Walt Disney World Resort Update

Update for June 13 – June 19, 2011

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News and Views

This year's Walt Disney World ticket price hikes come earlier than usual | 2012 Dining Plan prices and packages released | Art of Animation suites now available for booking | “Let the Memories Begin Tour” brings promotion across the country | Construction update | Quick takes | Crowd update

This year's Walt Disney World ticket price hikes come earlier than usual

I posted a summary of this year's Walt Disney World ticket price hikes on my blog on Saturday morning after new pricing information for Walt Disney World ticket was released on Friday to be effective yesterday (link). I've updated that post with additional information and insights here.

Perhaps in an attempt to grab a little extra income at the expense of the large summer crowds, the Walt Disney World Resort (and Disneyland Resort) announced a ticket price hike Friday, June 10, effective on Sunday, June 12. For years, price hikes for Walt Disney World were announced in January; in 2006, with a second price hike in that calendar year, price hikes moved to the first Sunday in August. Last year, it was pushed back one week. This year, the date was moved up eight weeks, providing a last-minute price jolt to those summer visitors who had not already bought their tickets. It appears, though, that the strategy of announcing at the end of the day, effective two days later, is still apparently the preferred method of implementing the increase.

One-day, one-park tickets are up $3 for adults, to $85, and up $5 for children, to $79 (last year, the increase was $3 for adults, $6 for children). The Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options have both risen $1 to $55 (vs. $1 last year). Adult 10-day base tickets are up $29 to $291 (vs. $19 last year), with unexpiring 10-day tickets with both Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options jumping $43 to $626 (vs. $27 last year). 10-day base tickets for children are up $33 to $272 (vs. 29 last year), with their tricked-out price with all options leaping $47 to $607 (vs. $37 last year). The only price drop is in the cost of adding the Park Hopper option to a one-day pass, which drops to $35. Please note that all ticket prices in this story do not reflect the additional 6.5 percent sales tax, with the exception of Florida resident monthly-payment numbers, which represent actual payment costs.

Mid-year ticket price hikes provide a double boost: It provides a nice last-minute boost to the fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, and in this case a couple of weeks of third-quarter earnings (Disney's fiscal year ends at the end of September), and it puts the new prices out there in time for the publication cycle for guide books and for the start of booking for the following year's packages. With the new prices in effect, look for Disney Dining Plan prices to be locked in and resort prices to be set soon so that booking can be opened for all 2012 travel packages a little early this year.

If you'd like to compare the prices below to last year's prices, you can do that here.

Looking at the day-by-day cost increases, though, while the price jumps are still very high percentage-wise, the actual cost-per-day is a bit less scary (except for the first 2-3 days). Let's take a quick look at the incremental day-by-day costs:

Looking at this chart, you can see that the majority of the costs are still contained in the first three days. After that, the incremental cost of adding a fourth day drops tremendously, and adding a fifth through 10th day is just $8 per day (though it was just $5 last year). The increments have all risen this year, by anywhere between $2 and $5, but that's about it. The big buy-in is still swallowing the cost of the first three days. The cost differential for children ages 3-9 continues to shrink, however. With another $4 relative increase for kids, the difference between adult and child passes is now just $19 for passes of four days or longer. While the Disneyland Resort's top price difference has closed to $20 for six-day passes, the adult and child prices for all annual passes have been identical for some time.

One-day, one-park water park passes are up $3 to $49 for adults and up $1 to $41 for children. DisneyQuest has had a $1 jump, to $43 for adults and $37 for children. Wide World of Sports admission is up 94 cents for adults, to $13.55, while the children's price is still unchanged at $9.34. Tickets to Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba and annual passes for water parks and DisneyQuest are unchanged.

Theme park annual pass prices are also increasing. The Adult Annual Pass is up $20 to $519 and a child AP is up $28 to $478 (vs. $10 and $18 increases last year). Adult Premium Annual Pass increased $20 to $649, while the child PAP rose $31 to $598 (vs. $10 and $21). Adult Premium Annual Pass renewal prices match the increase at $20, while child Premium Annual Pass prices jump $50. The renewal discount drops even more on standard Annual Passes, as prices rise $80 for adults and $81 for children.

Disney Vacation Club members save $125 on a new adult Premium AP, $115 on a new child Premium AP or a renewal adult Premium AP, and $112 on a renewal child Premium AP. DVC Annual Pass discounts also drop, with savings of $100 on a new adult AP, $92 on a new child AP, $105 on a renewal adult AP, and $96 on a renewal child AP.

Florida resident Annual, Premium and Seasonal Passes are also rising. Premium prices are up $10 for adults and $19 for children. Premium AP child renewals are up $9. Standard AP prices are up $10 for adults and $16 for children, while renewal costs for a child AP are up $6. Renewal costs for adult standard and Premium APs are unchanged. Seasonal APs took a huge hit, with adult passes up $50 and child passes up $36 (perhaps the only pass where children took less of a hit than adults).

