October 2025 Price Increases

[flynnibus]

Boy how quickly people forget ---remember when Bob said they were going to hold the line on price increases. The lemmings still pay and pay for less and less.

Given how small most of the price increases are.. (most seem to be about 5-10%) - I'd say they have been holding the line. 5% is basically COLA territory, not pricing to drive revenue IMO.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Given how small most of the price increases are.. (most seem to be about 5-10%) - I'd say they have been holding the line. 5% is basically COLA territory, not pricing to drive revenue IMO.

Have you been asleep since about 2012, Rip?

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

To the music and melody of Dire Straits:

I want my... I want my... I want my stock to climb

Now look at them guests, that's the way you do it
You charge 'em double just to stand in line
That ain't magic, that's exploitation
We get our billions, they get less time
Now that ain't sweat, that's just the workers
Flippin' burgers in a hundred-degree sun
We got execs up in their towers
Countin' profits, man, this job is fun

We get the magic for nothin'
And charge 'em $30 just to ride
Yeah, the magic for nothin'
Upsell dreams until they're dry
Magic for nothin'
Nickel every single dime
Magic for nothin'
That's the corporate way to fly

Now that kid there, he wants a churro
That'll be sixteen bucks, plus tax and fee
You want a photo with a princess?
That’s another forty, click and say cheese
See the dad with a maxed-out Visa
Sleep-deprived and overbooked
Try complainin' to guest relations
We got scripts, no real looks

We get the magic for nothin'
Your nostalgia's our goldmine
Yeah, the magic for nothin'
Got you locked in every time
Magic for nothin'
Charge 'em twice for Genie+
Magic for nothin'
"Guest experience"? Just a bluff

 

[Tom P.]

Have you been asleep since about 2012, Rip?

In June of 2012, the price for a one day base ticket was $89. That was good at any of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World and, of course, there was no date-based pricing back then. According to the CPI inflation calculator at bls.gov, that equates to $125.65 in August of this year (the latest month for which data is available).

At present, a one day base ticket varies in price depending on the park and the date, which makes direct comparisons more complicated. However, if you take the data from all four theme parks and all of the various daily ticket prices throughout the year, you get an average one day ticket price of $186.32.

Applying a little mathing to the situation, that indicates that the price today is roughly 68.3% higher than what it would be if you were only raising prices to keep pace with inflation.

Now, in fairness, those are averages and you can certainly get cheaper pricing based on the date you choose to go and the park your visit. For example, there are days when the Magic Kingdom one day ticket is $119, which actually puts it lower than the inflation adjusted price compared to 2012. Also, few people actually buy one-day tickets and the per-day pricing on multi-day tickets is better. Finally, you can often find better pricing than "rack rates" using sites like Undercover Tourist.

It seems clear, then, that Disney has indeed been raising prices quite a bit faster than the rate of inflation and they are doing so for profit purposes, not just to keep up with inflation. However, by being selective about dates, looking for deals, etc. you can still get tickets that are equivalent to what someone would have paid in 2012. So I think it is a mixed bag.

 

[MrPromey]

In June of 2012, the price for a one day base ticket was $89. That was good at any of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World and, of course, there was no date-based pricing back then. According to the CPI inflation calculator at bls.gov, that equates to $125.65 in August of this year (the latest month for which data is available).

At present, a one day base ticket varies in price depending on the park and the date, which makes direct comparisons more complicated. However, if you take the data from all four theme parks and all of the various daily ticket prices throughout the year, you get an average one day ticket price of $186.32.

Applying a little mathing to the situation, that indicates that the price today is roughly 68.3% higher than what it would be if you were only raising prices to keep pace with inflation.

Now, in fairness, those are averages and you can certainly get cheaper pricing based on the date you choose to go and the park your visit. For example, there are days when the Magic Kingdom one day ticket is $119, which actually puts it lower than the inflation adjusted price compared to 2012. Also, few people actually buy one-day tickets and the per-day pricing on multi-day tickets is better. Finally, you can often find better pricing than "rack rates" using sites like Undercover Tourist.

It seems clear, then, that Disney has indeed been raising prices quite a bit faster than the rate of inflation and they are doing so for profit purposes, not just to keep up with inflation. However, by being selective about dates, looking for deals, etc. you can still get tickets that are equivalent to what someone would have paid in 2012. So I think it is a mixed bag.

