Theme Parks & "On Demand" Tickets - What Do You Think?

[*NikkiBell*]

If you listened to The Daily Fix earlier (or subsequently The DIS Unplugged later on where it will also be discussed), Pete mentioned that Universal Studios Hollywood is moving towards on demand pricing - higher costs when crowds are large. I have mixed feelings about this in regards to Disney parks. What do you guys think?

 

[kbelle8995]

Not a fan.

 

[wilkeliza]

The way Universal is doing it is interesting. So if you show up on the day and buy a ticket it will cost $95 no matter what day you go. Now if you pre-buy your tickets you can save upwards of $20 and even for peak save $5 dollars by pre-buying. It is actually a smart move for a place like Universal Hollywood. It is very much a local park and with HP expansion it is going to be very hard for them to forecast and plan for the sheer number of people who will be visiting. By encouraging pre-purchase they will have a better idea on how many people will be in the park on any given day. So it isn't the big scary on demand pricing we keep hearing about but rather a discount for going during non-peak times and for pre-buying. If you show up day of, it is the same price no matter the season.

 

[rteetz]

Its going to happen eventually. Its just a matter of when.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I feel like the *biggest* issue with traveling to Disney of late is the crowds, so if this can help with the crowds then I am supportive of it

But I think I would like to see:
- truly be cheaper than current prices for slow times
- for peak season, if you are going to raise the prices significantly, lower the level needed to max out the park. If you are going to charge more you need to feel like lines will be lower
- I would like to see some options or deals or something for people with jobs that limit when they can travel and have limited salaries (thinking teachers, etc.)

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Its going to happen eventually. Its just a matter of when.

I totally agree, Ryan, and have figured that ever since we first started hearing about it. Now I wonder when they'll start selling it to us as "due to guest demand", like it was OUR idea in the FIRST place!

 

[Princess Jes]

- I would like to see some options or deals or something for people with jobs that limit when they can travel and have limited salaries (thinking teachers, etc.)

I don't mean to be rude or harsh, but why should Disney put out discounts for those who don't earn as much as others?
I get the military discounts, they put heir lives on the line (and I guess you could argue that with all the school shootings that happen, teachers do too...) but you're essentially saying that there should be a welfare based system for lower income earners to travel to Disney.
Disney isn't a given right, it's something that people do have to save and save for. It sucks for those who can't afford it or can't come as often due to the pricing, trust me, I get that, but I can see a permanent or on-going widespread discount structure like that causing quite the controversy.

 

[MikeTaylor]

A simple solution to decrease the feel of the crowds would be to increase ride capacity by putting in some new attractions... especially at Magic Kingdom, where everyone goes (multiple days in one trip as well) since it is the most complete, i.e., no construction (we ended up going to MK 3 out of 7 park days). There were/are rumors of an attraction like Kali River Rapids being placed in the Rivers of America (and dry docking the Belle permanently to be used as a character meet and greet) primarily used for a crowd control attraction/function/new thing to get excited about for MK@WDW's 50th anniversary. Hindrance on crowd flow would be minimal for construction, so it's a win-win.

If two bridges were constructed, one through the smoking area dead-end at BTMRR and the other one connected through Tom Sawyer's Island to the side of the Haunted Mansion queues, it would definitely cut down on traffic where the parade route operates. Guests could go straight from the funnel to BTMRR. If opened first, guests could still enjoy parts of the Island. If need be, they could expand the waterway behind HM & IASW's service area to lengthen the ride time and stay within the railroad's tracks. Also, there are a lot of SOTMK players that take up valuable space on Main Street, so having an extra area in Frontierland with new quests/gameplay would also help ease the feel of large crowds.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don't mean to be rude or harsh, but why should Disney put out discounts for those who don't earn as much as others?
I get the military discounts, they put heir lives on the line (and I guess you could argue that with all the school shootings that happen, teachers do too...) but you're essentially saying that there should be a welfare based system for lower income earners to travel to Disney.
Disney isn't a given right, it's something that people do have to save and save for. It sucks for those who can't afford it or can't come as often due to the pricing, trust me, I get that, but I can see a permanent or on-going widespread discount structure like that causing quite the controversy.

Well, they should if they think it will attract more people that wouldn't be able to come and thus bring them more money. It would still be expensive and still make Disney money so not welfare where my tax dollars are going to pay for these people to go to Disney or something like that

And it is just connected to the tiering - if you are going to make it more expensive the only time that some people are able to go, making it easier for them to come might be a good thing to do. If there is a whole group of people who now cannot go and are turned off to the product that can hurt the bottom line

 

[samsteele]

