Disneyland is raising their prices again!! Why do people keep going?

I’m sorry, but you’re simply wrong about it being either “madness” or having no good food. You’ve obviously never eaten in the table service restaurants, nor have you followed a decent touring plan.

I’ve made 18 Walt Disney World and Disneyland trips in the past 6 years, with 5 more on the horizon in the next 6 months. I love it. The fact that you don’t doesn’t make me wrong. It just makes us disagree.

It’s the happiest place in earth. If you don’t “get it” then you don’t “get it”. Those who do are obviously willing to pay their hard earned money for the experience.

I definitely don’t get it. I’ve been once to Disneyworld and wouldn’t go back if it were free.

Never been. Never will. I think for some it’s kind of a status thing.

I’m sorry but my budget doesn’t allow me to spend hundreds of dollars in one day for something I’ve already seen countless times. If they’re raising their prices I hope they’re also bringing something new to the scene. And you’re right @MrItty I would much rather walk across the street to Denny’s than to eat their shitty 10 dollar burgers.

Don’t ask me. I hate theme parks. I don’t think they’re worth the money no matter how little they charge.

They raise the prices because research says people will still pay to get in. Then people still pay to get in. That proves the research correct.

@kheredia: But really, this is just a venting thread. You don’t really want to know why people do that, right? Surely you must know the answer is, “because they want to”?

It is all day entertainment. If you go to a live theatre performance for two hours little city or big city it will likely be $35 to $125 per ticket, even more. Relatively speaking it is not that bad. I guess it is very high compared to other amusement parks? I love going to Disney. They have an international market that will pay anything, people from Europe, Latin America and Aisa who have stronger currency than ours, or are wealthy. I wonder what percentage of guests to the Disney Parks are not American? They do have deals for multiday stays, and if you live in state there are good deals offered all of the time in FL, not sure about Cali.

@poofandmook Lol!!! You’re right.. but I actually do want to know what drives people to pay that much to see something they’ve probably already seen. I guess if the money is there why not right?

@kheredia So in other words you haven’t eaten at any of their table service restaurants, as I said. In other words, you don’t know what you’re talking about, and this isn’t a question, it’s just you wanting to feel superior to millions of people who enjoy an activity you don’t. Got it.

I agree that amusement parks are overpriced, but I also understand why they are. They need to make money just like the rest of us. Do you realize how much it costs to run a park like that? And the Disney parks are one of the few that actually treat and pay their employees very well. There are also several new attractions this summer.

It’s a magical place for kids and adults everywhere. Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean that nobody else in the world should, either. It doesn’t mean enough to you to keep paying- fine. But other people love the place.

I personally “don’t get” why anyone would pay the same price for a day at Disneyland as they would for a few bug-infested nights sleeping on dirt without electricity, air conditioning, and running water. I would pick Disneyland any day. But I understand that other people view this differently than I do, and I let them view it that way instead of complaining about them.

@MrItty If their burgers are $10 dollars and they’re crap, I can’t imagine how expensive those other restaurants are for something that’s probably just decent. I’m sorry but I don’t have the means to spend that much on food.

“can’t imagine”, “probably”, “don’t have the means”. So again, you’ve never been, but are judging it as though you have. Again, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Which means there’s no point having a rational debate with you. b’bye.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Disney but it’s just getting a little too pricey for me. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. Plus, all the other theme parks are not nearly as overpriced as Disneyland is.

So are you just here to bitch about Disney and burgers?

@MrItty I’m talking about the food that most of the Disneyland customers go to. Not the ones you have to make reservations for. Now you’re going to tell me that most people go to the fancy, expensive restaurants in Disneyland? Are you serious? Most of us can’t afford eating in those places after paying 75 dollars per person to get in.

@rangerr No, i’m here to bitch about everything.. the parking, the entrance, the food, the shops.. It’s too expensive!

@kheredia That would make your question not a question, but instead, a rant. Which usually isn’t allowed here.
Clearly, people like the park for different reasons. If you disapprove, then just ignore it.

