News Disneyland offers $99 summer parkhopper ticket deals to annual passholders - OCRegister

[freebird72]

It's also straight-up an admission that APs drive attendance at Disneyland compared to WDW, so this is a way for them to get APs back into the park without outright removing blackout dates.

I would hope that some bean counter at TDA already had data on how many park attendees are APs versus vacationers, and that data drove some of the AP blockout decisions they made prior to this. Because to learn how much of your business is driven by APs only when you've blocked them out seems grossly incompetent.

 

[tirian]

If the AP is blocked out, they can also buy the ticket at the $99 price. The email I got says you can purchase up to 3 of the tickets, but they're for use that day and the AP has to accompany you on the first entry.

Thanks for the info!

But who in TDS thinks this makes sense? Now they have to convince APs to spend more money after significantly hiking rates three years in a row.

 

[mickEblu]

It’s obvious that Disney was trying to make crowds slightly bearable for the first summer of SWL by raising AP costs 20% and blocking most of them out. On the other side of that coin is that they overestimated the demand. So I wonder is demand low because ...

1. ROTR is not open and Falcon isn’t exciting enough on its own to create a buzz/ word of mouth marketing going
2. They missed the mark with this land design wise
3. Chapek cut too much out and the land feels dead
4. Star Wars Land or at least this version of it just isn’t what Disneyland fans and guests want.

I’m guessing a little of all 4. # 4 intrigues me the most. Would they be in the same boat if Instead of SWL they built something like Fantasy Springs from TDS? Or just anything inherently more Disneyland?

 

[mickEblu]

So they re panicking because they re only making a trillion dollars instead of a gazillion dollars? I get it’s a business and I’m exaggerating but their is something off putting about their incessant need to have the parks as packed as possible thereby giving guests the worst experience possible.

 

[JD2000]

This is a conservative move though, no? It doesn’t seem to be opening the flood gates. Thank goodness!

As tourists can spend a ton on everything to visit, it should be comfortable during this season. AP’s can keep coming back throughout the rest of the year. No offense.

 

[JD2000]

It’s obvious that Disney was trying to make crowds slightly bearable for the first summer of SWL by raising AP costs 20% and blocking most of them out. On the other side of that coin is that they overestimated the demand. So I wonder is demand low because ...

1. ROTR is not open and Falcon isn’t exciting enough on its own to create a buzz/ word of mouth marketing going
2. They missed the mark with this land design wise
3. Chapek cut too much out and the land feels dead
4. Star Wars Land or at least this version of it just isn’t what Disneyland fans and guests want.

I’m guessing a little of all 4. # 4 intrigues me the most. Would they be in the same boat if Instead of SWL they built something like Fantasy Springs from TDS? Or just anything inherently more Disneyland?

I have seen numerous theories around. And it is probably a combination of all of them.

 

[mickEblu]

This is a conservative move though, no? It doesn’t seem to be opening the flood gates. Thank goodness!

As tourists can spend a ton on everything to visit, it should be comfortable during this season. AP’s can keep coming back throughout the rest of the year. No offense.

Oh ya it’s conservative and I really don’t think think it’ll move the needle that much. My point is just that their mindset is off putting. “People are having more fun at our park than they have had in over a decade, quick let’s pack the place like sardines.” Not saying this move will do that but they would love it if it did.

I saw somewhere someone said something along the lines of, “the parks were so blissful, we were being spontaneous about what rides we went on or what snacks we bought and when.” That made me kind of sad.

 

[Nirya]

It’s obvious that Disney was trying to make crowds slightly bearable for the first summer of SWL by raising AP costs 20% and blocking most of them out. On the other side of that coin is that they overestimated the demand. So I wonder is demand low because ...

1. ROTR is not open and Falcon isn’t exciting enough on its own to create a buzz/ word of mouth marketing going
2. They missed the mark with this land design wise
3. Chapek cut too much out and the land feels dead
4. Star Wars Land or at least this version of it just isn’t what Disneyland fans and guests want.