Except multi-day tickets and Undercover Tourist were both around in 2012 meaning that strategy of saving money applied to prices at that time, too so besides cheaper limited specific date-based pricing, there's really no silver lining to any of this for the consumer.

 

[CoastalElite64]

The K-shaped economy effect. Unless a person is a local or there's a coupon day these vacations are not made for the average family anymore. According to this report businesses are catering to the top 20%.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

In June of 2012, the price for a one day base ticket was $89. That was good at any of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World and, of course, there was no date-based pricing back then. According to the CPI inflation calculator at bls.gov, that equates to $125.65 in August of this year (the latest month for which data is available).

At present, a one day base ticket varies in price depending on the park and the date, which makes direct comparisons more complicated. However, if you take the data from all four theme parks and all of the various daily ticket prices throughout the year, you get an average one day ticket price of $186.32.

Applying a little mathing to the situation, that indicates that the price today is roughly 68.3% higher than what it would be if you were only raising prices to keep pace with inflation.

Now, in fairness, those are averages and you can certainly get cheaper pricing based on the date you choose to go and the park your visit. For example, there are days when the Magic Kingdom one day ticket is $119, which actually puts it lower than the inflation adjusted price compared to 2012. Also, few people actually buy one-day tickets and the per-day pricing on multi-day tickets is better. Finally, you can often find better pricing than "rack rates" using sites like Undercover Tourist.

It seems clear, then, that Disney has indeed been raising prices quite a bit faster than the rate of inflation and they are doing so for profit purposes, not just to keep up with inflation. However, by being selective about dates, looking for deals, etc. you can still get tickets that are equivalent to what someone would have paid in 2012. So I think it is a mixed bag.

Hey I’ll never deny that the prices have gone whack on most things across the board…which has been “publicly enabled” the last few years to I’m quite sure will be disastrous fallout/consequences. It’s just how things have “evolved”

So I’m not gonna lament that Disney parks should be “cheaper”…

But that does not mean this is sustainable…nor is what they’ve been doing - bleeding the parks at all the seams to make up for other segments falling of tech changes they haven’t navigated - ever not in doubt.

So we can stop with the “well it’s right in line…” garbage from the knower of all- yet absolutely nothing at the same time…

They are managing it a certain way. By choice. Tough being the “big guy” in the sweater, ain’t it?

 

[DDUK]

They must be in decline to take the chance of looking pure greedy. The sad thing is when any company ramps prices up and up it only ends one way. Possibly famous last words, but I don't think Disney will ever dissappear, but watered down is very likely.

 

[HauntedPirate]

In June of 2012, the price for a one day base ticket was $89. That was good at any of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World and, of course, there was no date-based pricing back then. According to the CPI inflation calculator at bls.gov, that equates to $125.65 in August of this year (the latest month for which data is available).

At present, a one day base ticket varies in price depending on the park and the date, which makes direct comparisons more complicated. However, if you take the data from all four theme parks and all of the various daily ticket prices throughout the year, you get an average one day ticket price of $186.32.

Applying a little mathing to the situation, that indicates that the price today is roughly 68.3% higher than what it would be if you were only raising prices to keep pace with inflation.

Now, in fairness, those are averages and you can certainly get cheaper pricing based on the date you choose to go and the park your visit. For example, there are days when the Magic Kingdom one day ticket is $119, which actually puts it lower than the inflation adjusted price compared to 2012. Also, few people actually buy one-day tickets and the per-day pricing on multi-day tickets is better. Finally, you can often find better pricing than "rack rates" using sites like Undercover Tourist.

It seems clear, then, that Disney has indeed been raising prices quite a bit faster than the rate of inflation and they are doing so for profit purposes, not just to keep up with inflation. However, by being selective about dates, looking for deals, etc. you can still get tickets that are equivalent to what someone would have paid in 2012. So I think it is a mixed bag.

That also reminds me of how multi-day tickets would jump like $11-12 when going from a 4-day ticket to a 7-day ticket back then. And park hopping wasn't the $100/ticket add-on it is today.

 

[Miss Bella]

In June of 2012, the price for a one day base ticket was $89. That was good at any of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World and, of course, there was no date-based pricing back then. According to the CPI inflation calculator at bls.gov, that equates to $125.65 in August of this year (the latest month for which data is available).

