resellers or AAA):

OLD 7-day Parkhopper Plus (4 plusses, doesn't expire): $342 plus tax ($316 adv purchase disc)

NEW 7-day Magic Your Way Premium (including park hopping, 5 plusses, and no expiration): $334 plus tax ($323 adv purchase disc)

A 2% DECREASE in the gate price, and you get an extra plus! (Albeit a 2% increase in the adv purchase price).

So you're not paying *more* for "extras", you're given the option, if you choose, to pay less for things you don't want.

Also please keep in mind there is indeed a ticket price increase hidden in all of this. It is most evident in the one-day passes, which increased from $54.75 to $59.75, a 9.1% increase, while 7-day tickets have almost no increase (actually a decrease in the gate price). Also the advance purchase discount is decreasing. In any case comparing this year's pricing to the new tickets is not quite accurate.


Further comparison:

5 day PHP (2 plusses): $282 ($259adv)
5 day MYW/hopper/plus/noexp (3 plusses): $308 ($301adv)
A 9.2% increase in the gate price. (But you get an extra plus)

6 day PHP (3 plusses): $312 ($288adv)
6 day MYW/hopper/plus/noexp (4 plusses): $321 ($312adv)
A 2.9% increase in the gate price. (But you get an extra plus)

4 day PH (no plusses): $219 ($202adv)
4 day MYW/hopper/noexp: $235 (no adv discount)
A 7.3% increase in the gate price.

5 day PH (no plusses): $249 ($230adv)
5 day MYW/hopper/noexp: $263 ($236 adv)
A 5.6% increase in the gate price.

From my point, this is great in that it adds many more money-saving options for most people, while still allowing people to buy an equivalent ticket to what they had before, if they so choose.

The only drawback, as has been stated, is the loss of the unlimited use of waterparks, DQ, and PI which was included with the UMP. (And of course the DVC discounts on the UMP.)

If the biometric news is true, then it allows Disney to enforce the rules already in place with the current ticket media: it is non-transferable. (I will say that without biometrics it was nearly impossible for them to enforce this, and I too keep extra hoppers for friends and relatives to use on occasion.) However I think the motivation for adding the biometrics will allow Disney to severely curb the sale of partially-used tickets, which is probably best for many unfortunate people who get ripped off this way.


[[If any of my math is in error, please let me know.]]

 

[Terry S]

I wonder if there will be some type of provision that if you intially don't buy the "no expiration" feature and you decide to add it on before the 14 day expiration that you can. So lets say you buy 7 day park hoppers without the expiration and come the end of your 7 day trip you find out you only used 5 of those days. Can you then go to the Guest Relations booth and add the "no expiration" feature to the pass so that you can come back. It would cost $55 to keep those extra 2 days which would still be cheaper than buying new tickets for those 2 days.

 

[mochabean]

Terry,
That is a great idea and will allow a lot of flexibility, but I don't see it happening. Since the base tickets are so much cheaper now, Disney will lose too much revenue that way.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

So you're not paying *more* for "extras", you're given the option, if you choose, to pay less for things you don't want.




Further comparison:

5 day PHP (2 plusses): $282 ($259adv)
5 day MYW/hopper/plus/noexp (3 plusses): $308 ($301adv)
A 9.2% increase in the gate price. (But you get an extra plus)

6 day PHP (3 plusses): $312 ($288adv)
6 day MYW/hopper/plus/noexp (4 plusses): $321 ($312adv)
A 2.9% increase in the gate price. (But you get an extra plus)

4 day PH (no plusses): $219 ($202adv)
4 day MYW/hopper/noexp: $235 (no adv discount)
A 7.3% increase in the gate price.

5 day PH (no plusses): $249 ($230adv)
5 day MYW/hopper/noexp: $263 ($236 adv)
A 5.6% increase in the gate price.

From my point, this is great in that it adds many more money-saving options for most people, while still allowing people to buy an equivalent ticket to what they had before, if they so choose.


]]

thank you I have been saying this for 2 days. the term paying "extra" is being thrown around to liberally. The question is: either do you want to basically pay the same to hop or would you rather pay less to not hop.

and if you take those numbers out you'll see a 10 day hopper with no expiration is only $366 compared to 2 old 5 day hoppers at $490.

and a 10 day hopper with plusses is only 308
compared to an old 10 UPH(los) at $437

granted in the UPH you dont get unlimited plusses but its a great alternative if you maybe use less plusses and can thereore save about $130.

 

[erikthewise]

I think it's safe to say that if Disney projected a net loss, they wouldn't be doing this. I'll trust them on that. That doesn't mean it's a swindle, and it doesn't mean some people won't save money on tickets.

I think another item on the agenda is to get as many "loose" hoppers out of circulation as possible. If you want your tickets to be good forever, you have to pay for it, and a lot of people won't.

