AP prices increased [6/18/2019]

[xuxa777]

I will be real interested to see what will happen with all the themeparks, cruise lines, private resorts, etc. when the next recession hits. They have all increased their prices so much over the last 6-7 years. If the next recession is even half as bad as the last one, we may actually see some of these leisure companies go into bankruptcy very quickly. Maybe not a Disney, but many others not quite as diverse will be hit really fast.

That is why it is a recession it hurts all businesses. Most all entertainment companies are very diverse and will manage relatively fine, at half as bad it won't be an issue at all.

 

[ScottBLT]

We booked magic your way for November and decided afterward that we wanted to upgrade to APs. We were told we had to wait until we were actually in the park in November to upgrade. We could afford and justify it under the previous price structure. With this, we will not break even with two week long stays at WDW with MYW tickets at value/moderate resorts. So disappointing. We've certainly been priced out.

Their answer is consisent - and insane in 2019. Disney's technology should allow upgrades outside the parks. And - you get slighly different answers - depending on the Cast Member you get. So frustrating.

 

[Suejacken]

I was actually going to buy APs next week. For my family of 4 it will be an extra $1000 now. Insane!

I was going to upgrade from my current package plan ticket to pass holder next week when I go. Now I’m trying to decide what to do

 

[Lisa75]

How much did renewals go up?

I need to renew a gold AP for my 5 year old.

I think I’ll just buy her 5 day tickets to finish out the trip her pass expires during and just be done with APs.

These prices are insane.

Hi! I didn't see if anyone answered you. I called DVC this morning and renewed DS 7's Gold AP and the total with tax was $632.61.

 

[Lumpy1106]

We booked magic your way for November and decided afterward that we wanted to upgrade to APs. We were told we had to wait until we were actually in the park in November to upgrade. We could afford and justify it under the previous price structure. With this, we will not break even with two week long stays at WDW with MYW tickets at value/moderate resorts. So disappointing. We've certainly been priced out.

This is still the right call. If you would have bought AP's last week, they would expire June 2020. Now, you can go in November and apply your ticket cost towards an AP that will not expire until November 2020.

 

[ScottBLT]

This is still the right call. If you would have bought AP's last week, they would expire June 2020. Now, you can go in November and apply your ticket cost towards an AP that will not expire until November 2020.

I thought the AP clock started at first use, not from purchase. That changes things if you plan on rolling them forward.

 

[Farro]

I thought the AP clock started at first use, not from purchase. That changes things if you plan on rolling them forward.

My AP I bought in Feb (thank god) is good until Dec 2030. It's not activated and I don't plan to activate until May 2020, which would then make my expiration end of April 2021 (I think).

 

[Suejacken]

This is still the right call. If you would have bought AP's last week, they would expire June 2020. Now, you can go in November and apply your ticket cost towards an AP that will not expire until November 2020.

I was told that if I do change to an annual pass it runs from the date I first use my package plan ticket. I couldn’t upgrade previously because no one else in my group was going to upgrade

 

[ScottBLT]

My AP I bought in Feb (thank god) is good until Dec 2030. It's not activated and I don't plan to activate until May 2020, which would then make my expiration end of April 2021 (I think).

Thanks! That's what I thought. Makes it all the more frustrating that Disney and it's system wouldn't allow me to upgrade to the AP on calls in both March and May.

 

[jarestel]

A few thoughts after reading through this thread...
1) There are plenty of other ticket options available besides APs. Rather than stop coming, people will simply choose a different ticket.
2) Can't get on board with hoping for a recession just so I can get cheaper Disney trips.
3) This won't affect crowds at all. Every time Disney raises prices on anything, crowds simply increase with no end in sight.
4) I don't like price increases any better than any one else does but that won't stop them from increasing so I pay up.
5) Will there come a day when I've had enough? Maybe, but that day isn't today.

 

[tarak]

I’m very lucky that I upgraded my daughter’s pass last week. We had two trips planned so it saved some money over the two weeks. The cost to upgrade now would not be worth it.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

That's it for our family -- the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Our APs expire 8/20/19 and we will not be renewing.

We may visit in 2021 for the 50th anniversary for a short trip, but we definitely will not be making WDW as much of a priority as we have in the past.

 

[fla4fun]

Not only will they have less people in the parks, but they have people with more expendable income who are likely to spend more in parks and resorts. They know what they are doing.

I don’t believe the increase in AP prices will have one bit of effect on crowding. I have seen a lot of people saying they will go with MYW tickets, or that they won’t buy the passes themselves anymore, but very few people (not enough to notice) will actually stop going altogether. People feel entitled to a Disney vacation, will not deprive their children of a Disney vacation, and are willing to go into debt for a Disney vacation. They will get a second job to afford a Disney vacation. But they will go on that Disney vacation and feel all the more entitled because of what they are spending to be there.

And luxury? Just because something is wildly expensive or even overpriced doesn’t make it luxury. Luxury is both high price and high quality. Disney’s quality in many areas could use a lot of improvement before I would call it luxury. Even in the “golden era” of WDW, before all the cuts and upcharges, they were not a luxury destination. Good? Yes. Luxury? No.

 

[ScottBLT]

The price increases are not shocking. Disney is a publicly traded company and will always be looking to grow revenue. Plus, they have their eye on crowd control and this is on lever they can pull.

My biggest frustration is with their technology not being able to deliver on simple requests.

 

[SaharanTea]

This really, really hurts. After breaking our annual Disney tradition last year due to cancer, we planned 2020 to be the Year of Disney where DH and I would upgrade to APs on our Christmas trip this year and we would return on multiple short couples trips through the year plus a big blowout family trip next August.

Looks like I am going to have to significantly increase our budget for this. An extra $250pp is going to be painful. And yet, I don't think it will deter us. I have been looking forward to this for so long. I am price sensitive so this SHOULD stop me from going but I doubt it.

Than again, it's got me very very worried about my 2020 plans. Food has gone up drastically in price too. And now I hear Disney hotels are also going to be very expensive - even the values. A little stressed at how stretched our budget is going to be.

Think of somewhere or several somewheres you've always wanted to go and price them out a little. Compare it to the Disney vacation you've already done many times. See what you think.

Maybe you still do Disney, but it doesn't hurt to take a gander at how far these Disney prices will take you in another location.

 

[Dis Dragon]

Not sure they're intention is to cut back the number of out of state passholders, but to close the gap on the amount of savings. I've gotten 4 trips out of my AP this year. The first trip savings covered the cost of the AP. I literally saved thousands in total. Even with the price increase, I would have still save a ton of money. No one likes price increases, but it's still a huge money saver for me. What it will cut down on is the number of people who buy 1 ap for a single, longer trip. But for those who make multiple trips a year and stay on site at a deluxe or DVC- an AP is still a huge money saver.

You saved thousands in ticket prices, but they are still making tons of money off of us by just being there. The resorts are not cheap and everything is so expensive. We went on a non-Disney vacation a couple weeks ago and we felt like we were getting deals on everything, after the fact we just realized that we had the Disney pricing glaze over our perception of pricing...

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just saw a YouTube video for annual passes posted by parks blog today. Lol

 

[stewart715]

They know that end of the day, we will all be there.

 

[SaharanTea]

Just saw on another board that they're also raising overnight parking fees at the resort hotels by $2 a night.

Yep. Up 15% for Values, 5% for Moderates, and 4% for Deluxe. They've got industry standards to maintain for their "downtown" parking prices.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

What will renewal monthly payment be for Platinum (not plus)? Right now I pay $56.45 a month