Price Increase!

[MikeS]

This is neither a rumor nor good news but ticket prices go up effective, August 3rd.

So if you want to buy a 1-day park hopper pass it will cost you $125.

The park hopper option is now $50.

I think it's kind of odd that prices would go up in this economy.

Hopefully this will balance out with some room discounts down the road.

[Daisee]

Just heard this on the news, and read it online. The price hike certainly won't keep me away.. but it will only make it harder for some to enjoy the magic.:(

[James]

:oO'well when you want the best you have to pay for it!
That means we eat beans & rice all year round to save up for the Magic!:blink:

[konslerg]

>>snipped<<

I think it's kind of odd that prices would go up in this economy.

It makes perfect sense to me. Think of all the additional expense Disney has connected to the high gasoline and other energy prices. They are certainly not exempt ;-) ...and their food costs are going up just like ours are at the grocery store. It's only reasonable that they will pass some of those increases on to their guests in order to try and maintain a good return on their stockholders' investments.

Sad, isn't it. I think we paid under $15 for our first visit back in 1982. Now it's 5 times that!! ...and I don't think our income has kept up with the pace LOL

[Timon]

This makes me glad our AP vouchers are safe and secure in the strong box. We'll get 2 trips worth of visits out of them.

[LimeGreenCheri]

I, too, find it crazy that they would increase the ticket prices in this economy. And yes, they are being charged more for groceries etc., too, but it also makes it harder for families to get there.

I'm guessing Disney thinks, if less folks are coming, then we'll charge those that are coming, more. :?

For my family, we've already crossed out the October trip we had planned, the New Year's Eve trip that we had planned and the marathon weekend I had planned by myself. Sometimes, it's hard to be the adult, but the cost is just getting to be too much along with increases in gas, groceries, utilities, etc.

I personally think that we're going to see some good deals coming. I think there has already been some ones for the end of this summer that we haven't seen in a few years. Or I can at least hope we do. :)

[Simba001]

I'm guessing Disney thinks, if less folks are coming, then we'll charge those that are coming, more. :?

I personally think that we're going to see some good deals coming. I think there has already been some ones for the end of this summer that we haven't seen in a few years. Or I can at least hope we do. :)

It would be nice to see some deals, but reports are out that profits are up at the WDW, so I am thinking the numbers in the park may not have decreased:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807301641DOWJONESDJONLINE000914_FORTUNE5.htm

Operating costs are up for everyone, so unfortunately it just follows that they would increase for Disney,too. Its too bad the ticket price increase has to be in the middle of summer though for those that may at the last minute decide to go. :(

[LimeGreenCheri]

I had another thought.:lol: Alot of folks, plan and save for a year or more to travel to Disney. Many of the travelers now and the ones earlier in the year have planned for a while. And while Disney may not see a decrease in park attendance now or even in the next 6 months or so, they may as we head into spring and summer of next year. "May" being the operative word here.

I can tell just around my hometown that things have slowed down. I'm finding there aren't as many people at the movies, Wal-mart, etc. Normally on Friday night as I drive by LongHorn steak house there is usually a line a mile long out the door. In the past 3 months, only once have I seen that line and that was 4th of July weekend. Yes, there are cars in the lot and yes there are folks eating, but not as many.

On the flip side, I've seen longer lines and more folks at the cheaper resturants. So, I think folks are still going out, just not as much and not as expensively as before.

It is a business that Disney has, though.

[DizzneeMomma]

Well....not because of ticket prices, but due to finances in general I've canceled a Disney trip for the first time ever. Even with the free dining, it just seems very silly for me to go. :cry: I think my decision is also based on loss of Magic I've been feeling. For me, encounters with awesome CMs are becoming scarce. :(

I am feeling a loss and price increases make it worse....but then again, what prices haven't increased? :?

[Robin]

I have come to the conclusion, Disney has no interest in the day trip visitor, as they have made the price ridiculous unless you can afford to invest in a longer trip.

In September the AK will be back to closing at 5pm. There is no discount for short days. So for a 'full day' you need to either pay another $50 to go to another park for the evening, spend your day at a park with longer hours like Epcot. Or go somewhere else. Universal and SeaWorld often have a free day promotion. People may decide that this is the year to try the other parks. Or find somewhere else to go.

[Moley]

Thank to this reminder post and ddoll's, too, I remembered to get over here and order my tickets today before the price increase. I got a crazy glitch on the online ordering. Couldn't get a shipping option, so I had to call the tickets number but it went smoothly after that. In the park hopper option increase alone I saved over a 100 buying today. I'll look tomorrow at the prices and see what my total savings is. Thanks, Mike and ddoll!

