Ticket Price Increase?

[Monsterfan99]

Might be my odd little moral opinion, but I think it's flat out wrong that Disney caters to that, and people think like that. Just me.

Makes a whole lot of sense...not that I think about it. D23....

To go with this, there is nothing like the people with the Flash Pass at Six Flags. I know people who get them just to show off. To which I not only hang my head but remember what they spent on one day pays for my season pass. Plus their stupidity keeps the company in business.

The dollar (or whatever money system you use) runs the world. If money can be made off it, it will be done.

 

[Monsterfan99]

I understand your point, but I don't think elitist is the right word. Like I said above, a Disney vacation is an event. For some families it is years of savings and months of planning. It's like showing folks a new car or a new home. Your not proclaiming your elitness, but showing off an accomplishment.

With other vacations, I agree. Disney provides the same or lower prices of a week in New York City or exotic cruise. Plus the whole family gets in on the fun and planning. Most families just want to share the job with their friends and family who did not get to go. It really is an event (my family still talks about breakfast with Winnie the Pooh from 2000.)

But when compared to other theme parks, I disagree. Most people not in rural areas live within 2-3 hours of a decent theme park at a fraction of the cost. My fiancee hears her students during the year talk that way. One kid will talk about going to a local park and another uses the Disney trump card. It happens with adults as well.

I was using the elitist idea to compare Disney to other theme parks, not vacations on a whole, as my original post was replying to.

 

[dizneeboy]

Increases will happen whether we agree on them or not. Disney knows that its a gamble they will win. Disney is many things including a right of passage, nostalgic and a bottom line escape from reality (which sucks for a large portion of the world these days). Until folks stop going (unlikely) just look at it as a given fact.

In regards to credit card vacations, I believe this will become a thing of the past as folks start changing their spending habbits as a result of the recession. Well, at least until we enter more prosperous times again.

My last trip with friends, who aren't necessarily Disney enthusiasts, resulted in comments that at these prices they don't feel the need to come back for awhile, if it all. So, Disney, no matter how good of a deal it is for what you get, is starting to make the general public question. Obviously not enough to make an impact yet, but potentially could at some point. Time will tell.

As much as we don't like increases, or agree with them, this community alone will find a way to go no matter what...its in our blood

 

[DisneyJoe]

...comments that at these prices they don't feel the need to come back for awhile, if it all. So, Disney, no matter how good of a deal it is for what you get, is starting to make the general public question. Obviously not enough to make an impact yet, but potentially could at some point. Time will tell....

I started my family Disney habit in 1997. I've been hearing comments like these from the general public since then - and the price of a 1-day ticket then was $39.75....

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

So...This confirmed? I have to buy tics soon, if it is.

 

[Monsterfan99]

One question I have. When they announce the price increases, do they go up that day or is there a time between the announcement and when they go up?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

One question I have. When they announce the price increases, do they go up that day or is there a time between the announcement and when they go up?

Last year it was announced FOR a certain date.


In the meantime...Confirmation is needed for those planning a trip, like me.:wave:

 

[Pete C]

I guess they feel that if they constantly increase prices every year that people will not mind the small increments. If they skip a few years then unleash a $10 daily price hike people will freak out. Either way, with the unemployment rate and recession where it is they are crazy to increase prices this year...it will look very bad even though it is a normal business practice for them. They should take a year off of price hikes and turn it into a headline for some goodwill.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Either way, with the unemployment rate and recession where it is they are crazy to increase prices this year...it will look very bad even though it is a normal business practice for them.

If you are unemployed right now, or if you are affected by the recession, will Disney not raising ticket prices by $3 per person make you take a vacation?

 

[Pete C]

If you are unemployed right now, or if you are affected by the recession, will Disney not raising ticket prices by $3 per person make you take a vacation?

I could see someone "affected by the recession" still going on vacation. I think most people are affected in some way by the recession. I'm affected by the recession since I have a condo I can't sell and I have to still make payments on it while living somewhere else. Also, companies across the board are not giving raises out like they used to. So basically the world is getting more expensive while employers are not compensating their workers. Since vacations are already under scrutiny, why increase the likelihood of people not being able to afford it?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Since vacations are already under scrutiny, why increase the likelihood of people not being able to afford it?

My point was, in general the tickets only increase by a few dollars each year per person. To a family of 4, that may make a $20-$30 difference. If that makes a family not be able to afford the vacation, then they probably shouldn't be going in the first place. For the majority of the families that visit WDW, that increase won't make them hesitate at all.

 

[JWG]

This topic comes up every July and the same debate happens.

I expect that Disney will raise their prices, however, what is more bothersome to me is how their increases have far exceeded the rate of inflation.

As most of us are taking steps backwards in standard of living for a variety of reasons (job loss, no increase, increases less than the rate of inflation, increased base living costs such as healthcare and other insurance, etc.), Disney continues to price increase well above normal levels.

Essentially, they're slowly pricing groups of people (classes if you want to call it that) out over time. If I continue to earn at the rate of inflation and get increases such that I maintain my standard of living, but do not beat inflation - I will be priced out of Disney at some point.

I don't look at it as this year Disney raised prices and they've impacted their attendance draw because those impacted by the recession can't go. I look at it as, over the long-term, they're pricing entire wage categories out because their pricing is moving faster than those earners are moving.

It means:
1) More people visit less frequently (annual quests to bi-annual, etc.)
2) More people just don't go

I equate it to climatic change vs. seasonal weather effect if you want a comparison.

Even the new park openings don't account for the huge increases in price over time because you can see the trend 1999-Present. There's tons of data, charts and graphs on this out there. I'm sure some may sneak in here.