There shouldn't be any additional charge to park hop

[maxiesmom]

OP I don't like the hopper and no expiration date upcharges either. I liked the days when they came included in the ticket. Disney just saw a chance for a money grab and took it.

Depends on how you look at it. Believe it or not, not every family feels the need to park hop. Why make them pay more for a service they don't use? I'd rather have the option of a less expensive ticket when it fits my touring plans.

But I'm crazy that way. I'd rather be able to pay or not pay for an airline seat too. And only pay for the bags that I want to check.

 

[fairyprincess88]

I remember using the buses from park to park back in 2005 so it's been quite a while. That was a trip I did with friends and we decided to park hop around for the day just to do it. So it's been at least 8 years.

 

[Magpie]

The buses direct to the MK gate are new, those used to go to the TTC and require a transfer to MK. Otherwise, to my knowledge the direct routes between parks are not new.

I believe Animal Kingdom has always had direct busses to the Magic Kingdom (and other parks). Epcot and Hollywood Studios are more recent (ish)... although I'm not sure what "recent" means in this context. Years?

 

[wisblue]

Universal charges for it too, and they will soon have a "train" that goes between the two parks, requiring a park hopper pass to get on.

I wonder how many uninformed Universal visitors are going to be surprised, and a little upset, when they find out that they have to get a 2 park or 2 day ticket if they want to see all of the Harry Potter stuff?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I don't think it's always been true, but I know it's been true for the last couple years. My husband and I have been going a few times a year lately, and we always stay at the Pop and use the busses. The Disney bus system is terrific! I sold my husband on it during one of his conferences back in 2011 and we've been using it ever since.

However, I'm quite sure it was different at one point and you're remembering correctly. Might have been a gradual thing, too. This link from wdwmagic.com: http://www.wdwmagic.com/transportation/bus-transportation.htm appears to be sadly out of date where busses are concerned. I have no idea how long ago it was written/updated however. A few years, maybe?

Thanks to all who have replied. I wish that I knew of these changes. We hop a lot and this was the biggest reason that we rented a car every trip. Next trip (looks like September at this point) we can use the bus system and save money on a car rental!

 

[flicx]

Depends on how you look at it. Believe it or not, not every family feels the need to park hop. Why make them pay more for a service they don't use? I'd rather have the option of a less expensive ticket when it fits my touring plans.

I don't see it that way. They took what was included in the ticket price and ala carted it out. Why? So they can make more cash!

 

[Alesia]

Thanks to everyone for the clarification about the busses. Has this always been true? I have not ridden a WDW bus other than to go to MK in about 5 years, and I swear that I was told by the folks at my resort on several trips that these busses did not exist. I was told to either come back to my resort or change busses at the TTC. Heck, I think that I remember reading the same thing on this web site a few years ago.

You probably were, but as this thread has shown, there are plenty of people who think they understand how the bus system works but are entirely incorrect. People just believe what they hear from others without questioning it.

OP I don't like the hopper and no expiration date upcharges either. I liked the days when they came included in the ticket. Disney just saw a chance for a money grab and took it.

Except that they lowered the price for non-hopping and expiring tickets, so they actually made the tickets that work best for most visitors much more affordable.

 

[Magpie]

Thanks to all who have replied. I wish that I knew of these changes. We hop a lot and this was the biggest reason that we rented a car every trip. Next trip (looks like September at this point) we can use the bus system and save money on a car rental!

Awesome!

The bus system is a big part of why we stay onsite. Once we factor in the cost savings of not renting a car, and not having to hire a taxi from the airport, Disney's resort prices look a wee bit more reasonable.

 

[ArwenMarie]

One reason they charge is to try to discourage even more people from hopping to MK at night.

 

[fairyprincess88]

I wonder how many uninformed Universal visitors are going to be surprised, and a little upset, when they find out that they have to get a 2 park or 2 day ticket if they want to see all of the Harry Potter stuff?

I doubt they will be that uninformed. Universal is making this a well known fact. It will be stated on all media(maps ect) and they are putting in ticket booths in Diagon and Hogsmeade with signage ect that makes this fact clear.

I also think it would be a bit of obvious common sense that if you want to see both Diagon and Hogsmeade that you will need a two park ticket considering they are in two different parks. As for the Hogswarts Express, there will be plenty of signage and again, if it drops you off in the middle of another theme park and you know that you have to pay to get into both parks, then again one would hope common sense would prevail.

 

[flicx]

Except that they lowered the price for non-hopping and expiring tickets, so they actually made the tickets that work best for most visitors much more affordable.

