Orlando theme park tickets in 2022

Sheep Shagger

Couldn't find a recent thread to jump on so it is OK to start a fresh one.

Seems the price of tickets have gone up hugely since we last visited (pre kids) ten years ago. Attractiontickets.ie are still around, its who we used last time when they had offices on Harcourt Street.

The 7 days (plus 7 free) seem to be the most cost effective even if they are €3300 for a Disney and Universal combo ticket for 3 people over the age of 10 and 1 for what they classify as a child.

Originally looked at 3 or 4 days at each but the 7 + 7 combo isn't a great deal more and gives way more flexibility.

The 14 day flight and hotel deal we got is only €150 more than the park tickets ?!?!?!

Anyone bought tickets for 2022 yet?

naughtysmurf

Afraid it’s been that way for a number of years now, it’s not a budget destination. You need some tickets, Are you staying at on-site or expensive hotels? If you want to reduce the overall costs, few options,

Ditch the hotel & rent a three bed pool home in Kissimmee instead & buy the tickets, you’ll need a car though

Do a Disney only trip, that’s 5 parks & 2 water parks so seven park days covered, you’ll need a few days to chill & shop anyway or do other local attractions, no need for Universal tickets

Do Universal & Seaworld only, no need for Disney tickets, that’s five days covered at a minimum, have a few chill days & dip in & out of the parks on the other days, maybe a morning or afternoon here & there

Highly unlikely you’re going to visit the parks everyday anyway, realistically 9 or 10 park days max in a 13 day holiday as you’ll need down days

Sheep Shagger

Thanks for that

With two young kids think we'll just bite the bullet and buy those 7 day passes and get the other 7 days free and it gives is the flexibility, I know we won't be doing parks everyday.

Given they are young its really a once in a lifetime chance to do it while they are still kids and get that experience. Will do Disney and Universal as couldn't avoid Universal as both like Harry Potter.

Looked at ditching the hotel and flight package and doing it ourself but that part is a very good deal and that's confirmed looking at accommodation and flights separately. We are off International drive with park shuttles, not interested in the stress of driving.

I think its the hike in theme park ticekts since we visited 12 years ago that got me.

Oafley Jones

We’ve booked Disney for next July and I’m seriously considering giving it another year. Like yourselves it’s been ten years since we were there and it’ll be our first time with kids. My fears are…

1) Covid in Florida. To say it’s a hotspot is putting it mildly.

2) it’s the 50th anniversary and you’ve that coupled with 2 years of pent up demand. Crowds should be horrendous.

3) The cuts over the past two years have been extreme. Not just talking magical express or cut parades. People who have been going there since opening have never seen the place in such poor condition. Over flowing bins, dirty toilets. Etc etc. things that would be unthinkable a few years back.

4) all of new CEO chapek’s up charges. No free fast passes, paid parking etc his new shows eg kitetails look like something thats sub six flags quality.

I’ve no fear of universal, but it really seems like the WDW is entering a fairly bleak period.

Genuinely not sure what to do. Spent an hour today looking at switching to Anaheim instead.

naughtysmurf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998692#Comment_117998692

I get the whole once in a lifetime thing, as HP fans , you’ll have to allow at least three full days at Universal with part to park tickets so maybe price up three or four day tickets for Universal & six or seven day tickets for Disney with Undercovertourist or Mapleleaf, both reputable ticket sellers, they may have more options as regards tickets rather than 7/14 day tickets, then do the maths

is your hotel shuttle FREE?

Sheep Shagger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118000101#Comment_118000101

Yep shuttles are free and when I priced up 3-4 day theme park tickets last week there wasn't a huge price difference in the 7 day (than gives you 14 days). Will do the maths again though as switched from 7 to 14 days with the travel agent last week (only a €200 deposit paid so far which was transferable). Havnt bought the park tickets yet and wasn't going to until closer to the time.

My thinking is they're only kids for a short while and I'd rather have more than enough time than to get there and for whatever reason we need more time at one or both of the parks.

Sheep Shagger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117999311#Comment_117999311

Some good points, we are going in mid term break (February) so its not the peak of summer? As for Florida its not the covid hot spot that it once was. We're also going to be staying put pretty much in a small pocket of that state (Its a big place!).

naughtysmurf

Fair enough, tbh I’ve never stayed on Idrive as it never appealed to us, we’ve done private villa rentals & on-site / villa split stays in the past.

Ive no clue what your overall budget is or what time of year your travelling but have you looked at doing 5 or 7 nights on-site at Disney, even at their Value Resorts? You’ll be bussed everywhere on Disney property which is huge, maybe still some staying on-site perks & you will easily spend a few evenings at Disney Marketplace which is a lot bigger now than the old Disney Springs plus it’s easier to take a bus back for a few hours to hotel for pool time & head back to a park later, you probably won’t do that from Idrive.

Then Uber to one of the Delux Universal hotels for 1 night, check in at 7am, you’ll all get unlimited express passes for 2 days, these are worth their weight in gold, we were passing the same people in the regular line 3 & 4 times for Hulk for example, pretty much everything will be a walk on for two days, you could then move to a cheaper Universal or Idrive hotel, there are lots of ways to build a trip

Have a look at the hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard too, regular shuttles to the Disney parks & also all are walkable to Disney Marketplace unless you’ve got mobility issues

if you decide to keep your original hotel, booking a 1 night stay at a Universal Delux hotel is definitely worth it, just bring overnight bags

you should probably download the mydisneyexperience app too, Disney really requires planning & early starts to get the most out of it, rambling in at 11am & you may all end up disappointed & underwhelmed, just my 2C

https://disneyspringshotels.com/

Sheep Shagger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118000495#Comment_118000495

Thanks, will have another look at the Disney hotels.

We stayed in one for 5 nights (the other bit on international drive) when we last visited. We're going February 2022 for mid term break here. When I originally looked there was nothing near what the package we have paid a small deposit on was which is €3500 for 2 adults, 2 kids which was flights with checked luggage and 14 nights accommodation in a 4 star hotel.

Agreed that early starts and planning your days are needed at the parks to get the most out of them, we know what the kids will want to see the most and having been before we will be planning ahead.

alchemist33

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117999311#Comment_117999311

Does Anaheim have the same issues you mentioned? We had it booked for Easter 2020 but Covid came and we had to cancel. Am thinking of going to California again next summer

Oafley Jones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118000961#Comment_118000961

Disneyland has it's own issues but overall its looking like a far more appealing prospect for next year. California has had a better handle on covid, and I'd hope that WDW's 50th might release some of the pressure on DL. Disneyland also doesn't have WDW maintenance problem mainly because the locals wouldn't allow it.

Since Iger became CEO, WDW has pivoted more to the "one and done" crowd than repeat visitors. You see this in their pricing strategy over the years, where they've had price increases way beyond inflation (particularly hotels, which are now ridiculously priced). Whereas DL has a majority of visitors that are locals, who have an aggressive attachment to the parks and notice and shout about any decline in standards. The one and done visitor to WDW doesn't know how much the product fallen off since the 90s. And it really has declined.

I don't know. My gut is telling me to let it go. We are booked at 11 days in Disney and I was looking at maybe 6 to 7 Universal. With our age group, slow is the order of the day. DL, although extremely dense in rides, doesn't compete in size and Universal Hollywood is similarly lacking. My eldest is a Potter nut and would love the extra HP stuff in Orlando, plus you've got Discovery. Cove etc. etc. The 50th celebrations just see like a bad joke, but I'd love to finally bring the kids, plus it'd be 30 years since I first went.