Anyone else staggered by ticket prices?

[Foxhound3857]

It was minimum $25/day if you purchased it this past June. Genie+ at Disneyland went up to $25 base price in October 2022. MK holders get a 20% discount, so it could have been as low as $20 for them.

Here is an interesting page where someone has been tracking the Genie+ daily price for the last year.

https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane/dlr/price-history

I'm not a MK holder (though I aim to be when the next sale happens), and it was $20 for me. I went on June 12th 2023, a Monday.

 

[Chili327]

I thought it Genie+ started at Disneyland in 2022 with the release of the MagicBand+s. I guess it wasn't. I guess you had to use your phone initially?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ce-coming-to-disneyland-resort-beginning-dec/

We still use our phones.

Genie+ used to fluctuate daily, so I'm pretty sure it could have been less than $20 at times as well as up to $30 other times.

 

[starlite_]

I'm not a MK holder (though I aim to be when the next sale happens), and it was $20 for me. I went on June 12th 2023, a Monday.

Did you buy it at the park?

 

[Kit Jackson]

Wasn't there a plan/proposal that the price of Genie+ was not going to be consistent year round but would change with "seasonal" demand? I know it was discussed at one point, but I don't know if it actually happened. Could that account for the different prices people have paid?

 

[Chili327]

It started at $20/day when it was introduced on December 8, 2021.
On October 11, 2022, it was raised to $25/day, and
on October 11, 2023, it was raised to $30/day.

Does that mean in no way possible i used it in 2019?
I went for my birthday in Oct 2019 (I thought that was when I first heard about it & the price was different each day depending on attendance)

 

[Foxhound3857]

Did you buy it at the park?

No, on the website. It was a one-day Park Hopper, $229 for that day + $20 for Genie+, $249 total.

 

[starlite_]

No, on the website. It was a one-day Park Hopper, $229 for that day + $20 for Genie+, $249 total.

That's why then. It's cheaper (or it was) to buy it in advance than at the park.

 

[Foxhound3857]

That's why then. It's cheaper (or it was) to buy it in advance than at the park.

Hmm...much as I still want to try for a MK, all this price gouging is strongly making me reconsider renewing my Six Flags membership instead. Diamond is only $200/year.

 

[Kender]

It started at $25/day. It was never $20.

Remember, thus Is Disneyland we are talking about, not WDW.

EDIT: My bad. It started at $20/day when it was introduced on December 8, 2021.
On October 11, 2022, it was raised to $25/day, and
on October 11, 2023, it was raised to $30/day.

I thought it Genie+ started at Disneyland in 2022 with the release of the MagicBand+s. I guess it wasn't. I guess you had to use your phone initially?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ce-coming-to-disneyland-resort-beginning-dec/

Correct. You also could scan your physical ticket. Same as when it was FP/MP in the Before Times.

 

[starlite_]

Hmm...much as I still want to try for a MK, all this price gouging is strongly making me reconsider renewing my Six Flags membership instead. Diamond is only $200/year.

I know! Every year I say I want a MK aaaand then I see the prices and repent haha.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I know! Every year I say I want a MK aaaand then I see the prices and repent haha.

I try to have fun first and worry about the budget later, but with prices and inflation being what it is right now, I can't be that irresponsible in the pursuit of adventure.

 

[Lisa24jks]

Hmm...much as I still want to try for a MK, all this price gouging is strongly making me reconsider renewing my Six Flags membership instead. Diamond is only $200/year.

Conversely, some of us have recently realized we're definitely more Disney Parks people than "all kinds of theme parks" people. Like, I enjoy Universal occasionally, and if I lived locally would probably have their annual pass. But most other theme parks? I'm one and done. I know other parks are cheaper, but that's not the parks I want.

I have had so many miserable times at Magic Mountain that they could not PAY me to return, much less willingly buy a ticket. But great for those that love it!

 

[Chili327]

Conversely, some of us have recently realized we're definitely more Disney Parks people than "all kinds of theme parks" people. Like, I enjoy Universal occasionally, and if I lived locally would probably have their annual pass. But most other theme parks? I'm one and done. I know other parks are cheaper, but that's not the parks I want.

I have had so many miserable times at Magic Mountain that they could not PAY me to return, much less willingly buy a ticket. But great for those that love it!

It's just a "Magic" fee.

 

[Lisa24jks]

It's just a "Magic" fee.

And I'm the sucker that will keep paying it until I can't pay it anymore. (I may have to move to the other side of the country in a few years, so I just tell myself I'm getting as much "magic" in as I can to make up for not being near the parks anymore in the future!)

 

[irlandaise]

Conversely, some of us have recently realized we're definitely more Disney Parks people than "all kinds of theme parks" people. Like, I enjoy Universal occasionally, and if I lived locally would probably have their annual pass. But most other theme parks? I'm one and done. I know other parks are cheaper, but that's not the parks I want.

