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

[Laketravis]

Went to USO/Epic in November for a week. Leaving this Sunday for another week at USO/Epic. Haven't even driven by WDW in over a year.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Went to USO/Epic in November for a week. Leaving this Sunday for another week at USO/Epic. Haven't even driven by WDW in over a year.

Ok I’ll bite…

Elaborate?

 

[surfsupdon]

Went to USO/Epic in November for a week. Leaving this Sunday for another week at USO/Epic. Haven't even driven by WDW in over a year.

I used to go to WDW 3-4x a year as a vaca. Plus a (free) senior trip as a chaperone.

For three years now, I rundisney 1-2x per year. Do a park day with a comp pass. And free water park. All on the cheap.

No family trips anymore to WDW. Instead we bought universal passes, stay at their déluxes for express pass, and have an awesome time for 3-4 days.

Our theme park vacations have drastically changed. I get the Disney vibe on a race weekend but I leave frustrated at what it has become. But I’m still happy to have gone. It’s a sickness.

We still go to Europe, the Caribbean, a cruise, and ski. Disney doesn’t have that value (although yes I do still run them for as cheap as possible). They get many thousands less from me per year.

 

[cjkeating]

Went to USO/Epic in November for a week. Leaving this Sunday for another week at USO/Epic. Haven't even driven by WDW in over a year.

I used to go to WDW 3-4x a year as a vaca. Plus a (free) senior trip as a chaperone.

For three years now, I rundisney 1-2x per year. Do a park day with a comp pass. And free water park. All on the cheap.

No family trips anymore to WDW. Instead we bought universal passes, stay at their déluxes for express pass, and have an awesome time for 3-4 days.

Our theme park vacations have drastically changed. I get the Disney vibe on a race weekend but I leave frustrated at what it has become. But I’m still happy to have gone. It’s a sickness.

We still go to Europe, the Caribbean, a cruise, and ski. Disney doesn’t have that value (although yes I do still run them for as cheap as possible). They get many thousands less from me per year.

This isn't exaclty what this thread is about but maybe 3 is a trend?

Last year I moved theme park days from WDW to Epic.

This year I'll be in Florida for a convention and I'm skipping WDW and doing Universal instead. It will be my first visit to Florida since my first in 2011 when I am not visiting WDW.

I'm not saying I won't be back at WDW but I can't see it before at least Tropical Americas and Montropolis.

 

[mattpeto]

It sure seems that Disney is trying to strengthen a soft season, which is the Florida summer.

I really don’t think they have a problem with the 3 other seasons.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

It's kind of wild to see some of these deals run into October. The AP one ends at the end of July, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of offer APs get for the start of Fall.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This isn't exaclty what this thread is about but maybe 3 is a trend?

Last year I moved theme park days from WDW to Epic.

This year I'll be in Florida for a convention and I'm skipping WDW and doing Universal instead. It will be my first visit to Florida since my first in 2011 when I am not visiting WDW.

I'm not saying I won't be back at WDW but I can't see it before at least Tropical Americas and Montropolis.

Promos due to declining demand is kinda what it’s about…it’s kinda in every thread

They are welcome to change all the management and quiet that narrative…any day now

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It sure seems that Disney is trying to strengthen a soft season, which is the Florida summer.

I really don’t think they have a problem with the 3 other seasons.

Then you’re not there enough to see it

 

[DisneyHead123]

I’d be curious to see what previous year aligns with rack rate for the current discounts. My guess is it’s 2020 or later. So good but not amazing discounts.

It’s a weird world with pricing on everything right now. Organic Honeycrisp apples are currently about $3.50 each in my area. Literally you could buy a McDonald’s burger for less than one apple. If you want a dozen Dunkin Donuts that’ll run around $20. Yet at the same time you’re starting to see real, substantial markdowns on some things in order to get people in the door. I don’t know what to make of it other than to say it must be a hard time to be a business owner.

 

[Tha Realest]

I don’t know what to make of it other than to say it must be a hard time to be a business owner.

Business owner? Sure. Grocery store conglomerate owner? They got greedy in recent years and took advantage to reset prices with all the market/economy fluctuations and changes.

Like a certain company that caters to well-moneyed travelers.

 

[Coaster Lover]

It almost feels like they are following the "Bed, Beth, & Beyond" mentality where they intentionally price things higher than the market dictates, but than constantly send out "20% off coupons" to make it feel like you are getting a discount and to constantly stay in the discussion due to their promotions. The negative impact of a 15% price increase at the beginning of the year is quickly covered over when you have multiple deals announced throughout the rest of the year

(*yes, I understand that the percentages listed above are not accurate with Disney's current price increases/discounts... they were only used for demonstration purposes).

 

[lentesta]

Only one man can truly tell us the answer to this question...What say you @lentesta?

Ha!

Okay, I’m talking to the media about this on Monday so I’ve started some prep work while still on this cruise. (Hello from Grand Cayman!)

For 2 adults, 2 kids, 6 nights in June w/ base tix at a value resort, the “2 days free” deal is ~19% off.

The next best deal is the “up to 30% off” room deal with the separate 2-days free ticket deal, at ~16% off.

The last similar deal was January 2021, at the height of the “Delta Wave” of the pandemic. That deal ran January - May, 2021, so it was an immediate “come here now” urgency.

This one is Summer 2026, which is farther out. But that might be significant if Disney’s seeing that level of softness, this many months in advance.

It’s not as deep as the “Buy 4 get 3” room+ticket deal of 2008-2009, at the height of that financial crisis. That might have been double this discount in terms of percentages.

