Originally Posted By TP2000 Every year Disneyland raises their ticket prices by a few bucks, and every year people claim on message boards "This is outrageous! They are pricing out the working class that Walt so dearly loved! I have stopped going to the park!" And yet every year attendance at Disneyland holds its ground, or creeps up even further by a few hundred thousand. Clearly Disneyland is doing something right. And there is a huge market of consumers who agree with that sentiment enough to plunk down the money to get into the place, year after year after year. If you can't afford Disneyland anymore, then you can't go. You probably also can't afford a lot of other things in life too, many of which are far more important than a trip to Disneyland. You can stay at the Howard Johnson's for 90 bucks per night and get a room with a bed and a bathroom and a TV set. You can also stay at the Ritz Carlton for 400 bucks per night and get a room with a bed and a bathroom and a TV set. So how come people don't complain that Ritz Carlton is unfair for charging so much for their hotel rooms when the same basic product is available for much less at the HoJo's?
Originally Posted By The-Tink-Mobile hi ...could you tell us how we can upgrade the three day pass included in the cosco bought citypass to a five day disney pass and then how we can then upgrade the five day pass to a annual pass , we are going at christmas time and the annual pass we would like is blocked out for christmas, but we will still have three or four days left on our holiday in january and would love for our kids to see disney til we go home, we will be in disney for about 12 - 13 days, thanks , everyone cindy
Originally Posted By rtjl72 here is a thought. dl is special. we all know this or we wouldn't even be reading this. i know this because i feel it in my body and soul when i am there. it was a feeling i first felt as a 10 year old child and it is such a peaceful and wholesome feeling that i have never - ever - felt that way anywhere else. will i pay more money for this? you bet! prices of everything go up. heck, the hospital i work for has supposedly been going broke for all of the 34 years i have worked there. so, the patients see a price increase yearly. hospital employees are always told to be cost concious and beware of expenses, but the cost to the patients still goes up every year anyway. cost adjustments are just a way of life. but now, think about this. all the peopple who live close by to dl and can visit several times a year are just plain lucky. i see dl as a vacation destination not a local amusement park. our parks here in the midwest probably do cost less. the one right here in dsm is definetely less. and it shows! BUT IT IS NOT DL!!! yes, to go to dl you might have to save a little extra. but it is a vacation destination not a local favorite. or it is just dl- unique and the one and only. it should and it does cost more. you get what you pay for. in those immortal words- IT IS PRICELESS.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains This may be true - One Day Adult Admission prices for other area parks: Six Flags Magic Mountain is $59.99 Knotts Berry Farm $49.95 Universal Studios $61.00 Legoland $57.00 Sea World $57.00 But when do you really pay this price - I have never paid gate prices to get into any of these parks - I can always find discounted tickets or most often for about $1.00 I can buy coupons to give me half off admission to Knotts, Legoland and with my soda can I can do the same for the others. Disney never has coupons or such - any discount you may get from DL is going to cost more in the long run because unless you live in S.Ca you will be paying for more food (probably at the park) and hotels... I right now have 4 DAP and 1 PAP in my house hold so I spent about $1200 on AP's and I go about 8 times a year for 3-5 days each trip. If I am going to be paying $2500 for AP's I won't. I will go two times a year and just get hoppers when I decide to go!!
Originally Posted By LuLu >>What I have issue with is price increases that may limit attendance only to the financially fortunate.<< Shiva, can you explain how a theme park with a limited capacity can keep admittance price artificially low so that more people can afford to attend? I really don't understand this sentiment. I mean, I understand that you believe Walt wanted DL to be "affordable" (I wouldn't know if that's true or not, or how you can determine "affordable"), but how would this work in practice? If DL was a "bargain" wouldn't it become over-crowded quickly? Then Disney would need to build more attractions or another park to increase capacity, but with what ?? Yes, the 1-day price is expensive, but I think it's worth it. I spent about $300 for 2 people to go to DLP for 1 day - entry, food and a few souvenirs. That's ridiculous! But you know, I still think it was worth it!
Originally Posted By LuLu And guys, chill - the APs aren't doubling in price! I agree that $500 would still be a deal for a PAP, and I bet most of you who have them would still buy them. I also bet it'll be cheaper than two 5-day parkhoppers when that time comes, plus it provides discounts and parking! Who can argue a PAP wouldn't be a better deal?
