Would you pay for park tickets monthly?

[Eck45]

Who would pay DVC for annual park tickets on a monthly basis, so that whenever you arrive you automatically have an annual pass?

(This example is using round numbers and a new pass and is hypothetical, so don't jump on me about the numbers, it is the idea I am wondering about)

Ex. An annual pass is $370. Which comes to roughly $31 a month/per adult. So for 2 adults it is $62. We already pay monthly on our DVC contract. So I would happily pay another $62 a month, so that when we arrive we automatically have park passes.

Pro's:
1) Disney gets paid for tickets in advance, increasing cash flow
2) I don't have to worry about buying pass for each trip
3) I don't have to save a large chuck of $$ to buy passes.
4) With 60,000+ members, I would think enough would take advantage to make it cost efficient.

Con's
1) If you don't stay over 7 days, you lose $
2) record keeping for Disney
3) ?? I am sure I am missing more

Does anyone else like this idea? The pass option they have for DVC now, I feel is useless and I think they should scrap it and try something else.

Just an idea...

Other thoughts? Go Twins!!

[Granny]

If Disney would offer a significant discount on the passes, your plan would probably have a lot of appeal. The monthly aspect doesn't really grab me as I prefer to pay my expenses off rather than have payments.

I'm not sure what Disney would get out of this, though. They already get the money up front on AP's, and if they wanted to offer DVC members an AP discount they would have done so.

I like creative thinking about how to get things accomplished, but I'm not sure this one would work well. Who knows? Maybe the spread payments would appeal to a lot of people who otherwise don't buy AP passes? That's the assumption Disney would have to make to see a benefit in offering it.

[Eck45]

I am just thinking that if you can add on tickets to the payments you are already making (if you are) then it might be something people would take advantage of.

And for myself, it would make it easier for me instead of coming up with $600+ every year to renew my pass.

I too would like to see a discount for DVC members, since many of us go there more than once a year.

Like I said, it is just a hypothetical scenario.

[DebbieB]

I go twice a year, but I get a new pass about every 18 months by timing the trips to get 3 uses out of each pass (example - buy new one second week of Dec 01, second week of May 02, first week of Dec 02, buy new one May 03).

It's a good idea but I doubt DVC would go for the administrative expense. I would really like to see DVC get FL Resident Type prices for members or at least extend the 10% discount to AP's & park hoppers. But I really don't think it's in DVC's control, WDW doesn't want to give it to them. They came up with the 4 of 5 year park hopper flop instead.

[spiceycat]

Seaworld already does this with their annual pass - it is so nice - but it goes on a credit card not your checking account. So the technology is there on the internet.

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I agree with DebbieB. If you time your trips right, you don't need to always buy annual passes every 12 months.

The method suggested would probably be a benefit to those who don't do that, especially if there were deep discounts like Granny suggests. For my family, we would still stick to buying them as needed.

HBC

[Beth]

This is what spiceycat was referring to -

Welcome to EZpay!
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, SeaWorld Orlando, and Adventure Island are proud to be the very first to offer EZpay as a convenient way to pay for participation in an annual membership program. EZpay allows our guests the flexibility to pay for either a 12 month Silver Passport or 24 month Gold Passport in monthly installments rather than one lump sum. Furthermore, Busch Entertainment Corporation will not charge interest, finance charges or fees of any kind for participation in the EZpay payment program.

[Eck45]

come up with a program like that. Then I would think Disney should be able to come up with a similar program.

I would jump on that in a second. And with all the DVC members you would think they come up with a program for us.

Hopefully, someone in Disney has taken notice of the program across town.

[jmminarik]

I'd be surpised if Disney decided to offer discounted AP's to DVCers. It probably wouldn't make economic sense to do so. While this logic I'm about to spew forth isn't infallible, it does make sense to me:


1) Disney wants people to go alot and spend lots of money.
2) By offering AP's to the general public, Disney will tend to encourage the public to go more often since 'I got a "free" pass, why not go'.
3) People who don't own DVC will probably need rooms...preferrably expensive on-site rooms.
4) DVCers' don't necessarily need to pay cash for rooms.
5) DVCer's already have a huge fiscal incentive to go to WDW, so having a 'free pass' isn't as big of an incentive.

(free pass, meaning of course, not having to buy tickets on a day-by-day visit basis).

Not that I'd mind a 10% discount on an AP...I'd be all over it. A FLA discount pass would be even better, but I'm not sure of the legal aspects of our 'residency'. The fact that we _WANT_ to go to Disney and its generally a big deal to plan the trip compared to the FLA residents who can 'go anytime, its not a big deal' means to me Disney needs to do more enticing of the locals than those of us Nuts who have already comitted lots of money to the Mouse.

In terms of doing the 'monthly' charge, I personally would not use it. I'd rather make the interest (miniscule as it is) for myself and pay for an AP (or ticket) at the last minute (keeping in mind ticket price changes). HOWEVER, I know not everyone is so fiscally detail oriented, so having DVC keep track of the 'saving' would be beneficial for them.

Hope this makes sense.
Joe

[ripleysmom]

Nope. We're not going this year or even next year so it wouldn't pay for us.

[KNWVIKING]

Rather then give Disney $62.00 a month,why not open a Christmas club type account and pay yourself each month,then when it's time to buy passes,use a credit card with a rebate program,then 30 days later withdraw from your club & pay the card off.You earn a few $$ interest,make a few miles.

The only way I would pay monthly to DVC is if they gave a SIZEABLE discount- along the lines of 20-25 percent.

[DVC Grandpa]

It would be nice if Disney would allow DVC members to purchase a NEW AP at the renewal price. This would permit the purchaser to purchase at the AP at a discounted price and hold the certificate until it is redeemed thus starting a new anniversary date.

