Perhaps, this year you may spend more (and that’s even questionable if you exclude flights and are not staying on site) but over time annual pasholders spend more on average.
But you are missing exactly what I am saying, I AM paying to stay on the grounds and paying Disney for the flights also. I am competing with the lower tiers of APs that live within 50 miles or so (I think that is the requirement) that basically pays for a couple of days admittance and can go most any time they want and also get monthly payments on that cost. I also know from experience how much we will be spending while we are there. Remember we are captive, so we eat every meal at Disney, we only go every 5 years so must buy every souvenir possible (I know, self inflicted), and then on top of everything else, the recommendation is that we should go early. Makes me feel like a second class citizen, when those that get in cheap (in my opinion) can go enough that even if they only ride a couple of rides each time they are there, they get on every ride they want. We will probably get to ride every one we want, but will be forced to use fast pass, and possibly Max pass (another cost) to get it done. Mostly just venting, but the way that summer WAS set up seemed to slant things just a bit back to the vacation visitor.
I watch a guy that posts here on the Buzz Lightyear ride, when he goes to the park, he shows his scores and he has the top 10 or 15 scores on the ride so you know what he goes on. Say you get 50 people that do the same thing on that ride, makes it tough on the others to get on. If you get several hundred there that do the same thing on other rides, then throw in Fast Pass, the lines can get unmanageable. I have seen this happen to us on Space Mountain, where a group of 30 or so kids run out of the exit and dive in front of people as they walk up to the start of the line. Only a couple need to grab the place and the rest get in line with them as they get off the ride.
I am a Disneyland nut, first trip was when I was 21 but wanted to go from the first time I saw it on Wonderful World of Color, or whichever version Walt Disney presents I was watching back then. However I live in Montana and it is tough to manage to go more often than we do.
Bottom line, just a bit unhappy that all of our planning went for naught. And those of you that an AP works for, consider yourselves very lucky, and remember those of us that are not so fortunate (although I would not trade living here for existing in California for anything).
