UGH! Disney is offering a cheap "Summer Pass" for SoCal AP's!

[disfaninca]

Sorry, double post.

 

[disfaninca]

This is one So Cal AP holder that will not be visiting DL in the summer. I much prefer the off season when there are much less tourists. So all of you who don't want to see any locals, you will have one less to worry about adding to the crowds.

Contrary to what PPs have posted, I have walked on rides during that off time when there are no blockout days. When I was there during the fall last year, and in February this year, the most I waited in line for a ride was ten minutes. But I guess that was because all of the other AP holders were hiding in a corner somewhere else in the park. Since we are affecting the crowds.

I think it's good business of Disney to do this. They block out AP days during the peak times when there will be more people on vacation. And they have days open for AP holders to come and spend their money when crowds are few. They also tell AP holders if they want to come during peak times, they have to spend a little more money. Pretty smart in my opinion.

 

[farmfresh]

Hey...just trying to give an alternative viewpoint!

You can't see why an AP holder wouldn't go as often as they like? Because life happens. People work. Weekends and holidays are blocked out, so less than half the days of the year are available to SoCal Select AP holders. And many, like me, live 90+ minutes away with no traffic, so going every day or even every week is simply not an option.

What I meant was - Of course AP holders will go often. (if they can!) it makes sense. I don't see any reason (apart from lifewhy you shouldn't take full advantage of your pass. You are entitled to it.

Without going into your lengthy math scenario, I can tell you that while I do not spend $2,000 on a 3 (possibly 5) day trip, I VERY easily spend more than that on Disney collectibles from the Park over the course of a year. Do not underestimate the spending of a "local Disney fan." We may not spend on hotel, but we have our fair share of celebratory dinners at the Blue Bayou and certainly spend a large portion of our "disposable income" in the Park. And Disney knows.

That's great! It's wonderful that you can use the park so much. But the point was that some visitors spend that much on just one visit, so it's understandable they want to maximise their enjoyment too. it's just they have less days to so this in , so crowds are more of an issue for them.

 

[By-Tor and Snow Pup]

One thing is for sure. The demand is much higher than the capacity. They should build another Disneyland. One closer to me.

 

[dismom73]

I just wish Florida and California would offer those great deals to people who live out of state! I guess they figure we'll come anyway, even without a great deal? Florida residents get the best room rates at WDW. But me, not only do I have to pay airfare, I have to pay more for my passes and room. Doesn't seem fair.

Don't feel bad, I live IN Ca and don't get any discounts. They only offer it to So Cal residents. At least in FL its ALL FL residents.

 

[nana50]

Wow, some touchy people here. Let's be honest, the socal AP's do affect crowds. Disney wouldn't do them if they weren't increasing the crowds. The low level ones are for "off-peak" times though and that is the only time I will go. I go in Jan. Feb. & March. I haven't been in the fall yet, but I'm looking for a slow time to go for my birthday. Maybe early October or late September. I get why Disney does this. The Socal people are the ones who go the most. They are trying to help so we will go more often. I do know without the passes, I would only go every other year or so.

 

[pixiewings71]

Don't feel bad, I live IN Ca and don't get any discounts. They only offer it to So Cal residents. At least in FL its ALL FL residents.

At least I'm not the only Nor Cal resident who gets annoyed by that! LOL BTW, howdy neighbor!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Don't feel bad, I live IN Ca and don't get any discounts. They only offer it to So Cal residents. At least in FL its ALL FL residents.

It would be a terrible idea to offer discounted AP passes to ALL of California- all 37 million people! In contrast, the entire state of Florida has 18 million. And Southern Cal alone has 24 million. That's a HUGE potential customer base.There's a fine line between encouraging locals to come, and encouraging TOO many. I myself think the payment plan has edged over into the TOO many camp, but that's just my opinion. Times are very hard here in Southern Cal, economy wise (12% unemployment) and so I see why Disney felt they needed to do it, to keep the APs renewing.

A PP noted that the crowds were non-existent back in 2001 and 2002. Yep, that's right, and it was due to a little thing called 9/11 that absolutely decimated the tourist base coming to DLR. I was an AP holder back then as well, and let me tell you it was at times downright eeriely empty. And unfortunately for Disney, that coincided with the opening of DCA. Now they had not one, but TWO parks to fill. They desperately needed locals to keep the parks afloat financially. Frankly, without them we would not be seeing the progress/additional attractions we see today. The strong local presence has helped to fund all that. Disney at that point began to aggressively market the AP product, and later introduced the So Cal AP as well. Prior to that the APs were out there, but Disney had not pushed it's marketing outside of the parks to billboards, TV, or magazine ads. They had to, to stay profitable. It was smart business. So if you enjoy TSMM or RDCT fireworks, thank the local residents who were there on Tuesdays in February.

