No expiration gone, what is going to be next for Disney tickets?

[JohnDaleswife]

Now that Disney has pulled the no expiration option, (because it hurt their bottom line) how long do you think it will be before they will sell them like they do the tickets to Disneyland? Expiring in one year, I believe? What say you?

 

[cakebaker]

I wouldn't be surprised if they did that. There's no good reason for them to allow them to last forever. I didn't realize DL tickets expired, but makes sense.

 

[Skywise]

It'd have to be 2 years at least, I think. With 6 months advance planning for ADRs (and with the popular restaurants selling out almost immediately at 6 months) planning a year out, or more isn't uncommon. For NYE last year I booked my package almost a year in advance and I could see people starting a few months earlier.

Frankly I'd like to see them bring back "park only" admissions (no rides) which is easily doable now with magic bands and the other RFID media but I don't see that happening. Even though my elderly parents are happy to just walk around the park and would take advantage of it, it's not in Disney's economic interests. Why sell discounted tickets to further pack the parks when they can pack them now at max cost and not even have to guarantee access to the rides?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

That and they would likely have to take some sort of steps to prevent guests from trading magic bands, or a group of guests could have some party members with park only and some with full admission and they'd just switch bands around.

 

[L&Lfan]

My parents (now deceased) were not attraction riders so they used to love getting the General Admission ticket and just people watching on a bench with some popcorn. Those days are long gone. Even the benches they used to sit on are no longer there!

 

[JimmyV]

There's no good reason for them to allow them to last forever.

Agree. I've never understood why Disney allowed (allows?) people to buy tickets as "futures".

 

[SnackCredit]

Why would someone go to the park and not do any attractions? Plus "attractions" =/= "rides" as there are plenty of movies and shows that count.

 

[IrishNYC]

Frankly I'd like to see them bring back "park only" admissions (no rides) which is easily doable now with magic bands and the other RFID media but I don't see that happening. Even though my elderly parents are happy to just walk around the park and would take advantage of it, it's not in Disney's economic interests. Why sell discounted tickets to further pack the parks when they can pack them now at max cost and not even have to guarantee access to the rides?

That would never happen. Too many people are dishonest. I guarantee you just like people bring extra MBs to the park to get FPs they're not entitled to, they would do sneaky things like only buy ride tickets for half their family and then spend the day switching bands back and forth.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think the next thing to come at WDW anyway is a big increase in AP prices or a reduction in AP benefits (parking, expanded blockout dates, etc). Something like that. I could see them chipping away there bit by bit.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That would never happen. Too many people are dishonest. I guarantee you just like people bring extra MBs to the park to get FPs they're not entitled to, they would do sneaky things like only buy ride tickets for half their family and then spend the day switching bands back and forth.

True.

 

[Skywise]

That and they would likely have to take some sort of steps to prevent guests from trading magic bands, or a group of guests could have some party members with park only and some with full admission and they'd just switch bands around.

I just don't see that as that big of a deal. Assuming a family of 10 buys 5 ride tickets and 5 "park" tickets, no matter how that gets swapped around only 5 people can ride at a time. The problem is that Disney now has to scan everybody onto each ride but they're doing that anyway with FP+ now.

I'm trying to figure out if there's someway that could be gamed though - I can't see scammers buying more expensive ride tickets to trade for cheaper park tickets. I guess guests leaving early could give away their ride tickets to park only goers but I don't have a problem with that ether. I can see people paying for multiple tickets per day to score extra FP+ but, honestly, I don't have a problem with that. If anything that would cut down on the crowds. It'd also be an interesting way of modifying tickets to increase income - park entrance for $50 plus $50 for a "3 pack" of FP+ which can be recharged for an additional $50 but only after you've used the first 3 FP+... (Yeah, yeah, don't give 'em ideas!)

It COULD lead to increased incidents of theft in the park as some people would try to swipe (heh) the ride tickets after coming in with park tickets.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Agree. I've never understood why Disney allowed (allows?) people to buy tickets as "futures".

