I stopped going to Disneyland because it's no longer a good value, is EXTREMELY crowded, and most of the attractions don't um, attract me anymore.
If out-of-towners want to go there while visiting me, they have to arrange their own transportation because it's 1.5 to 2 hours (or more) away. When my kids were growing up we went at least once a year, but it's become much more crowded and outrageously expensive. I did a little research this morning and the results took me aback.
In 1988 my kids were 5, 3 and 3. We went to DL at least once a year, often twice for the next ten years.
Child's pass was $16.00, adult $21.50, parking $3.
Admission for the five of us: $94 ($235.33 in today's dollars).
Average # of daily guests: 35,600 people
By the time we stopped taking them regularly in 1998 they were 15, 13 & 13.
Child's pass: $28, adult $38, parking: $7.
Admission for the five of us was $197 for us because our kids needed adult tix. ($357.95 in today's dollars)
A family of 2 adults and 3 kids at $28 per child would have paid $167 total. ($303.44 in today's dollars).
Average # of daily guests 37,500
Shift to 2022:
Average child's one day ticket is $127, average adult price $134, parking: $30.*
2 adults and 3 children: a whopping $679.
*I say average because the prices change by day. Lowest is $104 child, $109 adult; highest $164 and $169.
Average # of daily guests: 50,000 according to Disney's own estimates. (Explains the crowds)
This is all before you buy a single beverage or bite of food. Heaven forbid your kids want to hit a souvenir shop.
Oh, one more thing. Disney ditched free "fast passes." if you want "Genie Plus" that puts you in faster lines, it'll cost you another $20 per ticket.
Bottom line: The Mouse has gotten VERY greedy in his old age. If a family sneaks a 3 or 4 year old in, I wouldn't cast aspersions their way.
