WDW 2007 Rates and Packages are out

[methylene]

As of this morning all of the 2007 prices are up on WDW's site ( http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index ).

 

 

We just went and booked our December 2007 stay (my wife's first time to go).

 

Just a heads up!

 

Matt

[okinawaboy11]

Ha, they say on the site "See How Surprisingly Affordable the Fun can Be!"

 

Psh, WDW is NOT surprisingly affordable. Its surprisingly expensive as $hit. The one reason we won't take a vacation to WDW or any Disney park (Except Tokyo, we happened to be in the neighborhood) is because it's too damn expensive. Isn't it like 65 dollars for one day. In one park? I'm sorry, but that is just to damn expensive. And not worth it considering your going to have to wait your ass off for rides.

 

 

Sorry, Disney parks just aren't me, I like nice big thrills.

[methylene]

It's not really all that more expensive than any other major trip, judging on my research. And that's what it is: a major trip. It's not something to be considered like a weekend trip to a nearby amusement park, it's a vacation in and of itself.

 

This, however, gets compounded when you have a wife that's never been there who wants to experience it all the most expensive way possible for the first time, heh.

 

Matt

[SharkTums]

Remember, that the new Disney ticket prices seem very expensive for a one day / one park ticket, but that's because of their new structure which is really, super a good idea for screwing over Universal and Sea World!

 

Sure it's around $70 for a one day, one park ticket, but if you are making an Orlando vacation out of it and staying 7 days...it's only $32 a day! Much cheaper than any other Florida Amusement Park! They're just trying to encourage people to spend those extra two days at Disney, instead of going over to Universal/Sea World/Busch. It's genius business!

[mcjaco]

And seriously, is there anything else like going to a Disney park??? I'd pay no matter what.....in fact I am, in October!

[Meteornotes]

Yeah, it seems expensive, until you look at getting the multi-day tickets. Then it actually gets a lot cheaper. My multi-day park hopper will finally run out on my next trip.

 

I've always found WDW to be a good value, and have never felt like I've been ripped off when I've visited. Of course, I also stay far away from the place in the summer...

 

dt

[Calvin]

It's a lot to spend, when you first look at it, but then you have to factor in the fact that going to Disneyworld for seven days is a huge vacation in itself. Two waterparks, four amusement parks, gigantic shopping areas, hotels, pools, blah blah blah, it's been said before.

[BeemerBoy]

Oh yeah, Disney is genius alright. Genius at bending you over once you enter the gates. And that, my friends, is what chaps the average American's arse more than anything. You can almost stomach the entry fee until:

 

A. You want to eat....or worse, your family of 4 wants to eat.

B. You want a refreshing beverage.

C. Little Jimmy wants a souvenir.

D. Little Amanda is jealous of little Jimmy's souvenir and wants a bigger one.

E. It's time to eat again.

F. We're thirsty daddy...

G. Should I go on?

 

I, myself, don't have kids. However, I know many families who Disney has simply outpriced from maybe ever allowing their kids to enjoy a vacation with the mouse. When you're shelling out thousands of dollars just to be able to add exotic Disney park credits, it's easy to forget what Disney's bread and butter is.....the average American. Fact is, Disney will still continue to do as well as it ever has, but it's sad to see the way they continue to rape the average working class dads out there.

 

Also, I ask you this. If the current price structure still sounds reasonable to some of you, then where's the ceiling? In my opinion, as much as I adore WDW, if I didn't have a connection which allowed my wife and I to see the parks for free, I would have a very difficult time justifying paying the current prices, much less, what it will cost in the future, regardless of what my annual income was.

[alpengeist04]

And seriously, is there anything else like going to a Disney park??? I'd pay no matter what.....in fact I am, in October!

 

Yep, I prefer to go to Busch and Universal. ...in fact I am, in December or May.

