Should I buy tickets now or wait?

[Disneyliscious]

So still less than what the increase in ticket prices would cost us,

It's cheaper for us to do it now

The interest is cheaper than what the likely rate increase will be

Except for those years when they have... like 1999-2000, 2003-2004, 2006, 2013-2014

So still less than what the increase in ticket prices would cost us,

It's cheaper for us to do it now

The interest is cheaper than what the likely rate increase will be

Except for those years when they have... like 1999-2000, 2003-2004, 2006, 2013-2014

With all due respect, it sounds like your mind is already made up. Every suggestion someone has given you, you have shot down in some way or another. Not one single person has advised you to charge the tickets on your card yet you still keep giving reasons why you should, even knowing family medical issues could prevent you from going on the trip.

I understand the temptation of wanting to get the tickets bought and have that behind you, but its simply not wise to put them on a credit card unless you are doing it for rewards and can pay off the balance immediately. I have not owned a credit card in nearly 20 years. I got tired of contributing to the banks bottom line. Like you, I don't have a big savings where I can just go buy our tickets all at once so I save until I can buy one, then I buy it. I save for another, then I buy it. By doing so, the tickets are still "paid for and behind me" and I'm not paying any interest on them.

As others have said, its highly unlikely Disney will impose another price increase within the next 6 to 8 months (when you said you could pay them off). It just doesn't make sense to charge the tickets at this time. If you bought and paid cash for 2 tickets before a 'perceived' price increase 6 months from now, you'd only be paying the upcharge on your remaining tickets. How many and what kind of tickets are you planning to buy that would cause a 'perceived' price increase to be more than $125-$140?

As far as reselling them if you can't use them, good luck with that. There is no possible way to determine if tickets have been used without being at the Disney gates. You'd have to find someone who believed you hadn't used the tickets and also didn't mind the chance they would be ID'd at the gate and turned away because the tickets are in your name. Its certainly not a risk I would take as a buyer.

 

[OhMari]

Will the tickets state on them when they expire. I recently bought a ticket from undercover with last years price but it doesn't state any expiration.

You have the old tickets yet. They will not expire, until you start to use them on your first day of your vacation. You have up to 14 days to use the ticket. After that they expire. You can hold onto those tickets for a long time, they don't expire, unless you use them, and then you have 14 days. I bought tickets from Under Cover Tourist too. I have 5, 3 day tickets. I know we are all going as a family in a few years. I had the money in my travel fund, so I purchased them.

 

[wendow]

I agree with the pp. It sounds as if your mind is made up despite it being a poor financial decision and you are unsure where your daughter will be medically for the trip (my heart breaks for you with that as we are dealing with some tough medical stuff with our oldest dd and it does make it hard to plan). So, if you feel it is best to go ahead and buy the tickets, then I guess you should. As for me, I would not. I would save up each month and buy them as I could or put the money into a jar until I knew we could definitely take the trip and then buy. Yes, prices may go up but credit card interest is higher than Disney ticket price increases.

 

[mshanson3121]

With all due respect, it sounds like your mind is already made up. Every suggestion someone has given you, you have shot down in some way or another. Not one single person has advised you to charge the tickets on your card yet you still keep giving reasons why you should, even knowing family medical issues could prevent you from going on the trip.

I understand the temptation of wanting to get the tickets bought and have that behind you, but its simply not wise to put them on a credit card unless you are doing it for rewards and can pay off the balance immediately. I have not owned a credit card in nearly 20 years. I got tired of contributing to the banks bottom line. Like you, I don't have a big savings where I can just go buy our tickets all at once so I save until I can buy one, then I buy it. I save for another, then I buy it. By doing so, the tickets are still "paid for and behind me" and I'm not paying any interest on them.

As others have said, its highly unlikely Disney will impose another price increase within the next 6 to 8 months (when you said you could pay them off). It just doesn't make sense to charge the tickets at this time. If you bought and paid cash for 2 tickets before a 'perceived' price increase 6 months from now, you'd only be paying the upcharge on your remaining tickets. How many and what kind of tickets are you planning to buy that would cause a 'perceived' price increase to be more than $125-$140?

