Park hopping option to end?

[Telynn]

Thank you all for the info! This is why I LOVE this board!

 

[Mikelly1221]

Thanks for the update about the buses. Please help me understand..I can see how eliminating/drastically cutting the buses would save the bottom line. What options would they give guests staying at their hotels on how to get around the World? Wouldn't that shoot their resort operations in the foot?

I'm very dense on things like this-educate me! Thanks!

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I personally do not see them cutting the bus service. It will only drive people to stay offsite at cheaper hotels. One of the reasons many people pay $100+ at a value resort is for the buses,etc..
I can stay at a nice 4* hotel with a waterslide off property for almost the same as a value, but choose onsite for the transporation (and other reasons).
I would say the buses going is simply a rumor. All they have to do is hike up resort costs $10/nt to cover the gas.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I personally do not see them cutting the bus service. It will only drive people to stay offsite at cheaper hotels. One of the reasons many people pay $100+ at a value resort is for the buses,etc..
I can stay at a nice 4* hotel with a waterslide off property for almost the same as a value, but choose onsite for the transporation (and other reasons).
I would say the buses going is simply a rumor. All they have to do is hike up resort costs $10/nt to cover the gas.

Barring someone stepping forward with sources cited, this is definitely still "very much big time" a rumor..

 

[DisOrBust]

Welcome back AV! Have yo been banned else where? ..or have you been on your Disney cruise??

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Okay...if they eliminated the busses between the theme parks and the resorts where would the busses go? They'd definitely have to provide transportation between the resorts and someplace that would get people into the parks.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Oh and with the demise of Pleasure Island that does render the "fun & more" option less valuable. Maybe they will just roll it into fun & more to encourage people to use those options. Otherwise it'd just be going back to the pre-MYW days...also not the worst idea from a monetary standpoint. The fewer options they have to check on the easier it is.

 

[Gatordad]

'Park Hopping' tickets will only be available to those staying at a Disney resort (and maybe only to those buying a package). It's another step in the 'Destination Disney' concept to get people to spend all of their time on property.

Don't worry, there will be plenty of plants on-line explaining why this is a "good thing" and you'll read plenty of press releases about how the public have been demanding removing the park hopping option. By this time next year people will think staying in one park all day is the "only magical thing to do".

And it will also REALLY help when the busses go away...

I like your writing style.

 

[Anne's Family]

I also noticed the new benefits of staying at WDW property - but maybe its just a UK thing - I can't see them being able to offer reserved spots for the fireworks for ALL guests.

I'd be willing to bet it's just a UK thing. Disney absolutely loves UK business I've noticed. They really want you guys there (with the dollar so poor right now, it makes sense.) You guys are just special!

 

[raidermatt]

A twisted side of me wants them to add the parkhopper back into the tickets just so I can see the anger of all the people being "forced" to pay for park hopping whether they want it or not. Anyone else remember the rage when they split all the options to do MYW tickets? I think I was one of the few that realized that we'd ALWAYS been paying for park hopping, they weren't now charging you more. . . just giving you the option to opt out of it now. No matter how many times or how many people explained that it was never "free" instead it was built into the price, people couldn't get past having to pay for the option. I bet now that people are used to a stripped down option that they can customize, the earlier horror of the situation will be forgotten and a whole new drama about how Disney's just trying to get one more thing over on Joe Tourist will be upon us.

Except that when they make something "optional", it very rarely works out that you can actually get it for the same price as you paid before. SOME of the tickets did work out that way, but they were the exception, not the rule, and that was due to an overall shift in pricing strategy to entice longer stays.

For an example of the rule, see the dining plan.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Yes. Angelina and Brad named their child after me. I met her when I worked on the Tonight Show and she just LOVED the name.*

Knox

* Or you could buy the 'public' version which is that Brad Pitt is related to the famous artist, Archibald Knox and they have named the children with an eye to their family trees. Pffft.

Knox was the middle name of Brad Pitts grandfather.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Latest rumor on the ticketing front...

- Replacing or supplementing the WPFM ticketing option would be a Disney Surf & Turf package.. (I made up the name) basicailly it's a "Disney Recreation" ticketing option. It might include the waterparks, DisneyQuest, mini-golf, golf, watermice rental, etc.

