Disney takes a step forward on inclusive language 0:59
(CNN) --
Victoria Wade flew from the East Coast to Southern California earlier this month to go to Disneyland.
The day she was going to buy her ticket, she saw the news: Prices rose overnight at Disney parks in the United States, including admission to the original Anaheim resort she was going to visit.
Wade had carefully budgeted for his trip.
He said that with a $40 or $50 increase, he had to cut his visit short by one day.
"I had the money lined up, and then they increased it," said Wade, a content creator who lives in Maryland.
"It was too much."
Although many theme parks raise prices annually, some of Disney's October 11 price hikes exceeded the US annual inflation rate of 8.2%.
Visitors to Disneyland walk in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle on Sept. 3, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
High-season ticket prices at Disneyland, California, hotel parking lots, Genie+ skip-the-line service, hundreds of foods at Disney World, Florida, and custom-made lightsabers and droids, among other things, have risen .
For a family of two adults and two children (ages 3-9) to park a car at the Disneyland Resort during the peak Christmas season, hop between its two parks, and use the Genie+ service, it would now spend $1,086 per that day.
And that's not counting food or buying souvenirs.
Before the recent price hike, the cost was $988 (an increase of almost 10%).
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Pete Werner, CEO of wdwinfo.com, one of Disney's oldest fan websites, believes the company has neglected its longtime fans and passholders in favor of attracting more casual visitors who typically spend more money per visit.
"The bottom line is 'make more money with fewer people.' And we don't care who we price out to do that. And I'm going to tell you the quality of the product is lower, in my opinion lower now than it was before the pandemic, and yet the price has gone up considerably," he said.
When asked about the potential to earn more per guest with less attendance, a Disney official instead described "the positive result of a strategy that puts the guest experience first. When we focus on delivering a first-class experience, we know our guests will spend more time with us immersed in our stories."
There are less tickets of the cheapest
Although the cheapest single-day ticket at Disneyland has remained at $104 since 2019, there are fewer days of the year when these types of "off-season" tickets are available.
At the other end of the spectrum, a day pass in Anaheim, California that allows admission to a park during a peak season like Christmas jumped from $164 to $179, about 9.2%.
Adding the ability to hop between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure costs $65 more, up 8.3% from its previous cost of $60.
And some things that used to be included in park admission now cost more.
Carlye Wisel, a theme park journalist and podcaster, gave an example of an extra cost that used to be included: the skip-the-line service called Genie+ that has replaced FastPass.
"These parks couldn't be more expensive and more difficult to visit," Wisel said.
“And what we're seeing with Genie+ and individual lightning lanes is that now you're paying even more for not only a product that used to be free, but one that can be very heavy to use during your visit,” he said.
In Southern California, Universal Studios Hollywood has also raised prices, but the rise hasn't been as steep as Disney's.
Credit: Lisa O'Connor/AFP/Getty Images
Ticket price increases at Disney's main competitor in Southern California, Universal Studios Hollywood, were not as steep this year.
Universal Studios Hollywood has a most expensive "off-season" ticket priced at $109, which hasn't changed since 2018. But its most expensive single-day ticket jumped 3.9% during its latest round of price hikes. prices in January, according to MouseSavers.com.
A skip-the-line service at this park can cost visitors more than $100 extra per day.
"Universal's ticket prices reflect the dynamic entertainment and immersive experiences we offer, and we have a wide range of ticket options available to meet the individual needs of our guests," a Universal Parks & Resorts spokesperson told CNN. this Tuesday.
Inflation remains high in the US and reached 8.2% in September, higher than expected
The crowds keep coming to Disney, for now
A monorail passes in front of flower displays at Epcot, one of the four large theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Credit: Joseph Prezioso/Andadolu Agency/Getty Images
Werner said that every time prices go up, he hears the same refrain.
"For 25 years, I've heard that 'I'm not going to Disney World' thing with one hand, while the other handed you my wallet," said Werner, who also owns Dreams Unlimited Travel.
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And while people face a possible recession, he said that's very different from actually being in a recession.
Right now, she said people aren't canceling their vacations at the Disney resort in Florida.
Wade, the recent Disneyland visitor who was previously a Walt Disney World employee, said she ended up visiting Disneyland in California this month on a Monday and found it "ridiculously crowded."
