I became a theme park passholder this year for the first time in my life -- for the Busch/SeaWorld parks. I've been going to Disney parks and staying at Disney resorts for decades, and have visited every Disney park in the world, so never in a million years would I have imagined that I'd become a passholder for another company before I ever had an annual pass for Disney... but it happened.
I feel compelled to reply with great elaboration to your post. It really is the truth and something I have been saying for a while. As a DVC member I am using my membership to visit BGT/SWF/AQU/DC on a very regular basis. When you can purchase a pass good for all their properties in the country for two years at less than the price of a one year one coast AP to WDW it is the way to go. Especially when one of the parks in that company are not just Disney level but above it from guest services, to scenery, entertainment, and keeping the park FRESH!
With the cost of WDW annual passes continuing to rise even as the parks stagnate, the relative value-for-cost of a WDW pass has only continued a long but steady decline.
Although Busch/SeaWorld recently raised the price of their two-year platinum pass from $440 to $500 (if purchased at SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay -- it's substantially less expensive if purchased at one of their other parks), in retrospect that's still a bargain considering what you get: for $250 a year, you can visit any of ten theme parks or water parks in the country, plus have free preferred parking (at SWO, this is literally the first couple of rows away from the entrance), preferred seating at shows, free guest passes, roller coaster re-ride privileges, discounts on food and purchases, etc.
I will not be renewing my Disney AP after it expires next year. I will be moving those funds to Universal to purchase an AP at their park.
As a protip for purchasing Platinum Passes with SEA you can purchase on any park's website. The Florida parks have the highest price for the same pass purchased in Va or Ca. Another tip for purchasing with SEA is join the EZPay plan which will lock you onto that rate as long as you keep making the monthly payment. We have had our's on EXPay for Platinum for years, not going to say how many and we pay the rate that passes were when we initially purchased them. VERY VERY large nod to their costumer's and taking care of those loyal to their product(s). A huge lesson there to be learned for elsewhere. Certain SEA parks offer ERT on various coasters during certain times of the year. BGT has a coaster night for passmembers where free Coke products are offered and you can ride all the coasters you want with a fraction of typical lines. To top it off, when an SEA park has a hard ticket event the passholder is typically offered no less than 50% off with some 75% off.
Not that long ago, I would have gladly paid 10 times as much to visit a WDW park as I would have to visit SWO or even Busch Gardens Williamsburg, with their relatively limited number of quality offerings -- but things have changed dramatically. I look at all the amazing holiday stuff that many of the Busch/SeaWorld parks include now as part of the price of admission, like Halloween at BGW or SWO's Christmas celebration (the main reason I'm visiting Orlando for the second time in less than three months), and it's clear that these parks have pulled neck-and-neck -- and even surpassed WDW -- in many of the ways that are important to me, and to my wallet.
Busch Williamsburg has not been voted World's Most Beautiful Park for 22 years consecutively for no reason. It is wildly successful while having major coaster in a very classy natural setting. I attended ChristmasTown at BGW this past Sunday (with plans to attend this weekend again) and was blown away. For the event's debut to be 2009 and to have come as far as it has is nothing less than mind blowing. The quality of the lights, scenery, offering, holiday menus, shows, and unique exhibits for the event is outstanding; all without littering characters to every square inch possible. Attending CT here before going to Disney's Xmas really will spoil WDW when I get there. There is no way WDW can hold a candle to what is offered at Williamsburg this year. Keep in mind that the general public admission for CT in WBurg is $27. THAT is the definition of a value!
Tampa's staff has been working hand in hand with Williamsburg to recreate the wild success at that park for Tampa. They have the lessons learned already from their sister park to prevent certain growing pains that most special events feel during year one. The changes and plusses for SWF's holiday offerings this year are very much large steps forward in quality to parallel what is being seen with upcoming exhibits/attractions there. No corners are left unturned and decorations fill every corner with no dead zones in it. They are also not afraid of saying Merry Christmas.
Just a couple shots.
This area was stripped entirely of its regular season theme and made to mid 20th century Americana Christmas.
That's not to say I no longer have any interest in Disney parks... I loved Cars Land and the new DCA when I visited this fall, and I'm eagerly anticipating a return visit to HKDL and TDR next year. When the new Ratatouille attraction opens at DSP or when SDL premieres in a few years, I'll be there. But I probably won't be back at WDW for a long time after this trip... even if I'm in town visiting a bunch of penguins just down the road.
I do not feel like liking another park to a great extent will detract from someone's views on another. Hey, I live within spitting distance of BGW and do visit WDW on a regular basis (although like I said that is more than likely going to change). Values and outstanding products are certainly being found elsewhere and for a very good reason. WDW has fallen behind the curve in a very extreme manner than needs addressing.
It is just odd that SEA, UNI, and West Coast DIS parks are all pumping money into their parks and guests are loving it. In the meantime we hear of nothing but cutting costs all over Orlando. There is the end of my extreme example of one place not cutting costs and being successful vs TDO style. Had to make a statement to the tie the topic in properly.