As far as reselling them if you can't use them, good luck with that. There is no possible way to determine if tickets have been used without being at the Disney gates. You'd have to find someone who believed you hadn't used the tickets and also didn't mind the chance they would be ID'd at the gate and turned away because the tickets are in your name. Its certainly not a risk I would take as a buyer.

I've said a few times now, that my concern is tiered pricing. Which will cause a massive price increase for us. And in fact, will mean that we do not go. Period.

I agree with the pp. It sounds as if your mind is made up despite it being a poor financial decision and you are unsure where your daughter will be medically for the trip (my heart breaks for you with that as we are dealing with some tough medical stuff with our oldest dd and it does make it hard to plan). So, if you feel it is best to go ahead and buy the tickets, then I guess you should. As for me, I would not. I would save up each month and buy them as I could or put the money into a jar until I knew we could definitely take the trip and then buy. Yes, prices may go up but credit card interest is higher than Disney ticket price increases.

You're actually both wrong on this. I haven't made up my mind on anything. However, the reasons (the interest) that had been given to me for most of it, had nothing whatsoever to do with the factors on my end, and it's kinda pointless to listen to reasons that have nothing to do with what our concerns are. Which is why I a) was trying to clarify why the interest that everyone else is so hung up on, is not a concern for us b) I updated the original post to include what the factors are for us and c) also commented with the info in the comments.

 

[CoP Luv]

I've said a few times now, that my concern is tiered pricing. Which will cause a massive price increase for us. And in fact, will mean that we do not go. Period.

Just curious, how much do you think tiered pricing is going to be if it is going to be implemented?

 

[katmatry]

Even though making a poor financial decision is not a concern to you I would advice against purchasing the tickets now due to your concerns about your daughters medical issues.

 

[mshanson3121]

Just curious, how much do you think tiered pricing is going to be if it is going to be implemented?

Right now I can get 5-day base tickets from UT for $1354. Now, we can assume with relative safety that there'll be a ticket price increase, too. So, assuming a modest increase of 5%, that will makes peak season tickets $131 per day. Which is the only time we can travel. Now, granted this is based on their survey from last summer, but at that time they were proposing a multi-ticket discount of 20% for 5 days, so, assuming they do that, that makes our new total $1848 - an increase of roughly $500 US/$700 CDN. So pretty substantial. More than we're willing to pay. Honestly, we're pretty well at our limit now.

Even though making a poor financial decision is not a concern to you I would advice against purchasing the tickets now due to your concerns about your daughters medical issues.

Really? Had to put that dig in there? I never said "making a poor financial decision" is not a concern. What I did say was that, the money I would save on the tickets buying before an increase, would still be more than what I would spend in interest, therefore the INTEREST was not a concern to me. That's all I said. Amazing how some people have blown that up into I have no concern for poor financial decisions. Quite impressive actually.

 

[lanejudy]

My only fear is that if something happens (ETA: Not financial, but health-wise with our daughter) and we can't go next year. I don't really want to have $2000 tied up in tickets that may not get used for a few years. Though I'm guessing I could always sell them?

My family has had to cancel -- or postpone -- trips due to medical needs. For this reason alone I would not purchase tickets this far in advance. Trying to re-sell them is probably iffy so I wouldn't plan on that as a fall-back. And as you say, you'd then have $2K tied up in vacation tickets that you won't be using for a while. Honestly, I'd hold off. There are always going to be ticket increases, resort increases, travel expense (airfare, gas) increases... when everyone is healthy and ready to plan, plan the trip that fits your budget at that time.

Best wishes to your DD that she stays well, and enjoy your vacation when it occurs!

 

[mshanson3121]

My family has had to cancel -- or postpone -- trips due to medical needs. For this reason alone I would not purchase tickets this far in advance. Trying to re-sell them is probably iffy so I wouldn't plan on that as a fall-back. And as you say, you'd then have $2K tied up in vacation tickets that you won't be using for a while. Honestly, I'd hold off. There are always going to be ticket increases, resort increases, travel expense (airfare, gas) increases... when everyone is healthy and ready to plan, plan the trip that fits you budget at that time.

Best wishes to your DD that she stays well, and enjoy your vacation when it occurs!

Thanks. I do appreciate the input from those who have mentioned the re-sale issues. Sounds as though it probably wouldn't be that easy to do.

