Rumor - Disneyland Prices Going up and Tiered Pricing Introduced

[mharrington]

I have two questions:

First, do you now have to plan the trip WAY out in advance? Say, about six months at least? And second, what happens if you were to get, say, a two-day ticket that covered, say, a value day and a regular day?

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

I have two questions:

First, do you now have to plan the trip WAY out in advance? Say, about six months at least? And second, what happens if you were to get, say, a two-day ticket that covered, say, a value day and a regular day?

Multiday tickets are not affected.

 

[mharrington]

Multiday tickets are not affected.

How so? I'm confused.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

How so? I'm confused.

Tiered pricing only affects 1 day tickets. Multiday tickets have one price point and are valid on all days.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Did the multi-day tickets go up in price? Just curious and I'm too lazy to look it up.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Did the multi-day tickets go up in price? Just curious and I'm too lazy to look it up.

Yes.

 

[Stevek]

How many AP's even go to the parks more than twice a month average? I really have no clue.

All of the bloggers...and that would be every day. At our peak, probably around 2004-06, we went 2x a month or more. My daughters have friends that are there pretty much every weekend...and I think there are quite a few people that make weekly visits.

 

[Curious Constance]

Did the multi-day tickets go up in price? Just curious and I'm too lazy to look it up.

I think it's about $10 for 2 day tickets and 3-5 day tickets increased about $20.

 

[mharrington]

I take that to mean that 3+-day tickets are at "peak" price all around then?

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I think it's about $10 for 2 day tickets and 3-5 day tickets increased about $20.

So then they are unaffected by the dynamic pricing, but they did increase. Again. Nice.

 

[Stevek]

So then they are unaffected by the dynamic pricing, but they did increase. Again. Nice.

But they left AP's the same price for now...which still makes them the best deal for most folks locally that plan on going X days (whatever makes it payout). I wonder if this price increase will have any effect on increasing the AP population? Probably not since the biggest impact will likely be felt by regular day guests.

 

[mickEblu]

I have no idea of the actual numbers, but there is probably a fairly large group of people who go once a week or more. I don't know how they find the time. Weekly visits sound like it would be fun at first, but I think after awhile it'd be good to have a break. If I lived in SoCal, I can see myself visiting often at first maybe once a week or two, then scaling back to maybe once every month or two. To be honest though, I don't think I'd ever want to live close enough to go weekly. I think it would lose a lot of it's specialness if I could run over any time I want. I like the idea of it being a destination. A trip we get to go to for fun once a year or two.

I hear you. I'll be honest, I am a little envious of those who live so close to the parks that they don't have to battle traffic and are able to visit spontaneously. However, I do think it helps keep the visits as something special and something to look forward to. Not quite how special they were when I would vist 1-2 times per year a kid but still.

This brings up an interesting point for me. The reason I love Disneyland so much is because it was such a special trip when I was a kid. Something to look forward to. I went with family or friends 1-2 times a year, tops. Some years I didn't go at all. Now as a passholder with a 3 month old son, I'm left thinking if my kid grows up going to Disneyland once a month (or more) he ll never appreciate it nearly as much as I do. I've reas some AP parents on these boards or Micechat say that by the time their kids were around 10 or so they started viewing going to Disneyland almost as punishment.

Something I could probably never relate to.

 

[mickEblu]

But they left AP's the same price for now...which still makes them the best deal for most folks locally that plan on going X days (whatever makes it payout). I wonder if this price increase will have any effect on increasing the AP population? Probably not since the biggest impact will likely be felt by regular day guests.

But this how they got me to become an AP. I went to the park with my wife for a day ( after years of not going )and saw the signs all over the place saying how you could upgrade your day ticket to an AP. I did the math between the 1 day park hoppers and the Southern California passes at the time and it was a no brainier to upgrade. The more expensive the day tickets get the more people , locals especially, will consider APs. Unless of course Disney starts actually pricing the annual passes at point that is really intended for crowd control.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

But they left AP's the same price for now...

But didn't they just restructure and raise prices on APs in October? This latest restructuring seems to be a sort of "phase 2" in a slow march toward driving the best experiences to the customers willing to shell out the most money.

