Disneyland Tickets Up Again; How much is just too much?

[Disney Dreams]

I have not seen this listed anywhere so I just thought I'd share:

Disneyland prices have gone up again.

Disneyland's new ticket prices:
1 Day, 1 Park, Adult: $66
1 Day, 1 Park, 3-9: $56
($91 and $81 if you want to include both parks)

So for a family of four, 2 Adults, 2 Children, a day of fun at JUST Disneyland (no DCA) = $244 plus parking (and food, and drink, and souvenirs)

$344 (plus, plus, plus, plus) if you want to include DCA.

Ouch! Having grown up going to Disneyland for a day of fun a few times a year, these prices make step back and think: How much is too much for a day of fun, no matter how magical?

If you are conservative on food costs and NO souvenirs, I would be amazed if you could get out of the park for less that $500 for a family of 4. That kind of money was for a VERY special, rare event for my family when I was growing up.

Even as a TANK (two adults, no kids) family, I am not sure I could rationalize a day at the park very often at those prices. Going on 4 years of being a DLR AP, we stretch to make that our "fun expense" for the entire year. On the happy side, $379 for access 365 days a year when I can have lunch at home before I go, and be home for dinner if I want is still a GREAT deal (esp. when it includes parking)!

It makes me sad to think about it, but one has to seriously wonder: Is a day of wonderful memories out of reach for price-wise for your "average" family?

Am I just too conservative with the dollar?

Would love to hear others thoughts.....
Dreams

P.S. Mods, no clue where this belongs. Move it anywhere it should go, please. Thanks!

 

[The_VMK_Teddybaer]

That's why I only have one child..

 

[BriarRosie]

Well, at WDW, a 1 day pass with a park hopping option would cost each
adult $123.55. That's still more expensive than DLR, but the kicker is that
the pricing point for WDW tickets is top-loaded to be more expensive the
first 4 days, and drop down after that.

At DLR, more people are day guests, and I would think the AP holders have
increased dramatically over the last few years because of the price hikes.
It is more cost effective to get an AP when you factor in the parking cost
with the admission cost. It sounds like the break even point would be your
4th visit.

We keep paying the prices to get in, and the attendance records are up, so
that tells me that we're all equally suckers for paying this much to go.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I'm a WDW girl, so can't speak to my feelings on DL but I will say WDW is trying its darndest to price itself out of my family's budget. Being in VA, we can't just eat lunch or dinner at home or sleep at home after park closing; would be a very costly and time consuming thing to do that.

We always go as a family of 3 (my parents in their 50s and me in my 20s) and share a resort room to save costs, we share meals at CS places, we eat very few TS meals (and when we do, we rarely order an entree; usually appetizer and dessert), and so on, but with the new rate hikes I am very concerned we won't be going back in May after I graduate from grad school as has been the plan since I started. If we can, I highly doubt I'll get to stay at WL. The prices are just crazy, but I guess as long as people pay them, they will continue to rise. Shoot, even when I stayed there two and a half years ago, I was there 7 nights in a standard room (free upgrade though to pool view), and the total cost came out to be about four months of house payment money. That doesn't include gas, tickets, or food and souvenir money. That's just crazy. But it was my college graduation present, so there you go. Disney knows many people will pay it especially for special occasions, and they take advantage of that like most companies do.

Still amazes me people can and do shell out almost $40 per person for eggs and other breakfast items at Cinderella Castle. I know you're paying for the experience, but we don't have that kind of money just for an experience usually. It's sad because Walt wanted the parks to be "a source of joy and inspiration" and for everyone. Reality is these day the money a WDW or DL trip would take goes to food, power bills, and rent for many people.

 

[PirateBell]

Wow.. I hadn't heard of the price raise!! THanks for sharing that with us though. I haev to agree... that I just LOVE going there..its one of my most favorite places to go! We love closer to DLR and I have thought that the prices were already way tro high! But now $66.66 ....that is just to much! Yes its just my hubby and me...but that is to much for us...I don't know how often we will be able to keep going? My son has an AP and I am sure he will keep getting it...but we don't make that much. I totally agree...its is sad ...because Walt did want the park to for people to be able to come and enjoy the parks and have fun. But as long as people keep going and paying that amount of money they will just keep raising the prices every couple years! Sad...

We do have inlaws coming in Nov... and they haev tickets from last summer when when were there..so we won't have to pay this time...so we will get to see the holiday decorations at least..which are awesome! I love going there during Christmas time!