Report: Rising Disney World Ticket Costs Prompting Many Parents To Leave Children At Home

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Report: Rising Disney World Ticket Costs Prompting Many Parents To Leave Children At Home

Report: Rising Disney World Ticket Costs Prompting Many Parents To Leave Children At Home

With an individual single-day ticket costing $105, most parents have no choice but to leave their kids in their Orlando-area hotel room for the day while they visit the Magic Kingdom on their own.
NEWS
July 30, 2015
VOL 51 ISSUE 30
Money * Kids * Lifestyle
BAY LAKE, FL"Citing the 75 percent increase in ticket prices over the past decade, a report published Thursday by consumer research firm McGann & Associates found that the rising cost of admission to Walt Disney World is prompting more parents to leave their children at home when visiting the popular resort.

According to the study, while real wages in the U.S. have remained stagnant over the past 30 years, the price of a one-day theme park pass has increased fivefold, a development that is forcing many mothers and fathers to drop off their kids with relatives or family friends before traveling by themselves to patronize the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, or any of Disney World's other properties.

"For most U.S. households, the previously common practice of taking the whole family for a long weekend to Disney World is now simply out of reach, leaving parents with no choice but to go to the park on their own," said the report's author, Marie Dolan, who added that the average family simply does not have enough in savings to buy more than two tickets at their current cost of $105 apiece, a price that she was quick to point out did not even include a water park add-on option. "A family earning the national average could at one time afford not only tickets, but also three nights in an onsite Disney hotel. But now, principal wage-earners must make tough sacrifices, which usually means leaving the young ones behind while Mom and Dad go off to ride all the rides and visit with all the Disney characters."

"Nowadays, if you look around Disney World, it's mostly just mothers and fathers who are waiting in lines for the attractions or taking one another's photos in front of the Haunted Mansion," Dolan added.

Even for parents who try to cut costs by purchasing five-day value passes or restricting their visits to just Disney's Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom, the resulting savings reportedly aren't enough to allow them to bring the entire family along. In the best-case scenarios, Dolan conceded that a couple could theoretically be able to scrimp sufficiently to take just one of their children, provided his or her siblings were left with a caretaker who could look after them free of charge.

"I have so many great memories from when my own parents brought me and my brothers here, and we all rode Space Mountain and watched the Country Bear Jamboree together"but my wife, Danielle, and I just didn't have enough money to bring our own daughters," said resort guest and father of two Paul Gomez, 36, speaking to reporters while holding a Mickey Mouse"shaped ice cream bar and wearing the park's iconic mouse ears hat. "I wanted more than anything to give our kids the same amazing experience I had, but with all our bills and mortgage payments, we could only cover a pair of airline tickets and park passes. I know my girls would have loved going on Splash Mountain, getting off the ride, and then rushing to get back in line with us today."

"Maybe things will turn around in a few years and we'll be able to bring [Gomez's daughters] Zadie and Erika, but until then it's going to be just me and my wife at the character breakfast with Belle and the Beast," Gomez added.

Numerous other parents, including Jessica and Raymond Huebel of Provo, UT, said they had hoped to give their children at least a glimpse of the fun they were having at Disney World by bringing home a set of high-quality pictures, but expressed dismay that they weren't able to cover even the most modest Memory Maker photo packages the park offers. According to the Huebels, their tight budget only allowed them to purchase a single 11-by-14-inch glossy photo of the two of them riding Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which they said they intended to hang in their own master bedroom.

"Just walking up Main Street, U.S.A. and seeing Cinderella's Castle in the distance"I would have loved to turn to my son at that moment and see him smile," said Jessica Huebel shortly after hugging both Chip and Dale in Frontierland. "But my husband says we'll barely have enough gas money for the trip home as it is."

"I just hope prices don't keep going up too much," she added. "Otherwise, during the next visit I'll probably be riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad by myself."

http://www.theonion.com/article/report-rising-disney-world-ticket-costs-prompting--50967

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eek The day my son says he doesn't want to go back, is the day I say farewell Mickey, it was great while it lasted..I agree about the prices, especially for one day..Our 14 day ultimate park hopper from the UK is great value, however I just can't see my wife and I going to Disney ourselves..A huge part of the magic is being together as a family..This of course is only my opinion as I have many friends on other sites who go as adults only as their kids have flown the nest, so to speak..Maybe it's an age thing with me as I never became a parent until I was 45 years of age wheelchair ..

