There shouldn't be any additional charge to park hop

[flicx]

But why is that a problem? One day, everyone had to pay for something not everyone used. Next day, people who weren't going to use the no exp and hopping weren't paying for it, so they were happier. People who wanted to use no exp and hopping could still get it if they valued it at what Disney's charging, or they got a discount on a regular ticket, so they were fine. And Disney, presumably, could end up charging more for a particular perk while keeping the basic price down for those who weren't interested or were willing to go without those perks. Win-win for everybody.

I don't like nickle-and-diming when I feel like it exists to hide costs. For instance, a "resort" fee that everyone who stays in a hotel has to pay, whether they plan to use the facilities or not. But when it's for parking, and clearly posted with the regular price, that doesn't bother me much, even though I always drive and will have to pay it, because it's essentially a discount for people who aren't using a particular perk. It's paying for two different things, not a hidden charge I have to pay no matter what.

Hotels charge for parking because space is at a premium -- if space isn't at a premium, they just build a bigger parking lot, because where there's space people either don't stay where they have to pay for parking or they just park down the street. Disney initially didn't charge extra for park hopping because people would have just stuck with the Magic Kingdom or wherever they were used to going. Disney wanted people to get to the other parks and so they encouraged park hopping. But once all four parks became reasonably popular for themselves, then park hopping became a perk in itself -- a perk that most people didn't use, so Disney pulled it out of the basic ticket and charged for it separately.

No expiration, OTOH, was a perk few people ever used that became pertinent when Disney worked out crowd predictions, so, again, charging a separate fee for that years after it was "bundled" into a regular ticket made sense. Disney wouldn't have tons of tickets floating around in the aether that might or might not be used any one year, while people who made the effort to buy a non-expiration feature were more likely to make use of them at some point. People who didn't use the non-expiration feature got a discount, while Disney had fewer variables to worry about.

Change is inevitable. With a well-run business, it's also logical, and usually aimed to make the most profit by pleasing the most people. Disney is as mass market as it gets, and only artisans are likely to aim for pleasing a tiny minority at the cost of pleasing a larger group.

You look at it your way I'll look at it mine. The no expiration and park hopper was included. Now its not and there is a big upcharge to use it now. The amount of upcharge has grown by leaps and bounds since the separation. My personal belief is they did it to make more money for basically doing nothing more. That is my opinion, and I will stick with it. The change hurt many people who don't have the luxury of taking a full week or more to visit Disney World. Some people buy multi day tickets for 2 or 3 trips to fit their budget. To do that now is a big big upcharge. You also state that matter of factly most people didn't use the park hopper feature when it was free. Really? where did you come up with this data. You also state No exp wasn't used that much either, again speculation on your part. The system is what it is. I was just stating for the record that there was a day when there was no charge for these things. After all the OP did ask the question!

 

[shalom]

You also state that matter of factly most people didn't use the park hopper feature when it was free. Really? where did you come up with this data. You also state No exp wasn't used that much either, again speculation on your part.

True, although there are plenty of quotes from Disney employees on both in support of the low usage thing. But, since you get such a variety of stories from CMs it's hard to trust any of it, mostly it's speculation based on logic. If a lot of people were using those perks, then there would have been a serious backlash when Disney separated them out. Because if a lot of people were using them, there would have been a lot more people with your view of things when it happened, and Disney would have taken a serious hit in the image department. Disney isn't going to anger the majority in order to give a discount to the minority, so logically it had to have been a minority of people using those things.

 

[flicx]

True, although there are plenty of quotes from Disney employees on both in support of the low usage thing. But, since you get such a variety of stories from CMs it's hard to trust any of it, mostly it's speculation based on logic. If a lot of people were using those perks, then there would have been a serious backlash when Disney separated them out. Because if a lot of people were using them, there would have been a lot more people with your view of things when it happened, and Disney would have taken a serious hit in the image department. Disney isn't going to anger the majority in order to give a discount to the minority, so logically it had to have been a minority of people using those things.

At first Disney made it a very modest price to add these features. As the years have progressed since they have expanded the cost greatly. I guess it is like trying to stick a frog in boiling water or slowly heating the water up theory.