 

[MartinaC]

One thing is for sure. The demand is much higher than the capacity. They should build another Disneyland. One closer to me.

One up here in the pacific northwest would be great! We get lots of rain but, we don't have to worry about hurricane's blowing in. Like at WDW they could make things under cover and problem solved.

But, then the problem with AP's would start all over again, it would just be us with the ap's.

Back in the day, it was thought that DL would build a "WesCott" where a water park is going in? I think. Now that would have been a great Idea. Epcot is one of my favs at WDW.

 

[Funball]

2-4 times a week....LOL You do realize that those of who travel to get the DLR don't get there that much, that is a LOT! I had an AP last year, the PAP, we went about 19 trips but those were TRIPS, with drive time, gas expense, hotel stays, food you had to buy because you aren't a local. It's very different. And believe me, if I was a local I would have one of the So Cal APs because I would WANT to be able to go to DL as often as 2-4 times a week. So Cal residents that live close enough to go that much are very lucky in my book.

i just want to get it out there.. that i meant that the average 2-4 times a weeks is an AP holder that lives localy. or at least 40- min from the park. i will tell you this i am premium pass holder(witch i did say), i come 9 times a month.. that's right 9 times a month--every friday-sunday. i have to drive close to 25 min or so depending on traffic to get to the park,it's not conveinant but since i have a pass and want to be at disneyland i make the drive and then i make the most out of my day! i don't stay in a hotel, i just do the drive back and forth every day. i am not the average pass holder becuase i go so often. i am not lucky to go that much, i just take the time out and make the time to go! and i think that hotel guests should get more discounts and stuff. i just feel that what they get is not enough! i will say that as an AP our discounts are nice--but in retrospect i don't really need them,except or the food one. that really helps in my total food bill!

i also feel..and dont hate me but the local ap's like me. are the ones that hold the mold together during the off peak times..i could be wrong though

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Without judging this for good or ill, it is clear that the large increase in crowd numbers is coming from AP holders. There are simply more of them now.

Can't see why, if you buy an AP, you wouldn't go as often as you liked -that is the point - but at the same time, you can't really argue it has no effect on numbers.

One reason why there are larger numbers is the time payment system. That i's where I think Disney might want to reconsider the 'fairness' aspect. Effectively time payment AP holders are using the park at a lesser rate than other guests, and more frequently.

That is their absolute right - that is what Disney allows, so all power to them. It's hard to argue against making DL more affordable. And it was a Disney response to the financial downturn - so smart business on their part. And probably, in the bigger scheme of things, the numbers add up for Disney - the increase in total revenue versus the per capita profitabliity of guests.

From the other side of the fence though, a three day visit for a family of four will cost $736 (might get two days free with that though!). With a Socal pass, on time payment, you'd pay $288 then $32 a month. If I then add in three days at a Disney hotel, that's (conservatively) another $750. Throw in extra for all meals, and souvenirs - likely these will be higher because we won't be going home. So those three days will be worth about $2000.
To provide equivalent value per customer, the Socal pass holder needs to buy a lot of turkey legs!
There is room then, to argue that Disney at peak time (and peak times now are those unblocked dates) is not offering good value to its "full fare" (for want of a better term) customers.

It's not that Socal AP holders are bad (I think you're both smart and lucky), but that the differential for 'tourists' who do provide a very significant revenue stream is perhaps too great. At the same time, it puts pressure on Disney operations to deliver a value for money experience to those people who are paying more, and experiencing greater crowds for their trouble.

If your reasoning is that you spent 2000 on a one time 3 day visit per year and are spending more than myself...a local AP holder then I can only

Lets see. My family comes for half a day when we come...nearly each or every other tuesday. We ALWAYS have lunch and dinner in the parks. So lets say for my family of 4 it's 30 for lunch and 40 for dinner...sometimes 60 (dh loves cafe orleans) but we'll go with 40. So if we add in a few bottles of water and snacks that may be about 20 bucks? So that's 90 a day, JUST on food. I'm trying to think but I believe i've spent 35+ days in the park since this time last year. About 3200 just on food and that doesn't include all the toys we've boughten and tshirts and other collectibles. So lets add another couple hundred. And dont forget 289 for 3 APs (one with parking) and we're looking at another 900. Which is in the neighborhood of 4500? More than double your weekend. We've really cut back this year since we have another baby on the way but we're still spending more than you are for your weekend getaway.