[methylene]

Oh yeah, Disney is genius alright. Genius at bending you over once you enter the gates. And that, my friends, is what chaps the average American's arse more than anything. You can almost stomach the entry fee until:

 

A. You want to eat....or worse, your family of 4 wants to eat.

B. You want a refreshing beverage.

C. Little Jimmy wants a souvenir.

D. Little Amanda is jealous of little Jimmy's souvenir and wants a bigger one.

E. It's time to eat again.

F. We're thirsty daddy...

G. Should I go on?

No different than at any other chain amusement park. Disney's prices aren't any higher. Especially now that they offer they dining plan for free several months of the year.

Also, I ask you this. If the current price structure still sounds reasonable to some of you, then where's the ceiling? In my opinion, as much as I adore WDW, if I didn't have a connection which allowed my wife and I to see the parks for free, I would have a very difficult time justifying paying the current prices, much less, what it will cost in the future, regardless of what my annual income was.

 

I'm going to spend several thousand for nearly any week-long trip regardless of location. I don't see how this is any more outrageously priced than any other destination. You make it sound like the only option available to families is a suite in the Grand Floridian with a Platinum "Magic Your Way" package.

 

The only ripoff in a trip to DisneyWorld is the airfare, and that's only because I don't have four extra days to drive there and back.

 

Matt

[SharkTums]

Hold on! Disney lowered the prices of their drinks so they are some of the cheapest of all the big parks now!

[methylene]

Hold on! Disney lowered the prices of their drinks so they are some of the cheapest of all the big parks now!

 

And they have frozen coke to boot!

 

The only thing better than Coke is a Coke slushy!

 

Matt

[BeemerBoy]

I'm going to spend several thousand for nearly any week-long trip regardless of location. I don't see how this is any more outrageously priced than any other destination. You make it sound like the only option available to families is a suite in the Grand Floridian with a Platinum "Magic Your Way" package.

 

Matt

 

I only speak of what I know. I guess we're just not all lucky enough to plan multiple yearly vacations with no stress to the wallet. I'll just leave it at that. Nothing personal. And I'm not excluding any other chain either. Many of them are equally guilty in my mind, but that's not what this thread focused on.

 

My question still stands. If a $65 one day ticket is still considered "reasonable" to many, then where is the ceiling? Does putting in a new 100 million dollar ride every few years truly justify a price hike? Or is it just to pay for disgruntled former Disney employees' pensions?

 

Hold on! Disney lowered the prices of their drinks so they are some of the cheapest of all the big parks now!

 

Elissa, prices? I'll admit I haven't been in awhile, so this does come as news to me.

 

Scott "not afraid to be the voice of the lower class common man" B.

[methylene]

Aside from those with an annual pass, who makes a one-day visit to WDW?

 

Tickets for a 7-day park hopper come out to something like $25/day, and additional days are only a couple dollars more.

 

Matt

[BeemerBoy]

Who says a trip to the Orlando area means you have to spend 5-7 days exclusively at Disney parks? What if a family from neighboring Georgia, for instance, wanted to travel down for a 4-day holiday weekend? Is there something wrong with wanting to visit the Magic Kingdom, Sea World, and IOA for one day a piece?

 

That's just one example. There are countless others. All I'm trying to say is that the one-day admission price is rediculous. A parkhopper is not always an option just because you're vacationing at WDW.

[Jew]

^You're basically backing up Disney's decision to raise the one day ticket prices. Sure, it is going to alienate some people, but Disney is banking on those "4 day weekend" people to spend more time at Disney instead of the other parks for a better deal. Especially considering the other major parks in Orlando aren't exactly cheap for a one day ticket either...

 

WDW is a resort destination. It's not a park whose business model is based on local/regional tourism. Why shouldn't Disney create offers that cater to its core market?

[tinhead]

Hold on! Disney lowered the prices of their drinks so they are some of the cheapest of all the big parks now!

 

I was told by an employee of disney that Coke actually provides Disney there coke for free to make sure they sell it instead of Pepsi.....

[disneyfan1313]

Hold on! Disney lowered the prices of their drinks so they are some of the cheapest of all the big parks now!

