So what do you think of the new tax on Disney tix?

[kelmac284]

Because our lovely state is in debt our governor now wants to tax all amusement tickets and sporting events as well as a bunch of other stuff. As if the tickets didn't cost enough already.

What do you guys think?

I don't know I am sick of paying for everybody else's problems personally. I know my husband hasn't gotten a raise in over 5 years and had to take a pay CUT the last 2 years and we have had to make due with EVERYTHING going up. Gas, food etc etc. And I am getting sick and tired of the "people" having to bail the government out. The bailout federally and now this locally.

I feel like the federal and now the state governments get themselves into these messes and then tax the heck out of the people to make up for it and I am tired of it.

Opinions?

 

[wendypooh22]

I hear ya sister!!! I cannot believe that our lovely governator wants to raise our taxes in this horrible economy (even if it is only for 3 years) but the tax on amusement tickets etc. would be permanent.

Not sure what county you live in, but with the passage of Measure R (1/2 cent increase) the governors tax increase would bring LA County to over 10% Just ridiculous!

 

[kelmac284]

I'm right here in his backyard! The capital! BLEH!

 

[Sherry E]

Good Lord! 10%! So if the DLR one-day tickets stayed $69 for another year - which they probably won't, as DLR will raise the prices - the tax would be $6.90. And that is bad enough. Imagine the people who are saving pennies to get a Premium AP - which is headed towards the $400 mark very soon - and then have to pay an additional $40 in taxes.

I was at a very low-paying job for 14 years, struggling badly as the cost of living went up and up and up in Los Angeles. And this sort of thing - raising taxes so much and taxing every little thing - is not going to help the poor people of California at all. Poor people will not be able to afford certain things thay have barely been able to afford up to now. I can't believe Arnold hasn't figured out a way to start taxing food at grocery stores. That will come next, I bet. Grocery stores already changed all of their coupon policies earlier this year, where they either no longer double them or they only do it with limitations, thus, forcing the customers to spend more money than they would have under the old coupon policies. And when you are scraping penies together to get a few items at the store with your double coupons in hand, only to find out you can't double them, then you may not be able to purchase your items!

By the way, Kelly - are you going back to DLR this holiday season? I loved your photos so much from your last holiday trip. I can't wait to see what pictures you get this time (if you go)!!!

 

[kkgunn]

Maybe your gov. thinks that the tax would mostly be paid by out of state tourists, sparing some of the people of the state of Calif. a new tax.

I know that after buying plane tickets, renting a car (lots of taxes and fees), pay for hotel and meals away from home, a tax on my ticket it the least of my financial expenditures.

I don't like the idea, but it wouldn't stop me from going.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

If this tax goes through, it will not be temporary. They may say it will, but tax hikes always find a way to stick around. I just wish that Washington, D.C. and state capitols, especially Sacramento would start living like Main Street instead of whining and complaining about Wall Street.

 

[Disney Dreams]

"See Spot Jump! Jump!"

Schwarteren...r saw America elect Obama on a campaign that was very honest about raising taxes and said, "Hey! They don't mind! Let's do it in CA, too!"

Just my take,
Dreams

 

[Sherry E]

If this tax goes through, it will not be temporary. They may say it will, but tax hikes always find a way to stick around. I just wish that Washington, D.C. and state capitols, especially Sacramento would start living like Main Street instead of whining and complaining about Wall Street.

I agree. The tax hike will in no way be temporary. That much we can count on, no matter what they say!

I think, even though Disney is struggling in this bad economy (see separate thread by disneegrl4va) and their hotel bookings are down and what not, I think many people still continue to go to the parks. I think Disney will continue to offer some of the great promos and discounts that they began offering this year, to lure people into going. But unless DLR takes a severe nosedive in quality of service (it has diminished some, but not completely) or quality of overall 'product,' or raises its prices to stratospheric levels that nobody can afford, people will still shell out the money to visit a Disney Park. Now, some folks may begin to visit DLR more often because it is a cheaper trip than one to WDW in many ways, so DLR might start picking up in attendance and hotel bookings quite a bit next year. We will see.

I know that, because of money problems, I couldn't go to DLR for six years, between 2001 and 2007. I hated being away from it at first, then I got used to it. When I returned last year, the magic hit me instantly - even though prices had gone up substantially in 6 years - and I couldn't see how I had managed to NOT go for that long, and I knew I couldn't stay away that long again! Even in the face of the money problems I have, I know that as long as I am living in California, I couldn't stay away from DLR for more than a year or two at most. I may have to do that soon. After this December's trip, I might skip 2009 (in terms of a hotel stay), but I would have to get back there in 2010!

Someone in DLR Reservations told me last week that more people are getting APs now than before. So even if the hotels are not booking as fast or as often, people still clearly want to visit the parks!

 

[Pooh'sTwin]

Speaking of APs... This question may seem silly, but I am catching up on our California news... Has this tax gone into effect yet? Just asking because we were planning to upgrade our deluxe APs to Premium soon, and if we can avoid the tax it would be nice. Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

Speaking of APs... This question may seem silly, but I am catching up on our California news... Has this tax gone into effect yet? Just asking because we were planning to upgrade our deluxe APs to Premium soon, and if we can avoid the tax it would be nice. Thanks!

Pooh's Twin - how was your October stay at the GCH? I know you were at DLR for some of the days I was (though we were at the PPH - not my best stay there this time around!). I have a tentative but almost definite trip planned for December with a stay at GCH, and I just want to make sure they are still up to par!!! (Oh, and I just got my very first Premium AP when I was there, and I am glad I avoided any tax!)

