Universal Price Increase - 2014

[Felipe]

Obviously any price increase sucks, but I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it just hurts less coming from Universal seeing all the work and investment going into the parks, directly benefiting the guests, with new attractions and improvements all around.

 

[jtsalien]

Obviously any price increase sucks, but I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it just hurts less coming from Universal seeing all the work and investment going into the parks, directly benefiting the guests, with new attractions and improvements all around.

Meh. That's just putting a PR spin on it. They're doing it because they can, not because they've been spending. They raised the prices in the Dark Ages, and will as much as they can in the future. If anything, you can argue they didn't need the extra money anymore because of the recent success. But that didn't matter.

 

[DufflesMcGee]

Obviously any price increase sucks, but I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it just hurts less coming from Universal seeing all the work and investment going into the parks, directly benefiting the guests, with new attractions and improvements all around.

If it means the park well flourish AND they can keep expanding, adding new jobs and increase tourism in Florida, Ill be the first to give them the money they earned

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Meh. That's just putting a PR spin on it. They're doing it because they can, not because they've been spending. They raised the prices in the Dark Ages, and will as much as they can in the future. If anything, you can argue they didn't need the extra money anymore because of the recent success. But that didn't matter.

Wouldn't you be happy if comcast realizes that these park were such a success and the price increase was a good move that they decide to increase the budget, again?

 

[jtsalien]

Wouldn't you be happy if comcast realizes that these park were such a success and the price increase was a good move that they decide to increase the budget, again?

That's irrelevant. Let's just not pretend that Comcast is a benevolent charity. They're raising prices to make more money. Not cover costs.

 

[DufflesMcGee]

That's irrelevant. Let's just not pretend that Comcast is a benevolent charity. They're raising prices to make more money. Not cover costs.

But they're increasing our satisfaction and experience, yes?

 

[Miketheboss]

Obviously any price increase sucks, but I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it just hurts less coming from Universal seeing all the work and investment going into the parks, directly benefiting the guests, with new attractions and improvements all around.

Many of there improvements are shops/restraunts for us to spend more money. They dont need to raise prices, they want to.

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But they're increasing our satisfaction and experience, yes?

Because we have allowed them to. People on here act like Universal is doing us favors. I'm paying nearly $400 (Admission,food,stay) for myself to be there, so they better be putting out.

 

[DufflesMcGee]

Many of there improvements are shops/restraunts for us to spend more money. They dont need to raise prices, they want to.

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Because we have allowed them to. People on here act like Universal is doing us favors. I'm paying nearly $400 (Admission,food,stay) for myself to be there, so they better be putting out.

Because we allowed them to? Okay, next time im going to catch on to their tricks and try not to be satisfied...

Come on, they've earned it. Not like GE or vivendi. Comcast is doing awesome

 

[Felipe]

Meh. That's just putting a PR spin on it. They're doing it because they can, not because they've been spending. They raised the prices in the Dark Ages, and will as much as they can in the future. If anything, you can argue they didn't need the extra money anymore because of the recent success. But that didn't matter.

Many of there improvements are shops/restraunts for us to spend more money. They dont need to raise prices, they want to.

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Because we have allowed them to. People on here act like Universal is doing us favors. I'm paying nearly $400 (Admission,food,stay) for myself to be there, so they better be putting out.

Obviously, and I'm not disagreeing. That's not my point. Read my statement again :thumbs:

It "SUCKS" ... but it "HURTS LESS" because ...

 

[Miketheboss]

Because we allowed them to? Okay, next time im going to catch on to their tricks and try not to be satisfied...

Come on, they've earned it. Not like GE or vivendi. Comcast is doing awesome

We have given them our money to go ahead and make these awesome improvements. They have earned it. Didn't say they haven't. I just hate when people act like they are doing favors, I'm paying good money so its expected. Now if admission was $35, that's different. But their will be a point that people will not be able to afford it.

 

[jtsalien]

Obviously, and I'm not disagreeing. That's not my point. Read my statement again :thumbs:

It "SUCKS" ... but it "HURTS LESS because" ...

I know. Didn't mean to put words in your mouth Felipe :thumbs:

I'm just tired of people pretending NBC Mega Corp Universal craps rainbows and unicorns. They're an evil corporation at heart, too

 

[Miketheboss]

Obviously, and I'm not disagreeing. That's not my point. Read my statement again :thumbs:

It "SUCKS" ... but it "HURTS LESS" because ...

I wasn't talking about you!!! lmao

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I know. Didn't mean to put words in your mouth Felipe :thumbs:

I'm just tired of people pretending NBC Mega Corp Universal craps rainbows and unicorns. They're an evil corporation at heart, too

Couldn't have said it better. :rofl:

 

[DufflesMcGee]

We have given them our money to go ahead and make these awesome improvements. They have earned it. Didn't say they haven't. I just hate when people act like they are doing favors, I'm paying good money so its expected. Now if admission was $35, that's different. But their will be a point that people will not be able to afford it.