While the Premier Passport (good at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts) rises $49 to $749, it's still a great value when you consider that the cost of the passes individually (Walt Disney World at $649 and Disneyland at $449) is $1,098. That's a savings of $349. Of course, there's an argument to be made on consolidation of renewal dates vs. travel dates to each coast, but the net savings would likely still be sufficient to make it worthwhile.

Florida residents can also continue to buy monthly-payment Annual Passes of all types. For each pass, a down payment of $87.33 (including tax) must be made for adult tickets, $78.81 (including tax) for child tickets.

The price increase helps Disney to cover contractually obligated raises to employees and other rising costs of operating the theme parks and resorts. To help combat the affordability issue, Disney may continue to discount room rates and offer special pricing or Free Dining promotions, though with recent decreases in promotions, that might not happen. If they do, it would be so that Disney would continue to keep attendance up and rooms filled while the relative value of the park passes continues to increase. As the economy rebounds, instead of having to put a huge price increase in place to bring prices back to market value, Disney will just continue the decrease in promotions and have the net profits shoot back up. It’s a great way of preserving the relative market value of the park passes against the price increases in other entertainment venues (major league sports, movies, Broadway shows, ski passes, etc.).

2012 Dining Plan prices and packages released

The details of next year's dining plans are now available, and you can book your package trip for 2012 now on the Walt Disney World Web site or via phone. Packages can be booked up to 499 days in advance, so today you can book for stays with departure dates up to and including October 11, 2012.

In addition to the basic Dining Plan, the Deluxe Dining Plan also carries a variable price this year. There's a $2-$4 differential for adults and $1-$2 for children ages 3-9 on those plans for the peak seasons of February 16-25, March 9-April 14, June 1-August 4, and December 21-31. The basic plan price varies from $51.54 to $53.54 for adults and $15.02 to $16.02 for children, up $5.55 for adults and $3.03 for children. The Deluxe plan price runs $85.52-$89.52 for adults and $23.79-$25.79 for children, an increase of $6.53-$10.53 for adults and $1.80-$3.80 for children.

The Quick Service Dining Plan is unchanged at $34.99 for adults and $11.99 for children. The Premium and Platinum Dining Plans are both up $10 for both adults and children to $179 (adults) and $129 (children), and $239 (adults) and $170 (children), respectively.

Here's a run-down on the pricing for all dining plans:

The apparently underperforming Wine and Dine add-on package is not available for 2012.

There are a couple of changes to the dining plans for 2012. The Quick Service Dining Plan will feature only one snack per person per day, instead of 2 as is the case for 2011. Also, the standard Disney Dining Plan now includes a refillable mug for each member of the party, good for refills at the quick-service location in the resort that you're staying at.

One interesting thing to note is that, while all 2012 package prices reflect the new ticket prices (above), 2011 packages will still carry the current ticket prices. So if you're booking a vacation for later this year and there are no room discounts available, instead of booking room-only you could book a room-and-tickets package and save a few bucks on the ticket price differential.

Travel Insurance has increased immediately on 2011 packages as well as 2012 packages, to $69.95 per adult. AAA room-only discounts are available for 2012, as well as military discounts.

For more information, Disney offers PDF files for each plan: Quick Service Dining Plan, Dining Plan, Deluxe Dining Plan, Premium Plan, and Platinum Plan.

A big thanks to Sue Pisaturo of MousePlanet sponsor Small World Vacations for her help in running through all of the permutations and implications of the dining plan changes.

Art of Animation suites now available for booking

With the announcement of 2012 rates, new room inventory also opened up. Disney's Art of Animation Resort will begin operating next year. While the actual opening date is not fixed in stone, you can start making reservations at some of the sections of the resort now. (If the resort is ready to open earlier, the rooms will be made available at that time.) You can book family suites in the Finding Nemo-themed section for arrivals starting May 31. Cars-themed family suites will become available for booking on July 31. Lion King family suites can be booked for arrivals beginning September 30. There's no word yet as to when the Little Mermaid-themed suites will be available, or when the Finding Nemo-themed standard rooms will open up.

“Let the Memories Begin Tour” brings promotion across the country

To push the “Let the Memories Begin” campaign out from the parks across the country, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts is rolling a moving memory-maker through 17 cities over 17 consecutive weekends this summer. The “Let the Memories Begin Tour” began in Chicago on May 30-31, and has also visited Boston and New York City. This coming weekend, the tour will visit Washington, D.C., and will then head to Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and eight more cities in the United States and Canada, including its closing weekend September 23-24 in Puerto Rico.

