DCA, Future Expansion
Topic: Should The Company Drastically Raise AP Prices?

#	Author	Message
1	Bob Paris Wed 10/14/2009 8:00p	I mentioned this elsewhere and it is something I have been thinking of for quite a while. With almost ONE MILLION AP holders for the DLR and the resultant crush this has caused in recent months, should the company, knowing full well people are readily paying this sum to make DL their after work hangout, raise the prices? Is it fiscally irresponsible, not to mention impacting negatively on the full paying day guests' experience to have SO MANY people accessing the parks for the price they are currently paying? Would YOU vote for, if you could, a drastic increase in AP prices if you KNEW the extra funds raised would go to fund a Geyser Mountain or TL makeover? Should the people who treat DL as an after-work mall visit HAVE TO pay more for the privillege, since their attendance may be having more of a detrimental effect than a positive one? I would vote "YES" for a drastic increase.
2	Mickeysbestfan Wed 10/14/2009 8:14p	While I am aware of the incredible number of AP holders in S.Cal and their effect on the park, I would vote no. I don't live near the park. I do have an AP. Many of us that do not live near the park and yet have AP's do so that trips can be planned each year staggering the 10 days we go and only have to purchase the pass every other year. Maybe a better idea is limiting the number of days the AP's can be used. Not only like the black-out program they have now, but including a set number of days. Maybe like this 1.S.Cal with the set blockouts, good for 50 entries on non-blocked day. 2.S.Cal with the set blockouts, good for 100 entries on non-blocked days. 3.Deluxe with the set blockouts, good for 175 enties on non-blocked days. 4.Premium with no blockouts, good for 250 entries.
3	Mickeysbestfan Wed 10/14/2009 8:15p	Forgot before posting. You should be able to check the number of days used/left on-line.
4	Schmitty Good Vibes Wed 10/14/2009 8:23p	I'd raise the prices, although I can hardly afford an AP now, and I'd certainly eliminate the So Cal AP's and other So Cal admission deals. Can you tell I'm from Northern CA?
5	ShivaThDestroyer Wed 10/14/2009 8:35p	Obviously Disney sees an advantage to keeping the park full, even the local AP'ers contribute to Disney's coffers. The park is a true capital intensive and I doubt that the "full paying day guests" would provide enough of a population base to keep the park in the black by themselves. You also submit no proof that "their attendance may be having more of a detrimental effect than a positive one". The operative word is "may" and Disney definitely sees the advantage or they would made changes. Another thing to consider is that increasing the price of passports beyond a certain level may actually affect the overall financial health of the company in the long run. It might take a generation but if you stop to consider that the children of the local AP'ers will become the next generation of AP'ers. If their parents seek alternate more affordable recreational activities, the children may not feel the same about Disneyland when they reach maturity. The AP's are certainly a bargain, even those of us who are not local can break even if we buy a PAP and spend just 6 days in the park. The lesser passports would seem to be even more of a bargain for locals. I would have to vote no, just on the basis that Disney knows their market and has run studies on exactly what they feel the market will bear without affecting future health.
6	FerretAfros Wed 10/14/2009 8:42p	I would eliminate the SoCal passes, and raise prices on the Deluxe and Premium. The parks always seem overly crowded in the periods just before and after the SoCal blockout days. I think that eliminating that tier would make a lot of people think twice about whether they want to use DL like their local mall for entertainment. While any of the current AP's are a great deal if you go on a weekly (or even monthly) basis, I think that would cut down on a lot of those problems. I also think that adding a time window of when passes are blocked out (say from 6:30-9:30pm) from new entries to the parks would also eliminate a lot of the issues. If they make people plan on spending more time in DL to get the evening entertainment, that would cut down on the fireworks crowds. Making it a little inconvenient would go a long way for crowd control. I'm not really sure what the best solution is, but it really has been getting out of hand recently. As an APer, I hope they do something to help limit the issues that we cause. Right now, it's just too easy to stop by for the fireworks and call it a night, without spending any money. With enormous crowds coming in each night (or at least on weekends) and not spending anything, they need to look at their business model and see what they can do to make it more efficiently profitable.
7	jmuboy Wed 10/14/2009 8:44p	Don't take prices up. Instead, get rid of the different tiers. Make the Deluxe AP the only one available. I think that would probably elliminate 25 percent to 30 percent of AP holders.
8	retlawfan Wed 10/14/2009 8:59p	I agree with most of the thoughts so far. I wouldn't eliminate the APs, but I would have one type. I would vote for only PAP. By limiting to only the Deluxe, it would significantly impact those of us from out of town who do come down for a weekend, or over a holiday period as part of a week long vacation. At the same time, I think if everyone paid the PAP prices, the numbers would go down, the income would go up, and the crowds would stay longer and probably end up spending more $$ in the process. On a side note, I just went looking at prices for APs, and find that SoCal passes are not listed on the website. Are they still available?
9	Hans Reinhardt Wed 10/14/2009 9:01p	I vote no on a drastic increase. I don't know enough about the different tiers to speak intelligently about them, but at first glance what I think makes more sense is to limit the overall number of passes available. Once that set number has been sold then those seeking passes would be placed on a waiting list until an AP slot becomes available. Nothing would stop people from visiting DL since single day and multi-day passes would still be available to everyone. I agree with Ferret that Disney should rethink when AP holders have access to the parks. It makes no sense to me that someone can just drop in to Disneyland on the way home from school to ride Mr. Toad, have an ice cream, and go home. In my estimation it seems reasonable to ban AP addmissions after 2pm on weekends and busy periods. Finally, if DLR is going to a year-round destination Disney must rethink traffic flow patterns, especially at DL. The simply have to do something about Main Street and Central Plaza during fireworks, and be a lot stricter about folks camping out (literally) hours in advance of Fantasmic.
10	retlawfan Wed 10/14/2009 9:21p	<<In my estimation it seems reasonable to ban AP addmissions after 2pm on weekends and busy periods.>> I don't think that would be a reasonable response. When we are on vacation (and we have APs), we sometimes like to sleep late, have lunch at the hotel, go to the pool, etc, before finally heading into the park in the afternoon.

All times are Pacific Time (US)

Note: Information on the discussion boards is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Messages do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

More messages:	1-10	11-20	21-30	31-40	41-50
	51-60	61-70	71-80	81-90	91-100
	101-110	111-120	121-130	131-140	141-150
	151-155

< Previous Topic

Next Topic >

You must be a registered user to post messages.
Click here to register.
After registration you will automatically be brought back to this topic

Antenna Toppers and Accessories
Antenna Toppers of all styles including sports, holiday, animals, occupations and more. Hundreds to choose f rom.

What's on
The Latest
Miley Cyrus tour bus in fatal crash, Miley not aboard
Captain EO on the way back?
Mobile Magic Application Transforms Verizon Wireless Phones Into Electronic Tour Guides to Navigate Disney Parks
Disney Executives Swap Jobs
2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Sailor Mickey Mouse Plush Available Online
Disney Digital Books Expands Its Vast Library with Princess and the Frog Books
Disney Interactive Studios Starts a New Holiday Tradition with Disney's A Chrsitmas Carol Video Game
Jonas and Sonny With a Chance Video Games Invite Fans Onstage, Backstage and Beyond
Disney Cruise Line in Macy's Parade for the first time
Space Mountain preview

Click here for The Latest