Party sticker shock..

[TheVBs]

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!!

[BrerGnat]

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.

[faline]

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.

[texas211]

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.

[1DisneyNut]

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.

[joonyer]

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.

[DizneyRox]

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.

[CanadianWDWFan]

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!

[TheVBs]

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......

[SurferStitch]

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.

[TheVBs]

I wonder if the higher price will lower the crowds at all?

[Daisy'sMom]

Disney is working overtime to price out middle class families. And they are succeeding.

[SurferStitch]

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!!!!

[LifeislikeaHurricane]

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.

[DonaldDuck1117]

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.

[LifeislikeaHurricane]

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.

I didn't realize the discrepancy was so much between Annual Passholders and General Public.

Another option you can add on for $56 to a single day ticket to either Universal park.

[mudpuppysmom]

Disney is working overtime to price out middle class families. And they are succeeding.

We have gone to both parties in the past and we thought about going this year, however after seeing the prices we cannot justify spending the money. We also used to go 7 full days and I just called yesterday and cut off a day; we used to drop our bags and go, this year arrival day will be spent at the hotel and departure day we will just get up and head home. Me also used to fly and rent a car, we drive now. What we used to spend in 8 days we now spend on 4! Our yearly trips I can see not happening in a few years! Is just not financially in the cards for us to go every year! We also used to buy 10 day non expiring tickets and e them on multiple trips per year....not able to do that either. So if DISNEY reads this.....we used to do 10+ days per year, now only 4.... I know you have no shortage of guests, but we were frequent visitors who are now infrequent!!

[TheVBs]

We can do a whole water park day for half the price. And, that gets us access to both water parks. I realize that it might be a bit chilly in Nov. though.

[MNNHFLTX]

The parties are oversold, way too packed and it's time to just say no.

Those are my feelings too, at least about MNSSHP. I do love activities at the Christmas Party, but am kind of tired of shelling out top dollar to be crammed in like sardines.

[texas211]

We have gone to both parties in the past and we thought about going this year, however after seeing the prices we cannot justify spending the money. We also used to go 7 full days and I just called yesterday and cut off a day; we used to drop our bags and go, this year arrival day will be spent at the hotel and departure day we will just get up and head home. Me also used to fly and rent a car, we drive now. What we used to spend in 8 days we now spend on 4! Our yearly trips I can see not happening in a few years! Is just not financially in the cards for us to go every year! We also used to buy 10 day non expiring tickets and e them on multiple trips per year....not able to do that either. So if DISNEY reads this.....we used to do 10+ days per year, now only 4.... I know you have no shortage of guests, but we were frequent visitors who are now infrequent!!

They only need you there 4. You've spent the threshold on tickets, on hotels, etc. I bet, but don't know, that research says that somewhere around 3-5 days is the sweet spot, that past that, your spending might drop off significantly (tickets, food, souvenirs, etc).

I'm sure they've studied carefully and these decisions reflect that. I'm sure the decisions they've made, while not great for your family, probably meet their financial goals with the lowest risk.