Simple economics.

The truth of the matter is that Disneyland is expensive as all fuck to run, and they aren’t doing what they do out of charity, they are there to turn a profit.

With the economic downturn, the price of resources and capital has gone up. Everything from frozen processed chicken to paper to print the tickets on has gone up, and all of their employees still need to be paid. The fact is that thousands of people love Disneyland and will continue to go if the cost increases. Disneyland relies on this, because they have had to raise the prices to account for the higher maintenance and running costs while still turning a profit, which you can’t blame them for, that’s why anyone goes into business in the first place.

I assure you, the price hikes may seem mean and arbitrary, but they aren’t.

@rangerr You’re right, except my question is still why people keep feeding the monster especially in a time of hardship. We the public give them the power to take advantage of us. But you’re right.. people will continue to go and as a result Disneyland will continue to raise their prices until it becomes nothing but a luxury to go there.

The burgers do suck at Disney. LOL. But some restaurants are very good. The buffet in Africa in Animal Kingdom. The Rainforest Cafe is at Animal Kingdom also, which is slightly better than average, but way better than the burgers and not a fortune. Other good ones the restaurant in Japan and Norway at Epcot. Many of the hotels have good food also. Interestingly the burgers are overpriced, but the “expensive” restaurants are not that much more expensive than expensive restaurants outside of Disney relatively speaking in my experience.

When I go we always have breakfast at our hotel. Cheap start to the day to balance things out. Typically cereal.

Also, it is important to note that nobody is forcing anyone to go to Disneyland or to purchase their products. And the reason that so many people go is because they offer an experience that is really unlike anything else.

@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard Yeah, I used to go every year but I can no longer afford to do so. It’s too bad because I actually really like Disney.. I guess i’ll be visiting Magic Mountain and Universal more often.

As others have mentioned costs are high and rising to run a park.

Honestly if they offered it once in a while I would pay double the new higher price if they would only allow half the amount of people in. I would save up and reserve such a day months in advance. The last visit we had the park was so overcrowded we were only able to go on 5 rides.

This is not a rant and we scarcely have the means but for the experience I would gladly save up for such a half- crowd day.

@Dog, if I remember correctly, there are certain times when vacation club members or resort guests are allowed in when nobody else is there. It’s usually at night, but it is very nice. I did that with my family last year, actually.

@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard Oh I had no idea. I will look into it. I used to go on rainy days to avoid the crowds but it is not always effective.

Actually I am surprised Disney did not raise rates before now. They are always evolving and making the experience better. That is expensive.

@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard @Dog Early morning also for people staying at the resorts. Which park will open early changes daily. It is on their website I think and they give out the days and times when you check in also.

@Dog The trick is to go when it is not vacation time for the schools. Most times I barely wait for a ride.

The people at Disney already know, for example, that on average families save for two to three years to make the pilgrimage.

I guess enough people think you just can’t get that experience anywhere else.

It’s the only place dysfunctional middle class families can imagine going.

@zophu Why is it dysfunctional?

@JLeslie It’s not dysfunctional to go to disneyland. It’s just a lot of families don’t have the imagination or the compatibility with one another to make their vacation somewhere else. A week spent together in a cramped cabin in the woods, or a few days filled with constant amusements to distract themselves from each other—many families would feel compelled to choose the latter over any other option.

@zophu, maybe a lot of families just like Disney? No offense of course, but I think you are reading too much into the psychology of the whole thing.

Because Wallyworld doesn’t exist.

I love Disneyland. Unfortunately, the price seems very high, but everything seems too expensive to me, so I’ve just gotten used to it.

My son and his wife are still waiting for their ‘honeymoon’ trip which has been put off because he has lost his job two years in a row.

I love Disneyland, and refer to it (to my sister’s chagrin) as the Holy Land.
I eat at the Blue Bayoo, the French Quarter, that Mexican place in Frontier Land, Carnation (for breakfast), and Club 33 (I can go there, you can’t). They all are good, the last I mentioned is terrific.

