Why does disney charge higher prices at busy times?

[kandb]

I have always wondered why Disney charges more money during busy times (Christmas week/Easter week etc). The way I look at it is that you get a lot less since the crowds are so heavy and it's not as enjoyable to visit in massive crowds. Does Disney raise the prices to deter people from going at busy times, to keep the crowds lower? Do they just charge extra because they can? I have always wondered this and have always felt that the prices should be lower when the crowds are super high (why pay high prices when there is a 3 hour wait for Soarin? or space mountain?) They also charge extra for food. Why?

 

[mom2rtk]

They do it because they can.

 

[Alesia]

The most basic business concept: supply and demand.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I have always wondered why Disney charges more money during busy times (Christmas week/Easter week etc). The way I look at it is that you get a lot less since the crowds are so heavy and it's not as enjoyable to visit in massive crowds. Does Disney raise the prices to deter people from going at busy times, to keep the crowds lower? Do they just charge extra because they can? I have always wondered this and have always felt that the prices should be lower when the crowds are super high (why pay high prices when there is a 3 hour wait for Soarin? or space mountain?) They also charge extra for food. Why?

I guess another way to think about it is that they have to lower prices at some times of the year to get people to go.

But you're right, you pay more and get less which makes it even less of a value. But I guess if that is when you can go, that's when you can go.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

People will pay it. It's how business works. Peak times = highest demand. Highest demand = ability to charge higher prices.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Every business involved in travel/tourism has high seasons and low seasons. High seasons = more people want to be traveling then, means company can charge pretty much what they want. Low season = unpopular time to travel, so company entices more visitors with lower prices.

 

[kaybird]

Another way to think about it is during the busy times, there are less refurbs, more additional entertainment, and usually extended park hours than lower crowd times. So it truly is what the guests find more enjoyable.

 

[larryz]

I have always wondered why Disney charges more money during busy times (Christmas week/Easter week etc). ... Why?

Because they can. People pay it, and they're still turning folks away...

 

[Clifton Tesh]

The same reason a pair of Nike's cost $200 and a pair of New Balance cost $45.

They're made from the same material, at the same cost, in the same factory, by the same underage Asian kid.

But someone, somewhere, is going to pay the extra $155 because one has a swoosh on it.

 

[CAS239]

The same reason hotel prices fluctuate. They increase because they know people are coming regardless and will pay it.

 

[IrishNYC]

You're not paying any more to ride on a 10 crowd day than a 1 crowd. Rides aren't part of the equation. The resorts are what changes. Any business with fluctuating prices is priced higher at high demand times.

 

[galaxygirl76]

For the same reason the grocery store I used to work for raised the prices for candles around Christmas time and the price of eggs around Easter.

 

[SoCalTrojanSkip]

They do it because they can.

This....^

 

[Accident]

When the crowds stop coming is when the price will stop raising or the discounts will flourish. I think 2015 had some of the best last second deals disney has ever offered to get their resorts as full as they could. There was more than a couple times I almost went just for a weekend getaway. It's also a good spot to be in if they plan to tell shareholders they are about to spend stupid amounts of money to make more resorts. In this case I think it's to make shareholders happy with the amount they are about to spend on new lands and what might be a 5th park in the near future...

 

[Hunterr]

It's not just Disney. Most touristy areas in the world will charge more during peak seasons because they can. They know people come because its a popular time or kids are out of school.
The way of the world.

 

[anniemae]

More people means they can charge more money which means they can make more money.

 

[Disneylover99]

The parks are open longer, there are more CM's working, throughout the day.....Disney has to pay their people.

 

[mom2rtk]

The parks are open longer, there are more CM's working, throughout the day.....Disney has to pay their people.

Well, they could do that with all the extra revenue provided by the extra admissions.....

 

[Crystal824]

I think Disney charges more during peak times for a couple of reasons. One as others have stated, they can and people will pay. Two, the higher prices will dissuade some guests from coming at that time making it a little less crowded than it might otherwise be and those potential guests will probably come at a less crowded non-peak time time....balancing the crowds if you will. For instance, we own DVC and visit WDW about once a year. I know we never go during peak times because it takes more points and food costs more. If that wasn't the case, we might consider a trip during a holiday.

 

[Disneylover99]

Well, they could do that with all the extra revenue provided by the extra admissions.....

I think the extra revenue would certainly help to pay for the extra CM's that you see during regular operating hours, but I'm not sure it would cover the MK being open at 7am every morning or closing at 1am every night (and sometimes even later with EMH).