Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

[snappy]

Besides the obvious $$ gain with the sales of Annual passes. Do you think having so many A.P hurts the parks in certain ways?

[aashee]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

I don't think they hurt at all. Extra revenue bring better rides and upkeep. Plus they get all that money upfront. Interest baby!

[angeladlr]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

No, because generally we create revenue through food and merch sales also and they are sometimes responsible for the "word of mouth" effect with relatives, coworkers, and friends. Also, you may argue that they increase the crowds too much, but who wants to go to an empty restaurant? Most people on some level see crowds as an indication that something is good. Lastly, often they are repeat guests contributing to the number of guests that know what to do such as in parade situations and can help "lead the crowd" (by this I mean, others generally follow what the pack is doing, so if 50 people know where to go, the other 50 will follow almost instinctively)

[Retrocool]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Yes.

So many A.P.s results in a diminishing of the park experience, a justification for an increase in daily and other short-term ticket prices, and unnecessary crowding.

A.P. sales provide the company with short-term high ticket sale revenue, but long-term lower ticket sale revenue.

Short term gain = long term pain.

[angeladlr]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Yes.

So many A.P.s results in a diminishing of the park experience, a justification for an increase in daily and other short-term ticket prices, and unnecessary crowding.
.

This is an interesting take on the subject, care to explain how you derived these arguments (can you back up your arguments, or tell me what makes you believe this)? Thanks =)

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

I don't see why the stereotypes are necessary, and I wish they wouldn't happen.

There are a few bad apples in the AP orchard, just like there are in the non-AP paid guest orchard, just like there are in the CM orchard, just like there are in the rest of humanity...

As for the concept of an AP being good/bad...I still marvel at how cheap even the Premium AP is compared to season tickets for sports teams or the theatre. But, compared to other theme parks, the Disneyland AP is much more expensive than just about any park in the USA with the exception of WDW.

So, because Disneyland/WDW asks for a pretty big sum of cash up front for an AP and doesn't just practically give them away like Six Flags/Cedar Fair/Sea World/Busch etc, their system is good. Giving away a whole year's worth of admission for the price of 1 day is not good. That enormously deprives any park that does that of necessary revenues. Sure having a free AP will entice them to come back once or twice where they otherwise might not have, but if the park is good enough, people will pay to come back regardless if the AP is free with admission or not. I think it's a better business model to present people with a choice to come 6-7 times in 12 months and have the rest free, rather than just give away 12 months of admissions after the first trip.

Are there too many AP's in Disneyland? No. Crowd size and queue line length are a function of several variables, of which daily attendance is only one. Getting rid of AP's altogether won't change the low capacity of the Subs, or the non-existent draw of DCA, or that there are a lot of shops in not a lot of space on Main Street, or that new attractions always attract people no matter what ticket they've used, or that Disneyland is the special place that it is.

So all things considered, I think the way Disneyland/WDW have their system set up is about the best they could hope for. They don't want to outprice their market and it's bad business anytime any customer feels alienated, which is exactly what a 50-100% jump in the price of an AP would do. Doing that would just send the message, "You like us so much that you'd spend $400 to be able to come everyday? Well SCREW YOU! We want $1,000 now!" Not a good idea...

-- PMM

[MrLiver]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

The Annual Passport is a discount program designed to bring people into the parks who would otherwise not come.

People pay less for less of an experience. This means that Disney cannot spend the same amount on projects and upkeep that they did before because people are just simply paying less to get into the park.

[disneyfan07]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

something I would like to know is this: why are we whipping a dead horse??????

[Pressler69]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

People pay less for less of an experience. This means that Disney cannot spend the same amount on projects and upkeep that they did before because people are just simply paying less to get into the park.

They probably make up that money in merchandise and concessions from repeat visitors.

[bluejake01]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

An interesting thing to consider is this...having an AP allows me to slow down on my visits. It allows me to take my time, shop, dine, relax...without the feeling that I have to cram everything in. I don't spend much time on the rides (or contributing to the wait times), but I spend plenty of money. I have spent far more money on trips to DLR this last year than I have in any year prior...BECAUSE I have an AP.

[penguinsoda]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

something I would like to know is this: why are we whipping a dead horse??????

:bow:

An interesting thing to consider is this...having an AP allows me to slow down on my visits. It allows me to take my time, shop, dine, relax...without the feeling that I have to cram everything in. I don't spend much time on the rides (or contributing to the wait times), but I spend plenty of money. I have spent far more money on trips to DLR this last year than I have in any year prior...BECAUSE I have an AP.

This I think is one advantage in Disney's favor because of the AP program. If so many locals didn't have an annual pass, there is no way they could afford to go as often as they do. Over all, that would mean a lot less bodies through the gate on any given day, and a lot fewer people having dinner, drinking drinks and picking up the occasional trinket.

Lets say just for a visual and for the sake of arguement (which I know will happen) that on any given day, the total population of AP's at the park is around 33% (pulling out a random, totally unscientific number). Remove that 33% from the park and yes.... you have fewer bodies and perhaps shorter lines but you also have thousands of bodies not spending money. And because they can get in when ever they want, many times the locals go to Disneyland just to have dinner, see the fireworks (while eating churros and popcorn), spending money in the resort that they would otherwise be spending somewhere else in Anahiem.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Is it too early for popcorn and red vines?

[sediment]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Besides the obvious $$ gain with the sales of Annual passes. Do you think having so many A.P hurts the parks in certain ways?

Gosh, I've never thought of this before...
I'll have to weigh all the pro's and con's before I state my opinion...

[CUatDL]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Besides the obvious $$ gain with the sales of Annual passes. Do you think having so many A.P hurts the parks in certain ways?

No, and these AP threads have been done to death anyway.

CU@DL

Andy

[fo'c's'le swab]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

The Annual Passport is a discount program designed to bring people into the parks who would otherwise not come.

People pay less for less of an experience. This means that Disney cannot spend the same amount on projects and upkeep that they did before because people are just simply paying less to get into the park.

I'm in Liver's corner on this. When one 'discounts' an item, diminished quality is the end result. I believe that APs (regardless of the AP holder 'stereotype') damage the Parks. IMO, people were not meant to view Disneyland every day as a Guest, and it would benefit the Park (though maybe not the Park's short-term bottom-line) if it ceased, IMO. But I certainly have no access to any relevant data (other than ambiguous attendance figures) to confirm my impressions on the benefit/detriment of the AP program.

[Druggas]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Those nasty APers!




I keed.

[larasound]

[sediment]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Thus far I fail to understand the logic behind the anti AP holder sediment.

What? I deny this! To the end!!
I'm not against the holders, who are rational consumers who know a good bargain when they see it.
I'm against the program itself.

[aashee]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Color me selfish. The AP is very good for me and my family.

[sediment]

Re: Annual Passholders-Good or Bad for the Parks?

Color me selfish. The AP is very good for me and my family.

Obviously.
But that was not the question posed.