I will continue to go because Disneyland is clean and orderly compared to other theme parks, I don’t ever feel a gang presence while in there and I don’t know where you’ve tried to eat but there are delicious restaurants.

Ever since 5yrs old then Disneyland has been my yearly birthday celebration spot and I’ve never tired of it. I’d even choose to get married there now that they offer a ride in Cinderella’s glass carriage, wee!

@filmfann We are frequent guests at Club 33 as well

People keep going because they’re idiots.

My girlfriend and I are locals and have purchased the Southern California Select Passport for some years now. Our current passports just expired and we will eventually renew them. Yes, in that one years time, our passports went from $144 to $184 (ouch!). However, we have work schedules that allow us to go during the week when attendance is lower. Also, are blockout dates are during times when it’s too crowded to go anyway. We average 5+ times a year and find our passports to be a bargain. Does it cost allot to eat at Disney? Depends on where you eat! We’ve eaten everywhere from fast food to sit down. “Crappy” burgers? I’ve had worse! We never get tired of doing the same thing every time we go and have developed our own routine that we enjoy immensely. As many times as we go, it’s a real pleasure to see how much fun my girlfriend enjoys visiting the same stores on Mainstreet…and always buys “stuff”! Finally, it cost a small fortune to run a park of this size. For the most part, the Park is exceptionally clean and Cast Members have always been nice to us (we got exceptional service while wearing our “Anniversary” badges while celebrating our 10-year anniversary of being together!) The price of theatre tickets for a Broadway-style show easily cost over $100 each. For less than that, not including food of course, we enjoy a fun-filled day at the “Happiest Place on Earth”! Yes, we sometimes bitch and moan about the price increases, but we keep coming back. It’s fun and it keeps us young!

I live in the OC. area 10 minutes from Disneyland, I haven’t been in Disneyland for a long time I don’t need to go no more, the waiting lines are awful.
in respond to MRITTY, I will say the food at Disneyland it is one of the worst food I have ever eating, the sad thing is that you are force to eat there.
I have eating in the best restaurants you can never imaging to eat. My hold family, we eat all kinds of food from very expensive to no expensive.
Disneyland is taking advantage of all the people who continue going and by the way they don’t pay their employees good salaries, I have a lot of friends that work at both resorts.
The prices today are way to expensive can you imagine their disgusting food? you are going to be paying big money, their water only cost 20 cents per bottle, you are going to be paying about 6 dollars per bottle.
If you don’t live in Southern California your annual premium is.
$459.00 per person all ages, can you believe! they are including parking for ages 3–16 years of age. they don’t drive for goodness sake.
“ONE DAY PARK HOPPER”.
ages 3–9 $91.00 dollars ages 10— Up $101
“ONE DAY PASS”
3–9 $69.00 10-Up $76.00 The last time I went to Disneyland I pay less than $50.00 dollars.
if you have a family 4 or more children and two adults you have to be rich to go to Disney today, or very stupid to pay the kind of money. They will need almost $700.00 dollars to go, who will expend the kind of money in one day. BE SMART AND USE YOUR MONEY WISE YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE OLD SOME DAY TO BE ABLE TO GO WITH FRIENDS ON THEIR OWN.

@ocgirl One thing that comes to mind when I read your comments is why would anybody work there if it is as bad as you say. Also, the last time I went there, I found some very upscale restaurants in their parks. I love eating at the Blue Bayou, and have never been sorry eating at the Cafe Orleans or Hungry Bear Restaurant.

@kheredia Everything goes up in price. When Disneyland was first opened, it cost my parents a big chunk of their salary to take our family of three kids. It’s all relative.

I haven’t been to Disneyland, but I’ve been to the (just as overpriced) Disney World. My question is, who goes to a theme park with their main motivation being the food? That’s why I go to a restaurant. Not a theme park. Theme parks are for entertainment. Yes, they have restaurants – good to some, not so good to others – but I don’t see how that is the main factor being judged. Disney is fun; it makes me happy. That’s why I go. Is there really any other reason?