Admission into Graceland

[GraceeD1970]

I love all things Elvis, but I'm feeling EPE is becoming a rip-off. I was last there in '98 and it was like $21, which is fair. To now take my family of 5, it would cost $345.00 . . . for a VIP tour! No way would my husband pay this much. On top of that there's no discounts for the VIP tour unless you're under 6 and then it's Free. The Platinum tour is would be $155.10. Want to see the stables, it would cost me an additional $70.50. A VIP tour and barn would be $415.50. With these fees, it's hard to attract families don't you think? Then I hear it's $10.00 to park. It seems very greedy to me. Elvis was not that kind of person.

[TotallyInsane]

I love all things Elvis, but I'm feeling EPE is becoming a rip-off. I was last there in '98 and it was like $21, which is fair. To now take my family of 5, it would cost $345.00 . . . for a VIP tour! No way would my husband pay this much. On top of that there's no discounts for the VIP tour unless you're under 6 and then it's Free. The Platinum tour is would be $155.10. Want to see the stables, it would cost me an additional $70.50. A VIP tour and barn would be $415.50. With these fees, it's hard to attract families don't you think? Then I hear it's $10.00 to park. It seems very greedy to me. Elvis was not that kind of person.

I think the term they use for this "inflation"!! It is outrageous!!!

[kathy parkinson]

I was last there in march 05, to tour the mansion was $28, everything is different now, you've to pay for this and that, i have to pay more because i live in the UK, don't get me wrong, i don't mind paying to go to Memphis, it;s what i would have to pay for all the extra's which they charge now, very dissapointing.

[Hominuk]

Elvis would not approve....

[JDD]

I just returned from there yesterday. Took the VIP, skipped the stable (why would I want to see a stable?) . I didn't mind the price, because you can go through more then once. Started in the morning, too crowded, went back took the shuttle to Beale and seen the downtown sites, took it back caught the tour again at 2pm with like only 20 other people in the house compared to whatever ridiculous number they crammed in there in the morning, took my time had elbow room. I know it is an issue with some but if it eventually helps them clean that mess up that surrounds it its ok with me. One option if it is an issue as with Gracee is to maybe Take the less expensive tour. Its really not all that different, and don't go in the first group of people in the morning walk up in late afternoon you'll enjoy it more with a smaller crowd.

My only disappointment was I didn't think they did enough with the new exhibit of the movie years. They did what they could in the space but they really need more space at the plaza for the exhibits they change yearly.

Also they seriously need to stop people from spray painting on the front wall. They always allowed a marker and you write your message to Elvis, there are currently several messages written in Spray paint including two from someone named "Dickman" that aren't very nice. Shame on them for what they did.

JD

[franny]

I just returned from there yesterday. Took the VIP, skipped the stable (why would I want to see a stable?) . I didn't mind the price, because you can go through more then once. Started in the morning, too crowded, went back took the shuttle to Beale and seen the downtown sites, took it back caught the tour again at 2pm with like only 20 other people in the house compared to whatever ridiculous number they crammed in there in the morning, took my time had elbow room. I know it is an issue with some but if it eventually helps them clean that mess up that surrounds it its ok with me. One option if it is an issue as with Gracee is to maybe Take the less expensive tour. Its really not all that different, and don't go in the first group of people in the morning walk up in late afternoon you'll enjoy it more with a smaller crowd.

My only disappointment was I didn't think they did enough with the new exhibit of the movie years. They did what they could in the space but they really need more space at the plaza for the exhibits they change yearly.

Also they seriously need to stop people from spray painting on the front wall. They always allowed a marker and you write your message to Elvis, there are currently several messages written in Spray paint including two from someone named "Dickman" that aren't very nice. Shame on them for what they did.

JD

Jim, it sounds like you had a good time! (y) Did you take any pics? of the new exhibit?

And about the spray paint by that person, well the name fits :lol:

franny

[wild4elvis1962]

i attend elvis week each year....until a couple of years ago, you could watch elvis movies on big screen on the lawn across from graceland....now, you to pay to watch them on the lawn of graceland.
graceland is getting greedy...not very elvis like if you ask me.
the price of addmission for tours is getting out of hand as well.

[GraceeD1970]

Thanks for the replys. I'm glad I'm not the only one noticing their outrageous prices. I really want to take the family, but I cannot justify the expense. With these prices overtime you just might see a decline in tickets. Does EPE think we're going to Disney???

[Broussey]

SICK SICK SICK

[john carpenter]

Back when i went it was like $10 to tour Graceland. E.P.E. will lose alot of business if they keep raising tour prices. If Elvis were alive he'd let us tour for free!

[john carpenter]

Jim, it sounds like you had a good time! (y) Did you take any pics? of the new exhibit?

And about the spray paint by that person, well the name fits :lol:

franny:lmfao::lmfao:(y)

[Jungleroom76]

I definitely agree that the prices are getting out of control....and now, you have to pay extra for the stable tour!! They could at least have included that portion of the tour in with the current admission price. :doh:

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they started charging the fans a fee PER ROOM to tour the mansion!!! :angry:

And I agree with JD that if the money was being put to a good use like cleaning up the surrounding area around Graceland, then I guess I wouldn't have as much of a problem with the increase in admission rates. But thus far, from what I have heard, nothing is being done to the surrounding area and based on what is currently happening with Sillerman and his failed business ventures, my suspicion is the plans for cleaning up the area around Graceland will probably not happen anytime in the foreseeable future... (n)

So based on all of this, I have to surmise that wild4elvis1962 is right....the reason for the increasingly outrageous admission prices is GREED, pure and simple!!! :cursing:

TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

Precisely right tigerlady! (y)

Everyone comments on the high-costs of admission to Graceland, but then you also have to factor in the costs of lodging, meals, travel, etc. And since so many of Elvis' fans are from overseas, that makes it even harder for those fans to make the trip to Graceland!!!

