Rumor: new disney survey suggests LOTS of a la carte ticket options on the table

[gkrykewy]

Where to begin? Prepaying for a decade of tix, expensive premium options, oh my!

http://www.**************.net/2010/...options-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland/

Probably old, but new to me from this article today.

 

[ChrisFL]

# Be Part of the Magic Add-On – Four to six hour experience “side-by-side” with select Disney characters including a “makeover,” private meet ‘n’ greet with ride experience, photo session, themed meal, and private transportation (Examples: Princess or Buzz Lightyear. $1,500 per group, up to 6.);

# Character Nights – Nighttime visit to the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland park with all attraction wait times at 10 minutes or less, special fireworks, unlimited snacks, and more character experiences ($125 per person, per day);

# Premium Holiday Ticket – Entrance to the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland on popular holidays with a limit on the number of guests allowed in the park, allowing more time with characters and shorter lines for attractions ($99 per person, per day – $17 more than the current one-day ticket)

Wow, ...Character Nights seems like a complete rip off, and how would they guarantee that all attraction wait times are that short?

As far as the Premium Holiday Ticket, I don't see how that one would work.

So far I'm wondering about the authenticity of this, it just doesn't seem to make logical sense

 

[Zuzu03]

Hmmm, don't like it.

 

[DC7800]

Partial Day Ticket – Access to theme parks from opening until 3:00 pm or 3:30 pm until closing (between $29 and $49 per guest, per day);

Touring Only / No Rides Ticket – Access to theme parks to enjoy everything except the rides and shows with a queue (between $29 and $49 per guest, per day);

These two are interesting, for several reasons. I like the idea of being able to tour a park without attractions - Epcot for dinner and Illiminations, for instance - or for a partial day. Such casual park strolling isn't practical at $82 admission prices (if you won't have a multi-day pass).

The other thought which immediately comes to mind is how this almost seems a (slight) step back towards the old A-E ticket system. I'm certainly not suggesting this represents a return to ticket books, but rather that if I'm in the park on a 'touring only' pass, would I have the option to buy a "one-time" pass to the Haunted Mansion? Or would I have to shell out $53+ to upgrade to a one-day base ticket?

I can see a partial day afternoon (after 3:30) ticket, but how would it work in the morning (until 3 p.m.) without the potentially customer unfriendly problem of ushering people out of the park?

Of course, a survey clearly doesn't mean this is anything like what will actually occur in regards to future ticket options. If it reveals something of Disney's thinking, though, it's interesting - and I may like the possibilities.

 

[mousermerf]

In the industry there's been a call for years to return to the old ticket books. That system had two distinct perks - first each attraction made money and kept itself clearly defined in popularity. Think of how many things now at WDW you'd not pay individually to see.

Also, they regulated crowds better by keeping folks from getting a FP and getting in line and doing a ride twice that way. With limitted e-tickets you avoided that.

So look at a park like Epcot, what happens if they go back to ticket books or do the no-ride pass?

Ticket books spread people out over categories of attractions so it's not like Universe of Energy would cease to exist suddenly, but a supposed e-ticket that's not as popular as it should be - Mission: SPACE - would suddenly see far less admits and very likely Disney lowering to it to a D and probably even a C ticket.

And for the no ride passes - isn't there a pretty good chance the number of admissions at Epcot for no-ride passes would be ridiculously high?

 

[tjkraz]

In the industry there's been a call for years to return to the old ticket books.

Just curious but who "in the industry" is calling for this--the consumers or the suits?

I'm not necessarily sure it would play out the way you described. I agree that each attraction would have to be more fiscally responsible and vie for business. But who are these people spending their hard-earned money for tickets to ride Ellen's Energy Adventure or JIYI?

I get the ticket book concept and realize that people would see an overall savings by purchasing multiple tickets in bulk. But in 2010 (and beyond), it seems like many seasoned vets would gravitate more toward spending money only on those attractions they really want to experience--mostly the "D" and "E" tickets.

Psychologically, it seems like this would also hurt a park like Disneyland which is so dependent upon local business. Getting a local to commit to paying for their $200 pass in 12 monthly installments is pretty easy to digest. But telling them that they need to buy a ticket for every ride on the Matterhorn is a pretty big barrier to overcome.

I really can't conceive of how this could lead to similar revenue for the parks.

 

[skier_pete]

Disney is doing these type of surveys all the time. There was an uproar on the boards about 18 months ago over a survey regarding pay-for FP and preferred FP for those at Delux resorts. Haven't seen those yet.

The fact that the are surveying something means little as to whether they will actually do it or not. And if they do, it could be years.

 

[Michael623]

I took a survey in Massachusetts at least a year ago and immediately came here and reported on it. Since then not one thing we discussed has been implemented and from what the moderator told me all of these things were set in stone already. I've learned to not believe anything until it's been announced.

Edit: Skier Pete (above) may be alluding to one of my posts on this very thing.

 

[gkrykewy]

Disney is doing these type of surveys all the time. There was an uproar on the boards about 18 months ago over a survey regarding pay-for FP and preferred FP for those at Delux resorts. Haven't seen those yet.

The fact that the are surveying something means little as to whether they will actually do it or not. And if they do, it could be years.

Of course, hence "on the table" as opposed to "going to happen in 2011."

