Ripped Off on Ticket Prices at the Disney Store?

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

Okay, I am on the verge of being VERY annoyed.

My DH and I were right by a Disney Store this weekend, and went in to get 2-day Park Hoppers.

We were told that there are no such thing as 2-day park hoppers any more; park hoppers start with 3 day and up. The sales clerk said this was true both at the stores and at the parks.

We then noticed that the price difference between 3-day hoppers and 7-day hoppers is minimal. We decided it might make better sense to get 7-day hoppers with the no expiration option (even though that is an additional fee), as I'm sure we will go to Disney again at some point!

Okay, so far I am not mad.

We paid $320 for the adult MYW Park Hoppers w/No Expiration.

Just looked up prices on this site, and it is showing $286.49 for the exact same thing, or $266 if you get the discount (which I guess is available to Disers.)

Are you kidding me? The Disney store charges $320, but if I had waited and bought tickets at the gate, it would have been $286.49???? What a rip off!

Caveat emptor, and bad me for not doing more research on this topic before buying, I guess. (I did a lot of research on other topics, but I was so sure I was going into the store to get a 2-day Hopper that I hadn't researched going the other route.) But I also really don't think Disney should charge such a huge mark-up for buying the tickets at a Disney Store.

Grrrr! (I'm not going to let this sour my joy too much, because I am going to enjoy this trip, but man! For three tickets, this is a huge difference in price.)

 

[jarestel]

Is it possible that the web site didn't include the Florida tax in their posted price? Many times, the tax doesn't show up until after you've selected your tickets and are ready to purchase.

 

[3Phase]

I just did a search on disneys site for 7 day park hopper no expiration.....$320.57 after taxes..

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I worked for the Disney Store about 12 years ago. I am positive that the prices were the same if you purcahsed them at either place. Unless things have changed, i would call and ask what they would cost with the tax. I wouldn' t think that they would be any price difference

 

[studog100]

it's the tax

 

[justplaingoofy]

I looked up the info on Disneys site..

According to Disney.com:

6 day hopper with no expiration is $285 w/tax $303.53
7 day hopper with no expiration is $301 w/tax $320.57

I don't think you got ripped off...

 

[CarolA]

Okay, I am on the verge of being VERY annoyed.

My DH and I were right by a Disney Store this weekend, and went in to get 2-day Park Hoppers.

We were told that there are no such thing as 2-day park hoppers any more; park hoppers start with 3 day and up. The sales clerk said this was true both at the stores and at the parks.

We then noticed that the price difference between 3-day hoppers and 7-day hoppers is minimal. We decided it might make better sense to get 7-day hoppers with the no expiration option (even though that is an additional fee), as I'm sure we will go to Disney again at some point!

Okay, so far I am not mad.

We paid $320 for the adult MYW Park Hoppers w/No Expiration.

Just looked up prices on this site, and it is showing $286.49 for the exact same thing, or $266 if you get the discount (which I guess is available to Disers.)

Are you kidding me? The Disney store charges $320, but if I had waited and bought tickets at the gate, it would have been $286.49???? What a rip off!

Caveat emptor, and bad me for not doing more research on this topic before buying, I guess. (I did a lot of research on other topics, but I was so sure I was going into the store to get a 2-day Hopper that I hadn't researched going the other route.) But I also really don't think Disney should charge such a huge mark-up for buying the tickets at a Disney Store.

Grrrr! (I'm not going to let this sour my joy too much, because I am going to enjoy this trip, but man! For three tickets, this is a huge difference in price.)

I don't think you are comparing apples to apple.s

7 day no expiration WITHOUT park hopping is $286.59 at the gate You have 7 day with park hopping AFTER tax. Parking hopping costs $40 more dollars which puts you right at $320.


From www.wdwinfo.com
7 Day Adult Ages 10+ $217.26 (BASIC, expires in 14 days, no hopping)

Park Hopper Option (Add-on purchases to the base ticket include)
Adding the Park-Hopper Option lets you come and go as you please through all four Disney theme parks on the same day or every day for each day of your pass. Extra cost to the base-price ticket: $40 –


No Expiration Option (Add-on purchases to the base ticket include)
- The Magic Your Way base tickets expire 14 days after their first use. Electing the No Expiration Option means you are free to come back and take advantage of unused tickets at any time. Extra cost to the base-price ticket: $10 - $135.

WDWinfo.com gate price on 7 day no expiration is

7 Day Adult Ages 10+ $286.49 add $40 for parkhopping and you have $326.49

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Have you ever thought about using a differnet source other than Disney? We used Ticketmania for the first time this year and were pleased with both their service and their prices.

 

[Chuck S]

When you click to buy them, the page it takes you to says : $329.09 full gate price for adult 7 day hopp - no expiration. Discounted online price $303 (tax included)

http://www.officialticketcenter.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=tickets&refer=TC11WT#TICK-PRC

Also, you do know that the Disney Stores are no longer operated by Disney, they are owned by the Children Place with a licensing contract to Disney.

