Ticket price increase

[Crow]

saw something about an increase on the one day prices on Sunday. anyone else hear this. or more

[AndrewJackson]

Yep.

By Desiree Stennett, Orlando Sentinel
February 23, 2014

Starting Sunday, Disney's Magic Kingdom guests will have to fork over a few extra dollars for single-day park admission. The tickets now cost $99 for adults and children 10 years and up.

This $4 price hike keeps Magic Kingdom as the most expensive Disney park. A one-day ticket for Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios will go from $90 to $94.

"Our pricing reflects the high quality and breadth of experiences we offer and our ongoing commitment to investing in our parks," Disney spokesman Bryan Malenius said Saturday. "We offer a variety of ticket options that provide a great value, and find that most guests select multi-day tickets that offer additional savings."

This is the second price hike in less than a year. The June price increase marked the first time the prices were different for different Disney parks.

Universal Orlando also raised its prices last summer. A one-day, one-park ticket is $92.

[Daisy'sMom]

Disgusting! Soon many families will say forget it, and find something else to do.
I don't know how young families do it now, let alone deal with added expenses.

[Scar]

As a Capitalist, I have no problem with Disney setting prices at any level they see fit. My problem is with this...
"Our pricing reflects the high quality and breadth of experiences we offer and our ongoing commitment to investing in our parks," Disney spokesman Bryan Malenius said Saturday.This is where I will decide if I want to continue to give them my money, and lately, I am losing faith that they are willing to live up to this as Disney should.

[quack arf squeak]

:sick:Universal here we come!:ill:

[Terra]

Do many people really buy one day tickets? I do think it is expensive for a one day pass. But personally I do agree they offer a ton of stuff in each park. Each park is easily 2 days each.

The one thing that kind of irks me more than the adult price, is the children's price. I do think those need to be half price personally. $50ish. It would make it a better deal then.

That said, I'm thinking most people buy multi day tickets or passes which really is where the discount comes in.

That's why we get the APs as Florida residents.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Do many people really buy one day tickets?

Yes... a lot more than you think... A LOT MORE...

Annual Passes up $25 as well, since I haven't seen that being reported in any of the price increase articles... Regualr annual passes are up from $609 to $634 plus tax...

Premium annual pass: $from 729 to $754

Florida Resident: from $464 to $485
Florida Resident Premium: $584 to $605
Florida Seasonal pass: $309 to $319

[Kwesty]

Although I agree that this is WAY expensive, I do think the fact that the parks are as busy as ever means they are only keeping prices up with demand. Also, I believe they raise regular prices to make their "special packages" that much more attractive -- makes people feel like they are getting an even better deal.

It seems to me, just from these boards with people going every year or multiple times per year -- they haven't reached the threshold of what people are willing to pay.

I've always said that Wall Street would be the death of the Disney standards -- you have to keep showing the stockholders more and more profit. How do you do that? Keep raising prices and reducing overhead (quality). The outstanding Disney we all grew to love is in the past and in my opinion it will be all down-hill from here. I hope I'm wrong.:shake:

[Tekneek]

I think it is insincere, but typical business talk, to claim the price reflects the quality of the offerings. It may be what the market will bear, though, so good for them. I would hesitate to assume that the number of people in the park reflects they feel the 1-day price is a true representation of the value. The people who mainly bear the brunt of these increases are those who stay off site. Many people staying on-site will be getting some sort of discount to do so, at least off the inflated rack rates, so they're not being hit as hard. As is typical, this is about trying to convince people to stay at Disney and do only Disney for a longer period of time in order to decrease the per-day expense.

You would be extremely foolish to attend a Disney park with a 1 day ticket. It would require some special circumstances for me to even consider it.

[Terra]

You would be extremely foolish to attend a Disney park with a 1 day ticket. It would require some special circumstances for me to even consider it.

Yes to this. Especially as a Florida Resident! With the payment plan, you'd be better off doing a seasonal.

I will admit, that Almost $500 for a FL AP is a bit crazy. But I do have to step back and look at it like this...
I'm getting 4 parks, any time, plus parking included. I can go for a couple hours in the evening. Or all day. Or a weekend away.

When I look at LegoLand who's FL AP is currently $99, while you get the Park and Water Park, it's still small and gets old fast. Plus it's all outside and unbearable in the summer.

