A-E Ticket Requirements

[Mastersarge]

Okay, so this may have been discussed before, but I was curious to know what qualifications you all have for the different levels of rides.

For example, what differentiates an E-ticket from a D-ticket, or a D-ticket from a C-ticket?

And I know we could all say, I feel this should be a C or D, but I'm hoping you could lay out some concrete requirements that would classify each ride in a level.

[Mastersarge]

Okay, so I guess this isn’t as interesting to others as I thought. For me, with a few examples:

E-ticket-
•must provide a sense of exhilaration
• Complete Immersion beginning at queue
•BTMRR
•Space Mountain

D-ticket-
• Immersive and fun, but not necessarily exhilarating or may lack complete immersion
•Haunted Mansion

C-ticket-
•provides a ride that may or may not be worth waiting in line for
•Fantasyland rides

B-ticket-
•Attraction that entertains or informs but no ride
•Great Moments

A-ticket-
•No ride, no information. There to soak up a crowd. Could be demolished, and no one would bat an eye
Jedi Training

[sailor310]

Now, if someone knew what actual criteria Disney used to categorize attractions-that would be interesting. E.G. I think the below decks on Columbia was an E ticket at one point.

[Mastersarge]

That would be cool to know! I just figured we’re always saying on here whether we think a ride is an E or D (i.e. the new Mickey and Minnie Runaway Train ride), so it could be fun if we all shared our own personal qualifications.

[Spongeocto4]

My opinon:
A Ticket: Simple enjoyable experience, quick diversion: Main Street Vehicles, Frontierland Shooting Gallery

B Ticket: Traditional carnival type rides, but with charm; simple, yet memorable King Arthur's Carousel, Casey Jr. Train, Golden Zephyr

C Ticket: Average yet detailed rides, noticable themed elements, contains some minor thrills,
Pinocchio, Goofy Sky School, Jungle Cruise, Gadget's Go Coaster

D Ticket: Traditional ride yet beefed up, contains details and story, part of the main supporting roster of Disney rides, iconic despite not being a headliner Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, Buzz Astroblasters, Finding Nemo Subs, Grizzly River Rapids

E Ticket: Top of line, high tech and/or well beloved treasure, creative approach, beyond well themed Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, Soarin, Radiatior Spring Racers

This was a bit of a challenge to decide on. B and C tickets criteria were actually a bit difficult to decide on.

[Jar.Jar.Abrams]

A-ticket-
•No ride, no information. There to soak up a crowd. Could be demolished, and no one would bat an eye

RotR

As for me and "E Ticket" would be something that is awe inspiring. Something that is unique and goes above and beyond a typical attraction. Sorry, but I don't think RotR does that. It has a lot of eye candy, but the "story" is meh, it doesn't leave much for the Guest to interpret (everything is "explained" and leads you from A to B to C...)

[Bob Weaver]

For reference:
Here is the list of all Disneyland attractions for which E tickets were required at least at one point. Some of these, or course, were later moved to D ticket status, but all of these appear on at least one year's E ticket:

“it's a small world”
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
America Sings
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Country Bear Jamboree
Enchanted Tiki Room
Flying Saucers
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise
Mark Twain Steamboat
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland
Monorail
Pack Mules thru Nature's Wonderland
Papotin's Revue (short-lived 1963 show in Fantasyland)
Pirates of the Caribbean
Rainbow Mountain Stage Coaches
Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules
Sailing Ship Columbia
Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad
Space Mountain
Submarine Voyage
Tom Sawyer Island Rafts
TWA Rocket to the Moon
WEDway (appears on E ticket as "WEDway," later called PeopleMover)

[Mastersarge]

RotR

As for me and "E Ticket" would be something that is awe inspiring. Something that is unique and goes above and beyond a typical attraction. Sorry, but I don't think RotR does that. It has a lot of eye candy, but the "story" is meh, it doesn't leave much for the Guest to interpret (everything is "explained" and leads you from A to B to C...)

I literally LOLed at this! haha. I haven't ridden it yet, but I appreciate your perspective.

[vectrex]

I am going to be the pragmatist and say "Cost to run". The bigger and more costly items need higher prices to maintain.

