Disneyland: The AP issue

[SuddenStorm]

I mean, it's not fair to judge the park based on the last weekend of a promotion, during the middle of the day. But the fact remains, attendance has risen since 2001 (when they had a failing DCA, poor upkeep and management, and the park experience was the worst it's been in years).

The fact also remains that the parks cost a lot more to go, yet crowds continue to rise. As prices go up, there will eventually be a tipping point where enough people are priced out or aren't satisfied with the experience and attendance takes a hit. It looks like Stevek found their tipping point, and in the coming years, more people will follow.

 

[mickEblu]

I mean, it's not fair to judge the park based on the last weekend of a promotion, during the middle of the day. But the fact remains, attendance has risen since 2001 (when they had a failing DCA, poor upkeep and management, and the park experience was the worst it's been in years).

The fact also remains that the parks cost a lot more to go, yet crowds continue to rise. As prices go up, there will eventually be a tipping point where enough people are priced out or aren't satisfied with the experience and attendance takes a hit. It looks like Stevek found their tipping point, and in the coming years, more people will follow.

Agree. I just think that if one is still enjoying the parks, there are still more than enough good to decent days to go. Unfortunately it requires more planning and is less spontaneous. Although if I lived close enough for spontaneous trips, I don't think I would let the crowds bother me.

 

[Stevek]

I think the biggest thing is adjusting expectations and readjusting our view of what an "offseason" day means in 2017 and just cherry picking some good days. I've taken some non AP family to the parks on days that are not croweded by modern standards but they still found the park to be crowded. That's because their idea of "not crowded" was still based on experiences from the 80s and 90s. With that said, as an AP I'm sure you get this and you re probably comparing to maybe even just a few years back.

Yep, as I've said in previous posts over the last couple of years, I used to work a mile north of Disneyland and even during the 2005 50th celebration, we had plenty of evenings where we would stop in after work and easily find a place on the curb for Parade of Dreams and a nice spot for Remember or even Believe in Holiday Magic. I'm sure there are days that are better than others aka less crowded but it just feels dramatically different now. Maybe I'm just old, jaded and have less of a tolerance for crowds so it just feels busier. In any case, kinda sucks given how much I love DL.

 

[Stevek]

I mean, it's not fair to judge the park based on the last weekend of a promotion, during the middle of the day. But the fact remains, attendance has risen since 2001 (when they had a failing DCA, poor upkeep and management, and the park experience was the worst it's been in years).

The fact also remains that the parks cost a lot more to go, yet crowds continue to rise. As prices go up, there will eventually be a tipping point where enough people are priced out or aren't satisfied with the experience and attendance takes a hit. It looks like Stevek found their tipping point, and in the coming years, more people will follow.

Exactly why I pointed out the time and date. Still, my experiences aren't based solely on this single visit. It's been like this more times than not. We've had good experiences but those are fewer and farther between.

 

[Phroobar]

Exactly why I pointed out the time and date. Still, my experiences aren't based solely on this single visit. It's been like this more times than not. We've had good experiences but those are fewer and farther between.

I remember being at Disneyland on September 13, 2001. There were more cast members than guests. It was the best day ever! It wasn't until 2005 that it started to get crowded again.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I remember being at Disneyland on September 13, 2001. There were more cast members than guests. It was the best day ever! It wasn't until 2005 that it started to get crowded again.

I can imagine! 2001, and I think 2002, were terrible for the theme park business.

 

[Stevek]

I can imagine! 2001, and I think 2002, were terrible for the theme park business.

Well...that and DCA was a truly $%#t park.

 

[Phroobar]

Well...that and DCA was a truly $%#t park.

That is what we liked about DCA. No one was there. We could fill up on tortillas and bread.

 

[Stevek]

That is what we liked about DCA. No one was there. We could fill up on tortillas and bread.

I used to love getting full bags of tortillas 4 times a year.

 

[BrianLo]

No one hates AP's more than other AP's!

 

[Stevek]

No one hates AP's more than other AP's!

True...some of us realize we are part of the problem. I don't really hate AP's so much...I just think that Disney let the program get out of hand.

 

[Phroobar]

No one hates AP's more than other AP's!

It boils down to entitlement. People are too focused on imaginary entitlement that they don't realize it could all end tomorrow.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

That is what we liked about DCA. No one was there. We could fill up on tortillas and bread.

It seems I'm one of maybe 10 people on this Earth who didn't think DCA 1.0 was all that bad. To this day I prefer a day at DCA over one at DL. I'm pretty open to Disney pushing creative boundaries as its parks evolve, and there were elements at DCA when it opened that did that. Of course there were plenty of things that were terrible too, and it didn't help that they built a rather mediocre Disney park right next to Disneyland and followed it up with spectacular Tokyo DisneySea later the same year.

 

[DLR92]

It seems I'm one of maybe 10 people on this Earth who didn't think DCA 1.0 was all that bad. To this day I prefer a day at DCA over one at DL. I'm pretty open to Disney pushing creative boundaries as its parks evolve, and there were elements at DCA when it opened that did that. Of course there were plenty of things that were terrible too, and it didn't help that they built rather a mediocre Disney park right next to Disneyland and followed it up with spectacular Tokyo DisneySea later the same year.

I thought DCA 1.0 was awful. It look cheap with false ambition of it value. Disney shouldn't have any excuse to go cheap despite having to dealt with financial issue with DLP, tourist scare of 9/11.

But I have to say I quite like Superstar Limo. LOL

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Disney shouldn't have any excuse to go cheap despite having to dealt with financial issue with DLP, tourist scare of 9/11.

For sure. I believe the concept was sound, but as you pointed out they went too cheap and ended up tarnishing their brand. That said, I miss sushi and cocktails at The Cove Bar, and the cool little Napa themed market at the Mondavi Winery where you could put together a picnic meal and eat on the terrace. I also miss spending a day in a Disney branded park without feeling assaulted by characters in every nook and cranny, but I digress.

 

[DLR92]

For sure. I believe the concept was sound, but as you pointed out they went too cheap and ended up tarnishing their brand. That said, I miss sushi and cocktails at The Cove Bar and the cool little Napa themed market at the Winery where you could buy picnic supplies and eat on the terrace. I also miss spending a day in a Disney branded park without feeling assaulted by characters in every nook and cranny, but I digress.

Wow, I did not knew The Cove Bar offered sushi. I knew back in time when Paradise Pier had a Japanese Restaurant when it was run by former japanese hotelier business. Maybe I should one day invest in property in the area and offer a Sushi / Shabu Shabu restaurant. lol

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Wow, I did not knew The Cove Bar offered sushi.

Yep, and the sushi was good too. Both the Cove Bar and the attached restaurant (before it became Ariel's) were operated by Wolfgang Puck.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

DCA 1.0 (and 2.0 for that matter) will always pale in comparison to what could have been WestCOT.

 

[SuddenStorm]

DCA 1.0 (and 2.0 for that matter) will always pale in comparison to what could have been WestCOT.

I just listened to a Tony Baxter interview talking about their ideas for WestCOT. It was better than anything DCA has gotten, would have been revolutionary for the industry (more so than even Harry Potter), and would have made Disney a boat load of cash.

 

[Travel Junkie]

WestCOT would have been perfect for all of the AP's wanting to hang out. Epcot is known as the bar with the worlds largest cover charge. Imagine all of the places for AP's to eat out on a Friday night.