Ticket Prices...

[Spriesty]

According to this, it costs $346.13 to add the no-expiration option to a 10-or-older 10-day hopper. For a family of 4, that's $1384.52. That's a significant opportunity cost the average family may decide doesn't work for them. Regardless, it doesn't make the $100/day talk a lie. Different people vacation in different ways.

Exactly! I had posted (post #34, I think) about this, and broke down what it means for our family.

Basically, for our family of 5, we'd need to spend an extra $1700 on the no expiration option during this trip to save about $200 on our next trip.

Considering we're in the $4-5000 range for rooms and tickets alone, not counting travel expenses and food/souvenirs, I just don't think we can spend an extra $1700 this trip to save a couple hundred bucks two or three years down the road.

I know, a savings of $200 on tickets is great, but not so great when you have to shell out that kind of money that far in advance (and yes, it's very far in advance, because people going multiple times in a year would just get the AP).

 

[mom2rtk]

I've purchased single day tickets on a few occasions through the years. Just last summer we were at the beach for a week and I wanted to stop for a day in the MK. I only took my daughter, and it was $205 to have the two tickets mailed to me.

On our very first trip to the MK, we took our 4 and 6 year old boys for one day. We also spent a day in Universal and a day at Sea World. I don't think that's as unusual as you think.

 

[trishdee]

Im going for 1 day, & need to buy 5 tickets so over $500..& the last time I went 3 years ago I did the same thing.. I do think disney is expensive but all the park's In Orlando are. Universal cost over $100 a day & yes Im doing 1 day there to..

 

[momof2n2]

Sure if you stay for ten days. It's also $1 or $2 a day if you are an AP holder and go every day.

[\QUOTE]

You made me laugh for real.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Comparing sporting event tickets to Disney is apples to wheat. Yeah, they're both food (entertainment), but they're completely different. Although, if you want to go there, I'll throw in NASCAR. $99 for a family of 4 to go to the Charlotte night race. That's 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas. Plus you can bring in a cooler so you have your own beer/drinks/food. Oh, and free parking.

Yup, apples and wheat. Four hours of a single spectator activity that will cost you $99 each time you attend with no discount at all for multiple day purchases. That's worth $25 per person.

 

[ariel326]

We bought 3 day tickets because that is what we could afford and that is how long we were going for.

We paid cash for our entire trip and walked away without debt. We will go back in a few years and do the same.

If we bought 10 day tickets with no expiration we would have had to put that on credit cards, which is not a smart thing to do.

So, it may work for some to buy big tickets, it doesn't work for all.

 

[freediverdude]

I live in the Tampa area, and I get asked all the time by people in this area if there are any deals on one day tickets. People who live nearby here in Florida don't want to go for multiple days, they usually just want to go for one day here and there, or to join a family coming down from up north for a day. And $400 to get them and their two kids just through the turnstyles (ok touch points now) is too much.

And then they start looking at the Florida resident multiple day tickets, and see all the blockout dates (which happen to be the days they want to go, because that's when the kids are out of school), and how they expire by a certain date, and they just don't buy.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Buying a no-expiration ticket is not a good deal for people who want to use the dining plan (either free or paid).They have to buy tickets each time they book a package.

We don't use the dining plan, but no expiration tickets are still not a good deal for us. I can buy a five day base ticket for $308 (a little less if I use the Mousesavers UCT link). I would pay over $700 for a no-expiration 10-day base ticket. Why would I do that? Yes, ticket prices will likely increase between my trips, maybe by a lot. But why would I pay about $100 more per ticket and pay it all now? No expiration tickets are not the value that they used to be.

If I wanted to add park hopping and water parks, it would be a better deal. But I don't, especially with the FP+ uncertainty. Base tickets are fine for us right now. Even adding the options, I am not interested in paying double for tickets right now. I might go next time during free dining.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

A long time ago we realized that WDW was more affordable if you stayed longer. For instance, in 2009 we did a family trip to WDW and stayed for 15 nights, with free dining, at ASMo. We paid about $3100 for that vacation, all in. 4 Disney adults, hotel, park tickets and food (we couldn't eat all the food) - $3100. That is just over $50 per person, per day, everything included.

Last August we stayed at Beach Club for 10 nights, got an amazing deal on the room, paid for tickets and food out ot pocket and paid $3900 for the entire trip - including our a car rental and gas. Now this trip was just under $100/day/person, but we stayed at the Beach Club. A very good value, IMO.

I am not sure where people are vacationing that they can do it less expensively. We take non-Disney vacations every year as a family, and they always cost us much more than our Disney vacations, and we stay for 10-15 days at Disney.

 

[heartse]

We purchased 10-day WP&M PH non-expiring tickets a couple years ago for Christmas (family of 3). It works perfectly for us... we prefer to do shorter trips, couple days here and there. I think we have used 3 of the days so far over 2 trips. If you are looking to do two long trips, it doesn't make any sense to buy a NE ticket, but if you like taking shorter trips over the years they make sense. My only question is what will happen to our DD's ticket when she turns 10?

 

[mel373]

I guess I am in the minority too. I am going to Magic Kingdom for one day and purchased 4 one day tickets for over $400 with taxes. While I believe that Disney has the best parks around the one day ticket price is kind of ridiculous. I will pay it because we love Disney but I feel it is a little high for the one day.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I guess I am in the minority too. I am going to Magic Kingdom for one day and purchased 4 one day tickets for over $400 with taxes. While I believe that Disney has the best parks around the one day ticket price is kind of ridiculous. I will pay it because we love Disney but I feel it is a little high for the one day.

