What is the Standard? - Should WDW return to a per attraction pricing structure?

[SteveAZee]

Back in the 1970's there were the 8 and 12 ticket books (IIRC) that were combinations of A through E tickets. I recall having a number of leftover A and B tickets since we mostly wanted to ride the 'fun' rides, so then we had to go to ticket booths to buy more C, D, and E tickets. Not a great way to spend time while also feeling like we wasted money on tickets we'd never use.

Sort of reminds me of the tiered FP+ that exists today.

 

[wdwjmp239]

I was a kid when they were doing the "pay-per-attraction" and then when they went to the all-inclusive pass, I just remember an uptick in traveling with my parents to Florida from NY to go to Disney.

I think the way it is now is just fine. Sometimes, I get a little crabby when Disney decides to increase the admission price, but there has to be a reason for it, right? Of course, business decisions such as increasing admission prices is not one that appeases the masses, but for the sake of doing business that's the way things go, I guess.

It's just funny when I hear people starting to complain about how "expensive" it is to go Disney, these are the people who go the most.

 

[EOD K9]

If they did go back to coupon books, they would really need to decrease the admission price. While I agree all inclusive is easy, just let me give my upcoming scenario. Early next year I am taking a DCL cruise and will be staying on property before and after for a night. I haven't missed a trip since '97 and for the first time will be taking my infant daughters. We will be staying a BLT and it would be very easy to get in with just an admission ticket and enjoy the ambiance of the park without having to do any rides. It's a lot of money to get in to MK just to walk around or do SW or CoP.

 

[Victor Kelly]

Are you trying to give TDO ideas? If so, I have pitchforks, torches, axes, salt, lemons and tooth picks and various other paraphernalia of torture at my disposal.

 

[R W B]

Since a pay per ride system does that mean they wouldn't have a cover charge just to get in? Would it be open to EVERYONE? You all think its busy now with people that pay hundreds of dollars just imagine how many people would enter the parks just to hang out, not including it would make dining reservations more of a headache because if you didn't have to spend $100 just to get it the park that means all sit down dining would be open to everyone.

Yea, good luck with all that lol!

 

[mp2bill]

I think it would be a logistical nightmare with today's levels of attendance.

Ditto.

 

[MrDee]

What would we wear on our wrists all day?

 

[wdwjmp239]

What would we wear on our wrists all day?

Go back to wearing watches? Just a thought!

 

[Jeff456]

Although not experiencing the old system I think the current system works fine as it is!

 

[C&D]

I "bite the bullet" once (pay for admission); if I had to think every time I got on a ride (or not to get on a ride to save 'a buck') it would drive me crazy.

 

[75disney]

Go back to wearing watches? Just a thought!

Apple will have a new one for us soon.

I may be aging myself, but I remember the old ticket books. I prefer the all inclusive ticket. For me it is the same mentality as the dining plan. I like knowing that everything is covered and I don't have to do any "math" or itemizing of every little thing. I would find myself thinking, "Is this attraction really worth x amount of dollars?" It would just take away from the Disney bubble for me personally.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

We have 2 local amusements parks here and one still uses the ticket system plus you can buy bracelets for ride all day (Palace Playland). The other one (Funtown) used to do the ticket system and then switched to tickets and bracelets for ride all you want. People not riding could get in free. They have now gone to just bracelets and people not choosing to ride still have to pay $5 to get in.

I went to the park that does tickets a few summers back and I think it was like $4 per person to ride the ferris wheel! Personally, I think that's a rip off. I understand that at WDW the rides probably come out to about the same price per ride as that, but the parks themselves are an experience. Palace Playland is NOT an experience in itself, unless you like hanging out with the punk high school kids that hang out there during the summer and the tourists. Funtown is definitely a step up from PP. The grounds are a lot cleaner and you don't have so many unsupervised teenagers hanging around, probably because you have to pay to get in. I think if Disney were pay as you go, you might start to get more delinquents just hanging around if they have nothing better to do because, hey, it's free! (Minus parking costs of course) I also think most dining would NEVER be available. People who don't have APs in Florida would now be able to get access to the dining thus making it harder to get an ADR. I think it's just fine the way it is.

 

[righttrack]

Hm.. this makes me wonder.

How do you think the attractions would be ranked if ticket books returned? What would you classify as an E ticket attraction today?

That's a fun thought. Firstoff, I like pay one price, and would hate to see the per-attraction pricing come back. Anyhoo, here's my take of it:

Magic Kingdom
E Ticket - Space, Seven Dwarfs, Splash, Big Thunder
D Ticket - Buzz, Goofy, Dumbo, Pooh, Pirates, Haunted, Raceway
C Ticket - Laugh Floor, CoP, Tea Party,Carpets
B Ticket - Philharmagic, Bears, Presidents
A Ticket - Stitch

A few I missed but those are the big ones

 

[James Browning]

Well I guess we have a clear consensus on this topic!

We like the current all-inclusive system of admission. It looks like my grandmother will never get to go to the park because she just refuses to pay so much and not ride any of the attractions. It was also interesting thinking about those guest that are just on property for a night before or after a cruise and how they might benefit form a general admission. On the down side having a general admission ticket would increase groups that would just come and hang out at the park. I can remember that as teenagers we would drive down pay 50 cents to park (yes it was really just 50 cents) and then sneak into the pool at the Contemporary.

So the status quo is the way we should keep things. Look for a new standards poll soon.

 

[unkadug]

That's a fun thought. Firstoff, I like pay one price, and would hate to see the per-attraction pricing come back. Anyhoo, here's my take of it:

Magic Kingdom
E Ticket - Space, Seven Dwarfs, Splash, Big Thunder
D Ticket - Buzz, Goofy, Dumbo, Pooh, Pirates, Haunted, Raceway
C Ticket - Laugh Floor, CoP, Tea Party,Carpets
B Ticket - Philharmagic, Bears, Presidents
A Ticket - Stitch

A few I missed but those are the big ones

I'd have to rearrange your list thusly:

E Ticket - Space, Splash, Big Thunder, Haunted, Pirates,
D Ticket - Buzz,Pooh, Peter Pan ,Seven Dwarfs, Philharmagic,
C Ticket - Laugh Floor, CoP, Bears, Presidents, TTA
B Ticket - Goofy, Raceway, Stitch
A Ticket -Tea Party, Carpets, Astro Orbiter, Dumbo