Originally Posted By TP2000 The current Disneyland Annual Passes are the entertainment bargain of the century. There is no form of profesional entertainment that offers you year round access to the entire facility for such a small amount of money. Ever price season tickets to an NFL, MLB or NBA big city team? Ever price season tickets to a big city symphony or philharmonic? Ever price good seats at a headliner show in Las Vegas, New York or Chicago? Disneyland is the bargain of the century. And on many days during the year there are so many people trying to get into the place they have to stop selling tickets and turn people away. Yeah, they've really priced themselves out of the marketplace, haven't they? Ha!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Yes, the 1-day price is expensive, but I think it's worth it. >>> When I was growing up in SoCal, DL was a once-a-year special treat for my family (and almost incredibly, I turned out okay even though I only got to go one day a year as a kid ). As others have pointed out, despite the price increases, most families can afford a one-day-a-year trip to DL if they wanted to. It's not very different than a one-day visit to many other forms of entertainment. The APs are indeed a bargain compared to the value they provide. As others have pointed out, I don't think that the public has a vested interest in being able to go DL dozens of days a year for a value price (although I would argue that they still can).
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer I think we're all in agreement that a PAP would be a value even if the price were to increase to $500.00, I have no problem with any increase as long as it is justified and is not a case of price gouging. A PAP was $225.00 in 2003, it is now $379.00. That is an increase of 68.4% in just 4 years, according to DWB's inflation calculator, inflation has only gone up by 10.1%. I do realize that there are other factors that come into play. LuLu, I never meant that the price should be artificially low. Those are your words, not mine. I do understand that DL is a capitol intensive and it takes an incredible amount of money to maintain the park in a manner that makes it so attractive to us. As such, I do not mind paying a premium price for a premium product. I would just hope that the park entrance fees never exceed a level where an average family can no longer afford to go. It's pretty obvious that Disney has no trouble packing the parks. I think Disney knows their customer base better than anyone. BTW, no one ever suggested that the AP's were not a bargain nor that DL had ever priced themselves out of the market.
Originally Posted By TP2000 So what is an "average family" Shiva? We as Americans are so much more affluent and live dramatically more comfortable and luxurious lives compared to our counterparts in the 1950's and 60's. The average American family can afford a yearly trip to Disneyland or WDW. And judging by attendance figures, there are millions more per year that are doing just that compared to 1955, 1965, or 1975. I am happy Disneyland keeps increasing their ticket price and making their parks the most expensive theme parks in the SoCal market. It keeps the crowds under reasonable control (even though the crowds are bigger than ever at Disneyland), and it provides more capital and incentive for the Walt Disney Company to make major investments into their Anaheim property. Viva la price increases! Viva la Disneyland!
Originally Posted By LuLu >>LuLu, I never meant that the price should be artificially low. Those are your words, not mine.<< OK, well I really don't see what you're getting at then. It seemed you were saying that Disney shouldn't price the tickets based on supply and demand (post 13) but should consider affordability. Isn't that keeping the price artificially low?
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer >>It seemed you were saying that Disney shouldn't price the tickets based on supply and demand<< LuLu, I'm sorry, that's not exactly what I meant. The goal of any business is to make a profit. If they don't they won't stay in business very long. Disney is very good at finding the equilibrium that maximizes profit and still keeps guests returning. My own personal feeling is that I would like for everyone to be able to afford an occasional trip to DL. I know this is not realistic and it certainly isn't a right. TP2000 and a few others share a different view and that's okay too. I respect his opinion and those of everyone who posted. Almost all of the posts stated views that are valid. Even the best of friends sometimes share a difference of opinion.
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 <<I love DL, and I have a very socialist view of life compared to many americans. But I understand the access for all and premium world's greatest experiences are two contrary paradigms. Look at what has happened to WDW!>> Davewasbaloo...I thought this was an interesting comment. Could you expand a little more on what you meant?
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer 8 ilovemickey 8, DWB does have a way with words. I still don't know what a paradigm is but I love his posts. (and the pictures). For all my fussing, for which I hope everyone can forgive me, I'd still buy a PAP for $1250.00. It would still be a bargain.
