[Question] Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

[Scary Scott]

OK its Time for Brass Tacks,
I am from a family that makes just about $1,600 a month and that is below the poverty line. As a family of 4 with 3 extra room mates its a strech to live.
Some would say Disneyland is too expensive to go to. Others say that they would pay any price to go.
So lets pretend that the AP no longer exists and the only option is ONE DAY PASSES. How mutch are you willing to spend to get in per day.
Since I brought it up I will go first. MY IDEAL PRICE TO GO AND STILL BE FAIR IS...
$45 Adult
$35 Kids
I would be able to aford one day and still get food in the park for all 7 of us.

[Jenasweetemotion]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

I would pay
$50.00 Adult
$40.00 Kids

[Datameister]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Well, I'm currently paying about $70 for my ticket, whether I go to one park or two. (Weird discounts!) So apparently I'm willing to pay at least that much...the price is inversely proportional to the frequency of my visits, though. So while I might be willing to pay, say, $100 for a day at Disneyland, that would be an utterly ridiculous price, and I wouldn't go very often.

[Dan - Tasmic!]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

I would prefer to do away with the admission prices and have free admission into the parks, but bring back the ticket books. Since, I don't usually go on rides all the time, I would rather wander through the park and just absorb the atmosphere. I can't stand paying for admission for every day I come, and I come A LOT!!! I am thankful that I have my pass. I don't know what I would do without it.

[Lolo]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Yikes that is a hard question...that is why I swear by my pass!

[Steve DeGaetano]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

I thought this post was going to be about Shakespeare...

[Scary Scott]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

oh my god Steve DeGaetano the man who loves trains almost as much as me! MUST NOT SHOW CREEPY FANDOM! Well sorry its not about Shakespeare but opinions are wanted.

[Steve DeGaetano]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Creepy fandom is OK by me--especially if you like trains!

The homophone in your thread title just grabbed me: "bard" (what Shakespeare was called) vs. "barred."

[Bob Weaver]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Current price for a family of four (two adults and two children) for four days, not including food and lodging:



Theme park. Disneyland: 4-day Park Hopper bought at Costco: $159.99 x 4 = $639.96
Parking, $12 x 4 = $48
Total: $687.96



State park. Point Lobos State Reserve: $10 per car per day.
Total: $40



National park. Yosemite National Park: $20 per car, good for 7 days.
Total: $20

[Steve DeGaetano]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Oh, as to the original question...I think $45/$35 sounds fair.

[Fashion Biff]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

If they did away with all specials for so cal, free b-day and passes they could probably do 50 bucks. Me I am already getting priced out of my AP so enjoying it for now.
So 50.00 Flat no child admission price, they use the facilities, take up as much space and more with strollers. Parking just make it 15.00.

[Mac Daddy]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

I still think that there is a figure out there...somewhere...for both one day tickets and for APs...that will suddenly create the impression that the pricing is unfair. It might be a much higher figure for most of us on this board, but out there...you just have to wonder.

Halfway through the Eisener regime, it happened to my wife and I, as we had three very small kids and a very fixed income. We were able to get in free occasionally through tickets that we had from events like Candlelight or from cast members who signed us in. But there was a period of about 5-7 years or so when we just stopped paying and found other things to do with that money.


I think Disney is headed in that direction again. They keep assuming that the new attractions/dragons/flying elephants will bring people in, but if they cross that line at some point, it might take a looooooong time to get their numbers back. I guess they haven't hit that line yet with their free birthday tickets, etc, etc, but at SOME point, they could find themselves in trouble.

Having been to a number of parks over the Summer, I'd say $50 seems more than fair for a one day pass. When the perception of a one day pass approaches $100, i.e. $80 and above, you could see a steep drop off of visitors. Just a hunch.

[dougeebear]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Well, if the recent pricing trend continues, that'll happen in 2011. They've been doing a $4 increase on one-day one-park tickets every year, so 2010 will probably see $76 and 2011 will see $80.

