WOW did cnn just slam WDW for ticket price increace

[Joan1]

I was just watching Erin Burnett and she pretty much slammed Disney too. Followed by a story about how a Saudi prince went to Disneyland Paris with 60 friends to celebrate his college graduation and dropped 20 MILLION for the trip. Then she said "I guess you have to be a prince to go to Disney to meet a princess." No big shocker though, I see it covered every year when Disney raises prices....then NEVER mention Universal. I'm sure Disney is used to it and couldn't care less.

But she didn't note that normally when a Saudi prince travels they have a whole entourage, and not the average family of four, and normally book the whole wing or floor of the hotel so they aren't disturbed. I have seen this at the GF where one of them booked the whole floor and half the rooms were empty but they didn't want anyone else there with them

 

[Joan1]

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

not directed at you just quoting

If you live in the NYC tri state area double the football and baseball tickets for any of the decent seats (not even good ones but decent ones)
Six Flags - CANNOT even compare to WDW or USO. Their parks are dirty, sticky and I don't go on half the rides .

Movies? - a small water bottle is $4 and I mean small it was the lunch box size not the 16ounce. AT WDW or US a larger water bottle is about $2.50 or so
throw in some food and the movie and a drink for four can be at least $80

 

[HubbDave]

While no one likes prices going up, their attendance is not taking a hit yet...

 

[Zooshoveller]

not directed at you just quoting

If you live in the NYC tri state area double the football and baseball tickets for any of the decent seats (not even good ones but decent ones)
Six Flags - CANNOT even compare to WDW or USO. Their parks are dirty, sticky and I don't go on half the rides .

Movies? - a small water bottle is $4 and I mean small it was the lunch box size not the 16ounce. AT WDW or US a larger water bottle is about $2.50 or so
throw in some food and the movie and a drink for four can be at least $80

I'm in Alabama! And the last time we went to a movie a bottle water was $6!!!

But yeah, my point was prices are up on everything. Disney can keep raising their prices and we will still go, although it may be longer between trips.

We rarely go see a movie ($36 for just tickets for our family) and wait for Redbox. The $35 we save goes to the vacation (Disney) fund!

 

[Bellamouse]

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.

And the price for the 10 day hopper NE with WPFM is 671, not 770 (I know because I just bought two the other day). So while that is still a fairly big increase in just 4 years (I too bought those $500 passes - man I wish I had bought more!), it's not 54%. It's 34%. Still not great, but not what PP tries to claim.

And because there are 10 water park passes on them, and we don't do parks and water parks in the same day (so we get 20 visits out of a 10 day pass), it actually turns out to be $33 a day for us (even at the new 671 price, not the old $500 price), which I don't feel is outrageous AT ALL. That's less than my local Six Flags for a day (and about a bazillion times better).

And I also agree with you that because they last me for three years at least, I am protected at least for now against another potential 35% increase.

Another thought that no one is mentioning is inflation. Our government is printing money like no tomorrow which is devaluing it like crazy. Which makes my 10 day NE tickets just that much more valuable. We pay for it from our savings, because the value of the tickets in three years is worth more than whatever pittance of interest my bank might pay me over those same three years.

 

[Bellamouse]

I'm in Alabama! And the last time we went to a movie a bottle water was $6!!!

But yeah, my point was prices are up on everything. Disney can keep raising their prices and we will still go, although it may be longer between trips.

We rarely go see a movie ($36 for just tickets for our family) and wait for Redbox. The $35 we save goes to the vacation (Disney) fund!

Right, right, right! It's always about choices for everyone (well, almost everyone - maybe not the Saudi prince!). That cute new pair of trendy shoes I want? Hmmm..... I always have "dinner at 'Ohana or these shoes?" running through my head before I buy anything .

It's my 50th birthday this year as well as our 15th anniversary. We try not to do Disney every year, and we've been the last two years, but I really wanted to go back this year anyway. But because of the big birthday and anniversary, I cajoled my DH into another trip this year. I saw the Eat to the Beat concert series line up and saw that Smash Mouth is playing the week we want to go. So every time we want to buy something, DH just looks at me and says "SMASH MOUTH!" and I quickly change my mind! I am also asking for Disney gift cards from all of my family for my birthday this year.

