Tiered pricing is good, What Disney should do.

[sherilaine]

Disboards needs a thumbs down button.
In order for me to avoid a possible tissue issue with a mod, I shall say no more at this time regarding the above quote and those like it.

We are all entitled to our opinions. Often we don't agree with others. That is just life.

 

[Xenorye]

[Deleted]

 

[taffy]

Just build a third park already and we can then all rest easy on the ideas

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

They've already stopped selling one of the SoCal passes, now its only allowed for renewal. Personally they should get rid of the lowest tiered pass and have the Signature Passes, and SoCal Select passes and the other social pass..
They're not going to limit the amount of times you can go as an AP pass holder besides blackout dates, sorry if that upsets people that there are those that go super often, it seems like a jealousy thing.
I don't think they are going to lower the amount of people that can be in the park before closing the gates because they want to make money, the more people in the park the more likely they are going to make money.
Also, if you don't like the crowds you can not go, or you can go early in the morning because that's when it seems to be somewhat manageable.

 

[GatorChris]

What they should do.....

#1- Open a third gate. This will reduce the crowds by a lot. If there's not enough space in two parks, make a third (though i know it'll never happen).
#2- Stop monthly payments on the APs. Don't we have enough buying on credit in this country?

Either one of these would probably help with easing the crowds. I definitely don't agree with small crowd caps. That's just asking for insanity.

 

[mjh2901]

They've already stopped selling one of the SoCal passes, now its only allowed for renewal. Personally they should get rid of the lowest tiered pass and have the Signature Passes, and SoCal Select passes and the other social pass..
They're not going to limit the amount of times you can go as an AP pass holder besides blackout dates, sorry if that upsets people that there are those that go super often, it seems like a jealousy thing.
I don't think they are going to lower the amount of people that can be in the park before closing the gates because they want to make money, the more people in the park the more likely they are going to make money.
Also, if you don't like the crowds you can not go, or you can go early in the morning because that's when it seems to be somewhat manageable.

I think the so cal discounts need to get eliminated period or be tuesday through thursday. Season passes are a strange value. I have the big one which (and the math has changed) is the cheapest option if you go into the park for 7 or more days, now the big one is cheaper for 10 or more days, assuming non park hoppers. I live in nor cal and hit the park 7 or 8 times a year for 1 to 3 days each time.

 

[tarheelalum]

Anyone who thinks Disney wants to reduce crowds/profits is kidding themselves. Disney is only interested in profits and annual passes and high gate prices make money. This latest increase was just about making more money. It will do nothing to reduce crowds. Disney pays lip service to reducing crowds but their actions tell another tale. The only way Disney would reduce crowding is if it impacted profits. Disney wants the place packed every day. They don't care if consumers dislike it as long as they keep coming back.

 

[mjh2901]

Um...isn't this pretty much the same as the MagicBands over at WDW? They act as a ticket, FP, payment system, room key, etc. But I don't see how this would necessarily prevent tickets from being used by the "wrong" person...you could just give your phone to a friend for them to use. While some people probably can't go an entire day without there phone, there would be some who could and would do that in this scenario. So you would still need some type of identification system; be it a photo or biometric scan (like WDW) or similar.


This is one that I don't understand. Just because you've visited the park some number of times and make a certain number of purchases, why does that mean you should get to bypass security? What would stop someone from saying "oh, I've visited 10 times so I can now bypass security, so now I can bring my gun/knife/weapon into the parks because they won't check"?

The security bypass is based on security through patterns and behavior something isreal airport security uses. Its very affective and very quick. A determined person will probably get passed any security system. I guarantee you I can get a gun into that park in a few different ways, knives even easier. known customers are dramatically less likely to be a danger. Disney's current security is only going to nab low hanging fruit as it is.

 

[tarheelalum]

The security bypass is based on security through patterns and behavior something isreal airport security uses. Its very affective and very quick. A determined person will probably get passed any security system. I guarantee you I can get a gun into that park in a few different ways, knives even easier. known customers are dramatically less likely to be a danger. Disney's current security is only going to nab low hanging fruit as it is.

They don't screen vendors who come and go all day in big trucks.

 

[I M Fearless]

I think the truth is Disney would no doubt want the parks to be 100% full, 100% of the time, with the guests who have the most money to spend both to enter the parks and to spend while there.

I think Cars Land has been a real deciding factor for a lot of people who have not ventured to the West Coast before. I know for me, I always knew I would get to DL at some point in my life, but Cars Land was the straw that broke the camel's back so to speak. No doubt others may have had the same motivation.

The other factor is that WDW is so busy all the time and with so much construction currently, DL becomes more and more attractive.

 

[mjh2901]

Part of the issue has to do with what I learned working in a different park. They told us in training (not disney) gate prices are the primary way to control who and how many people enter the park, however the total takings barely pay the power bill. Its not about how many its about maximum dollars vacuumed out of the fewest number of people. If a passholder parks; enters the park watches a parade rides a ride and leaves disney probably actually looses money on that visit, plus they add to crowds and lines which pushes more people to cross the street for food and take other actions. The minute that person buys a hot dog and a soda they become a profitable guest. The gate stuff is all about adjusting how people use the park. Disney wants people who come in buy 3 meals, popcorn and a t-shirt then go home. If disneyland filled with 50,000 of those people we would have 4 parks by now. But if the park has 25,000 of those guests and 25,000 guests who walk in snack out of a backpack, walk off park for a large early dinner, watch a parade and leave, they loose money and need to get more people in.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Anyone who thinks Disney wants to reduce crowds/profits is kidding themselves. Disney is only interested in profits and annual passes and high gate prices make money. This latest increase was just about making more money. It will do nothing to reduce crowds. Disney pays lip service to reducing crowds but their actions tell another tale. The only way Disney would reduce crowding is if it impacted profits. Disney wants the place packed every day. They don't care if consumers dislike it as long as they keep coming back.

I agree completely. It's a for-profit business. Just because they're selling us "magic" doesn't mean they're not selling us. We can all complain about the price increases and the over-crowding. We can threaten to stop going. It won't matter because there will always be people willing to pay the price and brave the crowds. Disney doesn't want fewer AP holders, they want more - that's why they have a payment plan for California residents. Unless that payment plan somehow impacts profitability, it will stay in place. Maybe they'll even expand it. I don't look down on anyone who gets their AP on a payment plan. You can't compare that to someone using traditional credit - there's no interest. You pay exactly the same price as if you paid it all up front. It's just mean-spirited to assume those people who take advantage of the payment plan can't afford to have an AP. And honestly, if people choose to buy an AP with traditional credit, it's still mean-spirited to judge them.

I give honest feedback whenever a Disney survey-taker wants my opinion. I don't necessarily enjoy paying more for what I perceive to be less value (especially right now, with all of the construction going on) but I have no desire to boycott DLR. I love the time I spend there with my family, my children, and my grandchildren. The prices will continue to increase, and it will continue to be crowded, but we still have a wonderful time whenever we go. If we lived closer, we'd go more often!

 

[sheetz]

Rather than discontinue the payment plans for Californians I think it's more likely they will continue raising AP prices and extend that benefit to all passholders (or at least to those living in neighboring states). Remember it used to be available to just Southern Californians but then they extended it to all Californians.

 

[bakerudall]

I agree completely. It's a for-profit business. Just because they're selling us "magic" doesn't mean they're not selling us...

I give honest feedback whenever a Disney survey-taker wants my opinion. I don't necessarily enjoy paying more for what I perceive to be less value (especially right now, with all of the construction going on) but I have no desire to boycott DLR. I love the time I spend there with my family, my children, and my grandchildren. The prices will continue to increase, and it will continue to be crowded, but we still have a wonderful time whenever we go. If we lived closer, we'd go more often!

I agree, and will just add that I want Disney Parks to make lots and lots of money. I want to continue to walk into clean and well-maintained parks at DLR. I want to keep hearing experienced, professional musicians and seeing top-quality character actors in the streets. I want to always be able to find high quality food and not be afraid to use the restroom after I eat it. I want them to continue to attract friendly and intelligent cast members, even though they don't smile as much as they used too (generational problem), and experienced mechanics who care about ride safety. I also want them to make enough for more parking and more staff for more security lines. I would never want to see Disneyland start down that slippery slope toward some kind of discount park (and I don't make very much money).

As a DIS reader and planner, I am very comfortable with the current crowds. I just avoid holidays, spring break, and rare special events. I can already do 20-30 rides/attractions/shows per day with ample meal and break time. That is all my feet can handle.

 

[chateau]

Just build a third park already and we can then all rest easy on the ideas

Yes, please build another! We'll go!

 

[ImSoExcited]

I'm always baffled by the argument that the least expensive Southern California pass is somehow the cause of the overcrowding. It's blacked out for every single weekend, every holiday stretch, and the entire summer. Since everyone is local, parking needs to be paid on every visit. If those people are only in the parks during the least visited times (weekdays) how can they possibly be contributing to the overcrowding?

 

[courtneybeth]

Second Disney should end the monthly payment system for season passes

This would definitely curtail the amount of Disneyland passholders -- agree completely. While I get that it was instituted during the recession as a way to reduce the burden of a pass, it's time to go back to "all or nothing" payments.

We're premier holders. $1500 per person at the gate is tough but we save all year long and pay in November every year.

 

[Epek]

I don't look down on anyone who gets their AP on a payment plan. You can't compare that to someone using traditional credit - there's no interest. You pay exactly the same price as if you paid it all up front. It's just mean-spirited to assume those people who take advantage of the payment plan can't afford to have an AP. And honestly, if people choose to buy an AP with traditional credit, it's still mean-spirited to judge them.
!

Yes! I totally agree. It's so mean and honestly a little baffling. The monthly payment plan is just another form of budgeting. Some people save up monthly for a period of time and put all the money down upfront, others are lucky enough to go right away and add the payment to their monthly budget. It's no different!