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Disney World 2014 Price Increases



By Dave Shute

Walt Disney World has now released prices for the key components of 2014 visits–tickets, resort hotels, and the dining plan.

Prices have generally gone up–but not all of them, and less so than last year.

DISNEY WORLD 2014 PRICE INCREASES IN CONTEXT

Disney World 2014 PricesDisney World ticket prices went up (effective immediately) in June.

The actual increase varied by which ticket type and number of ticket days you are targeting, but for the most commonly bought options, prices went up about 6%. Last year, these same prices went up about 9%.

In later June, Dining Plan prices went up–also, in a change from past practice (when plan increases went in effect the next January) effective immediately.

Prices again vary by plan, but the “regular” dining plan prices went up about 6.5% for those 10 and older, and 10% for those younger than 10.  Last year, the prices went up 14% and 8% respectively.

Wednesday, resort hotel prices for 2014 were announced. These are more complicated–but the story is the same–generally, less of an increase than last year.*

Last year value resort prices went up (as an average across all the seasonal prices) about 7.5%.  But at the same time, mini-fridges, which had been a $10 optional upcharge, became standard and built into the price, so that for those who would have paid to get the fridges, prices actually went down.

This year, with a couple of minor weekend exceptions in one or two price seasons, value prices are unchanged–that is, not increased–at the four older value resorts (Pop Century and the All-Stars).

Art of Animation is a different story–Little Mermaid room prices are up across the board, from 3-5%, and so are Family Suites, up 4.6-5.3%

At the moderates, prices are also largely unchanged compared to 2013, except for the fall season, up 2.5% on weekdays and 5.6% on weekends. (By the way, the combination of these last two points–moderates unchanged, and standard Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation going up, is bringing Little Mermaid prices awfully close to moderate prices–see the chart here.)

Last year, moderate prices went up on average 3.5%.  So this year’s no price increase–for most seasons–is a big deal.

Deluxe resort prices in 2014 are up across the board–but again less than last year, when prices went up ~3%.  For 2014, prices are up in every season, but only 1.4% to 1.9%.

So the net effect is that while a Disney World vacation is now more expensive–no surprise there–many components didn’t go up at all, and pretty much everything went up less than last year.

WHY THE MODERATION IN DISNEY WORLD PRICE INCREASES COMPARED TO 2013?

“Moderation” is kind of a funny word to use for Disney World’s grab at your wallets, but for comparisons with 2013 prices announced in the summer of 2012, it is fair.

My guess is that there’s a couple of thing behind Disney World’s relative restraint (another funny word to use…) in pricing, and both are related to changes in the competitive terrain.

When Disney set prices last year, it knew New Fantasyland was opening, and hoped Fastpass+ would be in place for much of 2013.  It both expected these to create value for guests and needed to recapture its return on investment in them.

So prices were bumped accordingly. Moreover, none of its major competitors was opening anything nearly as significant, creating no competitive reason to moderate price rises.

In 2014, the competitive terrain is very different.

Universal Orlando will be opening its first new hotel in years, and Harry Potter will see a major expansion sometime in the summer. While Disney World will be opening the last elements of the Fantasyland expansion and implementing Fastpass+, both of these are largely already priced in, given the increases for 2013.

So that’s my take–moderate price increases because of increased competitive pressures in 2014

What do you think?

*Resort price conclusions are based on standard rooms at a sample of 8 resorts covering 8 or so major price seasons each.

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10 comments

1 Renee { 07.14.13 at 12:39 pm }

Good article and nice to know! Hoping to make a 2014 visit and have been crunching the numbers. With the increased competition next year offering new attractons, do you think it may benefit the consumer (me) hoping to see more promotions/discounts (free dining in late August) for next year?

2 Dave { 07.15.13 at 8:07 am }

Hi Renee, there was no free dining this August so just based on that I’d bet against it next August. But I do expect to see room deals for then…

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3 Lindsey { 07.15.13 at 9:09 am }

Hi Dave,
Love your site! I refer to it all the time! My family and I are booked for January 25th- February 1 at two rooms at pop century. We consist of my husband, myself, two 6 year old, one 2 year old, a 5 month old and two grandparents. This will be our 3rd time at disney and we feel January will be great because of weather, crowds and prices. However, I’m wondering if you forecast any type of discount for that time? I see that you think free dining might happen through December and I’m wondering if anything like that will be available when we attend. Thanks for your help and look forward to hearing from you!!

4 Dave { 07.16.13 at 7:39 am }

Hi Lindsey and thanks! I’m almost certain there will be a room rate deal then. Free dining is a lot harder to forecast…

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5 Tom { 07.16.13 at 10:49 am }

Dave,

Can’t wait to go in 365 days to AoA again! And online prices, without promotion they say, look indeed higher. One comment: do you plan to talk about Waterparks? or are they out of scope?
Regards!

6 Dave { 07.17.13 at 7:41 am }

Hey Tom! The waterparks are cool when the weather is warm, but like extended visits into Downtown Disney, don’t fit into my 9-day itineraries, and are very iffy during my top-ranked weeks. So while I’m sure I’ll write about them someday, there’s no rush…

7 Tom { 07.17.13 at 10:42 am }

Dave, I see.
Got the point. Although, if you allow me to say this, I think they deserve an entry because when you make your reservation online you get the option of water-fun and many people do not know what is it all about and perhaps skip them.
I have been to both parks in May, and had terrific times! So, in my humble opinion, I think they should deserve one entry with some facts. My two cents.
Cheers!

8 Dave { 07.18.13 at 7:47 am }

Oh I agree I should write about them, Tom! It’s just that since they aren’t in my itineraries, they are a lower priority…

9 meagan { 07.28.13 at 5:30 pm }

Hello i am planning a trip in February from feb 3 to the 7th do you know if there will be any discounts then? thank you very much

10 Dave { 07.29.13 at 6:35 am }

Hi Meagan, there may be room rate discounts then!

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