 

[dixiegirl]

Why do we allow Disney to get away with this practice ? If I park my car at the MK and start my day there and then later on drive over to HS and park there and finish my day there they don't charge me again to park my car there because I've already paid to park in one of their lots for the day . The same should be true if I want to hop to 2 or more parks in one day , no additional charge should be levied because I've already paid for a days admission to their parks . Fair is fair right ? I paid for a days admission I should be allowed just like my car (lol) to hop to another park or parks if that is what I want to do . We haven't bought park hoppers in years because we feel like hopping wasted too much time but we understand why some people need or want to hop But as I stated it doesn't seem like a fair practice/charge by Disney .

Not ALLOWING them to GET AWAY with anything. It's their property and their rules - you do not have to go - that is your choice. You don't like it - don't go. We personally would not go without having park hoppers. Hopping doesn't waste time for us at all - easy enough to get from park to park. To each his/her own.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Totally off topic at this point, but I can't resist.

I think you are overestimating the intelligence/knowledge of a lot of first-timers (and sadly some repeat visitors). I'm sure once someone is there they will learn 2 park admission are needed, but I am willing to bet many people budget 1 park admission for 1 day and then end up incredibly POed that they have to pay extra, or disappointed that they can't afford the extra ticket and will only get to see half of what they came for. None of that is Universal's fault, but I think it will be pretty common. Many people only plan to the level they think they need to, and if they feel they already know everything, they are not going to put in the extra effort.

I can't tell you how many people I have talked to think that:
a) Universal is just one park
b) Universal is PART of Disney (*fun story below)
c) Hogwarts is at Disney, not Universal
d) That WDW is JUST ONE park

*My MIL picked DH and I up from the airport 2 weeks ago after our 10 day WDW trip and asked if we went to the Harry Potter land. Keep in mind that my MIL has been to WDW a few times. The conversation then went like this:

DH - "No Harry Potter is at Universal"
MIL - "I thought you said you did all of the parks"
DH - "Yeah, at Disney World"
MIL - "Universal isn't included in the tickets?"
DH - "No, they are 2 different companies. Universal and Disney are competitors"
MIL - "But EPCOT is in Disney World"
DH - "Yes, EPCOT is a Disney park"
MIL - "But Universal is not?"

And that's where we gave up on that conversation

Your story sounds an awful lot like how I handle most conversations with my mother. My younger brother is a huge fan of Forrest Gump, so of course when I said I was going to Disney, she got all excited and said I need to stop at Bubba Gump Shrimp and get some stuff to stash away for my brother this Christmas. I had to explain to her that BGS is in Universal (well CityWalk, but still) and I will not have a car, nor am I willing to pay $60 round trip for a taxi service from my resort in Disney to Universal and back.

A ton of people are uneducated on what is where in Orlando. Heck, I thought SeaWorld was connected to Universal at first, and was under the impression it was a separate area you needed a different ticket for to get in. Ahahaha...

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

You look at it your way I'll look at it mine. The no expiration and park hopper was included. Now its not and there is a big upcharge to use it now. The amount of upcharge has grown by leaps and bounds since the separation. My personal belief is they did it to make more money for basically doing nothing more. That is my opinion, and I will stick with it. The change hurt many people who don't have the luxury of taking a full week or more to visit Disney World. Some people buy multi day tickets for 2 or 3 trips to fit their budget. To do that now is a big big upcharge. You also state that matter of factly most people didn't use the park hopper feature when it was free. Really? where did you come up with this data. You also state No exp wasn't used that much either, again speculation on your part. The system is what it is. I was just stating for the record that there was a day when there was no charge for these things. After all the OP did ask the question!

Disney is a business. It costs a lot of money to refurbish the parks and resorts every year.

 

[flicx]

Disney is a business. It costs a lot of money to refurbish the parks and resorts every year.

Where did I say that it isn't. Honestly I am just recounting what happened and my opinion why it happened.

 

[ethanwa]

WDW is the most popular theme park in the entire world. They charge what they want and people still come. If you expect them to change it from paid to free, you are delusional.

 

[flicx]

Kool aid anyone?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Where did I say that it isn't. Honestly I am just recounting what happened and my opinion why it happened.

I don't disagree with you except that it has not impacted my opinion of Disney. I always saw them as a company out to make money. It is like my view of the airlines. They were struggling to survive. They decided to start charging for baggage, and now they are back in the black again.