 

[Stevek]

But this how they got me to become an AP. I went to the park with my wife for a day ( after years of not going )and saw the signs all over the place saying how you could upgrade your day ticket to an AP. I did the math between the 1 day park hoppers and the Southern California passes at the time and it was a no brainier to upgrade. The more expensive the day tickets get the more people , locals especially, will consider APs. Unless of course Disney starts actually pricing the annual passes at point that is really intended for crowd control.

Same as us. The time period we had our AP's, our girls were younger, I worked a mile north of Disneyland and we didn't have the time commitments from other things pulling us so going there was easy and we easily made it payout. We used to say that if we went 3 times, it would payout. Now it would take quite a few more trips with the higher prices and we don't have the time or the desire to visit as often, especially with the crowd levels. Bottom line is that we just don't see the same value that we did just handful of years ago.

 

[Stevek]

But didn't they just restructure and raise prices on APs in October? This latest restructuring seems to be a sort of "phase 2" in a slow march toward driving the best experiences to the customers willing to shell out the most money.

Yep, they did but I wouldn't have been surprised if they made another increase with the intro of seasonal pricing. They were smart not to. I wonder what phase 3 will be? Will they ever get rid of or perhaps make it more expensive to do monthly payments versus a full upfront? I doubt it.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

This brings up an interesting point for me. The reason I love Disneyland so much is because it was such a special trip when I was a kid. Something to look forward to. I went with family or friends 1-2 times a year, tops. Some years I didn't go at all.

Yes. Yeeeesss! YAAAAASSSS! You are so spot on with this comment.

I firmly believe that the dumbing down of the DL experience began with the uncontrolled AP program. APs have had a negative impact on the park in almost every way possible - from merchandise offerings to shows to attractions to operating hours. We are now witnessing Disney doing a bit of reeling in, so to speak, with the implementation of more complex admissions media, extended blackout dates, tiered pricing, etc. to make DL less accessible and to help regulate traffic. They are going to have to do something much more drastic though before SW Land opens or else they are going to have a complete disaster on their hands when it opens in a couple of years.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I wonder what phase 3 will be?

I'm thinking it'll be the removal of payment plans, or fewer AP types, or the implementation of DLR's version of MyMagic+. Or maybe all three.

 

[mickEblu]

All of the bloggers...and that would be every day. At our peak, probably around 2004-06, we went 2x a month or more. My daughters have friends that are there pretty much every weekend...and I think there are quite a few people that make weekly visits.

Thanks for the response. So if you did still have an AP, would you be opposed to Capped visits? I have a PAP myself and I would gladly pay the same price for my AP today with 20 (or 15) capped visits as I would for my current pass if it meant that the parks wouldnt be so crowded everytime I go. So long as the blackout calendars stayed the same. Granted I don't go more than 15 -18 times a year anyway but it is nice having the option.

This would really help with the lack of parking situation too as not many people would want to blow one of their visits on a 2 hour stay at the park.

I think in general folks would just appreciate the parks more. And at the same time Disney still makes their money. I guess the only thing is would people be willing to sacrifice quantity for quality. As subjective as that is its hard to deny that the crowds are starting to get out of control and at a certain point it is going to start having a real negative impact on customer experience and turning folks away. I'm sure they have already but eventually it will start to show in the attendance numbers. One day, I'll be at the park on a Wednesday in February. The line for pirates will be an hour and 15 minutes long. I will have went on 3 rides in 8 hours all while having to navigate myself through holiday type crowds. That's when I'll probably say, Ok, this isn't worth the money anymore.

So Cap the visits Disney! Everyone will renew anyway. Most of us are too addicted to quit. 15 visits to DL per year is still better than zero. And still much better value then buying a one day park hopper, especially with current day crowds.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

I take that to mean that 3+-day tickets are at "peak" price all around then?

There is no peak/regular/value pricing for multiday tickets. They're completely separate and can be used on any day regardless of that day's 1 day ticket categorization. 3-5 day tickets all went up $20.