Universal is taking advantage of Disney's weak spot

[magicbob]

I look at it a different way... If I was buying a MYW ticket package, why would I leave MK after day 4? That's when the tickets are either free or $10 more per day? And the alternative is to rent a car or get a taxi to go to USF to pay $180 for another two-day ticket? I think that would stop most people from bothering, outside of upper-middle class.

The pricing structure of MYW tickets is a long-standing strategy for preventing others from siphoning off guests from WDW. And I would agree with you that it's been largely successful in creating that mentality. But, apparently, TPTB felt that it wasn't enough and they needed to take even more drastic steps to "lock guests in" (MM/FP+).

 

[morethananyonex]

I look at it a different way... If I was buying a MYW ticket package, why would I leave MK after day 4? That's when the tickets are either free or $10 more per day? And the alternative is to rent a car or get a taxi to go to USF to pay $180 for another two-day ticket? I think that would stop most people from bothering, outside of upper-middle class.

That's relevant, but Disney has already done a great job capturing those people. They have the strongest hold on people who stay onsite without a car and with tickets purchased in advance.

What about offsite guests who tend to have vehicles? What about the ones who don't even buy tickets until they get to the gate? Those ones are a lot less tied down to Disney and can decide in Orlando they want to spend more time at Universal or elsewhere.

 

[MichiganDVC]

That's relevant, but Disney has already done a great job capturing those people. They have the strongest hold on people who stay onsite without a car and with tickets purchased in advance. What about offsite guests who tend to have vehicles? What about the ones who don't even buy tickets until they get to the gate? Those ones are a lot less tied down to Disney and can decide in Orlando they want to spend more time at Universal or elsewhere.

True. But it's so silly to not get a ticket package and pay full price, ya know?

 

[JanaDee]

Yes, many posts and many hours ago, it was already suggested that I do not have to click on Universal threads on the WDW forum. I am aware enough to have figured that out for myself, but also appreciate the constant reminder as though I'm 5 years old and needed the help.

The reason I am so knowledgeable about Universal Orlando is because it is constantly being brought up on WDW forums. I don't even have to go to the parks, as I feel like I've already been there through the ongoing fawning over their rides and restaurants on these boards.

And I repeat (again), I am not implying it should be prohibited or moved! Just questioning why Uni-lovers feel compelled to prove how great Universal is on the WDW forum. It would be like me going to the Uni-Sea World forum, finding a Loews Hard Rock resort thread and going on and on about how it can't hold a candle to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Who would bother? I wouldn't, unless I felt like I had something to prove.
My post is just my opinion about how annoyed I am to have to hear about Universal so much. I don't hate it...I'm totally glad for people who love it....it doesn't interest me.... So why do I know so much about it then? At this point, I could probably be a Universal travel agent from what I've read on WDW forums.

Uni will continue to be discussed here, whether you like it or not.

If you don't like the subject matter, don't open the thread or don't comment.

The end.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I look at it a different way... If I was buying a MYW ticket package, why would I leave MK after day 4? That's when the tickets are either free or $10 more per day? And the alternative is to rent a car or get a taxi to go to USF to pay $180 for another two-day ticket? I think that would stop most people from bothering, outside of upper-middle class.

Simple. Because your son (or daughter!) really wants to go to Universal.

 

[morethananyonex]

True. But it's so silly to not get a ticket package and pay full price, ya know?

I think I'm missing something?

Or are you referring to full price as in the price of a 4 day vs the price of 5+ days? Yeah, it's personally why we have had a hard time justifying a universal day in the past. A combination of HP and FP+ has us planning a Universal day for our next trip. With the cost difference in a 9 and 10 day ticket, we'll just be buying the 10 like always but spending the evening at a Disney park because we can reserve FP there.

For a lot of people though, the cost savings per day may not matter because they want to do more than just Disney and only have so much time fit it in.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I look at it a different way... If I was buying a MYW ticket package, why would I leave MK after day 4? That's when the tickets are either free or $10 more per day? And the alternative is to rent a car or get a taxi to go to USF to pay $180 for another two-day ticket? I think that would stop most people from bothering, outside of upper-middle class.

You can buy a Universal two park Preferred AP for $280 that includes free parking and 10% off merchandise and food. Not to mention the great hotel rates you get with the AP (mmmmmm FOTL). I would spend the extra $100 and get a whole year worth of admission. The renewal rate we just paid was $159. That is less than a two day two-park ticket.

That $280 buys me a 3 day base ticket at WDW with no hopping.

 

[johde]

The pricing structure of MYW tickets is a long-standing strategy for preventing others from siphoning off guests from WDW. And I would agree with you that it's been largely successful in creating that mentality. But, apparently, TPTB felt that it wasn't enough and they needed to take even more drastic steps to "lock guests in" (MM/FP+).

Looking back, it's only about 10 years old. Prior to that, annual pass holders were the only ones who got real cheap theme park days. I know the only reason I've been able to take the vacations I have is I had a collection of tickets to both Disney and Universal that didn't expire (some old Park Hoppers and a 10 MYW Park Hopper with Water Parks and More) that were purchased before they no expiration because extremely expensive. I'm down to my last few days that don't expire so that's part of my change in vacationing habits.


