Originally Posted By WorldDisney When I had my Deluxe pass back in '05, I went about 10-12 times for 3 months before I had to leave the states again and yeah I did the coming in around 1800 thing a few times as well and I dont think there was a SINGLE time I didnt end up buying dinner, a coke, Churro, something everytime. I always spent SOMETHING there, anywhere from $3-15 on each visit. I'm not a souvineer person and I dont collect Disney souvineers regardless, so once a year trip, weekly, big vacation, etc, I usually never buy anything more than a t-shirt these days at most. I DO buy presents for other people, especially if they ask, but I really dont buy souvineers normally, so for someone like me, I would never be a big spender on that stuff regardless how often I go. Its really just food and snacks and I think MOST Apers always buy something in the parks in that regard.
Originally Posted By WestWind Why do they have the APs that are restricted to southern California residents only? I can see them having the inexpensive APs with the most block out days and less discounts, etc, but why is ownership geographically restricted?
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Why do they have the APs that are restricted to southern California residents only? >>> I think that part of the reason is to cater to an economic demographic that's otherwise outside of the normal Disney guest base. It was just a few years ago when the cheapest SoCal AP was $99/year. I remember that when I lived in SoCal many moons ago as a kid, long before the notion of an AP, my family went to DL exactly one day per year. Extrapolating with prices from a just a few years ago, perhaps the cheapest AP for a SoCal resident was about twice the price of a single-day ticket. I can see that a great many SoCal residents would find that paying $99 for a limited AP would be well worth the incremental cost of a $50 one-day ticket, but by limiting it to SoCal residents, it prevents out-of-town visitors from getting the same discount. Almost by definition, the people that have the financial wherewithal to get to SoCal from somewhere else, stay in a hotel, and so on, can afford to pay more.
Originally Posted By Ohana WDW does seem a steal price as well, but to me the thing about WDW that makes it less convenient than Anaheim is hte time wasted traveling between parks, and back when i was there (10 years ago sadly) their parks closed much earlier than DL. Is that still true?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is Ohana. Some parks will close as early as 6 or 8. Even the later openings tend to be 10 on all but the busiest days (sadly DLP is the same :-(
Originally Posted By mousermerf It depends on the season. Epcot is 9-9 all the time, 9:30 thanksgiving to new years, with Holidays pushing it to 1am. But, look at that again - one a week, twice a week if it's a busy period, Epcot closes at 12am for resort guests via EMH. I've found many DLR fans to be Disney-resort-adverse when it comes to WDW. they say "off site is cheaper! it's the same!" but then they also lament things like the hours and crowds. Not really sure what their logic is... MK regularly stays open to 10pm, and EMH puts it to 1am, occasionally it's open until 12am and EMH puts it 3am, occasionally even 4am. The only park that is never open particularly late is AK, you're lucky to get 7pm, occasionally 8 or 9pm with EMH. None of WDW's parks seems to have the crowding issues of DL-proper, so the longer hours don't make much sense on a regular basis. They're moreso a perk to those who know when the hoardes will go home but the park is still open. Even EMH only peaks for about an hour and then the last two hours are very quiet and blissful for hopping on attraction after attraction with 5min or less waits.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Perhaps people prefer off site because the quality of the WDW hotels are becoming pretty poor, even the deluxes.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Also - look at DL's hours for next week. It may seem like it's open longer with the 11pm closings, but it opens later at 10am several times next week. Take the whole week and add up the hours - Epcot's 9-9 actually has the park at more operational hours for the week, not to mention the EMH night and morning. It balances out a bit more throughout the year, but if you're only coming in Janaury then you're getting more at Epcot then DL right now.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Eh, resorts are like airlines, gotta find one that fits you - I fly Continental and am quite happy while a friend flies United which i can't stand. I like Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, Contemporary (main tower only), Poly on occasion, and Pop if I end up in a deluxe and in a pinch i'm ok with Port Orleans.
Originally Posted By believe <<< Why do they have the APs that are restricted to southern California residents only? >>> Locals are spoiled in a sense that they can visit anytime they want, to a point where they end up not going. So Disney gives the locals incentive to go with a cheaper AP. Out-of-towners will pay more because they already budgeted for their trip. Once they get here, there's no turning back no matter the cost.