 

[HM]

If you follow these boards, you know that you will hear about a price increase before it happens, right?

So, just wait. Keep paying down your CCs and by the time the prices get ready to go up (or your trip comes up, which ever is first) you'll have plenty of room on your CC and you can buy them then. So there is no need to rush and do it now.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Really? Had to put that dig in there? I never said "making a poor financial decision" is not a concern. What I did say was that, the money I would save on the tickets buying before an increase, would still be more than what I would spend in interest, therefore the INTEREST was not a concern to me. That's all I said. Amazing how some people have blown that up into I have no concern for poor financial decisions. Quite impressive actually.

I don't think people are trying to be mean, but they are pointing out other options for you. And the general consensus is that paying credit card interest on park tickets for a vacation that you aren't sure you will actually take and which will be difficult to resell is a poor financial decision. If I was in this situation, I would save up the money over the next few months, cutting costs where I could to boost this until I could purchase the tickets outright before a price hike. Do you think that this option would not work for you?

And if it seems that you won't be able to make the trip, that money is still there for other purposes, such as paying down the credit card debt or towards medical care for your DD, whatever your family needs.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

The tickets go up an average of $6 dollars with the increase. Not enough to buy tickets in advance, imho.

 

[PerfessorZ]

Right now I can get 5-day base tickets from UT for $1354. Now, we can assume with relative safety that there'll be a ticket price increase, too. So, assuming a modest increase of 5%, that will makes peak season tickets $131 per day. Which is the only time we can travel. Now, granted this is based on their survey from last summer, but at that time they were proposing a multi-ticket discount of 20% for 5 days, so, assuming they do that, that makes our new total $1848 - an increase of roughly $500 US/$700 CDN. So pretty substantial. More than we're willing to pay. Honestly, we're pretty well at our limit now.

I guess I'm more skeptical that Disney would jack their 5-day tickets by 36%, even for their top tier times. As you said, that survey was done last summer and may not reflect the price change they just implemented, nor will it reflect what they learn from the impact the last increase has on their bottom line.

Additionally, from http://allears.net/tix/tixpix10.htm , I've only seen one price change per year since 2010, although I admittedly scanned through rather than went over it with a fine-toothed comb.

Given the opportunity cost of having that much money tied up in a rather unliquid asset, and the relatively unlikelihood of another price hike in the next few months, I, personally, would hold off on the purchase. Waiting to buy the tickets would save money on interest on them, as well as allow me to pay off the rest of my credit card debt faster, saving even more money. It would also allow me a reserve of credit should I need it for another sort of emergency in the interim, such as a major car repair. And ultimately, you could still purchase tickets ahead of the next price increase to lock in the current rates whatever they were, but be in a better financial situation to do so.

I love Disney as much as the next DIS member, but if the only way I could afford to go to Disney World is to lock up a recent bump in my credit card limit, it would be time to hold off on a vacation until my financial situation improved, especially with the chance the whole thing might have to be cancelled due to family health issues.

 

[mshanson3121]

I guess I'm more skeptical that Disney would jack their 5-day tickets by 36%, even for their top tier times. As you said, that survey was done last summer and may not reflect the price change they just implemented, nor will it reflect what they learn from the impact the last increase has on their bottom line.

Additionally, from http://allears.net/tix/tixpix10.htm , I've only seen one price change per year since 2010, although I admittedly scanned through rather than went over it with a fine-toothed comb.

Given the opportunity cost of having that much money tied up in a rather unliquid asset, and the relatively unlikelihood of another price hike in the next few months, I, personally, would hold off on the purchase. Waiting to buy the tickets would save money on interest on them, as well as allow me to pay off the rest of my credit card debt faster, saving even more money. It would also allow me a reserve of credit should I need it for another sort of emergency in the interim, such as a major car repair. And ultimately, you could still purchase tickets ahead of the next price increase to lock in the current rates whatever they were, but be in a better financial situation to do so.

I love Disney as much as the next DIS member, but if the only way I could afford to go to Disney World is to lock up a recent bump in my credit card limit, it would be time to hold off on a vacation until my financial situation improved, especially with the chance the whole thing might have to be cancelled due to family health issues.