[Jesser-pie]

RotR

As for me and "E Ticket" would be something that is awe inspiring. Something that is unique and goes above and beyond a typical attraction. Sorry, but I don't think RotR does that. It has a lot of eye candy, but the "story" is meh, it doesn't leave much for the Guest to interpret (everything is "explained" and leads you from A to B to C...)

A lot of people would bat an eye considering it’s popularity. Your explanation doesn’t fit what you bolded so I’m not sure why you bothered emphasizing it except to hate on the latest Star Wars in the disguise of contributing to the discussion.

[mey]

Remember, back in the day, the A-E tickets were not just generalized categories for how "good" an attraction was. You couldn't get on an attraction without one, and they had different monetary values. Disney based the level of ticket for an attraction on if how many customers they thought would "spend" that level of ticket on it. So, if we applied the same criteria now as back then, an E ticket attraction would be, the 3 or 4 (the typical number of E tickets in a booklet) attractions you would spend your E tickets on. You could go on down the line for lower level tickets. For me, if I had 4 E tickets, I would use them for Indy, Pirates, HM and RotR (even though I haven't been on it yet, it looks good).

[Mastersarge]

Remember, back in the day, the A-E tickets were not just generalized categories for how "good" an attraction was. You couldn't get on an attraction without one, and they had different monetary values. Disney based the level of ticket for an attraction on if how many customers they thought would "spend" that level of ticket on it. So, if we applied the same criteria now as back then, an E ticket attraction would be, the 3 or 4 (the typical number of E tickets in a booklet) attractions you would spend your E tickets on. You could go on down the line for lower level tickets. For me, if I had 4 E tickets, I would use them for Indy, Pirates, HM and RotR (even though I haven't been on it yet, it looks good).

Sure, I undertand the concept. What I was getting at was more of the "Why would you choose those 4 rides as opposed to the others?" AND "What would cause you to spend more money on an attraction to ride it?"

[Starcade]

In Popular Culture E-ticket is used for a thrill ride though that was not the true criteria. I always thought it was Disney's way of crowds control by making the more popular attractions more difficult to ride do to fewer E-tickets available where as ABC tickets where plentiful. D was kind of the mid level experience.

I see things personally as really 3 categories only. ( yes I know these aren't what they were really meant to be ) A-C are shows and passive experiences ) Lincoln & Meet and Greets etc. D Dark rides none coaster (from Mr. Toads to Haunted Mansion to Star Tours & Autopia) & E - Coaster based thrill rides. (Space mountain Splash, matterhorn POTC. etc.)

I remember as a kid asking families as they exited for their un-used tickets and then offering to trade other families with young children like 4 A-C's for their E tickets. There was a lot of trading going on back them amongst guests.

[Mastersarge]

In Popular Culture E-ticket is used for a thrill ride though that was not the true criteria. I always thought it was Disney's way of crowds control by making the more popular attractions more difficult to ride do to fewer E-tickets available where as ABC tickets where plentiful. D was kind of the mid level experience.

I see things personally as really 3 categories only. ( yes I know these aren't what they were really meant to be ) A-C are shows and passive experiences ) Lincoln & Meet and Greets etc. D Dark rides none coaster (from Mr. Toads to Haunted Mansion to Star Tours & Autopia) & E - Coaster based thrill rides. (Space mountain Splash, matterhorn POTC. etc.)

I remember as a kid asking families as they exited for their un-used tickets and then offering to trade other families with young children like 4 A-C's for their E tickets. There was a lot of trading going on back them amongst guests.

I guess that's a good easy way of breaking it down. Man, would I have loved to have been able to wheel and deal for actually tickets! But alas. I was too young.

[TFN5459]

I am going to be the pragmatist and say "Cost to run". The bigger and more costly items need higher prices to maintain.

I think that might have been the criteria at one point in time from a park ops standpoint. In the early 60's, the Enchanted Tiki Room I believe was a separate admission that was more expensive than the standard E Ticket for 1963 when it opened, consistent with the higher ops cost of running an A/C and the electronics for the Audio-Animatronics. Rides like the 3 1959 Expansion attractions and others like the Jungle Cruise and Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad also fit the bill of being an E Ticket by maintenance costs and I think were classified as such back then.

[Mastersarge]

That's good info. Though it makes sense, I hadn't actually thought of that before.