Not ALL AP holders are SoCal APs and not everyone just comes to take up precious space in line. Disneyland is for everyone and as walt himself said..."welcome to this happy place". It wasn't built only for those who come from out of town. He built it to have a place to bring his daughters to that he could enjoy as well...and you know what, *gasp* would he have been a local? In all seriousness I dont see why this has to be an us vs them thing. We ALL love disneyland and we all want to be there. I consider myself lucky to live nearby now but that wasn't always the case, I was a tourist as well and never had bad feelings towards those who lived close. I just always hoped to be one some day. I'm rambling but this just bugged me.

 

[MAH4546]

Don't feel bad, I live IN Ca and don't get any discounts. They only offer it to So Cal residents. At least in FL its ALL FL residents.

But Florida has fewer people than all of Southern California.

The fact is that Disneyland is a business that needs to make business decisions. These types of promotions need to be limited to a scope of area, which is typically those within reasonable driving distance, hence not only do SoCal residents get the deal, but so do residents of the state of Baja California in Mexico. For these people, Disneyland is competing with local attractions and needs to more competitively price itself. For somebody from San Francisco, Sacramento or Fresno, Disney is not competing with local attractions to get you there for the day. Rather, it is competing with local resorts and vacation packages, so it needs to create attractive vacation deals, like the 3-for-5 deals.

For Disney to offer these deals to everybody would essentially bankrupt the park.

Florida is a very different situation - Disney World's largest concentration of annual passholders is not even in Orlando - its in Miami.

 

[Leofoenget]

At least I'm not the only Nor Cal resident who gets annoyed by that! LOL BTW, howdy neighbor!

Nor Cal checking in! I think what they do is, offer cheapo passes for So Cal residents, and offer killer DL HOTEL packages for non so cal residents. That's what I heard someone say anyway. 5 days for the price of 3, stay 3 nights get 2 free etc. just a thought

 

[jtown]

They see us strollin'. They hatin'.

That's right. SoCal with a Premium AP comin' thru. Monthly payment plan with no interest. Make a hole! All access!

Where's the "smug" smiley? Ah, that'll do.

Seriously, tho, many SoCal people with APs are probably way lower impact than a regular guest. Sometimes I'll stop on my way past to hit a couple of rides, get a corndog, and I'm gone. Once I just went for the fireworks because they'd been canceled the night before. If I'm there for more than 5 hours, that's a long visit. And I'm certainly not one of the people standing in an hour+ line. If anything has a long line, I just move on by 'cause I can always catch it next time.

 

[cooniez]

Wow, some touchy people here.

I agree with a pp...It really doesn't matter where you're from...just hoping everyone stays home while I'm on vacation! On a side note, DH - for lack of a better word - LOVES crowds. He thinks it's just eerie when you go to theme parks, malls, etc. and there just aren't many people around

 

[pixiewings71]

But Florida has fewer people than all of Southern California.

The fact is that Disneyland is a business that needs to make business decisions. These types of promotions need to be limited to a scope of area, which is typically those within reasonable driving distance, hence not only do SoCal residents get the deal, but so do residents of the state of Baja California in Mexico. For these people, Disneyland is competing with local attractions and needs to more competitively price itself. For somebody from San Francisco, Sacramento or Fresno, Disney is not competing with local attractions to get you there for the day. Rather, it is competing with local resorts and vacation packages, so it needs to create attractive vacation deals, like the 3-for-5 deals.

For Disney to offer these deals to everybody would essentially bankrupt the park.

Florida is a very different situation - Disney World's largest concentration of annual passholders is not even in Orlando - its in Miami.

yes, there are more CA residents the FL residents. But why offer these "So Cal deals" to people in Mexico? that makes no sense, offer them to all of CA or offer Nor Cal deals to those of us in the northern half of the state. They don't even need to be as "cool" as So Cal deals but it sure would make us feel included. LOL And really, not everyone in the state will participate in Disney Deals.....more than half of my co-workers hate Disney and DBF's as well. So not everyone in the state would want to use the deals they might be offering.

