Has Disney Pricing Increases/Atmosphere Cuts Altered YOUR FAMILIES WDW Attendance?

[Sans Souci]

This is what I found on the Disney site at $1,119.00:

Disney Platinum Pass
Admission for a year to all 4 theme parks (No blockout dates)

• Visit all 4 theme parks on the same day
• Includes Disney PhotoPass downloads*
• Up to 20% off on select dining
• Up to 20% off select merchandise in store
• Standard theme park parking

If you look at each restaurant individually, most offer 10%. Some do offer 20% during lunch time, but it’s mostly 10% at most places.

 

[VaderTron]

This is what I found on the Disney site at $1,119.00:

Disney Platinum Pass
Admission for a year to all 4 theme parks (No blockout dates)

• Visit all 4 theme parks on the same day
• Includes Disney PhotoPass downloads*
• Up to 20% off on select dining
• Up to 20% off select merchandise in store
• Standard theme park parking

Disney likes to use marketing lingo to make themselves look more generous. A careful reading between the lines shows they offer UP TO 20% for dining. Recently they used to offer 20% at almost all restaurants. They cut that around the time of the triple price hike. The only places that offer 20% dining discounts are Joffrey's Coffee and House of Blues before 4pm. Paradiso offers 15% (they have for years, don't know why). All others are now only 10% off.

If you drill down into their site you can see the specific discounts: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/passholder-benefits-and-discounts/

 

[PixarPerfect]

I guess I haven't seen anywhere near that level of price increase in similar entertainment. Especially at that accelerated rate. This are definitely up. But not at that rate, especially where they were at a premium already. But, I also know that depends alot on region, entrainment type, etc. And, it's always the good ol' ROI calculation. For me, that line of quality vs cost finally tipped. Obviously it hasn't for others.

We've noticed it on most entertainment and travel purchases. Domestic airline rates have jumped quite a bit for us, and we're in a major hub area. Things like concert or show tickets are up as well. Tickets to smaller amusement parks are something like $60 for the day and almost any event we attend's tickets are at least $150 / pp, and those only last a few hours. That's why $100 for a full day / 4 parks actually seems reasonable. It's all relative.

If you look at each restaurant individually, most offer 10%. Some do offer 20% during lunch time, but it’s mostly 10% at most places.

That does make a difference. Still, if I had plans to visit for more than 10 days the AP's a savings with a few perks thrown in.

 

[21stamps]

For me it's a mix. I kind of realized I was going more than I would because I have a pass. So, I was thinking I should probably decrease trips, but the pass always got me back (like that darn Target red card). When the price increases hit on passes, plus the other price increases, crowd increases, and now changes to Epcot - I just couldn't justify the money I was spending on Disney. I had 3 trips planned as of May for this year. I then cancelled 1, switched 1 to universal instead and did the 1 I had last week (inspired by the Illuminations closing). I'm thinking I'll do trips every couple of years now, going to other destinations instead. Just comparing cost to value for me personally.

If you know you are doing Disney for a given number of days, I think it's easier to compare tickets vs AP a bit easier.

I can see that.

On a much smaller scale- I did not renew my zoo membership for the first time this year. We were trying to fit it into our schedule, because we were members. In the past we were members because we were there anyway. Now we’re doing a lot of other stuff instead., and it just didn't make sense this year.

I think it’s good to change things up sometimes, no matter if it’s a vacation destination or local. I skipped WDW in 2018 and 2019, planned on going in 2020 once Galaxy’s Edge calmed down a bit. A few times I seriously debated going for a quick 3 nights when we had the time.. but instead did things that we haven’t done before on those short trips, and longer ones. I love Disney.. but the country and the world is a big place, and my schedule is mostly determined by sports the past 2 years, so I have to choose carefully now with limited time.

 

[21stamps]

Thank you. So roughly $370 from last year. Our own ticket prices have jumped from our last trip and I wondered where the APs fell in the price increase.

The geek in me would look at that 20% off dining and free memory maker with interest if we had a longer trip coming up. Our next is only 8 days so not quite worth it and we don't visit multiple times in a year.

Sadly, the ticket prices are in keeping with the rest of the world. Concert tickets, airline, shows, etc. have all jumped up in recent years. Life.

When I purchased an AP it was for a 9 night trip.. I received an AP 30% resort discount on 5 of the nights. The discount plus memory maker was a break even for me. Again though, I only bought 1. 2 would not have made sense.