The tour will feature a virtual photo opportunity, where you can appear in a photo with a background and props from a Disney Parks location, such as the Jungle Cruise or Cinderella Castle. You'll be able to download those photos or create your own virtual photo with an image of your own, as well as enter a sweepstakes sponsored by Southwest Airlines to win a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland at the tour's website.

Construction update

Here is the listing of interesting items from paperwork filed with Orange County in the last week:

• Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion – electrical work.
• Magic Kingdom Plaza Restaurant area cast gate – construction.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – trailer installation.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios Toy Story Midway Mania – electrical work.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios – awning refurbishment.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios – electrical conduit installation.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom front entrance lift station work area – plumbing work.
• Downtown Disney Marketplace restroom building – carpentry work.
• Downtown Disney Pleasure Island T-Rex Cafe – installation of temporary sign while permanent sign is being refurbished.
• Grand Floridian Villas project – installation of temporary path with landscaping work.
• Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground loop 300 comfort station – electrical work.
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista (Downtown Disney Area Hotel) – replacement of existing heater with two new natural gas heaters.

Quick takes …

…Victoria & Albert's at the Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa has again received the AAA Five-Diamond Award, the organization's highest honor for restaurants. Victoria & Albert's has received the award 11 of the last 12 years. It's the only restaurant in Central Florida, and one of only three in Florida, to receive the award. Only 55 restaurants in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico received five diamonds for 2011.

…Cruise Critic, the world largest cruise review site, has announced the winners of the first-ever Cruiser's Choice Awards. The Disney Magic took third place Best Overall in the mid-sized ship category. In categories where ships of all sizes competed together, the Disney Wonder took 5th place in the Best for Cabins category, while the Magic came in 8th. The Wonder and Magic came in one and two in the Best Entertainment category, yet the Wonder placed 4th in Best for Families and the Magic didn't make the top 10 there. The Magic placed 7th for Best Public Rooms. The Magic was 2nd and the Wonder 10th in the Best for Service category. Neither made the top 10 in the Best for Dining, Embarkation, Fitness, Shore Excursions, or Value categories. The Disney Dream will be able to compete starting with next year's awards.

…The 8th Festival Disney competitive youth music festival will take place on select weekends from March 9, 2012 through May 5, 2012, and June 1-2, 2012. Young instrumental, vocal, and auxiliary groups will compete in the event.

…Registration is now open for all races during the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend of October 1. Sign up now for the Half Marathon, Half Marathon Relay, Disney Family Fun Run 5K, and Disney Kids' Races. Registration for the individual half marathon is now 79 percent full, and the half marathon relay is 56 percent full. Kids races are 52 percent full.

…Registration for the events for the Walt Disney World Marathon 2012 (on the weekend of January 7) is now open. Note: Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge is now 74 percent full!

Crowd update

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Coming up

• June 12 to July 31: Sounds Like Summer concert series.
• September 7-8: Nights of Joy.
• September 30, October 1: Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. Registration now open.
• September 30 to November 13: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
• November 11–13: Festival of the Masters.
• November 20–23: Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.
• November 24–25, 27: Old Spice Classic.
• January 5–8, 2012: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Registration now open.
• February 24-26, 2012: Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend. Registration opens July 5.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Mickey's Toontown Fair – closed permanently to make way for Fantasyland expansion.
• Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management – closed since January 13, due to a fire. Expected to reopen with its original, classic show on August 16.
• Fronterland Shootin' Arcade – closed for refurbishment June 8-September 30.

Epcot

• No known current refurbishments.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Voyage of The Little Mermaid – closed for refurbishment August 13-September 3.

Animal Kingdom

• Primeval Whirl – closed for refurbishment through September 14, 2011.

Resorts

• Saratoga Springs Resort – Paddock Leisure Pool closed through June 29 for expansion into a new feature pool, wet play area, and quick-service eatery. During the renovations, the Paddock bus stop and laundry facility will also be closed. Guests can use the High Rock Spring pool near the Carriage House or the leisure pools at Congress Park or The Grandstand. Nearby bus stops can be found at The Springs, Congress Park and The Carousel. Alternate laundry facilities are located at The Springs and Congress Park.

Water Parks

• Blizzard Beach – closes for annual refurbishment October 30.

Elsewhere

• Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Current Discounts & Promotions

Free dining returns

Last week, a two-tiered free dining package was announced for Disney Visa Rewards cardholders, and the package becomes available to the general public today. The free dining plan is available for stays August 28 through September 24. The deal includes lodging, base Magic Your Way passes (you can upgrade them with any of the available add-ons), a 20-page Disney's PhotoPass Photo Book, and the free dining plan. Additional pages may be added to your Photo Book, at standard cost, if you wish.