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 He does have a way with words. I often find myself agreeing with him yet I could never put it in the proper wording, he always does. Wow I hope it never comes to $1250. I have a DAP but due to school and such I can only make the the 5 hour trip south about 3 times a year.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "Yes, the 1-day price is expensive, but I think it's worth it. I spent about $300 for 2 people to go to DLP for 1 day - entry, food and a few souvenirs. That's ridiculous! But you know, I still think it was worth it!" Yay - I am so glad. We all really wanted to make sure you and Dr Frootloop had a magical time (and help with the 20% discounts). It seemed to work. I am sooooo glad!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Blushes<<<< My point about the two paradigms (sorry guys, please do ask if I need to explain something, I often just ramble on at times - often when I should be working - a paradigm is a "school of thought", a way of thinking, an ethos) is that you cannot have your cake and eat it too. My socialist leanings - I am pro looking after people - that's why I run advisory and management services for Social Care, Health and Education. I believe everyone should have the same opportunities in life. But to me that does not necessarily mean free entry (or cheap to DL). I volunteer with organisations such as Make a Wish and others to try to make this possible. To me the magic of Disney is to make it special. The magic is there because of the cleanliness, the cast standards, the like new condition, the live entertainment, the attention to detail. All of these things cost more money than a 6 Flags or even Universal Studios experience. And for me to receive the magic, I have to pay the price. The money comes from elsewhere. We go to Disney instead of smoking, drinking, eating out, going to shows/concerts, buying designer clothes etc. Although we do some of those things occasionally, Disney is our priority. Heck, my mom gives me a hard time as she reckons we could live in a house twice the size of our current home if we pumped our money into mortgage payments rather than Disney (but I know which one makes us happiest!!!!). My WDW quip is I have noticed a dichotomy. Our trip last year was a disappointment. The MK especially felt run down, the behaviour of cast and guests had decreased, and the menus of the restaurants had been significantly dumbed down. The merchandise was poor. All of these things seemed to point to encouraging the masses (DDP, DME, Pop Century, Pop Warner Football Competition). I don't want to sound snobby, but the place felt more like Universal and less like Disney to me (confirmed in my mind after our wonderful trip to DLP in June this year). It seemed that in trying to encourage the masses to come to WDW at an acceptable price point, the magical elements were eroding (the MK's pavement and tables at counter services were filthy, at so called low season). And the higher scale offerings were disappearing. It will be interesting to see what happens when the 4 Seasons (High end) and the Belt Way (economy) open on WDW property. But the thrust of my debate is that the two are inconsistant with each other. I know I am not in a hurry to return to Florida despite loving Epcot, DAK and having some wonderful friends in the area (especially our LP Floridian community). Although I know we will still return. I really do not want DL to slide so much. I know before the 50th, the DL maitnenance was not great (afterall, BTMRR was closed on our last visit to DL due to the deaths). But the entertainment and cleanliness were still there, and despite all the complaints, it still felt magical. I long for a disney park of my childhood. A park where all the lights twinkle, the joke about the sweeping people in HISTA is funny because it is true, a park where I can stumble upon entertainment in every nook and crany - marching bands, big bands, swing, barbershop quartets, african drummers, Dixieland Bands, Country and Western, Merlin, rock bands, and fireworks. A place where entertainment does not always = rubberheads. Presently, the only place where I know this to be true is DL (and I hear TDL). And if it means paying extra, then so be it. The day DL gets down to the level of WDW or worse is the day my heart will stop beating. Because for me, after my family, my greatest love is the Disney THEME (not rubberhead, pirate, princess) park experience.
Originally Posted By Indigo Let me throw a curve ball into this discussion. If capacity is being reached frequently there is another answer than raising prices? How about increasing capacity. Want to continue to use Disneyland as the physical heart of marketing for the Disney brand? Then you should be interested in getting as many visitors through the gates while still maintaining quality the park is famous for. Raise prices, sure. But expand your reach too.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Disney's price increases are so far and away beyond inflation it is laughable.>> Have you priced milk lately? Don't believe the government's bogus inflation numbers. Real household, consumer inflation is much higher that the 4% numbers they keep presenting. O read somwhere that according to the IMF that real consumer inflation in the US is running over 10%.