One of my students is going to Orlando here in a couple of weeks, they are staying offsite in a Condo and doing SeaWorld and just one day at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[magicbob]

Looking back, it's only about 10 years old.

Well, I would consider 10 years of MYW pricing a long-standing strategy.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Looking back, it's only about 10 years old. Prior to that, annual pass holders were the only ones who got real cheap theme park days. I know the only reason I've been able to take the vacations I have is I had a collection of tickets to both Disney and Universal that didn't expire (some old Park Hoppers and a 10 MYW Park Hopper with Water Parks and More) that were purchased before they no expiration because extremely expensive. I'm down to my last few days that don't expire so that's part of my change in vacationing habits.


One of my students is going to Orlando here in a couple of weeks, they are staying offsite in a Condo and doing SeaWorld and just one day at the Magic Kingdom.

We bought 20 days worth of non expiring Disney park hopper tickets years ago that we use for our Disney days. We also bought 4 of those $99 Uni tickets before Potter came to town. We upgraded two of those Uni tickets to APs right before Potter and got our APs for $75 out of pocket.

Like I stated earlier, our renewal rate is less than a two day two-park admission to Universal. Not a bad deal at all.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Simple. Because your son (or daughter!) really wants to go to Universal.

Or mom and dad want to see WWoHP (that's why we spent a day at IOA last year)...

I love Disney, but I love HP too...I'm not going to make a second/separate trip down to Orlando to see WWoHP/DA, but I will add it on to when I'm down there for Disney already.

Disney only makes their Armed Forces Salute tickets for 4 days. That 5th day of the work week is great for Universal/HP stuff (for what we want to do...with a toddler we're not interested in spending multiple days there). use the weekend to travel to/from, and there's a week long vacation...

Disney could always add that 5th day back to the AFS tickets (the first time we used them, they were 5 day tickets), but as long as they don't, that's a day we can easily head to Universal.

 

[damo]

We've got a week at a DVC resort but are only going to use 5 nights of it and spend the rest at a Universal resort (plus another couple of nights). We've all got Power Passes that we paid $199 for at Universal and those give us 30% off our Universal hotel (deluxe hotel for $154/night!)

Next year we're only doing Universal and SeaWorld since WDW won't have anything new but Universal will have Skull Island.

 

[MichiganDVC]

Uni will continue to be discussed here, whether you like it or not. If you don't like the subject matter, don't open the thread or don't comment. The end.

You quoted my comment, yet didn't seem to read it.
And frankly, I can comment on it as much as anyone else, no?

 

[MichiganDVC]

Simple. Because your son (or daughter!) really wants to go to Universal.

Gotcha. But it is cost prohibitive to split.

You can buy a Universal two park Preferred AP for $280 that includes free parking and 10% off merchandise and food. Not to mention the great hotel rates you get with the AP (mmmmmm FOTL). I would spend the extra $100 and get a whole year worth of admission. The renewal rate we just paid was $159. That is less than a two day two-park ticket. That $280 buys me a 3 day base ticket at WDW with no hopping.

Way more money than my nothing I'm paying at WDW as an AP holder using DVC points.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Gotcha. But it is cost prohibitive to split.



Way more money than my nothing I'm paying at WDW as an AP holder using DVC points.

How much did your AP and DVC cost?

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe some people go to Universal simply because they want something different? It's fine to hang out at your Disney resort but frankly I get bored. I don't care for hotel pools and since we like moderates there isn't much to do beyond that. We even head offsite (or even onsite) to play mini-golf. Why? Because it's fun! And to us, Universal is fun. In fact, it's incredibly fun and I for one won't give it up no matter how Disney tries to lock anything in.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Maybe some people go to Universal simply because they want something different? It's fine to hang out at your Disney resort but frankly I get bored. I don't care for hotel pools and since we like moderates there isn't much to do beyond that. We even head offsite (or even onsite) to play mini-golf. Why? Because it's fun! And to us, Universal is fun. In fact, it's incredibly fun and I for one won't give it up no matter how Disney tries to lock anything in.

To be honest, Disney could add all of the things listed by every poster begging for more and I would still go to Universal - Harry Potter is worth it. Can't wait to see DA.

It's not about what Disney isn't doing - it is about what Universal is doing.

 

[Angel Ariel]

To be honest, Disney could add all of the things listed by every poster begging for more and I would still go to Universal - Harry Potter is worth it. Can't wait to see DA.

It's not about what Disney isn't doing - it is about what Universal is doing.

Ita!

 

[Mad Hattered]

To be honest, Disney could add all of the things listed by every poster begging for more and I would still go to Universal - Harry Potter is worth it. Can't wait to see DA.

It's not about what Disney isn't doing - it is about what Universal is doing.

I agree 1000%. Disney has things I love, and have loved for a really long time. But I also find joy in a lot that Universal does. Whether it's the mind-blowing Potter and the attention to detail or drinking a Duffs beer in Moe's Tavern, if it interest me then it does it's job.

As big as thrill ride junkies as we are (we've ridden hundreds of coasters), some of my all time favorite attractions are HM, Splash and TOT.

 

[damo]

How much did your AP and DVC cost?

Not to mention the annual maintenance fees that would be around $1000/year. It is hardly free.