WDW will make their own projections and decisions. However, there is a financial tipping point for families who must travel during summer months, Christmas and March Break. Must travel is a bit of a misnomer as no one has to vacation at WDW but that aside, these peak times are when when North American families find they must schedule their vacations. If one guest or a party of two, a moderate park admission hike can be absorbed by many. But when calculating a package cost for a family of 4 plus with 10 yr old children (or heaven forbid, a one or two day spur of the moment drive up park visit), a significant increase will be prohibitive for many. I think WDW knows this. Will be interesting to see how it shakes down in practice. Guessing WDW has now realized there is an actual limit to what the typical family of 4 will pay for a one week Magic Your Way package. Also interesting (and sad) if it turns out that WDW has cooly decided to reject local Floridian non-annual pass holders and casual one or two day park guests in a calculated move to reduce park congestion. These are the folks WDW will have to rely on when the economy swings south. And all economies cycle up and down. Sadly, just a matter of time. If they alienate local park guests and casual park-a-day visitors, they may not get this market back again when times get tough. Also interesting to calculate free dining for 2016 into this mix. Does WDW need to offer fall free dining? We thought not . . . based on attendance last year. But if they increase park admission, then drop in fall free dining with $ add-ons like mandatory park hopper, maybe they can sweeten the deal for that family of 4 to spring for the Magic Your Way 1 week package this fall. Wondering if fall free dining for 2016 will be the canary in mine. A bell weather to let us know that sales aren't all that at WDW? Interesting times.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm in the don't worry or speculate it until it happens camp. While there is probably little doubt if Universal is doing it Disney will most like do some form themselves, there are so many variables it would be like Chicken Little to give a resounding I'd hate it.

 

[Princess Jes]

And it is just connected to the tiering - if you are going to make it more expensive the only time that some people are able to go, making it easier for them to come might be a good thing to do. If there is a whole group of people who now cannot go and are turned off to the product that can hurt the bottom line

It kind of defeats the purpose of tiering though doesn't it?
The reason those times are busy is because school is out.
They're tiering to maybe try and reduce crowds, so offering a discount doesn't make much sense to me?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It kind of defeats the purpose of tiering though doesn't it?
The reason those times are busy is because school is out.
They're tiering to maybe try and reduce crowds, so offering a discount doesn't make much sense to me?

well, not everyone just cause their kid is out of school but where their job is tied to that. Guess I just know a lot of teachers that work really hard and feel bad that this is something that might be taken away from them if they can't afford a big jump in costs

Plus it is positive marketing for Disney ... but I also understand not wanting to do this if the pros don't outweight the cons. They shouldn't do it just to be nice

 

[Princess Jes]

well, not everyone just cause their kid is out of school but where their job is tied to that. Guess I just know a lot of teachers that work really hard and feel bad that this is something that might be taken away from them if they can't afford a big jump in costs

Plus it is positive marketing for Disney ... but I also understand not wanting to do this if the pros don't outweight the cons. They shouldn't do it just to be nice

I guess my point is just that, all we hear about is crowds... when the APs all went up, we speculated that it was to reduce the amount of AP holders to hopefully reduce congestion (at least at DLR) so surge pricing may be the same theory, "weed out" those who cant afford to go, eg, push past that tipping point, and still make the same $ for less people = higher guest experience for those who can afford to go.

I'll put it the way I think Kevin or Pete did on the show... I'd like a Range Rover, but I cant afford it... should they give it to me at half the cost because I cant afford it? I realise that is a crass way to put it, but you get what I mean.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I guess my point is just that, all we hear about is crowds... when the APs all went up, we speculated that it was to reduce the amount of AP holders to hopefully reduce congestion (at least at DLR) so surge pricing may be the same theory, "weed out" those who cant afford to go, eg, push past that tipping point, and still make the same $ for less people = higher guest experience for those who can afford to go.

I'll put it the way I think Kevin or Pete did on the show... I'd like a Range Rover, but I cant afford it... should they give it to me at half the cost because I cant afford it? I realise that is a crass way to put it, but you get what I mean.

Oh I totally get what you mean and there is something to that. Guess I might still have some Disney colored glasses in that Walt wanted a park everyone could go to and once you were in you had the same rights as everyone else, etc. (which I know isn't even true with VIP tours, etc., but still)

 

[pjweaver]

For any teachers out there, there is a park pass discount through NEA or your state association such as PSEA (Pennsylvania state educators association). Many other major businesses also have such perks, often 10% off (I know Target, Home Depot, Marriot), you just need to look pretty hard. I believe many first responders also have discounts available through their union.

Military and DOD personal can buy discounted tickets at BX or PX plus no tax. The biggest bonus though is with Shades of Green, which bases room rates on your pay grade so an E4 pays much less than an O5. A member of your party must show their DOD ID for any of these perks, including getting onto SOG property, and tour companies like Dreams can not assist in booking them.

These are not heavily publicized discounts though, so you need to research with your HR or union.

 

[jpeka65844]

I'm just back from 4 days in the park. Magic Kingdom especially was packed packed packed.

I agree with Stephen's POV. Wouldn't offer higher prices during peak seasons push people into off peak, thus making them the new peak seasons??

 

[pjweaver]

When is off peak now? F&W made September/October peak, Marathon weekends made post New Years peak, even St Patrick's week is peak. The only off peak time I see is the two weeks after Thanksgiving. Like Pete says, as long as people pay, Disney will charge more.

 

[rteetz]

When is off peak now? F&W made September/October peak, Marathon weekends made post New Years peak, even St Patrick's week is peak. The only off peak time I see is the two weeks after Thanksgiving. Like Pete says, as long as people pay, Disney will charge more.

I wouldn't consider marathon weekend peak. Yes it's not low crowds but compared to July I didn't find marathon weekend as crowded.

 

[kbelle8995]

I don't think that Disney is going to effect crowds by this kind of pricing. Guests go when they can go. There will be people who decide not to go. What I wonder is what Universal was talking about was one day. I actually like that they are giving a cheaper price for those who purchase their tickets early.

Universal discussion referred to a One day ticket not multi day. If that happened I assume that certain days would be more than others on multi ala a hotel stay.