We've done it - when we've had APs and wanted to get 'free dining'. So we get the free dining promo and buy the required 1 or 2 day tickets and save them. Then when we need to renew our APs (we do let several months go by so not renewing in their timeframe) - we use the tickets and upgrade them to APs.

 

[JimmyV]

We've done it -.

Me too! Just because I said I didn't understand why Disney allows it doesn't mean I don't take advantage of it! I have purchased 5 day passes in advance of price increases and tucked them away in a safe deposit box for an upcoming trip. I'm not a DVC owner, but if I were, I would have bought a bunch of passes a long time ago when "hopping" was the norm and didn't cost extra.

 

[heartse]

Undercover tourist still had non-expiring tickets

 

[Mousefanmike]

I think the next thing to come at WDW anyway is a big increase in AP prices or a reduction in AP benefits (parking, expanded blockout dates, etc). Something like that. I could see them chipping away there bit by bit.

I could see them doing that too, probably raise the prices whilst lessening the benefits. I believe they did something similar with TiW. With the economy improving, with a record high in attendance and sales, they are currently at the liberty to do whatever they may please. It will cause a uproar, as every change does, but we will will get use to it.

I am also thinking that Fee dining may stop being a thing for the same reason. Disney doesn't need people to come in the 'off' season, because there really isn't an off season anymore. there is something always happening at the world.

 

[Broker]

Frankly I'd like to see them bring back "park only" admissions (no rides) which is easily doable now with magic bands and the other RFID media but I don't see that happening. Even though my elderly parents are happy to just walk around the park and would take advantage of it, it's not in Disney's economic interests. Why sell discounted tickets to further pack the parks when they can pack them now at max cost and not even have to guarantee access to the rides?

That more than likely will never happen. There is no point in Disney burdening the already busy transportation system and crowded parks with a cheaper ticket option. From a business standpoint it doesn't make much sense for them to do it.

 

[Mousefanmike]

here is no point in Disney burdening the already busy transportation system and crowded parks with a cheaper ticket option. From a business standpoint it doesn't make much sense for them to do it.

Unless they want add more buses.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I could see them doing that too, probably raise the prices whilst lessening the benefits. I believe they did something similar with TiW. With the economy improving, with a record high in attendance and sales, they are currently at the liberty to do whatever they may please. It will cause a uproar, as every change does, but we will will get use to it.

I am also thinking that Fee dining may stop being a thing for the same reason. Disney doesn't need people to come in the 'off' season, because there really isn't an off season anymore. there is something always happening at the world.

I agree about free dining. Even just move to room discounts when needed.

They can always bring stuff back/lower prices if they need to.

 

[Flamingeaux]

Shoot, I still have a one day ticket and a six day ticket leftover from previous trips. I need to use them up one day. I hope to take a trip with DD sometime in the next couple years. The suckie part is I can only get one day of FPs on the one day ticket and have to wait to I get there to upgrade and then get FPs.

 

[minniemous]

I think Disney is in general is a good value given all there is to do. However it is a constant trickle of removing little things and it starting to get a little annoying. I never purchased the non-expiring tickets but it is just one more thing to go. It is like the quiet removal of the pictures that came with certain character meals that occurred in the new year. I am sure it will save them a lot of money not having to provide those photos as well as encourage more people to buy into memory maker. It is just a constant now, and like I said getting a little annoying to me.

As far as removing free dining. Well, I know we would stop our annual trip if they did that. Perhaps they do not need it anymore, I do not really know. It did get us to go every year for 10 days at a time, and I know that would stop quick for us. So, while they are pulling in more people in for the fall these days (the slower season) I would say they would lose a good deal of people that it would not be worth it to them. They are doing well in the Fall because of free dining. It is not exactly easy to arrange to take kids out of school right after school has begun for the year. The fall is a fairly nice season most places so no one is in a hurry to leave where they live to take a trip to Disney World.

I know leaving for 10 days in the nice crisp Fall weather is kind of a catch 22. I love disney but it is a great time of year to be in New England. I hope people are wrong and they still need the free dining to entice people. I would still go..but not for 10 days and not every year.