Tiered Pricing on Tickets....

[bryanb]

Honestly, does anyone look at ticket prices and go, "I'm not going at such-and-such a time because it's cheaper to go at this other time?"

I don't.

I look at when I can go and plan accordingly.

I think that's because you can afford to go when you can. You might not like the higher prices, but when you look at the supply and demand graph, you're not a data point right on the fridge case of having to make a choice based on the pricing.

Right on. Disney is doing this for the same reason some buffet restaurants charge more on the weekends than through the week. Everyone knows it's because more people eat out on the weekends, hence more $$$ for the company. At least Golden Corral doesn't insult our intelligence by expecting us to believe that higher prices on Saturday is "good for the customer. "

I'll stop short of calling it "good for the consumer." But actually, I probably won't go to Golden Corral on the weekends if it weren't for tiered pricing. The crowds and wait time are completely ridiculous. Can you imagine how much worse it would be if they didn't raise prices?

There are probably some people on this board who think that higher prices would make for a better experience at Disney, because fewer people would go. I guess if tiered prices are "good for the consumer," it would be referring to those consumers... not the ones left behind.

 

[mshanson3121]

I think the tiering with paying for Fast Passes and tying that into level of resort stay is coming.

Ooooh... I forgot about that rumor. Yes, I can definitely see that coming. And why not? Most other parks you have to pay for priority ride access. It's actually a bit surprising Disney hasn't done it yet.

 

[mshanson3121]

I believe we are heading into a crazy busy time for WDW - the economy is good, Star Wars is coming and soon after the 50th. It's the ideal time to change up your pricing structure.

But will it come back to bite them after the dust settles? I agree with a common comment I see on here: they are thinking short term only, not long term. Long term, I don't see what they're doing (yearly significant increases all across the board, cutting back on service etc...) as being sustainable.

 

[ParrotBill]

this convenient and easy-to-read chart

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Super helpful, printed it out blueprint sized and I am busy planning my next 10 years WDW trips. Thank you!

But seriously, like so much we have seen recently, just another way to increase revenue above and beyond the usual annual ticket increase that continues to outpace inflation, and outpace take home pay for the middle class.

We just completed 6 years of traveling in the last 2 weeks of August as the only reasonable time out of school. And there's a risk here, that they will generate unexpected dynamics. DVC points are lowest in September and October and those months are the hardest to get into because they sell out far ahead. We could see more families say forget it, take their kids out of school and travel off season. That would likely end deep discounts for low seasons. End of free dining promotions. All part of the master plan, if I had to guess.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Super helpful, printed it out blueprint sized and I am busy planning my next 10 years WDW trips. Thank you!

But seriously, like so much we have seen recently, just another way to increase revenue above and beyond the usual annual ticket increase that continues to outpace inflation, and outpace take home pay for the middle class.

We just completed 6 years of traveling in the last 2 weeks of August as the only reasonable time out of school. And there's a risk here, that they will generate unexpected dynamics. DVC points are lowest in September and October and those months are the hardest to get into because they sell out far ahead. We could see more families say forget it, take their kids out of school and travel off season. That would likely end deep discounts for low seasons. End of free dining promotions. All part of the master plan, if I had to guess.

I totally get this, but I think the value season for DVC is All of Sept, a week in Dec and in Jan and then some other odd week here or there, but Oct is not value week, because a lot of schools now go year long and have a winter break in Oct, like we do here in AZ, but back in Oregon they have only been back since sept and don't have the break, so thats why the Free Dining and other specials are not offered in Oct.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I have an annual. this year they let me buy a premium plus for the price of a gold annual. So no tiers or blockouts this year. and I'm staying with annuals so I don't really pay attention to the tiered tickets.

Star Wars is coming and they have to expect mobs for at least the first year it's open. They'll do something about that.

 

[bryanb]

But will it come back to bite them after the dust settles? I agree with a common comment I see on here: they are thinking short term only, not long term. Long term, I don't see what they're doing (yearly significant increases all across the board, cutting back on service etc...) as being sustainable.

