would you pay $40 a month subscription for a free roundtrip anywhere in the USA?

[QuarterMillionMan]

The ultimate subscription for people living in Los Angeles is the Disneyland annual pass which must cost $2000 a year. My subordinates maybe 4 out of 6 have it. When we used to work in an office (WFH now permanently) I would hear them talking about everything Disneyland. They'd often complain too about how high the price kept going up and benefits being taken away such as eliminating certain busy weekends, etc. Some of them would go every weekend. A one-day park visit must be $150 a day now. So in a month that'd be $600. In 3 or 4 months they break even and all visits thereafter would be basically free for those annual pass holders. They are getting their money's worth.

[disneysteve]

The ultimate subscription for people living in Los Angeles is the Disneyland annual pass which must cost $2000 a year. My subordinates maybe 4 out of 6 have it. When we used to work in an office (WFH now permanently) I would hear them talking about everything Disneyland. They'd often complain too about how high the price kept going up and benefits being taken away such as eliminating certain busy weekends, etc. Some of them would go every weekend. A one-day park visit must be $150 a day now. So in a month that'd be $600. In 3 or 4 months they break even and all visits thereafter would be basically free for those annual pass holders. They are getting their money's worth.

We have been annual pass holders to Walt Disney World at various times over the years. I surrendered my pass when COVID hit as I realized we wouldn't be going for quite some time even when the parks reopened. Now, Disney has essentially stopped selling annual passes and many, like us, can no longer get them. That is one of a variety of reasons that we aren't going back like we used to. When we went last September, we didn't go into a park at all except for one night for a private event. The trip that we cancelled last month due to the hurricane we also had no park tickets for. The cost has just gotten ridiculous. If we still had annual passes, we certainly would have used them. We love the Disney parks, but without an annual pass, it's just way too expensive, especially for a short visit.

[rennigade]

We have been annual pass holders to Walt Disney World at various times over the years. I surrendered my pass when COVID hit as I realized we wouldn't be going for quite some time even when the parks reopened. Now, Disney has essentially stopped selling annual passes and many, like us, can no longer get them. That is one of a variety of reasons that we aren't going back like we used to. When we went last September, we didn't go into a park at all except for one night for a private event. The trip that we cancelled last month due to the hurricane we also had no park tickets for. The cost has just gotten ridiculous. If we still had annual passes, we certainly would have used them. We love the Disney parks, but without an annual pass, it's just way too expensive, especially for a short visit.

We're going the week before Xmas. We're only headed to parks for 2 days and we're fortunate to have old 7 day passes that still had days left. We had to buy one ticket which costs $158. It's not even a park hopper. Apparently Disney raised their prices so not sure what a single day ticket costs now.

I don't know what food costs in the park but I'm sure it's not cheap. I couldn't imagine being a family of 4 and going to the park for 5 days or so. Even staying in a condo off site before you know it you're in for $5k or so for 4 people. That's gut wrenching.

[disneysteve]

We're going the week before Xmas. We're only headed to parks for 2 days and we're fortunate to have old 7 day passes that still had days left.

Yep. All park passes used to not expire. They got rid of that years ago but had the option to pay extra to make your ticket not expire. Then they got rid of that. Now tickets expire within a week or two of purchase depending on the number of days purchased. That change really impacted us as we used to buy 10-day tickets, use 5 days on one trip and the other 5 days on the next trip. Can't do that any more. Now we have to buy a 5-day pass each time which costs a lot more. Also, all tickets used to be park hoppers. Not they're not, but you can pay extra for that option, but it's pricey.

[Like2Plan]

Disneysteve-you reminded me... Today was my last day to renew my annual pass. I had been debating whether to renew it for the last 2 months. I have a trip coming up in Nov and I had a 5 day park hopper (a military ticket that was due to expire in Dec that a family member couldn't use this past summer).
I finally went with renew. I was on the phone for about 2 hours -but, they were able to credit the unused ticket towards the annual pass renewal. I should get another trip in during the spring for a family member graduation, so maybe I will break even.

The airline subscription sounds interesting.

[disneysteve]

Disneysteve-you reminded me... Today was my last day to renew my annual pass. I had been debating whether to renew it for the last 2 months. I have a trip coming up in Nov and I had a 5 day park hopper (a military ticket that was due to expire in Dec that a family member couldn't use this past summer).
I finally went with renew.

Good decision with the renewal. That is the only way to still have an AP. Once you let it lapse, it's gone and you can't get it back unless they start selling them again at some point in the future.

[QuarterMillionMan]

My brother & family paid $699 a night at the Grand Californian which is inside Disneyland, that's almost as much as my rent for an entire month, lol.

[Like2Plan]

Good decision with the renewal. That is the only way to still have an AP. Once you let it lapse, it's gone and you can't get it back unless they start selling them again at some point in the future.

I hope they restart them again soon, and I hope they are still affordable when they do.

[Like2Plan]

The ultimate subscription for people living in Los Angeles is the Disneyland annual pass which must cost $2000 a year. .

I know inflation and all, but that is pretty expensive for a family. Yikes!

[QuarterMillionMan]

L2P that was before inflation, God only knows now what is after inflation, lol.

[disneysteve]

L2P that was before inflation, God only knows now what is after inflation, lol.

Disney is not currently selling annual passes. If you have one you can renew it but you can’t buy a new one.

[disneysteve]

My brother & family paid $699 a night at the Grand Californian which is inside Disneyland, that's almost as much as my rent for an entire month, lol.

We paid $700/night to stay at the Contemporary last year for the 50th anniversary. It was absolutely obscene but I had been planning that for years and was doing it regardless of cost. Never again.

[Like2Plan]

L2P that was before inflation, God only knows now what is after inflation, lol.

Yikes! The last Disneyland annual pass I bought was back in June 2019--It was a deluxe annual pass for $899. (It had block out dates, but I could work around them). I thought that was expensive.

I have been somewhat insulated from the rising hotel costs at WDW and DL with our Disney timeshares. We still have to pay maint. fees and they do go up each year, but it is quite a bit less.

[disneysteve]

I have been somewhat insulated from the rising hotel costs at WDW and DL with our Disney timeshares. We still have to pay maint. fees and they do go up each year, but it is quite a bit less.

With the exception of that stay last year, we are insulated as well since we stay offsite where prices really haven’t changed for at least 10 years. We can still rent a condo for $75/night or a house for maybe $120 or so.

[QuarterMillionMan]

In Hawaii, I have friends who splurge on anniversaries or birthdays treating themselves to a weekend staycation at Aulani, a Disney hotel at $600 a night. All they are paying for is the Disney name, there is only a swimming pool and some restaurants. Very expensive but that's their money.