Tiered Pricing on Tickets....

[zebrastreyepz]

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.

We just decided no trip in 2019 today. We're looking at closer alternatives and visiting things like national parks.

 

[Dee McGee]

On a very limited budget so, yes, ticket pricing is a big factor in if or when we can go.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Do they? I notice at my Sam's Club that prices of like items are higher on weekends and right before a holiday. Have you ever really watched to see if things are priced the same at different times???

When we went in December (granted, that was in 2007), a lot of the merch was being discounted, especially everything with the year written on it. I would guess they do the same every December?

 

[Davey Jones II]

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.

In reference to the bolded above...hot damn, you should be working for their marketing dept.

In reference to the rest, Disney is investing billions into all these new goodies, and they will want to recoup that $$$$ as soon as possible.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

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.

Us too. Most of our trips are offsite and we east most of our meals offsite as well, either in our condo or offsite at local restaurants. The increases in park tickets, year after year, are just too much. We're taking a break from WDW this year (which is HUGE for our family as we've been there at least 1x a year since 1993). We'll go back at some point (maybe for the 50th), but will probably never buy APs again.

 

[Nimbus]

I find it interesting that Iger says they're introducing Peak Multi-Day tickets, and that we'll see "more" tiering in the future.

It may be wishful thinking, but perhaps he is referring to programs like Early Morning Magic? I think that could be considered a tiered ticket/program, and one that I don't have a problem with. If you want to pay the premium, you can. But it's not a forced price-hike on everyone for a product/experience that previously came standard. If they implemented more "tiers" like this I would welcome them. If we have the money and feel the benefit is worth it, we can splurge; but if we just prefer business as usual, we have that option too.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

It may be wishful thinking, but perhaps he is referring to programs like Early Morning Magic? I think that could be considered a tiered ticket/program, and one that I don't have a problem with. If you want to pay the premium, you can. But it's not a forced price-hike on everyone for a product/experience that previously came standard. If they implemented more "tiers" like this I would welcome them. If we have the money and feel the benefit is worth it, we can splurge; but if we just prefer business as usual, we have that option too.

I have a problem with it because that used to be an exclusive FREE perk of staying onsite.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I have a problem with it because that used to be an exclusive FREE perk of staying onsite.

Yeah but that has also been given to the hotels that are not Disney ones that are by Disney Springs.

 

[ShadeDK]

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."

I have to agree with this. Mostly because you laid out the same argument that comes up on this board a lot in another context. Just change a few letters:

"This is too much to study up on--for a meal. Instead, I'm going to buy this WDW dining package and screw the cost. It's just more convenient and easier this way, and I know that the food’s paid for."

And you've just described a frequent comment in favor of buying one of the dining plans even if it's not always the best option financially. I suspect it'll show up with tickets as well.

We just decided no trip in 2019 today. We're looking at closer alternatives and visiting things like national parks.

One of my running jokes is that the only thing more expensive than my WDW trips are my national park trips. But that's mostly because the remote locations for a lot of national parks make convenient lodging and meals pricey (if not an outright tourist trap). But they're all worthwhile for the scenery. Happy travels!

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Yeah but that has also been given to the hotels that are not Disney ones that are by Disney Springs.

And that made me more mad.

Offer this to more people to drive onsite guests to the paid option.

We're being herded.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

I have to agree with this. Mostly because you laid out the same argument that comes up on this board a lot in another context. Just change a few letters:

"This is too much to study up on--for a meal. Instead, I'm going to buy this WDW dining package and screw the cost. It's just more convenient and easier this way, and I know that the food’s paid for."

And you've just described a frequent comment in favor of buying one of the dining plans even if it's not always the best option financially. I suspect it'll show up with tickets as well.


One of my running jokes is that the only thing more expensive than my WDW trips are my national park trips. But that's mostly because the remote locations for a lot of national parks make convenient lodging and meals pricey (if not an outright tourist trap). But they're all worthwhile for the scenery. Happy travels!

Oh, I'm not saying the National Park trips will be cheap! Just maybe it's time to do something else.

We priced one to Yellowstone a couple of years ago and I had sticker shock.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

And that made me more mad.

Offer this to more people to drive onsite guests to the paid option.

We're being herded.

I guess we shall see when the disney express starts their stops at these hotels.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I have a problem with it because that used to be an exclusive FREE perk of staying onsite.

What used to be a free perk? The poster you quoted was talking about EMM, which hasn’t ever been a free perk.

 

[Dee McGee]

What used to be a free perk? The poster you quoted was talking about EMM, which hasn’t ever been a free perk.

They must have mistaken Extra Morning Magic for the Extra Magic Hours perk that resort guests recieve.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

What used to be a free perk? The poster you quoted was talking about EMM, which hasn’t ever been a free perk.

There was the EMM for those who stayed at the Disney resorts, the extra 60 days booking of fast passes.

 

[KrazeeK120]

There was the EMM for those who stayed at the Disney resorts, the extra 60 days booking of fast passes.

EMM is, and always has been, open to anyone. And it’s never been free.

 

[KrazeeK120]

They must have mistaken Extra Morning Magic for the Extra Magic Hours perk that resort guests recieve.

Could be, but there hasn’t been talk (that I’ve seen) of making EMH a paid event, or only open to certain tiers of resorts.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Could be, but there hasn’t been talk (that I’ve seen) of making EMH a paid event, or only open to certain tiers of resorts.

Are we both talking about the same thing. The one or two hours extra a day in the park, every day has one or two hours at a park that is an extra morning either in the morning or the evening and that was for resort guests only.

 

[msb578]

I don’t have a problem with Disney giving perks to the Disney Springs Hotels. Disney owns the land, and gets a “piece of the action” from the hotel owners. Having people stay there means a larger semi-captive audience for Disney.

 

[Baby Groot]

Are we both talking about the same thing. The one or two hours extra a day in the park, every day has one or two hours at a park that is an extra morning either in the morning or the evening and that was for resort guests only.

You aren’t.