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Mr. Watchmaker! I'm around your age and go just me and hubby (or even just me, although Robyn is usually involved when that happens) fairly often. I have no kids, although the cats keep trying to stow away in our luggage - I think they've heard about the mouse infestation down there. Anyway, never say never because you never know. I never thought I'd ever go, then I did, and now I intend to keep going until I'm dust in an urn.

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Back on topic - gotta love the Onion. laugh

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Haha! Good one. laugh

If it weren't for the fact that MK is swamped with kids more than ever and there is no "McGann & Associates" consumer research firm, it might be half believable. LOL.

I take it the Onion is a tabloid of some sort?

Fake News - Parents Leave Kids at Home

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crazycatperson wrote:
Mr. Watchmaker! I'm around your age and go just me and hubby (or even just me, although Robyn is usually involved when that happens) fairly often. I have no kids, although the cats keep trying to stow away in our luggage - I think they've heard about the mouse infestation down there. Anyway, never say never because you never know. I never thought I'd ever go, then I did, and now I intend to keep going until I'm dust in an urn.

I suppose we are like the three musketeers..One for all..All for one..lol...

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Yeah, spoof- here's another

Disney World Forced To Euthanize Character That Attacked Visitor

NEWS IN BRIEF
June 23, 2015
VOL 51 ISSUE 25
News
ORLANDO, FL"Explaining that the decision was deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of park patrons, officials at Disney World announced Wednesday that they had been forced to euthanize a character that attacked a visitor over the weekend. "Obviously, this was an unfortunate situation, and we do everything possible to prevent such incidents; however, our policy clearly states that when a character threatens or injures a guest, we have no choice but to put him or her down," Disney World spokesman Don Milhiser said of the encounter in which the Dale character in the Frontierland portion of the park became defensive during a meet-and-greet and viciously clawed a 9-year-old visitor. "He's very protective of Chip, and we think the girl just approached a little too quickly for a photo. We considered relocating Dale to a different section of the park, but we couldn't risk this happening with another guest, especially in light of last year's Eeyore incident." Disney World officials closed their press conference by reminding visitors to avoid any sudden movements, maintain their distance, and refrain from making direct eye contact with any of the characters.

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Love the onion! biggrin

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Haha! You had me going for a bit. I've never heard of the Onion before. LOL.

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The Watchmaker wrote:
eek The day my son says he doesn't want to go back, is the day I say farewell Mickey.

WHY!?! Going without the kids is a whole new experience to be enjoyed. While I love going with the kids, my husband and I are equally happy to just get away on our own. muchlove

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I totally agree with Kristen K. We enjoy going to the parks with our adult kids, but WDW is still enjoyable by ourselves date . And cheaper awesome

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Kristen K. wrote:
The Watchmaker wrote:
eek The day my son says he doesn't want to go back, is the day I say farewell Mickey.

WHY!?! Going without the kids is a whole new experience to be enjoyed. While I love going with the kids, my husband and I are equally happy to just get away on our own. muchlove

Sorry, but it ain't gonna happen..A Disney vacation without my son, is like a dole whip without the pineapple..And I'm 100% sure my other half would agree...Or to put it another way..O'Hanna means family, and family means no one gets left behind..

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Mine and my wife's 25th anniversary trip in Aug 2013 was our first WDW trip without the kiddos. We only had one of the three girls left at home by this time, and once she was assured that her graduation trip to WDW the next May would not be affected, she had no problem with it.

The logistics of a two-person trip are so much simpler, but we often found ourselves thinking or saying "I wish he/she could see this", or something of that sort.

Once we are empty-nesters, I foresee more trips to WDW that are just the two of us. But, I don't have to fly "across the pond" to get to WDW!

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jrice4760 wrote:
Mine and my wife's 25th anniversary trip in Aug 2013 was our first WDW trip without the kiddos. We only had one of the three girls left at home by this time, and once she was assured that her graduation trip to WDW the next May would not be affected, she had no problem with it.

The logistics of a two-person trip are so much simpler, but we often found ourselves thinking or saying "I wish he/she could see this", or something of that sort.

Once we are empty-nesters, I foresee more trips to WDW that are just the two of us. But, I don't have to fly "across the pond" to get to WDW!

gaah I dread that day when he flys away.. sad

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Thank goodness we still have a great time without the kids. I do enjoy the family trips that now happen every 2 or 3 years but I still like our alone trips the best. I too wondered what the first trip without the boys would be like. It did not take long to discover that Disney is a whole new world without kids.

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Watchmaker, I agree that WDW with our kids is much more enjoyable pillowfight , but they do grow up to make their own lives and memories with their spouse/kids.