 

[mochabean]

and a 10 day hopper with plusses is only 308
compared to an old 10 UPH(los) at $437

granted in the UPH you dont get unlimited plusses but its a great alternative if you maybe use less plusses and can thereore save about $130.

Excellent point. Actually your $437 price includes tax. Pre-tax, the 10-day UMP is $410 adv puchase, and $446 at the resort.

To have a 10-day equivalent to the UMP, you'd get the 10-day MYW hopper without plusses, and without the no expiration option, and you would have to buy a PI annual pass ($54.95) and a combo Waterparks and DQ annual pass ($129.00). Your total would be $209 + $35 + $55 + $129 = $428. This represents a 4.0% DECREASE in the gate price, (and you'd have a year of potential use of PI, DQ, and waterparks).

 

[mochabean]

I think another item on the agenda is to get as many "loose" hoppers out of circulation as possible. If you want your tickets to be good forever, you have to pay for it, and a lot of people won't.

Not only that, but with the new tickets, Disney will know WHO has unused days on a hopper, and can target them with advertising!! (If the biometrics rumors are true.)

 

[brivers222]

again not extra! the base rate has gone down

new 7 day park hopper plus w no expiration: about 334

current 7 day park hopper plus: about 336

also looks like new version has 5 plus visits compared to 4

this isnt about having to pay more for hopping priviledges, its about having the optiuon to pay LESS if you do not want to hop.

and even less still if you do not need 'no expiration"

But aren't you forgetting 6.5% tax on the NEW tickets?

From what I can tell, buying the old 7day PHP (4pluses) at the disney store is $336.23 (INCLUDING TAX)

To upgrade the new 7day MYM pass to be the 7day php you would have to pay 334.00 NOT INCLUDING 6.5% tax, taking the total cost up to around $355.

Am I looking at it right?

And more importantly, will we still be able to buy the old 7day PHP passes in advance from Disney Store???

 

[mochabean]

But aren't you forgetting 6.5% tax on the NEW tickets?

From what I can tell, buying the old 7day PHP (4pluses) at the disney store is $336.23 (INCLUDING TAX)

To upgrade the new 7day MYM pass to be the 7day php you would have to pay 334.00 NOT INCLUDING 6.5% tax, taking the total cost up to around $355.

Am I looking at it right?

And more importantly, will we still be able to buy the old 7day PHP passes in advance from Disney Store???

See my post above (#123) for the correct prices not including the tax.
If you want to compare prices with the advance purchase discount:
Old 7-day PHP $336.23 including tax with advance purchase discount.
New 7-day MYW equivalent ticket $344.00 including tax with advance purchase discount. This is a 2.2% ticket price increase which is reasonable.

As for buying tickets at the Disney Stores, my guess is that this will be eliminated on 1/1/05, due to the new tickets and the fact that Disney no longer owns the Disney Stores.

 

[brivers222]

then just buy a 10 day hopper plus w no expiration for $389
divide that by 2 and
what do you know you now have 2- 5 day PHP for an average of 194.50

options, options, options, so many options

But don't they (disney) only allow for one ticket to be used per day (otherwise your could go in on the pass with 9 other friends and all 10 of you could attend the park on the same single day? If that is the case how does the splitting work if you were trying to get two 5day passes for your spouse and yourself?

I understand what you are saying about the splitting by 2 and getting two 5day passes for 194.50, but I don't believe they will truely be allowed to act as two stand alone passes as the original poster seemed to want.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[mochabean]

But don't they (disney) only allow for one ticket to be used per day (otherwise your could go in on the pass with 9 other friends and all 10 of you could attend the park on the same single day? If that is the case how does the splitting work if you were trying to get two 5day passes for your spouse and yourself?

I understand what you are saying about the splitting by 2 and getting two 5day passes for 194.50, but I don't believe they will truely be allowed to act as two stand alone passes as the original poster seemed to want.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

You are correct. But if you take one trip per year, and normally buy a 5 day PHP per person for each trip, this option saves a lot of money by essentially paying for the second ticket in advance.

 

[brivers222]

You are correct. But if you take one trip per year, and normally buy a 5 day PHP per person for each trip, this option saves a lot of money by essentially paying for the second ticket in advance.

Ahh I gotcha. Basically its a 2-5day for yourself for a possible of 2 different trips.

This may just work for my DW and I on our next trip as we are only spending 4 days at the parks and then with the no expiration we can have another 6 days down the rode.

Now also, where will you be able to buy the advance price tickets? Will they be the credit card form you can get the TDS right now or will they be the reinforced paper?

 

[sarhenty]

Ahh I gotcha. Basically its a 2-5day for yourself for a possible of 2 different trips.

This may just work for my DW and I on our next trip as we are only spending 4 days at the parks and then with the no expiration we can have another 6 days down the rode.

Now also, where will you be able to buy the advance price tickets? Will they be the credit card form you can get the TDS right now or will they be the reinforced paper?

exactly!

