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

[Cappy Wynne]

How do you get that?

When I bought my pass last Oct it was $1044 (or close to that and I can't remember if that included tax). The price now is $1439.

 

[jimandami]

The math is $300-$150=$150 savings/$1500 purchase = 10% , but I get your point . Obviously, if you spend more, on multiple trips (which is the only way TIW every makes sense IMO), you save more, e.g. assuming $2,500/wk. (2 sit downs a day for family of 4 with 2 kids) @ 2 weeks = 17%; @3 weeks = 18%

FYI, 57 out of 102 (56%) of the restaurants that accept a TIW do no accept any other discounts per mouseperks.com.

And remember that no other discount is good for alcoholic beverages so that makes a pretty big difference if you like to have a few cocktails with dinner (or lunch...or breakfast )!

 

[AngiTN]

That's still gonna be tough for two people. DW and I are in the same situation. Between dinner and drinks we would offset the $75 cost after the 5th or 6th meal. MK was tough since we didn't get drinks (obviously). As long as we went to Disney twice a year that second trip we were in the green and it was worth it. Now we will just be breaking even, maybe saving a few bucks if we are lucky. Not worth it anymore IMO.

Oh, it's not just the 2 of us, most trips. Just we are the only ones that drink, which I think is where the savings jump

 

[MandM22]

You will get the DVC non premium unless you pay to upgrade to Gold or Platinum.

??? Someone posted a chart and the DVC non premium equaled a platinum. The Gold was a lower level ticket. The DVC Premium equaled a Platinum Plus. I'm still totally confused.

 

[SarahInMN]

Sorry for the confusion on my part.... I've read thru and am still a little confused. We have a DVC non premium voucher in hand. When we activate in December what will we get? Gold or Platinum? Thanks for any help... I really appreciate the info...

I'm confused on this as well - we've already purchased the memory maker and the 2 DVC AP vouchers. I'm going to be ticked if we have to upgrade to one of the new APs and then it turns out I didn't need the memory maker. I'd rather keep my DVC non premium voucher (no blackout dates) and my memory maker for vs being forced to upgrade and then having to argue with Disney to get the memory maker that I bought previously refunded.

You will get the DVC non premium unless you pay to upgrade to Gold or Platinum.

Has anyone gotten confirmation of this? I've tried to call DVC MS and the hold was over 30 minutes, so I gave up.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, we won't be purchasing the TiW anymore. Our particular family will not get our money's worth, might not even break even considering one week we always go to Disney is Easter week and it was a blackout and I'm assuming still is. We don't buy alcohol at restaurants either. I think the 10% AP discount will work just fine for us.

Blockouts in general... Easter Sunday yes.

Longer blockouts: March 6-27 next year for a short list of restaurants. Are those the only ones you were planning on? If it doesn't work it doesn't work, but I hope you've actually run the numbers.

I also hope the restaurants you're going to have the ap discount for the meals you're having there.

General Block-out dates for Tables in Wonderland are Mother’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Tables in Wonderland is valid for one year from date of purchase.

*Additional Block-out dates: These select locations are subject to the following block-out dates, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey’s, ‘Ohana (Dinner Only), Cinderella’s Royal Table, LeChefs de France, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, and Le Cellier Steakhouse: November 22-28, 2015 and December 20-26, 2015; March 6-27, 2016; May 29- June 18, 2016; November 13-27, 2016; December 19-25, 2016

 

[mieuxmew]

Looks like the price difference between the regular platinum AP and the platinum plus AP is now only $80+tax. I think it was previously $110 more. I guess Disney has reduced the price to account for Disney Quest being closed. I wish I had know this before I made the decision 2 weeks ago about AP renewals and buying tickets for our upcoming trip.

 

[mieuxmew]

Received this email from Disney just now. Not very helpful.

Thank you for being a Walt Disney World® Passholder!

Today we are introducing a new portfolio of Passes that has been designed to offer a wider variety of options and entitlements to best fit the needs of our Passholders. As a valued Guest and frequent visitor to Walt Disney World Resort, we want you to be among the first to know about these program enhancements.

Rest assured that your current Pass has not changed and your existing benefits will remain valid through your Pass's expiration date. When it is time for you to renew, you will have a new set of Pass options that offer great flexibility and value to enjoy our Walt Disney World Theme Parks, and even some new benefits!

Please remember, your current Pass has not changed and your existing benefits remain valid through your Pass's expiration date. And because you're an existing Passholder, when your Pass does expire, you will be able to purchase any of these new Pass options at a special Passholder renewal rate – of up to 15% savings†!

The upcoming year will be an exciting one at Walt Disney World Resort, with new Star Wars™ experiences at Disney's Hollywood Studios® and new nighttime entertainment debuting at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park this spring. We sincerely hope you are enjoying your current experience, and will continue to join us for another year as a valued Walt Disney World Passholder.