[Jellyrolls]

I just called and ordered my AP for my October trip before the prices went up.

[Jellyrolls]

Sad, isn't it. I think we paid under $15 for our first visit back in 1982. Now it's 5 times that!! ...and I don't think our income has kept up with the pace LOL

Deb has the price increases on her site. It's a really interesting thing to see:

http://www.allearsnet.com/tix/tixincrease.htm

Ticket prices are definitely going up a lot more than my salary has.

[Love That Duck]

I was online at 5:30 a.m. CDT yesteday to buy my AP. All features working fine at that time but I've read reports that mailing options were not available today, problems with the site (overload?), etc.

I'm heading over to check the actual increases on Deb's site now to see what I saved buying my new AP a couple of weeks earlier than planned.

[MikeS]

FWIW I went to AAA today and they told me that they were instructed to increase the prices this Wednesday.

Also, AAA now has the ability to program the tickets so you can actually buy up to a 10-day MYW ticket with them.

[Robin]

When I renewed my FL AP, the AAA was able to do it. Every few dollars help!

[Love That Duck]

The first "rumor" I read last week was prices would increase Aug. 6, which is Wednesday, so that may well be the actual increase date. Everything else I read said increases happen tomorrow, Aug. 3 so I went ahead and bought my new AP yesterday just to be safe.

Texas AAA sells MYW tickets, I didn't ask about APs. I'll remember that next year for my renewal. I totally agree saving every few dollars helps!

[mickeefan]

Someone mentioned $15 admission fee in 1982.
I have a 1971 Look magazine with a big Disney article.
Here is a small section where it says a ticket will cost at least $7.25.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/JimElliott/Nikon/LookMagazine1971-Tickets-a.jpg

[Robin]

Prices are going up at Disneyland too.

The article makes me wonder if Disney is looking more toward the overseas tourist who can afford the longer stay trip, due to the weak dollar, while losing interest in the occassionaly short visit/day visitor guest?


Disney to raise theme park admission prices

By Jonathan Burton
MarketWatch (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/disney-hiking-theme-park-admission/story.aspx?guid=%7B702623BD-3180-48FF-97ED-9B7F052EB151%7D&dist=hpts)
Aug. 2, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Visiting the Happiest Place on Earth is about to cost a little more.


Walt Disney Co said late Friday that it's raising ticket prices at its domestic theme parks beginning Sunday, according to media reports.

One-day tickets for those 10 and older to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. will rise 4.5% to $69 from $66. Children ages 3 to 9 will pay $59, up 5.3% from $56.

At Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., one-day prices will rise 5.6% to $75 from $71, while tickets for children ages 3 to 9 will see a 5% hike to $63 from $60.

Multi-day tickets will also see price increases, and the "Park Hopper" option, which allows visitors to move between various Disney parks, will be $50, up 11% from $45.

Disney's move comes at a time when theme-park operators are coping with rising costs for gasoline, food and other basics that's causing many consumers to cut back on spending. Six Flags Inc. in fact lowered some admission prices to its parks earlier this year in an effort to attract customers.

But Disney's parks in California and Florida are somewhat resilient to the slowing U.S. economy since they're destinations for tourists from around the world, and benefit from the weak dollar that has boosted overseas travel to the U.S. See full story.
Earlier this week, Disney reported quarterly earnings that showed revenues from its parks and resorts unit Parks and Resorts increased 5% to $3 billion and operating income grew 3% to $641 million. Higher attendance and spending at Disneyland Resort Paris was the primary driver, but the company also noted increased income from Walt Disney World Resort that partially offset a decrease in attendance at Disneyland in California.

Disneyland's primary guests are locals, and profits are down. I have to wonder if it's better for families in the midwest to head west, not east for their Disney fix.

[Robin]

FWIW I went to AAA today and they told me that they were instructed to increase the prices this Wednesday.

Also, AAA now has the ability to program the tickets so you can actually buy up to a 10-day MYW ticket with them.

The AAA South's website now displays the $75 standard price, and their price as $67.50.

http://www.aaasouth.com/shoppingcartsearch.asp?SEARCHTYPE=TIS&ItemCategories=01&LocationIDs=40540

Interesting to note, the one day Hopper has a $32.50 discount ONLY for Florida Residents.

[KingLouisFriend]

Disney is also thinking internationally. The dollar is weak so people coming from out of the country are getting very good "deals" with the exchange rate. The increased prices take advantage of the savings these people are getting and making up for the difference. Personally it makes me sick to see them raising prices and putting a good Disney vacation out of reach for the average family or making it a once in a lifetime type vacation.

[akdisney]

Disneyland Price are also going up Too.:(