News Walt Disney World to resume sales of Annual Passes (New sales resume April 20, 2023)

[Sirwalterraleigh]

So Disney raised prices on passes that they’re not selling. That is some pricing chutzpah. And what great storytelling. I’ve loved telling that story today

It’s really a head scratcher…

…And after working in a strategic office for a certain park operator….I had THOUGHT I had seen it all.

 

[Andrew25]

I have to wonder if there is some psychology here. This sounds like Banana Republic's old ploy. They wanted to incentivize buyers, so they started running major sales constantly (30% or 40% off) - while slowly increasing base prices behind the scenes. 100% pure speculation, but I wonder if this is a game to allow them to offer "discounts" in the future while still keeping the bottom line high. Or, if that isn't needed - they get their joyous lower AP numbers. Not sure it will actually work, but companies have done far worse psychological experiments with pricing.

I wonder at what point we may all wake up to realize we're basically part of a supply chain to the higher ups in mega corporations. There is nothing human about this. It's 100% maximizing revenue. Whether you're a laptop, cattle, plastic parts or a "guest".

They see popcorn buckets and spirit jerseys as a supply chain already as an example. I can't blame Disney for not building rides when people visiting the parks are happily spending $30+ on popcorn buckets and $70+ on spirit jerseys for every single new release.

Every time I visit Disney Springs there's a line for Star Wars lightsabers that cost $150+ each.


If a minor recession hits early next year, I fully expect some discounts and a temporary re-release of certain APs.

 

[raymusiccity]

Well it’s hard to increase prices when the travel marke is collapsing…..

I’m sure 1,2,3 fools will be along any minute now to debate that…we should run a pool on who the winner will be?

Well, it's actually very easy to raise prices when the travel market is collapsing. 'You ain't seen nothing yet!' They'll keep squeezing until demand weakens. Those electronic ticket signs can go back down at a flick of a switch.

 

[HauntedPirate]

100% pure speculation, but I wonder if this is a game to allow them to offer "discounts" in the future while still keeping the bottom line high.

Winner winner chicken dinner.

 

[vikescaper]

Unfavorables pass - 1399
Super fans pass - 969
Synergy pass - 749
The family from Seattle pass - 399

And the new name for the entire program is Disney Contingency Pass.

 

[JohnD]

Unfavorables pass - 1399
Super fans pass - 969
Synergy pass - 749
The family from Seattle pass - 399

Actually, the cheapest pass is for FL residents so:
Unfavorables pass - 1399
Super fans pass - 969
Synergy pass - 749
The family from Yeehaw Junction pass - 399

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I have to wonder if there is some psychology here. This sounds like Banana Republic's old ploy. They wanted to incentivize buyers, so they started running major sales constantly (30% or 40% off) - while slowly increasing base prices behind the scenes. 100% pure speculation, but I wonder if this is a game to allow them to offer "discounts" in the future while still keeping the bottom line high. Or, if that isn't needed - they get their joyous lower AP numbers. Not sure it will actually work, but companies have done far worse psychological experiments with pricing.

I wonder at what point we may all wake up to realize we're basically part of a supply chain to the higher ups in mega corporations. There is nothing human about this. It's 100% maximizing revenue. Whether you're a laptop, cattle, plastic parts or a "guest".

They started that in 2009…

There was this crazy guy on another board who used to tirade about it.

…he’s dead now.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

They started that in 2009…

There was this crazy guy on another board who used to tirade about it.

…he’s dead now.

I doubt he was ever "alive"...

Seriously, though... I totally agree. This isn't new. It's just our modern mega corp leadership sees no need to hide it any longer. I think people are raising some valid points. But, there is always exuberance before the crash. Years of effectively free money cause people to have a very different relationship with items and perceived value. (And that's not a dig directly at Disney - rather much more broadly. Though I would argue current Disney is a archetype of the current state of these long-forming problems.)

 

[Demarke]

New pricing for Annual Passes when they resume -

Wow, so when you add the $100 they charge extra for Photopass that’s $1499 for the rough equivalent of the old Platinum Pass (of course, still missing some of the other old perks like early RunDisney registration, etc) but the price is within a few bucks of DOUBLE what a Platinum Pass cost five years ago! Of course, being out of state it’s the only one we can purchase too.

I kept on renewing through a few years of price increases on the theory that (between free parking, free photos, and other perks), I’d only need two 3-4 day trips a year to see a cost benefit. That math just doesn’t hold up anymore even after the renewal discount, I was probably going to let mine expire in August anyway (and just do 1-2 visits a year instead of 3-4 and spend more time exploring other area attractions), but this certainly makes the decision easier!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I doubt he was ever "alive"...

I can assure you he was alive..

But in the middle of the night looking at “how magical is POR?” And “Any news on free dining?!?” questions…he often felt “empty” inside

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Wow, so when you add the $100 they charge extra for Photopass that’s $1499 for the rough equivalent of the old Platinum Pass (of course, still missing some of the other old perks like early RunDisney registration, etc) but the price is within a few bucks of DOUBLE what a Platinum Pass cost five years ago! Of course, being out of state it’s the only one we can purchase too.

I kept on renewing through a few years of price increases on the theory that (between free parking, free photos, and other perks), I’d only need two 3-4 day trips a year to see a cost benefit. That math just doesn’t hold up anymore even after the renewal discount, I was probably going to let mine expire in August anyway (and just do 1-2 visits a year instead of 3-4 and spend more time exploring other area attractions), but this certainly makes the decision easier!

Photo pass is gone…

That ship is halfway to Bermuda.

It’s as dead as the $35 Halloween tickets

 

[monothingie]

Renewed at 2021-22 price today. Renewals are old price until 12/8.

I feel dirty.

 

[BobPar]

It’s really a head scratcher…

…And after working in a strategic office for a certain park operator….I had THOUGHT I had seen it all.

wait until these prices get increased again before they go on sale.... can i get odds on that?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

wait until these prices get increased again before they go on sale.... can i get odds on that?

Well I don’t get the timing at all

They gonna release on 12/8?!! Chaos

No way…
1/2 or 1/9 looks like the soft zone…
But why would they let this crap out now?

This one has got me stumped…

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I can assure you he was alive..

But in the middle of the night looking at “how magical is POR?” And “Any news on free dining?!?” questions…he often felt “empty” inside

Well... At least he was the magic...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Renewed at 2021-22 price today. Renewals are old price until 12/8.

I feel dirty.

…feel like you’ve been rolling in the bulls stall, huh?

 

[DCBaker]

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Dang, so I guess it was true. I don't really understand the hold up.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Dang, so I guess it was true. I don't really understand the hold up.

Maximum prices until 1/2

 

[MrPromey]

As in, the park hopper add-on itself is going to variable pricing, in addition to the variable pricing that already applies to the underlying ticket?

Is the variability going to be based on length-of-ticket, date, or both?

So in the future, based on this and other variable pricing (food can't be too far away, can it?) a one day visit to WDW could cost you between $109 and whatever's in your 401k.