The Disney Parks Value Story Just Got Stronger

[John C. Shepherd]

150 for tickets, i would love that for a game. I take my family of five and cheap seats are in the 2 to 3 bills. Food i hate to even think and anything else makes it outragous.
So i agree Disney in comparison until i pay 2k for tickets, without hotel room and flight it doesnt compare. Dont get me wrong we go to Disney but every 4 to 5 years so that we enjoy it more.

 

[Chef Mickey]

This Pro Sports Game VS Disney Vacation comparison gets trotted out regularly by the faithful. Let me show why they really aren't comparable.

"I know you're hungry honey, but I'm not paying these ridiculous prices. We'll eat when the games over in 3 hours"

"I know you're hungry honey, but I'm not paying these ridiculous prices. We'll eat when we leave.....in 9 days".

Here's why they are comparable. It's entertainment. The game isn't fun if you go and sweat your butt off and starve until it's over and you're back to your regular life. You go to the game, you buy food. You go to Disney, you stay a while.

I'm not saying the amount of money spent is the same, but the entertainment experience is comparable when you do what you're supposed to do while there. All MLB has is the ballpark. When you're in their control, they get you just like Disney does, except it's even more expensive at the game while they have you.

If you can't afford 9 days at Disney, go less. I love the argument that "you're stuck" at Disney. You're right that it's a different thing, but only in terms of dollars spent and time spent. You also only get 3 hours of fun versus Disney's all day fun, so you have to consider the positive angle as well.

 

[Chef Mickey]

150 for tickets, i would love that for a game. I take my family of five and cheap seats are in the 2 to 3 bills. Food i hate to even think and anything else makes it outragous.
So i agree Disney in comparison until i pay 2k for tickets, without hotel room and flight it doesnt compare. Dont get me wrong we go to Disney but every 4 to 5 years so that we enjoy it more.

Don't get so caught up in total dollars. The purpose of this is to show just how much 3 HOURS of entertainment can cost.

You're right that it's only $250 versus thousands at Disney, but it's also only 3 hours versus a week.

All in, my per hour at Disney is far less than my per hour at the baseball game. If I go to an NFL football game, the price doubles.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Or compare the costs to the WDW of a year ago, or two years, or ten. Inflation adjusted of course.

Just be sure to do it for other theme park experiences and basically any major travel destination. I can tell you from personal experience, Hawaii used to be a lot cheaper too.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

It's so nice to read something like this. I always get shocked when I read people constantly complaining about WDW prices..ok I do think the room rates are ridiculous certain times of the year, I'm not too happy that my weeks did not fall during a discount, but oh well..I'm choosing to go and know what I'm going into.

We are very active and always out and about exploring our city, trying new things, taking weekend trips. Disney isn't really out of line with their pricing compared to other entertainment options. (Again, besides certain room prices I admit those are crazy and I'm semi sick about it lol). But even compare them to other family vacations like a cruise, Atlantis, or a Beaches resort- most of the time WDW comes out less, especially when you include airfare.

Well said, I'm tired of people who are against WDW because it is expensive. Many vacations are of equal or greater price, but I guess WDW is just easy to single out because it is so popular. Though, the worst are people who don't like Disney because it is commercialized (I do not joke, that is a legit thing I have been told).

But to your point, if I go to NYC, I expect I'll be spending more than if I stayed local (well, even then, just have to be smart about it and you don't have to spend that much, nice restaurants can get pricey almost anywhere).

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Here's why they are comparable. It's entertainment. The game isn't fun if you go and sweat your butt off and starve until it's over and you're back to your regular life. You go to the game, you buy food. You go to Disney, you stay a while.

I'm not saying the amount of money spent is the same, but the entertainment experience is comparable when you do what you're supposed to do while there. All MLB has is the ballpark. When you're in their control, they get you just like Disney does, except it's even more expensive at the game while they have you.

If you can't afford 9 days at Disney, go less. I love the argument that "you're stuck" at Disney. You're right that it's a different thing, but only in terms of dollars spent and time spent. You also only get 3 hours of fun versus Disney's all day fun, so you have to consider the positive angle as well.

What I 'm saying is sports stadiums and concert venues can charge what they do BECAUSE you are only a captive audience for 3-4 hours. If they wanted you to stay in the stadium for 5+ days, they would not be able to charge those prices.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

Yeah...WDW prices are high...but they should be; it's a vacation spot. Whoever thinks that their prices should be low is out of touch with reality. I've never understood why people get their panties in a wad over the prices that WDW charges.

I was at the Florida Aquarium on Saturday and paid $12 for a turkey burger...just the burger...fries were extra at $4.Bought my daughter a dippin' dots ice cream cup...the smallest they had...that was $5.25.

