Just to be up-front about this - as an AP holder I'm not at all happy about the price increase. Fortunately as a FL resident I can seriously consider a "lesser" AP when I renew as I'm not sure I want to be in the parks on the block out dates that the lower categories carry. Decision to be made on December 8 when our current AP expires.
Further, as a Disney stockholder I support their efforts to maintain and grow earnings. Theme Park earnings are only about 1/3rd of the total Disney company (varies from year to year based on hit movies, attendance, TV rights, phase of the moon, etc) so no, not all of this is simply to make more money for Disney. Its to maintain the relative profitability of that segment of the company. Stock prices will reflect the results of the combined company and the stockholder's perception of which way future earnings will go.
Personally, as a DVC member, I think what they've done to us as a group is absurd. Black out dates or pay almost $200 more? Not right. DVC is the constituent that pays the most. We shouldn't be penalized here.
Respectfully disagree Nikki. When I bought DVC I did so knowing that the only benefits I was entitled to are those stated in the sales documents. Basically, I was buying a room at WDW for the next 45 years. DVC does not have to offer us anything beyond that. They aren't penalizing us, they are just offering something extra that isn't quite as generous as before. Perhaps this is a glass half-full/half-empty kind of thing. Or maybe the glass is just the wrong size.
I hate to say this but I've come to believe that the single biggest problem at Disney World today is overcrowding. It is the source of many of the problems that we all complain about. Other than closing the gates, there is a limited amount that Disney can do to address this. Maybe hiking prices and adding blackout dates is part of an attempt to address the crowd issue. That allows them to keep income steady with fewer guests.
I'd be curious to hear what others think about that possibly being the motive here.
Since you asked, no I don't think overcrowding is the motivation at all. "Overcrowding" is in the eye of the beholder. One of the things the whole MB/FP+ thing was sold on is the ability to spread loads out through the day. Before FP+, hitting a major attraction at park opening will feel crowded. Hitting a lesser attraction at park opening will feel empty. Now add FP+ to the mix and the crowds flow more evenly.
Holy cow. $600 more Jackie?! That's insane
Just to be clear, that's $150/person. Yes, for 4 people it adds to $600. But $600 makes a better headline, doesn't it. Imagine if she had a family of 10. No, I'm not saying anything negative about Jackie, or your post. Just trying to bring some perspective here.
I would like to know how much the increase is for each podcaster and podcaster families.
I would also like to hear from them what they would purchase if an Ap was not a work requirement. Meaning if they were not employed where they had to get an ap, as locals . What would they purchase and why?
Its easy enough to calculate for yourself. I don't think the DIS owes us any accounting of how much they pay, or do not pay, each of the podcasters for expenses in the course of their jobs. Perhaps if they weren't employed and had to get an AP themselves they wouldn't even go to WDW. Or maybe they would. I know several of them very well. Some would still be in the parks nearly every day. Others find the whole getting to the parks thing a bit of a hassle and go only for special occasions. So obviously, the answer would vary for each of them. The question is, does that affect your decision?
I would guess that the podteam's APs are paid by the DIS as a business expense of the company which can be written of by the company (again, a guess). But it would be interesting to hear more real-life numbers from the perspective of a Florida resident not subsidized for business reasons.
OK, I'm a FL resident and currently live 2 miles from the Castle. I own DVC and also have the AP. I'm retired and can go to the parks any time I want to, but I do still have to juggle the realities of life and other obligations. This new program would cost me something like an extra $100/year. I really need to look at the numbers closer and evaluate the block out dates. I'm currently thinking that I can go for a "lesser" AP since we don't really care to be in the parks in the hottest part of the summer. Still haven't made the decision yet as our AP's expire in early December.