We did visit one other time while I had the AP. A quick 2 nights pre cruise. By 2 nights I mean we arrived after midnight, spent the day, went back to resort to sleep, and then checked out at 5am. I used my pass for admission to two parks that day, had a 1 day park hopper for my kid- and then bought 2 MVMCP tickets for that evening. 3 parks that day... tried to do all 4 but just ran out of time.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The concept of the AP Is not...at least never used to be...to get a “marginal” savings over the hopper or day ticket rates. It was to created a group of loyal, high traffic customer that not only bought the higher profit items in large quantities - which are absolutely merch and beverages - but also provide two other “intangible” benefits to Disney:
1. Tremendous good will free advertising...as noboby creates more new customers than Disney loyalists. And it’s “free” ads that now are even better value in the era of tv decline, print collapse and social networking explosion.
2. An effective backstop on economic downsweeps. They can’t survive without APs and Florida residents when the waters recede...though they seem to have forgotten.

If the discussion is “we get the ap because it’s slightly a better deal than hoppers”...then that segment is broken. That wasn’t the intent and nothing has changed for the potential benefits there.

You don’t force your best customers away. Because inevitably you’ll be the ones begging when loose money gets scarce.

 

[21stamps]

The concept of the AP Is not...at least never used to be...to get a “marginal” savings over the hopper or day ticket rates.

This is wildly incorrect. An annual pass, anywhere, is offered to save money over paying admission each time you go, or at least break even.
The company knows the people will most likely visit more often (loyalty)- because of the pass, and spend while there. Win-Win for both.

To think anything else is complete fantasy. Look outside WDW. Zoos, Museums, Aquariums, Amusement parks... it has always been this way, at Disney, and everywhere else. It’s the same with FL resident offerings.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

This is wildly incorrect. An annual pass, anywhere, is offered to save money over paying admission each time you go, or at least break even.
The company knows the people will most likely visit more often (loyalty)- because of the pass, and spend while there. Win-Win for both.

To think anything else is complete fantasy. Look outside WDW. Zoos, Museums, Aquariums, Amusement parks... it has always been this way, at Disney, and everywhere else. It’s the same with FL resident offerings.

That's actually not entirely true. Six Flags, for example, is known to push passes as a loss leader to get you back to the park. They advertise saying how you can get an AP for the cost of a single day ticket. It's meant to get people back to the park to buy merchandise, buy food, etc. - which is where they really make their money. Disney makes more off ticket sales than parks like that do, but there is a definite goal with the AP program to get people back regularly (and, especially now, buy food/gifts/etc.) APs also tend to bring other people, which translates to more tickets and food/merchandise sales.

If they wanted to give savings, they would simply offer savings on extended period day tickets (the equivalent of volume-based pricing).

I'm not saying your analysis is wrong, but neither is Sir's. They are both very important goals of an AP program.

 

[21stamps]

That's actually not entirely true. Six Flags, for example, is known to push passes as a loss leader to get you back to the park. They advertise saying how you can get an AP for the cost of a single day ticket. It's meant to get people back to the park to buy merchandise, buy food, etc. - which is where they really make their money. Disney makes more off ticket sales than parks like that do, but there is a definite goal with the AP program to get people back regularly (and, especially now, buy food/gifts/etc.) APs also tend to bring other people, which translates to more tickets and food/merchandise sales.

If they wanted to give savings, they would simply offer savings on extended period day tickets (the equivalent of volume-based pricing).

I'm not saying your analysis is wrong, but neither is Sir's. They are both very important goals of an AP program.

You’re saying exactly what I just said.. although without acknowledging the mutual benefit.
My family has Cedar Fair platinum passes.. the passes, even in prior years when we just did Gold, save money over paying admission each time we go- Which makes a value for us.
It also means that we visit more often, and spend money each time we’re there- benefit for Cedar Fair.

An AP is designed to be a mutual benefit for consumer and company. Each one gets what they want.

Our museum membership save us money over paying for each visit, and it also gives us discounts on exhibits and certain events.

I don’t know if some of you think that businesses are supposed to be charities, or do everything for the good of their consumer and nothing to grow the revenue of the business.,. But that’s not how things are, it’s not even how things should be. Profit isn’t a dirty word.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

You’re saying exactly what I just said.. although without acknowledging the mutual benefit.
My family has Cedar Fair platinum passes.. the passes, even in prior years when we just did Gold, save money over paying admission each time we go- Which makes a value for us.
It also means that we visit more often, and spend money each time we’re there- benefit for Cedar Fair.

An AP is designed to be a mutual benefit for consumer and company. Each one gets what they want.

Our museum membership save us money over paying for each visit, and it also gives us discounts on exhibits and certain events.

