WOW did cnn just slam WDW for ticket price increace

[robinb]

The way around this is to buy a non-expiring pass and keep it for these kinds of trips. Back in 2010 I bought a 10-day parkhopper with no expiration date for $499.01. Most of my Florida trips are for something other than Disney but I like to add on a day or two at the parks. No way am I paying one day admission to head there for a day but this pass will last me 4 or 5 years and let me head to Disney for a day for under $50 with parkhopping.

I think that was the 2009 pricing (according to Mousesavers). That same pass is now $770. That's a 54% increase in only 4 years.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

To be fair Disney does offer a lot of discounts during the year. Shame on CNN, they could have reported there are cheaper times to go.

 

[NY Disney fan]

One day visitors are not Disney target market, plain and simple. One day visitors spend less on souvenirs and food, so why would they cater to the people who make them less money? I think people get so wrapped up in the Disney magic that they often forget that Disney is first and foremost a business and then want to get mad at Disney for acting like one.

What about all the Disney cruisers who go to the parks before or after their trip? Sometimes it is just for one day.

 

[robinb]

To be fair Disney does offer a lot of discounts during the year. Shame on CNN, they could have reported there are cheaper times to go.

Discounts on what? Room and packages. Not park passes. So, to get a discount you have to fork even more money over to Disney to stay in one of their resorts and buy their meal plans. That doesn't help the families that are priced out of Disney resorts for one reason or another.

 

[PetesDragon]

You sometimes have to think about the average family or person going to WDW. For me as a college student who works full time I can't go on a vacation to Disney. It comes down to the hopper alone for one week is the cost of one class for a whole semester, at my community college.
As much as I want to go to WDW it just makes no fiscal sense since the same money will go much much farther for any other vacation such as a 5 day cruise with my meals and transportation included. My last WDW vacation was only possible by scrimping, saving, and then worrying about my budget for vacation.

 

[coconutprincess]

I am not mad at dinsney at all, I was more struck by how harsh the cnn news reporters seemed. Did not want to start a whole debate about the price going up.

That is how all of the news reports are making it seem.

 

[WendyZQ]

They made no mention of how the prices go down as you add days, they implied that it is that price for everyday, no mention of universal going up also.​

I happen to be watching CNN all day yesterday and they repeated the story about a billion times. While, no, they did not mention discounts or how price goes down if you get a multi-day pass, they did several times talk about prices also going up at Universal.

I think CNN's point, and a valid one, is that Disney is an iconic American vacation destination for families (which Universal is not). And it is increasingly out of reach for many (if not most) Americans. Keep in mind median household income in the US is $50,000.

We're planning our very first trip their for spring 2014 and I am still in sticker shock. We're both professionals who make good money, and it's hard to wrap our heads around how much this is going to cost. I've spent less money on European trips.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

I understand some people would like to go to Disney for a day or two.
Disney can't please everybody for everything.
We own DVC and for years there was free dining, and we couldn't get it. I didn't complain, I know Disney is a company and they are in the business of making money.

So yes a one day ticket is high, but they are a company and they want a big profit.

I will not stop going because the prices went up, but if the quality of the park goes down then I will stop going.

 

[dwheaton]

Yes, the price went up, but it's still a good value. Most people stay a week or have AP. Sure it's high, but normally quality items are higher.

I know people who spend a lot of money on high end purses, clothes, furniture or etc... Nobody questions those companies.

We love our vacations.

Here's the big question, though. Disney keeps raising ticket prices for their parks while making few improvements. In fact, they've actually been cutting back on park hours and eliminating other perks that used to be standard. It might be a good value compared to other high-end goods like you mention, but it provides a shell of the value that it did in the past.

I don't expect Disney to give huge discounts; it's the law of supply and demand. If people are willing to pay it, then Disney will keep raising the prices. However, there is a point where you price people out of the equation. Die-hard visitors may still go, but they might not go as often or for as many days. This is difficult to measure and can be seen in the nearly flat attendance for most of the parks (besides DCA).