Makes sense on the surface. We'll see if it gets implemented.

 

[disrailfan]

As long as I can still get Annual Passes, this does not bother me.

 

[GOOFYsince71]

Latest rumor on the ticketing front...

- Replacing or supplementing the WPFM ticketing option would be a Disney Surf & Turf package.. (I made up the name) basicailly it's a "Disney Recreation" ticketing option. It might include the waterparks, DisneyQuest, mini-golf, golf, watermice rental, etc.

Makes sense on the surface. We'll see if it gets implemented.

"Surf and Turf"........we all saw it here first.!
And Knox, if they try to use it,,,,,get some royalties

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I do not see them getting rid of the option even for off site guests. Epcot and MK get a lot of business from people doing DAK in the morning and going there for the fireworks at night. World Showcase especially gets a lot of business this way due to the number of dining establishments. If people cannot park hop, they will take their dollars elsewhere. A lot of people will not spend an entire day in one park, they will get bored. If they can't go to another park, they will go off site and Disney will lose those dollars. Aint' gonna happen.

The 7 Day premium ticket is a UK option and it's basically a 7 day ticket with park hopping and WPFM. The UK ticketing options include 14 and 21 day tickets with "all in" -- unlimited WPFM admissions and access to the themeparks for those 14 or 21 days. None of these options are new.

As for the bit about the buses..



A/V has been saying for a while now that the Disney transportation system is due for a bunch of major changes and Disney will either completely remove the buses between resorts and themeparks and/or possibly begin charging for DME from the airport etc (which I highly doubt) or dramatically alter the service quality such as to render it useless for the vast majority of guests (somewhat more likely).

Disney has a habit of changing things such that people are far less inclined to use those products or services and then eliminating them by saying "fewer guests wanted or used" the product or service etc.

While this would be a boon to the car service and car rental agencies in the Orlando area.. I just don't know if Disney is willing to go quite that far.. just yet. Everything depends on the price of diesel (and therefore oil in general).

I still suspect this oil situation is in fact a 'bubble' and not a 'new reality' and that the price of oil on a per barrel basis will probably fall back down to between 100$ and 110$ ... which while still overpriced on a demand/supply basis.. is more operationally feasible for Disney.

Knox

No way no how. Disney will not get rid of busses. First of all, they just spent a bundle on a new dispatching system (which does have kinks to be worked out). Secondly, the resort and parking lots will not be able to handle to the increase in car traffic. Don't forget we also get a lot of international drivers that may not be able to drive in the US (I believe you have to have an international license). Again, Disney wants you to stay on property, they want you to get around so you can go places and spend your money.

 

[CanadianGuy]

EB:

I agree with you.. I was pretty much explaining Another Voice's suggestive post from earlier in the thread.



Knox

 

[Mikelly1221]

EB:

I agree with you.. I was pretty much explaining Another Voice's suggestive post from earlier in the thread.



Knox

Yes, and I appreciate the explanation!

 

[BellesFavoriteBook]

I hope this isn't true! I Might be going to Disney World in Jan or Feb 2009 and the park hopper option is one I'd use.

 

[Fizban257]

The current rumor is that bus service will no longer take you from your hotel directly to either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, but to the TTC, where you can use the Monorail or Ferry. DHS and DAK will obviously still have direct service.

 

[Lewisc]

Latest rumor on the ticketing front...

- Replacing or supplementing the WPFM ticketing option would be a Disney Surf & Turf package.. (I made up the name) basicailly it's a "Disney Recreation" ticketing option. It might include the waterparks, DisneyQuest, mini-golf, golf, watermice rental, etc.

Makes sense on the surface. We'll see if it gets implemented.

Adding some more options, such as min-golf, will make it easier for Disney to avoid having to issue partial refunds if/when DQ closes. It might also make the ticket more valuable (expensive).

The current rumor is that bus service will no longer take you from your hotel directly to either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, but to the TTC, where you can use the Monorail or Ferry. DHS and DAK will obviously still have direct service.

I don't think the monorail from the TTC to EPCOT could handle the increased guest volume. I guess Disney could add enough ferry boats to cover the TTC-MK traffic.