If you choose a Value resort for your stay, you'll receive the free Quick Service Dining Plan (two quick-service meals and two snacks per person per night, plus one resort refillable drink mug per person). If you'd prefer to stay at a Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa Resort, you'll get the free standard Disney Dining Plan (one table- service meal, one quick-service meal, and one snack per person per night). Those at Value resorts can upgrade their Quick Service Dining Plan to the standard plan for the difference in the plan's cost. The dining plans do not include gratuities or alcoholic beverages.

One thing to note here: Since these dates are already within the 180-day booking window, some table-service restaurants might already be booked solid. Don't count on having the ability to book any specific restaurant without checking first. Of course, if dining is the most important part of your trip, you can book your dining reservations first to lock in your favorites, then find a resort for those nights. You can always cancel the dining reservations if you can't get a resort for those dates.

You can book through August 27 while availability lasts, but reservations may go fast. The discount codes for the Disney Rewards Visa package are I25 for Value resorts and O2M for Moderates and above. The codes for the general public were not available at publication time.

Reservations may be booked through the Walt Disney World website, by calling Walt Disney World at 407-939-7211, or your travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com and Small World Vacations.

New room-only discount for late summer/early fall

If your travel dates don't quite link up with the free-dining promotion, or if you'd rather get a room-only discount and buy your food yourself, you're in luck. A new room-only discount has been released for Walt Disney World stays Sunday through Thursday nights during the period from August 14 through October 1, 2011. Rates start at $69 per night for Value resorts, $129 for Moderate resorts, $189 for Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and $209 for Disney's Saratoga Springs and Old Key West Resorts. Note that these rates are not available for Friday and Saturday nights.

The offer does not includes suites or three-bedroom Grand Villas. Some other restrictions apply and the number of rooms available is limited. You can book your reservation now through August 13.

Reservations may be booked through the Walt Disney World website, by calling Walt Disney World at 407-939-7837, or your travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are Small World Vacations and MouseEarVacations.com.

Passholder discounts released for summer

Walt Disney World has announced a new set of passholder discounts for stays through mid-August. The discounts provide 20 percent-35 percent off for stays most nights from June 3 through August 13. Disney'sAnimal Kingdom Lodge and Disney's Polynesian Resort are excluded for all dates, and Disney's Wilderness Lodge is excluded June 3-14. Passholders will save 35 percent at Deluxe Villa resorts, 30 percent at Deluxe resorts, and 20 percent at Moderate and Value resorts.

Passholders can book through the day before arrival. Beware, though as rooms may go fast. The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Suites and three-bedroom Grand Villas are not included. An adult passholder must show their pass at check-in. Minimum length of stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals.

Reservations may be booked through the Walt Disney World passholder website, by calling Walt Disney World at 407-939-7414, or your travel agent and using booking code QT9. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com and Small World Vacations.

Passholder merchandise discounts extended through 2011

Walt Disney World passholder merchandise discounts have been extended through the end of 2011. Epcot After 4pm, Weekday Select, Seasonal and Annual Passholders get 10 percent off purchases at selected locations, while Premium Annual Passholders (including bicoastal Premier Annual Passholders) get 20 percent off. The discount is available at Walt Disney World-owned and operated shops, but not those stores owned by “operating participants” (third-party stores). The discount is also not valid on a long list of products, and can not be combined with other discounts, offers or promotions. For a full list of what is not included in this discount, check out the Art of Disney Parks Web site.

Military ticket offer

From now through September 28, 2011, active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with either the Park Hopper or Water Parks Fun and More option for $138 per ticket, plus tax, or with both the Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun and More options for $165 per ticket, plus tax. No Base ticket is available with this offer.

The tickets expire and may not be used after October 1, 2011. The tickets may not be used at the Magic Kingdom on July 4, 2011.

Disney has stated that the offer will be extended through September 2012, but as of press time the Walt Disney World website has not been updated to reflect this.

Eligible service members include active or retired members of the U.S. military including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists. Disney Military Promotional Tickets can be purchased at Shades of Green or at a participating military base (MWR/ITT) office. There is no tax charged for these tickets but they must be activated at a theme park ticket window. Tickets may also be purchased at Walt Disney World Park Ticket Offices and Guest Relations Offices where tax will be charged. No more than six tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or their spouse, but not both) for themselves, family members, and friends, and all tickets must be purchased at the same time. If the immediate family has more than five dependents, additional tickets may be purchased for the dependents, however, additional tickets for guests may not be purchased. Valid military identification is required. The tickets are non-transferable and may not be resold.

The tickets may be upgraded to Seasonal Passes or Florida Resident Weekday Select Passes (for Florida Residents), or Annual Passes, Premium Annual Passes, or Disney Premier Pass with credit toward the upgrade based on the actual price paid. The no-expiration option and other upgrades, such as additional days, are not available.

For complete information regarding Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets, military personnel may call 407-939-7830 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices.

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Mark here