I remember when FastPass first debuted, and other outfits, like Six Flags, responded by offering "pay-for-priority" systems. And I vaguely recall that not only Disney fans, but Disney management reacted with disdain. And now Disney has pay-for-priority. And has dumped FastPass. I'd say "Sad," but if I did, I'd be emulating somebody I would never want to be accused of emulating. So I'll just say that for the past 16 years now, for everything DL has done to make me want to reinstate my annual pass, they've done at least one thing, and usually more than one, to make me want to go a full year without setting foot in the place. Personally, I think they never should have abandoned ticket books.
With every move they take to make Disneyland a "rich people's" resort ; a bit more magic crosses the rainbow bridge to Yesterland. Families with children and average jobs are pretty much priced out. Which, if memory serves; parents experiencing an amusement park together was the whole idea.
Well, the International Printing Museum is still $12 per person, with plenty to see and do. And the California Science Center is still free, with even more to see and do (although you don't get to see antique machinery in operation, and you don't get to take anything home unless you buy it in the gift shop). 50 years ago, Knotts was a place locals went every other month, or maybe even every other week. Then, about 35 years go, they started trying to compete with Disneyland for tourist business. At which point, a Disneyland pass became the more cost-effective option for locals to go on a free weekend or evening. As recently as 15 years ago, Disneyland was still very true to Walt's vision of a family-oriented park. I think the "elitification" of Disneyland is really a symptom of what's been happening all over the country, basically ever since the aftermath of Watergate.
Bingo! 15 years ago we went 5-7 times a year often accompanied by adult children and grandchildren. Heck, even my daughter in Seattle had an AP and was able to bring her son down several times a year. It's been like 6 years since we have had a family trip. Everybody makes more money now but can't afford it now. I am preferring National Parks these days. Covid did not help the situation for sure.
Up through the "MSEP Farewell Season," it was at least 6-8 times a year for me, more during that farewell season, sometimes driving in after dinner at home, seeing The Parade (both performances), and riding one or two attractions, and then going home. Even after DCA and DTD were built, and there was no longer a passholder parking section where you could walk to the main gate in 5 minutes, it was still, like you, 5-7 times a year. After "The Path to 9-11," and that infamous PotC preview party where CMs were virtually held prisoner, not so often. It didn't help that by about that time, my late mother had become an invalid.
How would I improve things at DLR? 1. Cut parking fees by 50%. EV charging stations would be available for a small surcharge. 2. Improve public transportation coverage (more reasonably fast one-seat trips, and a shuttle bus from the Anaheim train station that would be free to anybody with a current Amtrak or Metrolink ticket, or a current OCTA bus transfer). 3. Cut admission and passes by 25% across the board, and 30% for kids who are too old to be free, but are too short for most of the attractions that have minimum height requirements. And make it 30% and 35% for Southern California residents, and 50% and 70% for anybody who can produce a current EBT card. 4. All reservation systems (both admission and attraction) would be reworked to eliminate discrimination against those who lack a smartphone, or those who lack Internet access. 5. If any "pay-to-play" priority attraction access is retained at all, then all admissions would include at least one freebie credit, and admissions for the needy would include at least two. Walt's only reason for gating Disneyland and charging an admission was to keep out the loiterers who made other amusement facilities disreputable.
I agree with your plan. Especially the concessions for non-smart phone users and EBT recipients. I am for sliding scale prices for just about everything. Parking is ridiculous. The price increases have far exceeded the rate of inflation.
Today, after at least 20 min. in the parking queue, with all gates open, I got to the gate, $30 in hand . . . and was COMPED my parking!?! Not to look a gift equine in the masticatory orifice.
We kind of had the opposite happen years ago. We would often walk to the Parks in the morning and then go back to the hotel for lunch. Then we would drive in for the evening. We got to the gate and were told we had to pay because we had already used my pass to park that day. Being old and ornery I stood my ground and we were eventually let through. I know it was a computer glitch as we were at customer service and there was an irate man who had come down because they had done the same thing to his teenage daughter who was pressured into paying. With us standing there to back up the story; they refunded his money.
Well, it's sure much worse now than when you started this thread. $400!!!!! Lightning Lane??!!?? I actually came up with a plan for politicians who say they are in touch with average people. They have to go to Disneyland and stand in the lines sans any electronic device.
Right? There's so much that most of them have never experienced. How can they possibly understand? We're going to have 14 people, all adults (well, the youngest is15). Our grandson qualities for DAR but that only allows 3 others to ride with him. We're all doing this on a shoestring so 14 lightning lanes isn't gonna happen. It's gonna be very old school.
