Disney Raises Ticket Prices- Again

[Deleted]

Long but really good article on this.  The price of a one-day ticket in the parks for an "adult" (i.e. anyone over 9 years old) is hovering close to $200.  That's before food and souvenirs.

blog.thetravelinsider.info/2018/02/disney-tickets-overpriced.html

The author thinks like an economist- he points out that, with some parks closed on peak days after they reach maximum capacity, raising prices is a rational decision because the demand is there.  He also notes, though, that the multi-day and annual passes should probably be more expensive than they are because the users don't spend on food and souvenirs at the same rate as one-day pass holders.  

I can tell you that I have big plans for travel with my grandchildren (God willing, when they're old enough to spend a few days away from their parents) but they will never include Disney.  The almost 4-year old LOVES tropical fish and if she's still the same way when she's 9 or 10 (and learns how to swim) I could probably take her snorkeling off Puerto Rico for a lot less.  

Thoughts?

[Deleted]

I was anti Disney. Or at least apathetic. My dad took everyone the first time. I was surprised how much I liked it. I took my mom and teens next time. And we’ve done Universal twice too. ( Harry Potter World is fantastic) Can I say, there is a bit of me that wants to go back again? 

We travel a lot. I’d never only do Disney/Do Disney every year, but there is something about it. 

Also... can I say that the level of detail and seemless efficiency is a pleasure too. I don’t generally do all inclusive type things, so maybe it’s common... but literally you check in, set up your bracelet and don’t have to think for the rest of the trip. Again, wouldn’t do it often, but I’m sure I’ll do it again.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I honestly believe Disney has become a racket that would make Walt turn over in his grave. I don't believe he ever meant that the average family of four would have to nearly take out a 2nd mortgage to enjoy a vacation there.

[Deleted]

Feb 17, 2018 8:38:21 GMT -5 oped said:

Also... can I say that the level of detail and seamless efficiency is a pleasure too. I don’t generally do all inclusive type things, so maybe it’s common... but literally you check in, set up your bracelet and don’t have to think for the rest of the trip. Again, wouldn’t do it often, but I’m sure I’ll do it again.

I hear you on the all-inclusive aspect.  I've traveled a lot on my own and I've found that it's a bit of a relief to take a cruise on my favorite small-ship line and know that once I get my rear end onto the ship it's someone else's job to worry about what happens if things go wrong.  Same for my trip to India next month, which is a group tour.

It just seems crazy to pay almost $200/day and then spending an hour in line for every 3 minutes you spend on a ride.  THAT's life in "The Happiest Place in All the World?"

[giramomma]

We are looking to go to Disney in a few summers...We need to go before we get charged admission for Miss M.

My girls asked to go. Even the peanut, who hands down, would much rather use tools than play princesses

My kids won't be as traveled as some on here. We had to use our seed money for Europe for DS's braces.

But, DS is 13 and has been to 15ish states and Canada. When I was 13, I had been to 3 states...by the time I graduated HS, it was 4. So, I lump it as not perfect, but better than what I had growing up.

I look at travel costs as it is what it is.

I'm sure we'll spend more than we did for our last big summer vacation two years ago. We spent 5K, but we put 3000 miles on the car and were gone for 2.5 weeks. (Still not too bad for a family of 5).

If travel with your grandkids is important, depending, the almost 4 year old is likely old enough to be away from parents for a night or two. Unless she's high needs like the peanut.  And honestly, I don't know that I would push stuff out to 9/10. That doesn't give you many years for that sort of thing. Last summer my DS was gone for a month with scouting at 13. We couldn't get a family vacation in, due to scheduling. This year, the only reason we're getting a vacation in is because the kids' school lets out a week before the public schools do.

[Deleted]

Off peak is half that. And no one goes for one day. I got two rooms in the budget stacks for less than I pay on an overnight driving somewhere. On site. You could stay off.  Or camp for less than half that again. Disney is one place where you can actually bring your own food into the park if you want...     

eta...I posted this before your last I only waited an hour maybe once each time? Timing and fast passes means waits of 1/2 hour or more are rare. Many things have no wait. 

