If there were no such thing as an annual pass...

Originally Posted By ecdc

churromonster, I find your ideas intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter....

 

Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer

I think iamsally has hit a very large nail right on the head. Increased profits may just mean bonuses for the "suits" and increased shareholder return. It is no guaranty of enhanced guest experience.

I do know that without the AP's I would probably go to Disneyland 1-2 times a year...one 5 day and one 3 day visit.

 

Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE

They certainally have allowed us to go as many as three times in a year, that is pretty good ,driving 2500 hundred miles there and back each time from canada , by having ap passes we saved quite a bit....see you in Decemember everyone...

 

Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt


"But Disney also needs to be smart. Having pyro shows that focus on the castle may be great entertainment, but unless they're going to enforce a crowd limit, there will be issues."

That's right, which is why Disney has to both put some sort limitations on APs AND work on traffic flow issues in the parks. I came across this image of the original concept drawing for DL from the early 50's on disneygeek.com today:

<a href="http://www.disneygeek.com/updates/disneyland_image.php?update_dir=2009_10_16&page_id=81&num_image=3" target="_blank">http://www.disneygeek.com/upda..._image=3</a>

Perhaps someone in Burbank should have another look at it. A lot could be overcome if Disney simply worked out some of the traffic flow issues at the park.

 

Originally Posted By SpokkerJones

I doubt there's any room for that, Hans. Backstage is compacted enough as it is.

 

Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt

Do away with the backstage area?

There's plenty of room on Tomorrowland side, so there could be at least one additional parallel street, which would be a huge improvement.

 

Originally Posted By LPFan22

If I didn't have an AP... I would like to say I'd go at least once each month. I live close so if money wasn't an issue, I'd go twice each month. Money is an issue, however, so once each month would give me my fix. I'd cut back elsewhere (which isn't hard for me to do) and budget more carefully for my DL visits.

The condition for me? Major improvements with crowd control and lighter crowds at that. When I live out of the Anaheim area someday, I'd probably visit once or twice each year.

 

Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE

sure hope it never happens...ever.....

 

Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder

We have two PAPs. The bulk of our visits are around the holidays, because we like the way the park is decorated. Since the holidays are our prime focus, that's why we do PAPs. Blackout days from February through October wouldn't bother me in the slightest. If they came up with a pass that had heavy blackout days from Feb through October then no blackouts from November through January, or even mid January, we'd get those instead if they were cheaper than PAPs are now.

With the exception of my wife's birthday in December, we rarely do eight hour days or full days. Typically, our visits are four hours or less. If the park were to somehow remain as crowded as it is now, without the inception of the type of pass I described above, we'd likely go maybe 3-4 times a year, maybe less, especially paying the prices they charge now. If it were less crowded, maybe 5-6 times. And the thing is, no matter what, they'd lose out on all the merchandise/meal purchasing we do on visits. We got to the park at about 8:30 a.m. yesterday (Friday the 30th), and left around noon. We spent about $90 inside thepark on merchandise and snacks, then spent $35 on lunch at the ESPN Zone. That's a typical visit for us.

 

Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder

And by the way, Christmas was pretty much up in New Orleans Sqaure yesterday. And anyone who rode the tram from the structure could plainly see the decorated Christmas for Main Street as it was right up against the fence along Disney Way.

 

Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder

Ay yi yi.

New Orleans SQUARE

"decorated Christmas TREE...."

 

Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder

I think I've finally figured it out. You've heard of Type A personalities, Type B and all that? Well, I'm Type O personality. Get it? Type O? Typo? Bueller?

 

Originally Posted By WDWdreamin

Lol! At first I thought you were saying type O because A and B and O are blood types. But, it was much funnier when I got it.

 

Originally Posted By wonderingalice

Being of that rare breed - out-of-towners with DAPs - we'd probably still make the trip to Disneyland once or twice a year, but the stays would be shorter.

Our traditional visit is five days in December, with the occasional springtime jaunt tossed in about every other year.

 

Originally Posted By LOVE-DCA

If there was no such thing as a AP, I probably would never go to Disneyland! I’m to cheap to pay the full day price and then on top of that pay for food, parking. But since the parking is free with my pass and food is discounted it makes paying for that stuff nicer and no so hard on my wallet! Let alone the gift shops—if it wasn’t for the discount I don’t think I’d ever buy cups, mugs, t-shirts etc.


Wait take that back…I would go and pay full price. but then I’d have no money for food and a t-shirt!

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

Im in the same boat as tinkmobile live in canada and have a good 22hr plus drive to get to DL the passes help BUT i would prefer it to not be a option. I have been to DL a total of 12days this year more then most locals lol and wouldnt care paying for passes 2x per year for less crowds so yes i would go the same amount as i do now. I am debating ever going back for Halloween ever again it was fun not only at DL but all the other parks but dont know if it was worth it. When i went to get my AP you know when the line up is 30mins for that its scary to think how many AP's there are. I dont agree with people going there to read a book or hang out all day everyday. There are families who i have seen first timers with up to 5 kids who have saved up for who knows how long to take them and its a shame when its chaotic for them to enjoy themselves. When i was a kid my mom bought us all 6 day passes once a year or so and it was fine you have to save up a little more but as everyone said you pay for quality.

 

Originally Posted By LOVE-DCA

before i got my pass, i would only go to disneyland for the special times, xmas and halloween, and then maybe a couple months here and ther, but after i got my pass cause i like to go alot,but the 69 everytime was killing me. after i got my pass i noticed that there is soooooo many park goers that have the AP's ..specially the premium! The ones i have talked to say that the premium is the only way to fly, and it was a couple i talked to and they were in there 60's.

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

yea seems like most the locals have the premium anyways so i dont know if they got rid of the socal pass it would make a diff. If i were a local i would get a premium a little over $400 a year is still a bargain.

 

Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer

>>If i were a local i would get a premium a little over $400 a year is still a bargain.<<

tasha, we're what I call semi-local (about 350 miles away) and will typically go to the park every other month for 5-7 days at a time. Block-out days are not an option that we want to deal with, hence the PAP's are even more attractive to some of us who may not be local.

 

Originally Posted By marpurr

I had had an AP for almost 14 yrs now maybe even longer I lost count. I believe I paid something like $125 for my pass there were no different levels. Back then people thought I was nuts. I have alway purchased the Premium when they started doing that. People thought I was even more crazy. Last year I bought a cheaper So Ca pass. I thought I was going through withdraws because I could not go when I wanted to. So for me to answer that question; put me on a 5150 because I love my place to escape reality for at least a few hour every once and a while.