Litany of 2026 parks / resorts deals - is this unprecedented?

[lentesta]

I'm talking today with a hometown TV station about whether "summer" is no longer a peak period for WDW, and if so, when that started.

Below is a chart showing the normalized price of a standard AS-Music room, using a rolling 7-day average to remove the jiggles.

("Normalized" here means the nightly rate for the room on a specific date, divided by the most expensive night that year. So if the max cost for the year is $250 and the night you're looking at is $200, the y-axis is 200/250 = 0.80.)

Blue line is that cost for 2013. The hump in the middle is summer vacation.

Red line is 2026. Note the relatively small bump for summer, and the shift in pricing to fall.

It looks like the "summer bump"'s last year was 2017. By 2018 the shape had definitely shifted.

 

[monothingie]

I'm talking today with a hometown TV station about whether "summer" is no longer a peak period for WDW, and if so, when that started.

Below is a chart showing the normalized price of a standard AS-Music room, using a rolling 7-day average to remove the jiggles.

("Normalized" here means the nightly rate for the room on a specific date, divided by the most expensive night that year. So if the max cost for the year is $250 and the night you're looking at is $200, the y-axis is 200/250 = 0.80.)

Blue line is that cost for 2013. The hump in the middle is summer vacation.

Red line is 2026. Note the relatively small bump for summer, and the shift in pricing to fall.

It looks like the "summer bump"'s last year was 2017. By 2018 the shape had definitely shifted.

View attachment 902254

I want to say that the fear of crowding and price increases associated with the opening of Pandora, and Toy Story Land had some impact on this. (We do know that SWGE in DLR had an adverse impact on attendance there for its premier summer season in 2019)

We look back now at how relatively "affordable" things were as compared to now, but back then they were surging pricing on everything to account for the new lands coming online.

@lentesta the spreadsheet is inaccessible to the public.

 

[networkpro]

There's also another correlation to consider

 

[Trueblood]

@lentesta , it looks like the permissions on the spreadsheet you linked to are more restrictive than you intended.

 

[LSLS]

I think there is an alternative to the "Nothing to do for kids at Universal" narrative, and that is there's not a ton for grade school boys at Disney. My 7 year old boy wants nothing to do with going to Disney anymore. He calls it boring. All he talks about right now is getting back to Universal (it was one of his favorite vacations we have had, though he was mad at not getting to ride Hulk cause he was an inch too short). Now, I think the complaints on Epic are valid. Waits are crazy because there are so few things there outside of Berk.

For what it's worth as well, the only reason my pre-teen daughter wants to hit Disney at all is for a few of the non-IP classic rides. Things like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, ToT, and Everest. Oh, Cosmic Rewind is on that list of things she cares about. But a lot of the IP ones she just could care less about now. Including Splash, which used to be on her list. But, given the choice this past year, she chose Universal as the place she wanted to go.

But, more on topic, I think this summer will be interesting around Orlando. I think based on historic and these announcements, we can expect Disney to not be too busy (relatively speaking) this summer. I wonder if Universal will be similar. Much of my pricing complaints for Disney are equally ridiculous in Universal.

 

[KDM31091]

With walls everywhere in WDW except in EPCOT where the destruction was already completed, combined with Universal's EPIC sucking guests from WDW, Disney has to run specials to get folks to show up at WDW in 2026.

The timing of WDW's work in 2026. 2027, 2028 is very good, as Disney can blame WDW lower attendance because of all the construction and not because of EPIC.

I know there are WDW diehards who hate anything that is not Disney, but I think there are a lot of regular folk who will skip WDW for EPIC in 2026.

But I thought they "weren't concerned" about Epic! Now they are playing catch up with many years of walls ahead of us.

The summer has definitely become the "slow" season though. Surface of the sun heat has always been the case, but I guess people are more willing to pull their kids out of school during other times of year now (though I hear some schools are cracking down on this). Of course most of Disney's discounts and promos are focused around the summer where business is at a lull.

Also, Disney is destroying goodwill with the nonstop price hikes and upcharges. At some point there is a ceiling that will be hit where people just literally cannot afford to go or even if they can, they will choose cheaper alternatives. I think this is part of why attendance has not fully recovered since COVID. The parks feel packed due to so many closed spaces but really are not as packed as 2019. There is nothing major new opening anytime soon save for refurbs on existing attractions, so there are plenty of reasons for people to delay their trips. At best late 2027 before any of the new projects open and I think that is optimistic.

