First off, thanks for the lovely comment back on page 1 Jory
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I really DO think they will change this if they get enough feedback. While they have never lowered prices (outside of promotions), they have certainly corrected mistakes. For example, when DCA first opened, you could get a 1-park AP or pay more for a parkhopper AP--cue hysterical laughter. They remedied that pretty quickly. So I do think that with enough outcry, they will change.
Combating the fraud can be exceedingly simple. Just require EVERYONE to show a picture ID at the gate EVERY time. Of course do lots of publicity so everyone knows to bring their ID and have it ready, they can print someone's name on the ticket at the time that it's printed (or heck, just write it in like they do now--don't even need a signature) and then routinely check ID. It's not that hard. Will it eliminate ticket fraud? Of course not, but people will be much less likely to attempt fraud if they know their ID will be checked. Same with the biometrics--do they work 100% of the time? No, but you know it's pretty risky to try to trick the system. When the risk is very high, fewer people will turn to fraud.
To make a little extra money, they can even create a "Disney ID" that you can buy that serves as picture ID for tickets as well as a nice, cute souvenir. Simply require all appropriate documentation and then issue them the same as the old APs that had pictures on them (now APs do not have pictures on the pass itself). Just an idea.
I can't speak for Disney obviously, but my *guess* is that the motivation behind this change is one, to prevent fraud, but two, to try to "force" as many people as possible into a Premium AP thinking this way--if you want a ticket greater than 5 days, you're probably a big Disney fan. So rather than letting you buy, say, a 7 day parkhopper and make one trip, if they can convince you to buy an AP, then you are very likely to squeeze in one more trip in the next 12 months to get your money's worth out of the AP. That is, if they sell a 7 day PH you will probably only come once a year, but if they sell you an AP, you will almost surely return for a second trip. This is, of course, flawed thinking, in that I think right now they overestimate people's desire and ability to pay the steep difference between the PH and the AP as well as making multiple trips in a 12 month period.
And of course it's deeply flawed in that 1) it completely contradicts their desire to be a resort vacation destination, and 2) even with the price increases, the vast majority of money Disney makes on guests is through food first, and merchandise second. I mean, Coke gives DLR their product for free and paper product pricing is negligible, so if I eat two meals in the park and pay $2.50 for a soda each time, that's $5 free and clear profit they just made off of me--for drinks alone in one day! Gate admission is not now and has never been the primary source of income. Financially it makes sense to have as many people in the parks as possible (that's why the SoCal APs are so cheap--because we fill the parks when the tourists don't), so it's really baffling that they would actively dissuade people from being in the parks.
Anyway, I'm rambling, but I really do hope this changes. I love DLR so much and it makes me really sad to see people cutting short their vacations due to this new pricing. Plus it infuriates me that honest people have to pay the price for ticket fraud.
. I have just sent my email to disney. Lets hope they change their policy soon.
Thanks!
