Price of Tickets for the Non-Riders

[JikoMarie]

I would count yourself lucky...there are a lot of retirees with tight pensions who still enjoy the magic! I think a senior discount would be completely appropriate and a real service to families who want to bring grandparents along to enjoy their grandchildren.

There are many many seniors who live on fixed incomes, a mere percentage of what they did while in the workforce. Many don't have retirement funds or other means to cash in on. I guess that's why seniors' discounts for so many things. I guess that's all I was getting at.

 

[terri01p]

I've alway wished that they sold half a day tickets. I pay full adult price for my disabled dd and she is never able to stay for more than 4 hours and she has had it. It feels like such a waste to me.

 

[Andy B]

I am not keen on rides like SM, BTMRR, TOT etc but have never felt unfairly charged at Disney, however there are other parks I have taken my children to where I have felt we have paid but there was virtually nothing for me.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Even if you rode nothing, you are still paying for shows and atmosphere. Think of the World Showcase. It's huge and it has only 2 rides. A person could still spend an entire day there enjoying the shows, movies, shops, atmosphere, and Illuminations. We also spend more time at AK and MGM soaking in the atmosphere and shows than we do on rides.

I also think that the MK and Epcot's Future World do a good job at providing some thrill rides for those who like them while keeping most of their rides family and senior citizen friendly.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I don't think the rides are the most significant cost (although I understand that Expedition Everest costs alone were in the neighborhood of $1 million!)

It was actually more than $100,000,000. That information has been publicly released, how far above is not public knowledge, but I have heard numbers between 140 and 170.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I'm a card-carrying AARP member. Have been for years. My family probably has more disposable cash than most families staying at the value resorts which is probably similar to most senior guests visiting Disney. Why should seniors be given a discount? Don't agree with that one at all.

I don't think that your situation is similar to most senior guests. Certainly not my parents or inlaws. I believe seniors should be given a discount because they tend not to ride the thrill rides. I think most grandparents go along just to enjoy being with the grandkids.

 

[figmentvi]

Since WDW opened, I've been quite surprised that they have never had a discount for senior citizens.

Since WDW is so family oriented and AARP is such a strong group, I never quite figured out why the two never got together on ticket/rooms/package pricing.

 

[maxiesmom]

Since WDW opened, I've been quite surprised that they have never had a discount for senior citizens.

Since WDW is so family oriented and AARP is such a strong group, I never quite figured out why the two never got together on ticket/rooms/package pricing.

Isn't the entry age for the AARP pretty young, like 50? If so, imagine the lost revinue for Disney if they give every AARP memeber a discount.

 

[dannyh23]

Since WDW is so family oriented and AARP is such a strong group, I never quite figured out why the two never got together on ticket/rooms/package pricing.

Most of the places that offer senior discounts are just to get seniors in the door -- Seniors are still lining up at the gates at Disney, without discounts.

The largest reason I think is where do you draw the line? 80? 70? 65? 60? 55? A 30 year old who's disabled and also on a fixed income? See the slippery slope? In the end, it just starts more whining......

And without a bunch of flames, can someone honestly please explain to me why a senior would be entitled to a discount at WDW? Because I can't think of one.... If it's because they don't ride many rides, that the same for LOTS of people, regardless of age... It's all about the total experience, regardless if you are 3 or 30 or 80....

 

[Kewz1]

What I would like to see at the buffets and restaurants is a "tweens" pricing for the kids older than 10 but not quite eating adult portions.......just my two cents.

Oh how I agree with this! My kids are almost 11 and 13 and they just don't eat a lot of food. Ever.

My mom doesn't do the rides but she loves being at WDW with her kids and grandkids. It's the whole experience that makes her love it.

Kristen

 

[Deb & Bill]

Most of the places that offer senior discounts are just to get seniors in the door -- Seniors are still lining up at the gates at Disney, without discounts.

The largest reason I think is where do you draw the line? 80? 70? 65? 60? 55? A 30 year old who's disabled and also on a fixed income? See the slippery slope? In the end, it just starts more whining......

Can someone please explain to me why a senior would be entitled to a discount at WDW? Because I can't think of one....

I'm with you, Danny. Maybe a discount on prescription drugs, utilities, etc depending on income. But WDW?? That's a total luxury.

 

[figmentvi]

Very, very good points regarding senior citizens discounts. I stand corrected.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm with you, Danny. Maybe a discount on prescription drugs, utilities, etc depending on income. But WDW?? That's a total luxury.

You took the words right out of my mouth. We need to keep in mind that a trip to WDW is not a 'right'! You go if you can afford to go. That would be like saying that older folks would love to be able to RV with their families, so let's give them a discount on RV's!! Okay, perhaps that isn't quite the same but it's the general idea.
I would hate to see WDW go back to ticketed attractions....those E rides!!! It's bad enough listening to people complain that there are non-wristbanded people getting on rides during the EMH nights or at the 'parties'!!
Since all the WDW parks are so beautifully themed, it makes sense to charge everyone the same amount...children and adult prices. My dh is not a ride person, he sits out the majority of them, but not once has he hinted that he feels that he has been overcharged. He figures that he is spending time with his family...it doesn't really matter that he isn't doing EE 10 times in a row...he can sit and wave up to us!!!