 

[lentesta]

I want to say that the fear of crowding and price increases associated with the opening of Pandora, and Toy Story Land had some impact on this. (We do know that SWGE in DLR had an adverse impact on attendance there for its premier summer season in 2019)

We look back now at how relatively "affordable" things were as compared to now, but back then they were surging pricing on everything to account for the new lands coming online.

@lentesta the spreadsheet is inaccessible to the public.

Sorry. Link fixed.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Sorry. Link fixed.

I don't think that was the intended spreadsheet.

 

[lentesta]

I don't think that was the intended spreadsheet.

Computers are hard. Thanks!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Sorry. Link fixed.

 

[JD80]

I think all the standard discounts Disney hands out like the room rates discounts and free dining are basically walking into Kohls - you have the listed price and the actual sales price (which is the real price).

Anything beyond that is an actual potentially good deal like the buy 4 get 2 or kids eat free. All the other discounts have been the same for a long time. The only thing that changes is inventory available and how far out you can book.

 

[dlfan1313]

WDW is a subpar product (at current prices) and should only be purchased at a severe discount. I know emotions, traditions, general fears that you might find you like other things, and a full litany of other reasons come into play, and we could argue about it until the butter turns into Greek yogurt, but as much as I love all you diehards and unknowing whippersnappers and your ethusuiams, it is not at all worth the price they charge. I'm only on this forum today because I'll be in Orlando for other reasons and thought, "well, maybe since I'll be there anyway..." and upon seeing the rack rate price of almost $800 per night for Beach Club, literally said out loud "F#$# you, Disney!" Which earned me a few looks from the coffee shop parents who were rallying themselves after dropping off the kids at school and were aghast at my godlike grasp of the King's English. I LOVE the Beach Club, absolutely adore it, and have countless fond memories there. I would love to make more, but that price for a mediocre room at what is, any more, a 2-star resort service-wise is insanity. Add to it, the constant "shakedown," as someone else brilliantly put it, and it's all just a repugnant, almost maniacal manipulation of people's emotional weak spots. I'm a broken record here, no question, but I still love WDW and I want to want to go again. And again. If you're reading Unkie Bob, since I'll be there anyway, and since I'm a reasonable I'll buy in at a 40% discount if you abolish those Lightning Strike things or maybe even roll them into the ticket price and your word that you'll stop selling worthless hunks of plastic to people of limited faculties for $50 at the popcorn stands. Let me know how you wish to proceed.

 

[monothingie]

WDW is a subpar product (at current prices) and should only be purchased at a severe discount. I know emotions, traditions, general fears that you might find you like other things, and a full litany of other reasons come into play, and we could argue about it until the butter turns into Greek yogurt, but as much as I love all you diehards and unknowing whippersnappers and your ethusuiams, it is not at all worth the price they charge. I'm only on this forum today because I'll be in Orlando for other reasons and thought, "well, maybe since I'll be there anyway..." and upon seeing the rack rate price of almost $800 per night for Beach Club, literally said out loud "F#$# you, Disney!" Which earned me a few looks from the coffee shop parents who were rallying themselves after dropping off the kids at school and were aghast at my godlike grasp of the King's English. I LOVE the Beach Club, absolutely adore it, and have countless fond memories there. I would love to make more, but that price for a mediocre room at what is, any more, a 2-star resort service-wise is insanity. Add to it, the constant "shakedown," as someone else brilliantly put it, and it's all just a repugnant, almost maniacal manipulation of people's emotional weak spots. I'm a broken record here, no question, but I still love WDW and I want to want to go again. And again. If you're reading Unkie Bob, since I'll be there anyway, and since I'm a reasonable I'll buy in at a 40% discount if you abolish those Lightning Strike things or maybe even roll them into the ticket price and your word that you'll stop selling worthless hunks of plastic to people of limited faculties for $50 at the popcorn stands. Let me know how you wish to proceed.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

