News Round Up

[rteetz]

Hmmmm. More questions than answers.

If I bought an annual pass but haven't activated it yet - what will I get? Old or new?
How is "Photopass download" related to Memory Maker? If everyone now has Photopass I hope they hired ten times the Photopass employees!

All annual passes will be fit into the new categories even if you haven't activated it yet so you'll get whatever new option fits what you previously paid for.

Photopass kicks in at gold pass, you have the ability to download the Photopass photos. Memory maker allows you do do a bit more than just photo downloads but I don't think I would purchase memory maker if I am an AP holder because I would really only want the downloads.

 

[jcnewton]

I'm moving to Florida permanently in 2 days.....just looked at pricing for resident AP's last week. Looks like I have to figure in a few extra bucks per month. And the increase for TIW? Holy crap...

 

[rteetz]

Hearing all tickets could increase sooner than later.

Florida residents
Epcot after 4 pass $265.19
Disney weekday select pass $275.84
Disney Silver pass $414.29
Disney Gold Pass $584.69
Disney Platinum pass $691.19
Disney Platinum plus pass $776.39

All passes include parking.
Photopass downloads start at gold level.
Water parks, oak trail gold course, WWoS all start at platinum plus.

Silver block outs Dec. 17- Jan 1. March 19 to April 1. June 6 to Aug. 11
Gold block outs Dec. 17th to Jan 1 and March 19- April 1.

If not a Florida resident
Platinum pass $797.69
Platinum plus $882.89

Old prices for comparison
Weekday select $239.63
Seasonal pass $350.39
Annual pass $654
Premium $779

Parking increases
Cars and motorcycles $20
Campers and trailers $22
Bus and tractor trailers $25
Resort valet $25

Tables in wonderland
AP and DVC $150
Florida resident $175

 

[rteetz]

The regular annual pass has seen a 50% increase in 5 years...

 

[cmash95]

well in five years you have seen an new addition to fantasyland, and $2.00 an hour pay increase for all hourly employees. and next year will bring pandora or at least parts of it as well as the night show at animal kingdom and the night saffari. not to mention the new road work and all the work going on at disney springs and the studios. so yep this is expeccted and of course expect another big increase when star wars land and toy story get done. Yes we get lots of new experiences but the money has t ocome from somewhere. and its guests. the sad thing is that disney will either have to figure out big discount offers and packages or your average middle class family wont be coming and filling up those hotel rooms.

 

[Madteaparty001]

well in five years you have seen an new addition to fantasyland, and $2.00 an hour pay increase for all hourly employees. and next year will bring pandora or at least parts of it as well as the night show at animal kingdom and the night saffari. not to mention the new road work and all the work going on at disney springs and the studios. so yep this is expeccted and of course expect another big increase when star wars land and toy story get done. Yes we get lots of new experiences but the money has t ocome from somewhere. and its guests. the sad thing is that disney will either have to figure out big discount offers and packages or your average middle class family wont be coming and filling up those hotel rooms.

I think we could all understand this reasoning if it wasn't for the fact that Disney is having record profits.

 

[jlundeen]

All annual passes will be fit into the new categories even if you haven't activated it yet so you'll get whatever new option fits what you previously paid for.

Photopass kicks in at gold pass, you have the ability to download the Photopass photos. Memory maker allows you do do a bit more than just photo downloads but I don't think I would purchase memory maker if I am an AP holder because I would really only want the downloads.

So, can you explain what the difference is between the Annual Pass PhotoPass and Memory Maker?

Currently, I have a reservation for Oct where I had planned to convert my PH pass to AP after using it the first time. Will I also get credit for Memory Maker that we have as part of this package? And the PH that I have on a trip that has to be paid in full before I can convert to AP? yikes...my simple reservations just got real complicated!

 

[pangyal]

All annual passes will be fit into the new categories even if you haven't activated it yet so you'll get whatever new option fits what you previously paid for.

Photopass kicks in at gold pass, you have the ability to download the Photopass photos. Memory maker allows you do do a bit more than just photo downloads but I don't think I would purchase memory maker if I am an AP holder because I would really only want the downloads.

Actually, any passes or renewals purchased prior to October 4, if they are activated, remain under the terms they were purchased at. So, if you bought a regular or DVC annual pass before October 3 and activated it, your pass will be grandfathered in with regards to benefits. No blackout periods, no Photopass inclusions, just straight unlimited theme park admission for a year.