At present, a one day base ticket varies in price depending on the park and the date, which makes direct comparisons more complicated. However, if you take the data from all four theme parks and all of the various daily ticket prices throughout the year, you get an average one day ticket price of $186.32.

Applying a little mathing to the situation, that indicates that the price today is roughly 68.3% higher than what it would be if you were only raising prices to keep pace with inflation.

Now, in fairness, those are averages and you can certainly get cheaper pricing based on the date you choose to go and the park your visit. For example, there are days when the Magic Kingdom one day ticket is $119, which actually puts it lower than the inflation adjusted price compared to 2012. Also, few people actually buy one-day tickets and the per-day pricing on multi-day tickets is better. Finally, you can often find better pricing than "rack rates" using sites like Undercover Tourist.

It seems clear, then, that Disney has indeed been raising prices quite a bit faster than the rate of inflation and they are doing so for profit purposes, not just to keep up with inflation. However, by being selective about dates, looking for deals, etc. you can still get tickets that are equivalent to what someone would have paid in 2012. So I think it is a mixed bag.

There's only a handful of weekdays in August and September where you can buy tickets for 119.00, but that's just for AK. MK on those days is 149.00. I'm not seeking MK for 119.00. What days are you seeing it?

 

[Disstevefan1]

There's only a handful of weekdays in August and September where you can buy tickets for 119.00, but that's just for AK. MK on those days is 149.00. I'm not seeking MK for 119.00. What days are you seeing it?

I don't think there are any tickets to MK as low as $119 now.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The K-shaped economy effect. Unless a person is a local or there's a coupon day these vacations are not made for the average family anymore. According to this report businesses are catering to the top 20%.

Is this another way of saying “it’s luxury now…”

Because that’s not the product…no matter how many with their magic band really wants to believe it/feel special

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I got my first seasonal pass for $79 back in 1991 or 1992. Had some blockout dates, but not many.

That pass should cost me about $188 today. Well. At least in theory.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I got my first seasonal pass for $79 back in 1991 or 1992. Had some blockout dates, but not many.

That pass should cost me about $188 today. Well. At least in theory.

That’ll be $850 with a 60% blackout rate…you freeloading peasant

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

That’ll be $850 with a 60% blackout rate…you freeloading peasant

Can I still bring my own food?

 

[HauntedPirate]

Can I still bring my own food?

Only if you occupy a table meant for someone purchasing food on-site.

 

[CoastalElite64]

Is this another way of saying “it’s luxury now…”

Because that’s not the product…no matter how many with their magic band really wants to believe it/feel special

In the economic sense it's priced as a luxury good. It's subjective on the quality.

 

[LittleBuford]

In the economic sense it's priced as a luxury good. It's subjective on the quality.

I feel there's a distinction between being expensive and being a luxury good. Concerts, sporting events, and Disney trips may cost a lot, and they may be luxuries in the same way that any pricey nonessential thing is, but I don't think they're perceived by most people as luxury products as such. Luxury products are status symbols designed to connote prestige and exclusivity, and in that sense, I don't see how a Disney trip qualifies.

 

[Chi84]

I feel there's a distinction between being expensive and being a luxury good. Concerts, sporting events, and Disney trips may cost a lot, and they may be luxuries in the same way that any pricey nonessential thing is, but I don't think they're perceived by most people as luxury products as such. Luxury products are status symbols designed to connote prestige and exclusivity, and in that sense, I don't see how a Disney trip qualifies.

I don’t know where the idea of a Disney trip being “luxurious” in the sense of being extremely comfortable or elegant originated. I don’t know anyone who thinks that way.

It’s a luxury in the sense that it’s something you treat yourself to occasionally because it’s very expensive.

 

[LittleBuford]

I don’t know where the idea of a Disney trip being “luxurious” in the sense of being extremely comfortable or elegant originated. I don’t know anyone who thinks that way.

It’s a luxury in the sense that it’s something you treat yourself to occasionally because it’s very expensive.

Absolutely! I think a lot of the confusion arises from the multiple meanings of the word “luxury” itself, which covers everything from the nonessential to the truly decadent. Pretty much all vacations are luxuries in the first sense.