Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/06/disney-parks-ticketing-update/" target="_blank">http://disneyparks.disney.go.c...-update/</a> Not a fan of this at all. Nothing of substance to call for this increase. Just greed and making the shareholders/wall street happy. Pleased to say that I jumped in the car and got my tics today for my trip next week. No way am I paying any more than I have to.
Originally Posted By HMButler79 It will all go to Her Majesty's Megara Grand Plan of Timesharedom anyway
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: I'd say it's the fault of a public who's willing to pay for such increases. Let people stop going to the parks. Let this be the message we send to those in charge. Then maybe prices will come down. But attendance has been rather good despite the bad economy so the greedy people at the top keep pushing the envelope. Eventually something with break and Disney will have to turn things around. Until then...
Originally Posted By leobloom Witches, I had the same thought today when I was walking around MK, cursing myself for stupidly visiting for a day in June. As long as this many people continue to pay, Disney will continue jacking up the prices. But Explorer, you missed the most wonderful part of the ticket-increase story. From the Sentinel: >> A Disney spokesman defended the price increases, which come as the resort continues trying to wean travelers off the steep discounts it used to keep its parks full during the recession. Disney last raised ticket prices in August 2010, when for the first time it boosted the price of a base ticket above $80. "Our research tells us that nearly all of our guests agree that a Disney theme-park experience is a strong value," spokesman Bryan Malenius said. << They make it sound like guests feel guilty for not paying more! As if they're doing the guests a favor by raising prices! Unreal. Needless to say, I don't think the price increase is justified.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<"Our research tells us that nearly all of our guests agree that a Disney theme-park experience is a strong value," spokesman Bryan Malenius said. << <<They make it sound like guests feel guilty for not paying more! As if they're doing the guests a favor by raising prices! Unreal.>>> Now, Leo, sit down a spell and calm yourself. You'll notice that our pal Bryan (where did they dig this dude up from?) did NOT say a 'WDW theme park experience is a strong value' ... he said a Disney experience, and I believe in Anaheim, Hong Kong, Paris and Tokyo that he is absolutely correct. Oh, and his arse is going to get spanked at TDO if someone there reads this post or just notices the comment on their own and thinks about it!
Originally Posted By leobloom ^When you put it that way, I wholly agree with his statement! Unfortunately, I doubt most newspaper readers will get the joke.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Greed, greed, more greed, and playing on the psyche of guests. Typical Disney.
Originally Posted By leobloom How surprising that you can't comment on the Disney Parks Blog announcement about ticket prices. "Control the medium, control the message" should be the motto of Disney social media.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I'd say it's the fault of a public who's willing to pay for such increases.<< Correct, as long as they continue to come the prices will continue to rise.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice Declining by degrees but not by ticket prices! You know what's a great value? An annual pass for Universal Orlando. At around $220, it's practically stealing!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I have commented on the DL thread and will here. It is not a surprise at all. We need to appreciate costs have been going up. The official inflation rate in the UK is 4.5% but in real terms to a family like mine it is running like 9%. They have been investing in things like the refurb of Star Tours and the Fantasyland expansion. Not my favorite use, but cost all the same. If the entertainment, maintenance and additions continue to be like they were 10+ years ago, then I welcome this. It means the parks will be worth the time and money, and maybe a little quieter. For the locals that go regularly, there will still be bargains to be had. And compared to a quality cruise, Hawaii, a trip abroad, DL and WDW are still largely great value. However, and this is a big but, it becomes a very big marketing tool. Currently in the UK they are offering a 14 day hopper for the price of 7, sounds like an even better deal now huh? In Paris they often do a 5 nights for the price of 3, or kids go free, still an incentive. I think this is a part too. They said no more bargain deals, and then promptly increased them too. So none of this is a suprise at all, sadly virtually everyone is doing it. For WDW however, for the increase, they better pull their socks up. In DLP, APs are currently about $300 for the Dream (no blackouts, 10% off food, 20% of merchandise, free parking etc.) and a 1 day hopper is about $110. But I would rather pay Disneyland prices and get Disneyland quality than what France offers up in terms of entertainment (rubber heads, that's it, no dapper dans, little to no live music, no fireworks other than 8 weeks a year and New Years Eve, and evening parade only 4 months a year). For bargains though, Merlin passes costs us $145 each (they do family deals if you buy three or more and I think Disney should offer that), and give you access to over 44 attractions including 4 world class theme parks, several aquariums, the dungeons, Warwick Castle, the London Eye and the Madame Tussauds Wax Museums as well as 20% off food and merchandise. And yet the Brit fans have been screaming about the 10% increase despite getting 3 new rides in the parks (2 world firsts), the Blackpool Tower and a new Madame Tussauds this year. Overall, the parks are still not bad value. So long as the quality remains at DL and improves in WDW. I will not pay those prices for film based attractions (I can experience TSMM at home, 3D and all if I want), or toons. I will pay that money for quality attractions. And for perspective, I wanted to take my 4 to see Shrek the Musical in London. I abandoned my idea given it would have cost us $750 for one night. That still makes WDW even with their Tragic Kingdom, Disney needs more work Studions, Exceptionally Poor Collection of toons (invading the park) and DAK good value.
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <You know what's a great value? An annual pass for Universal Orlando. At around $220, it's practically stealing!> Comes with discounts at practically every restaurant and shop, not to mention the occasional special event throughout the year. Agreed, it's an incredible bargain.
Originally Posted By Bolna One thing that makes me wonder: In the recent years price increases have always been at the beginning of August. So everyone who hasn't bought their ticket yet for their summer vacation will be hit by that. People who have booked vacation packages won't be affected, but those who booked room only or are staying offsite will, unless they bought tickets before. I have no idea how many, but I would guess that a sizeable portion of guests will end up paying higher prices than they originally planned. Not a nice surprise for them. But what they have to pay more will show up on the balance sheet for WDW as additional income. So, I think it isn't only the annual price increase, but also an effort to make the June and July results look better than they normally would be.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 If it's to hit the summer crowd, I wonder why they don't raise prices in May or something?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>How surprising that you can't comment on the Disney Parks Blog announcement about ticket prices. "Control the medium, control the message" should be the motto of Disney social media.<<< I didn't even notice that. Terrible.
Originally Posted By Bolna >>>How surprising that you can't comment on the Disney Parks Blog announcement about ticket prices. "Control the medium, control the message" should be the motto of Disney social media.<<< <<I didn't even notice that. Terrible.>> They allow comments now, at least there are some. And the first ones are very positive - along the line that Disney is so great, I don't mind paying an awful lot for it.
