One day park prices going up tomorrow

[JanaDee]

If there are people willing to continue to pay the prices they set for the experience they get then those people must feel they're getting a sufficient experience.

Why would Disney think otherwise? They're not going to think there's a problem until they start seeing it in the numbers.

If they don't think there's a problem, they aren't listening.

 

[Damien2213]

Glad I'm locked in....

 

[Marionnette]

If there are people willing to continue to pay the prices they set for the experience they get then those people must feel they're getting a sufficient experience.

Why would Disney think otherwise? They're not going to think there's a problem until they start seeing it in the numbers.

It's all about the tipping point. The tipping point for gasoline was $4/gal. a couple of years ago. When it hit that price, Americans started driving less and profits suffered. Gas prices eventually went down and people are back to driving more. The same will be true with Disney. There will be a tipping point where people will decide that it has gotten to be too expensive for what they get in return. Until then, Disney can continue to raise their ticket prices and resort room rates.

 

[MamaBear58]

I realize that there are no guarantees, but historically have there been many years with more than one price increase?

We have a room only through DU. I was going to buy in April to avoid a May/June increase and decide then whether I wanted to take a chance on getting 1 AP for us, in case in Aug or Sept they came out with an AP discount for our week in Nov. Also have no interest in the dining plan so the TIW card is appealing.

But if they won't go up again before we go in Nov, seems like I should just sit back and wait until AP discounts are announced for the Fall. No discount, 4 tickets. Discount, 3 tickets and an AP and a TIW card (no interest in dining plan).

Decisions, decisions.

 

[ethanwa]

Supply and demand. There too much demand for Disney theme parks and not enough supply. The parks have been very crowded the last 6 months... more than usual in my opinion. Therefore raise the prices until it evens out.

Come on people... Business 101 here. After all, that IS what Disney is.

 

[MamaBear58]

While I always hate to see a price increase, I can't help but think there will be an increase in visitors to the Orlando area in the next several months. I've seen lot of reports from people stating they were going to put off their next trip until the mine train opens up. So once that opens - people are going to want to come and experience the new ride. In addition, the Harry Potter expansion will attract huge crowds this summer. For Disney fans who are traveling to Universal - how many of them will be thinking I can't be this close to Disney without stopping in, especially to see the mine train.

While some would argue the Harry Potter expansion will draw people away from Disney, I would agree it would reduce the people dedicating their entire stay to Disney, but I think the increase in single day attendance may be on the rise for those people who want to come and just ride the mine train.

I think that you hit the nail on the head here. They wanted to increase a 1 day ticket for this very reason, but it doesn't make sense not to increase everything at once. Unless there's a big attraction scheduled for late 2014 in Disney, maybe the good news is that this is simply the annual increase, just earlier than usual.

 

[JanaDee]

NEW ticket prices as of this morning

AP $675.21
Renewal $552.74

FL AP $516.53
Renewal $419.61

Park hopper went up to $63.90 per ticket

 

[sjbond]

Yes, the goal is to make money in any business. However, I wonder how Walt would have felt about Disney pricing out the average family. I doubt he would have seen it the same way as those in charge now. Disney is quickly turning into a place only the upper class can visit regularly and everyone else once in a life time or never. Not exactly the vision Walt had.

 

[amg35]

Sorry, dumb question incoming:

If we've already purchased our tickets (package) for October trip, our prices can't increase right?

 

[JanaDee]

Sorry, dumb question incoming:

If we've already purchased our tickets (package) for October trip, our prices can't increase right?

Right. Unless you make changes, your ticket price will be locked in.

 

[MamaBear58]

Sorry, dumb question incoming:

If we've already purchased our tickets (package) for October trip, our prices can't increase right?

I think that you're fine unless you make changes. For example, if you cancel the package to rebook at a special discount (e.g. an AP that's not available at your existing resort/room category), I think the ticket prices in your new package reflect the new prices. Not sure about simply adding an available discount to your existing room/category or adding free dining.

 

[amg35]

Yes, the goal is to make money in any business. However, I wonder how Walt would have felt about Disney pricing out the average family. I doubt he would have seen it the same way as those in charge now. Disney is quickly turning into a place only the upper class can visit regularly and everyone else once in a life time or never. Not exactly the vision Walt had.