Originally Posted By cheesybaby <<< Why do they have the APs that are restricted to southern California residents only? >>> A 3-day park-hopper is $200-something, 4- and 5-days are more. The cheapest (SoCal) AP is only $169. If out-of towners were allowed to buy those cheapest APs, nobody would ever buy those $200 and up tickets again.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I've found many DLR fans to be Disney-resort-adverse when it comes to WDW. they say "off site is cheaper! it's the same!" but then they also lament things like the hours and crowds. Not really sure what their logic is... >>> I think that one's "home" resort, especially the one they grew up with as a kid, has a big influence on how one views the Disney park experience. WDW people tend to view Disney as a vacation destination, and like the on-site, immersive experience for a week. When going to DL, they can find the resort experience disappointing. DL people tend to view Disney as a day trip. Even if it's a 9am - midnight experience, it's still something they go home afterward and sleep in their own bed. So, even though WDW takes several days just because there are 4 parks and more, the notion of a multi-day immersive experience is less important in some cases than saving money on food, hotels, and so on.
Originally Posted By WestWind ^^ That's it isn't it. Disney wants the locals to be happy and visit the parks often. I guess I don't really have a concern about that, but somehow it seems unfair.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Epcot is 9-9 all the time, 9:30 thanksgiving to new years, with Holidays pushing it to 1am.>> Well, not exactly. EPCOT is 9-7 in FW, 11-9 in WS with the extra 30 minutes added to WS from late November thru December. The only 1 a.m. close is NYE. Should I point out how much EPCOT's hours have been cut back over the years? <<But, look at that again - one a week, twice a week if it's a busy period, Epcot closes at 12am for resort guests via EMH.>> EMH isn't for everyone (although everyone can stay and shop and spend, just not ride). I don't think it's fair to toss that out as part of the operating schedule when it is very limited. <<I've found many DLR fans to be Disney-resort-adverse when it comes to WDW. they say "off site is cheaper! it's the same!" but then they also lament things like the hours and crowds. Not really sure what their logic is...>> Hmm ... I dunno ... perhaps it's the fact you can get amazing deals off-site. I just spent a week at the brand new Hilton for $53 a night and it blows away Disney's deluxes in terms of services, standard rooms and most public areas. You can't get a discounted room at their motels for that. But again, I think most DL regulars are a bit savvier than the bumpkin tourists that visit WDW and are convinced they need pixie dust 24/7. <<MK regularly stays open to 10pm, and EMH puts it to 1am, occasionally it's open until 12am and EMH puts it 3am, occasionally even 4am. >> You are really stretching it. MK doesn't regularly stay open until 10 except in busier periods. It certainly doesn't do the 8-midnight weekends that DL does almost year round. And those really wild EMH hours ... again, not for everyone and only in the most busiest times. <<The only park that is never open particularly late is AK, you're lucky to get 7pm, occasionally 8 or 9pm with EMH. None of WDW's parks seems to have the crowding issues of DL-proper, so the longer hours don't make much sense on a regular basis. They're moreso a perk to those who know when the hoardes will go home but the park is still open. Even EMH only peaks for about an hour and then the last two hours are very quiet and blissful for hopping on attraction after attraction with 5min or less waits. >> Crowding issues? Have you spent much time in MK when they have even 25K in there? All the strollers and ECVs? All the dead zones? Not crowded? The parks don't stay open late because TDO saves a tremendous amount on labor/staffing/electricity by shuttering them early. They were closing the TPFKaTD-MGMS at 7 p.m. IN SUMMER ON WEEKENDS. EPCOT, which once saw 11 p.m. and midnight closes NIGHTLY in summer, has one night when it stays open past 9 p.m. in summer (they add one whole hour on July 4th!) The whole idea of Disney parks after dark has become very hit or miss in O-Town. Apparently, they think everyone wants a call from Mickey at 6 a.m. when on VACATION. Or they simply have conditioned guests to expect parks that will close way too early.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Perhaps people prefer off site because the quality of the WDW hotels are becoming pretty poor, even the deluxes.>> To be fair, Dave, they've greatly improved rooms the past few years ... everything from WL to Poly to GF to -- more recently -- Coronado, BW and YC have been redone. BWV are being done right now. Now, will they maintain them?