But it's not the end of the WDWorld. mickey We now enjoy a new more relaxing side of WDW, which we occasionally spend with them stars .

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I do understand where you adults are coming from.. muchlove ..Honest...Iam still a big kid at heart when it comes to a Disney vacation...It feels like it's been a Disney adventure for me..2004 was the beginning for us and our boy was only 6 years old, he barely came up to my waist in height and his voice was not yet broken.. laugh ...So as our trips went past..2006...2008...2010...2012...and last year 2014, our memories are very precious to us..He now stands taller than me at 6"1"( Iam 6" ) and has a deeper voice than me..lol...Who knows, maybe 2016, our next vacation, may not be the end of the road...I seriously hope not.. crossfingers

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Watchmaker, I get what you're saying. But someday, when your no-longer-wee lad takes his own family on their first visit to WDW, perhaps the grandparents can go along?

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crazycatperson wrote:
Watchmaker, I get what you're saying. But someday, when your no-longer-wee lad takes his own family on their first visit to WDW, perhaps the grandparents can go along?

wheelchair Sniff..sniff..sob..sob..Have you got the elixir of life.?...Please send me some..The time my boy gets married and decides to start a family, I'll be in my hundreds...I'll be watching tho from high in the sky.. sad

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The Watchmaker wrote:
ike a dole whip without the pineapple..

But the citrus swirl is the best kind! *ducks* biggrin

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LOL The Onion is hilarious.

Watchmaker, I came home from my first trip and swore I had no interest in going back for at least a few years...I went back 9 months late, then 3 months after that and now 12 months after that.
Never say never. While it seems like you could never go without your son because you've made so many great memories, I'm willing to put money on it that you'll go without your son and will make all new, but different, memories with just your lovely wife. muchlove

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TinkASL wrote:
LOL The Onion is hilarious.

Watchmaker, I came home from my first trip and swore I had no interest in going back for at least a few years...I went back 9 months late, then 3 months after that and now 12 months after that.
Never say never. While it seems like you could never go without your son because you've made so many great memories, I'm willing to put money on it that you'll go without your son and will make all new, but different, memories with just your lovely wife. muchlove

Besides... How will her Disney D&B collection grow???? waiting

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JMed wrote:
TinkASL wrote:
LOL The Onion is hilarious.

Watchmaker, I came home from my first trip and swore I had no interest in going back for at least a few years...I went back 9 months late, then 3 months after that and now 12 months after that.
Never say never. While it seems like you could never go without your son because you've made so many great memories, I'm willing to put money on it that you'll go without your son and will make all new, but different, memories with just your lovely wife. muchlove

Besides... How will her Disney D&B collection grow???? waiting

Ebay ...
laugh

(other online auction sites are available)

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alicemouse wrote:
The Watchmaker wrote:
ike a dole whip without the pineapple..

But the citrus swirl is the best kind! *ducks* biggrin

Never heard of citrus swirl ducks confused

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Mrferret wrote:
alicemouse wrote:
The Watchmaker wrote:
ike a dole whip without the pineapple..

But the citrus swirl is the best kind! *ducks* biggrin

Never heard of citrus swirl ducks confused

I only like the orange dole whip. I figured if I was dissing the original pineapple, someone was going to throw a punch.

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JMed wrote:
TinkASL wrote:
LOL The Onion is hilarious.

Watchmaker, I came home from my first trip and swore I had no interest in going back for at least a few years...I went back 9 months late, then 3 months after that and now 12 months after that.
Never say never. While it seems like you could never go without your son because you've made so many great memories, I'm willing to put money on it that you'll go without your son and will make all new, but different, memories with just your lovely wife. muchlove

Besides... How will her Disney D&B collection grow???? waiting

eek gaah Another reason to say farewell to Mickey...

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This is a joke article, but describes how we roll at Disney. NO KIDS! Kind of what I thought this website was about.

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This website is for adults who love Walt Disney World and all things Disney, but it's not strictly "no kids." Lots of folks here have kids and haul those kids along to WDW. (Poor kids, we know how much they hate the place.)

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ThatMouse wrote:
This is a joke article, but describes how we roll at Disney. NO KIDS! Kind of what I thought this website was about.

There is a mixed bag here. Some people plan trips with kids, others do not. What we all have in common, whether we have children or not, is a love for Disney.

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I think our main page says it best

"We're a website dedicated to adults who visit Disney World because they love it, not just because their kids love it."

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Wow!...This thread has taken a twist...Joke article.???. confused