Disneyland and Disney World Prices Going Up - Date Based Pricing Coming

From Disney:

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We know how important making memories at Disney theme parks is to families and we will continue to evolve our pricing in way that gives families a range of options to meet their budget and helps better spread attendance throughout the year so they can make the most of every visit.

Disneyland® Resort


Effective Feb. 11, 2018 ticket prices, including Annual Passport prices at Disneyland Resort will be adjusted. As a part of this adjustment, the Annual Passport renewal discount will be discontinued.


Walt Disney World® Resort


Effective Feb. 11, 2018, ticket prices at Walt Disney World Resort will be adjusted. Other price adjustments include theme park parking, theme park lockers and Minnie Van service.


As previously shared, later this year, Walt Disney World Resort plans to implement date-based pricing. Given the small percentage of Guests that purchase a 1-day ticket at Walt Disney World, extending pre-published, date-specific pricing to multi-day tickets will further advance our efforts spread to attendance throughout the year and ensure all Guests have a magical experience no matter when they visit.


You may notice some increases on your packages on Feb. 21, 2018. If you have a reservation with a deposit, we will honor that rate.

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Just reading an article about it in the Orlando Sentinel. It says "The hike comes as Disney tries to even out attendance throughout the year so guests aren’t stuck waiting in line and have a better time."

So I totally appreciate that aspect of it. I don't wanna pay through the nose to go, and then only be able to see the Tiki Room and Carousel of Progress and maybe ride the TTA because of crowds.

The article also says this: "At the gate, a one-day regular Magic Kingdom ticket will cost $119, a $4 increase. A value ticket will cost $109, a $2 increase, while a peak ticket will now cost $129, a $5 increase.

For the other three parks — Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom — prices are also increasing.

A one-day regular ticket is $114, a $7 increase. A value ticket will cost $102, a $3 increase, while a peak ticket is $122, a $3 increase."

Okay, so a couple bucks here and there doesn't seem all that bad. But year after year after year?
They are seriously close to park passes hitting the point where I won't wanna pay it anymore. I know a lot of people who can't afford to go already, and with every increase, they are quickly pricing out more people. To be brutally honest, I'm heading to WDW in a week, but we've decided to only do two days at the parks versus the four we normally do. We are adding a day at Universal and then we're just gonna relax. So I guess in that context, they ARE helping spread the crowds out...by people just not going anymore! Lol!

So glad I renewed my AP last week.

I remember when these announcements generated a lot of noise. This one seems fairly controversial to me, at least for the Disneyland folks. I suppose the real surprise will come when the other shoe drops and we find out what this future date-based pricing is all about.

I only like the idea if it is transparent demand-based pricing. For instance, the first people to buy a ticket for a specific day get a deal and the price steadily goes up as thresholds are crossed. Of course, there needs to be a very reasonable method of swapping/returning these. Ideally, a system that allows you to track what demand is like for the days you bought would also allow you to return them and choose another set of days that are less in demand or maybe even bank them for a time period.

Based on Iger's comments on the recent earnings call, I am surprised the increases were not even larger.... but then again more increases coming later this year .....

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Originally Posted by Tekneek

I remember when these announcements generated a lot of noise. This one seems fairly controversial to me, at least for the Disneyland folks. I suppose the real surprise will come when the other shoe drops and we find out what this future date-based pricing is all about.

I only like the idea if it is transparent demand-based pricing. For instance, the first people to buy a ticket for a specific day get a deal and the price steadily goes up as thresholds are crossed. Of course, there needs to be a very reasonable method of swapping/returning these. Ideally, a system that allows you to track what demand is like for the days you bought would also allow you to return them and choose another set of days that are less in demand or maybe even bank them for a time period.

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Great idea, unfortunately it won’t happen. They will define peak season based on historical models and charge more for pre defined periods of the year.

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Originally Posted by John

Great idea, unfortunately it won’t happen. They will define peak season based on historical models and charge more for pre defined periods of the year.

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That is clearly for their own benefit, yet they will sell it as them working hard "to make your visit more magical." They could make this a winner for them, the guest, and the entire marketplace by changing the game.