Again. I wasn’t a fan before I went it does have a quality though... 

[NoNamePerson]

To each his own. If you have the money and want to go to Disney - then go.

If you have the money and don't want to go - then don't go.

There will always be places that seem way to expensive for some and not others. All things can't be equal.

Guess that is why they make chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and Neapolitan.    

[giramomma]

Feb 17, 2018 9:20:17 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

It just seems crazy to pay almost $200/day and then spending an hour in line for every 3 minutes you spend on a ride.  THAT's life in "The Happiest Place in All the World?"

For my grad school program, I had to to travel out of state to attend residency. We spent 1500+ for a 4-5 day trip.
DH came with, but his expenses weren't all that, maybe 400?

I thought that was crazy. I mean 1500 would get us a two week cabin rental at our favorite spot for our whole family..

But, that's what we needed to spend..

[wvugurl26]

I was in Orlando in October. I was totally impressed by the logistics at Disney. They had it down. I went in October and we waited 30-45 minutes a few times.

I was also blown away by Harry Potter at Universal. My jaw hit the ground when I walked in.

DH's sisters go like every year and sometimes multiple times. They belong to Disney vacation club. I wouldn't want that to be my only vacation but I wouldn't mind going again.

They are going after Thanksgiving and I'd like to see the parks decorated for Christmas. And I want to get on flight of passage. That had a 5 hour wait when we were there. I don't need to go for a whole week like they are though.

We are going to Cancun, Charlotte, Outer Banks, probably Nashville and DH wants to go to Cedar Point. He'll be out of vacation at that point and we are trying to go to Australia in December 2019 so he needs to build it up. And we have a wedding in Negril April 2019. I have 3.5 weeks I must burn to get under max carry over so I'm like sure let's go for a couple days to Orlando but DH not so much.

[Deleted]

I actually might go a whole week next time. We didn’t get in a pool once, or see a show really... four days will get you on all the good rides, but it would have been more relaxing to take some breaks for som of the other included stuff. Food would be more, but maybe not because if we were more relaxed we could sandwich in the room, etc. and passes start to equal out... 4 Days at 95 = 380. 7 Days at 59 = 413. Plus more fast passes equals less wait for more good rides...  I wouldn’t buy more souvenirs... 

[sesfw]

I lived in So Calif in 1955 when the park first opened.  My first trip was in 1958 and they had 'date night' tickets for $5 per couple.  It was during the time of individual tickets for each ride and date nights didn't include any rides.  That was ok, there were dance floors in each square.

We waited until DD was around 6-7 before taking her out for the first time.  Didn't want to have to carry a very tired little one around ........... she and her friend had a blast.  Took each g-DD out when they reached the same age for the same reason.  I always felt sorry for the families that took very little ones out there.  No fun for anyone.

Have been there many times since then but, for us, now the price is out of range for the fun we would get.

[Shooby]

Disney was probably our least favorite vacation.  It was OK.  Pricey and just OK.  We would rather just get a beach house and stay at the beach for a week.

[steph08]

Oh look, another thread bashing Disney. I'm as shocked as everyone else...

Seriously. If you don't like it, don't go. Don't keep posting threads about it.

I love Disney. I just ran the Walt Disney Marathon in January for the second time.

I paid about $700 to stay on-site for five nights with a park hopper ticket for all days. It really wasn't that expensive for the level of entertainment that you receive. Rides, shows, amazing fireworks, transportation included, etc.

Disney knows their shit. For the parks and for races.

Look - I'm a taxpaying citizen with a graduate degree that contributes to society and has traveled to a whole crapload of countries and a lot of US states. If I want to spend my hard earned paycheck and life loving Disney and indoctrinating my kids to do the same, I will.

For what it's worth, I have also went scuba diving in the Disney aquarium in Epcot with a lot of tropical fish and the cost of the dive all went to charity.

