Am I the only who thinks Disney / DVC is screwing us on Annual Passes?

[tjkraz]

Any intelligent business person knows when a deal is good it's being offered and benefits everyone. A bad offer has restrictions and is only good for some and not others.

Yeah, I'm going to go the other direction on this. An intelligent businessperson introduces promotions which will best support the health of the business.

Car manufacturers don't offer special financing and cash back offers on their entire roster of vehicles. They make such offers for the models which are not selling well.

Apple doesn't discount every iPhone or iPad...they discount last year's model while charging full price for the latest-and-greatest.

When a fast food restaurant introduces a new sandwich, they may offer a BOGO in order to entice customers to try the new item. But it doesn't apply to the entire menu.

Therefore in my opinion it's a bad offer because not everyone can take advantage of it.

Every Disney Vacation Club member is eligible to participate. If the terms and conditions happen to not fit your travel plans, that's your problem. Alter your plans or wait for the next offer.

I run a multi million business and offers we put out apply to every and all customers. We never restrict them and quite frankly our business is growing at record paces.

Would love to read some examples. If true--if your offers really do apply to all clients and all products equally with no restrictions or limitations--it places you squarely in the minority among your peers.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the company that runs the most profitable theme parks on the planet might actually know what they are doing when it comes to gate integrity and pricing.

 

[Dean]

Tagsmissy I appreciate the post and we are definitely going to have to agree to disagree. Any intelligent business person knows when a deal is good it's being offered and benefits everyone. A bad offer has restrictions and is only good for some and not others.

Therefore in my opinion it's a bad offer because not everyone can take advantage of it. I run a multi million business and offers we put out apply to every and all customers. We never restrict them and quite frankly our business is growing at record paces.

Thanks all

I don't believe there's a company in business that puts out meaningful promotions and discounts that doesn't ever limit them. Basically by definition they'd have to either be of little value or limited in some way by time or group or applicable item. Otherwise the item/service was overpriced and the offer simply brought the price down to normal, a practice I find offensive but happens not uncommonly. Business's don't give away things for no reason, they do so in anticipation of larger profits long term. In Disney's case it's getting people to go that might not as much (locals), getting people in the habit of eating out (DP, Free Dining), getting people to go at times not as busy (room discounts) and similar. I've seen people post that they wouldn't do business with a company that didn't treat everyone the same which essentially limits you to not doing business with anyone. It's inappropriate to feel entitled to such discounts, IMO.

 

[Sur]

Instead of carefully budgeting days, I can go for an evening of EPCOT shopping... *quivers*

Heard there's some nice baby stuff there!!!

 

[Sammie]

Unless DVC prevents me from what I actually paid for per my POS and sale agreement with them, I am never unhappy with their offers.

Neither of the PAP offers worked for us, but that is fine and I am glad it did for others.

Obviously based on many comments lately on the DIS, unless it personally benefits a particular person, they are not pleased.

Has to be hard for a company with millions of guests to be able to accomplish that, pleasing everyone. I would guess it would be impossible.

 

[DebbieB]

The offer gives you just short of a year to activate it. Start buying 2/6/14, activate by 1/31/15. I don't see where that is unreasonable. Now if they said you had to activate by 4/30/14, I would say that is too restrictive. But I wouldn't say members are being "screwed".

 

[nicki.momof3]

Can the experts on this please make sure I understand this correctly before I spend $2500. My kids love the water parks, golf, and Disney quest so we would love the PAP.

We are going to WDW DVC for two trips:
12/28/14-1/4/15
and
4/5/15-4/12/15

We do not currently have have any passes so I need to get them. If I purchase the promotional PAP by April 2014, I can wait to activate it until Dec. 28, 2014 when we arrive and it will be good until Dec. 27, 2015.

Correct?

 

[tjkraz]

We do not currently have have any passes so I need to get them. If I purchase the promotional PAP by April 2014, I can wait to activate it until Dec. 28, 2014 when we arrive and it will be good until Dec. 27, 2015.

Correct?

Correct.

(Actually the passes should be good from Dec 28, 2014 through Dec 28, 2015.)

 

[Cricket2]

Uh, so the regular pass prices are up and available but the "sale" isn't showing. What's up with that?

 

[Disneycouple99]

Uh, so the regular pass prices are up and available but the "sale" isn't showing. What's up with that?

The PAP price is showing up now.

 

[NoleFan]

The DVC discount is the same price as the pap fl resident renewal rate. I currently have a pap that is up for renewal. I am going to downgrade to a fl resident seasonal pass. I don't see the savings. Also, DVC discounts seem mostly in line with annual pass discounts at least for the most part. I don't see DVC going above & beyond with member perks. Not saying they should or should not but rather stating the facts

 

[Anal Annie]

Personally I too feel like they're limiting when there's little point to it. Fine - limit the length of time it's available for purchase but the activation limitations are a negative to the offers. It's over complicating things and is creating ill-will for some members that really isn't necessary.