I'm not that confident that it will bite them. Demand is so healthy for the parks right now, that even with this very high pricing the hotel rooms are booked close to capacity and the parks are crowded year-round. I think that Star Wars will boost attendance for years to come before that dust settles. My guess is that any cutbacks to service will be easily adjustable. The operations budget gets reined in once every few years, and until it starts to creep up again... it's very cyclical.

And if Disney is wrong and Star Wars isn't the mega-hit that it should be, they can always start offering promotions again as a way to discount without actually cutting the published pricing.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

I think that's because you can afford to go when you can. You might not like the higher prices, but when you look at the supply and demand graph, you're not a data point right on the fridge case of having to make a choice based on the pricing.

That's a big assumption.

What it actually means for us is that when ticket prices go up, things like staying offsite, making our own meals, and other things come into play not just, "Oh, well, it's only money who cares."

 

[Colleen27]

And if Disney is wrong and Star Wars isn't the mega-hit that it should be, they can always start offering promotions again as a way to discount without actually cutting the published pricing.

I think that's what they're banking on. They can "normalize" all of these upsells and price tiers now, while the economy is relatively healthy and Pixar/Star Wars and the one-off attractions at MK and Epcot are coming online in quick succession to provide a reliable boost to attendance, not to mention the 50th birthday bash that is just a few years off. If the economy weakens or the new projects don't provide the expected interest, they can use discounts to make their pricing more attractive... but since the discounts will be off the "new normal" ("Peak season tickets at value season prices!", "Stay five nights or more and we'll throw in tickets to Early Morning Magic!"), a new round of discounts won't necessarily be cost the company much in terms of the actual bottom line.

 

[bryanb]

That's a big assumption.

What it actually means for us is that when ticket prices go up, things like staying offsite, making our own meals, and other things come into play not just, "Oh, well, it's only money who cares."

Totally fair. Sorry, I hope that didn't come off as rude... which totally wasn't my intent but after re-reading my post I feel like I was a bit impolite.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I don't think you need to be worried about this; I'm confident that Disney will honour the terms of the ticket at the time of purchase. I'm pretty sure they are legally obligated to do so (unless there is some kind of fine print on the ticket purchase that I've never noticed before), but beyond that, it's just good business. And they've always done so before. People have tickets that are literally decades old - still valid under their original terms.

True. I am still using NE tickets. I bought the one-day ticket for my December trip just because my DH has an extra day on his. I've had no problem using them. I just don't like to gamble and wish I could know in advance if there will be a problem before I buy them. It looks like I have until close to the end of the year to make up my mind.

 

[Donalyn]

This is all very unsettling to me.

At this point, I have no desire to come back soon to see Toy Story Land or Star Wars. The paying more for less is getting old to me.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I'm so frustrated at this right now. We are planning a trip for mid October. We are staying offsite as the cost of rooms have gone up over 100% in the last 30 days. I'm looking at tickets on undercover tourist and it already has tired and non tiered tickets. According to their website, the last day we are there will be a peak day. So, if I buy the regular tickets, is I think going to be a problem that day? We are wanting to do MNSSH, so we are already going to be paying through the nose for one day. It makes it really hard not know when and how they will fully implement this new pricing. So many people book vacations there a year out....

 

[bryanb]

I'm so frustrated at this right now. We are planning a trip for mid October. We are staying offsite as the cost of rooms have gone up over 100% in the last 30 days. I'm looking at tickets on undercover tourist and it already has tired and non tiered tickets. According to their website, the last day we are there will be a peak day. So, if I buy the regular tickets, is I think going to be a problem that day? We are wanting to do MNSSH, so we are already going to be paying through the nose for one day. It makes it really hard not know when and how they will fully implement this new pricing. So many people book vacations there a year out....

I wouldn't worry about this. Based on historical and legal practice, I don't think you'll be penalized for buying tickets in advance. Any multi-day tickets you buy today should be good for exactly what the ticket promises.

The current multi-day ticket product can be used for any day during regular operating hours, until expired. I believe if you look through the fine print, they aren't sold with any block-out/tiered restrictions, so Disney would not be able to add those restrictions on later arbitrarily. (In fact, plenty of people still have old tickets and those tickets are governed by the rules that were in place at the time of sale.)