I’m guessing a little of all 4. # 4 intrigues me the most. Would they be in the same boat if Instead of SWL they built something like Fantasy Springs from TDS? Or just anything inherently more Disneyland?

I lean more towards it being a combination of #1 and a campaign to keep people away, either through increased AP blackouts and a host of previews talking about how slammed the parks were going to be when the land opened. For example, I have a Deluxe pass, but I'm blocked out right now when normally I would have availability, and I'm not planning on upgrading to a Signature until August when my pass is up. This new deal might get me to go earlier to check things out, but I would assume the vast majority of APs are at the very least intrigued by SWL and want to go; they're just unable to at the moment.

 

[Rich T]

..a lack of general interest in a generic SW land that doesn’t have any recognizable landmarks except a prop outside a simulator ride.

This has been the repeated theme whenever I've shown friends and co-workers shots of GE: "What *is* this? Is this supposed to be Star Wars?" No derision or negativity--Just a complete lack of recognition or excitement. You might as well be showing people shots of a random section of Tokyo Disneysea.

Funny-- Who'd have predicted a land based on Cars would get more public love and enthusiasm than a Star Wars land?

 

[Nirya]

I would hope that some bean counter at TDA already had data on how many park attendees are APs versus vacationers, and that data drove some of the AP blockout decisions they made prior to this. Because to learn how much of your business is driven by APs only when you've blocked them out seems grossly incompetent.

I think Disney has known for a while now that attendance at the DLR is driven by APs, but I assume they saw SWL as an opportunity to cater to vacationers and single-days which have a higher spending per visit (plus the amount that most AP holders go tends to lower their cost per visit). They've just grossly miscalculated how effective this plan would be, hence the discounted tickets.

 

[mickEblu]

I lean more towards it being a combination of #1 and a campaign to keep people away, either through increased AP blackouts and a host of previews talking about how slammed the parks were going to be when the land opened. For example, I have a Deluxe pass, but I'm blocked out right now when normally I would have availability, and I'm not planning on upgrading to a Signature until August when my pass is up. This new deal might get me to go earlier to check things out, but I would assume the vast majority of APs are at the very least intrigued by SWL and want to go; they're just unable to at the moment.

I see what your re saying and it reminded me of something else. I’m thinking many APs who are blocked out would have bought a day ticket if ROTR was up. This lukewarm/ soft opening isn’t getting anyone to do that.

With that said we can’t excuse the low turnout because of what Disney did to block people out because they did that with the anticipation that the demand would be so great that they wouldn’t need those APs. So the real question is why is the demand so low and I think it’s a combo of things I mentioned in my last post.

 

[Rich T]

It’s obvious that Disney was trying to make crowds slightly bearable for the first summer of SWL by raising AP costs 20% and blocking most of them out. On the other side of that coin is that they overestimated the demand. So I wonder is demand low because ...

1. ROTR is not open and Falcon isn’t exciting enough on its own to create a buzz/ word of mouth marketing going
2. They missed the mark with this land design wise
3. Chapek cut too much out and the land feels dead
4. Star Wars Land or at least this version of it just isn’t what Disneyland fans and guests want.

I’m guessing a little of all 4. # 4 intrigues me the most. Would they be in the same boat if Instead of SWL they built something like Fantasy Springs from TDS? Or just anything inherently more Disneyland?

All four. This is a really good, sharp list of probable factors.

I keep thinking about the long-ago blue-sky ideas Disney kicked around for having Lucas just take over Tomorrowland. *That* is the kind of SW Disneyland fans were hoping for. Colorful, lively, full of comedy, FUN RIDES and a big AA show. Really kinetic and appealing.

Instead, Disney spent a ton of time and money to open a SW land that doesn't look like SW to the GP, and features (so far) one ride that's a team-based video game. Jetson, you're fired.

 

[mickEblu]

All four. This is a really good, sharp list of probable factors.

I keep thinking about the long-ago blue-sky ideas Disney kicked around for having Lucas just take over Tomorrowland. *That* is the kind of SW Disneyland fans were hoping for. Colorful, lively, full of comedy, FUN RIDES and a big AA show. Really kinetic and appealing.