+1

We are unable to take advantage of both last years offer and this one due to the timing. I won't go so far as to say I feel screwed but I am definitely BUMMED about the timing. LAST year we were planning to go to DL and Aulani so we didn't buy them. Then at the last min. our DS had a medical emergency and we had to cancel that trip (he couldn't fly) - so we drove to FL instead and then ended up paying the higher rate for reg. AP's (and then bcuz it was August and hot and we didn't have the PAP we had to pay add'l out of pocket for 1 day of water park - which we would've gone more than 1 day if we'd had the PAP). We didn't go ahead & buy the PAP because of the cost as the trip was last minute just so we wouldn't lose our points from canceling the other trip.

We JUST got back from our 2nd trip on those AP's. They're good until August BUT we're re-planning the DL and Aulani trip for this summer - so no more trips on those passes and now we'll have to re-buy the DL passes again. I was excited to see they included a deal on the pass that is good on both coasts this time BUT the price for that pass is still WAY too high to be worth it. We're only spending 3 days in CA. We would need to be spending closer to a week there for that pass to be worthwhile. I am SURE we'll be going to WDW sometime in 2015 but I guess we will just have to hope that they offer another deal NEXT winter that maybe we can take advantage of. In the meantime…CHA CHING!! Disney will make their bottom line off of us this go around.

 

[Cricket2]

I still don't see the new pricing.

 

[erionm]

I still don't see the new pricing.

The only place is see the pricing is here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/

Also, the member pricing at above link will only show up if your MDX profile is linked to your DVC Profile.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Excellent!

I understand being disappointed when you can't get your dates to line up with the special offers. That happened to us last time. We had active APs, we didn't have another trip during the time we could have activated the discounted passes, and there was really no way to work it so we could take advantage of the offer. In June '13 we ended up buying 2 day base tickets to finish up our trip because we didn't have another trip until June '14. Those stupid 2 day passes were expensive. This time it works out 100% in our favor - it is PERFECT. I would have been upset if it didn't work for us this time, but it is what it is. I would have just purchased the plain APs.

 

[Sur]

we're re-planning the DL and Aulani trip for this summer.

please do a trip report!

I would say we just didn't plan too well, going to DL again...could've got an AP and saved a little (but not much, so no biggie).

 

[Mousewerks]

The only place is see the pricing is here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/

Also, the member pricing at above link will only show up if your MDX profile is linked to your DVC Profile.

If you go there and you're not seeing the special pricing, click on the blue link at the top of the list of passes. That brings up a pop-up where you have to click on Disney Vacation Club Members and sign in. Once you've signed in there, the member prices show up. Note that this is _in addition_ to signing in to MDX.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I would consider calling and seeing if there is a way to do this-- I see this language:

"Please call Member Services at (800) *********† to find out more.

Even if you've already purchased one, you can still take advantage of these limited-time savings. Purchase before April 30, 2014, and you can activate your new Pass or Passport when your old one expires."

Those who think your timing is off, you may want to give them a ring and check.

 

[keishashadow]

while it's been referenced on thes boards that this promo requires activation by a specific date (and I do recall reading of same sort of requirement with the last promo), I didn't see any such verbage on either the WDW or MS site.

Possible I didn't dig quite deep enough or it only shows up on final payment screen. I can't recall seeing an use by date referenced when I purchased the discounted APs last time, doesn't mean it wasn't there lol. However, imo any use-by date should be referenced in initial description to avoid confusion.

The only place is see the pricing is here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/

Also, the member pricing at above link will only show up if your MDX profile is linked to your DVC Profile.

I would consider calling and seeing if there is a way to do this-- I see this language:

"Please call Member Services at (800) *********† to find out more.

Even if you've already purchased one, you can still take advantage of these limited-time savings. Purchase before April 30, 2014, and you can activate your new Pass or Passport when your old one expires."

Those who think your timing is off, you may want to give them a ring and check.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

while it's been referenced on thes boards that this promo requires activation by a specific date (and I do recall reading of same sort of requirement with the last promo), I didn't see any such verbage on either the WDW or MS site.

Possible I didn't dig quite deep enough or it only shows up on final payment screen. I can't recall seeing an use by date referenced when I purchased the discounted APs last time, doesn't mean it wasn't there lol. However, imo any use-by date should be referenced in initial description to avoid confusion.

Exactly, Keishashadow... and it is also possible there was that language and that it was removed when they realized the issue/after complaints.

 

[keishashadow]

Exactly, Keishashadow... and it is also possible there was that language and that it was removed when they realized the issue/after complaints.

has anybody purchased on-line today via WDW site and had a pop up appear that required them to agree to a use by date?