As predictable as the sun rising and setting .....

The whole thing just befuddles me. Not the Disney part. I don't like it but it makes sense. They raise prices and people keep coming.

I just don't get the average guest (not the Disney fan just an average vacationer) It's a little different for me being an FL resident who goes frequently because I still pay less as a resident and can go enough to make it worthwhile. Maybe it is still the "once in a lifetime" and guests with enough money that they don't care who help support these prices. It seems like every year this happens and the belief is the increased prices will make the crowds go down but I'm not feeling that when I go.

I was at DHS three weeks ago on a Friday at 2 pm. Average wait for everything was 60 minutes. No Fast Passes available until after 5. Construction walls everywhere. Parking lot is a hot mess. We ended up watching the Indiana Jones show because there was nothing else we could do other than walk around or wait in a line. Yet the park was packed.

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Originally Posted by AgentC

Yet the park was packed.

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Unfortunately, the current state of DHS (and, really, the way it has been for several years now) has terrible crowd flow that makes it seem packed even when it might not be. Further, the scam of the way the tickets work forces people into time at the other parks that aren't necessarily worth the price of entry (this is absolutely true for DHS at this time, and at various times has been true for AK/Epcot).

I am agree that the ticket can force people to stay at a park that they don't want to because they have no other option.

And yes DHS does not have a good layout but it was definitely packed for a Friday in January. Not holiday packed but definitely uncomfortable, people everywhere, getting stuck in crowds busy. Of course everything that is closed makes it so much worse because there are so few places for anyone to go. If there was , it would feel much less crowded.

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Originally Posted by Tekneek

That is clearly for their own benefit, yet they will sell it as them working hard "to make your visit more magical." They could make this a winner for them, the guest, and the entire marketplace by changing the game.

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Just like FP+. It was all about crowd management and squeezing as many people in the park as possible but they had the gall to claim it would create "spontenity."

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Originally Posted by AgentC

The whole thing just befuddles me. Not the Disney part. I don't like it but it makes sense. They raise prices and people keep coming.

I just don't get the average guest (not the Disney fan just an average vacationer) It's a little different for me being an FL resident who goes frequently because I still pay less as a resident and can go enough to make it worthwhile. Maybe it is still the "once in a lifetime" and guests with enough money that they don't care who help support these prices. It seems like every year this happens and the belief is the increased prices will make the crowds go down but I'm not feeling that when I go.

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I think it is iconic, so people will want to come no matter what. Plus, if you don't go too frequently, you really don't notice the price increases. If you build it, they will come. With all the changes, the new aspects, people will come. They sell those stupid mickey ears, you can't do anything with. THey sell a ton of those. People will buy whatever. Plus, when you look at the overall cost, whats a few hundred more (maybe).

Ok, I get price increases. They happen - maybe a little too often at Disney, but they happen. The gall of them trying to throw it at us as a benefit for us is what disgusts me. Be honest about it. Say "yeah, we're greedy and want more".

Starting to feel like an old-fart, sittin on the porch with a "Well back in MY day it only cost us...." .
I think it boils down to:
1. no matter what pricing model they adopt, the other major players will pretty much keep pace so they will never stand out. If it ever looks like they are losing gate they just have themselves a "sale".
2. When a family commits to the major $ of a disney vacation the price of the tickets is actually a smaller portion of the total price even though it is what gets fixated on. A few dollars will rarely make the difference and Disney knows this.
3. The water is getting mighty warm, but the frog aint moved yet. So long as overall attendance does not drop precipitously and people keep checking the box that says "a good value for my vacation dollars" on the surveys, they have carte blanche.
I love to grump about it but I started going in the early 80s when parking was $1 and a 3 day park hopper (military discount) was $42.
And I haven't stopped yet. :)

I would love to see some survey data on the percentage of Disney park guests that are repeat customers.

I would guess that a large percentage are once in a lifetime visitors, with another large percentage being maybe two trips in a lifetime. Those of us on forums like Intercot, (who make numerous park visits in a lifetime) are probably a very small minority of the overall number of park guests in a given year. We are like hard-core addicts, who will keep paying for the magic no matter what, as long as we have the money. And Disney knows this, so they don't care too much about our complaining; they know we'll keep buying anyway.

