Disneyland
What can you say? The happiest place on Earth!
Really?
If your definition of happiness is to spend a small fortune to wait in interminable lines, pay extra money to actually be able to get on rides, spend all day in a mass of people, and to eat lousy food – then I guess this is the happiest place on Earth.
So, what is new since the last time we were there?
• Seems like it was more crowded.
• You can get a “Lightening Pass” or whatever they now call it. This allows you to circumvent the 30 to 75 minute wait-times we encountered. However, the newest version of this pass does not let you get on some of the favorite rides unless you pay another $25 (I believe) per person. So,
o Grandmom, grandpop, mom, dad, three children.
About $100/person per day for a one park per day non-jumper pass.
100 x 7 x 3 = $2100.
o Let’s take an example. On day one you go to Adventure Park and on days two and three you go to Disneyland Park.
o Day one:
You want to go on the Cars ride which has a 75 minute wait time.
You can get the LP for $25 per person. 7 x $25 = $175.
Yeah! Oh – wait. LP is not good for Cars unless you pay another $25 per person. So, 7 x $25 = $175.
Thus, you paid $700 just to enter the park. Then, you can either stand in line for 75 minutes, or, you must pay another $350. Yippee!
o Day two:
Same scenario but you want to go to the new Star Wars Rise of the Resistance attraction.
Same thing as above: $350 to avoid the 75 minute wait.
• Food. What food? Most of the stuff in the park is useless junk food. If you actually want to get something that is really good you must wait until you leave the park.
I understand that Disney is a for-profit business and they are constrained to make as much profit as they can. I just think it is a shame that after paying $2100 for tickets you can still get shafted for another $350 per day to go on a few choice rides without waiting in line for well over an hour.
What would I suggest? Take the (minimum) $4000 or $5000 that it will cost you to go to Disneyland for a few days, go to a really nice hotel in (or near) a National Park, and hike for three days. Less people, better views, better food, better family time and talk, and much more healthy.