Annual pass changes coming........

[asbyrneva]

So for us this actually saves us a little. We go twice a year and get MM. The increase in cost for the 3 of us renewal between old renewal price and new is $243 two memory makers are over $300 (1 for each of the 2 trips). I know we arent typical AP holders but for us this works out. (As long as the photopass downloads are the equivalent of Memory maker).

 

[boBQuincy]

We just purchased DVC AP vouchers online for our trip in December. Adding PhotoPass for $20 seems like a decent deal and we would probably never go during the blackout dates anyway because of the crowd levels. Still, the sudden BIG price increase for most people looks like a bad deal. I guess WDW management has a plan...

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'll stick with the separately purchased Memory Maker + our current APs, which expire in December.

At $335, our Universal APs look more and more attractive.

 

[katallo]

We have APs which expire in march. We planned on renewing but this will definitely influence our decision. I wish Disney would consider the guests who have visited for over 40 years and create an offer for them. This is regarding the " photo pass program". We love Disney but honestly do not need to pay an extra 85.00 to upgrade for that. We have so many photos that this doesn't interest us anymore. Their complimentary extras are hardly complimentary.

 

[Happy_2_B]

Why 10%?

Depends on how you do the math. 1500 for food + 150 for TiW = 1650 total spend. $300.00 savings in food divided into 1650 total spend is 18%- unless I am really bad at math - which is probably the case.

 

[bcrook]

So for us this actually saves us a little. We go twice a year and get MM. The increase in cost for the 3 of us renewal between old renewal price and new is $243 two memory makers are over $300 (1 for each of the 2 trips). I know we arent typical AP holders but for us this works out. (As long as the photopass downloads are the equivalent of Memory maker).

But you no longer have the opportunity to opt out of the memory maker and save $300.00 to pay for something else. The value of memory maker decreases with more trips because of the over exposure to the product.

 

[ashleyrm]

Just wanted to give an update. I am in the park today. My AP expires next April. It cost me $101 to upgrade. I got all my photo pass photos we have already made. They said I was the first person to do it today! I have 2 more trips planned so good deal for me![/QUOTE

I guess I don't understand why this is a good deal.

 

[SparklePixie]

Here is my Comparison Chart of old/new WDW Passes Prices/Benefits I posted on other forums last night (DIS was down):



Sources:
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/ticket-tour/walt-disney-world-pass/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/passholder-program/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...enefits/WDW-AnnualPass-Blockout-Calendars.pdf
https://shop.omniticket.com/wdw/renewal/index.cfm

Thank you for the chart. So the people that have the most invested in Disney (locals and DVC members) are the ones getting screwed in the price hikes.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I'm actually really excited about the new AP photopass benefit, and don't mind paying for it. My only issue would be them not pro-rating the price difference for current AP holders who want to bridge over to receive the new benefits. I don't mind a surcharge at all, but I feel like we should only pay for the months we will be able to use it, not months that happened before the new feature.

 

[DisDadDVC]

I'm actually really excited about the new AP photopass benefit, and don't mind paying for it. My only issue would be them not pro-rating the price difference for current AP holders who want to bridge over to receive the new benefits. I don't mind a surcharge at all, but I feel like we should only pay for the months we will be able to use it, not months that happened before the new feature.

But I don't think they do that for any other upgrades now, do they? If you have an annual pass, and want to upgrade to premium annual pass, you pay the full difference in price, right?

 

[ArtieMcD]

$1500.00 * .20 = $300.00
300.00 - $150.00 (TIW cost) = $150.00 savings.

$150.00/$1500.00 = true discount 10%.

And depending on the restaurant and/or whether you purchased alcohol.. That 10% true discount might actually be 0%. IE, a person who gets TIW for $150 is by definition a DVC member, or a passholder who already gets a 10% discount on many of the restaurants in TIW.

