Park hopping option to end?

[jheigl]

I think that if the option was to be taken away, it would just be included with the purchase of your tickets, like it was in the 90s. Back then, when you bought park tickets, it included the waterparks and hopping. You did not pay extra for them.

 

[deej696]

Well there's your problem.

It used to be that if you wanted to go from the Polynesian to the Contemporary you could have taken the monorail, taken a motor launch, or taken a bus. Disney has always provide bus service - and this used to include all the non-Disney owned hotels down at the hotel plaza. Disney has also always provided bus transportation to all of the parks (or to the TTC for the Magic Kingdom). Sadly, the history of transporation at WDW is one of cutbacks and shortfalls ever since the Eisner era.

Well I think many would agree that this amount of service was over kill, and cutbacks had to be made. Until 1988 when Caribbean Beach opened, all the resorts and the two parks were connected by the monorail. Therefore busses from all points in between in my opinion was a waste, and if I were a manager at Disney then, I would have cut it too. Obviously the huge amount of growth at WDW from '88 on changed this dramatically, and I think to compare todays service to what was offered then is apples to oranges. Disney would have to ban guests with cars if there were busses from CSR to POFQ and all points in between....

I dont see them cutting the bus service. But I do think they will find ways to make transport on property more effecient. While I doubt the often hoped for expansion of the monorail will ever happen, some sort of other mass-transport option would not suprise me, ie lightrail or something of the sort....

 

[Another Voice]

and if I were a manager at Disney then, I would have cut it too.

Disney used to consider transportation as much entertainment as a practical issue of moving guests around. The motor launches were provfide because cruising on the Seven Seas Lagoon on a cool summer's evening is very pleasant. Service like that made Disney special. The resort monorail ran until 11:00 and served guests hopping between hotels for diner, shows and bars. Busses ran until 2:00am or 4:00am as additional capacity and "after hours" services. Busses also connected the resort hotels with Fort Wilderness and the Disney Village Marketplace.

And with the addition of the Caribbean Beach, Dixie Landings and Port Orleans Disney was going to both expand the monorail down to the Village and put a light rail for the new moderate resorts. The project was cancelled by Eisner after the Studios fell short of expectations.

 

[Lewisc]

We may be missing the rumor. One rumor is Disney will no longer provide bus service but will be outsourcing bus transportation, possibly to Mears.

I can't see Disney not providing transportation between resorts and theme parks.

 

[ransom]

We may be missing the rumor. One rumor is Disney will no longer provide bus service but will be outsourcing bus transportation, possibly to Mears.

Then why upgrade the routing system hardware?

 

[ransom]

My theories:

- Disney will continue to offer bus service to guests. They'll try really hard to make it more efficient, but the experience won't be substantially different for the average guest.

- The new tickets will be the same as the old tickets (minus PI), but they'll be more expensive.

 

[Another Voice]

I can't see Disney not providing transportation between resorts and theme parks.

It's really a question of who provides transportation to whom.

Mears already runs 'Magical Express' and the cruise busses. According to some whispers, Disney has been trying to get Mears to take over the resort busses for years.

 

[twooley2]

on a guess side,, I look for Disney to make the tickets all close to the same price within a few dollars to encourage people to use the famous its only ten dollar more for several additional days than you have to spend more in their parks too. ... more days mean more money in their parks on food and souvis and such.. example 5 day would be so much a 7 day 10.00 more and a 14 day 20 more

 

[CanadianGuy]

- The new tickets will be the same as the old tickets (minus PI), but they'll be more expensive.

That is so not what I'm hearing at all. Either way.. all should be clear by the end of this week hopefully.

 

[ransom]

That is so not what I'm hearing at all.

It's my prediction and I'm sticking by it.

But seriously, I'll be surprised if there's some humongous change that makes every ticket sold so far for post-August 3 use invalid without upgrade.

Is that what you're hearing?

Either way.. all should be clear by the end of this week hopefully.

Yup!

 

[disneymath]

But seriously, I'll be surprised if there's some humongous change that makes every ticket sold so far for post-August 3 use invalid without upgrade.

Is that what you're hearing?

Please tell us that this IS NOT what you are hearing!!!

 

[CanadianGuy]

It's my prediction and I'm sticking by it.

But seriously, I'll be surprised if there's some humongous change that makes every ticket sold so far for post-August 3 use invalid without upgrade.

Is that what you're hearing?

Yup!

Of course not. But what I am hearing sorta jives with what Another Voice has hinted at ..

 

[ransom]

Of course not. But what I am hearing sorta jives with what Another Voice has hinted at ..

Park Hoppers only for on-site Guests/only with a package, you mean?

If they raise ticket prices by ~$50, and then make park hopping a "free" perk for staying onsite, I can see how that could work out for them.

 

[CanadianGuy]

That.. (or something kinda like it) and the change to the recreation option and perhaps no more no-exp option.. (that one seems iffy)

 

[Another Voice]

I won't be surprised if you see something like Disneyland's "13 day" policy - meaning that all days on the ticket must be used within 13 days of first admission - tickets sold outside of packages. I also wouldn't be surprsed if all tickets purchased with resorts become "length of stay" as well. Ticketing is always a big bone on contention within WDW management (too many parties have too many behaviors they want to influence). The end result is always a comprimise of some sort.

 

[disneymath]

That.. (or something kinda like it) and the change to the recreation option and perhaps no more no-exp option.. (that one seems iffy)

I REALLY hope the no-expiration option isn't removed ... this is the first time we've ever bought non-expiring tickets with the intent of using them over several years of trips ... err, I guess I mean if it is removed I hope they keep honouring those partially used tickets with no-expiration on them!!!

 

[troynkasey]

I can't imagine them "taking away" the hopper option. I can see it included in the base ticket package and all tickets going up quite a bit.

For those who think ticket prices will go up "due to the economy" that is somewhat false and poor planning. Each year tickets will go up due to inflation. That increase each year is something that has to be done to maintain margins. Now, if Disney is losing many patrons due to the economy, they wouldn't astronomically raise the prices because then they would lose more. It comes down to raising prices and fees enough to maintain or slightly make more money, while not losing a ton of vacationers.

I don't see tickets going up much more than what inflation would require... Now, if they include some of these other options in the "base" ticket, then base tickets will go up. That's the benefit of marketing. Offer more, increase the price and people think they're getting a good deal. Here's the thing to remember about that logic...not everyone park hops, so Disney is making outmore in the end than if they offered it as a secondary package.

Shouldn't be but a month or less until we know the increase.

 

[jjohnson]

I REALLY hope the no-expiration option isn't removed ... this is the first time we've ever bought non-expiring tickets with the intent of using them over several years of trips ... err, I guess I mean if it is removed I hope they keep honouring those partially used tickets with no-expiration on them!!!

Do you have the tickets already or are you getting them for your August trip? You do not need to add the no exp. until your at the park. No need paying for something ahead of time that you may not need.

 

[DancingBear]

I REALLY hope the no-expiration option isn't removed ... this is the first time we've ever bought non-expiring tickets with the intent of using them over several years of trips ... err, I guess I mean if it is removed I hope they keep honouring those partially used tickets with no-expiration on them!!!

I don't think you're in any danger of them not honoring your no-expiration tickets.

 

[disneymath]

Do you have the tickets already or are you getting them for your August trip? You do not need to add the no exp. until your at the park. No need paying for something ahead of time that you may not need.

Got them already .... months ago actually ... using the Mousesavers discount on Undercover Tourist. We are only planning on being in parks for 4 of our 8 days .... but even if we went each day we would have 2 days left over!