Interesting questions in a survey

[tazhughes]

I just took a survey about my trip planning for my upcoming stay and there were some interesting questions that I thought I'd share.
1. I was asked about whether my planning would have been affected by different ticket prices based on the season (value, regular, peak). They had proposed prices based on each season and gave 2 options the first offered a 3% savings in value season and a 28% bump for peak season. The next option offered a 14% savings for value and a 14% bump for peak.
2. I was asked about whether a pay as you hop would have changed my planning. They had 2 proposed prices for that as well $15 per hop or $12 per hop.
3. They asked about increased prices for the hop option. Again they had 2 price options $65 per ticket or $60 per ticket.

Just thought everyone would like to know the pricing considerations that the WDC is considering. I answered that I was very opposed to the pay as you hop option and any increase in the hopping prices, as far as seasonal pricing options that would not bother me.

 

[HDS]

Great, their getting ready to jack up the prices again. It's already expensive.

 

[Master Yoda]

I just took a survey about my trip planning for my upcoming stay and there were some interesting questions that I thought I'd share.
1. I was asked about whether my planning would have been affected by different ticket prices based on the season (value, regular, peak). They had proposed prices based on each season and gave 2 options the first offered a 3% savings in value season and a 28% bump for peak season. The next option offered a 14% savings for value and a 14% bump for peak.
2. I was asked about whether a pay as you hop would have changed my planning. They had 2 proposed prices for that as well $15 per hop or $12 per hop.
3. They asked about increased prices for the hop option. Again they had 2 price options $65 per ticket or $60 per ticket.

Just thought everyone would like to know the pricing considerations that the WDC is considering. I answered that I was very opposed to the pay as you hop option and any increase in the hopping prices, as far as seasonal pricing options that would not bother me.

It might. Disney is not know for dropping prices. If they were to implement some sort of seasonal pricing I'll wager that it would be a price increase during peak season vs a price drop in value season. Either way I don't really see Disney doing this simply because it would really make the ticketing system unnecessarily complex. At most I could see them instituting a seasonal pricing structure for day of tickets.

 

[Andrew54]

I would not be very happy about pay as you hop. I know we bounced between parks very often for ADR's last trip.

 

[tazhughes]

It might. Disney is not know for dropping prices. If they were to implement some sort of seasonal pricing I'll wager that it would be a price increase during peak season vs a price drop in value season. Either way I don't really see Disney doing this simply because it would really make the ticketing system complex. At most I could see them instituting a seasonal pricing structure for day of tickets.

No it really will not, I never travel during peak season so the increase will not bother me. I was a little suprised that my trip Jan. 10-15 was considered regular season, in years past that was value season.

 

[tazhughes]

I would not be very happy about pay as you hop. I know we bounced between parks very often for ADR's last trip.

I agree that question really bothered me, we hop every day and when we stay at BW or BC we will cut through Epcot to walk to the monorail rather than taking busses.

 

[sshindel]

I'd imagine that if they were to ever put in a Pay As You Hop option, they would also give the option of just purchasing an "Unlimited Hop" option, which is what the current hopper options are. Now, if they are more expensive than the current hoppers, who knows. I know that if I could buy a base ticket and decide "to hop or not to hop" on the fly, I'd probably go that route, as we tend not to hop, but the option would be nice without having to add it special at the Guest Relations desk or something. If I could just get charged to the room if I swipe at a different park, I'd be more apt to go that route.

I do think that they would need to keep an "unlimited" option in there.

 

[Master Yoda]

I would not be very happy about pay as you hop. I know we bounced between parks very often for ADR's last trip.

I agree that question really bothered me, we hop every day and when we stay at BW or BC we will cut through Epcot to walk to the monorail rather than taking busses.

This might simply be another option added to MYW tickets. Right now you pay $57 for par hopping regardless of whether you use it once per trip or three times a day. An $X one time park hop option might be a nice option for those needing to hop only once or twice during a tip. I am guessing that Disney thinks there might be some lost revenue with those guests that are put off by the $57 price tag and simply do not hop because of it.

 

[Phonedave]

I'd imagine that if they were to ever put in a Pay As You Hop option, they would also give the option of just purchasing an "Unlimited Hop" option, which is what the current hopper options are. Now, if they are more expensive than the current hoppers, who knows. I know that if I could buy a base ticket and decide "to hop or not to hop" on the fly, I'd probably go that route, as we tend not to hop, but the option would be nice without having to add it special at the Guest Relations desk or something. If I could just get charged to the room if I swipe at a different park, I'd be more apt to go that route.

I do think that they would need to keep an "unlimited" option in there.

While I too am leery of Disney being altruistic, the above would be a good option.

