# When did Disneyland get so Damn Expensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313 "2015-08-20T02:40:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/81 "2015-08-24T00:56:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Roy O. Disney, Walt’s brother, died in 1971. His son, Roy E, died in 2009. If the pronouns aren’t clear above, Roy E Disney was the son of Roy O Disney and the nephew of Walt Disney. Roy E Disney was also pretty much the last family member to be involved in the company. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/82 "2015-08-24T03:06:08Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If the pronouns aren’t clear above, Roy E Disney was the son of Roy O Disney and the nephew of Walt Disney. Roy E Disney was also pretty much the last family member to be involved in the company. Mostly true, but Diane Disney Miller was directly involved in organizing development of The Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio of San Francisco, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/83 "2015-08-24T03:16:03Z")
From Wikipedia: “The Walt Disney Family Museum, LLC is owned, operated and funded by the Walt Disney Family Foundation, a non-profit organization established by Disney’s heirs (including Diane Disney Miller, Disney’s biological daughter and founder of the museum). It is not formally associated with The Walt Disney Company, the media and entertainment enterprise.” And from the museum’s own website, “The Walt Disney Family Museum is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company.” ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/84 "2015-08-24T05:30:35Z")
For a comparison, here are the approximate prices for passports at **Tokyo Disney Resort** (“Tokyo Disneyland” and “Tokyo DisneySea”): > [@](#): > > Passports > 1-day US$57 > 2-day US$102 > 3-day US$137 > 4-day US$172 > > Annual Passports > US$488 (one park only) > US$711 (both parks) There are **no blackout dates** for Annual Passports except for New Year’s Eve. However, “2-Park Annual Passports cannot be used for Parks under attendance control” when the Park gets too crowded. Also, there are no other special benefits for Annual Passport holders like discounts on parking or merchandise, monthly magazine, sneak preview access, etc. It’s only for Park entrance and attractions. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/85 "2015-08-24T06:18:21Z")
I graphed the ticket data linked above and plugged in June price data from the BLS. Here’s the chart: [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/8a\_130b34\_ff95acd\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/8a_130b34_ff95acd_oP.png.thumb) I added arrows. Since 1981, Disney’s price increases have exceeded inflation. Starting around 2000, Disney accelerated the inflation adjusted daily prices even more. In inflation adjusted terms, ticket prices have gone up over four-fold since 1981. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/86 "2015-08-24T14:43:05Z")
So the Disney executives raise ticket prices, and find demand for their product increases-sounds like they haven’t found the equilibrium point (yet). It will be interesting to see if they keep raising their prices. When they exceed the price point, would their sales collapse? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/87 "2015-08-24T15:57:04Z")
I’d rather see the executives collapse. Permanently. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/88 "2015-08-24T17:44:19Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I graphed the ticket data linked above and plugged in June price data from the BLS. Here’s the chart: > [http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/8a\_130b34\_ff95acd\_oP.png.thumb](http://wm40.inbox.com/thumbs/8a_130b34_ff95acd_oP.png.thumb) > > I added arrows. Since 1981, Disney’s price increases have exceeded inflation. Starting around 2000, Disney accelerated the inflation adjusted daily prices even more. In inflation adjusted terms, ticket prices have gone up over four-fold since 1981. But you’re not getting the same stuff as you did in 1955. DL now has nearly four times as many attractions, and since you can add in DCA for a few more bucks, you’re getting two parks and 6+ times as much stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/89 "2015-08-24T18:14:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But you’re not getting the same stuff as you did in 1955. DL now has nearly four times as many attractions, and since you can add in DCA for a few more bucks, you’re getting two parks and 6+ times as much stuff. But assuming there was enough stuff to keep you busy during the day before, having twice as much stuff does not add value given you don’t have twice as much time to see it. And as the park gets more crowded and the lines get longer, it reduces your value since you can go on fewer rides. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/90 "2015-08-24T18:18:48Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > But assuming there was enough stuff to keep you busy during the day before, having twice as much stuff does not add value given you don’t have twice as much time to see it. And as the park gets more crowded and the lines get longer, it reduces your value since you can go on fewer rides. Well, but the assumption is wrong. You could clear early DL is half a day. Now, even when the Park is open 16 hours, there’s still more stuff to do. There were crowds since Day1. Lines were longer back then, as the park was open less and there were fewer attractions. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/91 "2015-08-24T20:55:44Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > But assuming there was enough stuff to keep you busy during the day before, having twice as much stuff does not add value given you don’t have twice as much time to see it. And as the park gets more crowded and the lines get longer, it reduces your value since you can go on fewer rides. I agree with this here. It’s like cable TV with 400 channels. The cost for the 10 you actually watch is more expensive now - lower value. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313/92 "2015-08-24T20:59:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, but the assumption is wrong. You could clear early DL is half a day. Now, even when the Park is open 16 hours, there’s still more stuff to do. > > There were crowds since Day1. Lines were longer back then, as the park was open less and there were fewer attractions. In the 1950s, perhaps. When I took my kid in 1987 there was plenty to keep us busy for two days, the lines were reasonable, and the price was also. Ditto 1991 or so when we bought year passes for a very reasonable price. This was before California Adventure. It also strongly depends on what you want to see. Captain EO had long lines the first time we went, and was a walk-in the second. Ditto Star Tours. I’ve never had problems filling up a day and I don’t do coasters, so I’m not in line for some of the busy rides. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disneyland-get-so-damn-expensive/728313.md?page=4)