Mastodawn

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸6h ago

I’m always wondering how anyone who isn’t very rich affords tickets to anything anymore.

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸

Don’t get me started on Disneyland—never cheap, but doable for most families when I was growing up without breaking the bank. In 1986, adult entry was $19 and $3 for parking—or, in 2026 dollars, $237 for a family of four.

This Saturday, that same family of four getting single-day park-hopping tickets with California Adventure (and hoping not to wait in lines all day) will pay $1,368 before they spend a dime on food or anything else during the day.

It’s insane.

Bruce Mirken 5h ago

@Holberg Holy sh*t.

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸5h ago

@BruceMirken Right?

Kevin Karhan 5h ago

No wounder #Disneyland #Paris is flopping big time...

Cuz even in the 1990s that stuff was more expensive for 3 days than 3 weeks of Mallorca with a rental car AND flights.
- Yes I did the math back then and nowadays it's even worse...

Espechally when compared to other Theme Parks and amusements in the #EU, like #EuropaPark and #Efteling...

@kkarhan
Disneyland Paris was always expensive and not appreciated by local population when it open, it was saved just in the neck of time when it Jules Verne flavored Space Mountain attraction open in 1996 (I remember the massive ad campaign on TV at the time).
Asterix Park was always the cheaper and still as good alternative.

Didn't know it was flopping today, maybe the rejection of the actual U.S politic isn't totally stranger to that.

Kevin Karhan 4h ago

@Enalys @Holberg AFAICT #Disney refuses to 'localize' to European tastes, as allegedly they not only did those " #FastPass " thingies but also allegedly charged extra per ride and didn't include that in the entrance fee, which really sour'd European taste where it's common to not charge extra but for drinks and food sold on-prem.

Plus being anti-BYOF [bring your own food] which is rather common in Europe and being extra expensive on food and drinks...
- It really didn't compete...

@Holberg we did the math, it was cheaper to fly to Europe and stay for a month than do a week in Disneyland.

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸4h ago

@BabblingGeek I believe this!

Bond. James Bond.4h ago

Supply and demand my friend. Supply and demand.

In the early decades the people who went there were largely Californians and those West of the Mississippi.

He wanted World on the east coast for a reason.

As population and popularity has grown and the world has shrink via technology, there's no way that little park could stay the way it began.

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸4h ago

@RVLara23 I understand that. It's also supremely fucked up that a significant number of SoCal families can't afford to take their kids to Disneyland even once a year.

Bond. James Bond.4h ago

I mean, sure, I don't love that it's so much money now. But it's not like Disneyland is on some island.

It's anything deemed in-demand these days. Sports and concerts are hundreds of dollars for the most popular artists.

Universal up the street looks to be about 200 per person if you want the fast pass.

Hell even our big local city event Fiesta, which in many ways is like a glorified carnival - event tickets + food & drinks for four, you'll easily spend hundreds in one day.

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸4h ago

@RVLara23 But that was my larger point—just about everything has become prohibitively expensive at the same time so many people are feeling the pinch of housing/education/health/etc costs.

Events and theme parks are all getting their prices, sure, but it’s becoming a world where experiences are only for the rich, those invited by sponsors or those who’ve really saved up for that one thing. Everyone else is getting priced out. That’s what bothers me.

Bond. James Bond.4h ago

100%, that's where we are. It blows.

Take the Spurs here. 20 yrs ago I could get upper deck playoff tickets for 10 bucks. In 2007 I had a lower level Finals ticket for $115.

Sure I expect things to cost more over time.

But now 1st rd tickets were $140 & higher in the upper deck. Lower level was $400 & up.

For the FIRST ROUND. Nuts.

There's also a distinct difference between can't afford it & not worth it.

I find a lot of things are no longer worth it.

It is a shame.

Bond. James Bond.4h ago

I guess my point is, unfortunately, it's a lose lose situation for places like Disneyland where what they offer is so unique & so highly sought after.

If it was way cheaper, the demand would be so high they'd probably be booked for a year at a time or maybe even two.

And then people would complain about that. And your local family still wouldn't be able to go every year!

What's happening does suck though.

I was at an event tonight. A soda & M&Ms cost $20. Shirts were $65. 👎

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸4h ago

@RVLara23 I guess we’re both gonna circle back to our points haha. Because it’s not just Disneyland. I’m just using that as an example. It’s everything and everywhere. Like that extra $85 bucks at your event tonight if you want the basic stuff.

Bond. James Bond.4h ago

Yup, that's right.

We're in a capitalism nightmare.

And no one can get Healthcare without a Go Fund Me.

And Netflix made 42b last year and are raising prices.

It's awful. It's endless.

Roger Moore 4h ago

@Holberg @RVLara23
Southern California families won't buy the kind of tickets you're talking about, which are basically the most expensive they have. Earlier this year, locals could buy a three day pass for cheaper than the single day park hopper you mentioned. There are other off-season discounts for locals that make it possible for a lot of families to afford to go. It certainly isn't cheap, but enough people are paying what Disney is asking that the parks are packed.

Roger Moore 4h ago

@Holberg @RVLara23
I should probably say that price conscious families won't pay that much. I'm sure there are some locals paying full price. The key is that locals who really want to go can get there for a lot less.