OP here. I am not saying that Florida residents don't stay on-site or spend money in Disney. I am just questioning why they should get a discount? Maybe things are done different up North (northern NJ) but we don't get any type of discount for going to amusement parks if we live in the state. We are very close to NY and we go to attractions there and I have never seen "NY resident discount" nor have I ever seen a discount for Pennsylvania residents who visit Hershey Park. I am just wondering why Florida/Disney gives their residents a discount. I do not think this is the "norm". I guess it's a nice thing to do but if Disney is trying to cut down on crowds, perhaps they shouldn't give discounts to the residents of the state. On the weekends it seems like the parks are always packed and I always read, "the locals are filling the parks".
I can't speak for Disney or the parks to which you refer. I can only speculate. It seems to me that locals are the target audience of those smaller regional parks, and you don't offer enticements to your target audience. As noted, WDW's target audience is more national, even international. It's families from all over the country/world taking their annual week-long vacation.
WDW seems to see FL residents as a special population that it wants to incentivize visiting in off-peak seasons. You ask "Why," OP? You've already been offered the likeliest reasons. The economy is strong now, and park attendance is high. When that is the case, Americans have a tendency to think it will ALWAYS be that way. Disney is a business that understands the economy is cyclical, theme park attendance is a luxury, and vacations are some of the first things people cut when times get tough. In these cases , FL residents are just one special populations Disney depends on to keep the turnstiles turning (a dated reference considering the new park gates). When a special relationship like the one between WDW and FL residents (demonstrated through ticket discounts) is terminated, it's hard to re-establish. When Disney needs us again, we will have stopped looking for the discounts and turned our attentions elsewhere. Best case scenario, Disney would have to spend more advertising dollars in a tough economy to re-educate FL residents about re-established discounts.
Therefore, I think that's why FL resident discounts remain. They have been scaled back in light of a strong economy and record attendance, but they still exist. Others have brought up other valid reasons in previous posts-- the way that FL tax dollars are spent outside RCID to service WDW guests (they don't just magically appear on Disney property, nor does the food and other supplies), the toll the parks take on our water table (which is unique in FL), the way that Disney's special interests are serviced by our state legislature (they are a powerful lobby in Tallahassee). To the extent that these issues exist with regional parks, the scale is much smaller.
I doubt these reasons will satisfy you, OP, and I could be totally off as I am no business person. I live 3.5 hours from WDW and have taken advantage of FL resident discounts my entire life, whether through being a pass holder or using 3 to 4 day discounted tickets. I go multiple times a year and spend a good chunk of my budget at WDW. I understand that I am not WDW's target audience, but they still make money off of me. They would make less if they terminated FL resident discounted tickets. I know that would be no skin off your back, OP, and no big deal for WDW right now, but in tougher times, I have regular income, and I'd be among the special populations WDW would have to win back.
We have had Universal AP's many times because we can do the monthly payment plan. We can't afford to pay for 4 AP's at Disney at one time anymore. Not sure why Disney wouldn't do the payment plan to out of state residents
