Universal Price Increase - 2014

[Hockeyman55]

Like Hockeyman, I have kids that will be turning 3 soon (December), but we go to a park almost every weekend and sometimes more than once a week if family or friends are in town. So for us the price point is reasonable at all the parks. We don't do monthly (isn't monthly slightly higher than renewing and paying all at once?) and we have Disney (normal 4 parks no blackout), Uni middle pass, and SW 2 year pass. We don't go to BG enough to get that one. We did it once and ended up only going once, so it was not worth it at all. We may end up adding Aquatica at the next SW renew because our daughter will be old enough to go. We *think* we will get away with not paying for our on right away when they turn three because he is much smaller than our daughter and no one thinks they are twins. Is that wrong? lol

It will hurt us when we are paying for the kids, but for a family that goes probably 45+ times a year to one of the parks it is worth it.

My oldest turns 3 in August and I was going to try and squeeze her in under 3 for our December trip :sneaky:

Disney's Aps are the same no matter which way you buy them. Not sure about Universals but im sure its about the same also

 

[IzzyB]

My oldest turns 3 in August and I was going to try and squeeze her in under 3 for our December trip :sneaky:

Disney's Aps are the same no matter which way you buy them. Not sure about Universals but im sure its about the same also

Glad I am not the only sneaky one :smiley: My thought was keep trying until they question

 

[Hockeyman55]

Glad I am not the only sneaky one :smiley: My thought was keep trying until they question

Im pretty sure you and I arent the only ones with that thought

 

[freediverdude]

I'm telling the mouse on you! I'm telling the mouse on you! That'll be another $700 please, :rofl:

 

[natespf]

Don't forget about the Florida Fun Cards for SW and BGT. If you go once it is just about worth it, second visit makes it a deal and each time after is basically free admission ound:

If you plan to go often, just get one actual annual pass and the rest Fun Cards. That way you get free parking too, and still save :happy:

Unless I am missing something here?

 

[IzzyB]

Don't forget about the Florida Fun Cards for SW and BGT. If you go once it is just about worth it, second visit makes it a deal and each time after is basically free admission ound:

If you plan to go often, just get one actual annual pass and the rest Fun Cards. That way you get free parking too, and still save :happy:

Unless I am missing something here?

Only issue with this is unless you do it at the beginning of the year, your passes don't match up since the fun card ends at the end of the year. Honestly, for me I found the cheapest option the 2 year pass. Makes like more simple since we are never going as soon as the fun cards start.

Im pretty sure you and I arent the only ones with that thought

Yeah I know. I wonder how big or tall the child has to be before they start to question. And then what, do they ask for proof?

 

[Hockeyman55]

Only issue with this is unless you do it at the beginning of the year, your passes don't match up since the fun card ends at the end of the year. Honestly, for me I found the cheapest option the 2 year pass. Makes like more simple since we are never going as soon as the fun cards start.



Yeah I know. I wonder how big or tall the child has to be before they start to question. And then what, do they ask for proof?

One of my buddies said they don't start bugging you until the kids hit 40"-42" , but that's not really an exact science

 

[Nitro_230]

One of my buddies said they don't start bugging you until the kids hit 40"-42" , but that's not really an exact science

That's when they start to get crafty, like asking the kid how old they are instead of the parent.

 

[Hockeyman55]

That's when they start to get crafty, like asking the kid how old they are instead of the parent.

Mine is only 36" so I figure next Feb when it was time for us to renew we we go ahead and get her a pass.

 

[freediverdude]

I think it would be easier for everyone if they just did it by height instead of supposed age. Say once they reach 40" they need a ticket, something like that. Yes some kids could get away without having a ticket longer, but they wouldn't be able to ride some of the rides either. That way also the official measurement gets taken at the front of the park, and each individual ride wouldn't have to measure the kids. Just have all kids who look tall enough measured at the front of the park, and have different bracelets indicating what height restriction they have for rides. One bracelet for if they can ride the 40" or 42" rides, another one for like if they can ride the 48" thrill rides.

 

[Nitro_230]

I think it would be easier for everyone if they just did it by height instead of supposed age. Say once they reach 40" they need a ticket, something like that. Yes some kids could get away without having a ticket longer, but they wouldn't be able to ride some of the rides either. That way also the official measurement gets taken at the front of the park, and each individual ride wouldn't have to measure the kids. Just have all kids who look tall enough measured at the front of the park, and have different bracelets indicating what height restriction they have for rides. One bracelet for if they can ride the 40" or 42" rides, another one for like if they can ride the 48" thrill rides.

There is a particular fear by the parks that goes with the bracelet idea. And that fear is that a parent will take a bracelet off their taller child and put it on their smaller child to try and get them onto rides. Right now TONS of parents fight over a few inches, but if they swapped to a bracelet method and someone did this the ride ops wouldn't re-check.

 

[freediverdude]

Hmm, really?? Really they would risk the safety of their kid? Geez. Ok, well I guess we could go the high-tech method then. Measure everybody at the front of the park, assign the height to their finger scan (which they will need to have anyway for the ticket), and do a finger scan at each attraction. Parents can't fake fingerprints, lol. Also could be the same finger scan to validate your fastpass, kill two birds....