[Sorcerer's Apprentice]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Well, if memory serves, DLR has about 55 attractions, unlimited access for the day at $1.00 per attaction sound more than reasonable. Throw in the characters, music and the unique ambience. Quite a deal I'd say.

[wvnative]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Well, our 4 day hoppers, prepurchased, end up being about $48.50 per day each. I guess we're still o.k. paying that. I think that probably up to $50 a day wouldn't keep me away.

[ChessurInWonderland]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

Gawrsh, I don't know. At times during the year, I normally go 1-3 times a week or more. Before my mom took a personal leave, I'd go every day she worked and go in the park by myself and then she'd pick me up at the 15 minute when she came from the CM parking lot. During busy times of the year, we go once a week, or, if not, once every week-and-a-half or so, but even that's rare, it's only if we have something to do all weekend, and week. I don't know if my family would go if they didn't have APs. I'm one of those people who would die for an AP, I'd pay any price if I could, but I don't know if I'd be able to save up that much money babysitting. I almost didn't get an AP this year, I didn't have enough money, but my mom got me one for my birthday, so I didn't waste her sign-ins when she worked and I went in the park. I'd probably go crazy if I couldn't go, but my family just wouldn't be able to afford it.

[flynnibus]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

How much do you spend on someone at Christmas? Or on their birthday?

The key to any of these conversations is about frequency. If it's something you expect to do often, you expect to pay less to make it affordable. If it's something you expect to do very rarely, you have a greater tolerance to pay. It's not always 'I can or can't' go more because of the price.. the exclusive aspect plays into part as well. Which is why a SoCal resident would have a lower tolerance vs. someone who makes a once in the lifetime trip. Disney knows this as all businesses do.

Regarding personal situations -

If I'm not rich - visiting the best theme park in the world, or traveling to the best beach in the world, or seeing the most famous band play on their limited tour, these are all things that I should probably expect to be outside my normal means. I should expect to have to save up to do it - not necessarily expect the attraction cater to my situation.

If my car breaks down, and I have to pay an extra 5,000 this month, my ability to afford other luxuries goes down. I need to sit back and save, not pressure that other things are overpriced or need to accommodate my situation.

So I have a really hard time accepting the common arguement that Disney's prices need to be catering to 'JoeBlow's situation'. It's JoeBlow's responsibility to manage his income and expenses, and judge what he can afford to do or not - not the responsibility of a commercial enterprise to cater to JoeBlow's recent situation. They will adjust their prices as they see they need to to attract the customers they want.

[ken001b]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

I would prefer to do away with the admission prices and have free admission into the parks, but bring back the ticket books. Since, I don't usually go on rides all the time, I would rather wander through the park and just absorb the atmosphere. I can't stand paying for admission for every day I come, and I come A LOT!!! I am thankful that I have my pass. I don't know what I would do without it.

So everyone else should subsidize your trips to wander the park? Do you think there is not a cost beyond the actual running of attractions?

[Swellpixiegirl]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

I am actually okay with the current admission prices, but we never go for one day, so we don't pay $72/day. Multi-day parkhoppers are discounted, I believe. Really, I do believe you get what you pay for, and the whole experience is worth it. I live in a city in Canada with an indoor amusement park (a bad one), and it is $32/day for an adult. The rides are pretty bad, the place is so seriously outdated, there is no entertainment, it is not well maintained (kinda dirty), and its small! Disneyland is beautifully maintained, amazingly themed, with character experiences and entertainment everywhere. Unfortunately, it just isn't convenient for us to visit often; airfare is a b****. We have actually been to Disneyland the same number of times we've been to the local "park".

[d.N.d.]

re: Bottom Line No holds barred!!!

I am with Flynn. Its not about making Disneyland cheap its about saving your money. If you go everyday on a constant basis then it gets expensive, even if it was 50 dollars that would add up to. Thats why they have the APs, and thats why they make the hotel and tickets and food expensive so that the out of towners pick up the money that is lost in cheap AP prices.

Raise them. Make it so that people appreciate a visit. I would say the current prices are fair.