I'll admit it - I love WDW, but I would never pay their price for a one day pass. Well, maybe if I was wealthy.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I am not sure where people are vacationing that they can do it less expensively. We take non-Disney vacations every year as a family, and they always cost us much more than our Disney vacations, and we stay for 10-15 days at Disney.

Our biggest family vacations have been very comparable to WDW in cost or a little more, but cheaper options include:
National and state parks or a hotel near the beach -- even cheaper if you camp.
Washington D.C. with a hotel in the suburbs and most attractions free. Even NYC with a hotel in NJ, public transportation, and free or lower cost attractions. There are also ways to reduce food costs anywhere.
Zoos and science museums all over the country are free or half off if you are members at your local zoo or science center, which sometimes is less than the cost of the zoo/museum you want to see.

Then you have families, like my DH's, who never took big trips anywhere, except to see family, so WDW is much more than they've ever spent.

We are actually buying one-day MK tickets, but with our saved-up Disney Visa rewards (earned on other trips plus groceries, gas, work expenses, etc.) it's about $30 for five people and the hotel night was free.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My brother just went , drove from IL, and only spent 3 days there. So yes, some people can't afford a long trip but try to make trip memorable for their families. So no, it wasn't exactly $35 per day!

Which brings up another point. Front-loading the ticket costs onto the first few days of the visit hurts those who can least afford Disney much more than it does those who can stay longer.

Yes, I understand why, and no life isn't fair. But, it is a shame.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'll admit it - I love WDW, but I would never pay their price for a one day pass. Well, maybe if I was wealthy.

But if you were wealthy, why would you limit yourself to 1 day?

 

[G8r4evr]

I would be very careful in making that type general observation and statement.

Many people can not afford the money and time to visit for 8-10 days, and for some a WDW trip is very likely a once in life time experience or only every 3+ years. And yes the park tickets for multiple days may be a value, but the associated hotel, food, and travel costs are expensive. Especially staying 8 or more days, any hotel and food for a family greater then 4 is going to be costly.

And cost is always about value (real or perceived), and everyone is going to have a difference view about whether $100 NFL tickets for 3 hour event or cost of a WDW visit is value for the experience.

Exactly. I don't always have $600 or $700 cash to buy ahead a multi day non expiring ticket. ;( We live in Florida and the season passes are still super expensive, so yes, sometimes I do go shopping for a 1 day ticket...which is now right around $100.

Thankfully though, the Florida Resident 4 day pass for $120 usually bails me out!

 

[Nancyg56]

I always am amazed when a poster comes here to deride how others choose to vacation, or to ridicule how they determine what is valuable to them. For the most part, I have found that we always get our money's worth on our DIsney trips, and when I factor the cost against vacation destinations in my area, I find the value a good one. I realize that a one day or two day pass is very expensive, but since we have to pay for transportation, we save until we can stay long enough to justify the entire cost of the trip.

I think that value is subjective, and since I live close to Six Flags NE, and have bought seasons passes a few times because the one day was almost as much, I would compare that park's value to me against the Disney Parks value. The ticket is less expensive, but Holy Smokes! The cost once we enter is exponentially higher! We have decided that what we got for our money, standing in exorbitantly long lines, drinking highway robbery priced water, and eating teh most expensive frozen pizza on the Planet, was nowhere near what a day in DIsney cost. Value is subjective.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

But if you were wealthy, why would you limit yourself to 1 day?

Amen!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I think that value is subjective, and since I live close to Six Flags NE, and have bought seasons passes a few times because the one day was almost as much, I would compare that park's value to me against the Disney Parks value. The ticket is less expensive, but Holy Smokes! The cost once we enter is exponentially higher! We have decided that what we got for our money, standing in exorbitantly long lines, drinking highway robbery priced water, and eating teh most expensive frozen pizza on the Planet, was nowhere near what a day in DIsney cost. Value is subjective.

See, we spend less at Six Flags. We share a single refill mug, and the Pizza Hut buffet is only 2 minutes from the Six Flags parking lot. If we really want to be cheap, we pack a picnic lunch & sit under one of the many shade trees in the parking lot. And with the price of a season pass well under $100, one doesn't feel they need to stay open to close every time they go. It's worth it to make a trip over there for 1/2 a day and eat nothing while there.

Now, the locker rental IS way higher and you can't carry in food or drink. But, the tickets are WAY cheaper.

 

[cajunprincess]

See, we spend less at Six Flags. We share a single refill mug, and the Pizza Hut buffet is only 2 minutes from the Six Flags parking lot. If we really want to be cheap, we pack a picnic lunch & sit under one of the many shade trees in the parking lot. And with the price of a season pass well under $100, one doesn't feel they need to stay open to close every time they go. It's worth it to make a trip over there for 1/2 a day and eat nothing while there. Now, the locker rental IS way higher and you can't carry in food or drink. But, the tickets are WAY cheaper.

Having been to several different Six Flags, I don't think of six flags as being nearly on the same level as disney. To each his own, but I don't mind paying more for WDW tickets bc to me, there is more there. The rides are themed and I don't get jerked around the entire time and feel like a tossed rag doll. Now, obviously I would love it pay less for tickets, but I don't think comparing it to six flags is quite apples to apples.