Disney is still a bargain as far as vacations go.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

What I 'm saying is sports stadiums and concert venues can charge what they do BECAUSE you are only a captive audience for 3-4 hours. If they wanted you to stay in the stadium for 5+ days, they would not be able to charge those prices.

Any place where there is high demand is going to charge higher than normal prices. It's hard enough trying to find a hotel room in Tallahassee during a home FSU game and if you do...it's at least $250/night for a crap room. February though August you can find whatever you want and pay peanuts to stay in a hotel. Same with beach hotels during spring break.

And I don't buy your theory that they have to sell at high prices because they only hold your attention for 3-4 hours...they are a sports stadium that hosts multiple games a year and when they don't have games, they have other shows like concerts, monster truck shows, etc. Look at the Raiders stadium...they have football and baseball going on through out the year. You would think as much action as that place sees, prices would be low...but they're not. When demand is high...you can pretty much charge whatever you want and people will pay it.

 

[Chef Mickey]

What I 'm saying is sports stadiums and concert venues can charge what they do BECAUSE you are only a captive audience for 3-4 hours. If they wanted you to stay in the stadium for 5+ days, they would not be able to charge those prices.

They would if they were Disney.

That's what makes Disney so great. The experience is miles better and still costs less per entertainment hour.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Yeah...WDW prices are high...but they should be; it's a vacation spot. Whoever thinks that their prices should be low is out of touch with reality. I've never understood why people get their panties in a wad over the prices that WDW charges.

I was at the Florida Aquarium on Saturday and paid $12 for a turkey burger...just the burger...fries were extra at $4.Bought my daughter a dippin' dots ice cream cup...the smallest they had...that was $5.25.

Disney is still a bargain as far as vacations go.

You sir have the right attitude.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Any place where there is high demand is going to charge higher than normal prices. It's hard enough trying to find a hotel room in Tallahassee during a home FSU game and if you do...it's at least $250/night for a crap room. February though August you can find whatever you want and pay peanuts to stay in a hotel. Same with beach hotels during spring break.

And I don't buy your theory that they have to sell at high prices because they only hold your attention for 3-4 hours...they are a sports stadium that hosts multiple games a year and when they don't have games, they have other shows like concerts, monster truck shows, etc. Look at the Raiders stadium...they have football and baseball going on through out the year. You would think as much action as that place sees, prices would be low...but they're not. When demand is high...you can pretty much charge whatever you want and people will pay it.

I'm not saying that they HAVE to charge high prices. I'm saying they can without much blowback because the guest is only there for 3-4 hours therefore having the choice of whether to buy food or wait until later. You can't do that with a "Disney Vacation". You Magical Express it from the airport, and you're in for the duration.

 

[21stamps]

Well said, I'm tired of people who are against WDW because it is expensive. Many vacations are of equal or greater price, but I guess WDW is just easy to single out because it is so popular. Though, the worst are people who don't like Disney because it is commercialized (I do not joke, that is a legit thing I have been told).

But to your point, if I go to NYC, I expect I'll be spending more than if I stayed local (well, even then, just have to be smart about it and you don't have to spend that much, nice restaurants can get pricey almost anywhere).

Exactly. I haven't heard the "too commercialized" one yet. That's hilarious. Maybe they don't know the definition of "commercialized".

What I 'm saying is sports stadiums and concert venues can charge what they do BECAUSE you are only a captive audience for 3-4 hours. If they wanted you to stay in the stadium for 5+ days, they would not be able to charge those prices.

That's why I compared it to entertainment/travel in general. Disney offers many price points, and can accommodate many budgets.

Look up the prices for Atlantis or Beaches for a week..you'll have options, more so at Atlantis than Beaches now that they've added more sections. So if you're willing to walk a mile to the pool or good restaurants you can technically get a 'relatively affordable' vacation there as well. But make no mistake, even if you do choose that option, it will be similarly priced to a week at a moderate resort in WDW. With more expensive drinks and food.

Beaches is more than most WDW stays. Unless you are 7 nights in a Poly Theme Park View or Club Level at GF or CR...then it's closer, but still generally higher when the final money spent is added up.

WDW, Atlantis, and Beaches Resorts, are pretty much the 3 most popular "family destinations". So comparing apples to apples WDW is not a bad "deal".

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

I'm not saying that they HAVE to charge high prices. I'm saying they can without much blowback because the guest is only there for 3-4 hours therefore having the choice of whether to buy food or wait until later. You can't do that with a "Disney Vacation". You Magical Express it from the airport, and you're in for the duration.

There's usually more blowback about stadium venues charging outrageous prices...$12 for a beer? How many times have we heard someone complain about that at a game.

People can grocery shop or have food/groceries delivered to their room if they're that concerned about prices. If someone is that concerned...perhaps they should have budgeted better or selected a slightly cheaper vacation destination.