The PR issue that was brought originally is separate by also something to consider. In this weak economy where many are unemployed, Disney continues to raise ticket prices repeatedly. They'd get amazing goodwill by simply deciding to stand pat for one year. They could show they recognize that people are hurting and aren't going to do an increase. I've seen this strategy employed very well by sports teams, and they receive amazing PR for doing it. Disney still has the right to keep increasing in the future, but even skipping one year would do them a lot of good. They're a publicly traded company and concerned for their stockholders, but good PR also plays a role in a company's success. Disney's current leadership doesn't seem to get that concept at this point.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Disney World is now a global destination. Yes, it is an iconic American family destination, but it is fast becoming an affordable option for Those outside North America.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

There are discounted tickets, if you have school age children Disney offers youth group classes which gives a discount on just tickets. My son loves the program, we went a couple of times. For families on a budget it's great, your kid can learn something and the parent can save.

 

[TavieP]

I used to be able to go for 5-6 days at a time with my family. I haven't done that in years.

Now my standard trip is 3-4 days with a couple of friends. I work and I only get 2 weeks off a year, and I can't (and don't want to!) spend all of those days at Disney - there are other places in the world to see. But I DO need my yearly WDW fix , so I schedule my WDW trips so that I only have to take off 1 or 2 work days.

We're DVC so the room price is not a factor, but every year as the DDP price goes up and the benefits keep getting dropped (I remember when tips and appetizers were included and it was like $40 a day - sigh) that's become an only "sometimes" option for me. The food prices are pretty steep. Then again, I live in NYC and they're not THAT bad compared to what I have to pay to eat out in NYC. So we make breakfast in the room and eat mostly counter service, with maybe one table service per trip.

The ticket prices are what kills me. I just paid $255 for a 3 day non-park-hopper expires-14-days-from-use pass. Glad I got the ticket BEFORE the price increase.

I work in non-profit and scrape by on a salary that's VERY low by NYC standards (and, hell, it's low by Arkansas standards) - but I save up and manage to make these trips work because I love it.

Every year it gets a little harder though, especially as the cost-of-living wage increases fail to keep up.

 

[robinb]

There are discounted tickets, if you have school age children Disney offers youth group classes which gives a discount on just tickets. My son loves the program, we went a couple of times. For families on a budget it's great, your kid can learn something and the parent can save.

That used to be a great deal! Unfortunately, the YES program no longer offers deeply discounted tickets for everyone in the family. The only super savings you get now are for kids who attend the program and their tickets are only $230. A 7-day adult park hopper with the YES program (non attending) is $336 almost as much as a regular park hopper. So, if you can go during those few times per year when the YES program is offered you can save some money (about $75 per day for a family of 4) but it's not like the good old days when the whole family's tickets were heavily discounted .

 

[TavieP]

Here's the big question, though. Disney keeps raising ticket prices for their parks while making few improvements. In fact, they've actually been cutting back on park hours and eliminating other perks that used to be standard. It might be a good value compared to other high-end goods like you mention, but it provides a shell of the value that it did in the past.

I don't expect Disney to give huge discounts; it's the law of supply and demand. If people are willing to pay it, then Disney will keep raising the prices. However, there is a point where you price people out of the equation. Die-hard visitors may still go, but they might not go as often or for as many days. This is difficult to measure and can be seen in the nearly flat attendance for most of the parks (besides DCA).

The PR issue that was brought originally is separate by also something to consider. In this weak economy where many are unemployed, Disney continues to raise ticket prices repeatedly. They'd get amazing goodwill by simply deciding to stand pat for one year. They could show they recognize that people are hurting and aren't going to do an increase. I've seen this strategy employed very well by sports teams, and they receive amazing PR for doing it. Disney still has the right to keep increasing in the future, but even skipping one year would do them a lot of good. They're a publicly traded company and concerned for their stockholders, but good PR also plays a role in a company's success. Disney's current leadership doesn't seem to get that concept at this point.