I don't think the tax has gone into effect yet. I would assume - though could be wrong - that 2009 is when we will see it, but someone correct me if I am wrong, please!

 

[pixiewings71]

The tax would have to pass before it's in effect and since today is the first I've even heard of this tax I can say it hasn't passed. I'm buying 4 AP's this year, Deluxe, and using the $30 off code.....I'll be buying them before the "temporary" tax is put into effect and I can honestly say that we won't be going to many A's games this year so this "temporary" tax that he's proposing won't help. We normally go to about 10 games a year, but not with a new tax due on them we won't. And if he thinks that tourists will be paying "most" of this tax, he's dead wrong. Vacations are one of the first things to get cut when budgets get tight, more local will want to go to the parks because they can't afford to go elsewhere so we Californians will be paying this tax, not tourists!! And really, how many tourists go to sporting events or concerts in our state?

 

[Gisele]

I had heard just briefly about this possible tax, not too long ago. I thought, what? How stupid to place tax for these types of tickets. Welcome to California! I am in agreement overall, with y'all. And Sleepless Knight, very good point!

I just wish that Washington, D.C. and state capitols, especially Sacramento would start living like Main Street instead of whining and complaining about Wall Street.

 

[wendylady36]

I'm right here in his backyard! The capital! BLEH!

Shall you and I go knock on his door and have a little discussion with him? We can wear our mouse ears!

 

[Gisele]

Make sure to take a video camera along.

 

[cats mom]

IIRC an independant advisory committe suggested the best thing the Governator could do to address the budget deficit would be to get prop 13 repealed. Since that would be political sucide, he's gotta come up with something. Cutting spending hasn't proven to be very popular with the electorate.

It's not exactly out of the box thinking. Nevada has a live entertainment tax. I believe it's either 5% or 10% depending on the size of the venue. Of course I think the Nevada tax probably hit visitors more than the CA tax would.

Taxes that get passed on to out of state visitors do tend to be a fairly easy sell.

Ever rented a car in Phoenix? I believe taxes/fees can add 30% plus to your price if you rent from an airport location.

 

[kelmac284]

All I know is I haven't been to a vacation anywhere But Disney in years because believe it or not it is the most reasonable vacation my family of 5 can do. By buying the AP's and taking advantage of hotel deals through getaway today and going during off times etc., getting deals on arifare or driving and then eating offsight or bringing our own food it is the cheapest vacation my family can take.

AND by buying AP's we can usually take one or two trips a year versus going to say Hawaii or Mexico. If we had to fly to either of those places it would cost double or triple what two or three small trips to Disneyland costs us.

We are taking what is probably our LAST trip to Disneyworld this month and that is ONLY because my mom is taking advantage of her timeshare which saves is a great deal on our rooms (she is paying for that) so we don't have to pay for any rooms for the time we are there and we USED to get great deals on airfare but this is the first trip that it cost us quite a bit more and thus this is probably our LAST trip for awhile unless things change. And one of the ONLY reasons we are going is because we got a good tax refund for 07 AND we used our stimulus checks. If it weren't for those we wouldn't be going.

As far as going to Disneyland I do have the ladies trip planned with my mom in march and then a birthday trip planned over spring break which I got a great deal on rooms at one of the cheapie hotels on harbor and I JUST bought the airfare as we speak today and paid WAY more than I wanted but it still wasn't horrible. Could have been worse but I have paid a lot less that's for sure!

But I can tell you if they add these taxes etc I don't think we will be renewing our passes or going back anytime soon.

It WAS one of the few affordable things we were able to do but if it gets much more expensive it might just get out of our range of affordability and that will truly be a sad day because we can't afford to go anywhere else!

 

[bumbershoot]

And really, how many tourists go to sporting events or concerts in our state?

*cough* just went to Madonna in San Diego, flying down from WA with 12 other women *cough*


When someone doesn't come to your state and you wanna see 'em, you go where they are!



Although it's been lovely that the price is the price is the price, I don't care if a tax is put into place. And my area has almost 10% sales tax anyway.

Though we do NOT have state income tax and we don't pay sales tax on foods to prepare at home, so it's possible my thoughts are skewed due to that.

I feel bad for Oregonians, though, when they have to encounter sales tax! (but then I try to get out to pump my gas there and I don't feel bad for them anymore, oh how I hate having someone else pump gas!)

 

[pixiewings71]

*cough* just went to Madonna in San Diego, flying down from WA with 12 other women *cough*


When someone doesn't come to your state and you wanna see 'em, you go where they are!



Although it's been lovely that the price is the price is the price, I don't care if a tax is put into place. And my area has almost 10% sales tax anyway.

Though we do NOT have state income tax and we don't pay sales tax on foods to prepare at home, so it's possible my thoughts are skewed due to that.

I feel bad for Oregonians, though, when they have to encounter sales tax! (but then I try to get out to pump my gas there and I don't feel bad for them anymore, oh how I hate having someone else pump gas!)

Well see, I don't ever buy concert tickets so that tax wouldn't bother me at all. I go to loads of concerts yearly (I have 2 planned for the next two weeks) but not on my dime. I just can't see myself ever making a special trip out of state for a concert...maybe I'm just immune because I go so often.....lol

 

[perlster]

As far as I know, there was no increase in sales tax enacted in Orange County on Tuesday. If the Governator has his way, the tax on Disney, Knott's Berry Farm, and Angel tickets will be 7.75% + 1.5% = 9.25%. San Diego currently has the same rate, so getting into Sea World and Legoland will require also require a 9.25% contribution to the state treasury.

 

[Gisele]

The classic Beatles song,"The Tax Man", does rather say it all or actually