 

[21stamps]

I'm not saying that they HAVE to charge high prices. I'm saying they can without much blowback because the guest is only there for 3-4 hours therefore having the choice of whether to buy food or wait until later. You can't do that with a "Disney Vacation". You Magical Express it from the airport, and you're in for the duration.

They do let you bring in soft sided coolers though. You can also order from garden grocer or go get food on your own to keep in the room. I give them credit for the fact that they allow people to bring their own food and drinks in to the parks, most places do not allow that.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Exactly. I haven't heard the "too commercialized" one yet. That's hilarious. Maybe they don't know the definition of "commercialized".


That's why I compared it to entertainment/travel in general. Disney offers many price points, and can accommodate many budgets.

Look up the prices for Atlantis or Beaches for a week..you'll have options, more so at Atlantis than Beaches now that they've added more sections. So if you're willing to walk a mile to the pool or good restaurants you can technically get a 'relatively affordable' vacation there as well. But make no mistake, even if you do choose that option, it will be similarly priced to a week at a moderate resort in WDW. With more expensive drinks and food.

Beaches is more than most WDW stays. Unless you are 7 nights in a Poly Theme Park View or club level at GF or CR...then it's closer, but still generally higher when the final money spent is added up.

WDW, Atlantis, and Beaches Resorts, are pretty much the 3 most popular "family destinations". So comparing apples to apples WDW is not a bad "deal".

I agree. All I was saying is that comparing a WDW vacation to a pro ballgame, play, or concert really isn't an apples to apples comparison. Comparing it to other destination resorts is more appropriate.

That's not to say that it would be odd to think at a pro ballgame, "$14 for chicken nuggets!?! That's more than WDW!"

And I do, or at least did, think park admission was high, but inline with the value. Now that WDW is in the shape it's in and they spiked the prices, not so much. $97/day for DHS is legit robbery.

 

[threvester]

3 hours at disney would cost way more ._.The price of 2 one day tickets alone are more than the whole day at the ballpark and you cant use the multi day pass argument or i would suggest you look into some season ticket packages to reduce your ballpark ticket price

 

[ParentsOf4]

I'm old enough to remember when bleacher seats at Fenway or Yankee Stadium were no more than a couple of bucks.

You ate hot dogs or peanuts. Period. You drank Coke or beer. Period.

Both parks were dumps. Rust everywhere. Dirty, old wooden seats. Good luck finding a clean working toilet.

Since then, prices have skyrocketed but at least you now can find a clean toilet (most of the time).

The players are paid a heck of a lot more.

The food variety is infinity better.

Seats are replaced, rusted surfaces are scrubbed and repainted. Entire stadiums get torn down and replaced with new facilities.

The point?

Going to a baseball park today is a far superior experience to what it was in the 60s and 70s. The owners have pumped more and more money into the fan experience. I see the money I'm spending on tickets being pumped back into the players and the stadium.

BASEBALL PARKS HAVE IMPROVED!

WDW has gone the opposite way. We're paying considerably more for a declining experience.

I'd take the 1970s and 1980s version of WDW in a heartbeat over what it's become. Heck I'd take the 2000 version of WDW (and its prices) over what it has become today.

It's that simple.

 

[3WaltFans]

This Pro Sports Game VS Disney Vacation comparison gets trotted out regularly by the faithful. Let me show why they really aren't comparable.

"I know you're hungry honey, but I'm not paying these ridiculous prices. We'll eat when the games over in 3 hours"

"I know you're hungry honey, but I'm not paying these ridiculous prices. We'll eat when we leave.....in 9 days".

The troll has arrived. I hate Disney, so i will try and make everyone else hate it too!

 

[Disneyhead'71]

The troll has arrived. I hate Disney, so i will try and make everyone else hate it too!

And I brought friends.

 

[21stamps]

3 hours at disney would cost way more ._.The price of 2 one day tickets alone are more than the whole day at the ballpark and you cant use the multi day pass argument or i would suggest you look into some season ticket packages to reduce your ballpark ticket price

Ok so let's compare theme park to theme park. 1 day-

My local Cedar Fair park is $65 admission + $83 Fast Pass + $20 Parking = $168.00

Magic Kingdom $105 admission + $0 for Fast Pass + $20 Parking = $125.00

______

Oh you have to stay onsite so want to figure that cost in? Ok, let's do that.

1 night Great Wolf Lodge to be next to the Cedar Fair park- $249.99 (for a standard room, not themed) + $65 park admission + $83 FP + $20 Parking = $417.99 + $148 for second ticket = $565.99 (I did not even add in the resort fee, the total would be more)

1 Night, Port Orleans WDW- $190.00+ $105 ticket - $20 parking = $294.00 + $105 for 2nd ticket = $399.00

Disney has high prices. So does everyone else.