 

[lenshanem]

The rumor on other boards is the passes are going to finger scan. They have already tried it out at AK gates the other day.
Be careful about mentioning letting others use your hoppers. They are nontransferable. Once I mentioned on the boards that I paid my Mom the difference for a park hopper plus so my daughter could use the pluses for the water parks on another trip. I was attacked like I was committing murder.

I did a little math last night and alot of this is an increase in price. Sure, you can forgo the hopper and no expiration option, but personally I can't imagine not being able to park hop with my kids after a midday break and I like the safety of knowing if something happened we could use our passes on another trip.

The five day is definitely an increase.
True, if you buy the 10 day you are looking at a deal. That is the point, this might look good to some, but realistically WDW is drawing you back for another trip by doing this. More money on rooms, food and junk.

I know this doesn't really apply to us DVCers, but this is a draw to pull others back for another trip and get more money. I know we all love WDW, but they are a company out to make money!

Anyway, we've still got two trips left on our AP and then we'll wait and buy the DVC AP deal. It is still interesting to compare prices! (Wow, I need a life!)

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Ahh I gotcha. Basically its a 2-5day for yourself for a possible of 2 different trips.

This may just work for my DW and I on our next trip as we are only spending 4 days at the parks and then with the no expiration we can have another 6 days down the rode.

Now also, where will you be able to buy the advance price tickets? Will they be the credit card form you can get the TDS right now or will they be the reinforced paper?

there you go, sorry I should have worded it better, I didnt mean to imply use the 10 day for 2 people(5 days each)

just use the no expiration option and one person has all their unused days for the future just like you can with hoppers now.

I just cant get over the deal on the 10 day hopper w no expiration at $366(tax included) thats a huge savings. please let me know if I am figuring that out wrong, but I am pretty sure its dead on

10 day base: 209
flat rate hopper: 35
no expiration: 100
tax 22.36
total: 366.36

right?


Does anyone know if the advance purhase discounts can be added onto later, as in once you arrive at WDW.

I notice there is no advanced discount for the "no expiration" option. But do you think you can buy the advanced discounted 7 day hopper ticket and add on the no expiration later, probably not the more I think about it

 

[sjdisneywedding]

The five day is definitely an increase.
True, if you buy the 10 day you are looking at a deal. That is the point, this might look good to some, but realistically WDW is drawing you back for another trip by doing this. More money on rooms, food and junk.

i think thats a dead on observation, if you are only planning one trip to Disney you will definately be looking at higher prices, especially for the shorter duration tickets

but whats the difference those going for the first and only time dont know any better anyway Im only kidding

but seriously they may have never known park hopping anyway and if they are only coming once they may not care at all about the no expiration option so they can save some money there as well

for example on 5 days:
new 5 day one park pass: $206 w tax
new 5 day hopper that expires: $235 w tax
new 5 day one park no expiration: $246 w tax
new 5 day hopper no expir: $280 w tax
old 5 day hopper: about $245 w tax

so yes you pay more for an identical 5 day hopper that doesnt expire now, but look at the possibilities to save money and this isnt even including the plus feature options.

theres just so many options to meet many many more peoples needs

 

[Jacksmom99]

I did a little math last night and alot of this is an increase in price. Sure, you can forgo the hopper and no expiration option, but personally I can't imagine not being able to park hop with my kids after a midday break and I like the safety of knowing if something happened we could use our passes on another trip.

The five day is definitely an increase.
True, if you buy the 10 day you are looking at a deal. That is the point, this might look good to some, but realistically WDW is drawing you back for another trip by doing this. More money on rooms, food and junk.

Thanks Shannen for making my point! I was only pointing out that the new tickets are going to cost us more for the same thing we've always gotten. At this point we don't want or use plusses and only ever take a 6 or 7 day vacation a year (except this year ). Going to the parks for more than 4 or 5 days would make us crazy, but we like the flexibility to decide for ourselves if it will be 4 or 5 days at the parks and not feel obligated to use or loose. Again, I'm glad that for some people the new tickets will work out. As I was happy about the DVC discount on AP's. That will help us this year, but not others. I'm just upset that MY price increase is being camoflaged in the "great new ticket deal".

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Thanks Shannen for making my point! I was only pointing out that the new tickets are going to cost us more for the same thing we've always gotten. At this point we don't want or use plusses and only ever take a 6 or 7 day vacation a year (except this year ). Going to the parks for more than 4 or 5 days would make us crazy, but we like the flexibility to decide for ourselves if it will be 4 or 5 days at the parks and not feel obligated to use or loose. Again, I'm glad that for some people the new tickets will work out. As I was happy about the DVC discount on AP's. That will help us this year, but not others. I'm just upset that MY price increase is being camoflaged in the "great new ticket deal".

I do not understand why you keep saying "we dont want or need plusses" like its a bad thing. These options allow you to not choose them.