 

I was told by an employee of disney that Coke actually provides Disney there coke for free to make sure they sell it instead of Pepsi.....

 

That is not true. It is an urban legend. WDW's prices on food and drink are quite a bit lower than the other theme parks in the area and defiantly lower than Six Flags (and higher in quality as well).

 

Ticket prices will match what the market will bear - It is silly to complain that it is too expensive.. no one is forcing anyone to go. Almost all theme parks have a high 1 day ticket...but offer discounts in some way or another. WDW's way to offer the discount is to entice you to stay longer and to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Hour for hour .. you get *much* more bang for your buck at WDW than most other entertainment locations.

 

For Example.. I just went to a Marlins Baseball game in Miami the other day..

 

Tickets - $31.00 each plus $5 ticketmaster service charge

Parking - $10.00

Program - $5.00

Bottled Water - $5.00

Hot Dog - $8.00

 

That was for a 2.5 hour game... WDW is *much* more of a bargain on all accounts.

[ParkTrips]

It's always a good idea to compare the cost of these parks with other types of entertainment like baseball, it makes one respect the value that a day at an amusement park can be. And to think baseball is the cheapest of the four "majors" Then, we could talk about concerts, shows etc.

 

BUT for my own purposes, I still hate Disney's gate prices, but I respect them.

 

edit

 

If a $65 one day ticket is still considered "reasonable" to many, then where is the ceiling?

For Disney? Probably a hundred bucks a day or so (right now, since its all relative). Some other parks? Several hundred. Visionland? Never again, even with a comp

[TheGreatOne]

WDW is a resort destination. It's not a park whose business model is based on local/regional tourism. Why shouldn't Disney create offers that cater to its core market?

 

Exactly. Disney is not a Six Flags/Cedar Fair park. It is an experience that takes days to truly appreciate and I'd imagine 85% (possibly more) of WDW's attendance comes from vacationers that will spend 3-4 days at the resort. Elissa is right in saying the price structure is smart, because keeping people in a park for an extra days or two could add extra in-park spending that they otherwise wouldn't get from people.

 

Yes, it's expensive and it's not for everyone. In the long run, this is a business and they need to make money. They need to add really expensive blockbuster rides because they are facing increasingly stiff competition and the fact that some people aren't traveling as much on the road because of gas prices. Give them a HUGE reason to come and they'll spend the money you charge to get in.

 

-Bryan "yes, it sucks, but I have no problem with their prices" Wood

[Wes]

Every time Disney raises their prices, people complain and say it's become unaffordable blah blah blah. But the actual attendance numbers never decline sharply, in fact it mostly it keeps getting bigger and bigger.

[BeemerBoy]

Sure, I'm wrong.

 

At least Cedar Fair understands what I'm saying...concrete parks, or not.

 

you get *much* more bang for your buck at WDW than most other entertainment locations.

 

I don't completely agree with this statement. I'll give you one prime example. Let's use the busiest operating day at the Magic Kingdom for argument's sake. Tell me how that particular park has changed so dramatically over the last 20 years to justify a price hike? I get basically the same entertainment I do today as I did in 1986. Sure, there's been changes, but have they really added to the park? It's more of addition by subtraction.

 

Take out Mission To Mars, and add Alien Encounter, which in turn becomes a watered down Stitch attraction. Take out Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and add some Winnie the Pooh dark ride. Take out the Penny Arcade, and add a retail shop. Take out the skybuckets, and add, er....nothing. Take out 20,000 Leagues, and add, er.....nothing.

 

See where I'm going? Splash Mountain is the only E-ticket attraction that particular park has added in ages. Sure, Mickey's Birthdayland was new....but, that won't hold any weight in this argument. I'm not saying I'm dissapointed that the park hasn't expanded (it doesn't need to, and shouldn't) but if I'm gonna spend my time there on the busiest operating day of the year, where I may, or may not see everything in the park, is it still justified that I should be paying over 50% more than what I paid 20 years ago for basically the same product? Naturally there's gonna be inflation over time, but $65? Seriously. Not exactly bang for my buck if you ask me.

