ORD2KOA
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2002
I have a hard time feeling bad for FL residents (I wish I was one). The $699 gold AP pays for itself in the equivalent of 3 single day PH tickets, and most of the DS hotels can be had for the low $100's which have EMH & 60 day privileges. That is a lot cheaper than what out of state people would pay for a vacation (not taking into account travel costs as well).
I think the big driver also what several other people on this thread have mentioned - if FL AP holders can book FP's 60 days out, how is that enforced so they don't hold a spot that's then wasted if they decide not to go to the park that day?
I think that if they didn't need the steady income from APs and Florida residents, they wouldn't sell the specially priced tickets, and would stop advertising for us to come to the parks and stay at the hotels. I think some tourists would be surprised by the number of locals that are in the parks with them, spending money on "stuff" and food (I'm convinced this is now their biggest profit item) and also supporting WDW and spending money when tourists are not here in Orlando for one reason or another.
They don't enforce a "wasted" FP if tourists don't show up either. It just makes the line move faster. ;-)