What is really interesting is that allowing people to pay monthly for their AP has brought in an influx of new people, and they advertised it pretty well, so it's not like they didn't want a million APers. Are those people more likely to stick around, since it's just a "few" more bucks each month?

I think they will for a few years at least. When your cable goes up $10/month you think about changing it etc but at least I don't. Then the next year when it goes up more, and then more you start to access if it's worth it to you or not. Also I think that some of the AP's will get burnout, start concentrating on other interests and you'll have some drop off that way as well.

Monthly payments was a nice touch - and yes, I think it works against the Get-Rid-Of-Passholders strategy that Al has reported and that insane overall pass prices reflects.

It IS other factors, too. Like with katiesue, gas prices prevent me from just heading down to Disneyland on a whim. That, in turn, results in me visiting less than the number of times necessary to make an AP a bargain. Vicious cycle. Bored with the Parks: Strike 3. Barely anyone goes anymore: Game Over.

That makes me sad.
I understand it, but don't like it.

Ditto that. It hadn't even occurred to me that anyone would think this would cause any drifting of the group. We already drifted collectively to different interests and ways to hang out!

See, of course, I disagree. Well, I have a particularly outsider point of view - but I think it's safe to say that along with the Disneyland drift, there's been a concurrent drift away from actual Swankings, the days of Swank Camp are gone, and the traditional holiday parties are largely a thing of the past (though Car-B-Cue v.2 is worth mentioning as an offset to this trend).


I know there have been more informal gatherings of smaller groups of people - but let's face it - the large LoT group outing - whether to Disneyland or elsewise - has largely gone the way of the Dodo.


I've been around long enough to see this as a natural thing. It's alright.


(But I confess it makes my cheese a little sad.) :(

While I had so many responsablities that I never hung out a lot with the LoT, I have spent some small chunks of time with a large number of those here. One of my faves was Steves' BD party at the Wrather Suite. I will always cherish the times I've spent with friends here. My time has gotten even shorter, and I have less time to even go to the movies (it use to be every weekend, now it's once a month), and going to the park or anything else. But that's the way life is.

If an era is ending, I am glad to have been a small part of it.

Some images of a different time:

Le sigh - my memories of a different time where when Disneyland was open TILL TWO A.M. on Saturday nights (in summer). Le heaving sigh.

I'm not sure if I'll ever be priced out from a Disneyland AP. It's sad to see them take advantage of "popularity" just to make more money than they already have but...

I'll always go and I'll always have some amazing memories of times spent with the Lounge folk. We had a lot of laughs, but sometimes things change.