New ticket system coming to WDW - Begins October 16th

[Searc]

It's my understanding that the upcharge for flexible does just that -- extends the ticket to a 14-day use window regardless of how many park days are included. Without the upcharge for flexible, tickets have a use window of just 2-4 days longer than the ticket length. A 7-day ticket may have a use window of 10 days, by adding the "flexible" option that same 7-day ticket can be used within 14 days of first use instead of 10 days.

But why should people pay for something that they can get now for free?

 

[AngiTN]

Ok, so after talking with the family, we are looking at maybe going the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before Columbus Day next year instead of the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Thanksgiving break. I was planning on going ahead and buying at least two tickets, but now I'm not so sure I should. Current pricing shows our first day as value, our second day as regular, and our third day as peak. Based on what I've read, if I wait I would pay the value price for every day since our first day is value. Could this really mean a cheaper price? I sure wish we could see prices before this rolls out.

One item to note, I am not 100% positive that we'll see the same schedule of Peak/Value/Regular attributes to calendar dates when this new plan rolls out.
Some days sure, Christmas week is always going to be Peak, that is not going to change.
But have the crowds the past couple of years changed enough that when Disney does this new system, will they also re-evaluate their idea of when Peak and when Value is, during some of the more questionable times, like October, around Fall Break (which is usually Columbus Day time)? No idea, but it's something I've been wondering
Just to add another layer of do we wait or do we buy now questions

 

[AngiTN]

But why should people pay for something that they can get now for free?

Because they won't have any other choice?
Sure it's nice that it's free now but that's changing

 

[js]

Hi.

Where are you all seeing a "draft" calendar of where you can see "tentative" pricing for actual dates?

Thank you.

 

[lanejudy]

But why should people pay for something that they can get now for free?

Based on that statement, why did anyone purchase the "no-expire" option that was available until a couple of years ago? Once-upon-a-time, WDW tickets were good "forever." Unused days never expired. You could bring that ticket back and use it. I think MYW tickets have been around for about 14-15 years. When MYW rolled out, WDW decided to charge for the no-expiration "option" -- something that had previously been available "for free" suddenly cost extra. And many guests paid that extra. Similarly many will pay for the "flexible" option if it fits their needs.

I resist change as much as anyone else and I'm not saying I like the new system. I do think it will be more expensive for most if not all guests, but ticket prices go up regularly anyway and I'm not sure this will be an exorbitant increase immediately, but that remains to be seen. WDW found a way to capitalize what was once included. Seems to be the current business trend in general.

 

[lanejudy]

Hi.

Where are you all seeing a "draft" calendar of where you can see "tentative" pricing for actual dates?

Thank you.

The first post on this thread has a video. It isn't "tentative" and the video indicates it is not actual pricing. People are making some assumptions based on that video as well as the currently 1-day ticket costs.

 

[tlmadden73]

But why should people pay for something that they can get now for free?

It's a brilliant way to make money.
Restrict something that wasn't restricted before . .and then charge more to make it unrestricted again.

I wouldn't be surprised at this rate that they eventually just start selling "half-day" tickets (where you would need to go either 9-3 pm or 3pm - 9pm) . .and then charging a fee to "upgrade" them to full-day tickets.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

It's a brilliant way to make money.
Restrict something that wasn't restricted before . .and then charge more to make it unrestricted again.

I wouldn't be surprised at this rate that they eventually just start selling "half-day" tickets (where you would need to go either 9-3 pm or 3pm - 9pm) . .and then charging a fee to "upgrade" them to full-day tickets.

Ugh. Don’t give them any ideas.

 

[AngiTN]

The first post on this thread has a video. It isn't "tentative" and the video indicates it is not actual pricing. People are making some assumptions based on that video as well as the currently 1-day ticket costs.

There are a lot of ways to take their disclaimer that it's not actual pricing.
That doesn't have to mean it's not a valid price for any ticket
It could well be that they've used the lowest possible ticket price for their example in the video and they included the disclaimer so that people aren't complaining when most days are more expensive than the price shown. Because we all know that people would go back to them and say "Your video showed the ticket would cost X, why does my ticket cost Y? I demand you charge me X, like your video shows" Adding the disclaimer, allows them to say that was just an example and that actual pricing will vary. Nowhere does that have to mean that those prices are not available at all. It may mean that just doesn't have to mean that

 

[AnnaKat]

It's a brilliant way to make money.
Restrict something that wasn't restricted before . .and then charge more to make it unrestricted again.

I wouldn't be surprised at this rate that they eventually just start selling "half-day" tickets (where you would need to go either 9-3 pm or 3pm - 9pm) . .and then charging a fee to "upgrade" them to full-day tickets.

Shhhh! Don't give those pesky bean counters any ideas!
Seriously, I can see that they would eventually offer that option--to offer more convenience & flexibility, of course! They would charge more than the price of 1/2 of day tickets. And emphasize that now you can park hop @ your convenience without buying the ph add-on!

