Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Disney Introduces Demand-Based Pricing at Theme Parks
By Brooks Barnes
Saturday, 27 Feb 2016 | 6:53 PM ET
The New York Times

Disney Introduces Demand-Based Pricing at Theme Parks
By Brooks Barnes
Saturday, 27 Feb 2016 | 6:53 PM ET
The New York Times


LOS ANGELES — For the first time, tickets to Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California will cost more during holidays and some weekends — up to 20 percent more — than during slower periods, as the bursting-at-the-seams parks seek to spread out demand.
The Walt Disney Company unveiled its long-expected move to demand-based pricing in a blog post on Saturday. The seasonal changes, which take effect on Sunday, affect the two theme park resorts differently and apply only to single-day tickets and not the multiday packages that the majority of vacationing families buy, particularly at Disney World.
At Disneyland, located in Anaheim, Calif., which attracts roughly 17 million visitors annually, single-day tickets now cost $99. Starting on Sunday, the park will charge three different prices based on the calendar. "Value" tickets, for Mondays through Thursdays during weeks when most schools are in session, will drop to $95. "Regular" tickets (most weekends and many summertime weeks) will climb to $105. "Peak" tickets (most of December, spring break weeks, July weekends) will cost $119.

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At Disney World in Orlando, Fla., which includes four major theme parks, the price changes are more complex, because they vary by park. At the most popular Disney World park, the Magic Kingdom, which handles nearly 20 million visitors annually, single-day prices will remain at the current level, $105, for value periods. Prices will rise to $110 for regular periods, and to $124 for peak.

Disney tends to increase ticket prices once a year — recently, at well above the rate of inflation — and it always prompts a degree of consumer outrage. But in pure economic terms, Disney's price increases have been modest considering the soaring demand, analysts say. During the company's last financial quarter, which ended on Jan. 2, domestic park attendance rose 10 percent from a year earlier, setting records. Attendance in the final quarter of 2014 rose 7 percent from the same period in 2013.


Overcrowding during holidays, particularly at the Magic Kingdom, has become enough of a problem — endless lines for rides do not make for "the Happiest Place on Earth" — that Disney had little choice in moving to a demand-based ticket-pricing structure, analysts say.
"In addition to expanding our parks, we are adopting seasonal pricing on our one-day ticket to help better spread visitation throughout the year," a statement from the company said. "Multiday tickets, annual passes and visiting during nonpeak periods also provide our guests with options and savings." A Disney spokeswoman declined to comment beyond the statement.

The company's blog post emphasized expansion efforts on both coasts, including a new "Frozen"-themed attraction at Epcot and a major "Avatar"-themed area at its Animal Kingdom park. Major "Star Wars"-themed additions are also in the works. The largest proportion of days at both Disneyland (46 percent) and Disney World (49 percent) fall in periods designated as regular; peak days account for 27 percent of the year at Disneyland and 29 percent at Disney World.

Demand-based pricing, which is commonly used in the lodging and airline industries, has already been adopted by other theme park operators in the United States, including Universal Studios, which will unveil a major Harry Potter-themed expansion of its Los Angeles park next month. Movie theaters and sports teams are also experimenting with similar pricing efforts.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

A visual

Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Quick question - compared to ticket prices right now for "regular" time - are the prices increasing? I'm on the Disney website right now and I'm trying to figure it out.

Thanks!

Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

I wonder how it will affect the multi day prices. Isn't this only for 1 day tickets?

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Disney is such a ripoff. I am sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I just came back a trip there, and I cannot even fathom how ridiculously expensive it is to take a family of four there.

Not just the park admission, because it doesn't end there... Factor in hotel, food, all the extras at the park.

I'm very sure Walt Disney's dream did not include tapping families out.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Message edited 3/2/2016 11:06:57 AM.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Message edited 3/2/2016 11:46:16 AM.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Message edited 3/2/2016 12:10:29 PM.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

I agree with Phoenix. It's over $500 for 2 nights at an indoor waterpark in the region. Dollar for Dollar, I feel like Disney is a good value compared to a lot of places. We went to Rocking Horse Ranch for 3 nights, and it was about $1600 for 3 of us. Everything is expensive, unfortunately!

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Message edited 3/2/2016 1:08:52 PM.

Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Oh I don't plan my stuff like that. I can't imagine having to pick where you eat 6 months out. I don't even know where we want to eat until the day of! Luckily we don't go crazy planning like that!