I don’t know if some of you think that businesses are supposed to be charities, or do everything for the good of their consumer and nothing to grow the revenue of the business.,. But that’s not how things are, it’s not even how things should be. Profit isn’t a dirty word.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your original post. It sounded like you were saying the AP program was only designed to give savings to the consumer. I was reading to say Sir was pointing out the main reason was to get a loyal base with a connection (i.e. more frequent chance of going) to the product/offering so they would be there, tell others, spend more, etc.

In short, sounds like we actually are in violent agreement - suffering from the joys of electronic communication.

 

[21stamps]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your original post. It sounded like you were saying the AP program was only designed to give savings to the consumer. I was reading to say Sir was pointing out the main reason was to get a loyal base with a connection (i.e. more frequent chance of going) to the product/offering so they would be there, tell others, spend more, etc.

In short, sounds like we actually are in violent agreement - suffering from the joys of electronic communication.

I’m saying the reason for the consumer to buy an AP is the savings over daily admission prices.

I think we are in agreement on the overall point of benefits to consumer and business.

 

[xdan0920]

Just go ahead and flush this thread down ye olde toilet.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is wildly incorrect. An annual pass, anywhere, is offered to save money over paying admission each time you go, or at least break even.
The company knows the people will most likely visit more often (loyalty)- because of the pass, and spend while there. Win-Win for both.

To think anything else is complete fantasy. Look outside WDW. Zoos, Museums, Aquariums, Amusement parks... it has always been this way, at Disney, and everywhere else. It’s the same with FL resident offerings.

I learned pricing mechanics from a certain theme park operator...

This is why it’s nothing but a fight on these threads...you can disagree - and be wrong - without presenting what you “hope” things would be to suit your opinions. The bullhorn makes no difference.

And even that aside...you are actually agreeing with the point. The AP is to lure people in more...the more they raise the price, the less effective that theory is.

So I just caught my own tail...it happens.

This has been wildly a waste of time.

 

[John park hopper]

Just go ahead and flush this thread down ye olde toilet.

33 pages------ it's time to get the plunger

 

[21stamps]

The AP is to lure people in more...the more they raise the price, the less effective that theory is.

Are the price of daily tickets being raised as well? Has the value of the AP (in relation to daily tickets, hotel discounts, memory maker) gone down, or remained the same?

I’m curious to know this from someone who decided to either renew or not renew

p.s. You have such strange views on consumers. As if they just spend money without actually looking at what that money gets them. Try to understand what “mutual benefit” is. It will really change your outlook in all of these threads.

 

[Trackmaster]

Just what is "pound the app"? Because my mind says that's just trying over and over again to catch something that pops up, but how on earth would that be a "loophole"?

That's a good question. Its a loophole in the sense that it pretty much always works. 10 minutes of pounding will save you 1-2 hours of line time. You just have to do at the right time (evening before or morning of park day). I think its a bit of a problem in the sense that it puts FP+ in the hands of experienced Disney people and just clogs up the lines when otherwise FP+ might get drained and stand-by would actually move, but the reservations that cancel just go to pounders. Plus it puts strains on the servers.

 

[VaderTron]

Rumors are circling that Disney will not only raise prices again in February, but also reduce FL Resident AP's in some way. Any fence-sitters see this as a last straw for them if it happens?

 

[John park hopper]

Not a Florida resident so the FL AP has no effect on me but price increases in Feb don't surprise me it's a given with Disney. 2021 will probably be the last trip we make the only Disney magic is how fast they they can make my money disappear

 

[Chi84]

Rumors are circling that Disney will not only raise prices again in February, but also reduce FL Resident AP's in some way. Any fence-sitters see this as a last straw for them if it happens?

Maybe wait to see if it actually happens before getting upset about it?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Rumors are circling that Disney will not only raise prices again in February, but also reduce FL Resident AP's in some way. Any fence-sitters see this as a last straw for them if it happens?

I've been nervous about losing the FL Weekday Select pass for years now. If that goes away, I'm back to something like the "Play 4 day" pass or whatever it's called.

The price has at least doubled (I think) since we first started getting them, but they're still pretty cheap. I don't ever want to go on weekends, anyway.

If it turns out we get more info on this rumor by, say, January, then I may break down and buy our last two WS passes. I had not intended to do that anytime soon, wanted to do a cruise first. The thing is, when we buy an AP, we spend every spare moment going to WDW, which #1 gets expensive, #2 keeps us from experiencing anything else. So I'd really rather wait.

Keeping an eye on this!