You could get a 5 day base ticket, and if for some reason there was on day your family wanted to hop during those 5 days (who knows why - maybe it was an Animal Kingdom in the AM type day) they could pay $12 to hop once.

It may help attendance at AK for all I know. I know many perceive AK as a 1/2 day park. No matter how you think of it, it does close early. For a family trying to maximize their vacation value, they may not want to buy hoppers because they figure they can just go to one park all day long. But then they look at AK and think, well we just wont go there. But if they had the option to a la carte hop, then they may choose to do so.

-dave

 

[Atomicmickey]

I think "Pay as you Hop" is a great idea. For example--next trip we will only be there four days, and we don't have hoppers--there's no way we're going to hop each day, but we might want to, once. One of those days is Animal Kingdom. After that, we've got dinner. What if we wanted to pop over to the MK for the fireworks after dinner? I'd pay the 12 bucks or something reasonable like that to hop over in a case like that.

 

[DisneyExplorer]

No it really will not, I never travel during peak season so the increase will not bother me. I was a little suprised that my trip Jan. 10-15 was considered regular season, in years past that was value season.

Really? I'll be at the parks from the 11th to 14th and I'm pretty sure our hotel rooms were charged the value season price.

 

[tazhughes]

Really? I'll be at the parks from the 11th to 14th and I'm pretty sure our hotel rooms were charged the value season price.

Yup in the survey, value season began January 16th. I was shocked.

 

[tirian]

A MYW seasonal ticket structure is ridiculous. Guests already pay more for hotel rooms and dining during those times, and "peak" season is when the parks are most crowded, meaning that very little can actually be done in a day. Disney would be charging more simply to stand in queues and bustling walkways. Charging less for "value" season is a terrible idea, because guests would take advantage of the ticket prices, yet the resort's operating budget wouldn't be able to match the increased numbers. Go to WDW on an unexpectedly busy day in February or September, and you'll see what I'm saying.

Of course, neither scenario considers how Disney is supposed to control guests who purchase tickets long in advance of actually using them. Maybe they're looking at adjusting the prices at the gate for various seasons, but it would be unbelievably complex for MYW.

Incidentally, Disney is also conducting a survey that asks guests if the merchandise is too expensive.

Why can't they just accept that a guest's spending money doesn't increase at the same rate as ticket and resort price hikes?

 

[tirian]

I've got to admit that "pay as you hop" is a great idea.

 

[Andrew54]

This might simply be another option added to MYW tickets. Right now you pay $57 for par hopping regardless of whether you use it once per trip or three times a day. An $X one time park hop option might be a nice option for those needing to hop only once or twice during a tip. I am guessing that Disney thinks there might be some lost revenue with those guests that are put off by the $57 price tag and simply do not hop because of it.

Now if that was the case, it wouldn't be so bad. Your probably right that Disney is losing out on some income for people who don't want to commit to the $57 price tag. It would be a nice pay as you need feature for those people.

 

[ThatMouse]

I will have to say I hate wasting a day on a no expire park hopper ticket on a person who only goes to one park, and then goes back to the room to take a nap at 2pm.

Another scenario which really limits my ability to go to Disney with friends who have never been or hardly ever go -- a one day ticket for them ends up being $100. That's insane Disney! I mean, you go for one day, you're probably spending part of that day traveling. What a rip off.

I'm glad I can get a season pass.

 

[thehowiet]

A MYW seasonal ticket structure is ridiculous. Guests already pay more for hotel rooms and dining during those times, and "peak" season is when the parks are most crowded, meaning that very little can actually be done in a day. Disney would be charging more simply to stand in queues and bustling walkways.

My guess is that they are thinking that if they increase the ticket price during the peak season that it will decrease the number of guests since some may not be willing to pay such high prices. This would create a more premium experience around Christmas, while allowing Disney to continue to reap the revenue benefits due to the increased ticket price. This is all just speculation on my end.

 

[Foolish1]

On one hand I understand that they think by offering park hoppers they are letting people go to more parks and thus reduce their dependence upon tickets so much, thus lowering their income. But at the same time, given how much time is eaten up by hopping between parks including travel (possibly parking) admission, walking to-from transportation, it seems like you are seeing a noticable amount less anyway. And it has been my experience that the buses are not very convenient, and the boats even less so. So unless you are hopping via monorail between MK & EC, I don't know how they can it's worth $12 or $17 for that.

I guess I can understand a token fee for hopping, though. What's next charging for monorail/boat/bus service? (My first visit to WDW as a child, they actually did charge for hopping on the monorail between MK-EC. I seem to recall $2 for a one way trip per person.)

 

[kapeman]

We are frequent hoppers and have easily done three parks in one day.

As long as the unlimited hopper price stays the same, I think a limited hopper would be a good idea.