 

Compare the price hike to parks which have literally expanded and/or added large new attractions over the same period of time. Now that justifies a increase in admission. The current price at many park chains is becoming borderline rediculous IMHO, but in comparison to my previous example, is slightly more understandable if you truly add more "bang for the buck."

 

And concerning the pro sports comparison, I'm not sold. At least when you pay to see a pro sporting event, barring weather-realted issues, you will see everything you paid for as long as you stay seated. That's not necessarily the case when you pay to visit a park. On a busy day, you're never guaranteed to see every single attraction.

 

 

 

Scott "I'm probably still wrong" B.

[TheGreatOne]

you get *much* more bang for your buck at WDW than most other entertainment locations.

 

I don't completely agree with this statement. I'll give you one prime example. Let's use the busiest operating day at the Magic Kingdom for argument's sake. Tell me how that particular park has changed so dramatically over the last 20 years to justify a price hike? I get basically the same entertainment I do today as I did in 1986. Sure, there's been changes, but have they really added to the park? It's more of addition by subtraction.

 

Take out Mission To Mars, and add Alien Encounter, which in turn becomes a watered down Stitch attraction. Take out Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and add some Winnie the Pooh dark ride. Take out the Penny Arcade, and add a retail shop. Take out the skybuckets, and add, er....nothing. Take out 20,000 Leagues, and add, er.....nothing.

 

See where I'm going? Splash Mountain is the only E-ticket attraction that particular park has added in ages.

 

I think you're stretching here. For 99% of guests returning to Magic Kingdom, this isn't an issue. For the GP, Magic Kingdom is the Holy Grail of theme park experiences (attendance numbers don't lie...Magic Kingdom drew 16.5 million in 2005, EPCOT 9.9 mil, and the other two at 8.5 mil). They'll come back just to ride their favorites (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder, Splash and Space Mountains) just because they love them that much.

 

You also neglected to mention Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which was added in the late 90's. It's a people-eater and quickly established itself as one of the most popular rides in the whole complex.

 

WDW has worked hard to add more E-ticket attractions to their other parks, which IMHO, are not nearly as complete as Magic Kingdom is (although EPCOT is great). They're trying to balance out their resort by adding all the big attractions at the parks where they can stand to boost attendance. That's just smart business. The more you add to other parks, the more likely people are going to stay around and visit each one.

 

Why spend money on a park that draws 16.5 million when it hasn't, as you said, added an E-ticket attraction in decades? If a park can draw on those merits alone, you should spend money elsewhere to make the entire resort more complete and give people reasons to stay and spend more money.

 

-Bryan "you can't justify Disney's prices on personal preference for a park or four, it is a business" Wood

[BeemerBoy]

Scott "I'm probably still wrong" B.

[okinawaboy11]

It's not really all that more expensive than any other major trip, judging on my research. And that's what it is: a major trip. It's not something to be considered like a weekend trip to a nearby amusement park, it's a vacation in and of itself.

 

This, however, gets compounded when you have a wife that's never been there who wants to experience it all the most expensive way possible for the first time, heh.

 

Matt

 

I was at Cedar Point for 4 Days on Vacation. 400 for the hotel (For 4 people) the entire time. Plus it came with a package with 2 free tickets and 2 free night tickets. PLUS we get military discount so tickets are only 30 dollars for a regular day.

 

It was WAY more affordable than Disney. PLUS we drove so it sorta cut down on cost (Gas was killing us (3.16 in DC Metro Area), luckily we have a hybrid so we only have to fill up once on the trip from MD to OH. And once on the way back)

 

Anywho, my dad compared it to a Disney trip we took in 91 (I think?) and how Disney sucked the money out of us. Sure price's were less 15 years ago, but still, you catch my drift. AND i would prefer to go to CP than Disney.

 

But hey, thats just me