[Zimbubba]

May be a good option for some but not us. Bad idea.

[MSEC-DVC95]

I would love to buy passes with my points - it would be great to have the option of buying enough points now to cover both my room and passes through 2042!!!!;)

[CaptainMidnight]

I like the idea.

[KLR-wlv]

I think there should be a discount on AP's for DVC members because perks such as discounted hotel rates for AP holders aren't of use to many DVC members. Also - the more you go, the less you need to go to the parks. I know we'll go to Universal more often with 3 days admission being $90 (during specials) rather than $150. It seems silly to basically ignore a built in audience....
And yes - I'd do a monthly payment with a discount on AP's...

[ralphd]

We will buy either AP or Park Hopper, according to the number of days we will spend going to the parks. Don't think we would like to pay for park passes monthly. Do wish we received a discount on AP and/or Hoppers.

ralphd:D :D :D :D

[Johnnie Fedora]

IMHO a DVC discount (similiar to FL AP rate) would help ensure that DVCers return to the parks when they travel to DVC. Personally, we will be doing the 3 trips on one AP and take a break. The park passes are really really really expensive and are not necessary to enjoy the Disney experience each and every trip. There is lot to see and do in Orlando. US/IOA will be getting some of our money since their passes are less expensive. Disney does take DVCers for granted as far a discounted passes go. We're a guaranteed cash cow right ???

Moooooooo. ;)

[Carl]

I have no interest in payment schedules for APs. I don't even use them to pay dues. I would like some kind of discount for DVC members on APs, but KNOW that will never happen. Why should Disney offer that when we already are sure fire return guests because of our DVC memberships? Disney, unfortunately, does NOTHING just for the benefit of their guests. Everything is planned around what it will make for Disney. They aren't a club or charity - they are a business, a stockholder's business.

[lrodk]

I would definitely use this feature if Disney offered it. There are 3 adults in my group and one child. Between the four of us I have to put out over $1000.00 in one shot(ouch!), which for us is not easy. Add to that the food/airfare/car rental expenses and you can see how it would create undue stress on most budgets . Busch Gardens /Sea World is currently offering such a program to it's guests, so it makes me wonder if Disney, were they to face continued softness in attendance, might do something similar. I would even pay a small handling fee, much like insurance companies require, for the added convenience of spreading out the payments.

[Mic]

I would do it. We have purchased annual passes for our family of 6 for the last 3 years, at a cost of $1800-2000 a year. We almost purchased the 2-year Busch Gardens pass this past March through E-Z pay, but I just couldn't give Disney up, and we could not afford both. What I have decided to do this year seems a little unconventional, but it works best for us. I upgraded my hopper to an AP 2 weeks ago, while the rest of my family used their hoppers as they were. Some of us are going to WDW for 4 days before cruising on the Wonder in Oct., so I plan on buying 2 AP's(1 adult,1 child) at the beginning of that trip. If my middle daughter decides to go with me and 2 younger children to WDW, she will use 4 left-over days we have on 3 other hoppers. Oldest DD and DH will fly to Orlando the morning we get on the ship, so we will not need passes for them. In Dec., I have a short NYE trip planned, and will purchase 2 older DD's AP's then, and DH if he is able to go(work conflict). Since I plan on renewing them yearly for the next few years, it really does not matter when the clock starts ticking on each one. I did not renew last year because the $2000 was due around the same time we usually vacation, and that was too much $$ to spend all at once for us. The way I plan to do it this year, we will still spend the $2000, but it will be broken up into 2-3 payments instead of 1 lump sum. Now if Disney wants to take my payment monthly for each pass, with my DC renewal discount, of course, that would be fine with me. While they're at it, they should go ahead and take $2.50 extra out a month to cover my DC renewal!;)

[Mickmse2002]

We would do it. It is easy to say that one could 'put away' the same money in an account throught the year then just pay cash at the time you go. This never seems to work for us as everytime I get a good start unexpected things come up....like new tires, root canals, etc. I would like the option of prepaying on a monthly basis. I would think Disney would be interested as these AP's would sort of be like the Disney Dollars.....lots of people buy 'em and then don't use them. Pure profit for Uncle Mike Eisner. (Okay fess up, who all has unused Disney Dollars sitting in a drawer right now?)

[TheRustyScupper]

Why should Disney even consider this?

1) DVCers are captive.
2) For the most park, they will buy tickets each year.
3) The administrative expense wouldn't be worth it.
4) There is no need to offer discounts t folks who return annually.
5) For DVCers not going eveny year, it would be a bad deal.
6) This would place DVCers above the general public.
7) Buying tickets on a credit card get airmiles.
8) There is much more downside than upside.

[Muushka]

Ex. An annual pass is $370. Which comes to roughly $31 a month/per adult

The ONLY way I would do it is if I only had to do this for 6 months. In other words, If Disney offered an AP to DVC members for 1/2 price, by either paying with dues annually or monthly.

OK, now everybody say "Disney will not do this and Disney does not have to do this".

Yup, that is right. And I do not have to pay ridiculous prices for AP

[Eck45]

Everyone has brought up good points. And I think if Busch Gardens can come up with a program, then Disney definetly has the ability to come up with something similar.

It would probably be something offered to eveyone. Not just DVC members. I am sure some DVC members would use the program (me probably being one of them) and some wouldn't. All depending on personal preference, days going to parks, cost, etc.

And yes, I could and should put the money away for it monthly anyway. But I don't remember or something comes up. Oh well.

My personal opinion is Disney should look at some form of this, and hopefully it will be better than the ticket plan they have for DVC now.