Universal Orlando Raises Ticket Prices

Looks like they're keeping up with the Joneses

They do not want to be seen as a second rate park, so even if they do not need to raise prices they always keep them close to what Disney is charging.

And before people start blasting me, I am not saying they are a second rate park. However, if they charged say $10 (or more) less than Disney does, people who have never been, and did not know any better would think they were.

Yep, one does it, the other follows... I remember the one year Universal raised prices before Disney.. Disney then answered raising prices to $1 more than Universal... Universal responded and raised their tickets that extra dollar just to be on the same page...

Speedy1998;2448243 wrote: They do not want to be seen as a second rate park, so even if they do not need to raise prices they always keep them close to what Disney is charging.

And before people start blasting me, I am not saying they are a second rate park. However, if they charged say $10 (or more) less than Disney does, people who have never been, and did not know any better would think they were.

They don't need to charge less - their attendance increase has been incredible over the last few years.

Good article here:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2015/02/27/universal-orlando-getting-bigger-better-wetter-wilder/

With Universal Orlando more than doubling its on-site rooms, upgrading its attractions and now ready to become a more all-inclusive destination with an in-house water park, Disney should be quivering underneath its mouse ears. It has been phoning it in when it comes to new park attractions, which the attendance figures show haven't been as magnetic as what Universal is up to these days.

Disney has reportedly spent more than $1 billion on its experience-enhancing MyMagic+ platform, but cutting-edge in-park technology isn't what will keep guests from straying to see what its neighbor is doing.

Help is on the way. A "Frozen" ride is coming to Epcot's Norway pavilion in 2016, and Animal Kingdom's "Avatar"-themed area will open in 2017. Disney is widely expected to announce "Star Wars"-themed attractions at Disney Hollywood Studios. However, even as Disney is refreshing its parks, we find Universal Orlando building up a still-unannounced attraction widely expected to be King Kong-themed.

Disney can no longer take pixie dust for granted, even as it gears up for yet another price hike. The competition is real -- and it's getting closer.

I'm confused. Doesn't competition equal lower prices? Why are they fighting to be the most expensive? That seems counter-intuitive.

My poor kids they are going to have to pay $200 & up when they want to take their kids one day to a park. Then they can say "back in the day we ONLY paid $102 for a day in these parks" lol

crazygoalie39;2448256 wrote: I'm confused. Doesn't competition equal lower prices? Why are they fighting to be the most expensive? That seems counter-intuitive.

If not careful and if they keep outpacing inflation, they will find the tipping point. Once they cross the threshold and it results in a significant drop in attendance, it is always extremely difficult to recover. It is usually a very long process requiring steep discounting.

I know Six Flags doesn't compare to Universal or WDW as far as quality, however; they used to be extremely popular and were consistently packed. They kept jacking up ticket prices until they crossed the threshold and never have recovered.

crazygoalie39;2448256 wrote: I'm confused. Doesn't competition equal lower prices? Why are they fighting to be the most expensive? That seems counter-intuitive.

It is all about supply and demand... As long as there is demand, prices will continue to rise...

Disappointed in Universal, but at least they keep adding great attractions....even more disappointed in Disney because they have not been adding great attractions but keep raising their prices.