On the payment plan I pay $80 a month for one AP and 2 seasonal passes. I'm thankful that we can do it.

[Ian]

It's very simple really ... they're trying to steer people away from buying one day passes by making the price differential so drastic between them and multi-day passes that people start to buy multi-days just because.

It's not that much different than what they did to close the former "annual pass loophole." I'm fine with it. Supply dictates demand and their parks are PACKED constantly. Price gotta rise to compensate. :thumbsup:

[DizneyFreak2002]

You would be extremely foolish to attend a Disney park with a 1 day ticket. It would require some special circumstances for me to even consider it.

Unless you are in town for business, in which case you may only have 1 day to visit the parks... Then it is a one day ticket... would be foolish to buy more than one day... And believe me, there are more people than you can think of that are only around to visit one day... And not necessarily business trips/convention people... Not everyone visiting is there for a week or more...

[RunDMV]

I just see it as alienating long term customers for the sake of the one-and-done visitors.

[AndrewJackson]

Unless you are in town for business, in which case you may only have 1 day to visit the parks...

Then just write it off on your expense report. :thumbsup:

Most of what folks are stating is not a result of the recent increase. Ever since Disney introduced the MYW tickets, they have been encouraging multi-day tickets. Today's $5 increase didn't create that scenario.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Then just write it off on your expense report. :thumbsup:

I'm sure you'll be able to find a crafty accountant out there who could manage to pull that off.. LOL...

[Goofy4TheWorld]

Then just write it off on your expense report. :thumbsup:

Most of what folks are stating is not a result of the recent increase. Ever since Disney introduced the MYW tickets, they have been encouraging multi-day tickets. Today's $5 increase didn't create that scenario.


I'm sure you'll be able to find a crafty accountant out there who could manage to pull that off.. LOL...

It's not MY fault the client scheduled a working lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table, which necessitated the purchase of a park ticket!

[Tekneek]

I cannot really imagine spending that much for 1 day. I am sure I could find something else to do.

[JerseyDad]

"Our pricing reflects the high quality and breadth of experiences we offer and our ongoing commitment to investing in our parks," Disney spokesman Bryan Malenius said Saturday.


...translated ...that actually says:

"We blew a few billion bucks last year .....and it left a nasty hole in our wallet ....and since, " Sharing Is Caring" ...we feel the hole in your wallet needs a bit of enlargement!!

[Crow]

so i WAS gonna see if i upgrade my ticket to an AP next wk when im there, in case i do go back in May w my fiance...but maybe not now. and i am a disney stockholder, dont raise the prices for my sake

[MNDisney Dad]

Think the CM's will be seeing a raise? NOT!

[Terra]

It's not MY fault the client scheduled a working lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table, which necessitated the purchase of a park ticket!
LOL, love it.

Think the CM's will be seeing a raise? NOT!

Maybe not, but thankfully they still have a job! It could be worse. No jobs!

[Gator]

Sounds like government. Keep raising what I pay for the exact same stuff - maybe even less.

[DizneyRox]

... maybe even less.
Definitely less, much less...

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

Just my :twocents: I was kind of older when I first started visiting Disney World (2003). In the past 11 years, I have seen a steady decrease in quality. Although the parks are still well maintained compaired to some other venues, they are not quite as pristine as they were in 2003. I never saw a dirty bathroom or saw garbage on the ground, Cast Members were always pleasant, hotels were maintained and kept "like new", but slowly over the years I seen everything decline. I think people wouldn't mind an increase here and there if its to keep quality up, but it seems the more they go up the less you get for your buck.

Honestly, I still love DW and will keep coming for now but it is possible that they will eventually overprice their value:blush:

[disneynarula]

Just my :twocents: I was kind of older when I first started visiting Disney World (2003). In the past 11 years, I have seen a steady decrease in quality. Although the parks are still well maintained compaired to some other venues, they are not quite as pristine as they were in 2003. I never saw a dirty bathroom or saw garbage on the ground, Cast Members were always pleasant, hotels were maintained and kept "like new", but slowly over the years I seen everything decline. I think people wouldn't mind an increase here and there if its to keep quality up, but it seems the more they go up the less you get for your buck.