Again strictly opinion. Disney said this is why. They never had a price structure of what a day cost with exp and park hopping till after they divided it up. They gave this as an excuse to get an upcharge on something that was always include for years. You are entitled to your opinion and I mean no insult. IMO I think its pretty clear what they were after $$$$$$$

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Again strictly opinion. Disney said this is why. They never had a price structure of what a day cost with exp and park hopping till after they divided it up. They gave this as an excuse to get an upcharge on something that was always include for years. You are entitled to your opinion and I mean no insult. IMO I think its pretty clear what they were after $$$$$$$

I agree - same as the airlines charging for bags. Just a way to make more money while delivering nothing more than they have already been delivering.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree - same as the airlines charging for bags. Just a way to make more money while delivering nothing more than they have already been delivering.

While at the same time making it cheaper for people who don't need to check bags or park hop. I'd rather pay for what I know I need and will use then pay a higher rate and have add ons I don't need or want.

 

[Magpie]

Again strictly opinion. Disney said this is why. They never had a price structure of what a day cost with exp and park hopping till after they divided it up. They gave this as an excuse to get an upcharge on something that was always include for years. You are entitled to your opinion and I mean no insult. IMO I think its pretty clear what they were after $$$$$$$

And this is a bad thing... why?

It seems to me going after "$$$$$$$" is nothing but sound business practice. It's not like Disney's breaking into your home and rifling through your wallet. You're choosing to give them your money, because you believe that what you're getting in return is worth the money you're paying.

Even if you think it's less value than you had before, they clearly haven't hit the point where you'll stop giving them your money. You're stilling willing to buy what they're selling.

Walt would have never succeeded without Roy. Dreams need financing, and businesses are not charities (though they do sometimes donate to charities).

Disney has every right to charge whatever they can and organize their price structures to maximize profits. If anything, I'd even say they have an obligation to do so, otherwise they're doing their shareholders a disservice.

 

[flicx]

And this is a bad thing... why?

It seems to me going after "$$$$$$$" is nothing but sound business practice. It's not like Disney's breaking into your home and rifling through your wallet. You're choosing to give them your money, because you believe that what you're getting in return is worth the money you're paying.

Even if you think it's less value than you had before, they clearly haven't hit the point where you'll stop giving them your money. You're stilling willing to buy what they're selling.

Walt would have never succeeded without Roy. Dreams need financing, and businesses are not charities (though they do sometimes donate to charities).

Disney has every right to charge whatever they can and organize their price structures to maximize profits. If anything, I'd even say they have an obligation to do so, otherwise they're doing their shareholders a disservice.

Let them maximize their profits. My point is they made the change for financial gain nothing else. Not this ruse that somehow they did to make it suit the customer better. Also please don't tell me how they are getting my money, not true! Have not been in years and will not be going in years. So please stick to the facts.

 

[mejo]

Let them maximize their profits. My point is they made the change for financial gain nothing else. Not this ruse that somehow they did to make it suit the customer better. Also please don't tell me how they are getting my money, not true! Have not been in years and will not be going in years. So please stick to the facts.

Then why are you on this board????

 

[flicx]

Then why are you on this board????

Really? ?? questioning my right to an opinion ? WOW! I guess a person who has gone to Disney for 30 years has no right to see where the product is going or comment on the problems he sees. How dare a person who has spent tens of thousands of dollars have an opinion!

 

[JimmyV]

Really? ?? questioning my right to an opinion ? WOW! I guess a person who has gone to Disney for 30 years has no right to see where the product is going or comment on the problems he sees. How dare a person who has spent tens of thousands of dollars have an opinion!

Reality check--If you have been going for 30 years, you have spend waaaaay more than tens of thousands of dollars.

Then why are you on this board????

This really makes no sense. People have lots of reasons for being here. Venting is one of them.

 

[Magpie]

Let them maximize their profits. My point is they made the change for financial gain nothing else. Not this ruse that somehow they did to make it suit the customer better. Also please don't tell me how they are getting my money, not true! Have not been in years and will not be going in years. So please stick to the facts.

And again... what other goal does a company have but financial gain? Why does there ever have to be any other reason other than financial gain?

Financial gain is good, in of itself. Companies don't need to pretend they're about anything else (though they often do, because for some reason certain elements of our culture thinks money is icky).

So long as attendance rises and profits rise, everything's on track and the company's doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

People have lots of reasons for being here. Venting is one of them.

This is a trip planning board, not a "let's vent about Disney" board. If you haven't spent a dollar on Disney in "years", and don't plan to ever give them another dime, then "Why are you here?" is actually a legitimate question.

Of course, the answer might be, "I hate Disney so much, I'm on this trip planning board hoping to convince others to cancel their upcoming trips," and that would be legitimate in it's own way. Since, as you say, people have lots of reasons for being here.

 

[JimmyV]

This is a trip planning board, not a "let's vent about Disney" board.

Yes, but part of planning a trip is confronting obstacles that have been seemingly put in your way, either by man, God or Disney. And venting about those obstacles is a natural response. As long as it does not take over the primary purpose of the Board.

Of course, the answer might be, "I hate Disney so much, I'm on this trip planning board hoping to convince others to cancel their upcoming trips," and that would be legitimate in it's own way.

So it seems that you have answered your own question.