Disneyland vs. WDW prices

[Walt Disney1955]

So same dates, a 3 day pass with no hopper pass (one park per day) and a family of 5 (one child's ticket). These are numbers for next week. It astounds me.

Disneyland total - $1,145
DisneyWorld total - $1,907

Nothing is fudged here, no extra perks added, no parking passes, no lightning lane, Genie+ nothing. I know Disneyland has always been cheaper but why is it that much cheaper?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

it must be because Disneyland has bigger attendance…. Wait it gets less.

It must be because Disney World pays CM’s more…. No Disneyland pays considerably more.

Must be because WDW has more rides per park…. No that’s not it either.

 

[DisneyHead123]

For the same reason beachfront costs more than “a short drive to the beach” and a beautiful spa in the Midwest costs less than a beautiful spa in West Coast wine country. (Location.)

 

[Quietmouse]

it must be because Disneyland has bigger attendance…. Wait it gets less.

It must be because Disney World pays CM’s more…. No Disneyland pays considerably more.

Must be because WDW has more rides per park…. No that’s not it either.

Eh it has 4 parks vs 2. DCA, theming wise is all over the place…it has a good collection of rides, but it’s theming of California in California is less than inspiring.

DHS, Epcot and Animal Kingdom are worth visiting. Let’s not pretend they aren’t.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Eh it has 4 parks vs 2. DCA, theming wise is all over the place…it has a good collection of rides, but it’s theming of California in California is less than inspiring.

DHS, Epcot and Animal Kingdom are worth visiting. Let’s not pretend they aren’t.

But this is about pricing per day, not per park.

If you want a resort experience- WDW is definitely the place to go. If you have the time and money - spending a week or more on property can be amazing.

But if you want a 2-3 day “Disney theme park experience” I think Disneyland beats it hands down right now.

 

[Doberge]

Disneyland is such a locals park that it runs better promotions Monday to Thursday, which is probably when you ran quotes. I just did and 3 days starting Tuesday next week and it was $998 for my family of 4, and staying Friday it was $1560.

Disney World is a longer vacation destination with more parks. 3 is the recommended number of DL days and at WDW the same days you're looking at what to cut out. This means Disney doesn't need to start reducing add-on days as quickly at WDW as at DL. Also, because average WDW trip is longer trips bleed into work week and Disney doesn't need same DL promotions to get people into the park on like a Tuesday.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Disneyland is such a locals park that it runs better promotions Monday to Thursday, which is probably when you ran quotes. I just did and 3 days starting Tuesday next week and it was $998 for my family of 4, and staying Friday it was $1560.

Disney World is a longer vacation destination with more parks. 3 is the recommended number of DL days and at WDW the same days you're looking at what to cut out. This means Disney doesn't need to start reducing add-on days as quickly at WDW as at DL. Also, because average WDW trip is longer trips bleed into work week and Disney doesn't need same DL promotions to get people into the park on like a Tuesday.

The days were during the week, yes. But even so, no way there is that much of a difference than WDW, but there is.

I get that it probably comes down to the resort experience. Obviously we all know WDW wins this in a cakewalk based on the volume of parks and the size of the resort. Disneyland has what I think is the best park of all of them, and DCA is right in the middle after MK and Epcot if you want to compare the Florida parks to them.

 

[Doberge]

A lot of it is just a promotion difference. Looking at the same 3 weekend days in early September.

WDW:

DL: (if clicking through and not selecting promotion)

DL: (with promotion applied)

The slight standard ticket price is, in my opinion, mostly attributable to demand (MK>DL and MK, EP, HS each > DCA).

And then DL also has promo tickets Monday to Thursday that are even cheaper. The differences here are attributable to locals vs. nonlocal changing attendance distriburions and further lower California park demand, so Disney needs to lower prices there more than WDW where atrendance is smoother without as drastic a drop-off from weekend to weekday.

California's expansion interest is not just about increased attendance but likely also about making California a destination for more than 3 days. If it expands, particularly in a third smaller park-like experience, and recommendation changes from 2-3 days to 3-4 days then more trips by nonlocals pick up more Monday and Thursdays, and then Disney does not need to lower prices as much and the "floor" of ticket prices inches up.