And that tipping point will come where they realize that increased prices at the door either means less people or less money spend within. And when that comes they will adjust

 

[Felipe]

I'm just tired of people pretending NBC Mega Corp Universal craps rainbows and unicorns. They're an evil corporation at heart, too

Yeah, I'm certainly not denying that :thumbs: and I don't think most people believe that either. I think Uni and Comcast get props from most of us here because of how they've turned around the resort and they keep improving our experience. The investments might be more selling points, and even tax write offs, that just help fill their pockets even more... but at the same time, our experience as guests at the resort just keeps improving by leaps and bounds. So, while both things are true, what's happening to the resort is certainly satisfying to us as guests, so we find some comfort and appeasement in that whenever crap happens (such as price increases).

If they reach a point where the resort stops improving or starts to go in a decline, and then they raise prices, I will be a lot more upset.

You know what I mean?

 

[jtsalien]

Yeah, I'm certainly not denying that :thumbs: and I don't think most people believe that either. I think Uni and Comcast get props from most of us here because of how they've turned around the resort and they keep improving our experience. The investments might be more selling points, and even tax write offs, that just help fill their pockets even more... but at the same time, our experience as guests at the resort just keeps improving by leaps and bounds. So, while both things are true, what's happening to the resort is certainly satisfying to us as guests, so we find some comfort and appeasement in that whenever crap happens (such as price increases).

If they reach a point where the resort stops improving or starts to go in a decline, and then they raise prices, I will be a lot more upset.

You know what I mean?

I do. I just don't shake the fact that when they were in the decline they just came out of, they still raised ticket prices like a solider following the orders of WDW. But now when they're the one's in the drivers seat, they're the ones who would have made waves standing pat during such expansion, they chose not to. On the cusp of what is sure to be their most successful summer ever, they bring out their biggest price increase ever (Tell me if I'm wrong, I just don't remember anyone jumping 17% in one year).

They could have changed the way this works, but they didn't. That's why I'm not giving them a pass.

 

[Thor]

Many of there improvements are shops/restraunts for us to spend more money. They dont need to raise prices, they want to.

Yes, you are right. All Disney is adding in WDW is shops and restaurants for us to spend more money. But hey, we now get to book ride reservations 60 days in advance, if you are lucky, and can wear these plastic bands! Price increase to $99 a day for MK justified!!!!!!

 

[Nick]

Yes, you are right. All Disney is adding in WDW is shops and restaurants for us to spend more money. But hey, we now get to book ride reservations 60 days in advance, if you are lucky, and can wear these plastic bands! Price increase to $99 a day for MK justified!!!!!!

Not everything has to be brought back to WDW to justify things at Universal. The fact of the matter is many of the things they have been building are in fact geared towards separating money from our pockets. Not that there's too much of a problem with that. Everything they've built so far has been themed beautifully and the F&B options are unique enough to make it worth the occasional splurge.

 

[Mad Dog]

Heh, I'm a tourist but I get the AP, which is really cheap, and I use it twice a year on two "2 week vacations". Less than $10 a day. It's significantly less than the WDW AP, which I won't pay for. So, yes, the single day pass is expensive, but I've never even considered buying a one or two day pass. When I do go to WDW I get the 10 day pass, which isn't nearly as good as the Universal AP, but it's not bad at apx. $35 or so a day. The key to the theme parks is to do multiple days, slow up and enjoy the parks, then the cost isn't prohibitive. I think the key right now is that Universal is putting profits back into park attractions while Disney is mired in their Next Gen cost debacle. But we still enjoy both resorts, but Universal a bit more with the affordable deluxe onsite hotels, Express Pass and close proximity of everything in the resort. We find that Universal is a more relaxing vacation than Disney, primarily for those reasons.

 

[Felipe]

I do. I just don't shake the fact that when they were in the decline they just came out of, they still raised ticket prices like a solider following the orders of WDW. But now when they're the one's in the drivers seat, they're the ones who would have made waves standing pat during such expansion, they chose not to. On the cusp of what is sure to be their most successful summer ever, they bring out their biggest price increase ever (Tell me if I'm wrong, I just don't remember anyone jumping 17% in one year).

They could have changed the way this works, but they didn't. That's why I'm not giving them a pass.

Yeah, I definitely understand your perspective. And I also agree that it was sh*tty when they raised prices in the past, while nothing was going on, and the resort wasn't in the best shape and it was at a stand-still.

Not everything has to be brought back to WDW to justify things at Universal. The fact of the matter is many of the things they have been building are in fact geared towards separating money from our pockets. Not that there's too much of a problem with that. Everything they've built so far has been themed beautifully and the F&B options are unique enough to make it worth the occasional splurge.

I will admit to being guilty of that, but it's hard not to when they are the top two in the biz.
Regardless, my feelings really remain the same whether I'm comparing Universal to Disney, or Universal nowadays to Universal 5+ years ago. When they raised prices before, it sucked and we weren't getting much; when they raise prices now, at least the resort has new offerings and experiences, so at least the general value has increased and it's not purely inflation.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

I'm just praying the cheap APs stay after Potter.

 

[shiekra38]

I'm just praying the cheap APs stay after Potter.

Let us pray...Universal has always been the best value when it comes to APs...even the Sea World Parks can't compare IMO

Not everything has to be brought back to WDW to justify things at Universal. The fact of the matter is many of the things they have been building are in fact geared towards separating money from our pockets. Not that there's too much of a problem with that. Everything they've built so far has been themed beautifully and the F&B options are unique enough to make it worth the occasional splurge.

The "Well, we're here might as well" mentality works very well when you have unique Food, Beverage and Merch. If Universal keeps this up they will be able to ask for more.