On my very first visit to WDW, my mom was with me. She had just had breast cancer surgery ten days before we were due to leave. Two days before we were to leave, she got a clean bill of health. She almost didn't go since she still felt a bit crappy. But, she went along since she really wanted to see her granddaughter's first sight of Cinderella Castle. Well, that first night she got her wish..but after that night, she spent a lot of time just sitting on benches, waiting for us to get off rides. There was no way she was going to do any of those jostling rides!!! She felt it was worth every penny she paid to be there with her daughter and granddaughter.

It all boils down to what's important to you. You know how much it's going to cost to go, eat, sleep on-site, get park passes. You have to decide if you are willing to pay 'x' amount and not do any of the rides...just be there with family.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My thought about this topic is how can the Cast Members make sure you don't go on any rides if WDW had a less expensive ticket for that situation? The only way it can be done is if they check each person's ticket for some code, however that means they would have to change each ticket's cerial number or something & it would cause a huge mess of a line just to get on an attraction.

Also someone commented about there being a senior price ticket. WDW does not have senior prices at their restaurants, so why would tickets be any different?

 

[Matt'sMom]

...I was wondering what people thought about those who can't or don't like to ride the rides at the parks. Do you think they should/could pay a different (less) price for the tickets to the parks...

Once upon a time, back during the earlier years of the parks, there was a way for those who did not wish to ride the rides to 'pay less'. Back then, you had tickets that specified which rides you could use them on (remember the booklets with the 'E' tickets & such?). If you wanted to experience an attraction multiple times, then you ended up paying more because you had to purchase additional tickets to do so.

Personally, I much prefer the current system of paying a single admission fee and then having basically unlimited access to the majority of the rides and attractions in WDW (special tours & experiences can incure additional fees). The current system is much less hassle and a whole lot more fun. And it allows each visitor to enjoy the parks at their own pace and in their own unique way.

Who is to say that someone who passes on most of the big thrill rides (like our family usually does)... and prefers to frequent the calmer attractions/shows and kick back and enjoy the over-all theming at WDW, etc... is getting less value for their admission cost??? I really don't see any practical way to measure that and attach a dollar value to it. Is the option of riding RRC or TOT multiple times worth more $$$ than watching a performance of The Lion King and other shows, or enjoying the Flower and Garden Fest & Flower Power concerts? I've personally never felt that I failed to get my money's worth from my WDW admission, just because I choose to skip most of the 'big' rides.

 

[cornflkgrl]

In my opinion rides are just a very small bit of what you are "paying" for.
If you think about the electricity required for those parades, the pay for the cleaning staff, the maintenence of the property, the cost of the fireworks, the cost of upkeep to keep it looking the way it does, the cost seems quite reasonable.
I don't think you should get to pay less if you don't ride the rides. You are still paying for the "experiance."

As far as a senior citizen's discount, that I agree with. There should be a senior's discount and I wish they would also lower the child's admission price a bit.

 

[wahoostampingirl]

Just wanted to jump back in and echo a previous poster. I would LOVE to see a jr. pricing level for the buffet and character meals. I have to pay adult prices for my 11 year old who eats like a bird!

I have a 5 year old who eats as much as an adult, so I'm really getting a good deal on the buffets right now!

 

[eliza61]

Don't know if some one mention this already but I think a large amount of ticket prices goes into the cost of operating these parks. So even though you don't ride the thrill rides there are still operating expenses to bear. Things like, salaries, utilities, food, maintenance etc, etc. Cost a lot to keep the parks magical.

 

[DisneyFan06]

NO! I am not trying to be mean but there is something at Walt Disney World for all ages and all types of people. That would be unfair, IMO!

 

[JikoMarie]

Is it just me or does there seem to be more people on this thread who didn't read the whole thing than you typically find on other threads? Sorry...just ranting. That's a personal pet peeve of mine.

You took the words right out of my mouth. We need to keep in mind that a trip to WDW is not a 'right'!

I think we all understand that WDW is a luxury and not a right. I personally wasn't say that seniors are being mistreated by being charged the full price or that they are entitled to a discount just that it would be a nice thing for WDW to offer.

And without a bunch of flames, can someone honestly please explain to me why a senior would be entitled to a discount at WDW? Because I can't think of one....

I can't speak about America but I can about Canada. Here in Canada seniors get discounts just about everywhere they go. Why? Because they're old. Seriously. We have a certain respect for people who have worked hard all their lives and contributed a great deal to their communities and country by the time they reach 65. We also recognize that the grand majority of seniors in our country live on a fixed income and find it hard to "enjoy" their retiring years. So, seniors' discounts are given as a goodwill gesture more than anything else. Simply, it's a nice thing to do.