He said he saw a lot of people buying Genie+, which allows Disney guests to skip the normal queue for a faster one called "fast lane."
The service went from having a flat rate to a dynamic pricing structure dependent on demand in the October 11 price hike.
On the West Coast, the base price went from $20 to $25. On the East Coast, the service, which had an introductory price of $15 last year, will now range from $15 to $22 in October, with Possible additional uploads.
"People kept buying them, and the lightning lines were as long as the waiting lines," Wade said.
The park reservation system that was put in place with the covid-19 pandemic is still in place, and popular dates are booked well in advance.
"cheaper" season
Visitors take a spin on the "Dumbo the Flying Elephant" attraction at Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom park.
Credit: Handout/Disney
Still, Disney touts its wide range of prices to suit all budgets.
A Disney official told CNN that the company is determined to create ticket and hotel price levels to allow more guests who want to visit the parks to have that opportunity.
"There are more ways than ever to visit a Disney park. Our goal is to provide a great experience for guests, and we do so by putting in the hands of our customers the ability to decide how and when to visit our resort," said a Disney official.
For example, a Disneyland ticket for a Tuesday in February will cost much less than a crowded Saturday in December.
Disney also pointed to its 35 hotels in the United States, ranging from AAA four-star to budget.
Disney guests can also bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages, as long as they are not in glass containers.
A look inside the Disney Wish, a luxury family cruise ship
Don Munsil, president and co-owner of Mouse Savers Inc., has tracked theme park prices for more than 20 years.
"I'm a long-time fan. I don't love this. But it's pretty clear it's working. Disney is making money," Munsil said.
Munsil said seasonal tiered pricing, or Genie+ optional extras, are ways to allow people of different income levels to visit the parks, rather than keeping prices flat across the board.
As for finding those deals to go during an offseason, "is it possible? Sure, going to Mars is possible," Werner said.
"It's not just the cost of the hotel room. It's the combined cost of all the things associated with a Disney vacation. And we haven't gotten to the memories yet. So the cost of popcorn has gone up, the cost of a hamburger has gone up. You have to take these things in their entirety."
Are potential visitors going elsewhere?
Wade, a recent Disneyland visitor, had an annual pass at the Orlando resort but gave up her Disney pass this year because of the cost.
She still has annual passes at Hershey Park, Cedar Fair Parks, and Universal Orlando Resort.
"Essentially, they're pricing out lower-middle-class families... They want to appeal to that more luxurious market. I've seen it with certain products that they've put out to test the waters," Wade said.
"I see that they are losing a lot of loyalty from this generation."
While cost is an important factor, he said there are also heavier rules and more complicated systems for visiting Disney parks in the post-Covid era compared to other resorts.
Wade said he was recently in Orlando for a week visiting various theme parks: "I was actually at Disney World last month. And it was literally the most stressful day of my entire trip."
He said coming up with all the strategies he needed in terms of reservations, queuing apps, and so on, is a lot more work than visiting other resorts.
The Disney Competition
Disney promotes its continual additions, such as the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience at Walt Disney World.
Credit: Matt Stroshane/HANDOUT/DISNEY
Some experts say other brands are gaining ground by focusing on higher-quality entertainment and new attractions to appeal to traditional Disney fans.
"Okay, it's not the same experience as Disney," Wisel said.
"But Universal has a lot of big openings coming up."
Super Nintendo World opens at the Hollywood park in early 2023. A new theme park called Epic Universe will be added to its Orlando complex in 2025.
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Werner said his travel agency is booking triple the number of trips to Universal Orlando compared to pre-pandemic years, while his audience hasn't changed.
"I call it the 'Trail of Tears' down I-4. People go from Disney World to Universal," he said.
But he added that while fans are discovering other options beyond Disney World, his agency is booking an unprecedented number of Disney Cruise Line trips.
A Disney official told CNN that since 2016, its parks around the world have seen more than 200 new lands, attractions, experiences and festivals, giving guests more to do and better food and drink offerings.
While travel agents, die-hard fans, and theme park journalists debate whether a product is worth it, Wisel points to the emotional attachment that keeps certain people coming back to a park like Disneyland, which is more than just a place to hang out. visit.
"It's generational. It's part of our lives. And regardless of all the price changes and hardship, I think it still resonates with people so deeply that we suffer, but we suffer for what we love."
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