 

[Hockeyman55]

Im sure Nitro has some stories also but I have seen some adult meltdowns when told their little princess or JR wasn't tall enough for a ride, full on adult temper tantrums. At that point I feel bad to the CM who is just doing their job and trying to keep everyone safe.

- - - Updated - - -

Hmm, really?? Really they would risk the safety of their kid? Geez. Ok, well I guess we could go the high-tech method then. Measure everybody at the front of the park, assign the height to their finger scan (which they will need to have anyway for the ticket), and do a finger scan at each attraction. Parents can't fake fingerprints, lol. Also could be the same finger scan to validate your fastpass, kill two birds....

We complain about the money invested in Nextgen, can you imagine the outcry for the amount of money need to implement this and not to mention how many parents want their kids finger prints being tracked?

 

[Nitro_230]

Yea, parents do it all the time.

- Stuff their kids shoes so they're a little taller.
- Buy the kids shoes with 4 or 5 inch thick soles.
- Give the kids their shoes to get that extra inch.
- Argue with the ride ops that it's their kid, so it's their decision
- Offer to sign a waiver for their kid to ride
- My personal favorite, tell the kid ahead of time to cry when the ride op says no (but close enough to the ride op that they hear the parent say it)

And there are so many more out there.

 

[freediverdude]

OMG. I had no idea the lengths some people would go to, lol. I guess being single with no kids kind of blinded me to all that going on. Those poor ride ops.

True, I can see parents screaming about their kids being fingerprinted. But, they're really already doing that for the kids over 10 who get the adult ticket, aren't they?

 

[Hockeyman55]

OMG. I had no idea the lengths some people would go to, lol. I guess being single with no kids kind of blinded me to all that going on. Those poor ride ops.

True, I can see parents screaming about their kids being fingerprinted. But, they're really already doing that for the kids over 10 who get the adult ticket, aren't they?

Oh it gets bad. And it doesn't help when the parents build the kids excitement for 8 months about riding Goofy and then when they get there they are 2" too short still. Is sucks all around because then these parents who are arguing with a CM hold up the line from anyone else getting in on top of all this.

 

[IzzyB]

That's when they start to get crafty, like asking the kid how old they are instead of the parent.

Yeah, that is why I am training my child now to say she is two and will continue way past her 3rd birthday... I know, I am awful, just awful

But at 40" I have awhile to go because my LO is only 35"

Oh it gets bad. And it doesn't help when the parents build the kids excitement for 8 months about riding Goofy and then when they get there they are 2" too short still. Is sucks all around because then these parents who are arguing with a CM hold up the line from anyone else getting in on top of all this.

Yeah I have seen tons of parents arguing too and I don't know why they don't measure them before they even get to the park. When we thought our daughter was 36" with her one pair of shoes we still didn't tell her she was going on anything until she actually got on. Because there was no way I was hyping her up until I knew she could ride. We measured her at home and it came to 36 1/2" but we were still too short by about a hair. One ride op still let her on because he didn't realize she was on her toes.

Now this is the thing, I would never argue with a ride op, if she doesn't hit the board with the top of her head, they can't magically make her taller. I also would never hold up the line. That is just stupid and you are not setting a good example for your kids. We have however put her "tallest" shoes on. We did not go buy special ones (in fact these were hand me downs from a friend and just happened to be taller than her other ones), nor would we stuff her shoes or anything else. But I don't think I am putting my kid at harm if she wears the shoes that make her an inch taller vs. the shoes that make her a 1/2 inch taller. Because all shoes make kids a little taller. Now if I go out and buy shoes that make her 5 inches taller, well that would be just insane and I would be putting my LO at risk. Stuffing shoes sounds like a bad idea all around.

There are parks that have you measure at the beginning. I have heard Kenny wood does this. I wonder if a stamp of some sort wouldn't be a better idea. Parents would not go and spend the money to replicate a stamp and the stamp could change daily to make it harder. They also could have measuring places (same places that sell upgrade tickets now) for if your stamp wears off. It really would solve the whole yelling at the ride op and holding up the line. And I agree with the charging when they reach that 40" mark. Because really that is when they are able to ride more things and a ticket is more worth it to buy for them.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

It's funny, because I've written to Disney Guest Services in the past recommending the height approach to children's ticket pricing.

One of the reasons why children's prices are typically cheaper than adult prices is because they cannot physically experience all of the attractions a full price-paying adult can. As such, it only seems logical to tie pricing to the number of attractions the child can experience.

Plus, it makes it much more difficult for parents to commit fraud by stating their kids are younger than they are in order to pay less.

I received a canned response basically saying such a system would be difficult to implement and negatively impact the guest experience. I could see it throwing a wrench in advance and online ticket sales, but they could quickly measure the kid prior to printing the tickets just as they do Driver's Licenses (for FL resident tickets) and Annual Passes (for AP-priced hard ticket events).

 

[Sideshow Mike]

After Disney raised their prices on Ssturday , UO followed suit. 1 day, 1 park ticket is now $94. 1 day, 2 park ticket is now $136.

 

[jtsalien]

2-day, 2 park up 17% to $195.99.