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

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.

@Holberg

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.

@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.
@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.
@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.