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Posted by JP826

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by JP826

Disney is such a ripoff. I am sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I just came back a trip there, and I cannot even fathom how ridiculously expensive it is to take a family of four there.

Not just the park admission, because it doesn't end there... Factor in hotel, food, all the extras at the park.

I'm very sure Walt Disney's dream did not include tapping families out.

I say this ALL THE TIME.
I am very anti Disney for this reason.
I feel like they are the "evil empire"
I look at these prices for one day admission to the park for one person and I can't believe they are serious. Imagine if you had 3 or 4 kids?
I can take my family to Europe to experience the real world, not a fake world, for less
We can go to Hawaii for what a week there would cost, all in.
I can't wrap my head around it and I never want to go. (not to mention the masters degree you need to book a trip there and 6 months in advance to eat at sub par restaurants, don't get me started!)
And I feel bad for saying that because I have a DD.

I agree with you 100%.

Don't feel bad saying that. I believe that Disney is a cult, (but never dare say that on LIF ) Oops, did that slip out?

I decided to go because my daughter is very much into the Disney Princesses and I wanted her to experience the magic of Disney that literally every person on this planet seems to rave about.

Not only are the ticket prices insane, the amount of planning involved, (and I know I'm going totally off subject here, I apologize ) is completely incomprehensible. Booking meals 180 days and fast passes literally months prior to even stepping foot in the park - to me,takes the fun out of the trip. I understand it only makes sense to plan, given the obscene amount of people at the park at any given time, but honestly, I was driving myself crazy with our ever changing itinerary - weeks before we even left NY. Ultimately, we did end up having a great time, although we were vacationing literally on a minute by minute schedule every single day. Lines, crowds... I don't know. That kind of took the "magic" out of the whole experience.

I know this post will not be popular with the Disney lovers, but I just don't see the appeal to justify the cost at all. I can understand the popularity of the Disney culture, but, it is just not for me. My kids had a great time, and I am so glad we did it when we did it, but it will be a one and done for us.

The plus side is that I have over 800 pictures to document this trip! If ever in the future the kids get a Disney itch, I'm dropping the photo album on their laps and telling them to revisit vicariously through those pictures!

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Posted by JennP

Posted by JP826

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by JP826

Disney is such a ripoff. I am sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I just came back a trip there, and I cannot even fathom how ridiculously expensive it is to take a family of four there.

Not just the park admission, because it doesn't end there... Factor in hotel, food, all the extras at the park.

I'm very sure Walt Disney's dream did not include tapping families out.

I say this ALL THE TIME.
I am very anti Disney for this reason.
I feel like they are the "evil empire"
I look at these prices for one day admission to the park for one person and I can't believe they are serious. Imagine if you had 3 or 4 kids?
I can take my family to Europe to experience the real world, not a fake world, for less
We can go to Hawaii for what a week there would cost, all in.
I can't wrap my head around it and I never want to go. (not to mention the masters degree you need to book a trip there and 6 months in advance to eat at sub par restaurants, don't get me started!)
And I feel bad for saying that because I have a DD.

I agree with you 100%.

Don't feel bad saying that. I believe that Disney is a cult, (but never dare say that on LIF ) Oops, did that slip out?

I decided to go because my daughter is very much into the Disney Princesses and I wanted her to experience the magic of Disney that literally every person on this planet seems to rave about.

Not only are the ticket prices insane, the amount of planning involved, (and I know I'm going totally off subject here, I apologize ) is completely incomprehensible. Booking meals 180 days and fast passes literally months prior to even stepping foot in the park - to me,takes the fun out of the trip. I understand it only makes sense to plan, given the obscene amount of people at the park at any given time, but honestly, I was driving myself crazy with our ever changing itinerary - weeks before we even left NY. Ultimately, we did end up having a great time, although we were vacationing literally on a minute by minute schedule every single day. Lines, crowds... I don't know. That kind of took the "magic" out of the whole experience.

I know this post will not be popular with the Disney lovers, but I just don't see the appeal to justify the cost at all. I can understand the popularity of the Disney culture, but, it is just not for me. My kids had a great time, and I am so glad we did it when we did it, but it will be a one and done for us.

The plus side is that I have over 800 pictures to document this trip! If ever in the future the kids get a Disney itch, I'm dropping the photo album on their laps and telling them to revisit vicariously through those pictures!