You're looking at the timing wrong. You're only looking at the year, not the month. By the calendar year, sure, there's only been one a year. However, when you look at the actual dates, in 2013-2014, the price was increased twice within an 8 month period. They raised prices in June 2013, and turned around and raised them again in February 2014. Same thing with other years. I'm not saying they will, but it's foolish for anyone to say they won't, especially the way things are going lately.

I hope they don't. However, the cost for single day ticket just went up 23% for those who are purchasing during peak season, so... I really wouldn't rule it out. Even if tiering multi-day resulted in a 20% increase, that's still an extra $350+ for tickets, and just really pushes us past what we are willing to pay.

At any rate, I love how this board makes gross assumptions (and often wrong ones, as they are here) about people's financial states based on very minimal info. Such as we don't have other savings (yup, we do), or that we must owe massive CC debt (nope, we don't, but we purposely carry low limits) or that the only we we can afford a trip is to use a credit card (nope, will be funded fully in cash). We plan on saving month by month over the next year, as well as using some of our 2017 income tax return, of which we get a very hefty one. We could pay cash for the tickets right now for that matter. But we plan on doing fairly extensive home renovations this summer, and we don't want to tie up all the cash just in case we run into problems - and with a 100 year old house, problems are pretty much guaranteed, lol. Hence the thought of putting it on the CC, and just putting the money we were going to save each month, on the CC. For the question that I'm sure someone will throw out there: "Why not pay cash for the tickets and if you run over on the house, put that on the credit card"... it's because DH gets a better deal on supplies as a cash customer.

Anyways, why I was thinking now now and not 6 months from now, was because we plan on using Park Savers, and I was told on this forum that their prices/deals fluctuate quite a bit. Right now we can get 7 day Park Hoppers for $1520. That's a $200US savings, which is about $265 for us, so, pretty good. And, even if over the 6-8 months or so of paying it off, it cost us $100 in interest, we'd still save $165 on the tickets. I don't sneeze at $100+ savings. And again, I was just thinking in case they did happen to raise prices again before we could buy etc... (seeing as how it wasn't that long ago they raised prices twice within 8 months). So, that was the thought process behind it.

But, I was also thinking it'd be easy enough to sell the tickets if something did come up with DD, but based on feedback here, that doesn't sound promising. So I imagine we'll wait awhile and see what the summer brings with DD.

 

[fbb]

At any rate, I love how this board makes gross assumptions (and often wrong ones, as they are here) about people's financial states based on very minimal info.

Concern about being priced out of a trip coincident with nonconcern about paying credit card interest leads to an easy assumption.

 

[Nayan]

I never bought tickets until it was very close to vacation time. Things come up, life happens and I would hate to have that money tied up if I couldn't go, especially now that they expire.

 

[mshanson3121]

Concern about being priced out of a trip coincident with nonconcern about paying credit card interest leads to an easy assumption.

What a load of bull quite frankly. Amazing how many people can't read on this board. Or read only what they want to. Or enough to make sweeping judgements. What people chose to ignore is where I said we would be priced out because "it's more than we WANT to pay", not more than we CAN pay. Oh, and also the fact that I said repeatedly that I did factor in the interest, and that even with paying the interest, we would still SAVE money. If the savings were going to have been eaten up in interest, or we would have ended up paying more in interest than we saved, nope, wouldn't have even considered it. But hey, thanks for all those of you who want to treat me like a financial idiot. It would serve some on here well to remember the saying about assuming.

Anyways. I'm done.

Thanks to the few of you who actually took the high road, and actually gave some good input, rather than criticizing something you knew nothing about. Your points about resale, waiting a bit longer to see what's going on were appreciated, and your advice will be taken.

 

[Marionnette]

You're looking at the timing wrong. You're only looking at the year, not the month. By the calendar year, sure, there's only been one a year. However, when you look at the actual dates, in 2013-2014, the price was increased twice within an 8 month period. They raised prices in June 2013, and turned around and raised them again in February 2014. Same thing with other years. I'm not saying they will, but it's foolish for anyone to say they won't, especially the way things are going lately.

I hope they don't. However, the cost for single day ticket just went up 23% for those who are purchasing during peak season, so... I really wouldn't rule it out. Even if tiering multi-day resulted in a 20% increase, that's still an extra $350+ for tickets, and just really pushes us past what we are willing to pay.