It really is a shame that EPE continues to soak the fans for all they can....obviously, EPE is a business and all of us fans understand that they need to make money to stay open. But still...I am sure there are ways for them to cut costs and pass that savings on to the fans by lowering admission prices, lower souvenir costs, create affordable packages for the fans to tour Graceland and stay in Memphis, etc. But it just seems like EPE has no real interest in the fans anymore....it's all about the money!!!

Makes you almost think that Colonel Parker didn't really pass away and that HE is in charge of EPE... :cursing:

TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

I can only imagine the cost for coming from overseas to visit Graceland,we only had to drive about 6 hours to get there in it cost me out the rear!!!!! It was well worth the trip for my first time going but will take awhile to save the money again to be able to go.Still paying for the first trip LOL!!!!

You're lucky that it was only a 6 hour drive for you...I can only imagine what it must cost for the fans that live over in the U.K., or even further away like Australia!!! (n)

TCB!
Mike

[buttonhead]

You're lucky that it was only a 6 hour drive for you...I can only imagine what it must cost for the fans that live over in the U.K., or even further away like Australia!!! (n)

TCB!
Mike

Yes thats right Mike... probably cost them lots more money not to mentioned where they will stay, cost of food and how what if emergency happens ?... it sucks that EPE keep raising the cost almost for everything, their excuse may be to maintained Graceland and everything inside the mansion, and to pay the employee.. but yet the minimum wage never raise every year..:doh:

When i was in Indonesia, there are ALOT of Elvis devoted fan who could only dreamed they could one day visit Graceland.. I am just happened to be really lucky ( thank god ) and been there 3 times in a matter of 2 years.

[midnight]

You're lucky that it was only a 6 hour drive for you...I can only imagine what it must cost for the fans that live over in the U.K., or even further away like Australia!!! (n)

TCB!
Mike

It cost us a lot of money to get to Graceland. The cost of plane tickets for a family of 4 was almost 5000 dollars. We had to fly over 5 hours to get there and that is not including all the prices for attractions and accommodations.

[JDD]

And I agree with JD that if the money was being put to a good use like cleaning up the surrounding area around Graceland, then I guess I wouldn't have as much of a problem with the increase in admission rates. But thus far, from what I have heard, nothing is being done to the surrounding area and based on what is currently happening with Sillerman and his failed business ventures, my suspicion is the plans for cleaning up the area around Graceland will probably not happen anytime in the foreseeable future... (n)


TCB!
Mike




They haven't cleaned up anything at all Mike, in fact its the worst around there right now that I've ever seen it. With Elvis week coming up soon I was surprised to see it. The grounds themselves are spotless but the surrounding area is bad, and Heartbreak Hotel is bad and really in need of renovation .

JD

[elvislady]

I am saving up at the moment to get to graceland i live in the uk...i only got one elvis tin that i am saving in, reading all your posts i think i need a lot more...lol
elvislady:'(

[GraceeD1970]

On the Elvis web site a few wks ago they had $5.00 (printable coupon) off VIP tickets. I just laughed. I like what one poster said, you'd think Colonel Tom Parker was in charge. It's not only the tickets prices, it's everything else you need for your stay . . . food, hotel and transportation, etc. I cannot justify their prices.

[Jungleroom76]

They haven't cleaned up anything at all Mike, in fact its the worst around there right now that I've ever seen it. With Elvis week coming up soon I was surprised to see it. The grounds themselves are spotless but the surrounding area is bad, and Heartbreak Hotel is bad and really in need of renovation .

JD

I've heard that too JD, that the area around Graceland is very rundown and actually isn't very safe for the visitors to walk around even... :doh:

Absolutely inexcusable considering the amount of money that EPE rakes in every year!!! :cursing:

TCB!
Mike

[Polk-Salad-Annie]

Elvis would not approve....

(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)

[Polk-Salad-Annie]

But it just seems like EPE has no real interest in the fans anymore....it's all about the money!!!
Money makes the world go around.
The make a lot of money, but it is never enough:cursing::cursing:


Makes you almost think that Colonel Parker didn't really pass away and that HE is in charge of EPE... :cursing:
:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[franny]

I am saving up at the moment to get to graceland i live in the uk...i only got one elvis tin that i am saving in, reading all your posts i think i need a lot more...lol
elvislady:'(

Jeanette, I think you will need a lot more, too. :lol:

EPE is so greedy, that's too bad...

franny

[buttonhead]

I am saving up at the moment to get to graceland i live in the uk...i only got one elvis tin that i am saving in, reading all your posts i think i need a lot more...lol
elvislady:'(

Elvis tin ?? How about some buckets ???:lmfao:if you saved your money in a tin , you would need gazillions of them :)

So sorry to hear that you havent been to graceland.. I can feel you.. i felt the same way when i was in indonesia,..:'(

[buttonhead]

EPE is so greedy, that's too bad...

franny

yes, thats right... they forgot of how giving and charitable Elvis was...

at least please have a reasonable price...:doh: