Disneyland Obsession

Archive for May, 2012

Perhaps one of Disney’s recent movies was an indication of things to come. I’m talking about the movie “UP” of course, cause it has finally happened,  inflation has struck the Disneyland enthusiast and makes getting into Disneyland an act of magic, and /or darn near impossible for a family of 4. Disney’s announced ticket price increases would go into effect Sunday, May 20, 2012, and that sent a torrent of people scurrying to purchase tickets and renew annual passes.

The ticket prices have risen across all levels and ages. My family started last year with the convenient monthly payment plan for our Deluxe Annual Pass, and I wrote an article about my delight in being able to purchase this way. If you look at the article is shows the price of a Deluxe Annual Pass to be $329.00, compare that to the new price of $469.00. That’s an increase of $142.00 per Annual Pass. I have a family of 3 to purchase tickets for, and it will cost $1407.00 today compared to $987.00 a year ago, over 40 % increase in admission price, if I’m doing my math right. In any event It will be harder to purchase, it may mean a break between ticket purchases, it definitely means fewer people in the parks.

Courtesy of Disney

After an evening of studying the idea of purchasing tickets for the Cars Land preview, at Disney California Adventure Park. And deciding to wait till morning, so I could first discuss it with my wife, even tho I had the tickets in the Check Out cart. The next morning when Cindy and I both agreed that it would be so cool to attend, the Disneyland web site was down. I had spent a great deal of time trying to get on the ticket site the night before, now it’s doing it again, and I kept praying that it was just a fluke that the site was only down and not that the tickets were already sold out.

I spent some of the next morning trying to get back into the site, with no success, the web site was still down, or the tickets were all gone. I checked several times throughout the day, with no luck. And then it happened, the clouds parted, the angels sang, and there it was shinning out from the  darkness of cyberspace, Disney’s website for Cars Land advance ticket purchases. But now I’m at work and can’t really access it. So I call home in a frantic hurry, and remember that my wife is at school with our daughter, for awards night. This can’t be. How will we ever get those tickets before the sell out, or God forbid the site goes down again, and we end up left out in the Esplanade trying to see over the fence.  I was able to finally contact the wife, to tell her the site was up and she needs to order those tickets. And she says “you didn’t get my text? I bought the tickets before I left for the awards night at school”

I felt like Rockey at the top of the stairs, with the music playing real loud. We had concord the world, so victorious  we will be there, one of the first people to walk down the middle of Buena Vista Street. One of the first people to walk down the middle of Route 66, headed to Flo’s V8 Cafe. And one of the first people to ride Radiator Springs Racers. I Can’t Wait!

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See Ya In The Parks!