Originally Posted By alexbook >>Disneyland continues its devolution into a regional park.<< I keep hearing this, but I've never seen any numbers. Does anybody here really know that there are more locals than there used to be? It sure doesn't seem that way from the people I talk to.
Originally Posted By spaceace The thing that makes the park crowded is shows that have a center point like any of the recent fireworks and Fantasmic!. It gets everyone it to a small area for a short time. If you don't have shows like that everyone would be spread out around the park. That was the good thing about the old Fantisy In The Sky. It was for all over the park.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<For all we know, the individual who displaced you spent six thousand dollars.>> More likely it was one of the 300,000+ new bargain basement SoCal AP buyers.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<I keep hearing this, but I've never seen any numbers. Does anybody here really know that there are more locals than there used to be? It sure doesn't seem that way from the people I talk to.>> My understanding is that there are now 900K+ Ap holders vs. 600K+ a few years ago.
Originally Posted By pecos bill Those are believable, and totally overwhelming numbers. For crowd haters like me, it cements my resolve not to go back. So long Disneyland, I'll give a thought to you and your perpetual A.P. masses when I am kayaking the great blue reefs in Bora Bora!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo What is interesting, is that in addition to these local (probably less spendy, though others who often say we are crazy for dining at the Blue Bayou or Napa Rose because of prices yet claim to spend more than our $6000 per trip budget) numbers, the value of offerings are decreased. We just got back from an amazing 5 day trip to Legoland Windsor and Chessington World of Adventures, now in terms of attractions and settings, they do not compete, on other levels, the gap is closing. The Indiana Jones Fireworks at Legoland were amazing, Jonathan Rhys-Davies reprised his role as Sallah for the park, and the pyro blew away anything Disney is doing in any of their parks anywhere. It was a real class show, that was better than Remember or Illuminations. I was blown away. Granted, they only do this 8 nights a year, but still, amazing. Then the cast members at both parks were nicer in the main than any we have encountered in any Disney park over the last 6 years. Now I do miss the Disney vibe and settings, but as most of the attractions over the last 10 years have been meh affairs due to the focus on toons, I think I am happy I spent out on Merlin Annual Passes here in the UK (Legoland, Chessington, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, London Eye, the Dungeons, Sea Life Centres, Madame Tussauds, Warwick Castle for a year for $350 for our family of 4. Lesser crowds, less travel, and a significant savings. First time in 10 years I have not had an AP to a Disney park (once we had an AP for DL, DLP and WDW at the same time). But it is no longer worth it. If the quality was high again, or amazing non toon attractions were being built or the crowds were lower, then we would happily spend more than current prices to go. But now, it is no longer worth while. Even my Holiday Inn experience T $150 for the night including dinner, bed and breakfast with 30 minutes of hotel exclusive ride time felt like better value than Disney offer - better quality fixtures and fittings than the DLH and equal cast experience.
Originally Posted By Marlin Perkins I want to LOVE DL again. I try so hard because it has been my family's special place. But the truth is, sometimes we look forward to leaving DL. And, not to be a prude, but since DTD opened and alcohol is easily available, I've noticed a change in climate inside DL because of it. Believe me, I enjoy a few beers after a day of crowds and long lines. But I don't think it is good to mix alcohol and the Tea Cup ride...woa! I can still picture this one old guy, standing on the curb of Main Street, obviously drunk, trying to light a cigarette while wavering back and forth. Well, let's just say it kind of took the "magic" away.
Originally Posted By pecos bill It certainly is not just the crowds that are keeping me away, it is the reasoning behind those crowds, the stagnation of innovation and imagination. Disney management is simply treadmilling on what was given to them, and relying on bottom line economic formulas to dictate where the park goes. They might as well have a computer running the show.
Originally Posted By alexbook >><<I keep hearing this, but I've never seen any numbers. Does anybody here really know that there are more locals than there used to be? It sure doesn't seem that way from the people I talk to.>> My understanding is that there are now 900K+ Ap holders vs. 600K+ a few years ago.<< I guess what I'd be really curious to see would be some sort of actual numbers on the percentage of local vs. out-of-town guests. Is it currently 20% locals? 50%? 80%? I dunno. Does anybody outside of Disney? And how have the numbers changed over time? The increasing quantity of APs isn't necessarily indicative of an increase in the percentage of locals, given all the rest of the variables. For example, what percentage of AP holders are local? We know that not all of them are. And how many times does an average AP holder visit the park? I'd bet there are many people who buy an AP and then don't make full use of it. Something else I'd be curious about is the length of an average out-of-town Guest's visit. I'd bet it's longer than it used to be. My impression is that there was a time when most people would spend a day at Disneyland as part of a Southern California vacation, but that most people now spend most or all of their vacation at the Disneyland Resort.