 

[daber]

Having done WDW back in the 70s when they had the ticket books, there are advantages and disadvantages. Yeah, I got a ticket book with an admission to the park ticket for $3.75. Try to get into the park for that today. I still have one of these books. Of course, there weren't many rides in the park. I can remember wishing they would build Space Mountain.
Then you had a bunch of A-E tickets. Never used the A tickets, maybe one of the Bs, a few Cs, and always ran out of the D and E tickets. Then I had to go back to the ticket booth and buy more books or separate D & E tickets. It is a great mental trick. You feel like you aren't paying a lot since you are doing it over the span of the vacation rather than all at once. You can easily lose track of how much the park is costing you. So I see the appeal to going back to this system.
So long as they don't stop my AP, they can do it either way for me. I like the current format better.

 

[Golf4food]

You feel like you aren't paying a lot since you are doing it over the span of the vacation rather than all at once. You can easily lose track of how much the park is costing you. So I see the appeal to going back to this system.

Kind of like hitting all of the booths for F&W and spending just a few dollars here and a few dollars there and you leave the park having spent $100 per person on snacks all day.

 

[Disco]

LOL,
I'm under the opinion that they shouldn't charge anything for a rider less pass.
If you are not in the park to ride you're are just there to spend money on food or shops.
You're also enticed to buy ride tickets. I would think of it as a sample or preview to purchase type deal. All it would be lacking is a sales pitch from an annoying salesman.

 

[jlwhitney]

The thing I wonder with the no ride/show pass, or only going in the morning is how to enforce it...

Wristbands only work so well...so you buy a no ride pass and get a wristband what do they do when you cut it off

or make them see your tickets when getting on a ride...people will just pass tickets around...say for 4 adults buy 2 reg tickes and 2 no ride and then flip flop.....

and so on...

I really doubt they will charge for fastpass anytime soon....the only real thing i can see them ddoing is make it only for resort guests (another way to get you to stay on property)

 

[DCTooTall]

I can see the logic and work behind a couple of these.


The Character nights honestly sounds (and is priced) almost like an existing Hard-ticket special event. Think MVMCP. You Close the Magic kingdom "early" one night, and have the hard ticket event. Doable, and I could see it being something with some value to some people. To be done right, it would have to be something they limited to maybe once a month? Do it too often and not only would you make it not as special an event, but you start to piss off your regular park goers because you are always closing the park early.


The Partial day ticket I could see as an evening option. Think about locals (or convention goers who's convention isn't participating in the ticket program) who may want to make an impromptu trip, or want to run into EPCOT for dinner one night.


The Holiday Premium ticket could also help with certain extreme crowd situations. People complain now about the MASSIVE crowds on July 4th or Christmas. If a "regular" admission didn't work that day, you could more easily control the crowd without having to fall back into physical capacity limits. Many people don't understand a park being at capacity since they think since they have bought their ticket, they should be allowed in. HOWEVER, if it was a special ticket to get in that day, you can explain it's "sold out" which might be easier to explain why they can't get in. (Explaining why the park is closed however, could be a different story).


The Convenience package just from the link also just sounds like an extremely basic tour. Pay them an extra $100, and Disney takes care of the planning that we all tend to spend our time and the resources available here to do. I didn't see anything in that description that really had anything REALLY special. You get a timetable and touring plan, but no special FP access or avoid the crowd privileges. the "Private park entrance" could be something as simple as a special gate at the entrance off to the side (By guest relations?) where you register, get your itinerary, and enter the park.


Not bad ideas, and other than the Holiday ticket, don't think any of them would really impact the Disney experience for the rest of us no interesting in the service any.

 

[DOOM1001]

Many people would like the option of a discounted half day pass,I think that and the theme park club option could be implemented right now.The exclusive experiences and VIP treatment options just seem like a total ripoff.I've always thought Fastpass should be free and available to everybody unlike what they did at Universal where they took the free one away.I also didn't like what they were considering about the Fastpass options for different hotel levels.If they ever implement a paid Fastpass it better be very expensive,so only very limited numbers buy it,otherwise it would mess with regular FP too much.And that premium Holiday ticket,yeah sure that would work let's tell the thousands of people coming into MK July 4th the park is closed.This one doesn't really make much sense financially for Disney,limit the number of guests and charge only $17 more per ticket,it would seem to be a good option if they really limited the number of people,I however highly doubt that they would do that, it would probably be a make believe limited number of people,say for example on July 4th they close the park after 120,000 are in the park,I think if they ever did implement that they would limit the attendance to say 100,000 and charge $17 more to those 100,000 which would mean Disney is still coming out ahead,I just wouldn't want to work in the park in guest relations that day.And if they really did limit the number of people then you would make thousands outside the park angry,I see a no win there for them,just leave it as it is.Character nights, $125 really,are they just throwing out these numbers??

 

[sja03a]

personally I would be willing to pay for all these add-ons. Not necessarily every trip, unless it increased the enjoyment of the vacation.

 

[nbs2]

Give me that Character Night option, available at Epcot, during F/W...I'd do it.

Of course, I don't think the booths could afford me doing that.

 

[Dznefreek]

Partial Day Ticket – Access to theme parks from opening until 3:00 pm or 3:30 pm until closing (between $29 and $49 per guest, per day);

I would like this one . . . .

 

[disneymath]

I think the half day, no ride, and all-inclusive resort ideas could be really beneficial to repeat visitors who have moved beyond the park commando mentality.

Assuming the all-inclusive resort option included ALL restaurants/eateries at your resort, this option could be a nice alternative to the dining plans. I doubt I would do for $40 a day at a value or even moderate resort, but at a Deluxe it might just be worth the $80 - especially for shorter stays.