So are WDW ticket prices increasong too?

[MimiOfTwo]

I was actually referring to an email they sent me.

 

[randumb0]

Iger confirmed that prices will be increasing but he didnt say when

 

[rteetz]

Iger confirmed that prices will be increasing but he didnt say when

The way I understood it is he said they normally raise prices every year around this time so they probably will again. I didn't take that as a confirmation but I think everyone expects them to raise them at some point.

 

[randumb0]

Here was the question:
You are going to lap the demand-based pricing model in a couple of weeks, and with Pandora opening, is there maybe a near-term opportunity to further increase single or multi-day ticket prices?

Iger's Response:
Yes. Nothing to announce at this point, but we do take ticket pricing up on typically an annual basis, and we do so in a variety of different ways. Sometimes it is redesign the packages. Remember that in Florida, that most of our attendance is multi-day in nature, so the single day, including when take pricing increases is less important than when we take single-day pricing up in California. We're not prepared to make any specific comments about what is in store in that regard.

 

[randumb0]

We should expect an increase though, but we just dont know when

 

[mshanson3121]

Here was the question:
You are going to lap the demand-based pricing model in a couple of weeks, and with Pandora opening, is there maybe a near-term opportunity to further increase single or multi-day ticket prices?

Iger's Response:
Yes. Nothing to announce at this point, but we do take ticket pricing up on typically an annual basis, and we do so in a variety of different ways. Sometimes it is redesign the packages. Remember that in Florida, that most of our attendance is multi-day in nature, so the single day, including when take pricing increases is less important than when we take single-day pricing up in California. We're not prepared to make any specific comments about what is in store in that regard.

You know reading between the lines of what he didn't say: is there a hint of restructuring the multi day passes? Tiered pricing?

 

[rteetz]

You know reading between the lines of what he didn't say: is there a hint of restructuring the multi day passes? Tiered pricing?

I would say its very likely.

 

[jpeden]

That banner has been up on their site for months.

This is in reference to UCT's annual price increase from my understanding - although I'm sure Disney's is right around the corner as well.

 

[rteetz]

Len Testa says not this Sunday but next Sunday prices are expected to go up. No word on tiers.

 

[TwoMisfits]

So, they are giving their bloggers and friendly media a week to try to drum up enough demand that they can then throw in a ticket increase without cratering it. It probably is coinciding with all the announcements right now, although really, those boil down to Pandora opening on schedule, ROL finally opening, and MK swapping out fireworks shows - only one of those wasn't a practical certainty for summer, so not an epic amount of stuff when people are already speaking with their wallets and saying the prices are too high...

I'm betting if their numbers don't get better the next 7-10 days, there may not be a 2017 ticket increase...again, this is "leak the news through friendly media" and see the reaction in bookings and sales...if there is no frantic buying of old tickets and bookings of packages, there won't be a ticket increase, b/c if you can't sell the summer at current rates, you sure can't sell it at higher ones...

 

[Chilbert]

Len Testa says not this Sunday but next Sunday prices are expected to go up. No word on tiers.

Just saw on the Orlando Sentinel that it is this Sunday.

 

[Chilbert]

It also says that starting tomorrow all tickets (not just single day tickets) will have an expiration date...

 

[Ninja Mom]

So, they are giving their bloggers and friendly media a week to try to drum up enough demand that they can then throw in a ticket increase without cratering it. It probably is coinciding with all the announcements right now, although really, those boil down to Pandora opening on schedule, ROL finally opening, and MK swapping out fireworks shows - only one of those wasn't a practical certainty for summer, so not an epic amount of stuff when people are already speaking with their wallets and saying the prices are too high...

I'm betting if their numbers don't get better the next 7-10 days, there may not be a 2017 ticket increase...again, this is "leak the news through friendly media" and see the reaction in bookings and sales...if there is no frantic buying of old tickets and bookings of packages, there won't be a ticket increase, b/c if you can't sell the summer at current rates, you sure can't sell it at higher ones...

That being said I wonder if the sales of secondary ticket sellers like Undercover Tourist are being tracked/reported back to Disney in advance of all this price increase chatter.