I hear you, Lisa. While not comparable to Disneyland or USH, for decades I lived 10 minutes away from the Northern California version of Great America. I can count on one hand the times I went there. Zero atmosphere.

 

[Chili327]

And I'm the sucker that will keep paying it until I can't pay it anymore. (I may have to move to the other side of the country in a few years, so I just tell myself I'm getting as much "magic" in as I can to make up for not being near the parks anymore in the future!)

Hey, that's ok, there is magic on either coast.

I hear you, Lisa. While not comparable to Disneyland or USH, for decades I lived 10 minutes away from the Northern California version of Great America. I can count on one hand the times I went there. Zero atmosphere.

Yep, I grew up going to "Marriotts" & went back a couple months ago for the 1st time in like 30 years, & it was nice to revisit, but it certainly didn't have any of the old feels.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Conversely, some of us have recently realized we're definitely more Disney Parks people than "all kinds of theme parks" people. Like, I enjoy Universal occasionally, and if I lived locally would probably have their annual pass. But most other theme parks? I'm one and done. I know other parks are cheaper, but that's not the parks I want.

I have had so many miserable times at Magic Mountain that they could not PAY me to return, much less willingly buy a ticket. But great for those that love it!

I don't live in SoCal but I do live about an hour away from another Six Flags park and I totally agree with you. I would have to be dragged by force back to that park. It was an absolutely awful experience and I am totally cool with sticking to Disney/Universal parks as I know I'm getting a higher level of quality.

 

[chezcurrie]

Conversely, some of us have recently realized we're definitely more Disney Parks people than "all kinds of theme parks" people. Like, I enjoy Universal occasionally, and if I lived locally would probably have their annual pass. But most other theme parks? I'm one and done. I know other parks are cheaper, but that's not the parks I want.

I have had so many miserable times at Magic Mountain that they could not PAY me to return, much less willingly buy a ticket. But great for those that love it!

This. We have annual passes to the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND and Birch Aquarium. We’ve done them all once, mostly because we had company in town that wanted to go, and twice for birch because my son loves the little blue penguins. Thankfully 2/3 of these were gifted to us. I will not be renewing them.

we had season passes to Canada’s wonderland when we lived in Toronto. Went twice just to “get our moneys worth” and both times I felt like they should have paid me to be there.

I don’t like theme parks. I like Disney.

 

[Lisa24jks]

I don't live in SoCal but I do live about an hour away from another Six Flags park and I totally agree with you. I would have to be dragged by force back to that park. It was an absolutely awful experience and I am totally cool with sticking to Disney/Universal parks as I know I'm getting a higher level of quality.

This. We have annual passes to the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND and Birch Aquarium. We’ve done them all once, mostly because we had company in town that wanted to go, and twice for birch because my son loves the little blue penguins. Thankfully 2/3 of these were gifted to us. I will not be renewing them.

we had season passes to Canada’s wonderland when we lived in Toronto. Went twice just to “get our moneys worth” and both times I felt like they should have paid me to be there.

I don’t like theme parks. I like Disney.

I get why Six Flags parks appeal to people who love big coasters, but that's about it. Roughly half of my Six Flags visits in life have ended with me or someone else in the infirmary, so that definitely gave me a bad taste in my mouth too. LOL.

And yep, I think the reason why Universal is still fun is because of the theming, though it's still not as re-visit worthy as Disneyland for me. (I speak only of Hollywood as i have never been to Universal Orlando.) I know I'm being overcharged when I go to Disney parks, but I always feel like I'm getting my money's worth too. (And the couple of times I didn't, it had nothing to do with the parks themselves, but other circumstances outside of Disney's control - weather, miserable family members or friends who joined us, or other issues.) But, that's me, and I accept that not everyone agrees. And if the magic ever dries up for me, or my wallet does, well, then we'll just remember the good times!

 

[kristensideaoffun]

This. We have annual passes to the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND and Birch Aquarium. We’ve done them all once, mostly because we had company in town that wanted to go, and twice for birch because my son loves the little blue penguins. Thankfully 2/3 of these were gifted to us. I will not be renewing them.

we had season passes to Canada’s wonderland when we lived in Toronto. Went twice just to “get our moneys worth” and both times I felt like they should have paid me to be there.

I don’t like theme parks. I like Disney.

I don’t think I’d consider Birch and the Zoo theme parks, but Legoland certainly is. We’ve had Disneyland APs/MKs nearly without disruption for 20 years (up until this Feb when we decided not to new). We went to Legoland one time with our oldest (now 16) when she was 7 who had begged and begged to go because all her friends had annual passes. She was appalled by how dirty that park was, the terrible food, and the long lines. She had fun but never asked to go back again. We’re Disney people, not Theme Park people.

We’ve had passes to the San Diego Zoo for 20 years and have no plans not to renew. We love it there, especially in the fall and winter when they are open in the evenings. I think the quality of their entertainment and food has increased dramatically over the last 6 years. And while their prices have gone up, the value of an annual pass has risen with it. Can’t say the same about Disneyland.