Instead, Disney spent a ton of time and money to open a SW land that doesn't look like SW to the GP, and features (so far) one ride that's a team-based video game. Jetson, you're fired.

Totally agree. That first version of SWL taking over TL maybe wasn’t as ambitious but it would have been a heck of a lot more fun and a lot more Disneyland. The only drawback of course being that TL wouldn’t have the chance of being resurrected to its former glory. But that’s probably just a pipe dream anyway.

 

[Curious Constance]

Oh sure! Give cheap park hoppers to the APs! To h with the people who travel and spend thousands on food and hotels and merch. I would have totally came last week if this deal was offered to me.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

FWIW, I’ve heard that Parks and Resorts leaders refuse to believe they’ve overpriced the tickets, and they’re trying to blame SWGE marketing instead of admitting they’ve raised prices far beyond an average family’s budget.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if that was a factor. Here in Arizona I heard a few radio ads advertising Pixar Pier, Marvel characters, and Hyperspace Mountain (oddly enough) as reason(s) enough to go. Garbage garbage garbage. Then it mentioned a daily price, followed up by "with the purchase of a 4 day park hopper pass"

Meanwhile I hear a Universal commercial nearly every morning advertising the arrival of Jurassic World and something about Coca Cola. Stupid commercial too but it works IMO.

 

[Curious Constance]

It tickles me that they aren’t enticing enough people with their drab, run down looking, IP land. They were so sure people would flock there by the gillions. They think most people have been dreaming of the chance to walk amongst a Star Wars Land their whole life.

Sure lots have, but MOST don’t care.

 

[TP2000]

Wow, that didn't take long. It's probably Step 1 until they see what happens next week for the 4th of July. I'm sure things will pick up a bit in July, they just have to. I've seen rainy weekdays in January that had bigger crowds than what I saw last night on a gorgeous summer evening.

It's summer.... This is insane.

Someone in TDA must be going nuts right now.

I can only imagine the level of panic right now. Can you imagine if you spent a Billion dollars on this and it actually decreased your overall attendance??? I feel sorry for those trying to scramble to fix this in the last 90 days of the fiscal year.

There are also reports that Millenium Falcon wait times are being purposefully doubled and anything below 30 Minutes is actually a walk-on.

That is exactly what happened to me last night, during all three rides on the Falcon. The first two times during the 8 o'clock hour the wait time was posted at 35 minutes, and it only took 10 or 15 minutes in line. The last ride of the night around 11:30 the wait time on the App was posted at 30 minutes and it took 5 minutes in line.

 

[Rich T]

It tickles me that they aren’t enticing enough people with their drab, run down looking, IP land. They were so sure people would flock there by the gillions. They think most people have been dreaming of the chance to walk amongst a Star Wars Land their whole life.

Sure lots have, but MOST don’t care.

And the ones who *did* dream of a Star Wars land imagined it being a lot more fun, lively and ride-packed But $200 toy-buying "experiences" and Renaissance Fair play-acting B.S.? Um...no.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

It tickles me that they aren’t enticing enough people with their drab, run down looking, IP land. They were so sure people would flock there by the gillions. They think most people have been dreaming of the chance to walk amongst a Star Wars Land their whole life.

Sure lots have, but MOST don’t care.

The franchise does lend itself well to theme park attractions. That's what it needs. Actual attractions. The people go to Disney mainly for rides. Speaking for myself, I don't get off looking at the props next to rocks, I don't want their overpriced food or drinks, I'm sober and I don't want to buy nerdy useless Star Wars junk. So that leaves the one ride for my enjoyment.

 

[Mouse Trap]

It would put a huge smile on my face to see Galaxy’s Edge not perform the way it was expected.

You realize this just sinks the opportunity of anything being added, upgraded, refurbed, etc in the park?

Whether you like SWL or not a lot is riding on this and much of the parks will suffer if this does not make the money that was expected. More will be left to sit and rot.