I think that since the advent of the moderate and value hotels, it allows way more lower to middle income families to come to WDW. Before it was just the CR and the Poly and I was one of the few kids in my school who even went to WDW back in the 70's/early 80's. And I know my parents saved like crazy for those trips. Definitely didn't go every year.

 

[fairyprincess88]

While I always hate to see a price increase, I can't help but think there will be an increase in visitors to the Orlando area in the next several months. I've seen lot of reports from people stating they were going to put off their next trip until the mine train opens up. So once that opens - people are going to want to come and experience the new ride. In addition, the Harry Potter expansion will attract huge crowds this summer. For Disney fans who are traveling to Universal - how many of them will be thinking I can't be this close to Disney without stopping in, especially to see the mine train.

While some would argue the Harry Potter expansion will draw people away from Disney, I would agree it would reduce the people dedicating their entire stay to Disney, but I think the increase in single day attendance may be on the rise for those people who want to come and just ride the mine train.

I think raising the price might actually negatively affect those going to Orlando for Potter to hit up Disney for a day. Universal tickets run like Disney's. The more days you buy the cheaper it is. Why spend $100 dollars for one day at a Disney park when you can spend $10 for one day at both IOA and USO? Heck, an annual pass at Universal is only about $160 more than a one day park admission to Disney.

For our Dec trip to Potter we considered maybe hitting up MK to see the Mine Train and Christmas decorations but then realized the price was not worth it. We are considering maybe doing a Mickey's Christmas Party but even the cost of that seems extreme when we can use those funds towards more Potter. Of course we are Universal's core demographic now, whereas we used to be Disney's. Universal got the rights to Potter, so they now get the rights to our dollars.

I still love Disney(although, me and FP+ are not friends) but Potter trumps all, so the choice where the money goes is easy and this is the case with the majority of the Potter fans. Disney won't make much if any money off the core Potter base, but they will off the less hardcores, as long as they don't price them out.

 

[amg35]

I think that you're fine unless you make changes. For example, if you cancel the package to rebook at a special discount (e.g. an AP that's not available at your existing resort/room category), I think the ticket prices in your new package reflect the new prices. Not sure about simply adding an available discount to your existing room/category or adding free dining.

Thanks!

 

[gavvy]

Hi

If I buy a ticket today from UT - then sometime in the future use is (no time limit) I can then upgrade the ticket on the day I use it to an AP and only pay the difference between the then current gate price for my ticket and the AP?

As long as the ticket I but is less than the AP I can do this and save?

 

[tfc3rid]

Best deal right now by far is the DVC PAP special price. No question about it...

 

[aaarcher86]

Hi

If I buy a ticket today from UT - then sometime in the future use is (no time limit) I can then upgrade the ticket on the day I use it to an AP and only pay the difference between the then current gate price for my ticket and the AP?

As long as the ticket I but is less than the AP I can do this and save?

Yes. As long as you use the ticket before upgrading to the AP it will bring the ticket up to the current value.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I finally found something positive about FP+ for our family -- It encouraged us to buy our park tickets two months before our trip so we saved $20.

Offsite guests or any guests who buy their tickets at the gate this spring break will be paying more for less. Nice.

 

[mickey1968]

Okay here is the inevitable price bridging question brought on by today's price increases...I have a 2-day ticket that I received as part of my free dining package last year. Will I need to use it at a park and then have it price bridged before I can upgrade it to an AP or longer pass? I know that is the case for tickets from UCT and other resellers, but not sure about tickets received from Disney Travel for packages.

Thanks in advance.

 

[3happydancers]

Okay here is the inevitable price bridging question brought on by today's price increases...I have a 2-day ticket that I received as part of my free dining package last year. Will I need to use it at a park and then have it price bridged before I can upgrade it to an AP or longer pass? I know that is the case for tickets from UCT and other resellers, but not sure about tickets received from Disney Travel for packages.

Thanks in advance.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but yes, I do believe you would use the ticket first and then upgrade.