Price hike coming 10/9

[bmr1591]

And that's why I reluctantly renewed my AP today. $993 of pure magic!

I just upgraded my park hoppers to APs today as well. I was going to wait until we went at the end of October, but figured I better do it before it becomes $300 more expensive for the two of us.

 

[bmr1591]

How much higher can they hike prices before they hit a breaking point? They've been famously expensive for pretty much my whole life but now it's just comical. The average American family can't afford a "typical" WDW trip anymore, and even just one day at the parks is expensive.

My mother wants to go down randomly in Florida for one or two days at the park and invited me to go with her (on my own dime, of course) and I honestly don't even know if it'd be smart financially to go even just for one day. As much as I'd love to finally see the new CBJ, in this economy? Pfft. It's probably cheaper to fly out to Tokyo to do the parks there.

As long as day tickets are as expensive as they are, it’s difficult for them to lower AP prices much at all. Heck, based on the price of a day ticket, it’s almost financially unwise not to get a Pass if you’re in Florida and are going for a week

 

[Goofyernmost]

Is it just me or does it seem like Disney is on a quest to eliminate anyone from going to the parks? Maybe the higher ups feel that the parks are much easier to deal with if no one is there.

 

[John park hopper]

IMO Disney ultimate goal is to create an exclusive DVC park --cut out the average family and cater to those with money---middle class be d__ned

 

[bmr1591]

People keep paying. People keep complaining the parks are packed.

Personally, park tickets aren’t the issue to me. Hotel prices need a huge retrace if they want to fill rooms more effectively. The problem is DVC has made that near impossible because they can’t devalue the behemoth they’ve created.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I’m sure they’re going to raise prices again soon and it will have the desired effect. This isn’t the same economy as in 2019. Everything is more expensive. Your average middle class American won’t be able to afford taking the family to WDW, if they even can afford it now.

 

[aladdin2007]

IMO Disney ultimate goal is to create an exclusive DVC park --cut out the average family and cater to those with money---middle class be d__ned

and disneyplus subscribers

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Just out of curiosity, how are people currently affording Disney world vacations? I’m assuming the vast majority either live locally in Florida, or make combined incomes over 100k -150k.

For families making less than 100k how are y’all doing it? I haven’t been able to go on a vacation in 2 years because I just can’t afford life anymore.

I don’t eat their overpriced food and don’t stay in their overpriced hotels we buy park tickets and use a very well appointed offsite hotel and eat after our day and maybe buy snacks made of so much more affordable.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I don’t eat their overpriced food and don’t stay in their overpriced hotels we buy park tickets and use a very well appointed offsite hotel and eat after our day and maybe buy snacks made of so much more affordable.

I have always done that including the very first trip in 1983. I made the mistake of staying onsite only once and it was the most expensive trip to WDW I ever took. I hated every minute of it. We and I always ate breakfast before going to the parks in one of the million places on 192. Have a quick service lunch and a few snacks in the park and around 4:30pm we'd leave and have a slight rest at the hotel, change clothes if needed. Go out again to one of the million restaurants on 192 and head back to either the original park we went to in the morning or since I always bought parkhoppers, go to a different one until closing. None of us were much into souvenirs especially at those prices and if we wanted a Disney trip souvenir we'd go to the gift shops (still on 192) and buy them. I can't tell you how many T's I bought for around $7 each instead of the $25 ones onsite. Here's a little secret. The T's were with an approved Disney label, quite current and lasted longer than anyone I ever bought onsite. There were ways until they went crazy with prices to just get into the parks which have caused the whole thing to be hard to afford, especially with a family.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

How much higher can they hike prices before they hit a breaking point?

I think we've now hit that point

Not when it comes to park attendance, there's still strong demand there (even if its below 2020 levels)

What has died to a larger extent is the WDW bubble vacation. Staying on site, DDP, Magical Express, the total all-in Disney trip has fallen apart because of short term thinking and the local market expanding options for lodging and entertainment.

We know occupancy and restaurant bookings are down. I imagine merch sales have been impacted too as people look to cut back on spending in other areas to be able to afford Disney tickets and Genie+

 

[Animaniac93-98]

They've really screwed themselves over with dining.