However I don't believe a company like Disney would seriously include that pre-sale data in the decision to increase prices. I think that decision was made months ago when the schedules for the new openings were firmed up. Disney is probably betting on a bump in attendance with the opening of Pandora et al. If there is a positive bump we will see an additional price increases next year. If there isn't enough of a bump then I believe that prices may have to hold steady because they are not helping to get people in the parks.

I have to say that I am not a fan of this constant up-sell, erosion of quality, pay more /get less mentality that is more and more in evidence in the parks. It's obvious to me that the focus is on increasing profits and not so much on the Disney Parks experience. I think that Pandora will be the last of the great, immersive efforts from creative. That's because Pandora was incubated before the emphasis was placed so heavily on profits before show. Some people will point to Star Wars Land and say that's what is next but the priority has shifted away from greatness and more towards quick and cheap. There have been so many misfires lately that I lack the faith in parks management to wow us like in the past.

I suppose the good news is that the majority of people who go to a Disney Park have no understanding of this shift in the Disney legacy. They will see the high prices and have to make up their own minds if they are going to be brand loyal or if their visit is a one and done. Disney themselves bet big on this "Trip of a lifetime" concept in a recent ad campaign but based on the downward trend in attendance this approach was not successful to the extent needed. I feel that Disney is trading on their legacy and they are eroding the experience in the name of profit. This is unsustainable and it's really sad to watch.

So it all goes back to ticket prices and how much the "Market will bear". Economic factors contribute much of that. A Disney parks experience is super expensive so that, in and of itself, helps to keep people out. If you talk to people that have just returned from their first Disney trip the one thing they always mention is how costly it was and what a turn off that is. Yes the trip was nice but they have no interest or ability in spending that much money again.

With high prices and less and less of a Wow factor I don't see this current direction as being sustainable either among first time visitors or the Disney faithful. When you increase the price to the point where it is out of the reach of your customers, they go away. When you degrade the experience so that it no longer has the value expected, your customers go away. It's incredibly hard to build and maintain a legacy so it pains me to see all of these poor decisions, misfires and profit oriented moves happening today.

~NM

 

[rteetz]

Just saw on the Orlando Sentinel that it is this Sunday.

Yes both WDW and Disneyland

 

[quandrea]

The Cdn tix are not a loophole. They have no expiration - just like all regular Disney tix. They are just discounted because of our terrible exchange rate. Disney is also offering a big discount for their UK guests and those are normal UK tickets too.

So far no expiration but the message that they do expire appeared on the site this past week with conflicting info on another page about the tickets not expiring. I think Disney was testing out their webpages as they do prior to them going live. Now that ticket prices increase tomorrow I think the Canadian ticket will expire Dec 2017. Get your tickets today.

 

[AEmgee]

So far no expiration but the message that they do expire appeared on the site this past week with conflicting info on another page about the tickets not expiring. I think Disney was testing out their webpages as they do prior to them going live. Now that ticket prices increase tomorrow I think the Canadian ticket will expire Dec 2017. Get your tickets today.

With the conflicting web pages with one page stating no expiration and another page with the fine print showing December 31, 2017 expiration, how can I be assured there will indeed be no expiration?

 

[mshanson3121]

With the conflicting web pages with one page stating no expiration and another page with the fine print showing December 31, 2017 expiration, how can I be assured there will indeed be no expiration?

That ticks me off. The terms and conditions to the sale should as they advertised for months - period. If they change, they likely just lost our business.

 

[quandrea]

With the conflicting web pages with one page stating no expiration and another page with the fine print showing December 31, 2017 expiration, how can I be assured there will indeed be no expiration?

Take screen shots of both and call Disney. Yesterday I was assured they won't expire. I'm going to call again today.

 

[elaine amj]

With the conflicting web pages with one page stating no expiration and another page with the fine print showing December 31, 2017 expiration, how can I be assured there will indeed be no expiration?

Worried too.

 

[quandrea]

Take screen shots of both and call Disney. Yesterday I was assured they won't expire. I'm going to call again today.

They should also honour the deal in the guest's favour. That's just fair. But fairness may not enter into it.