Universal Raises Ticket Prices

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by Legacy
I agree that the Gardens reopening is going to send the locals (as well as many others) away from the non-Disney parks, but I am looking at the teenage market that really doesn't go to Disney in the first place. The only way Cypress will pull people away from the Hulk, Spiderman and Duelling Dragons (and maybe Mummy) is if they can bring in a ride that beats them... not by a little, but by a whole lot.

Half the kids I went to high school with had annual passes to Uni anyway.

I agree to a point. Price can make some difference, but the park will need quality to survive in such a tough vacation destination. If they can truly balance out both of those we may have a real thrill park contender in Orlando that can also provide beauty and value.

I'm just curious to see what happens myself.

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by Disneynutcase
Okay WDWSpider, you got me intrigued. What's the time table for Cypress Garden's reopening? Wouldn't happen to be by June of 2005, would it?

(12/17/03) The Trust for Public Land is now finalizing a deal with Kent Buescher, owner of the Wild Adventures park in Georgia, to reopen the park as early as March 2004. Kent has promised to bring back the water skiers and Southern Bells that made the park famous, along with the ‘gardens’ themselves. But the key to his plan is to add rides and roller coasters to the park to broaden the park’s appeal to people of all ages and not just the senior crowd who used to attend the park. “There will be roller coasters here. That’s the only way it will work.” If all goes as planned the gardens, a new entrance and shows will be reopen by March and the rides will soon follow. The final hurdle in the plan is that the state has to approve of the spending of $11 million for the conservation easement for the entire 150 acre property to prevent condos and shopping centers from sprouting up. The vote could take place at the next meeting on Jan 27th.

 

[InsideOtherPark]

Why are some parks still the same and the prices raise? Why are there older attractions taken out and replaced with new attractions? Well Inflation. The dollar is not the same as it was say 10 or 20 years ago when some of those rides were first put in. This is just one very small example of the big pie. There various different factors that go into the equation. There are normally promotions going on at every park. There may not be banners everywhere for it. But they are out there.

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by InsideOtherPark
Why are some parks still the same and the prices raise? Why are there older attractions taken out and replaced with new attractions? Well Inflation. The dollar is not the same as it was say 10 or 20 years ago when some of those rides were first put in. This is just one very small example of the big pie. There various different factors that go into the equation. There are normally promotions going on at every park. There may not be banners everywhere for it. But they are out there.

:lol: :lol: Sorry. I wasn't really looking for an answer (rhetorical). I realize expenses increase every year. But if you sell less tickets for more money you may not make more? I say lower costs sell more = more profit. Carowinds dropped prices last year cause no one was buying what they wanted. After six years at my apartments, they actually lowered monthly payments instead of increasing them. It's up to each park to decide what's best, but I know of one park goer who is getting less and less inclined to visit. If that makes no difference so be it. I'm not even saying they will loose customers, but I am certainly less inclined to visit one Universal park every increase, I know I won't visit two.

 

[Disneynutcase]

I think the other problem playing into this--at least for me--is what you get for the money, and, more importantly, why I schlep across country to go to Orlando in the first place.

To me, all Orlando area non-Disney parks are extra. In other words, I go for Walt Disney World.

When I go, I know I'm more than likely going to be there for at least a week, and with Park Hopper Plus passes, I can easily have activities at 6-7 different WDW amusement locales and feel like I'm getting a decent deal for the money. It helps that as the amount of days you purchase for the Park Hopper increases, the $$ amount per day goes sustantially down. For instance, I can do a five day Park Hopper Plus, attending theme parks on five days and water parks for two more days and have the entry cost per day be less than $40.00.

To me, by increasing an already hefty Universal entry price, they are driving my family away. Even if we got a two day pass to see both Universal parks, it's still well over $50.00 a pop per day for parks that in my opinion aren't as quality as Disney's. And the deal they have going on in conjunction with Sea World and Busch Gardens is intriguing, but would require me to either cut down on WDW touring (which isn't going to happen) or have to take another week to hit all the extra parks.

I don't think I'm the only person out there who considers Universal, Sea World, and Busch Gardens secondary attractions to WDW. Most people come to Orlando for Disney, and the Busch and Vivendi/Universal companies need to realize that and make it worth our while to get us to spend a day or two into their parks.

Am I saying that I'm never going to go to Universal even if I have to pay full price? Absolutely not. But the high admission cost does make me question the need to jaunt over another Orlando park.

Maybe after a few more WDW trips (I've only been 3 times over the last 20 years), I'll be more desperate to do something different. But by then, what will Universal admission be? They've already gone up about $10.00 in a little less than 4 years. Granted, 9/11 changed everything--from decreased attendance to a need for higher security.

But I agree with Spidey, lower entry prices (or some easily accessed discount promotion via a fast food joint like BK or a local grocery chain) would get more people in those parks.

Then again, how is Universal Florida's attendance? If it's always packed, then my point is moot.

I know out in So Cal, they are totally banking on our version of the Mummy ride to spike what has been a pretty abysmal last 2 1/2 years. They're already advertizing for the Mummy (opening this summer) on radio ads. And I've read one news story that's stated it will be DCA's ToT competing with Uni Hollywood's Mummy for best new So Cal attraction.