I admit that because we have no kids, that makes it a lot less expensive for us, but we stay off-site ($57 a night for our lodging this trip all taxes/fees included), we chose yucky Spirit Airlines because they were more than $200 cheaper than United, and we Priceline the car. Bottom line is it's doable if you really want to go. I just have to be content with what I DO get to do, and not bemoan the fact that I will never get to stay at the Poly. (I'll just go visit it! Eat at 'Ohana! Sit out on the beach and watch the fireworks! Have a Dole Whip and a Lapu Lapu! Go to the Luau! Life is good.... ). If Disney wants to price things such that they actually get less of my money (they could have had my room rental business, but instead someone else is getting it), then too bad for them. That's their consequence and until the consequences of their policies actually have some kind of negative effect on their bottom line, they'll keep doing it. As someone else pointed out, park attendance is up year over year, not down. So I don't worry about them, I just spend my time figuring out how to creatively get what I want. And I have to admit that this board has helped with that TREMENDOUSLY. So thanks all you Dis'ers!!

Some people on this thread are clearly angry and frankly, envious (the typical class warfare stuff ). My suggestion is to get creative, and stop looking at what you can't do and figure out what you can do. Life is a WHOLE lot more enjoyable with that mindset.

 

[VMKYouAreMissed]

I have to agree with CNN. I will still go to Disney, though. This is why we stay off property most of the time.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

I guess I am just surprised that wdw does not see how a slight price decrease would help give them such great pr.

As a stock holder I would be upset unless they could prove they could make more money by lowering prices.

Because in the theme park/amusement business you don't want to be seen as a bargain for fear people won't come. For example...if Disney started dropping ticket prices, people would wonder why and think there is something wrong or there isn't as much stuff to do. That's the general line of thinking...public perception is everything.

Exactly. Wall Street just wouldn't understand a price decrease.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

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.

Disney fans after my own heart Good to hear ! I have a friend who buys a new car (has bought Lexus and Audi last two times) and he questions how I can spend $ at WDW.

Don't get me started

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

What are you smoking and can I have some?

A 7-day park hopper is now $391 or $55.85 per person per day . A family of 4 would need to pay nearly $225 per day just to walk trough the door of a Disney park and that's with the 7-day "discount". I don't care how "magical" a place is and how much pixie dust is in the air, I don't see how the average family can stomach paying $225 per day to meet Mickey, ride a couple of rides, see a couple of shows, see a parade and some fireworks and stand in long lines for all of it. That's $225 per day for 7 days in a row. No wonder people feel the need to "commando" from rope drop to kiss goodnight!

I also disagree that "most people" stay a week or have APs. That is probably the case with most DISers, but I think that most people visit Disney parks for far fewer days. If you lurk over on the "Welcome to the DIS" board you will see that most folks start out planning a 3-5 day trip. They get "upsold" to a 7-day trip here on the DIS , but that's beside the point.

Six Flags is 62.00 plus tax X 4 248.00 a day for a crappy park with only thrill rides and longer lines than WDW. I'll take Disney at 225.00 for the quality alone.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

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.

2.3% increase is NOT nearly flat attendance ! Especially at ALL 4 parks in Florida

 

[pdarrah]

Six Flags is 62.00 plus tax X 4 248.00 a day for a crappy park with only thrill rides and longer lines than WDW. I'll take Disney at 225.00 for the quality alone.

This is why I see Disney as still being a "value" even at higher prices. Most of our entertainment costs as much or way more than time at Disney.

My family does the annual pass route - we make at least 2 trips on each set of APs - (Late June the first year and early June the next year). It is normal for us to get at least 16-20 days of use. That means each day at WDW costs us about $30-$40 per person. We average about 10 hrs per day in the parks, so we are paying about $3-$4 per hour for our entertainment.

For comparison:

Going to see a movie - between $7-$9 per person for about 2 hrs = $3.50-$4.50 per hour
Going to a baseball game - between $25-$100 per person (current prices for White Sox on a Saturday in June) for about 3 hrs = $8-$33 per hour
Going to a Musical downtown - between $35-$150 per person for about 2 hrs = $17-$75 per hour
Going to a local Carnival - usually costs around $30-$40 with just my DS going on rides and DH & I standing around waiting for about 2 hrs = $15-$20 per hour
Going to a pop/rock concert - $60-$150 (obviously this varies a LOT) for about 2 hrs = $25-$75 per hour

Sure there are cheaper forms of entertainment. There are also cheaper vacations than going WDW. I would certainly not complain if Disney were cheaper, but I don't feel like it is a terrible value.

 

[rebeccalizzie]

The price increase wasn’t really all that much, and very few people are going to draw the line at what they can and cannot afford based on this price increase. The great thing about WDW is you can have a $10,000 vacation or a $1000 one.

I agree with most of your post but actually, no, a family of 4 cannot have a $1000 vacation at WDW. I just got back. *Before* the price increase a 4 day non hopper ticket for 4 people (three "disney adults" and one child) was $1072. That's before any lodging, on site or off site and before any food.