[steph08]

And Harry Potter at Universal is freaking awesome sauce. It's my life blood.

[countrygirl2]

We have gone several times to Disney and Universal, getting harder for me to walk and I

don't want a wheel chair. I just don't like standing in line forever to go on rides and then

its only a few minutes. I think even DD has gotten tired of that part. I don't know if we

will go back again or not. While hubs was gone we went to Orlando almost every winter

and went to Disney.

[swamp]

Feb 17, 2018 9:20:17 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Feb 17, 2018 8:38:21 GMT -5 oped said:

Also... can I say that the level of detail and seamless efficiency is a pleasure too. I don’t generally do all inclusive type things, so maybe it’s common... but literally you check in, set up your bracelet and don’t have to think for the rest of the trip. Again, wouldn’t do it often, but I’m sure I’ll do it again.

I hear you on the all-inclusive aspect.  I've traveled a lot on my own and I've found that it's a bit of a relief to take a cruise on my favorite small-ship line and know that once I get my rear end onto the ship it's someone else's job to worry about what happens if things go wrong.  Same for my trip to India next month, which is a group tour.

It just seems crazy to pay almost $200/day and then spending an hour in line for every 3 minutes you spend on a ride.  THAT's life in "The Happiest Place in All the World?"

It is crazy.  That's why we book a week vacation.  I hate the day pass.  Too rushed, too expensive.  

[Deleted]

A little off subject, but have you guys noticed the proliferation of your Facebook friends as part-time Disney travel agents? Most of them can also book other vacations, but they mostly hawk Disney vacations.

If I did go to Disney again, I wouldn't know which one to choose (if any) for fear of offending someone else.

[Deleted]

Older son and I would rather do just about any other kind of vacation than Disney.  He would groan if I even suggested it.  Just too many people.  We'd both be stressed out and judging how Carrot did with crowds on the cruise and in the airports, he would too.  So yeah, it's a no for us.   

[busymom]

We've never been to any Disney park.  My folks couldn't afford it when I was a kid, and frankly, if I'm making a trip to Florida, I'd rather spend time on the ocean.  (However, I will admit to going to Universal:  pricey, but LOVED the Harry Potter part of the park.)  

[saveinla]

The main reason that they are raising prices in So Cal is because the park is not big enough to accommodate the crowd. They are trying crowd control with raising the prices, but people who want to go, want to go. 

[Deleted]

Points I should add. I was talking Florida, and I always went in February... obviously not empty but not horrendous crowds either as I’d assume for other tim3s of year.

[souldoubt]

Disneyland in SoCal has no issue selling tickets and at times during the summer, holidays and so on they get to capacity and have to turn people away.  I remember getting an annual pass in 2000/2001 for $99 and they applied the cost of the ticket I bought that day towards it.  We went maybe 5 times and I got over it pretty quick.  The next time I went was maybe 2 years later because a friend worked there and he got us in for free.  I think that was the last time I went even though I live less than 20 miles away.  About 2.5 years ago I was in Orlando for a conference staying at one of the Disney hotels and they had a discount for the holiday shindig they put on.  I'm glad I went because it wasn't that crowded as they ushered out people who didn't pay for that ticket but the park seemed almost identical to the SoCal one.  I know they have more than one park in Orlando but I got my fix and don't have any desire to go.  I can see how people with kids like to go but even then if you buy the cheapest annual passes once you consider what you spend in the park it can add up pretty quick.  Every now and then my wife mentions wanting a pass and I tell her by all means as she can go with her niece who has one but for her it makes more sense because she works across the street.  I have no desire to sit in traffic after work to pay for overpriced food/drinks and the same old rides.  Apparently I'm in the minority on that one.

[midjd]

We're planning a Disney trip right after Christmas and staying at one of their branded resorts. I have Starwood reward points to cover 4 nights, so the room will only be about $120 in non-Starpoint-covered charges. The park tickets were already expensive, so the increase there hasn't changed my budget. With the minimal hotel costs, park tickets, 4 days of airport parking, flights, transportation from the airport to the hotel, meals, and giving my friend a cat-sitting gift, I've budgeted about $2,500. For a four-day vacation that includes plane tickets for three people, I didn't think it was too bad. 

