Will Disney Lower Ticket Prices?

[BillyFeat]

Six Flags will be lowering their admission ticket prices this summer to entice people to drive to their theme parks. Universal aggressively slashed prices over a year ago. What are the chances of Disney lowering their painfully high ticket prices? In my opinion, Disney has such high operating expenses that they can not afford to lower ticket prices across the board. Pin Codes and AP rates aside, Disney may have to go further to insure a high rate of occupancy in their hotels and to get those people from New York to Georgia, that normally drive, an incentive to still do so. Does anyone wish to speculate on Disney's strategy to maintain high occupancy in their hotels, along with luring off-site guests to the parks?

 

[BrianD]

I would seriously doubt they would lower ticket prices. That said, if things really slow down they could offer some very good resort rates or vacation package deals. I remember post 9/11 when they offered the 7 days for the price of 4 deal (hotel & tickets). That was a heck of a deal.

I will say this though, after just getting back, so far Disney has experienced ZERO downturn. In fact they will probably be fine through the summer, as many folks probably already have their vacation packages paid off.

 

[Darcy03231]

Also, WDW attracts a lot of visitors from outside the US whose economy is in better shape than ours.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I dont think they will

 

[momto2inKC]

I don't see them lowering the ticket prices at all.

 

[Jennasis]

I doubt we'll ever see ticket prices cut. I agree with the PP that in the event that the economy slumps further or the "R" word happens (or even the "D" word) we may see more attractive pkgs offered.

 

[wdwmaw]

I really don't think disney will lower ticket prices. Most people that travel have planned there trip for a year now. They will keep discounting the rooms, they need to get people on property. I think they will also offer more for locals to come in. They need to bring in the locals and the foreigners. I believe that is where you will see the price drops. I do see later in the year when we are outside of all the bounce backs Disney possibly bringing back the 4 for 7 or some incintive like that which would include tickets. I know this will probably be our last trip for a while and I hate that I had to say that. For the money Disney is still the best value for longer stays. We also do not plan on renewing our AP's this year.

 

[Metro West]

I really don't think disney will lower ticket prices. Most people that travel have planned there trip for a year now. They will keep discounting the rooms, they need to get people on property. I think they will also offer more for locals to come in. They need to bring in the locals and the foreigners. I believe that is where you will see the price drops. I do see later in the year when we are outside of all the bounce backs Disney possibly bringing back the 4 for 7 or some incintive like that which would include tickets. I know this will probably be our last trip for a while and I hate that I had to say that. For the money Disney is still the best value for longer stays. We also do not plan on renewing our AP's this year.

I completely agree. I don't think Disney is ever going to take a step back and lower ticket prices. Hopefully the economy will rebound and things will get back to "normal" by next year or I'll be letting my AP go as well. It's getting harder to justify spending $300 at one time for entertainment and since Disney doesn't offer a flexpay option for their AP, that's going to be one of the first things to go. I hope it doesn't happen but it's not looking good.

 

[Sinclare]

We won't be renewing our PAP's either this year so it's still up in the air if we will even get to go next year or not. The AP's just don't offer the discounts they used to. You can actually get better discounts via AAA which is sad.

I think it will hurt them eventually though because while the current gas prices are hurting us, it's going to get worse and that affects the prices of everything else we buy as well.

There has already been people posting on the camping board about canceling because of how much extra gas it will cost to drive their RV down. It doesn't hit me that bad since I'm a tent camper but still....it's pretty bad.

 

[AJKMOM]

Perhaps when pigs fly and/or #@** freezes over!

 

[wdwmaw]

I tell you I was shocked to see the MNSSHP and the MVMCP tix so expensive. We have been 4 times in the past and the MNSSHP is our fav. thing but I just can not do this years prices. I still have not bought them and just can not pick up the phone to order them. I never thought things like this would pain me so much.It was hard to see the resort prices go up but not like the party tix. Remember back when we got AKL for less than $130 per night in July with tax.

 

[Sawx04]

Perhaps when pigs fly and/or #@** freezes over!

 

[raven69david]

Good one......

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Also, WDW attracts a lot of visitors from outside the US whose economy is in better shape than ours.

I agree. Europeans are vacationing at WDW in hoards because the Euro is so strong right now and the dollar is so weak.

 

[ErinC]

I don't think ticket prices will come down, but they may follow suite on some specials to attract Florida residents. They used to offer some really good 4 day park hoppers for like $100 for Floriday residents(several years ago, but it was a really good deal even at that time). I saw on the news last night that Busch Gardens has turned 90% of their advertising dollars to be used to attract FL residents. I think Disney may do some of that also.

 

[rt2dz]

Disney is not suffering. Their occupancy and profits are up. They are marketing to the overseas crowds and will probably continue to do so. They may start marketing to more locals too. I don’t see them EVER lowering tickets. Best you can *hope* for is Disney not raising the prices. When I read the title of the thread, my first thought was the same as the pp poster: When pigs fly and hell has frozen over.

 

[jerseygal]

Mid April-early May, free park hoppers and water park was offered with MYW Packages...

Anyone think it will be offered this summer???????????HOPE SO!!!!!!!

 

[northcapemaymom]

I doubt Disney will lower their ticket prices at all. WDW is an international destination so there will always be some type of customer base that will visit. Our dollar may be weak right now, but there are other countries that are benefitting from their strong currency. The clientele may rotate, but the money will still be green.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Mid April-early May, free park hoppers and water park was offered with MYW Packages...

Anyone think it will be offered this summer???????????HOPE SO!!!!!!!

No, because they usually only run deals like that when they want to boost park attendence for that period. Summertime the parks are almost filled to capacity so there's not really a need for them to offer incentives like ticket upgrades. Just my opinion though . . .

 

[disfan07]

I dont think they will lower their ticket prices.....I cant even imagine how expensive it is to operate WDW....with paying CMs, operating rides, managing the hotels and just the property in general....just like everything is more expensive for us, everything is also more expensive for them so if prices keep rising the way they have been, theres no way that they will lower prices....i agree that if it comes to the point where their occupancy rate drops considerably, they might offer some deals but i dont really see that happening anytime soon....its unfortunate that our economy sucks so much right now but now its having a negative effect on everyone and its only going to get worse