 

[babesboo99]

Planning on going Oct/Nov of 2019 what effect will this have on park hoppers if any?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Planning on going Oct/Nov of 2019 what effect will this have on park hoppers if any?

Park hoppers will continue to be an option. It’s shown in the video in Post#1.

 

[mmps108]

I am considering buying three tickets for next year; however, if something happens and we can't make the trip, what happens? I assume they will retain their value and we will be "credited" for them if upgrading. My question is can I upgrade the three tickets to buy two APs? I am assuming no. Three tickets cannot be consolidated into two. So would I be stuck with the third ticket until someone needs another AP or a renewal?

ETA: Never mind. I found the answer in Robo's sticky. I cannot use three tickets toward two APs. I am really torn here. The future plan is to take the family next Thanksgiving but our next trip will be just the two of us in 2021 where we will get APs. If I buy three tickets now and something happens and we can't take the family, I will be stuck with one of those tickets until probably 2023. I don't know if I want that money tied up in Disney tickets that long.

I never even thought about this scenario. We're headed in January and December 2019. My plan, right now, is to buy 2 AP for my DH and myself and a 8 day PH for my DD (6) prior to the October 16 date. The original plan was to get 1 AP and 8 day PH for my DH and DD, possibly upgrading them to AP when we arrive. It's SO much money up front! But, what if we don't end up going for some random reason in December, we're stuck with a lot of money tied up with AP.

 

[Dis703]

I'm confused about this too. I'm also wondering if you get the "discount" the longer your stay is. It was only about $10 more for me to go from 9 days to 10 days. Will that still be the case? Or will I have to pay full price to add that day?

I can't fathom this would change. If it does they are going to lose a lot more people to other parks. The main reason we have continued to spend our entire trips at Disney is because over the long run it's cheaper to add another day or two at Disney than to buy one day at Universal or Sea World. And I know many do the same.

 

[cindyfan]

I would consider just buying the AP now. I was going to do the same thing, buy UT tickets and then upgrade. Looking at past AP price increases I decided we were probably better off just getting the APs now.

I was thinking the same thing. However, does anyone know if the AP voucher expires? I was looking at the WDW web site to purchase an AP but could not find any reference to the voucher expiring?!
I may opt to use a 5 day hopper in early spring, then my AP voucher for fall '19, which will give me fall '19, late spring '20 and fall '20 visits.
Maybe I'm putting too much thought into this!!! haha!

 

[AngiTN]

I can't fathom this would change. If it does they are going to lose a lot more people to other parks. The main reason we have continued to spend our entire trips at Disney is because over the long run it's cheaper to add another day or two at Disney than to buy one day at Universal or Sea World. And I know many do the same.

I think they'll still have a discount but not the drastic reduction that we see on days 5-10 now. Which is where some tickets may go down in price, and others up. But no real insight it's purely my gut guess.

 

[DVC Jen]

Does anyone know if prices are indeed going up? We will be there early June and if it is less expensive for us to purchase our tickets now I will do so.

 

[AngiTN]

Does anyone know if prices are indeed going up? We will be there early June and if it is less expensive for us to purchase our tickets now I will do so.

Technically? No (though I think some ticket resellers have seen the prices but they have a non-disclosure and aren't releasing them. They've advised, buy now)
Based on logical/common sense? Yes.
There's really no way on earth they are going to switch to this system and have prices go down across the board.
There are likely to be a very few select few who find tickets cost less. Extremely few. But they'll exist.

 

[Robo]

I was thinking the same thing. However, does anyone know if the AP voucher expires? I was looking at the WDW web site to purchase an AP but could not find any reference to the voucher expiring?!
I may opt to use a 5 day hopper in early spring, then my AP voucher for fall '19, which will give me fall '19, late spring '20 and fall '20 visits.
Maybe I'm putting too much thought into this!!! haha!

Current AP vouchers expire at the end of the year 2030.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Just stay onsite or stay onsite with a PACKAGE?
I don't book packages b/c they are less flexible to late changes, different people having diff tickets, etc. So will I (and dvc and ap holders, etc) have to pay extra for flexibility since we won't have packages. Seems like how it is reading so far. Will be interesting to see.
From Disney's perspective I can see multiple reasons why they prefer package guests. One of the biggest being that they get the balance much earlier and that accrues interest for them, instead of the guest.

The same Walt Disney Travel Package wording was used for DSprings hotel guests and no one staying in DSprings Hotels needs a package for 60-day FPs and EMH.

When onsite, the FP booking window opens from check-in date through checkout date whether it’s a package or room-only.

Does anyone think the open FP window for a room-only guest will have an additional ticket constraint? IT couldn’t restrict DSprings Hotels guests’ FPs to packages; it’ll be interesting if IT can restrict room-only guests to ticket restraints when the FP windows open.