Thankfully (I guess) we didn't have a great time (and this was my 4th trip and I planned really thoroughly) so we don't plan to go back so the price increase doesn't affect us.

 

[Karlzmom]

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.

IIRC they have restructured the YES program. So it is not such . A great deal anymore. Shame, it was an awesome program and a nice discount to boot!

 

[dwheaton]

Six Flags is 62.00 plus tax X 4 248.00 a day for a crappy park with only thrill rides and longer lines than WDW. I'll take Disney at 225.00 for the quality alone.

I'm hardly a big Six Flags fan, but it isn't nearly that expensive here. They constantly run specials that can get adults in the park for less than $30. I will say that the atmosphere is worse and the food is crappy, but a family of four can go there for not that much more than one person at the Magic Kingdom.

After saying that, I agree that MK probably gives me four times the value and excitement of Six Flags St. Louis. Still, it gets disheartening to see the constant increases.

 

[robinb]

Six Flags is 62.00 plus tax X 4 248.00 a day for a crappy park with only thrill rides and longer lines than WDW. I'll take Disney at 225.00 for the quality alone.

And a season pass to Great America for that family of 4 is only $66.99 each. WDW Annual Passes are almost 10x that price. PLUS, you are comparing the gate price of Great America with the discounted 7-day WDW price. The discounted online price at Great America is $42 plus tax. To make a fair comparison with the $62 gate price you would have to compare WDW's 1-day ticket which is $95-$101 dollars each.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

I'm hardly a big Six Flags fan, but it isn't nearly that expensive here. They constantly run specials that can get adults in the park for less than $30. I will say that the atmosphere is worse and the food is crappy, but a family of four can go there for not that much more than one person at the Magic Kingdom.

After saying that, I agree that MK probably gives me four times the value and excitement of Six Flags St. Louis. Still, it gets disheartening to see the constant increases.

Yes I was at the St Louis one a couple years back. Couple of the rides looked like they may fall down lol

And a season pass to Great America for that family of 4 is only $66.99 each. WDW Annual Passes are almost 10x that price. PLUS, you are comparing the gate price of Great America with the discounted 7-day WDW price. The discounted online price at Great America is $42 plus tax. To make a fair comparison with the $62 gate price you would have to compare WDW's 1-day ticket which is $95-$101 dollars each.

And WDW is a destination for most meaning multi-day tickets at a reduced per day rate. Disney's is all year where as your daily 6 flags is only thru June then it goes up $20 a day (wow I'm never going there just can't take the price increases!)
Obviously the Six Flags corp is very flattered right now that we are even comparing them with Disney.
Bottom line is you get what you pay for and looking at the attendence #s released yesterday ther are many many folks willing to pay for that quality

 

[robinb]

Y
Bottom line is you get what you pay for and looking at the attendence #s released yesterday ther are many many folks willing to pay for that quality

You're right that there are many people who are willing to pay for the perceived quality of the Disney brand. But, I think with park passes going up 50% in only 4 years they are really starting to price the return non AP visitor out of the market. Disney really doesn't mind if the majority of their guests are first time visitors. In fact, I would bet that first time visitors spend more money on their "trip of a lifetime" than many of the repeat DISers (such as yourself) spend on their 3rd or 4th or nth trip. I know *I* spend a lot less money at WDW these days than I did when my DD was younger and everything at Disney was less expensive.

 

[Bellamouse]

You're right that there are many people who are willing to pay for the perceived quality of the Disney brand. But, I think with park passes going up 50% in only 4 years they are really starting to price the return non AP visitor out of the market. Disney really doesn't mind if the majority of their guests are first time visitors. In fact, I would bet that first time visitors spend more money on their "trip of a lifetime" than many of the repeat DISers (such as yourself) spend on their 3rd or 4th or nth trip. I know *I* spend a lot less money at WDW these days than I did when my DD was younger and everything at Disney was less expensive.

It's 34%, not 50%.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

And a season pass to Great America for that family of 4 is only $66.99 each. WDW Annual Passes are almost 10x that price. PLUS, you are comparing the gate price of Great America with the discounted 7-day WDW price. The discounted online price at Great America is $42 plus tax. To make a fair comparison with the $62 gate price you would have to compare WDW's 1-day ticket which is $95-$101 dollars each.

Just jumping in here to say that there is no way to make a fair comparison between WDW and Great America (or Great Adventure). They are completely different animals in terms of cleanliness, attractions and entertainment, staffing, location, safety, and themeing. In fact, Great America/Adventure is repulsive, in my opinion. I'll spend my dollars at WDW ten times over before going to GA.