At any rate, I love how this board makes gross assumptions (and often wrong ones, as they are here) about people's financial states based on very minimal info. Such as we don't have other savings (yup, we do), or that we must owe massive CC debt (nope, we don't, but we purposely carry low limits) or that the only we we can afford a trip is to use a credit card (nope, will be funded fully in cash). We plan on saving month by month over the next year, as well as using some of our 2017 income tax return, of which we get a very hefty one. We could pay cash for the tickets right now for that matter. But we plan on doing fairly extensive home renovations this summer, and we don't want to tie up all the cash just in case we run into problems - and with a 100 year old house, problems are pretty much guaranteed, lol. Hence the thought of putting it on the CC, and just putting the money we were going to save each month, on the CC. For the question that I'm sure someone will throw out there: "Why not pay cash for the tickets and if you run over on the house, put that on the credit card"... it's because DH gets a better deal on supplies as a cash customer.

Anyways, why I was thinking now now and not 6 months from now, was because we plan on using Park Savers, and I was told on this forum that their prices/deals fluctuate quite a bit. Right now we can get 7 day Park Hoppers for $1520. That's a $200US savings, which is about $265 for us, so, pretty good. And, even if over the 6-8 months or so of paying it off, it cost us $100 in interest, we'd still save $165 on the tickets. I don't sneeze at $100+ savings. And again, I was just thinking in case they did happen to raise prices again before we could buy etc... (seeing as how it wasn't that long ago they raised prices twice within 8 months). So, that was the thought process behind it.

But, I was also thinking it'd be easy enough to sell the tickets if something did come up with DD, but based on feedback here, that doesn't sound promising. So I imagine we'll wait awhile and see what the summer brings with DD.

What a load of bull quite frankly. Amazing how many people can't read on this board. Or read only what they want to. Or enough to make sweeping judgements. What people chose to ignore is where I said we would be priced out because "it's more than we WANT to pay", not more than we CAN pay. Oh, and also the fact that I said repeatedly that I did factor in the interest, and that even with paying the interest, we would still SAVE money. If the savings were going to have been eaten up in interest, or we would have ended up paying more in interest than we saved, nope, wouldn't have even considered it. But hey, thanks for all those of you who want to treat me like a financial idiot. It would serve some on here well to remember the saying about assuming.

Anyways. I'm done.

Thanks to the few of you who actually took the high road, and actually gave some good input, rather than criticizing something you knew nothing about. Your points about resale were appreciated, and your advice will be taken.

Sorry that you didn't get the responses that you wanted. Have a good trip, whenever it ends up being taken and I truly hope that your daughter's health improves.

 

[mshanson3121]

Sorry that you didn't get the responses that you wanted. Have a good trip, whenever it ends up being taken and I truly hope that your daughter's health improves.

Thank you

 

[Disneyliscious]

Anyways, why I was thinking now now and not 6 months from now, was because we plan on using Park Savers, and I was told on this forum that their prices/deals fluctuate quite a bit. Right now we can get 7 day Park Hoppers for $1520. That's a $200US savings, which is about $265 for us, so, pretty good. And, even if over the 6-8 months or so of paying it off, it cost us $100 in interest, we'd still save $165 on the tickets. I don't sneeze at $100+ savings. And again, I was just thinking in case they did happen to raise prices again before we could buy etc... (seeing as how it wasn't that long ago they raised prices twice within 8 months). So, that was the thought process behind it.

As has been said before, the DIS always gets word of a price increase before it happens. Why not just hang out here and then buy the tickets at that time?

Oh, and also the fact that I said repeatedly that I did factor in the interest, and that even with paying the interest, we would still SAVE money.

If you are going to save money, I'm not sure why you even asked the question. It appears you have done the figures for your family and your CC is the best course of action in your mind. For the record, my concern is why you feel the rush to buy tickets now. It has less to do with your method of payment for me. You would learn of a price increase before it ever happened. If you just waited, you could save some money up and at least pay cash for some of the tickets then put the rest on your CC, thus lowering your overall interest. You would also have the safety net of your $2k CC increase in case of an emergency. I just don't understand the rush is all.