This. Exactly this. Very good points.

I've been to Walt Disney World 35 times in my 33 years (yearly and sometimes multiple times per year since age 3). Probably 15 of those trips have been as an adult (i.e., paid for myself, as opposed to going as a kid with my parents). \

My salary range puts me solidly in lower-middle-class land. It takes a lot of saving and careful planning to get enough to get to Disney for 3 days a year. I keep forking over the bucks as the perks decrease.

I know they need to stay competitive. I know it must be astronomical to run a theme park of this size and quality. I know that you get a lot more than you would at other theme parks. And I ESPECIALLY know that if the prices are TOO low that the crowds will be so large that I won't want to deal with it anymore

But, damn. I've paid many thousands of dollars over the years. We're DVC since 1992. We're brand-loyal.

Throw us a bone. A perk. Give me something. I can barely afford 3 days a year anymore.

I can't even get the DVC Annual Pass discount, as my parents are on the deed, my mom's passed away and I no longer live at home so I'm not eligible for DVC discounts. (We're working on getting the ownership transferred to my sister and me, but it's a process and probate will be involved.)

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

Maybe it's me, but Disney has always been high and had always raised their prices.

Our family is not rich, just a middle class family. We know Disney is high that's why we pick up extra hours sometimes at work and save. I took my kids a couple of weeks ago to see Iron Man 3 in 3D and that bill was terrible.

I'm confused on why the media is bashing Disney, we all know once Fantasyland is up the price was going to go up.

I love Disney but I do think the quality of food has gone down. I think it's because of free dining, some of the worst food is counter service. Next time we go we might not get the DDP, and just make lunch in our room.

I do hope with the price increase the quality of the food increases.

 

[FireDancer]

I think that was the 2009 pricing (according to Mousesavers). That same pass is now $770. That's a 54% increase in only 4 years.

I bought them in late 2010 before the price update that year. I know they are more now but I was just showing that buying a long pass with the non-expiration option is a way to keep ticket price increases from effecting you. I'll be paying 2009 prices for the next few years. Someone paying the $770 now can pay 2013 prices for the next 4 or 5 years too when that same pass is $950 or whatever in 2018.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Phony math involved.

They quote the price for a one day ticket.

Let's say a visit is seven days, with two at MK and five at other parks. Per the phony math, you have two days at $95 (=$190) plus five days at $90 (=$450) for a total of $640 (plus tax).

A seven day base ticket is $309.

 

[Julylady]

Some comparisons:
Cirque de soliel show in Vegas - $69 to $119
Newsies on Broadway - $85 to $135
NFL Minnesota Vikings game - $25 to $162
Detroit Tigers Box Seats - $82
Michael Buble - Chicago - $71 to $127
Ringling Bros Circus - Houston - $26 to $145

Most of the above are for 2-3 hours shows at most. A WDW ticket is for an entire day's worth of entertainment.

Trust me.....I think these are ALL too expensive, but I think this is the type of data that Disney considers to justify their prices.

 

[Zooshoveller]

Some comparisons:
Cirque de soliel show in Vegas - $69 to $119
Newsies on Broadway - $85 to $135
NFL Minnesota Vikings game - $25 to $162
Detroit Tigers Box Seats - $82
Michael Buble - Chicago - $71 to $127
Ringling Bros Circus - Houston - $26 to $145

Most of the above are for 2-3 hours shows at most. A WDW ticket is for an entire day's worth of entertainment.

Trust me.....I think these are ALL too expensive, but I think this is the type of data that Disney considers to justify their prices.

I was just about to post:

One movie ticket -$10
One football ticket - $30-100
One Six Flags ticket - $57
One day single park for Universal Orlando -$92

 

[lizzi6692]

What about all the Disney cruisers who go to the parks before or after their trip? Sometimes it is just for one day.

Still not their target market. You also have to realize that while they both reside under the Disney umbrella DCL and DW are ran as separate entities. It doesn't matter if customers from one cross over to the other, it doesn't add any direct benefit to either company.