Disney has been raising its ticket prices faster than inflation for more than a decade, but the parks still keep bringing in more people, year after year. I explain how Disney's been able to pull off that bit of financial magic, in my Orange County Register column this week. Go read it if you want that detail, but I want to hear from you on this page.
Let's put the question to a vote:
In the comments, I'd love to hear what you think about Disney's ticket value versus other theme and amusement park companies. Have you been buying more or fewer tickets or annual passes to other parks, in response to what's happening at Disney? What do you think about the value that other parks provide versus the Mouse?
Read Robert's column:
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TweetIt costs a family of four MORE THAN $400 a day to do WDW (not counting hotels). It takes a quarter of that to spend an afternoon on a black sand beach followed by an evening on top of a living, breathing volcano. I love theme parks - obviously - but my kids have been to Disneyland ONCE, to Disney World ONCE and this year we're going to Universal Orlando and Busch Gardens FOR THE FIRST TIME. Every other year they've spent somewhere REAL.
I bought an annual pass this year because of the Main Street Electrical Parade. The parade is something I want to see again and again and again (especially inside Disneyland Park, where it belongs IMHO), so to me, the parade represents VALUE for the price being paid.
So, when looking at something like an annual pass to any theme park, you have to look it in terms of value. If there is nothing there your heart really yearns to see repeatedly, don't buy one.
Based on the current attraction selection and current ticket prices (one day at cheapest price available from official website), I'd rank the So Cal parks as follows based on enjoyment per dollar:
1. Disneyland (or resort as a whole)
2. Legoland California (if traveling with children age 10 or below)
3. Knott's Berry Farm
4. Six Flags Magic Mountain (coaster lovers only)
5. Disney California Adventure Park (one-day at DCA only)
6. SeaWorld San Diego
7. Universal Studios Hollywood
Now with that said, I think the Universal parks are a better value for me. I have more fun at IOA and Universal Studios right now than I have at the Disney parks in Florida, and at times when I'm in the mood for a good rollercoaster fix, Busch Gardens and even Six Flags can be a good time at a reasonable price.
As I get older and go to the parks with family, Disney parks will probably be the park of choice (until the grandkids become teenagers). Disney parks will never return to the more relaxed vacations they once were (and by relaxed, I mean eating breakfast in the Crystal Palace without a reservation and without Disney characters in costume before rope drop into Adventureland). But that was 30 years ago, and despite what people may say, things are much better now.
I used to live in Orlando, and I'd go to the parks so often that I didn't even partake in attractions many times. I got more than my money's worth.
Now that I don't live near a Disney (and thus, a Universal) park, I find myself thinking about them as vacations that I save up for. If the price continues to climb (and why wouldn't they?), I will be more strategic in the timing of when I decide to finally get out to the park - say, after a couple of new lands or attractions have opened.
So if the prices rise, and the new offerings are fewer and farther between, I may find wake up one day and realize I haven't been to a Disney park in 7 or 8 years, and I didn't miss it at all.
As far as the general traveling public goes, I have seen a major drop in the last 5 years from 4 or 5 day tickets to 2 or 3 days max at Disney, most of the guests saying the cost is just too much for them and the value has just gone down because the parks are so crowded and the Magic Band program is so confusing. A lot of people have also said that they would be willing to pay double or triple the price if they could just have a day with no children or strollers in the parks...LOL.
Are you not entertained?
I respond: And there is a certain slice of the public that say "I would not go to Walt Disney World if YOU paid ME $109.00."
Different strokes.
The park is coasting on the fact that, as Prof Plum said above, Disney is a drug for many people. Guests keep coming no matter what because--since their childhoods--Disney has had a special place in their hearts. I wonder what will happen a few decades from now. Will a new generation rise up associating Disney with crowded, expensive and annoying? The good will built by Walt, his policies and ideas was powerful, but will the current management techniques eventually wear that down?
Tokyo DisneySea anyday ticket-$66
Anyone that follows theme park social media knows WDW is suffering from a lack of NEW rides, shows, parades, evening spectaculars at all four parks.
Team Orlando is addressing this in 2017, 2018 and 2019 with projects in various stages of construction. For 2020 and 2021 those projects are progressing rapidly as well. Leaks have already confirmed them.
Anyone outside the theme park fan bubble visits a theme park when a new E-ticket opens. It's always been that way, and most likely will always be that way.
As for this, in the bubble theme park fan survey, if you're "not buying as much anymore" why is...
Disneyland Anaheim busting at the seams?!?!?
Why will WDW attendance rebound once new E-tickets open?!?!?
FACTS SUCK!!!
I come to expect this increase every year.
This summer is going to see the river reopen with a new waterfall scene and who knows what else, the train returns with hopefully a tribute to Rainbow Caverns, and a brand spanking new Fantasmic show. Also Marvel will probably grow in DCA. Disney has more than enough reason to raise prices with what's happening this year.
I know that Disney is probably trying to figure out that sweet spot for pricing, but for the time being, it seems like it's going with a strategy of not raising prices too much and just trying to figure out ways to manage the crowds. Maybe they're expecting the crowds to be self correcting, those who cannot stand the overcrowding will drop off voluntarily.
I also hate the crowds, but truthfully, I'd rather have lower prices and just deal with the crowds.