The best way to get "value" out of a Disney trip, IMHO, is to stay off site at a nearby hotel, skip the Park Hoppers, and limit on property dinners to the restaurants that provide a unique experience or some other kind of value.

Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Where did you stay?

I do agree with pricing offsite, and value of what you get, BUT, I just can't get on board with dealing with the hoopla when going that route to get to the Magic Kingdom. Parking, then taking a tram to the transportation and ticket center, then taking the monorail or the ferry to the gates. One night at the Halloween Party, we had to wait over an hour in the ferry line to get back to the parking lot (lesser of the two evils since monorail was longer), then walk about 20 minutes to our car. I said never again! and to do that twice in a day if you plan on going back to the room offsite in the afternoon for a bit.

Message edited 3/2/2016 3:38:31 PM.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

If you only plan to go to 1 park and not go back to your hotel to rest, it is perfectly fine to stay off site. I find that it is too much of a pain to go to your hotel and then go back to the parks.

When you stay on a monorail and/or boat, it's so easy and convenient to go back to Epcot, MK or HS to eat or see some fireworks. Our family needs a break. We would never go all day.

That being said, we stayed at the Four Seasons Orlando and it was a fabulous hotel. The hotel was so nice that we didn't mind spending more time at the resort. We have stayed at various WDW resorts and I don't think any of the hotels are luxurious.

I think Disney is being smart with the tiered pricing. We probably would still not go during the peak times due to crowds. If Disney is going to get to capacity during these 10/10 crowd times, it makes sense to increase prices and have slightly less people.

Message edited 3/2/2016 3:51:44 PM.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

That's a really high price increase.
You also have to include hotel & food... Making it very pricey per day.
I just don't find it to be a full week worth of entertainment with young kids.
We'd probably do the the same as we do now & head there for 1 day.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

I can understand tiered pricing. What would have been nice is if Instead of raising prices during peak times, they had reduced prices during off-peak periods-then there would really be an incentive to make those times work. But I guess it doesn't work like that!

We were just there and stayed at the Waldorf. This was my first time staying off property. We got a great price for a really spacious suite in a luxury resort. I have stayed at several deluxe disney hotels and agree that they are "deluxe" in name and price only; you are really paying top dollar just for the convenience and experience of being close to the parks. The Waldorf was so nice that we wanted to hang out there; we didn't go to the parks every day, and on the days we did, the kids were done by 4/5 pm and anxious to get back to the hotel pool.There was a free shuttle to the parks; they did not run as regularly as disney transportation but it worked fine for us. The only negative was that it dropped off at the transportation center for the magic kingdom rather than at the resort bus stop right outside. I would totally stay there again, but I think we are gonna take a little break from disney and try some new destinations, as my kids are getting a little older.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

Aaagghhh! It's posts like this that scare me from going to Disney. If and when we go it won't be for a few years as realistically it will be a one time thing for my family (I have 3 kids) and I cannot afford that as a regular vacation. When we are ready, I will probably just use a travel agent as I don't have a Disney masters . I have an MBA and while that was tough getting through my program, the Disney planning terrifies me.

When I was younger, I went to Disney quite a bit. My grandparents live in Fl and my parents would ship us there for 2 weeks each summer. We'd drive to Orlando (they live in Delray Bch) and stay there. Even back then, I remember it being so crowded and honestly there were times my sister and I had much more fun in the hotel (we always stayed off-site but close to the park-we were happy with an indoor pool). I remember the last time I was there was when I was 16 (so this was 20 years ago). We went for 4th of July. It was absolutely insane. We wanted to stay for the fireworks. My sister was 7. The park ran out of food at 9pm. My sister was crying. My grandfather paid a man $20 for a banana. Worst experience of my life. There were so many people pushing and at one point we though we lost my sister. I literally grabbed her from the ground from being trampled. That experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Last time I was there.

Re: Disney introduces tiered pricing on one day tickets

The tiered pricing was surprising to me, it's very expensive. My kids are getting a bit older and it will be more difficult to pull them out of school.

We love Disney and have been there several times. Last we visited was Thanksgiving week, and we took the kids out of school. The place (every park) was packed, even on school days. The parents were so aggressive pushing, arguing over parade spots, cutting , but etc. The tickets for a week / family of 4 were around 1,000. After that trip, I decided we are done for a long while. I would consider DisneyLand but we won't be visiting DW any time soon. By the time you pay for flights, hotel, car rental, food , toys the kids want, and then the tickets! It's too much money for too much aggravation at this point.