But again, our Universal has discount promotions--at least they have had them for the last several years. My gut instinct says that they will still have some discount available even after the Mummy ride opens.

Why?

Because there's a lot of theme park competition in Southern California and they need to get people back in that park. I know if they charged more than Disney, despite having the cool new ride, people would still tend to stay away.

 

[Michael72688]

Disneynutcase - I understand what you are saying, but arent the prices almos the same for Universal and Disney, they are off by a couple of bucks for a few months untill Disney raises their prices, and believe me they are going to do it soon!

also if they can get Cypress Gardens open with coasters and stuff I would like it to open then, but as is, it should stay closed!

 

[MKCustodial]

I understand your point, Disneynutcase, but you must also consider the International Guests. And while some of them, especially from Canada and the UK, I believe, go exclusively for WDW, the vast majority plans out their vacations so that they're able to hit everything in WDW and at least the Universal Resort. In fact, in the good old days, I'd say all tour groups from Brazil used to spare 5 days for WDW (there was no AK back then, so it was 2 for Mk, 2 for EPCOT Center and 1 for the Studios), 2 for Universal (no IoA), one for Sea World, one for Busch, and include at least 2 Disney water parks, Wet n' Wild, Medieval Times, Rosie O'Grades (sp?) and some days for shopping!
Nowadays, unfortunately, because of 9/11 and the increasingly difficult US travel laws, the number of Brazilians going to WDW and New York has dropped 60% in comparison to 2003 alone, and THAT was already a bad year. The few agencies that still advertise US vacations only have 7 to 10 day packages, and that's when your reasoning comes into play. If WDW now needs at least 6 days for the parks alone, the other resorts are gonna have to think up some serious promos in order to attract tourists.

 

[Disneynutcase]

I think you guys both made my point. As far as 1 day passes go, both WDW and Universal are similarly priced. Problem is, there are only two Universal parks, and four Disney parks--plus two water parks, Disneyquest, etc. that they factor into "Plus" passes.

To take full advantage of the discount deals out there between WDW Park Hopper Plus and the Uni/Sea World/Busch combo, you'd easily need two weeks of non-stop touring.

WDW strives to make itself more of a bargain the more days you stay to play. Universal gives a little discount, but who really needs more than three days at the Uni parks? There's just not that much to do at either park that shouldn't take up more than a day a piece. Needing 3 days would only be necessary if both parks were packed or you toured slow or you wanted to hit some attractions multiple times.

And adding Sea World, Wet 'n' Wild and Busch Gardens into the mix does not make the vacation any less expensive.

Point is, a lot of us aren't Orlando locals. Therefore the lack of deal that Universal is presenting will produce mixed results, particularly for tourists like me who are looking to something non-Disney for a day. I'm hoping Uni's prices bite them in the butt and they eventually lower it or offer some kind of deal to get people--namely me--into the parks.

For now, I'm left to "think about" doing Universal, at present leaning towards doing another day on Disney property or looking into someplace else like Cypress Gardens.

Then again, I'm kind of spoiled by the part of the world I live in. I know I can get into Universal Hollywood for cheap (much, much less than what USF charges) and end up with a kind of USF's greatest hits in attractions like T2, Shrek, BttF, Mummy, Jurassic Park, plus the original back lot tour that has Jaws, Earthquake, and Kongfrontation.

 

[WDWspider]

Disneynutcase you really hit this point home very well.

Let's face it... if WDW was not in Orlando then Universal and SeaWorld would not be at that price level. People (overall) are not traveling to Orlando for Universal, especially not SeaWorld. So those parks need to be attractive as compliments to your vacation. This goes back to my point with Cypress Gardens. If you have five different parks with varying theming and Good coasters, but one of those parks is less themed but $30 cheaper.... well... I don't even need to say it again. Sure, universal may have more advanced rides and lots of easily recognizable characters, but when it comes down to it for most people, WDW is already taking a lot of our cash and the less we need to spend to fill a day elsewhere is a good thing.

I certainly agree that the Busch parks should feel the effects more, but Islands use to be that extra park we would go to... I'm not sure that's the case anymore. Higher costs and lack of updates being the main factor. Universal Studios really has done the most recently to justify an increase out of any of the other parks, but we are losing attractions to get attractions.

 

[Michael72688]

Disneynutcase, Universal's prices arent going anywhere!

 

[the_rich]

i totally agree. last year i went to orlando for 7 nights. 4 were spent in disney parks, another in downtown disney and the other two at the universal parks. this year we are planning the same vacation; except disney parks will get 5 days, downtown disney 1 day and the universal parks one day. there just isn't enough there to justify two days. last year we only stayed till 2 at each universal park. universal does offer a discount though. if you buy 2 days worth of tickes you get five days free. thats good and all but you dont need that many days and they know it. it's just a stupid gimmick to make people think thye are saving money. ohh and one more thing. there is something that disney has that universal can never have. disney just has magic and i can't even explain it. it is just a feeling that you get in disney that you can't get anywhere else.