I didn't like it when they made the changes, but I refuse to let it effect me.

 

[flicx]

I don't disagree with you except that it has not impacted my opinion of Disney. I always saw them as a company out to make money. It is like my view of the airlines. They were struggling to survive. They decided to start charging for baggage, and now they are back in the black again.

I didn't like it when they made the changes, but I refuse to let it effect me.

It affected my family a little bit as all price increases do. There are many other factors that have changed my opinion of Disney over the years, this is only one straw. Actually this is minor league compared to the damage I think the FP plus system is gonna have if they don't correct it somehow. Hey but that's a horse of a different color. I am just gonna sit back relax and watch that train wreck happen!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It affected my family a little bit as all price increases do. There are many other factors that have changed my opinion of Disney over the years, this is only one straw. Actually this is minor league compared to the damage I think the FP plus system is gonna have if they don't correct it somehow. Hey but that's a horse of a different color. I am just gonna sit back relax and watch that train wreck happen!

I think you'll be sorely bored and disappointed. Most of us love FP+

 

[FireDancer]

I buy 10 day non-expiring park hoppers and use them for about 4-5 years. I'd love it if there was no charge for either of those upgrade options but I fail to see any actual incentive for Disney to do so. They are both good perks that I and others are willing to pay for and business 101 says never give away something if you can charge people for it.

If people stopped paying for the options or become unwilling to pay what Disney feels they need to charge to recoup any added expense incurred in providing it they will either adjust the price or discontinue the product.

In the end we will be the ones who dictate what Disney can charge for ParkHopping and everything else by what we are willing to pay. Disney doesn't enjoy perfectly inelastic demand.

 

[flicx]

I think you'll be sorely bored and disappointed. Most of us love FP+

Yes I can tell by Disney's facebook site and the disboards. Everyone loves it!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Yes I can tell by Disney's facebook site and the disboards. Everyone loves it!

Flawed example. People who are satisfied with something are less likely to complain about it on social media.

 

[shalom]

At first Disney made it a very modest price to add these features. As the years have progressed since they have expanded the cost greatly. I guess it is like trying to stick a frog in boiling water or slowly heating the water up theory.

Yeah, it's certainly a text book example of how to do that sort of thing. But the reason text books discuss that sort of thing is that it's always a challenge to start charging for something that was free; odds are good some people are going to take their business elsewhere no matter how delicately you handle it.

Most of us love FP+

Eh, at this point I think the majority are more "wait and see." But that might be because that's where I'm at -- I believe Disney will pull it off, just because they usually do, but train wreck is still a possibility.

 

[flicx]

I buy 10 day non-expiring park hoppers and use them for about 4-5 years. I'd love it if there was no charge for either of those upgrade options but I fail to see any actual incentive for Disney to do so. They are both good perks that I and others are willing to pay for and business 101 says never give away something if you can charge people for it.

If people stopped paying for the options or become unwilling to pay what Disney feels they need to charge to recoup any added expense incurred in providing it they will either adjust the price or discontinue the product.

In the end we will be the ones who dictate what Disney can charge for ParkHopping and everything else by what we are willing to pay. Disney doesn't enjoy perfectly inelastic demand.

I agree now people pay for them. Why would they go back. My original point was a simple one. They used both come with admission that's all.

 

[flicx]

I think you'll be sorely bored and disappointed. Most of us love FP+

This example isn't flawed???????

 

[FireDancer]

I agree now people pay for them. Why would they go back. My original point was a simple one. They used both come with admission that's all.

I call it the crack dealer approach and Disney is quite good at it. Give them something for free for a little while, get them "hooked" on it, and then start charging for it.

I have a lot of respect for businesses that manage to do it because it is very hard to pull off. Chapeau Disney, chapeau.

ETA: I think had Disney not separated out the park hopping and non-expiration option the normal ticket price would be the same as having those two options now. A 5 day ticket would be the price of a current 5 day non-expiring park hopper, not the price of a 5 day one park a day ticket that has to be used up within 14 days of first use. So, looking at it that way, basically you are getting a discounted ticket if you don't choose those options, not paying more to choose those options.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

This example isn't flawed???????

Your reasoning is flawed. People who are happy don't usually complain on Facebook or Disboards.