 

[pixiedust23]

I'm confused as to why you couldnt get a 2 day park hopper? We were just at WDW in Nov and got 2 day park hoppers.

 

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

Okay, I feel MUCH, MUCH BETTER after reading these replies! Maybe I was misreading or misunderstanding the information I saw on the chart I saw (under the "Parks" section of this site).

If I am wrong, then I am really glad! (Wow, how often in life does one get to say that?)

Thanks, everyone.

And no, I did not know that Disney stores were operated by anyone other than Disney.

Also, I have no idea if this employee was correct about the "No 2-day hoppers" thing. I'm just telling you what she told me....

A Relieved TiggerandBelleFanMom

 

[NancyIL]

I'm confused as to why you couldnt get a 2 day park hopper? We were just at WDW in Nov and got 2 day park hoppers.

Yes, there are 2-day hoppers, but The Disney Store doesn't sell anything less than a 3-day ticket. I think they only go as high as 7-day, even though you can purchase 8, 9, and 10-day tickets elsewhere. And yes, you can buy tickets for less than at The Disney Store by purchasing them from Ticketmania, the Undercover Tourist, Maple Leaf, AAA, etc.

 

[CarolA]

Two day parkhoppers cost a fortune however...I looked into it for my mom about $150 which was $75 a day and there are NO discounts. Occassionally one of the brokers will have two day convention tickets, but not always. So you have to wait and buy them at Disney which can mean you spend a long time in line if you aren't staying on site!

I think if you know you are going back and can afford it for an extra $170 you got 5 more days plus you averge daily cost of arond $40 a day is much easier to stomach then $75 a day.

(Just looked on allearsnet.com and I was wrong. Two day tickets are $143 PLUS $40 for park hopping so $180 or $90 a day!!!! YIKES!)

 

[PrincessCM]

The Disney Store sells tickets for the same price as online, however, they are cheaper than if you buy them at the gate. Most places show prices prior to taxes, so you think you are getting them cheaper......

 

[Linzybrooke]

First, don't post a thread with such a nasty accusation without doing research to back it up first. I get that you got upset, but the thread title is rude and makes it look like TDS is trying to fool people.

As a TDS manager I can verify that the stores do not sell a 2 day hopper pass. Considering the amount of options and variety of tickets we are luck to sell them at all. Until last year we didn't sell the 3 day tickets either. The stores get, literaly, no money to sell these tickets and do it as a courtesy for Disney to people planning trips to their theme parks.

There is no discount on 3 or 4 day tickets, but once you go to the 5, 6 and 7 day tickets there is a discount off of the gate price, but not the internet price (unless you consider the handling fee for purchasing online). You pay Florida state tax on the tickets regardless of where they are purchased. Just like everywhere else, ask someone else in the store if you don't think the person you are speaking to knows what they are talking about before over-reacting.

TDS not being owned by WDC has nothing to do with anything...tickets have been sold this way since the stores started selling them. The only changes are the annual prices and the way the tickets work; all of which is handed down from Central Reservations.

I don't mean to be harsh but you have no idea the bad publicity that TDS gets from everyone, especially after the sale to TCP. I can't stand to see people flame the stores for no reason or before they research the situation first. It's not fair to the stores or the store employees and we don't need more people telling us we aren't needed or are trying to rip everyone off. It's this kind of attitude that helped Disney decide to sell the stores off in the first place. We were just lucky that TCP stepped in; all TDS locations were going to close by the end of 2006 prior to the takeover...just like Warner Brothers Stores did a few years ago.

 

[CarolA]

First, don't post a thread with such a nasty accusation without doing research to back it up first. I get that you got upset, but the thread title is rude and makes it look like TDS is trying to fool people.

As a TDS manager I can verify that the stores do not sell a 2 day hopper pass. Considering the amount of options and variety of tickets we are luck to sell them at all. Until last year we didn't sell the 3 day tickets either. The stores get, literaly, no money to sell these tickets and do it as a courtesy for Disney to people planning trips to their theme parks.

There is no discount on 3 or 4 day tickets, but once you go to the 5, 6 and 7 day tickets there is a discount off of the gate price, but not the internet price (unless you consider the handling fee for purchasing online). You pay Florida state tax on the tickets regardless of where they are purchased. Just like everywhere else, ask someone else in the store if you don't think the person you are speaking to knows what they are talking about before over-reacting.

TDS not being owned by WDC has nothing to do with anything...tickets have been sold this way since the stores started selling them. The only changes are the annual prices and the way the tickets work; all of which is handed down from Central Reservations.

I don't mean to be harsh but you have no idea the bad publicity that TDS gets from everyone, especially after the sale to TCP. I can't stand to see people flame the stores for no reason or before they research the situation first. It's not fair to the stores or the store employees and we don't need more people telling us we aren't needed or are trying to rip everyone off. It's this kind of attitude that helped Disney decide to sell the stores off in the first place. We were just lucky that TCP stepped in; all TDS locations were going to close by the end of 2006 prior to the takeover...just like Warner Brothers Stores did a few years ago.

