Data on Lightning Lane Prices

[KAT4DISNEY]

Walt didn't invent it, that was the way amusement parks operated back then. I think POP (Pay One Price) admission became common in the industry sometime in the '60s.

At DL, Magic Key tickets were first offered to employees of companies that participated in DL's corporate affiliation program, which was similar to the Tickets at Work program today. I remember feeling very special having the paper ticket tied on to a button of my shirt, and riding the E-tickets as many times as I wanted, unlike those ordinary people who had to buy extra E-tickets at something like 80¢ a ride.

And entry was what? A quarter? Very minimal anyway.

As you say it was just the standard then. And from the explanation of the concept he wanted it to be family friendly. By doing it that way those who didn't want to ride were not subsidizing those who did. He turned to Corporations for that!

 

[Bearval]

Unfortunately, current Disney leadership appears to not care at all about the meaning of “What would Walt do?”. That question helped lead Disney out of a very tumultuous time after Walt’s death, and it focused/reminded the company that the most important thing was taking care of the guest. A Disney vacation has always been expensive, but in the past the company made it worth the money because of all the “pluses” and not charging for the “extras”. Now it seems like Disney wants to charge for every little thing they can. And I don’t think that’s what Walt would do.

If pay toilets were legal in Florida, Chapek would be selling Lighting Lane passes for them.

 

[Sammie]

Walt didn't invent it, that was the way amusement parks operated back then. I think POP (Pay One Price) admission became common in the industry sometime in the '60s.

At DL, Magic Key tickets were first offered to employees of companies that participated in DL's corporate affiliation program, which was similar to the Tickets at Work program today. I remember feeling very special having the paper ticket tied on to a button of my shirt, and riding the E-tickets as many times as I wanted, unlike those ordinary people who had to buy extra E-tickets at something like 80¢ a ride.

Change invent to introduce then, he still was the one responsible

 

[Sammie]

And entry was what? A quarter? Very minimal anyway.

As you say it was just the standard then. And from the explanation of the concept he wanted it to be family friendly. By doing it that way those who didn't want to ride were not subsidizing those who did. He turned to Corporations for that!

It was family friendly price wise to some but not to everyone, wasn't then and isn't now. All that has change is which families can afford to go.

 

[Sammie]

Yes, but that was an entirely different business model. Walt wasn’t gouging people with the price of admission ticket. So a super cheap admission ticket combined with paying for rides makes sense. The $1 admission ticket in 1955 is equivalent to $10.32 in todays dollars. I would be more than happy with even a $20 admission ticketA combined with $2.50 per ride (todays equivalent of the $0.25 per ride cost in 1955). Instead, Disney is charging $150 for the admission ticket and now squeezing even more to be able to use LL. That’s what I don’t think Walt would have done. He wanted everyone to be able to enjoy the experience.

Surely everyone knows there was no way then or now that everyone was able to enjoy the experience. It was never affordable to all and never will be. Nothing has changed, many still are priced out as they have been since day one.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Surely everyone knows there was no way then or now that everyone was able to enjoy the experience. It was never affordable to all and never will be. Nothing has changed, many still are priced out as they have been since day one.

Not to be argumentative, but that's not true. My mother grew up in a middle/lower class family in Phoenix and her and my grandparents went to Disneyland often when she was young...as in at least once a year. The percentage of people "priced out" when Walt was alive was much lower than it is now. As I discussed in my earlier comment, Disney prices have absolutely lapped normal inflation many times over. NOW many people are priced out, but that's not that way it was then.

 

[Sammie]

Not to be argumentative, but that's not true. My mother grew up in a middle/lower class family in Phoenix and her and my grandparents went to Disneyland often when she was young...as in at least once a year. The percentage of people "priced out" when Walt was alive was much lower than it is now. As I discussed in my earlier comment, Disney prices have absolutely lapped normal inflation many times over. NOW many people are priced out, but that's not that way it was then.

We will just have to agree to disagree on how many were shut out. The parks are busier than ever so people are definitely going. I think the only thing that changed was who is going and who thinks it is too expensive. The numbers support that many can still afford it.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

We will just have to agree to disagree on how many were shut out. The parks are busier than ever so people are definitely going. I think the only thing that changed was who is going and who thinks it is too expensive. The numbers support that many can still afford it.

I will definitely agree with you on the fact that the parks are busier than every before. Heck, even with the complaining about prices and nickel and diming I am still going to keep going. The extremely high demand is precisely how the company is able to get away with increasing the prices so much, so until that changes things will keep going up.

 

[Sammie]

I will definitely agree with you on the fact that the parks are busier than every before. Heck, even with the complaining about prices and nickel and diming I am still going to keep going. The extremely high demand is precisely how the company is able to get away with increasing the prices so much, so until that changes things will keep going up.

I think what people forget is Disney doesn't care about repeat guests as long as parks are crowded. They only offer discounts, etc when occupation rates fall. The parks are booming and who is there and who isn't is not a concern. Instead of annual trips some might now do every other year etc.

 

[joelkfla]

We will just have to agree to disagree on how many were shut out. The parks are busier than ever so people are definitely going. I think the only thing that changed was who is going and who thinks it is too expensive. The numbers support that many can still afford it.

I moved to FL in the 90's, so I don't know how busy the existing WDW parks were before that time. But I would not agree that the WDW parks are busier now than DL was in the 60's & 70's, and probably later.

And the word "busier" itself is highly subjective when comparing different parks. More Guests overall? Typical wait time for an attraction? Admissions divided by number of attractions? Physical space per Guest?