The problem with Disneyland

[PirateBoatDropRide]

Let me start off by saying how much I love Disneyland and how special of a place it's been for me and my family. It's the one of the few places that we can truly disconnect from electronic devices and reconnect as a family. We've held annual passes for most of the past 6+ years and it's been awesome... until the last year or so. Part of it may be that my kids are getting a bit older and are starting to tire of the same rides, interests are shifting or we have experienced most of what Disneyland has to offer right now. It happens. That's life.

What is truly bothering me is the increasing feeling that I'm being taken for a sucker when I pay for my APs. Things that I feel (right or wrong) are not about my feelings, but more about the experience that Disney is providing.

1)THE CROWDS. The bottle necks in Adventureland and Tomorrowland. The crush of people during the parade and fireworks. What Disneyland has always done is created an atmosphere that hugs you into feeling like you've been transported to a distant jungle setting, New Orleans or the frontier. Now we are too busy navigating the sea of humanity to appreciate the great work of the imagineers.

2)THE LINES. This has been a issue for a long time and exists in most theme parks, but it'd be nice to be at Disneyland at least on an off season weekend and wait less than 60 minutes for any E ticket ride. I love several of the queue decorations, but not enough to wait 90 minutes for Space Mountain.

3)THE SELLING OF ADDED-VALUE WHERE IT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST. Free chocolate from Ghirardelli or birthday cupcakes for the day of Disneyland's 60th are added value. Some limited time magic, closing down multiple rides and then allowing people to explore railroad trains is nice, but not an added value-- it's trying to make up for the bigger loss of things to do around the park. I can see many disagreeing with me here, but added value to me means above and beyond the expected rather than something meant to cover-up something else that is lacking.

4)REGULAR ATTRACTION INNOVATION. Yes, we are getting Star Wars Land and I am excited, but besides Cars Land, I don't feel Disneyland has fulfilled this idea on a regular basis since California Adventure opened. I get that Disney is a business and there are logistics beyond my understanding, but I really think Disney should have something new and big opening in the attraction department (mainly rides) once every two to three years minimum. Paint the Night and new fireworks are awesome, but just not enough.

If I had the magic solution, I would suggest it here. I know many will disagree with my thoughts. Maybe others have ideas and I'd love to hear them. Build the 3rd gate. Greatly reduce the maximum capacity at the parks (not going to happen). Disney is here to make money and I've said nothing that hasn't been said before, but I just needed to get it out there. I love what Disneyland is and discouraged at what it's becoming. Now get off my lawn!!!

 

[LizzyS]

All valid points, but part of the problem I think is limited space at DLR. It was designed without knowing how very popular it would become in the future. I also hate the bottlenecks you mentioned, but I love the place, so I deal.

As long as people are coming in record numbers, Disney is unlikely to change their major strategy, methinks.

 

[dragonflycurls]

You hit several points right on the nose. I think truly, the only way for the congestion issue is for Disney to raise the price even more. It seems the parks demand is higher than ever, and the price isn't really deterring too many folks.

If only there was more land outside Disney for them to build a third park

 

[GatorChris]

I agree with building a 3rd gate for sure. I love that SW Land is coming, but it's just going to make DL park even more of a zoo than it already is. The prices have gone up and so have the crowds. The only way anything is alleviated is with a 3rd gate. But that will NEVER EVER happen. Just shove a few more people in.

I definitely feel your pain. You want to love DL and never give it up. But with crowds escalating year round, it's hard to find a time we enjoy anymore. Certainly not enough to invest in an AP.

 

[sherilaine]

Disney is a business. Sure it started off as a seed of an idea that grew in the brain of a man who took his daughters to the merry go round and sat on a bench, but in the end even he had to make the dollars line up. However, the entire world we live in has changed around that bench - as a society we are what Disney is adapting too. We want more, we want it faster, we want it louder and bigger and more of it. And honestly, as a neighbor to the north, I see America as wanting it more than any other country on this planet. So while I agree with your points - I think the fingers on the hand have to point to more than just one park, in one city - as Disney is a symptom, it's not the disease.

Edited to add that maybe this next trip of ours will be awful, with all the talk of how much worse it's gotten in the last two years since we last visited and had a wonderful time. Maybe this will push us to do something different. I hope not, but maybe...

 

[PirateBoatDropRide]

I agree with building a 3rd gate for sure. I love that SW Land is coming, but it's just going to make DL park even more of a zoo than it already is. The prices have gone up and so have the crowds. The only way anything is alleviated is with a 3rd gate. But that will NEVER EVER happen. Just shove a few more people in.

I definitely feel your pain. You want to love DL and never give it up. But with crowds escalating year round, it's hard to find a time we enjoy anymore. Certainly not enough to invest in an AP.

This. I still enjoy it a great deal, but every time we leave the park for the day, I'm talking more about the crowds we fought rather than how great of a day it was with my family. It's just not the way it's supposed to be. Generally speaking, crowds don't bother me, but crowds that greatly detract from my experience with something do.

I do think we will eventually see a 3rd gate down the road. I just don't see it anytime soon with the decision to build Star Wars Land in Disneyland Park.

 

[Gisele]

Disney is a business. Sure it started off as a seed of an idea that grew in the brain of a man who took his daughters to the merry go round and sat on a bench, but in the end even he had to make the dollars line up. However, the entire world we live in has changed around that bench - as a society we are what Disney is adapting too. We want more, we want it faster, we want it louder and bigger and more of it. And honestly, as a neighbor to the north, I see America as wanting it more than any other country on this planet. So while I agree with your points - I think the fingers on the hand have to point to more than just one park, in one city - as Disney is a symptom, it's not the disease.

Edited to add that maybe this next trip of ours will be awful, with all the talk of how much worse it's gotten in the last two years since we last visited and had a wonderful time. Maybe this will push us to do something different. I hope not, but maybe...

I last visited in July of 2015.
Being July yes it was on the busy side. But it wasn't a zoo thank God. Lol Between FP and SRL it makes things easier.


I am not happy at all with a number of changes. But there is nothing I can do about it, best I can tell.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Edited to add that maybe this next trip of ours will be awful, with all the talk of how much worse it's gotten in the last two years since we last visited and had a wonderful time. Maybe this will push us to do something different. I hope not, but maybe...

Granted we went in November, but we were still there over a RunDisney weekend, as well as the official opening of the holidays at DLR, so it was a bit crowded for the first 4 days we were there. We still had a fantastic time. We hadn't been to DLR since 2011, before Carsland and everything opened, and we definitely had just as good of a time (if not better) than we had in 2011 (and our 2011 trip was during Spring Break season)

 

[MillauFr]

4)REGULAR ATTRACTION INNOVATION. Yes, we are getting Star Wars Land and I am excited, but besides Cars Land, I don't feel Disneyland has fulfilled this idea on a regular basis since California Adventure opened. I get that Disney is a business and there are logistics beyond my understanding, but I really think Disney should have something new and big opening in the attraction department (mainly rides) once every two to three years minimum. Paint the Night and new fireworks are awesome, but just not enough.

On this point I am thankful that Disneyland is light years ahead of Disneyworld. Disneyland has rides that are far superior to their counterparts in Florida.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I've often felt the sucker thing as well. I also see a disrespectful attitude aimed not at individuals but at large groups and crowds. Just one example are the crowds waiting to get in. Rather than pay a few CM's an extra hours pay to get crowds in fast, they treat people like cattle, herding and barking orders. Even worse they're putting those people in harms way of any nut wanting to target them.
Sometimes it feels like they think they can pull anything on us and we'll just keep lapping it up.
In our own case we have stopped going as often and spent our vacation dollars in other places.

Those are just my perceptions as a mature adult. Many will wave the Disney banner no matter what they do and that is their rite. It doesn't make me wrong though.

 

[PirateBoatDropRide]

On this point I am thankful that Disneyland is light years ahead of Disneyworld. Disneyland has rides that are far superior to their counterparts in Florida.

Disneyland has gotten more love than Disney World, I'll give you that. I do think Disneyland gets a lot of TLC that World does not benefit from. Disneyland is still a great place when you look past the issues I stated and is arguably better from a repeat visit for the theme park perspective versus Disney World.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Well, you said that you knew people would disagree with you (but I'm glad you were able to get this off your chest), so here are my 2 cents:
For us, points 1 and 2 are taken care of by being APs. We don't like crowds or lines any more than the next person, but we know we have the luxury to time our visits so that crowds and lines aren't big problems. If necessary, we know we can always come back another day. And as passholders, we know about FPs and single rider lines, both of which can really help deal with point 2.

Point 3 isn't really applicable for us. We have APs because we love DLR and the magic itself. Added value isn't something we really look for. We feel we've already found value just by being in Walt's park and enjoying all the special things around us (e.g. all the details in the architecture and planning, the landscaping, the music!, fun food, CMs who make the magic, etc.). Getting free chocolate or a free cupcake is nice, but not relevent to why we go to DLR. Just my thoughts...

As for point 4, are you willing to pay the huge price increase to support "something new and big opening in the attraction department (mainly rides) once every two to three years minimum"? I'm not and, personally, I don't feel that it's needed. DLR isn't Six Flags or Knott's (parks which rely on rides to draw people in). Riding the classics, like Peter Pan or POTC, again and again never gets old for us. The more we learn about all the work and detail that went into these rides, the more special each ride becomes for us.

Again, this is just my opinion, and everyone is different. Hope you get to enjoy your passes this year and find lots more fun things to do outside of DLR in the future.

 

[Huff]

On this point I am thankful that Disneyland is light years ahead of Disneyworld. Disneyland has rides that are far superior to their counterparts in Florida.

Who wins? Each has their pluses and minuses. My take:
Space Mountain, DL
Splash Mountain, MK
Big Thunder, Tie
Pirates, DL
Haunted Mansion, MK (Except during NMBC)
Jungle Cruise, MK
Tower of Terror, DS
FantasyLand, DL because of greater detail, no tents, etc. But MK's new FL expansion is great so tough call.

Each has their unique rides as well, Indy, Dino, Rock'n, Scream'n etc.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Moving this discussion to our Community Board...

 

[LisaT91403]

I definitely feel your pain. You want to love DL and never give it up. But with crowds escalating year round, it's hard to find a time we enjoy anymore. Certainly not enough to invest in an AP.

For us, the crowds are the reason we like having an AP. We figure that we are not going to get to everything in a day, and it's totally okay because we will just come back and do different stuff next time. We make sure to get FP's for the things that are "must do's", and also use SRL here and there. We use the app and do things that don't have such long waits. And if it gets bad, we know that we can always hop to DCA and find things that don't have long lines.

If I didn't have an AP, then I'd be anxious and upset about the lines and not getting to do everything. The AP takes all the pressure off.

 

[PirateBoatDropRide]

For us, the crowds are the reason we like having an AP. We figure that we are not going to get to everything in a day, and it's totally okay because we will just come back and do different stuff next time. We make sure to get FP's for the things that are "must do's", and also use SRL here and there. We use the app and do things that don't have such long waits. And if it gets bad, we know that we can always hop to DCA and find things that don't have long lines.

If I didn't have an AP, then I'd be anxious and upset about the lines and not getting to do everything. The AP takes all the pressure off.

Absolutely one of the best reasons to have an AP is to not feel the pressure to get in everything on each visit, but outside of long lines not allowing us do certain rides each visit, the problems I listed are not really solved by having an annual pass.

 

[PirateBoatDropRide]

Well, you said that you knew people would disagree with you (but I'm glad you were able to get this off your chest), so here are my 2 cents:
For us, points 1 and 2 are taken care of by being APs. We don't like crowds or lines any more than the next person, but we know we have to luxury to time our visits so that crowds and lines aren't big problems. If necessary, we know we can always come back another day. And as passholders, we know about FPs and single rider lines, both of which can really help deal with point 2.

Point 3 isn't really applicable for us. We have APs because we love DLR and the magic itself. Added value isn't something we really look for. We feel we've already found value just by being in Walt's park and enjoying all the special things around us (e.g. all the details in the architecture and planning, the landscaping, the music!, fun food, CMs who make the magic, etc.). Getting free chocolate or a free cupcake is nice, but not relevent to why we go to DLR. Just my thoughts...

As for point 4, are you willing to pay the huge price increase to support "something new and big opening in the attraction department (mainly rides) once every two to three years minimum"? I'm not and, personally, I don't feel that it's needed. DLR isn't Six Flags or Knott's (parks which rely on rides to draw people in). Riding the classics, like Peter Pan or POTC, again and again never gets old for us. The more we learn about all the work and detail that went into these rides, the more special each ride becomes for us.

Again, this is just my opinion, and everyone is different. Hope you get to enjoy your passes this year and find lots more fun things to do outside of DLR in the future.

Of course I invite different opinions. Life would be no fun without them.

Just so I'm clear, this is not a statement that I am finished with Disneyland. This is more a statement of what has been disappointing to me and my experience. We love doing things as a family beyond Disneyland, but it has been our "go-to" place over a the past several years when we needed that family day where all of us can enjoy each others' company in a fun setting.

If the only time we can visit is on the weekends due to work and school schedules, the crowds are an issue for us personally despite being an AP holder. Of course I don't expect an empty park, I just hope for something more manageable in terms of crowds at least in the off season.

And I feel that we've gotten the huge price increases over the past several years to justify more reinvestment beyond what we've gotten thus far. Star Wars Land is a big step in the right direction for sure, but I don't see them doing anything at DCA (at least they haven't announced it yet) to balance the crowds that are going to descend on Disneyland Park in the first year or two of it's opening. Every 3 years is not a crazy small amount of time to expect something significant. My only concerns about that would be the level of innovation they could provide, but the price increase seems to have become an annual thing regardless of what new things they are offering that year.

(EDIT: Sorry for the double thread postings.)

 

[PirateBoatDropRide]

Should rude people be added to this list?

 

[disney-inspired]

On this point I am thankful that Disneyland is light years ahead of Disneyworld. Disneyland has rides that are far superior to their counterparts in Florida.

Agreed, they have done a lot more in new ride tech and ideas here but I think it's because it's more affordable than trying to implement it in a larger space like Disney World.

I am really looking forward to the Pandora expansion and all the renovations they are doing at Disney World in the coming years.

 

[disney-inspired]

For us, the crowds are the reason we like having an AP. We figure that we are not going to get to everything in a day, and it's totally okay because we will just come back and do different stuff next time. We make sure to get FP's for the things that are "must do's", and also use SRL here and there. We use the app and do things that don't have such long waits. And if it gets bad, we know that we can always hop to DCA and find things that don't have long lines.

If I didn't have an AP, then I'd be anxious and upset about the lines and not getting to do everything. The AP takes all the pressure off.

This is my reasoning as well. I'm a local, about an hour away with good traffic. I like that I can do a full day, go for an evening, or go early on a weekend day and leave after lunch. It's that sort of flexibility that makes me buy an AP every year. I love experiencing all the seasons at DLR so being able to go year round is a must for me.

In having this attitude, I don't find lines a big deal. For however much longer we get to keep the current FP system, it is easy to get in the big ones even if they are spread throughout the day. Knowing I can come back at another time really helps me have a relaxed visit.