And if we do decide to quit, it's no big deal to Disney anyway, since we are just a small minority of their market. Besides, for any of us that decide to kick the habit due to price increases, they know they have a much larger number of new first time users ready to pay the price.

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Originally Posted by joonyer

I would love to see some survey data on the percentage of Disney park guests that are repeat customers.

I would guess that a large percentage are once in a lifetime visitors, with another large percentage being maybe two trips in a lifetime. Those of us on forums like Intercot, (who make numerous park visits in a lifetime) are probably a very small minority of the overall number of park guests in a given year. We are like hard-core addicts, who will keep paying for the magic no matter what, as long as we have the money. And Disney knows this, so they don't care too much about our complaining; they know we'll keep buying anyway.

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Take this with a grain of salt because I got it from a book about Disney World that was published in the early 2000's. According to the book (I think it was called "The Disney Way" but I might be thinking of another book) between 75% and 85% of Disney World guest are repeat customers, and the average time between visits is seven years.

I always get a little sticker shock when I see the prices for a single day ticket to Disney World. Then I remember a couple of things 1) The majority of guest do not buy single day tickets and a lot of people that do are Florida residents that get a discount. 2) Even the peak season price is cheaper than a ticket to many pro sporting events.

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Originally Posted by joonyer

I would love to see some survey data on the percentage of Disney park guests that are repeat customers.

I would guess that a large percentage are once in a lifetime visitors, with another large percentage being maybe two trips in a lifetime. Those of us on forums like Intercot, (who make numerous park visits in a lifetime) are probably a very small minority of the overall number of park guests in a given year. We are like hard-core addicts, who will keep paying for the magic no matter what, as long as we have the money. And Disney knows this, so they don't care too much about our complaining; they know we'll keep buying anyway.

And if we do decide to quit, it's no big deal to Disney anyway, since we are just a small minority of their market. Besides, for any of us that decide to kick the habit due to price increases, they know they have a much larger number of new first time users ready to pay the price.

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You may have a point (or two) but with the number of DVC rooms and 'owners,' I think you'll find the number of repeat visitors is higher than you think...at least at WDW. It would be interesting to see the number of Annual Passholders there are and compare that number to the number of DVC 'owners' and go from there. Certainly there are a number of 'one timers' and infrequent visitors, but I would put those in the 50% or less basket.

Just my opinion, of course.

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Originally Posted by joonyer

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We are like hard-core addicts, who will keep paying for the magic no matter what, as long as we have the money. And Disney knows this, so they don't care too much about our complaining; they know we'll keep buying anyway.

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Well, I think that sums it up. When you have an addict, you can charge whatever. A trip to McD's Playland or Six Flags doesn't get the fix.

So either you have people who go so infrequently they don't notice or care, there isn't another fix/option, or you have addicts who will keep coming.

I’m wishing that I had started buying Disney stock 20 years ago :spend:

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Originally Posted by PopPhan

You may have a point (or two) but with the number of DVC rooms and 'owners,' I think you'll find the number of repeat visitors is higher than you think...at least at WDW. It would be interesting to see the number of Annual Passholders there are and compare that number to the number of DVC 'owners' and go from there. Certainly there are a number of 'one timers' and infrequent visitors, but I would put those in the 50% or less basket.

Just my opinion, of course.

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Originally Posted by texas211

Well, I think that sums it up. When you have an addict, you can charge whatever. A trip to McD's Playland or Six Flags doesn't get the fix.

So either you have people who go so infrequently they don't notice or care, there isn't another fix/option, or you have addicts who will keep coming.