Sincerely,
Your Walt Disney World Passholder Program Friends

 

[xApril]

I am confused. I have the normal annual pass right now. Am I forced to switch it over or what? I'm going to the park this weekend and need to figure out what I have to do beforehand.

 

[DebbieB]

You will get the DVC non premium unless you pay to upgrade to Gold or Platinum.

The DVC with blackout dates is gold. No blackout dates is Platinum. If I purchased a voucher for an AP without blackout dates, I should get that. Shouldn't have to pay more. Doesn't really matter for me because I'm going in early Dec.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Received this email from Disney just now. Not very helpful.

Thank you for being a Walt Disney World® Passholder!

Today we are introducing a new portfolio of Passes that has been designed to offer a wider variety of options and entitlements to best fit the needs of our Passholders. As a valued Guest and frequent visitor to Walt Disney World Resort, we want you to be among the first to know about these program enhancements.

Rest assured that your current Pass has not changed and your existing benefits will remain valid through your Pass's expiration date. When it is time for you to renew, you will have a new set of Pass options that offer great flexibility and value to enjoy our Walt Disney World Theme Parks, and even some new benefits!

Please remember, your current Pass has not changed and your existing benefits remain valid through your Pass's expiration date. And because you're an existing Passholder, when your Pass does expire, you will be able to purchase any of these new Pass options at a special Passholder renewal rate – of up to 15% savings†!

The upcoming year will be an exciting one at Walt Disney World Resort, with new Star Wars™ experiences at Disney's Hollywood Studios® and new nighttime entertainment debuting at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park this spring. We sincerely hope you are enjoying your current experience, and will continue to join us for another year as a valued Walt Disney World Passholder.

Sincerely,
Your Walt Disney World Passholder Program Friends

How is that not helpful. It's from your "friends" and they're letting you know they'll wait till next year to completely hose you.

 

[MandM22]

The DVC with blackout dates is gold. No blackout dates is Platinum. If I purchased a voucher for an AP without blackout dates, I should get that. Shouldn't have to pay more. Doesn't really matter for me because I'm going in early Dec.

I agree 100% ... The voucher I have was bought with no blackout dates. We should get Platinum.

 

[khertz]

I will be interested to see if you are still able to share photo pass benefits with family and friends as an AP holder. We are going on a trip in a couple weeks and planning to upgrade our 5 day park hoppers to regular (I guess now "Platinum") APs because we are going again in February with extended family. For that trip we were going to purchase MM and split the cost between families.

Also, I'm curious about the wording as it just says "Photopass". Does that mean it won't include the MM benefits of ride & meal photos?

 

[joelkfla]

The $3 jump in parking is paying for the new DTD name change signs

No, those are handled by Reedy Creek. It's probably for the expanded MK and DHS parking (rumored possible garage at DHS), and the increased minimum wage for parking cast.

 

[Tiffany]

My husband and I just renewed our FL Resident APs on Sept 1st so thankfully we do not have deal with this change until Sept 2016. It does appear to be a $100 pre tax increase on renewals. $449 plus tax for our renewal on 09/01 and right now it would be $549 for the Disney Platinum Plass and all we get is the photopass perk. 22% increase. It still makes sense for us as we like to come and go as we please from the parks and we are only 20mins from our house to the MK Parking Lot. As long as the monthly payments for the two of us stay at less than $100 we are in. Disney is just trying to "find the ceiling" on all of their products.

 

[hamilkm]

I will be interested to see if you are still able to share photo pass benefits with family and friends as an AP holder. We are going on a trip in a couple weeks and planning to upgrade our 5 day park hoppers to regular (I guess now "Platinum") APs because we are going again in February with extended family. For that trip we were going to purchase MM and split the cost between families.

Also, I'm curious about the wording as it just says "Photopass". Does that mean it won't include the MM benefits of ride & meal photos?

Don't know about meals but I upgraded today and my ride photos are definitely included. Also my mom who did not upgrade had scanned her band at a couple of our photo pass stops earlier in the week and I was able to download those with no problem as well. She has her own account and we are only friends.

 

[han22735]

Im happy for the added photo pass feature. As dvc members the $20 difference is worth the benefits. We don't travel during the blackout dates so that won't affect us. The TiW change will stop us from buying when our current one runs out.

 

[RachaelA]

If some is able to upgrade one pass for the photo benefit, but doesn't have to upgrade the rest please report back.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

so pretty much disney wants to make current annual passholders to pay an extra 120 or so to be able to go to the park during christmas and easter

 

[slykrab]

Existing passes/certificates haven't changed. So no changes for you until Sept 2016. In Sept 2016 you will have no choice - your renewal will be one of the new passes.

Okay thanks! We are planning to go 12/19-20 this year and I was hoping I wouldn't get blocked out without my knowledge.