I didn’t adjust for inflation. I can share spreadsheets when I get out of the spa.

 

[monothingie]

Ha!

Okay, I’m talking to the media about this on Monday so I’ve started some prep work while still on this cruise. (Hello from Grand Cayman!)

For 2 adults, 2 kids, 6 nights in June w/ base tix at a value resort, the “2 days free” deal is ~19% off.

The next best deal is the “up to 30% off” room deal with the separate 2-days free ticket deal, at ~16% off.

The last similar deal was January 2021, at the height of the “Delta Wave” of the pandemic. That deal ran January - May, 2021, so it was an immediate “come here now” urgency.

This one is Summer 2026, which is farther out. But that might be significant if Disney’s seeing that level of softness, this many months in advance.

It’s not as deep as the “Buy 4 get 3” room+ticket deal of 2008-2009, at the height of that financial crisis. That might have been double this discount in terms of percentages.

I didn’t adjust for inflation. I can share spreadsheets when I get out of the spa.

The Value resorts for the most part fall into the 20% category room (15% < 5 Nights) only discount. (All Star Sports is 25%/20% and AOA Mermaid is 15%/10%).
The math may change with when moving to a Deluxe.

 

[Coaster Lover]

Ha!

Okay, I’m talking to the media about this on Monday so I’ve started some prep work while still on this cruise. (Hello from Grand Cayman!)

For 2 adults, 2 kids, 6 nights in June w/ base tix at a value resort, the “2 days free” deal is ~19% off.

The next best deal is the “up to 30% off” room deal with the separate 2-days free ticket deal, at ~16% off.

The last similar deal was January 2021, at the height of the “Delta Wave” of the pandemic. That deal ran January - May, 2021, so it was an immediate “come here now” urgency.

This one is Summer 2026, which is farther out. But that might be significant if Disney’s seeing that level of softness, this many months in advance.

It’s not as deep as the “Buy 4 get 3” room+ticket deal of 2008-2009, at the height of that financial crisis. That might have been double this discount in terms of percentages.

I didn’t adjust for inflation. I can share spreadsheets when I get out of the spa.

As always, you are an invaluable asset and endless source of useful information to the Disney community! Thank you!

 

[Spectro shire]

I’d be curious to see what previous year aligns with rack rate for the current discounts. My guess is it’s 2020 or later. So good but not amazing discounts.

It’s a weird world with pricing on everything right now. Organic Honeycrisp apples are currently about $3.50 each in my area. Literally you could buy a McDonald’s burger for less than one apple. If you want a dozen Dunkin Donuts that’ll run around $20. Yet at the same time you’re starting to see real, substantial markdowns on some things in order to get people in the door. I don’t know what to make of it other than to say it must be a hard time to be a business owner.

Dunkin Donuts gives my area a bad name. Most people are never more than a few miles away from one.

 

[Laketravis]

Ok I’ll bite…

Elaborate?

In a nutshell:

5 nights at Universal Dockside (1/11-1/16)
4 day park tickets - USO, IOA, Epic
4 days of Express Pass

Two people: $2385

I'd like nothing more than to spend a week or two at WDW like we used to multiple times a year until 11/23 when our AP's expired. But it's become virtually impossible to enjoy with the increased level of cost sensitivity on a seemingly constant basis, everywhere you look. We can afford it, but the feeling that we are being shaken down at every turn has become overwhelming.

I don't see anything in the current special offerings for this coming summer that change my mind, because while it may be an overall few points discount on the cost, nothing there replaces any of the perks and benefits of years past.

In fact, I can't think of much that Universal has reduced or eliminated to the same level WDW has. If in fact they have, I suppose I haven't noticed because none of it has become a pinch point yet.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We can afford it, but the feeling that we are being shaken down at every turn has become overwhelming.

This right here

This is what long time fans have to deal with…trying not to let it gnaw at you

Leisure…for sure

 

[Calmdownnow]

Is it a recession indicator? A realization that international travel will remain down?

The international vloggers are still vlogging (for now), but threatening an attack on Greenland will probably result in many Europeans joining the Canadian boycott. Plus the Minnesota shooting finally broke through onto main stream media in the UK. These things do influence how people feel about where they spend their hard earned vacation money.

 

[mlayton144]

In a nutshell:

5 nights at Universal Dockside (1/11-1/16)
4 day park tickets - USO, IOA, Epic
4 days of Express Pass

Two people: $2385

I'd like nothing more than to spend a week or two at WDW like we used to multiple times a year until 11/23 when our AP's expired. But it's become virtually impossible to enjoy with the increased level of cost sensitivity on a seemingly constant basis, everywhere you look. We can afford it, but the feeling that we are being shaken down at every turn has become overwhelming.

I don't see anything in the current special offerings for this coming summer that change my mind, because while it may be an overall few points discount on the cost, nothing there replaces any of the perks and benefits of years past.

In fact, I can't think of much that Universal has reduced or eliminated to the same level WDW has. If in fact they have, I suppose I haven't noticed because none of it has become a pinch point yet.

The only downside to that calculus is that you would have to vacation at universal. If you like roller coasters great, otherwise it’s a useless comparison

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The only downside to that calculus is that you would have to vacation at universal. If you like roller coasters great, otherwise it’s a useless comparison

Perhaps in the past…

But what they’ve done with theming since hogsmead is really no less impressive than Bob and his “minilands”

And this is a fresh take…as I was at epic and universal Hollywood last year