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Well, my addiction is over. With the acquisitions of Star Wars, Marvel and Avatar; which I have zero interest in and the cost of tix increasing yearly to ride the same rides I've ridden dozens of times before (if I'm lucky and there's not a 120+ minute wait), not to be Donny downer, but I'm done. I am using the last of my DVC points for a cruise and those 3 properties are going up for sale the second we step off the ship (agent says should be quick sell, BCV, BWV & AKL). It was a pretty good run; 20 years, but my interests have changed and for what I pay in DVC dues and the cost of tickets, I could do a REAL nice European vacation every year. So here's the microphone drop ... later! It's been real

Here are the new prices and increase amount per ticket type:

Ticket Type	New Price	Increase
1 Day Magic Kingdom Value Season Ticket	$109	$2
1 Day Magic Kingdom Regular Season Ticket	$119	$4
1 Day Magic Kingdom Peak Season Ticket	$129	$10
1 Day Epcot Value Season Ticket	$102	$3
1 Day Epcot Regular Season Ticket	$114	$7
1 Day Epcot Peak Season Ticket	$122	$3
1 Day Disney's Hollywood Studios Value Season Ticket	$102	$3
1 Day Disney's Hollywood Studios Regular Season Ticket	$114	$7
1 Day Disney's Hollywood Studios Peak Season Ticket	$122	$3
1 Day Disney's Animal Kingdom Value Season Ticket	$102	$3
1 Day Disney's Animal Kingdom Regular Season Ticket	$114	$7
1 Day Disney's Animal Kingdom Peak Season Ticket	$122	$3
2 Day Ticket	$209	$10
2 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$274	$15
3 Day Ticket	$305	$16
3 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$370	$21
4 Day Ticket	$380	$30
4 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$455	$30
5 Day Ticket	$395	$25
5 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$470	$25
6 Day Ticket	$405	$15
6 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$480	$15
7 Day Ticket	$415	$5
7 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$490	$5
8 Day Ticket	$425	$5
8 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$500	$5
9 Day Ticket	$435	$5
9 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$510	$5
10 Day Ticket	$445	$5
10 Day Park Hopper Ticket	$520	$5

The largest increases are on the 4 Day and 5 Day Tickets.

It seems lousy to me that the largest increases were targeted at what I'd guess are the most common purchases of 4 and 5 day passes. Also makes me glad we bought our tickets for our March trip before this came out.

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Originally Posted by Dulcee

It seems lousy to me that the largest increases were targeted at what I'd guess are the most common purchases of 4 and 5 day passes. Also makes me glad we bought our tickets for our March trip before this came out.

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Interestingly, these seem to be what they use the most in promotions as well.

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Originally Posted by houseofmouse103

Well, my addiction is over. With the acquisitions of Star Wars, Marvel and Avatar; which I have zero interest in and the cost of tix increasing yearly to ride the same rides I've ridden dozens of times before (if I'm lucky and there's not a 120+ minute wait), not to be Donny downer, but I'm done. I am using the last of my DVC points for a cruise and those 3 properties are going up for sale the second we step off the ship (agent says should be quick sell, BCV, BWV & AKL). It was a pretty good run; 20 years, but my interests have changed and for what I pay in DVC dues and the cost of tickets, I could do a REAL nice European vacation every year. So here's the microphone drop ... later! It's been real

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If you rent out those points for the rest of the length of your contract, would you make money?

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Originally Posted by houseofmouse103

Well, my addiction is over. With the acquisitions of Star Wars, Marvel and Avatar; which I have zero interest in and the cost of tix increasing yearly to ride the same rides I've ridden dozens of times before (if I'm lucky and there's not a 120+ minute wait), not to be Donny downer, but I'm done. I am using the last of my DVC points for a cruise and those 3 properties are going up for sale the second we step off the ship (agent says should be quick sell, BCV, BWV & AKL). It was a pretty good run; 20 years, but my interests have changed and for what I pay in DVC dues and the cost of tickets, I could do a REAL nice European vacation every year. So here's the microphone drop ... later! It's been real

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Originally Posted by Dulcee

It seems lousy to me that the largest increases were targeted at what I'd guess are the most common purchases of 4 and 5 day passes. Also makes me glad we bought our tickets for our March trip before this came out.

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I tend to agree. We go less frequently. I like Hawaii. Though I do want to check out: Hilton Head Island

Yeah, when we go, we get the 6 or 7 day for flexibility (we may only go for a couple of hours a few days. Seems like the better deal. But that has always been the case. Before their meat n potatoes seemed to be 3 days, now they are extending it to 4-5 days.