(From a darkride very often in industry review, ranked n°3 worldwide, after Disney's HM and POTC..)
https://www.efteling.com/nl/-/media/images/nieuw-park/park/attractions/droomvlucht/1024x576-droomvlucht-rijk-der-hemelburchten.jpg
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/photos/images/PICT0476.JPG
> and backstage, the incredible elaborated transport system in that darkride, more advanced then the best Disney omnimover ..... .. http://www.looopings.nl/img/foto/200616droom1.jpg
And does anyone know any Disney park with such a mindblowing "entrance building" ? (Yes, indeed, just the general entrance, but in summertime, circus acts are performed there inside the huge rooftop, above the heads of the amased visitors.)
http://www.n8nrides.be/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_6955-768x512.jpg
Lichts on, early morning safely inspection on the track http://www.looopings.nl/img/foto/200616droom9.jpg
http://aegtte.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/8/9/8289017/img-7647-836_1_orig.jpg?542
http://aegtte.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/8/9/8289017/4178354_orig.jpg (Shop..)
https://www.efteling.com/nl/-/media/images/nieuw-park/park/attractions/droomvlucht/1024x576-droomvlucht-rijk-der-hemelburchten.jpg
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/photos/images/PICT0476.JPG
(From a darride very often ranked n°3 worldwide, after Disney's HM and POTC..)
I could add 5000 other pictures, all as amasing, but....
Why do I refer ?
because you can clearly see that exquise world top in theming, in Europe, is cashing in just 1/3 of low season Disney dayticket in USA. And the park is still 100% independent after 64 years...
There exists a complete set of reasons behind the obviously VERY low entrance price, there.
(1) ethics , it plays a major role with the company (which is commercially operatd, but not commercially owned, a mystic double leadership)
(2) the unavoidable big difference in holidays spending, when comparing Europe with USA. With an average similar spendable holiday budget, in Europe there are about twice as much official "payed holidays" compared to the USA. This results in a much more carefull holiday spending patern in Europe vs. USA. The average per day available spending = HALF. It's the main reason why in Europe, general theme park attendance per 1000 people is half from USA...
(3) the general 'experience industry' in Europe, does not just have the theme parks competing amongst each other, but also the countless (90% free to attend) historic and contemporary city festivals, in a 'natural' theming set, often outblowing the themeparks.
Picture ? (from Belgium, in this case, as her is the worlds highest concentration of theme festivals in the world)
>> http://www.trendyman.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gentse-Feesten-Sfeerbeeld.jpg
http://r1.ldh.be/image/aa/538eb3c2357065bdf31bdaaa.jpg
And anyone knows where was Disney's inspirational origin of the Electric Parade ? > Belgium as well ! (MOL Lichtparades, now 124 (!!!) years old ....) http://www.rozenberglichtstoet.be/images/groups/amigos/amigos_brain_w72.jpg
This massive offer of public top notch spectacles in (historic) city centers, builds a much more critical look from customers into the height of ticket prices in theme parks. In summertime, if I would plan well, I could go to up to 3 such (free) spectacles PER WEEK in Belgium.
Fact is : The competition is way DIFFERENT.
What IF... such existed in the USA ???
Most of the replies above are very interesting from a sociologic viewpoint. I've read opinions/insights (US originating) from people with very different basic interest backgrounds. Such a range of essential choices exist everywhere, but the 3 factors I mentioned above, are probably the most important 'external factors' influencing the considerable difference.
Cheers.
(Writing as a parttime industry profesional)
The other factors are the competition for the entertainment dollar, workforce and maintenance/development costs. It's not an apples for apples comparison.
I think leaving foreign parks, even Tokyo Disney, out of this conversation is a better idea.
Iger/Chapek ruined California Adventure when they removed Soarin' Over California, Twilight Zone and Aladdin. There's no reason to visit California Adventure anymore. Visit Knott's Berry Farm or Universal Studios Hollywood instead.
Epcot is a total rip-off; just a bunch of movies you can see on TV, except the TV movies are better. The few rides at Epcot stink: Soarin' Over the World, Frozen, Test Track and Mission Space should all be scrapped; how many times can you ride that garbage? The overpriced food at Epcot is glorified dog food.
Hollywood Studios has three decent rides and a whole lot of nothing; Star Tours should be retired immediately, along with every other ride except Twilight Zone, Toy Story Midway Mania and Rock N' Roller Coaster. Fantasmic is a pathetic copy of the Anaheim original.
Magic Kingdom is a sad imitation of Disneyland Anaheim. Space Mountain, Pirates, Big Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan are all incredibly lame versions of the Anaheim classics.
Animal Kingdom is the best Disney park in Orlando, but Busch Gardens in Tampa and San Diego Zoo provide much better values. Save your money and visit Busch Gardens or San Diego Zoo instead.
All in all, only one Disney park is still worth visiting at these prices: the park that Walt built. Universal Parks are better values than the other Disney parks. Knott's Berry Farm is a better value. Seaworld is a better value. In fact, most roller coaster parks are better values than 5 of the 6 Disney parks in America.
I do agree with a lot of posters above, though. The situation is far from ideal. On our next trip, we'll be joining the early magic hour/rope drop crowd. That, and a mountain of planning, is the only way to beat the crowds.
"Whilst they do compete in a theoretical manner, this is minimal in reality."
I nowhere in my post said that, not even made an allusion on it.
(Try to read it again, you try to let me say 3 times, statements that I did not write at all.)
I was talking about the competition (IN Europe) between (a) theme parks and (b) public themed city festivals.
I actually was comparing the way DIFFERENT situations in USA and in Europe.... And I posed the final question :
"What IF... such existed in the USA ???"
Sociologic viewpoint.
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