This 4-5 day parkhopper line business is you know what!

[Geemo]

This is for anyone that missed this portion of the thread.

I'll help you all out by providing a link to send them an email.

"https://disneyland.disney.go.com/help/email/"[/SIZE]]https://disneyland.disney.go.com/help/email/

For those wanting to let Disney know how you feel, "Thumper Man" has given you the email address.

Let your fingers fly off an email in their direction.

Geemo

 

[TheZue]

I read alot of people complaining but don't see anyone voting with their feet and NOT going. And obviously neither does Disney so they will continue the practice.

Just my observation.

It's too new to know. How far out did you buy your tickets? I bought mine last May and went in September. Our restaurant reservations were made two months out and Fantasmic was booked 30 days out....not to mention how far out people book things like flights. It will take some time 1) to see if this is a permenant inconvenience (I sure hope not) and 2) for people who have planned ahead to filter through and for people making plans now and in the future to get there and actually impact the numbers.

ETA: Not only all of the above but I'm sure there will be people showing up who don't read ahead, bought the 4 or 5 day without knowing this was happening, and vow that the next time they come they won't do that again. That impact may not be felt for a year or two. But one thing I did notice when I was there was not only were there no advertisments for the four and five day park hoppers, they weren't even on the pricing board at the booth. It's like they don't want people there for long visits. I'm sure there is some logic to this but it's totally escaping me.

 

[ValpoCory]

It seems like crazy logic, but it almost seems with this, and the lack of 6 day or more park hoppers, they are saying buy an AP or don't come. Buying an AP was the suggestion that many of us got when writing to disney. Our family has trying to decide where our vacation will be next year. It's been DL for the last 3 years, I absolutely love Disneyland but if this continues, I won't come back for a Disneyland centered vacation again.

Right, and then, after you buy an AP, you'll find out one or more of the days you want to use it is blacked out.

 

[Breyean]

I read alot of people complaining but don't see anyone voting with their feet and NOT going. And obviously neither does Disney so they will continue the practice.

Just my observation.

Hasn't this policy been in effect for like 2 days now? It might be too early to see any changes in park visiting patterns since most people make vacation plans way in advance.

In our case, we were thinking of doing the COSTCO deal even though we had originally been planning on going to the parks for three days. With COSTCO we figured we could add an extra day, spread things out, and go on one of the days of our stay when we hadn't been planning on doing a DL park.

Now we're rethinking that. The COSTCO savings aren't enough to compensate us for the hassle of the longer early morning wait times (we stay at a DLR hotel) and the anxiety being expressed on the boards by others as they see guests stream in using 3 day tickets while they wait on a segregated line.

I don't understand why all ticket booths can't handle the ID requirements. But I do know there are lots of other things to do in SoCal and while DLR will remain a part of that for us, it might become a smaller part if this disregard for certain customers isn't addressed.

 

[Geemo]

It will be interesting to see how things pan out in the next few weeks.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

Hasn't this policy been in effect for like 2 days now?

This!! I really think people are jumping the gun on this. Now if this had been going on for weeks or months I see getting upset. It's Disney at a very busy time of the year....I expect to wait in lines.

It really sounds like people are getting worked up without knowing first hand how the policy will/is going to affect their vacation. Disneyland has a HUGE number of local visitors who due abuse the tickets and rent them out etc. sadly this will affect us all until the issue is resolved. I am honestly beside myself with how people want to call it discrimination and segregation.........this is not a civil rights movement, it's simply Disney trying to resolve an ongoing issue of DISHONESTY and fraudulent ticket sells. Go on ebay and take a look at the numerous FRAUDULENT ticket sells and maybe you can see Disney's point. Let the kinks get worked out a bit before getting so worked up!!

 

[jory29]

First Disney made a lot of guests unhappy by removing the 6 and 7 day park hoppers... (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2980067)

And now this?

It looks like Disney is trying to cater more so to people living in the local area, [and cast away their out of town guests entirely.]

There has got to be a better way to deter the fraudulent ticket activity rather than penalize everyone who is showing support for the park.

I don't mind showing ID, etc. but like others, I would mind if I had to wait excessively long, cutting into my precious Disneyland time with my family.

 

[specialks]

This!! I really think people are jumping the gun on this. Now if this had been going on for weeks or months I see getting upset. It's Disney at a very busy time of the year....I expect to wait in lines.

It really sounds like people are getting worked up without knowing first hand how the policy will/is going to affect their vacation. Disneyland has a HUGE number of local visitors who due abuse the tickets and rent them out etc. sadly this will affect us all until the issue is resolved. I am honestly beside myself with how people want to call it discrimination and segregation.........this is not a civil rights movement, it's simply Disney trying to resolve an ongoing issue of DISHONESTY and fraudulent ticket sells. Go on ebay and take a look at the numerous FRAUDULENT ticket sells and maybe you can see Disney's point. Let the kinks get worked out a bit before getting so worked up!!

While I agree somewhat with this viewpoint, I also don't see that it is fair for Joe and Mary with 3 day hoppers to have 10 minutes or whatever extra time in the parks in the mornings than Larry and Sue with 4 day hoppers. Limiting the lines does NOT prevent the fraud. Forcing IDs and signage is what prevents the fraud. Most people on this thread are not mad that they will be forced to show IDs or sign their tickets. They're mad that they are limited on how and when they can enter the park.

I just sent an email to Disney mentioning my concern over the new policy and asking that they reconsider the continuation of limiting turnstile usage. I'm hopeful that they will see and hear the problems with this current setup and change it to allow better processing of 4 and 5 day PHs and to allow more stringent control on entry (across the board - not just at 2 turnstiles).

 

[bumbershoot]

FWIW, it took us over 10 minutes (I want to say 20 but I think it's somewhere in between) to get into the gates for EMH at DCA in early October, because the people way in front of us weren't very smart or organized. This can happen in ANY line.

It's not because Disney did this, but because people aren't prepared.

The first full day I had my AP I couldn't find a photopass person, so when I hopped, and then when I entered the next morning, I showed my ID with the AP. I had the ID out and showed them both. I was let in immediately. If I had forgotten, didn't want to take out my ID, was protesting it, it would have taken longer for me to get through. This is a combo of new Disney policy AND guests being unprepared.


If I had a 5 day ticket right now, I would just make sure I was FIRST at that gate, so I wasn't at the mercy of the dingbats in front of me.

It looks like Disney is trying to cater more so to people living in the local area, [and cast away their out of town guests entirely.]

I just don't know why people think locals buy 1-3 day tickets. Locals can buy an AP for barely more than a 3 day ticket. People like my brother (not a megafan but he'll go if he has to) can afford to buy a 1 day ticket several times through the year, but I imagine that most locals will just by a socal pass if they think they'll go more than once.

 

[starry_solo]

Good point. And that's the reason we'll see $200 one day passes in 20 years. Very inelastic demand.

I'm pretty sure that will be in 5-10 years. We won't have to wait for 20 years to see one day, one park passes for $200.

 

[jetskigrl]

So, we have been here since Monday of this week. I've had them check my parkhoppers (5day) and ID each time we parkhop (couple times a day), but today, I was FURIOUS. Went to our only early entry day (staying off property), and we didn't even get inside until 8:20! Why? Oh, because we were forced to use the 4-5 day parkhopper line (only two were open), which stretched all the way back to the DCA entrance! RIDICULOUS!!!! Other lines to enter DL were less than 1/2 that length (all MM entry). The lady ahead of us had waited in another line and once she got to the front was told to go to the 4-5 parkhopper line, they wouldn't let her in there. The only sign was right in front of the gate stating this. This is just crazy. They need better signage and more open lines. I feel like we were being punished. I asked the lady were they going to open more lines? Of course, once we got to the gate finally, they opened two more. I didn't take the time to talk to a manager about it (although I did ask who I should complain to), because I wanted to enjoy what was left of our MM. I do plan on writing a letter to Disney about this. I asked another CM why they are even bothering with hand stamps when they are checking the passes and ID's too, she just said there has been a lot of fraud with 4-5 day park hoppers. Apparently, people are renting out their days. I get that they are having issues and need better controls, but really, they are making many folks very upset.

OK, before people get all upset, lets take a look at this. I don't like to see people changing plans and talking about paying more for different tickets when it is too soon to see how this will play out.

Wasn't yesterday the first day that MM has been offered at DLR since they started doing this? DCA MM would not be an accurate representation since it is limited to hotel guests. So this was their first chance to determine how many people (hotel and non-hotel guests) would be utilizing the lines? And by 8:20 they realized that 2 lines was not enough and opened more.

Also, you state that the lady in front of you in line already had been through another line and when she reached the front, was told to get in the 4 or 5 day ticket line? So that means if you were behind her, you didn't arrive at the lines until after 8:05 or 8:10 (if the gates opened at 8 and she had waited in another line first and then moved to your line...to be in front of you). So you arrived at least 5 or 10 minutes after the 8:00 am opening and were inside by 8:20?

In all my experiences arriving at DLR when it first opens, lines are very long and it can easily take 10 minutes to get through the lines (or more if we get stuck behind people that aren't prepared or have fraudulant tickets, etc). We avoid that by arriving either 30 minutes prior to opening (to be at the front of the line) or 15 to 20 minutes after opening so that the first wave of people has already gone inside.

I do hope that if these special lines remained at twice the size of the other lines the entire day or during the next MM, that people will take the time to stop in and place a complaint. DLR will figure it out on their own but that process will take place much quicker if they receive a lot of feedback from guests those first couple of mornings.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

I think for the most part people don't mind showing their ID's... I think they should allow all guests to use every turnstile, with their tickets and ID's ready if they holding a 4 or 5 day ticket, and have proper signage to support it. Place signs by the security checkpoint (like they do at the airport) "Please have your park tickets and ID's ready if you have a 4 or 5 day pass" and have a CM or two routinely walk the line, announcing to guests to be prepared, sign their ticket, and have ID ready for a smoother transition for the entry. Two lines IS NOT ENOUGH. Especially for MM. MM is for guests with 3 or more days, why limit the turnstiles during MM, that's stupid! Gah, I hope all this is worked out before our trip... it's around the corner and I'm not actually as excited as I would normally be because of this.

 

[Susie63]

Has anyone staying at the resort been through the GCH entrance with a 4 or 5 day pass.I wonder how that is working in such a small area?

 

[Satchmo128]

We stayed at DLH this past Saturday - Tuesday with 4-day PH tickets.

The tickets were purchased online through disneyland.com and we printed them to bring to the parks. When we got our actual tickets (at the monorail entrance), mine had my name printed on it (since my CC was used to purchase) and DH's had a line for him to write (or sign, can't remember) his name on his.

We were never asked to show ID getting into the parks, but on Tuesday afternoon when we were hopping back to DL for our last few hours, we got into one of the normal turnstile lines. It wasn't until we were at the front of the line that we were told we needed to go to turnstiles #15 or #16 since we had 4-day PH tickets. There was no explanation as to why, just that we had to move. The sign I noticed in front of those turnstiles said that they were for a "special event", which I found to be even more confusing.



On a slightly different topic - What I found even more interesting was that our room keys showed "DVC Member", but when we tried to get the DVC discount throughout the parks (by showing our room key), some places they asked for ID, others they didn't. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, either.

 

[danlkrim]

I have sent my email. I tried to stress that I have no problem showing ID if the issue is combating ticket fraud. I am just concerned about losing time in the park due to lengthy delays at the turnstile. It seems like a reasonable solution is to be able check ID at any turnstile. Hopefully this situation will have come to some kind of settlement by the time of our planned February visit. Thank you to all those who are updating the current situation.