Honestly, I still love DW and will keep coming for now but it is possible that they will eventually overprice their value:blush:

I agree. My first trip was in the 80's and every time I go back everything is a little more worn and the cast members a little bit ruder. It's not true about every cast member. We have also encountered some very nice cast members. However, this seems more like the exception when twenty years ago it was the rule.

The bathrooms are not as clean and the parks are not as well maintained.

Don't get me started on all the money they invested in the stupid new fast pass system rather than fix things that are truly broken.

We are taking the kids in September for the last time, for a long time I think. I would much rather throw thousands of dollars at a cruise.

We used to be WDW frequent flyers but now I am less enthused.

[TheVBs]

Just read this in an article about the price increase and thought it was an interesting perspective. Especially for those of us who go for multiple days.


Disney’s pricing strategy is designed to drive sales of its multiday park passes, which lower the per-day cost. A three-day pass runs to $91.34 per day; a five-day costs $60.80 per day. Couple the park entrance fee with hotel and meals, and a Disney vacation can become enormously expensive for a family. But while the cost of single-day tickets has soared—up more than 41 percent since 2005—Disney has dramatically cut the price for longer stays. The price of a four-day pass fell nearly $200 between 2004 and 2013, adjusted for inflation, according to data compiled by Futureprobe blogger David Landon.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Just read this in an article about the price increase and thought it was an interesting perspective. Especially for those of us who go for multiple days.


Too bad the bold part is wrong... The tickets did not drop $200 in 10 years... In fact, they continued to increase in price.. How he got they dropped in price is beyond me...

[AndrewJackson]

Here is the full article:

By Justin Bachman
Bloomberg Businessweek

Walt Disney is prying parental wallets open a little wider for that vacation visit to the theme park. The Empire of the Mouse is now charging $99 for a one-day park pass at its Magic Kingdom Park near Orlando, an increase of $4 that comes just eight months after the last price hike.

Behind the steadily rising ticket prices is the small world of supply and demand. People keep flooding Disney’s U.S. theme parks, notwithstanding steeper costs. The company reported a 16 percent increase in operating income, to $671 million, for the most recent quarter at its theme park division as sales rose 6 percent, to $3.6 billion. In Disney’s last fiscal year, theme park income rose 17 percent, to $2.2 billion. The company does not disclose attendance data.

“If you think Disney World’s gotten too expensive, don’t bother complaining,” Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider and a former Magic Kingdom employee, wrote on his website. “Disney’s looking at attendance numbers when setting prices, not people moaning online. Look for an alternative where to spend your money instead.”

Disney’s pricing strategy is designed to drive sales of its multiday park passes, which lower the per-day cost. A three-day pass runs to $91.34 per day; a five-day costs $60.80 per day. Couple the park entrance fee with hotel and meals, and a Disney vacation can become enormously expensive for a family. But while the cost of single-day tickets has soared—up more than 41 percent since 2005—Disney has dramatically cut the price for longer stays. The price of a four-day pass fell nearly $200 between 2004 and 2013, adjusted for inflation, according to data compiled by Futureprobe blogger David Landon.

Still, an additional $4—or $20—here or there doesn’t bother most people considering a trip to a Disney property, given the theme parks’ eminent place in the vacation planning of millions of children begging to go. “Disney is one of the major things nearly every American family can agree on, so of course they can get away with this,” says Jason Cochran, an editor at Frommer’s and author of its Easy Guide to Walt Disney World and Orlando.

While a daily ticket price over $100 may pose a psychological barrier, most Disney vacationers already lump that into their total daily costs at one of the company’s parks, says Jeff Logsdon, an analyst with Ascendiant Capital Markets in Irvine, Calif. With tax, the Magic Kingdom one-day pass already tops $105. “Will thousands defer going to the parks because of the pricing increases? Perhaps, but that won’t make the lines seem any shorter or the earnings any lighter in our opinion,” Logsdon wrote today in an e-mail.

Disney and its main parks rival, Universal Studios, used to announce their annual price hikes in late summer, but the bad news now comes earlier in the year. The push is probably designed to get the higher tickets out before the spring break and Easter holidays that send thousands of families into central Florida and southern California. Universal charges $92 for a one-day pass at either of its Orlando theme parks—for now.

[yankeesfan123]

Too bad the bold part is wrong... The tickets did not drop $200 in 10 years... In fact, they continued to increase in price.. How he got they dropped in price is beyond me...