Before the high menu prices were used to justify the value of the dining plan, which people bought or got for "free"

Now prices are higher than ever and nobody is paying with credits or getting that free lunch.

No wonder people are skipping so many table service places.

Unless it's something really special and unique to WDW, why bother?

 

[MisterPenguin]

I just bring a dozen or so peanutbutter sandwiches into the parks.

 

[JoeCamel]

I just bring a dozen or so peanutbutter sandwiches into the parks.

Donny does not like you

 

[gerarar]

One thing that I've noticed is that the option of a churro without chocolate sauce has been removed.

Usually if you request no chocolate sauce, the price would be cheaper. Eg. $6.00 with it vs. $5.50 without it.
Now when I request no sauce, the price is the same. I still don't want the sauce regardless.

I asked a CM about it and they said it was removed from their system recently. It was definitely there end of August - beginning of September when I was last here for a short trip.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

For me - my complaint is value. Not cost.

Raise the price of a dole whip? I don’t like it but sure, prices go up.

Raise the price of a dole whip AND make portions smaller and remove the umbrella and cherry? Now I’m getting less value AND paying a higher price and I feel taken advantage of.

That example expands to so many decisions at the Parks and Resorts.

 

[CJR]

For me - my complaint is value. Not cost.

Raise the price of a dole whip? I don’t like it but sure, prices go up.

Raise the price of a dole whip AND make portions smaller and remove the umbrella and cherry? Now I’m getting less value AND paying a higher price and I feel taken advantage of.

That example expands to so many decisions at the Parks and Resorts.

Bingo! Disney is becoming more like their competition more than their competition is becoming like Disney. It's taking away "The Disney Difference".

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

IMO Disney ultimate goal is to create an exclusive DVC park --cut out the average family and cater to those with money---middle class be d__ned

This is honestly just stupid. You think the yearly average attendance is such that it can be supported by just DVC members?

 

[SoFloMagic]

I think we've now hit that point

Not when it comes to park attendance, there's still strong demand there (even if its below 2020 levels)

What has died to a larger extent is the WDW bubble vacation. Staying on site, DDP, Magical Express, the total all-in Disney trip has fallen apart because of short term thinking and the local market expanding options for lodging and entertainment.

We know occupancy and restaurant bookings are down. I imagine merch sales have been impacted too as people look to cut back on spending in other areas to be able to afford Disney tickets and Genie+

I think the passes are still a good value when compared with tickets. Especially for locals.

Agree 100% that the add ons make it painful. Genie in itself is good value compared to universal offerings, but it's all a lot. I miss the glory days of booking 15 fastpasses for pooh when it was down and getting anytime fastpasses for every ride in the park.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I have always done that including the very first trip in 1983. I made the mistake of staying onsite only once and it was the most expensive trip to WDW I ever took. I hated every minute of it. We and I always ate breakfast before going to the parks in one of the million places on 192. Have a quick service lunch and a few snacks in the park and around 4:30pm we'd leave and have a slight rest at the hotel, change clothes if needed. Go out again to one of the million restaurants on 192 and head back to either the original park we went to in the morning or since I always bought parkhoppers, go to a different one until closing. None of us were much into souvenirs especially at those prices and if we wanted a Disney trip souvenir we'd go to the gift shops (still on 192) and buy them. I can't tell you how many T's I bought for around $7 each instead of the $25 ones onsite. Here's a little secret. The T's were with an approved Disney label, quite current and lasted longer than anyone I ever bought onsite. There were ways until they went crazy with prices to just get into the parks which have caused the whole thing to be hard to afford, especially with a family.

Word. I feel like some people who give the opposite take on her don’t actually have kids or support their family. For instance family of four on December 1st for Mickeys very merry Christmas party is almost $700. That is insane.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

For me - my complaint is value. Not cost.

Raise the price of a dole whip? I don’t like it but sure, prices go up.

Raise the price of a dole whip AND make portions smaller and remove the umbrella and cherry? Now I’m getting less value AND paying a higher price and I feel taken advantage of.

That example expands to so many decisions at the Parks and Resorts.

I’m not sure if this was a joke or not but when did the dole whip come with a cherry an an umbrella?