I totally understand what you are saying, I do! In John Hammond's words "I don't want to cater only to the super rich". However, business is business and if Disney deems it economically efficient to raise prices on tickets every year because there will be a population who attends regardless, then by all means they should follow through. This is coming from a guy who desperately wants an annual pass (I live in LA and can't afford one for DL). If anything, it shows how much the company is able to attract people for vacation. I think as locals, we sometimes lose track of the idea that many lower-middle and middle class families will splurge and do a one-time vacation to Orlando. Most people who I know that are now in there 20's have told me that they've only been to Orlando once or twice. If anything, I think the prices make it harder for the locals than the out-of-towners and I think most of the locals will pay regardless. For the few that dropout, Disney will recover from the increase.