 

[skier_pete]

hmmm...mixed feelings on this one. the rate of course no-one likes the prices going up! But until Disney sees a serious downtick in attendance, I see nothing but rate hikes ahead.

I actually like the "black-out" dates structure, but I don't really like that the lower ones (Gold and Silver) aren't available for everyone. At least as a DVC member, I am eligible for the gold one, which would likely be our choice if we were going to ever get an AP. However, even a silver one would work for us, and too bad DVC isn't allowed to purchase it. I doubt I would ever bother with the Platinum Premium at this point. we like the water parks, but at an almost $200 price difference between the gold pass, we would just pay for the WP once or twice a year. I'm assuming that the DVC discount on APs disappears completely.

Since we only went once this year, probably once next year, and then likely not at all in 2017, an AP at earliest would apply to us in 2018, so who knows what changes will come between now and then.

The TIW clearly a move to dissuade people from buying it. If you are a local who goes frequently, it's probably still worth it. We've never gone enough to see the value, so it makes little difference to me.

 

[Spacedog1975]

So to clarify, photo pass won't activate on my AP until next renewal, correct?

 

[rteetz]

So, can you explain what the difference is between the Annual Pass PhotoPass and Memory Maker?

Currently, I have a reservation for Oct where I had planned to convert my PH pass to AP after using it the first time. Will I also get credit for Memory Maker that we have as part of this package? And the PH that I have on a trip that has to be paid in full before I can convert to AP? yikes...my simple reservations just got real complicated!

Memory maker includes photopass downloads, attraction photos, magic shots, select dining photos, and then stock Disney photos.

I believe the AP only includes the photopass downloads and attraction photos as far as I know but I don't know for sure.

 

[rteetz]

Rivers of light construction update

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...ht-construction-at-disneys-animal-kingdom.htm

 

[rteetz]

Celebration Buttons now available at all magic kingdom stores

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/10/celebration-buttons-available-in-magic.html

 

[rteetz]

Avatar construction

http://www.negative-g.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5188

 

[wareagle57]

Memory maker includes photopass downloads, attraction photos, magic shots, select dining photos, and then stock Disney photos.

I believe the AP only includes the photopass downloads and attraction photos as far as I know but I don't know for sure.

I'm having trouble finding a definitive answer on this as well. As long as it includes ride photos I'll be happy. But I'd still be bummed that as an AP holder I'd be denied the Magic Shots. I have thought AP holders deserved some type of Memory Maker deal, so it's nice that they are including it...but the increase is almost as much a MM would have been anyway.

 

[Reddog1134]

Well considering that rumors have been Disney wants to do away with the card I don't know if that will happen.

That's the way you do it. Increase the price until it's no longer desirable. Then discontinue it because "Nobody was buying it".

 

[linzbear]

I'm having trouble finding a definitive answer on this as well. As long as it includes ride photos I'll be happy. But I'd still be bummed that as an AP holder I'd be denied the Magic Shots. I have thought AP holders deserved some type of Memory Maker deal, so it's nice that they are including it...but the increase is almost as much a MM would have been anyway.

It was confirmed on the theme parks forum by someone who has it that there is no difference between MM and AP photopass except that MM expires in 30 days and AP photopass in 365 days. So the AP version is better.

 

[wareagle57]

It was confirmed on the theme parks forum by someone who has it that there is no difference between MM and AP photopass except that MM expires in 30 days and AP photopass in 365 days. So the AP version is better.

I'd still rather have the lower prices back, but this is at least slightly good news. It will be nice not having to worry about getting the pictures downloaded immediately.

 

[rteetz]

Martin over at wdwmagic put together a map of how the work at DHS should go if it goes how it's currently planned.

View attachment 127020

Green- phase one (toy story)
Red- phase two (Star Wars)
Yellow- phase three
Blue- phase four
Orange- various enhancements and changes
Purple/pink- infrastructure/ parking garages

Surprised people haven't talked about this more.

 

[Reddog1134]

Surprised people haven't talked about this more.

Ok, I'll bite.

So, if Star Wars is taking over the Indiana Jones area and part of the parking lot. Then why are they shutting down the Osbourne lights so soon? Obviously SOMETHING new is going there but with Toy Story and SW being Phase 1 and 2, it seems like a long way off.