 

[todzwife]

*snip*

It's not because Disney did this, but because people aren't prepared.

*SNIP*


If I had a 5 day ticket right now, I would just make sure I was FIRST at that gate, so I wasn't at the mercy of the dingbats in front of me.

This is my plan. We'll get there an hour before the gates open if it means being one of the first through the gates and not being stuck behind 20 people who don't know what's going on...

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Guess what this makes me want to do? Go for 3 days instead of 5. And no, I'm not kidding. Mayhaps I'll be adjusting our travel dates.

I'll also inform the hotel of WHY we won't be staying as long so they are aware of the situation. This is ridiculous.

 

[sheetz]

I just don't know why people think locals buy 1-3 day tickets. Locals can buy an AP for barely more than a 3 day ticket. People like my brother (not a megafan but he'll go if he has to) can afford to buy a 1 day ticket several times through the year, but I imagine that most locals will just by a socal pass if they think they'll go more than once.

Most locals don't go to DL all that often. If they did then DL would be 10X more crowded than it is now. And SoCal passes have lots of blockout dates which make them of limited value to most folks.

But the fact is that even out of town visitors typically don't go to the parks more than 3 days at a time. The average mind set is "one park per day" and that's it.

 

[awdsmama]

I am honestly beside myself with how people want to call it discrimination and segregation.........this is not a civil rights movement, it's simply Disney trying to resolve an ongoing issue of DISHONESTY and fraudulent ticket sells.

Thank you, my thoughts exactly.

 

[indygirl99]

It's too new to know. How far out did you buy your tickets? I bought mine last May and went in September. Our restaurant reservations were made two months out and Fantasmic was booked 30 days out....not to mention how far out people book things like flights. It will take some time 1) to see if this is a permenant inconvenience (I sure hope not) and 2) for people who have planned ahead to filter through and for people making plans now and in the future to get there and actually impact the numbers.

ETA: Not only all of the above but I'm sure there will be people showing up who don't read ahead, bought the 4 or 5 day without knowing this was happening, and vow that the next time they come they won't do that again. That impact may not be felt for a year or two. But one thing I did notice when I was there was not only were there no advertisments for the four and five day park hoppers, they weren't even on the pricing board at the booth. It's like they don't want people there for long visits. I'm sure there is some logic to this but it's totally escaping me.

Lets see, not directed at you,
"I won't stay on site if I can no longer add days to my ticket for $5" Yet the resort hotels are at capacity and not having to offer discounts to be full.

"I won't stay at Hojo's because they quit making it so easy to get rooms at 50% off" Yet Hojo's is booked solid and many of those rooms are at almost $200 a room.

"I won't be able to vacation at disney if they keep raising ticket prices" Yet we see people post that they spent "$1700 for hotel, $700 for in room celebrations", etc.

"The food is so expensive" Yet people still pay $9 for a turkey leg and $3 for a bottle of water.

"I won't go to WOC or Fantasmic because I have to stand, I have to go and reserve my spot hours before" Yet both shows continue to full crowds for years.

People like to complain and I get that BUT if those who complain want something done about it they have to do more than complain. Complain all you want, write emails, make phone calls, threats whatever you feel like.

It is not until you stop shopping at a company that you get their attention.

Disney's attendance and gate entries are off the charts. Obviously they are making many happy.
Disney's food sales are through the roof. Must be enough people who don't mind $9 turkey legs.
Disney's resort hotels (and Hojo's) are booked to capacity. Again happy guests.

So I have to say the "problems" that I have seen people complaining about here and on other boards are NOT "too new to know". People just want something to complain about. If they truly wanted something done they would "vote with their feet" and really take their money somewhere else.

And Disney knows this. Disney is a business.

Again this is my observation.