We're not planning another WDW vacation until 2018. All for good reasons. We didn't do our planned Grand Canyon trip this year, and did something smaller instead. So, Grand Canyon is next year's plan, with WDW the following year. After going both in 2014 and 2015, we're good with this. Mostly.
Since my DD12 and I are wondering if we'll die waiting that long to go back, I was thinking of doing a little stopover on our way down to see family, like we did back in 2012. We stayed a couple nights at the AoA, went to the Christmas party and did some mini-golf. It was a great little fix.
But, looking at ticket prices for this year was an eye opener! I want to say we paid around $70 per ticket in 2012? Am I imagining that? Now it's around $90 and that's nearly as much as a day pass to the park. I don't know if I could easily sell that plan to DH!!
Susanne
Well, you do get to enter at 4pm with that ticket, so you get 8 hours in the park.
But yeah, it is a lot. I am going this year for the first time, but I was able to buy a ticket with the military discount for $66.
Natalie
INTERCOT Staff: Disneyland Resort-California, The Water Cooler
The party tickets have gone up considerably. I once said I would never miss going to one of the park parties if one was occurring while I was there. Well, we were there during the Christmas season last year and did not attend Mickey's Very Merry. I found that I did not really miss going.
Linda aka: Faline
INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
faline@intercot.com
Yeah, there really isn't an economical way to go to WDW. Of course you can save on hotels, etc. The price works out "cheaper" per day the longer you stay. Look at the multiday pass. Need to get past 4 days for that to work out though.
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2016 POR
2015 CS
2014 WDW-Offsite
2014 Disneyland-offsite
2014 CBR
2013 Dolphin
2012 POR
2012 WDW-Offsite
2011 ASMusic, POR
1998 Dixie Landings
1990's, Dixie Landings, Misc Offsite
The party tickets are way over priced now. We are going to be down for an event in November and after looking at the MVMCP ticket prices we are going to pass this time. We are thinking about taking the money we would have spent on that and putting it toward going to Universal instead.
The first time we went to Mickey's Halloween Party the tickets were $29.95 (advance price), so $120.00 for our family of four. We thought that was a pretty good deal and went several times unti the tickets got up to about $50 each. Then it priced us out of the market, simply no longer worth it to us, in spite of the exceptional parade and fireworks show (Hallowishes = Best Disney fireworks show of all). Now, at more than $250 for a family of four, it is simply beyond our budget.
1971 (age 15) MK was new!
1974 off-site (Senior Trip)
1982 off-site
1988 off-site
May 2002 AS-Sports, with DW & kids
May 2004 Pop Century
Feb 2005 Wilderness Lodge
Oct 2006 Pop Century
Oct 2008 Camped at Fort Wilderness
Feb 2010 Cruise on the Wonder
Dec 2014 POFQ for Christmas!
The parties used to be a really good value. With all the extras (fireworks candy, cookies and hot chocolate, etc). We would certainly make it a point of doing them, and that was without kids!
Now, it's just insane. They are over priced, over crowded and even over played. But I guess you can't argue if people are flocking to them.
We decided were doing a Xmas cruise for the holidays. While pricier, I think it will be more magical than a trip to the parks.
DizneyRox;2490692 wrote: The parties used to be a really good value. With all the extras (fireworks candy, cookies and hot chocolate, etc). We would certainly make it a point of doing them, and that was without kids!
Now, it's just insane. They are over priced, over crowded and even over played. But I guess you can't argue if people are flocking to them.
We decided were doing a Xmas cruise for the holidays. While pricier, I think it will be more magical than a trip to the parks.
We really enjoyed the parties but the greed has taken hold. I doubt we will ever go to a party again. The cost has priced it out of reach. Disney is counting in people who just have to go at any cost.
As for the Christmas cruise it was the best thing we ever did. We LOVED it!
Brian (aka CanadianWDWFan)
INTERCOT Staff:Theme Parks, The Water Cooler & Trip Reports
DVC-BWV, Riviera
Yeah, I keep running the idea through my mind and I just don't think we can justify it. Maybe a stopover at a resort, some mini-golf and Disney Springs? Hmmm......
Susanne
Yep... This is the first October in about 12 years that we are skipping MNSSHP. We loved dressing up and going, but we hit the tipping point this year. At over $200 for just the two of us, the value isn't there anymore. The parties are oversold, way too packed and it's time to just say no. The dates we could go are also blacked out from any AP discounts, too. We can do a lot of F&WF snacking or try a lot of new goodies at Disney Springs for that money, and get some new experiences, too.
NEXT TRIP - DCL Fantasy Oct. 2016
Yacht Club - Oct. '14, Dec. '15
Poly - Dec. '07, '09
Grand Flo - Too many times to keep track!
CBR - May '10, Oct. '10, Dec. '11
POR - Sept & Dec '03
AoA - Oct. '12, Dec. '13
Pop - May '11
I wonder if the higher price will lower the crowds at all?
Susanne
Disney is working overtime to price out middle class families. And they are succeeding.
Your attention please, the Walt Disney World Railroad is now boarding for a trip around the Magic Kingdom
TheVBs;2491013 wrote: I wonder if the higher price will lower the crowds at all?
Not from all of the comments I've seen on other boards and on Facebook. Lots of people are discussing going to MNSSHP this year. I'm blown away. One was a family of 7... 7!!!!
NEXT TRIP - DCL Fantasy Oct. 2016
Yacht Club - Oct. '14, Dec. '15
Poly - Dec. '07, '09
Grand Flo - Too many times to keep track!
CBR - May '10, Oct. '10, Dec. '11
POR - Sept & Dec '03
AoA - Oct. '12, Dec. '13
Pop - May '11
Apples and proverbial oranges but the Halloween Horror Nights price is lower, albeit still expensive to me, and it offers a much more unique and different experience than a day time park visit.
As long as people come out in droves and continue to pay the price, what's the incentive to change from Disney's perspective?
They saw the hotel numbers drop a bit, so they lowered the prices to fill outstanding rooms. The marketing strategy is changing, unique premier experiences to get higher Price Per Guest for the average park guest even if overall attendance is down.
It's the Vegas perspective if they are filling the high level suites with people who spend 400-500% more per person, they can offer a "lesser" experience to the other guests at not much repercussion because they have a unique product that people will still want to attend.
How is Horror Nights lower? I see their price is $104 and Mickey comes in at $91 (depending on date of course).
Genuinely asking because I'm looking to go to Horror Nights this year and I'm not finding any discounts.
