Ticket price increase coming at Walt Disney World!

[mab2012]

Unless it's the action of a company that doesn't think those prices will impact sales volume.

That would be illogical. And still indicates a lack of concern.

 

[mom2rtk]

That would be illogical. And still indicates a lack of concern.

I think Disney management is capable of both.

 

[mab2012]

I think Disney management is capable of both.

Maybe, but the bottom line is that they clearly aren't too worried about attendance, so long as profits continue to increase.

And whatever other opinions I might have about Disney and their executives, I don't believe they're stupid. That doesn't mean they'll always get everything right, but they know exactly what they're doing, and why they are doing it.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Maybe, but the bottom line is that they clearly aren't too worried about attendance, so long as profits continue to increase.

And whatever other opinions I might have about Disney and their executives, I don't believe they're stupid. That doesn't mean they'll always get everything right, but they know exactly what they're doing, and why they are doing it.

Yet they are worried about attendance, hence the reason why they roll out promotions.....

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I think the declining attendance disapproves that though. There are people that have stopped going.

But is it the money or the declining product? Or possibly a combination? I don't believe the drop in attendance is just financially related.

 

[rteetz]

But is it the money or the declining product? Or possibly a combination? I don't believe the drop in attendance is just financially related.

I think it's both.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I guess. They definitely shortened the gap between AP and 10 day pricing.

It's interesting how they tiered the increase. From 2 day to 10 day the increases were:
Total % Per Day
$-3.22 -1.5% $-1.61
$20.24 6.55% $6.75
$47.92 13.84% $11.98
$53.25 14.71% $10.65
$58.57 15.49% $9.76
$63.9 16.22% $9.13
$63.9 15.79% $7.99
$63.9 15.38% $7.10
$63.9 15.00% $6.39

So they must have found that the 7 day ticket was the pinnacle. That was the most popular. After that, it falls off, percentage wise.

They must have found that consumers from day 2-3 would be dissuaded if the increase was too high, but from 4-7, game on. Those people are booking packages, and are probably more resilient to this type of increase. They can "hide" that 14-16% increase in package costs. Not so much on the 2-3 day crowd.

After staring it down more, it still seems so steep.

ETA Per Day Increase

Did you add on the extra $20 cost if you buy those longer tickets at the gate, or just the online discounted cost?

 

[ThistleMae]

I agree to a point. I agree with what you said about it being unlike any other place, the magic - that it feels like a break from reality. And that's why I so desperately want to take our family - because I definitely feel our daughter deserves a break from her reality, her suffering. And, I think it would be nice for our entire family to have a break from reality. I wish I could take my children every year, they *love* it.

But... that all said, it's also not worth it to me anymore, at full price. I truly can't justify the cost. And I'm not willing to sacrifice time with my kids taking on a second job or cutting back on our day to day lifestyle for a vacation - especially when there's not much to cut back on, lol. Not when there are so many other amazing places we could go, for less money. They're not Disney, no. But they're still a family vacation where we make great memories.

For us, as Canadians, if we were paying full price it would be $2200 for tickets alone (6 day, base tickets, for four). I don't think any park on earth is worth that. At least certainly not on our income. We'll go next year thanks to the Canadian deal, for which I am truly grateful, it's given us another chance at Disney. But unless we have a huge salary increase, win the lottery (lol), the dollar evens out again, or they someday offer again another deal that can save us almost $1000... we won't be back. Fingers crossed one of those things happens

I'll cross my fingers for you! I truly do understand a budget, and it makes no sense to go into debt for vacation. I agree when you said you'll make great memories no matter where you go. When I was a young mother, I couldn't afford to take my kids on expensive vacations. We camped most of the time. Now that they are adults, I get to go along with them and the grandkids. They do have good memories of growing up, even without Disney. It's a shame that Disney is getting to be such an expense. I'm sure you'll go on some wonderful vacations.

 

[ThistleMae]

It would drop but drop hard, I'm not so sure. I think people may just cut back on some extras. Deluxe hotels would get crushed but mods and values would be booked at capacity. And local non Disney hotels would likely see record low # of vacancies.

I think more people would stay off site. My nephew and his kids, along with his mother got a condo nearby for $ 900 for the week. Huge savings. There are eight of them.

 

[ThistleMae]

But is it the money or the declining product? Or possibly a combination? I don't believe the drop in attendance is just financially related.

It could be the crowds. If waiting in lines gets more and more ridiculous, people may stop going. There's hardly any time of year you can go without long wait times, even off season. And the fast pass system is certainly not ideal.

 

[LSLS]

I think more people would stay off site. My nephew and his kids, along with his mother got a condo nearby for $ 900 for the week. Huge savings. There are eight of them.

That's what we are doing. And next trip, I could see us doing that, and only getting a 2 day ticket (and for the FIRST time since we moved from Florida 7 years ago, getting tickets to a different park, be it Universal, Sea World, Legoland, or Busch Gardens).

 

[dlavender]

Did you add on the extra $20 cost if you buy those longer tickets at the gate, or just the online discounted cost?

These are pre discount.

 

[mab2012]

Yet they are worried about attendance, hence the reason why they roll out promotions.....

Well, it's not a simple straight-line equation. There are certainly multiple factors at play. And the promotions are pretty targeted, compared to the very wide-based increases.

Anyhow, those of you who are so inclined are welcome to continue believing that Disney is really worried that you might not come back. I'm not seeing it. No way of knowing who is right. Agree to disagree.

 

[mom2rtk]

It could be the crowds. If waiting in lines gets more and more ridiculous, people may stop going. There's hardly any time of year you can go without long wait times, even off season. And the fast pass system is certainly not ideal.

I could be wrong, but I would guess that crowds in the previous "off seasons" are actually up now as people shift to less expensive times of year to visit.

 

[dlavender]

I'm putting out the signal to @lockedoutlogic

 

[ChipnDale79]

But is it the money or the declining product? Or possibly a combination? I don't believe the drop in attendance is just financially related.

It's both, that's part of it.

They've increased the rates year after year, while letting the parks gets stale.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Well, it's not a simple straight-line equation. There are certainly multiple factors at play. And the promotions are pretty targeted, compared to the very wide-based increases.

Anyhow, those of you who are so inclined are welcome to continue believing that Disney is really worried that you might not come back. I'm not seeing it. No way of knowing who is right. Agree to disagree.

It's really simple, if Disney was packing people into the parks like they wanted to, they wouldn't offer the promotions. I don't think they are in dire need of people attending fwiw. They aren't going anywhere any time soon.

But if people were flocking to the parks and they were crowded all the time, then promotions would be rolled back, like they have been in the past.

I'm not claiming that the sky is falling for Disney, but I do see that a threshold has been crossed for some people and disney has recognized that with the promos being rolled out.

 

[rteetz]

I'm putting out the signal to @lockedoutlogic

View attachment 220170

I believe he is in the World as we speak.

 

[mom2rtk]

But is it the money or the declining product? Or possibly a combination? I don't believe the drop in attendance is just financially related.

It's probably both factors. But don't underestimate the financial side of things. Not all of WDW's customer base is flush in cash. Much of this country is still facing financial frustrations.

 

[quandrea]

I don't believe most of the posts claiming their threshold has been hit. Just temporary venting.

Not temporary venting with us. Just back from a two week no park dvc stay. Let AP lapse with lady increase. Won't buy new AP in October. Another two week no park dvc trip. Bought Canadian discounted tickets yesterday for January trip with friends. That will be it for parks for all of 2017/2018. Eight days in 24 months. I used to go forty days a year until costs got too high for our comfort level.