WDW Raises Ticket Prices effective August 2nd

[Ian]

OK, with all the grousing and grumbling about this increase, I have one question....

If you cannot afford $32 (plus tax) more per person (actually less - $2 plus tax for PH, $2 plus tax for WPF, and if you used the $4 one day increase for each day of a 7 day ticket - $28 plus tax for the MYW ticket) for 7 days in WDW, you probably couldn't afford it in the first place, so why complain?

Flame me all you want, but this increase, although seemingly at a bad economic time, is minor and to be expected/planned for year on year. Guaranteed your travel expenses - gas/airfare - will increase much more than this.

Well ... I'm not really sure I agree with your first assumption ... I mean, everyone has a breaking point where the budget just can't stretch anymore ...

In regards to your second point, you can't just look at it in terms of the increase between last year and this year. I don't think most people are grumbling about that (although some are, I suppose). Read my and John's posts about the increase over the last 10 years or so. The rate of increase on Disney's tickets has outpaced the rate of simple inflation by about 4 to 1.

That's pretty significant. By contrast, I can buy airline tickets for about the same price (if not less) as I could ten years ago.

[magicofdisney]

You're right, $32 isn't significant....for just me. It really starts to add up for my family of 6, though. Take into account that food, lodging and travel have increased and it all starts to add up pretty quickly.

Just 3 years ago (maybe 2) the kid meals were only $3.99. Now they're $4.99. That's a 25% markup in a relatively short period of time.

I still think the kid meals are a bargain, just not the deal they used to be.

I realize this thread is about ticket prices specifically, but they're a significant part of the bigger picture.

[DizneyRox]

Well ... I'm not really sure I agree with your first assumption ... I mean, everyone has a breaking point where the budget just can't stretch anymore ...

In regards to your second point, you can't just look at it in terms of the increase between last year and this year. I don't think most people are grumbling about that (although some are, I suppose). Read my and John's posts about the increase over the last 10 years or so. The rate of increase on Disney's tickets has outpaced the rate of simple inflation by about 4 to 1.

That's pretty significant. By contrast, I can buy airline tickets for about the same price (if not less) as I could ten years ago.

Yep, I rmeember paying a little over $300 for a round trip ticket in '95. I'm upset if I pay more than $100 one way today.

As I've said before, tickets are a deal breaker for me for multiple trips. Airline and lodging I can swallow, but these ticket prices... They are out of hand...

[Crow]

they need the money from the ticket increase to build the new attractions and do all the rehabs that are coming soon
ummmm when is that? and another reason i wont return this yr.

[kathymk616]

The rate of increase on Disney's tickets has outpaced the rate of simple inflation by about 4 to 1.

That's pretty significant. By contrast, I can buy airline tickets for about the same price (if not less) as I could ten years ago.

I think the numbers here are a little off, although the essence of this point (Disney rate of increase far out-pacing regular inflation and inflation in other industries) is valid.

If the ticket price went from $46 to $79 in 9 years, that is an annualized rate of increase of 6.193%. (It is tempting to take the "total" increase of 71.739% and divide it by 9, but rates of increase don't work that way...please trust me, I'm a math teacher, and I teach these problems all the time!) If regular consumer inflation had a "total" increase of 25.3% (I'm using the rate you originally posted) over 9 years, that turns out to be an annualized rate of increase of 2.538%

6.193% vs. 2.538%...still ridiculous. On the other hand, you could treat the tickets as an investment bearing a higher return than many cash accounts, CDs, and bonds...buy them in large quantities, then several years later, sell, sell, sell! (I don't even know if that's legal, but it doesn't matter, because I'm kidding, kidding, kidding.)

[elmjimmlm]

This is totally off what everyone is talking about but if the ticket price went up and you are there to celebrate your birthday, would the amount on the free gift card go up too?