I'm assuming it's from the "adjusted for inflation" part. But I'm no economist so I have no clue.

Raising a one day pass doesn't affect me since I vacation for long periods of time, but every time they raise the overall prices I have to make a decision.

There is no doubt I'll still go to Disney World, but I might make cuts elsewhere on my trip. Maybe a lower category hotel, maybe not seeing La Nouba, maybe skipping a table service dinner, etc. If I have a budget, that budget doesn't budge.

[Tekneek]

Maybe a lower category hotel

They know this will be happening. This is where the "tiering" of other things will eventually come in. They will feel that they have to come up with other incentives to keep people from sliding down, such as FP+ and ADR enticements, tiered entry into the parks, etc. They will eventually play some of those cards that they have resisted for so long.

[DizneyFreak2002]

I'm assuming it's from the "adjusted for inflation" part. But I'm no economist so I have no clue.

Raising a one day pass doesn't affect me since I vacation for long periods of time, but every time they raise the overall prices I have to make a decision.

There is no doubt I'll still go to Disney World, but I might make cuts elsewhere on my trip. Maybe a lower category hotel, maybe not seeing La Nouba, maybe skipping a table service dinner, etc. If I have a budget, that budget doesn't budge.

Even adjusted for inflation, the prices are up as much as 65%.. That is not a decrease in $200... The person they quoted, David Landon, is wrong...

[TheVBs]

I can certainly understand not assuming that he's right. But, without seeing real numbers proving or disproving his statement, I have absolutely no reason to believe that he's wrong either.

[DizneyFreak2002]

I can certainly understand not assuming that he's right. But, without seeing real numbers proving or disproving his statement, I have absolutely no reason to believe that he's wrong either.

Every reason to believe he is wrong.... Just go out and research the numbers... He is wrong... The numbers are available to you... Just need to do a little research and his article and claims are blown out of the water...

Here are factual numbers: 2004 4 day park pass (without park hopper) was $219... Adjust for 2013 inflation, $270... In 2013, a 4 day park pass (with no park hopper) was $279... Does not look like a drop of $200 to me... When you add in the park hopper: $338 (25% increase including inflation)... toss in no expiration: $433 (60% increase including inflation)..

Oh, and he claims a 4 day park hopper cost $504 (inflation adjusted)... Wrong again... Numbers above prove him wrong...

These are your facts...

[TheVBs]

OK, I tried it. Can't believe I just searched a decades worth of Disney pricing. Lol! Not adjusting for inflation (because I have no idea how:blush:), here's what I found. I had to do 2005 - 2013 because I couldn't find just base ticket prices for 2004. So, 4 day pass in 2005 was $185 for an adult. Same ticket in 2013 was $256. An increase of $71, not adjusting for inflation. So, yes. I don't see how that translates to a $200 decrease.

[DizneyFreak2002]

OK, I tried it. Can't believe I just searched a decades worth of Disney pricing. Lol! Not adjusting for inflation (because I have no idea how:blush:), here's what I found. I had to do 2005 - 2013 because I couldn't find just base ticket prices for 2004. So, 4 day pass in 2005 was $185 for an adult. Same ticket in 2013 was $256. An increase of $71, not adjusting for inflation. So, yes. I don't see how that translates to a $200 decrease.

Because it doesn't, even adjusted for inflation.. Shame on Bloomberg and Business Week for quoting a blogger... A blogger... No wonder so many people are ill informed of anything today... Real journalists quote wannabe journalists for facts.... Lazy, sloppy reporting...

[yankeesfan123]

They know this will be happening. This is where the "tiering" of other things will eventually come in. They will feel that they have to come up with other incentives to keep people from sliding down, such as FP+ and ADR enticements, tiered entry into the parks, etc. They will eventually play some of those cards that they have resisted for so long.

I'm a huge skeptic on this, so I'll believe it when I see it.

Yes, I might decide to go to a lower category hotel, but there will always be someone to replace me at that higher category hotel.

(By the way, these were hypotheticals. I'm staying in a 2 bedroom villa at the beach club next trip; not exactly a step down!)

[DizneyRox]

OK, I tried it. Can't believe I just searched a decades worth of Disney pricing. Lol! Not adjusting for inflation (because I have no idea how:blush:), here's what I found. I had to do 2005 - 2013 because I couldn't find just base ticket prices for 2004. So, 4 day pass in 2005 was $185 for an adult. Same ticket in 2013 was $256. An increase of $71, not adjusting for inflation. So, yes. I don't see how that translates to a $200 decrease.
See I was thinking that he was maybe comparing an old park hopper (which used to include park hopping and no expiration) to a new non park hopper... I forget when the park hopping and no-expiration changes went it. In 2004 you could choose no expiration?

I didn't think it was that long ago.. Man, I'm getting old...

Anywho, I thought I did the math back when that happened and figured out it was a "cleverly disguised price increase" (I think those were the words used at the time).

I don't know how anyone in their right mind could think it's actually getting cheaper to go to WDW. I absolutely spent less more recently that previously, however that was due to, cooking in the room, not buying 'Made in China' junk, lower airfares, and even DVC saved us cash.

[yankeesfan123]

My ONLY guess as to what the blogger was talking about in regards to the "$200" drop is the following:

If the ticket price structure stayed the same as it was in 2004, and you bought 4 separate 1 day tickets, ie $99 a day x 5, then the price would be $495. Instead, the price is only $294 for a 5 day pass.

There is your $200 difference. That is the only way I can come up with a $200 number that he came up with.

I know that has nothing to do with the 2004 prices, but it does have to do with the 2004 pricing structure.

I'm not defending him nor agreeing with his logic or knowledge of the pricing structure, but I think that might be where he got his numbers.

[indytraveler]

It sure seems fishy that they raise prices 2x in one year and all that really has happened is more attractions opened in the new Fantasyland area. Also the implementation of FP+.

When the 7 Dwarfs Mine ride opens later this spring are they going to raise prices again to cover that cost too? Probably. So to make sure you get the most out of your WDW experience we want you to stay longer and to plan it out before you get here. Reserve your space for the parades, be first in line for character meets, and wait standby for 120 min for Peter Pan.

I look back on crowds during the early 2000's after 9-11, the parks were less crowded. Someone confirm this, but I believe they raised prices then too. They had to make up lost revenue somehow. So even if we all stopped going they would still raise their prices. The only difference would be the level of quality we have all come to expect from the Mouse.

[yankeesfan123]

I don't think they are raising the cost just to cover things they've already built.

Disney has pretty much "concrete" plans for all their parks, across their globe for at least the next 5 years. They probably have a general plan of what they are doing for the next 10 years and an idea of what they want to do for the next 15-20.

Also, the price increase represents very basic economic from my stand point. You charge what people are willing to pay.

Compare this to price increases in sports arenas and stadiums across the country.

In 2009, I had tickets to a Bruins playoff game for $60 face value. 5 years later, the same seat, face value, in the regular season is $150. That is the cheapest ticket in the entire arena.

People are willing to pay it. They don't care too much who that person is.

[Tekneek]

I'm a huge skeptic on this, so I'll believe it when I see it.


I didn't state it with absolute knowledge that they will do it, but I suspect the push to start doing those things will get stronger over time. When/if the time comes that FP+ is tiered by hotel/package, or offers the ability to buy more slots, I would say we are definitely on the slippery slope to those other items. I don't think that genie will be put back into the bottle once they let it out.

[VWL Mom]

Even adjusted for inflation, the prices are up as much as 65%.. That is not a decrease in $200... The person they quoted, David Landon, is wrong...

My thinking is he is comparing the per day charge if purchased separately to the multi day ticket. i.e.: 5 days at full price $500 compared to 5 day multi day $300. Other than that I can't get what he's saying.

[DizneyFreak2002]

My thinking is he is comparing the per day charge if purchased separately to the multi day ticket. i.e.: 5 days at full price $500 compared to 5 day multi day $300. Other than that I can't get what he's saying.

I lowered myself to read the blog.. I hate bloggers... Sorry, they aren't journalists, they just play them (BADLY) on the internet... My impression is that he is actually trying to say, including inflation, Disney has lowered the price on a 4 day ticket... That is why he is 100% completely wrong... What you are saying makes sense, and if that is what he was trying to get at, he failed... Which, again, is why bloggers should never be quoted by real media outlets... Just more shoddy and lazy reporting...

[yankeesfan123]

Unfortunately, a Federal Appeals court did just say that bloggers are afforded the same 1st amendment defenses as trained journalists.


Basically, they are considered media today.