Originally Posted By Westsider All week long it was extremely busy at Disneyland. Yesterday was the worst of it with the Mickey & Friends Structure full and closed and parking Simba and asking guests to walk to the park. And the attendance went so high yesterday they had to add a 3rd Fantasmic with massive crowds and gridlocked streets and walkways all night long. CM's at all locations were extended out and there was massive OT offered everywhere to try and help with the overcrowded park. It's been CRAZY this week! Even DCA was also extremely busy and yesterday they had to extend DCA's closing time out by an hour to 10:00 pm! And then I get to work today and the park is totally calm and almost empty! Splash has a 45 minute standby line because it's such a beautiful warm summer day, but most other attractions are only a 5 to 7 minute wait (Pirates, Mansion, Thunder, Small World, Jungle, etc.) I've already had multiple guests comment to me on the total lack of lines and crowds and how pleasant it is. The Park has totally emptied out, and DCA is even quieter than Disneyland. On a beautiful summer Saturday afternoon! What happened? Oh, yeah, almost all of the AP's are now blocked out for summer and people actually have to pay money to get into the park. That kills the crowds every time. And beginning next weekend the Cast Member and Disney Employee blockout dates kick in and no one can sign people in for free until late August. Crowds will then decrease even more, especially on weekends. Thats' why I'm stoked that it's finally summer! Can you imagine actually paying 70 dollars per person to get into Disneyland for the day?!? No wonder no one is here. LOL! But for those that are paying money to get in this summer, the experience is awesome for guests and CM's alike. Happy, happy, fun, fun.
Originally Posted By lovethegoof I'll be looking forward to that when we go in late July. I was trying to convince myself that even with massive crowds we would have a great time because we would finally be in DL.
Originally Posted By LuLu Hmm. I hope this coming Weds. is pretty quiet. I suspect the weekend of the 4th will be busy, but will be looking forward to reports!
Originally Posted By LuLu >>almost all of the AP's are now blocked out for summer<< Should I take this to mean that more than half of APs are SoCal? Deluxe are blocked for Saturdays in Summer, of course, so I assume "most" APers are blocked Saturdays anyway, from now til late August...
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Yes, that's what cheap APs will do to the guest experience. See how much better it is without them.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Can you imagine actually paying 70 dollars per person to get into Disneyland for the day?!?<<< Yes, it is a bargain really. I think this shows they desperately need to raise the price of APs as it has such a negative impact on the park. Let's face it, there is not much the APers spend on merchandise as there is little to buy.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"Let's face it, there is not much the APers spend on merchandise as there is little to buy."<<< Too bad the powers that be make such poor choices in what they purchase to market at the resort!
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "The Park has totally emptied out, and DCA is even quieter than Disneyland. On a beautiful summer Saturday afternoon! What happened?" Sounds like this would be the perfect time for me to go to DLR.
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 <<<Yes, that's what cheap APs will do to the guest experience. See how much better it is without them>>> $259 for a Deluxe is not "cheap" in this economy.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>$259 for a Deluxe is not "cheap" in this economy.<<< It is compared to other things for the same price, or the cost of building and maintaining attractions. How much do you think it costs to stage F! Or what about the fireworks? How about the cost of building Carsland? Disneyland is a luxury, not a right. While that is a lot to some people, or indeed a family, compared to sporting good season tickets, vacation costs, a games console, or concert tickets, it is cheap. And the fact the place is so packed to where it is uncomfortable and not by tourists or day trippers (you know, the ones who can't just pop in or it's a choice to ride attractions or wait for F), shows they could stand to raise AP prices, especially as they now have the pay monthly deal. My view is they should raise the prices of AP's by about 80% but then offer bulk discounters for 3 or more, with greater discounts the more that are bought, and if they want to offer a cheap one, offer one that works in the evenings and a couple of set days a month. On one level, DL perhaps could not exist now without the AP programme, but on the other, I can't help but think the AP programme is why we see Aladdin being cut back and the current joke of a parade on offer.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub For year round membership almost a giveaway. I agree it is bad for the resort.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Less than a dollar a day for multimillion dollar experiences people further away dream about as once in a lifetime.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***<<<Yes, that's what cheap APs will do to the guest experience. See how much better it is without them>>> $259 for a Deluxe is not "cheap" in this economy.*** I assume the Deluxe is for 2 parks, and includes parking? So for less than the cost of FOUR admissions, you get in for a whole year? That's DIRT cheap, what planet are you on!? (the same deal, with restrictions for crowded days so no guarantees, costs around $800 in Tokyo and does NOT include parking (which is over $20 per day) with NO discounts on food or merchandise)
Originally Posted By dsny1mom "$259 for a Deluxe is not "cheap" in this economy." I think it's cheap. If a Deluxe pass holder goes once a month that makes their entry into the park $21.58. If they go twice a month it makes their entry $10.79. If they go once a week it makes their entry $4.98. It costs more in tickets to ride the rides at a local fold and go carnival than most APs pay for an entire day and night at the best theme park on the planet. dsny1mom
Originally Posted By dlkozy DL would not be able to exist w/o the guest who travels to be there. They are the ones that book the hotel rooms, stay multiple days at a time, eat on site for most meals and do the most buying. If the Deluxe APs were to go up by a large amount I will not buy the 7 APs that we have for our family. I will choose to do something local and save the $. I am sure that I would not be the only distance guest who would do so. In this economy, it would be stupid to loose the higher end AP holders who help afford the new Carland, F, fireworks and such.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Interesting X - DLP's AP programme is quite cheap I think too. I think Paris is struggling a little from this too. The locals pass is good for 300 days in DLP and WDSP for $150, Fantasy Pass includes parking and only has 35 blackout days, plus 10% discounts at shops/restaurants for $195, and the Dream has no blackouts, 20% off merchandise, free apperetifs (worth $12 each) and 10% at restaurants, free wheelchair and stroller rental for $285. Now they work out as expensive for a family in one go, but they are a bargain. I mean our local carnival rides a few weeks ago were $5 each a ride.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "$259 for a Deluxe is not "cheap" in this economy." I was talking about SoCal APs.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS <My view is they should raise the prices of AP's by about 80% but then offer bulk discounters for 3 or more, with greater discounts the more that are bought> I disagree with that much of an increase. I was a one income family for a very long time, and having PAP's made it possible for me and PB to have a life. Also, a "bulk" discount also is not fair to a two person household. Why should a larger family get a discount? They are viewing the same shows and fireworks as a smaller family would, but using more fastpasses and taking up more space in the lines. They are using more water (bathroom breaks), using more restaurant supplies, etc.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo But dlkozy, I am sure you can see per person what a bargain it is. If the prices went up, the park could be a little quieter. When you guys decide to go, a one day or hopper pass would then be better value. But then again, if the per pass rate went up, but you got a good discount because you are buying 7 at the same time, would probably still be worth while would it not?
