If it truly is all the AP blocks than what does that say about out of town visits or occasional 3-5 year visits or something? Does this really mean a large majority of people in Disney are fairly frequent repeat guests with APs? That just seems crazy to me, I would think APs would hardly make an impact except for making the park a little more manageable on the busy days (by blocking APs). Not clearing out the park though...
I think things have changed significantly over the past 15 years or so. On trips to the parks back then I felt like it was more of a tourist crowd, whole families experiencing special once-in-a-lifetime (or at least very few times in a lifetime) trips together. But slowly over the past decade I feel that the shift towards APs has taken place. I'm not complaining, just an observation. All one has to do is look around while waiting in line and you will see many teens or young adults in packs that act like being at
Disneyland is just another Tuesday for them (because it literally is). You'll see couples there for a weekend getaway. Even the young children seem to know the lay of the land and what used to be obscure "tips and tricks."
Disneyland has always been a locals park to a certain degree, and I'm sure there are many factors that have led to this rise in APs, but I think that a big part of it is a generational shift. I see this all of the time among my friends and colleagues even up in Northern California. Many of us grew up with our parents taking us to Disneyland every 3-5 years, once we'd saved up enough money for our special trips. And they really were special and cherished. This, combined with the Disney animated films renaissance (specifically Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Lion King) created a generation of Disney fans. I can't even tell you how many coworkers have Disney stuff adorning their cubicles, Disneyland license plate frames, decals, hats, shirts, etc. It's everywhere.
Those children are now adults, many with families of their own. Those who have the means are wanting to feed their Disney obsessions. It's definitely happened in my own family. Those 3-5 year trips as a child have now turned into my siblings getting annual passes and taking their families at least twice a year. As a result, APs have skyrocketed and the parks feel more crowded than ever. Disney has fallen victim to their own success.