Nor Cal checking in! I think what they do is, offer cheapo passes for So Cal residents, and offer killer DL HOTEL packages for non so cal residents. That's what I heard someone say anyway. 5 days for the price of 3, stay 3 nights get 2 free etc. just a thought

Deals like the 5 for 3, you have to buy the whole package...if I've got a PAP I don't NEED or WANT tickets to the park, I just want to get there....and yes I did look at that "deal", it was still not doable for us this year. AP %s on rooms aren't that great all the time, occasionally yes but not always.

As for monthly payments, if we could have done that we would have renewed our PAP's this year, but no, we are in Nor Cal so we don't qualify....I understand the concept of the monthly payments, the So Cal APs (which we wouldn't be able to use anyway as they are too restrictive for visit times) and all that stuff they offer, I just think it would make a lot of sense to offer stuff like the monthly payments to those outside of So Cal.

 

[MAH4546]

yes, there are more CA residents the FL residents. But why offer these "So Cal deals" to people in Mexico? that makes no sense, offer them to all of CA or offer Nor Cal deals to those of us in the northern half of the state. They don't even need to be as "cool" as So Cal deals but it sure would make us feel included. LOL And really, not everyone in the state will participate in Disney Deals.....more than half of my co-workers hate Disney and DBF's as well. So not everyone in the state would want to use the deals they might be offering.

But not everybody in SoCal takes advantage of it either. The marketing promotions nonetheless need to be limited in scope. Baja California is in short driving distance; and given the lower average income, it is more likely to entice those who stay longer to come, as opposed to somebody from NorCal.

It is simple marketing, supply and demand.

As for monthly payments, if we could have done that we would have renewed our PAP's this year, but no, we are in Nor Cal so we don't qualify....I understand the concept of the monthly payments, the So Cal APs (which we wouldn't be able to use anyway as they are too restrictive for visit times) and all that stuff they offer, I just think it would make a lot of sense to offer stuff like the monthly payments to those outside of So Cal.

Monthly payments are a liability. Disney needs to take into account the inevitable fact that there will customers that fail to meet their contractual obligations. Disney needs to limit the scope of this so the problem does not get out of hand, and it is more likely that those not within a reasonable driving distance will not meet their obligations. Furthermore, there are jurisdictional issues that make it difficult to go after customers not residing in local court districts.

 

[MartinaC]

They see us strollin'. They hatin'.

That's right. SoCal with a Premium AP comin' thru. Monthly payment plan with no interest. Make a hole! All access!

Where's the "smug" smiley? Ah, that'll do.

Seriously, tho, many SoCal people with APs are probably way lower impact than a regular guest. Sometimes I'll stop on my way past to hit a couple of rides, get a corndog, and I'm gone. Once I just went for the fireworks because they'd been canceled the night before. If I'm there for more than 5 hours, that's a long visit. And I'm certainly not one of the people standing in an hour+ line. If anything has a long line, I just move on by 'cause I can always catch it next time.

Wow, that is awesome. Congrats! I am such a disney freak that if I lived close I would do the same.

 

[queenrollog]

Deluxe AP family here. We live about 1/2 hour from DLR and manage to get there about once a month, probably less now that DS is in school. We take our snacks and water, may buy a meal there, usually buy merchandise either as a gift or souvenir. We usually don't see a new attraction or opening for at least a couple of months after opening, because we don't see the need. WOC? Maybe in September/October. We aren't jockeying for a primo seat during the fireworks because we're on the roof of the parking garage, ready to make a quick getaway. Attraction lines? Not us. We don't wait if there's a line because we know we can walk on some other time or day. Parades? We're the ones helping your kids get a seat up front and crouching down low so you can get the best video shot. We're the ones pointing to the nearest restroom or telling you about free ice water at the fountain shops. We pay our respects at flag retreat, ride a couple of rides, check out the new merchandise, people watch, and go home. We're also the ones who kept Disneyland going when there weren't crowds and nobody wanted to travel. Yes, we use the payment plan, but we also paid in full when that was the only option. It's not a question of AP vs. the rest of the world, but it does get a bit tiresome to see over and over that we're the sole reason for the huge crowd and less than optimal vacations. It's what you make of it. It's Disneyland -- whether it's the happiest place on Earth is up to you.

 

[Dobie]

Wow! I feel really sorry for the OP!

Nobody hates AP holders. Everyone would rather come to the park when it is less crowded. Get a grip, people!!!!

It's DISNEYLAND, for crying out loud! Be happy!