I went to the Magic Kingdom for the first (and only) time when I was 14. I didn't enjoy it much, probably because I was a cynical teenager traveling with a couple of first-graders and my mom. DD will be five... I want to take her while she's old enough to sort of remember it, tall enough to go on most of the rides, but still young enough to have that sense of wonder. 

[NastyWoman]

When DGS1 was born I told him to hurry up and grow so I could take him to Disneyland. DDIL heard and nixed that -> she has wanted to go all her life but due to circumstances she had missed out. However, I was, and still am , invited to come with. Now we are all patiently waiting for DGS2 to reach the age  to go. Oma sits here posting biding her time and looking forward to the day...


I took my kids at least a dozen times for a couple of days. It was a fun thing to do before we went on yet another 10+ hour flight. 

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Feb 17, 2018 10:37:40 GMT -5 steph08 said:

And Harry Potter at Universal is freaking awesome sauce. It's my life blood.

Harry Potter is freaking awesome. I'd easily go there again and again. We were at Disney and Epcot again in Nov and were horribly disappointed in both. Once we are done with our 3rd park hopper day, I doubt we will ever go to the parks again.

[Deleted]

Feb 17, 2018 10:35:16 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Oh look, another thread bashing Disney. I'm as shocked as everyone else...

Seriously. If you don't like it, don't go. Don't keep posting threads about it.

<snip>

For one thing, the link provided updated pricing information. It also provided an interesting discussion of the economics (surprisingly inelastic demand, their price increases vs. historic rates of inflation, ways to tweak the pricing to make it more rational).

For what it's worth, I have also went scuba diving in the Disney aquarium in Epcot with a lot of tropical fish and the cost of the dive all went to charity.

"have went"?

[mroped]

Maybe their tax break wasn’t as big as they expected so to make up for it they feel like they have to raise the prices?!

[obelisk]

Anaheim Disney has put our family out of reach of wanting to frequent the park within 20 minutes driving time.  We can well afford the 150USD or so per person per visit including all meals.  When a corp chooses this approach I opt out.  Disney resorts and all can go pound sand.  I will choose my $ on other vacations locations which do not consider the co mindset.  I  usually spend 2 months a year on vacation.

Disney, you will not be one.

[gooddecisions]

Disney world is about a 13 hour drive from me, without stopping, so we would likely fly. I have a family of 5. If I felt like I could do a 1 week trip for $3000, I wouldn't mind Disney. However, whenever I scout this info, families are spending $8000-12000 on their Disney vacations.

We have season passes to the local amusement park, with more rides and less walking. I've been to Disney when I was a kid and an adult and I just can't onboard with shelling out that kind of money.

My in-laws are dying to go and say it's on their bucket list. So I will probably have to bite the bullet and figure it out. I don't think they will make us pay for them, but it does mean even more effort and even less fun for me.

[Deleted]

Feb 17, 2018 17:56:54 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

My in-laws are dying to go and say it's on their bucket list. So I will probably have to bite the bullet and figure it out. I don't think they will make us pay for them, but it does mean even more effort and even less fun for me.

So, tell 'em to go!  No reason that should compel you to spend limited time and resources to do something that doesn't interest you.  $8,000-$12,000 for Disney is insane.  I'm seriously considering a cruise to the Galapagos that will likely run me $12,000+ but that's real, not audio-animatronic.

Feb 17, 2018 10:41:48 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

We have gone several times to Disney and Universal, getting harder for me to walk and I

don't want a wheel chair. 

Does Disney still let anyone in a wheel chair (and those accompanying them) go to the head of the line? Too bad they cracked down on people with legitimate physical limitations renting themselves out as "family members" to groups who wanted to skip the lines. You could have paid for your vacation that way!