Take a DEEP BREATH! The OP was told at least ONE thing that was WRONG. There are two day hoppers.

As for Disney stores not being owned by Disney, sorry but it's made a big difference in the stores I have been in.

The OP made an error. However, I don't think it deserves a five paragraph beratement from you... (I have to be honest I worked a LONG time in retail If you get this upset EVERY time someone says something bad about your store I don't know how you survive! Your "customer service" attitude is not showing here, if anything that post just turned potential customers off, it did me!)

 

[kimmikayb]

First, don't post a thread with such a nasty accusation without doing research to back it up first. I get that you got upset, but the thread title is rude and makes it look like TDS is trying to fool people.

As a TDS manager I can verify that the stores do not sell a 2 day hopper pass. Considering the amount of options and variety of tickets we are luck to sell them at all. Until last year we didn't sell the 3 day tickets either. The stores get, literaly, no money to sell these tickets and do it as a courtesy for Disney to people planning trips to their theme parks.

There is no discount on 3 or 4 day tickets, but once you go to the 5, 6 and 7 day tickets there is a discount off of the gate price, but not the internet price (unless you consider the handling fee for purchasing online). You pay Florida state tax on the tickets regardless of where they are purchased. Just like everywhere else, ask someone else in the store if you don't think the person you are speaking to knows what they are talking about before over-reacting.

TDS not being owned by WDC has nothing to do with anything...tickets have been sold this way since the stores started selling them. The only changes are the annual prices and the way the tickets work; all of which is handed down from Central Reservations.

I don't mean to be harsh but you have no idea the bad publicity that TDS gets from everyone, especially after the sale to TCP. I can't stand to see people flame the stores for no reason or before they research the situation first. It's not fair to the stores or the store employees and we don't need more people telling us we aren't needed or are trying to rip everyone off. It's this kind of attitude that helped Disney decide to sell the stores off in the first place. We were just lucky that TCP stepped in; all TDS locations were going to close by the end of 2006 prior to the takeover...just like Warner Brothers Stores did a few years ago.

I do think your post was a tad harsh. The OP was venting and thought she had done her research...people can misunderstand things all the time...makes us human

I don't think she was putting down TDS as much as complaining about the price difference which she felt was just a Disney thing, not a park or store thing.

It is my understanding that Disney sold the stores because it wasn't a profitable venture anymore. Disney usually doesn't pay much attention to attitudes if the bottom line is in the black, not the red.

I see it's near and dear to your heart, I know the feeling as I used to work for TDS but the OP was just frustrated and that happens to all of us.

 

[Iluvpooh&mickey]

First, don't post a thread with such a nasty accusation without doing research to back it up first. I get that you got upset, but the thread title is rude and makes it look like TDS is trying to fool people.

As a TDS manager I can verify that the stores do not sell a 2 day hopper pass. Considering the amount of options and variety of tickets we are luck to sell them at all. Until last year we didn't sell the 3 day tickets either. The stores get, literaly, no money to sell these tickets and do it as a courtesy for Disney to people planning trips to their theme parks.

There is no discount on 3 or 4 day tickets, but once you go to the 5, 6 and 7 day tickets there is a discount off of the gate price, but not the internet price (unless you consider the handling fee for purchasing online). You pay Florida state tax on the tickets regardless of where they are purchased. Just like everywhere else, ask someone else in the store if you don't think the person you are speaking to knows what they are talking about before over-reacting.

TDS not being owned by WDC has nothing to do with anything...tickets have been sold this way since the stores started selling them. The only changes are the annual prices and the way the tickets work; all of which is handed down from Central Reservations.

I don't mean to be harsh but you have no idea the bad publicity that TDS gets from everyone, especially after the sale to TCP. I can't stand to see people flame the stores for no reason or before they research the situation first. It's not fair to the stores or the store employees and we don't need more people telling us we aren't needed or are trying to rip everyone off. It's this kind of attitude that helped Disney decide to sell the stores off in the first place. We were just lucky that TCP stepped in; all TDS locations were going to close by the end of 2006 prior to the takeover...just like Warner Brothers Stores did a few years ago.

I agree with a previous poster...take a deep breath!

I have 3 boys that love Disney characters and have always had a great shopping experience and encountered very helpful & friendly employees when shopping at TDS. I personally think that your post does your company a disservice and turns me off more than anything.

 

[pixiedust23]

To be honest if the OP can vent so can TDS employee. The only difference I have noticed at TDS is a drop in prices and I enjoy that!

 

[Chuck S]

I don't know, my closest TDS has gone through quite a transformation since the change. The employees are obviously employees and not Cast Members. The quality and selection of the clothing products has gotten pretty bad, the store is no longer a "fun" place to shop. It is true to its new owners, almost all the merchandise is oriented to very young children.