 

[hamilkm]

I was planning on buying memory maker for our 8 day trip in March which is $170. Then I had about $50 worth of Halloween party photos from this trip that I was planning on buying because theirs were much better than mine. $100 dollars versus $220 seemed like a good deal to me. Plus we are coming to a Christmas party in December and won't have to bother with a camera.

 

[lovethattink]

Has anyone tried to upgrade at the parks today to the new Platinum AP from an AP? I bought my son a new FL res adult AP on 9/25. I called to see if I can change it to the platinum and the cm I talked to said, "yes, at a park."

 

[asbyrneva]

But you no longer have the opportunity to opt out of the memory maker and save $300.00 to pay for something else. The value of memory maker decreases with more trips because of the over exposure to the product.

True, but I don't opt out and I have consistently purchased some photo package for the 6 years we have been going. Like I said we probably aren't the typical AP holders. I totally understand that this would be rare, just that for a few of us it may be break even or a little better depending on individual situations. (parking for some where it wasnt included or Memory maker). But I do get that it may not be a perk for most AP holders.

 

[bcrook]

Depends on how you do the math. 1500 for food + 150 for TiW = 1650 total spend. $300.00 savings in food divided into 1650 total spend is 18%- unless I am really bad at math - which is probably the case.

So at $750.00. I would save $150. The cost of TIW. That would be a break even no gain.

But using your math. It would be a $150 savings / $950.00 cost = 16% savings.

Or if I only spend $400. And save $80.00. $80/$550 = 15% savings. Woohoo! I can spend $150.00 save $80.00 and still come out ahead.

That is Disney math!

 

[losfp]

I wonder how this affects prepaid passes. Because we're coming from overseas and we've been planning it for a long time, I have been buying passes etc as we can afford them. So I have a prepaid premium annual pass, a prepaid memory maker and a prepaid photopassplus for Disneyland. I was going to upgrade the PAP to a premier passport while in Orlando so I can get into Disneyland as well, but now I'm not sure what the deal is with all the prepaid things. It's just a single passport for myself, my wife and older daughter have 10 day WDW passes and 10 day Disneyland Vacation passes, with just me on the annual pass to get discounts. If the extra cost to upgrade to the new premier passport is going to wipe out any potential savings we would make on food and merchandise, and if they don't allow refunds on the photo passes to offset the loss, then I don't know what I'll do.

I shot off an email to the mouse.. Let's see what happens. Just what I need 10 days out from our departure

 

[dkrauss]

GREED

Bill

Isn't this American capitalism? Isn't "for lack of a better word.....GREED is good?". How many folks do you think Disney will lose because of this? It's dis-heartening to me.........but it won't stop me. Look at all the posts on how Sept is no longer a slow season.............look at the capacity of the resorts.......approaching 90%. More folks are going to WDW then ever before! Until that number begins to decline..........in a big way...........this is how things will go. Now America is a free country.........so we always have a choice.........to not go. BTW..........gotta pay for all those changes in HS

Doug

 

[bcrook]

And depending on the restaurant and/or whether you purchased alcohol.. That 10% true discount might actually be 0%. IE, a person who gets TIW for $150 is by definition a DVC member, or a passholder who already gets a 10% discount on many of the restaurants in TIW.

Yes. Lots of restaurants offer 10%. TIW no longer makes sense for me.

 

[RachaelA]

So once I activate my vouchers does that lock in the 'gate' price like it used to? And then I can just pay the $20 or whatever to upgrade (downgrade) my DVC Ap? My vouchers are pre Feb price increase so I don't want to lose that savings.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

So for us this actually saves us a little. We go twice a year and get MM. The increase in cost for the 3 of us renewal between old renewal price and new is $243 two memory makers are over $300 (1 for each of the 2 trips). I know we arent typical AP holders but for us this works out. (As long as the photopass downloads are the equivalent of Memory maker).

The DVC Seasonal AP saves also saves us a little of money. I don't like the blackout dates, but we normally wouldn't go during those times anyway & we love the Memory Maker. It might be hard to switch resorts at 7 months during certain times if the year.