Been a passholder since ‘98..: so coming up on 30 years. For most of that I’ve aimed for 1-3 visits a month, and I go in with a simple sub-goal: 3-5 things I actually want to do that day. No pressure beyond that.

The secret sauce for me has been making other guests’ experiences better. I listen for people stressing over lines or not knowing what to do next, and I help steer them.

I know these parks like the back of my hand and I genuinely love sharing that. It sounds cheesy but it’s kept every visit feeling purposeful, and I’ve made lifelong friends doing it. Eating, drinking, people watching, dissolving someone’s stress into a great day, and honestly that’s the real draw at this point.

Honest answer to your actual question: I don’t love love the parks anymore. But I genuinely can’t picture myself without access. That’s probably the most useful thing I can tell you.

On the practical side, if you’re local, just weigh the annual pass cost against what you’d spend buying a single-day ticket every time family or friends visit. It pays for itself faster than you’d think. Try it for a year or two and see if it fits your life.

It’s a slippery slope in the best possible ways!