[JPL]

I would imagine it would but afterall this is Disney so who knows

[pixiesmimi]

I was able to get our two extra one day tickets at last year's price this week because the ITT at our military base still had some tickets from last year. I was not happy that I had forgotten to get these with our military tickets a couple of weeks ago and would have to pay the new price just because I was absent minded but it worked out. Still too expensive for one day. That is why we would never go just for one or two days. Tickets are much cheaper for a week. I wasn't surprised or upset that the prices went up because they have been doing that every year since who knows when. Yes, it is getting out of sight but not unexpected. It was only about $6 more. Of course, if customer service was going up along with the increase, that would be better like with the P.O. every time they raise their rates service goes down but I'm afraid, not so.

[Lakin]

This really stinks.

At least my mom already bought our tickets.

[DisneyFanaticDargon]

they need the money from the ticket increase to build the new attractions and do all the rehabs that are coming soon
ummmm when is that? and another reason i wont return this yr.

This would be true if the parks got the majority of their income from admission, but this isn't true. They get it from food and souvenirs.

[Duck1]

I know I'm a little late on this one, but when will it stop. The increases from year to year need to slow down. I guess they haven't been reading the papers. I know it may be only a dollar or so here and there but they need to have some respect for the little guys. I love WDW just like the rest of you but I think with this last jump is the last straw. Sadly I think it will be a while before my family and I return.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Mumble, Mumble.
2) Grumble, Grumble.
3) Why all the hubbub?

4) Disney knows you will pay!
5) Regardless how much the increase.
6) Even though increases outpaced inflation.
7) And significantly outpaced union wages at WDW.

8) The only way to change this is not to go.
9) But, the buying public are sheep, and follow blindly.
10) Why else would the public accept
. . . grossly higher ticket prices?
. . . decrease food quality, due to DDP?
. . . reduction in ride hours on some rides?
. . . elimination of some rides, without replacement?
. . . poorer resort customer service than at bargain-basement motels?

NOTE: Bluntly, unless one is willing to take a stand, one should not complain.

[Magic Smiles]

Okay I have not read the complete thread, but going to Disney is still a luxury and not a necessity. Many complain when the service goes down and then complain when the costs go up. How do you expect to receive the same service for the same money year after year? Actually it seems to me that many expect more for less all the time.
We all expect (or hope) our pays to go up every year. So do the Disney employees I would guess. The money has to come from somewhere. What we pay to get into a Disney Park is still well worth it to me for what you get compared to other amusement parks.

[Polynesian Dweller]

I know I'm a little late on this one, but when will it stop. The increases from year to year need to slow down. I guess they haven't been reading the papers. I know it may be only a dollar or so here and there but they need to have some respect for the little guys.

Do we all think prices on food, gas, utilities, and everything else will never go up? They do every year and Disney has to pay for all these things too. So do their employees. And of course our employers also increase prices regularly as well to pay our salary increases and the increasing costs of things they buy so they can continue in business. Oh and keep us employed!

Why do people in these threads always think that Disney somehow is different from every other business and should not increase prices? Every year costs go up and prices in all businesses will go up.

By the way, this year the toll cost on 417 from MCO increased 25%. I guess they are as unfeeling and poorly managed as Disney.

[Ian]

Many complain when the service goes down and then complain when the costs go up. How do you expect to receive the same service for the same money year after year?

This makes no sense at all ... people complain because the costs go up while the service goes down. They're not complaining because they're not getting better service for less money. I think it's perfectly reasonable to voice concern when costs increase at more than double the rate of inflation, while the value for your dollar keeps decreasing.

In fact, not complaining about that seems pretty strange to me. If any other company on the planet did that, people would complain ... and stop patronizing them, for that matter. The only way Disney gets away with it is because they have crazy brand loyalty.

Do we all think prices on food, gas, utilities, and everything else will never go up? They do every year and Disney has to pay for all these things too. So do their employees.

The one thing I did think of is that minimum wage went up pretty significantly this year, so some of this increase may be used to offset those expenses.

Another "unintended consequence" of meddling in the free markets.

[Duck1]

I agree the price of doing business is not cheep, but other businesses are doing what it takes to cut cost and make it easier on there customers to keep them coming back. Case and point. I have been going deep sea fishing for years. This year the captain I go with cut his price by $300.00 to help his customers and his business. Make no mistake I love going to WDW and someday I will return. The service has always been great. For what you pay to get in the service has to be great and I wouldn't expect anything else. As General MacArthur said "I will return".