Opinion: Going to Disneyland isn't just a splurge. It's like buying a timeshare

[pstokely]

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-04-08/going-to-disneyland-isnt-just-a-splurge

I took my kids to Disneyland over their spring break, and almost nothing about the visit resembled the more accessible, Southern California-oriented experience from decades past. One noticeable difference: You may lose your kids, because navigating Disneyland now requires parents to be glued to their smartphones.

Advanced reservations are required, making impulse trips almost impossible. Ticket prices start at $104 for a day pass — and that’s only for mid-week, low-season days. You’ll pay up to $179 on high-demand days.

That, and the steep fee to park in Disneyland’s taxpayer-funded garage, get you past the gate. Once you’ve spent that much, the sunk-cost fallacy takes hold. Five dollars for a churro, plus a dollar for dipping sauce? At least the napkins are free. Thirteen dollars for a blue, milky “Star Wars”-themed drink? But the straw is included. Five tickets, plus treats, plus meals, plus anything anyone was selling. I’d rather not do the math, but we had the most expensive fun ever.

To be fair, Disneyland’s transformation isn’t unlike other changes in Southern California. Nice experiences weren’t always set aside exclusively for the wealthy. How many adults in L.A. grew up in modest homes that now fetch more than $1 million? How many remember walking up to a Dodger Stadium box office to get a ticket for $4? And who else bought those special $20 Disneyland tickets for Southern California residents only?

[Joinfortmill]

1. Lived in FL for years, never went to Disney. Oh, well.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Not to mention Fast passes/Lightning Lane now costs $15-$25 per ride

When it used to be free.

A lot of this is due to 1) Disney went into a lot of debt when they bought 20th century Fox a couple of years ago, and 2) the recently deposed CEO thought using the parks to offset that expense was a good idea.

Hopefully, returning CEO Bob Iger will end Chapek’s stupid mistakes, end the Genie+, dynamic pricing and reservation system.

[mopinko]

3. the plague has been berry berry bad to the mouse.

w/o movie theaters, they were pretty screwed.

[jimfields33]

6. The thing is the park attendance at least in Florida is up.

Until the attendance falls, the prices will increase.

[flor-de-jasmim]

4. Last time I went to Disneyland it cost $26 - I thought it was outrageous! LOL

[Kablooie]

5. Back in the 1960s my parents would go there on weekends to hear the big bands.

We lived 6 miles away and entrance fee without tickets was only 1$.
Harry James, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Les Brown, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey etc. played there.

[kimbutgar]

7. Last year we took our son To Disneyland for his 30th birthday

He is on the autistic spectrum and we were hoping he wanted to go to NY or Hawaii for the big 30. But no he wanted Disneyland. We did it first class stayed at the Disneyland hotel for 4 nights 3 days in the park. For the three of us I spent nearly $4000+ for that trip and we drove there instead of flying from Northern California. How a family of 4 could afford it is beyond me! But he reminded me I went there for my 30th in the 80’s and Disney world for my 40th and 50th. I told him no Disney world for his 40th! I will never set foot in Florida again in my lifetime.

[Earth-shine]

8. They tore down my favorite Disney World ride around 20 years ago.

It just hasn't been the same since. Now it's just more and more money, and less to excite me. (I'm also less excitable due to age.)

Horizons at EPCOT center was a retro 1980s vision of the decades to come. Alas, the future ain't what it used to be.