WDW is a subpar product (at current prices) and should only be purchased at a severe discount. I know emotions, traditions, general fears that you might find you like other things, and a full litany of other reasons come into play, and we could argue about it until the butter turns into Greek yogurt, but as much as I love all you diehards and unknowing whippersnappers and your ethusuiams, it is not at all worth the price they charge. I'm only on this forum today because I'll be in Orlando for other reasons and thought, "well, maybe since I'll be there anyway..." and upon seeing the rack rate price of almost $800 per night for Beach Club, literally said out loud "F#$# you, Disney!" Which earned me a few looks from the coffee shop parents who were rallying themselves after dropping off the kids at school and were aghast at my godlike grasp of the King's English. I LOVE the Beach Club, absolutely adore it, and have countless fond memories there. I would love to make more, but that price for a mediocre room at what is, any more, a 2-star resort service-wise is insanity. Add to it, the constant "shakedown," as someone else brilliantly put it, and it's all just a repugnant, almost maniacal manipulation of people's emotional weak spots. I'm a broken record here, no question, but I still love WDW and I want to want to go again. And again. If you're reading Unkie Bob, since I'll be there anyway, and since I'm a reasonable I'll buy in at a 40% discount if you abolish those Lightning Strike things or maybe even roll them into the ticket price and your word that you'll stop selling worthless hunks of plastic to people of limited faculties for $50 at the popcorn stands. Let me know how you wish to proceed.

 

[Chi84]

WDW is a subpar product (at current prices) and should only be purchased at a severe discount. I know emotions, traditions, general fears that you might find you like other things, and a full litany of other reasons come into play, and we could argue about it until the butter turns into Greek yogurt, but as much as I love all you diehards and unknowing whippersnappers and your ethusuiams, it is not at all worth the price they charge. I'm only on this forum today because I'll be in Orlando for other reasons and thought, "well, maybe since I'll be there anyway..." and upon seeing the rack rate price of almost $800 per night for Beach Club, literally said out loud "F#$# you, Disney!" Which earned me a few looks from the coffee shop parents who were rallying themselves after dropping off the kids at school and were aghast at my godlike grasp of the King's English. I LOVE the Beach Club, absolutely adore it, and have countless fond memories there. I would love to make more, but that price for a mediocre room at what is, any more, a 2-star resort service-wise is insanity. Add to it, the constant "shakedown," as someone else brilliantly put it, and it's all just a repugnant, almost maniacal manipulation of people's emotional weak spots. I'm a broken record here, no question, but I still love WDW and I want to want to go again. And again. If you're reading Unkie Bob, since I'll be there anyway, and since I'm a reasonable I'll buy in at a 40% discount if you abolish those Lightning Strike things or maybe even roll them into the ticket price and your word that you'll stop selling worthless hunks of plastic to people of limited faculties for $50 at the popcorn stands. Let me know how you wish to proceed.

$800 a night is ridiculous.

 

[JD80]

Deluxe Hotels, as a resort or as a place to sleep, are completely over priced twice over at least. What you're paying for is Disney branding and location. Obviously your call if that's worth while.

I only do it when I get a good deal.

 

[networkpro]

Its not all butterflies and daisy's at Universal as well... look at the recent price hikes at its Loews operated hotels. Compare room rates from when they opened last year and now. Dining costs have risen as well (they have everywhere even without a park nearby) as noted by @Gringrinngghost over here https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/2026-loews-hotels-dining-price-increases.987428/ but even more so. Inputs and delivery costs for products have risen more than companies are willing or able to absorb, so they've passed the costs along.

 

[Tha Realest]

Its not all butterflies and daisy's at Universal as well... look at the recent price hikes at its Loews operated hotels. Compare room rates from when they opened last year and now. Dining costs have risen as well (they have everywhere even without a park nearby) as noted by @Gringrinngghost over here https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/2026-loews-hotels-dining-price-increases.987428/ but even more so. Inputs and delivery costs for products have risen more than companies are willing or able to absorb, so they've passed the costs along.

I was shocked at the new Universal prices. I booked an EU trip for March early last year. Not cheap, but I’m judging on the Disney scale so felt comparatively reasonable. We cancelled after some of the growing pains issues stared manifesting. Now looking at later this year / into 2027. The prices have at least doubled if not tripled over what I was seeing last year.

 

[surfsupdon]

I agree with @Laketravis , I can afford Disney, but the value I get at Universal and other parks is far superior. I leave Disney feeling I got ripped off. I love to runDisney, but a proper Disney vacation is not the same feeling it had years ago. I agree with you.

 

[networkpro]

I agree with @Laketravis , I can afford Disney, but the value I get at Universal and other parks is far superior. I leave Disney feeling I got ripped off. I love to runDisney, but a proper Disney vacation is not the same feeling it had years ago. I agree with you.

Ready yourself for Universal to join the BOHICA tradition. If Epic had more shade (either horticulture or awning/umbrellas) or was open more during night time it would be less frantic dodging either rain or sun to be a more leisurely experience.