If Disney is introducing new tiered multi-day tickets, they'd need to do so cleanly by stopping the sale of the current unrestricted ticket product and introducing a new ticket product with tier restrictions (such as value, regular, and peak).

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I'm so frustrated at this right now. We are planning a trip for mid October. We are staying offsite as the cost of rooms have gone up over 100% in the last 30 days. I'm looking at tickets on undercover tourist and it already has tired and non tiered tickets. According to their website, the last day we are there will be a peak day. So, if I buy the regular tickets, is I think going to be a problem that day? We are wanting to do MNSSH, so we are already going to be paying through the nose for one day. It makes it really hard not know when and how they will fully implement this new pricing. So many people book vacations there a year out....

I assume you are talking about a one-day ticket?

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm so frustrated at this right now. We are planning a trip for mid October. We are staying offsite as the cost of rooms have gone up over 100% in the last 30 days. I'm looking at tickets on undercover tourist and it already has tired and non tiered tickets. According to their website, the last day we are there will be a peak day. So, if I buy the regular tickets, is I think going to be a problem that day? We are wanting to do MNSSH, so we are already going to be paying through the nose for one day. It makes it really hard not know when and how they will fully implement this new pricing. So many people book vacations there a year out....

I'm going to assume that you mean 10%, not 100%? The tiered tickets you're looking at are only for one-day tickets. The tiering on multi-day tickets won't go into effect until later this year.

 

[dreiwhit]

That's a big assumption.

What it actually means for us is that when ticket prices go up, things like staying offsite, making our own meals, and other things come into play not just, "Oh, well, it's only money who cares."

The problem comes for folks like my family and me. We already have to stay offsite (the last time I stayed onsite was 1979), make our own meals to eat in the park, and do money saving tips like that. For us, the last 10 years have not been kind economically. My salary is much less than it was back then, thanks to two pay cuts, and the cost of everything have gone up. We're solidly middle class, and we're quickly being priced out of a Disney vacation.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I'm so frustrated at this right now. We are planning a trip for mid October. We are staying offsite as the cost of rooms have gone up over 100% in the last 30 days. I'm looking at tickets on undercover tourist and it already has tired and non tiered tickets. According to their website, the last day we are there will be a peak day. So, if I buy the regular tickets, is I think going to be a problem that day? We are wanting to do MNSSH, so we are already going to be paying through the nose for one day. It makes it really hard not know when and how they will fully implement this new pricing. So many people book vacations there a year out....

Where have rooms gone up in cost over 100% in the past 30 days?!?!

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

The problem comes for folks like my family and me. We already have to stay offsite (the last time I stayed onsite was 1979), make our own meals to eat in the park, and do money saving tips like that. For us, the last 10 years have not been kind economically. My salary is much less than it was back then, thanks to two pay cuts, and the cost of everything have gone up. We're solidly middle class, and we're quickly being priced out of a Disney vacation.

I feel the same way. It’s just more and more squeeze for us every year. We used to be able to stay in a deluxe and over the years it keeps getting tighter. I just pitched the idea to my husband that maybe we could drive down and camp in a tent at FW...

Disney also needs to remember that lots of people in NY NJ and CT are going to get smaller tax refunds next year (and any other middle class families that have high real estate costs) and that could have an effect on vacation spending.
I know there are families that use it as their vacation fund. No more fear of Jersey week?

 

[Davey Jones II]

Disney is making taking a vacation at WDW more and more complex. I doubt they're trying to drive people away, so perhaps what they intend is to cause a potential vacationer to look at all the confusing options--when to go, off site, on site, Value, Moderate, Deluxe, ADRs, FP+s, room discounts, dining plans, and now tiered ticket pricing, etc., etc., etc.--drive themselves nuts with all the decisions involved, and finally throw up their hands, and say, "This is too much to study up on--for a vacation. Instead, I'm going to buy this WDW package and screw the cost. It's just more convenient and easier this way, and I know that the vacation's paid for."

Don't post this on the budget boards, they'll have a conniption.