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

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I have a plastic card which I received in the mail. It tells me to take the card to guest services to activate my AP

Good for you. I can't guarantee for sure which level you will redeem as DVC (if I had to guess, perhaps gold, not for sure though) but I do think the sooner you activate it at the window, the better. Probably early to mid Nov should hopefully be early enough? (I did hear of a FL RES who bought an AP cert online, took it to the window, and it automatically processed Gold. DVC and FLR are pretty close, so that's why I think it's probably going to be gold, but I don't know for sure.)

 

[jtowntoflorida]

The price increase is only $107 for the regular annual pass. Memory Maker is $160 if bought ahead of time. Memory maker runs out in a month, you get to download all your photo pass photos all year with the new pass rules. I think this change is wonderful and very much worth while.

It's much more palatable for a single person. Even with two adults it's more justifiable. But for an average family of four, with two children, who travel together, they're now paying $428 for Memory Maker. Doesn't seem like that good of a deal for them.

 

[MrInfinity]

From 2009 to 2014 (5 years) DisneyWorld attendance is up a total of 9.37%
From 2009 to 2014 (5 years) Universal Orlando attendance is up a total of 38.15%
(source wikipedia List of amusement park rankings)

Universal's attendance in 2009 was abysmal, at around 5.5M and 5M at their two parks. Disney, meanwhile, was at 17M MK, 11M Epcot, and 9M at HS and AK.

Universal: 10.5M plus 38% is around 4M extra guests.
Disney World: 46M plus 9% is around 4M extra guests.

If it were not for Harry Potter, Universal would be left in the dust. I hope they do continue this and they find a 2nd bit of IP to pull guests to their parks, cuz the one feature alone will not carry them forever. All Universal did was fill in relatively deserted parks with a showing that still leaves them far behind. Meanwhile Disney was packed to the walls in 2009 and still managed to fit in as many new guests as Universal did.

 

[rfc0001]

Good for you. I can't guarantee for sure which level you will redeem as DVC (if I had to guess, perhaps gold, not for sure though) but I do think the sooner you activate it at the window, the better. Probably early to mid Nov should hopefully be early enough? (I did hear of a FL RES who bought an AP cert online, took it to the window, and it automatically processed Gold. DVC and FLR are pretty close, so that's why I think it's probably going to be gold, but I don't know for sure.)

According to a CM in ticketing, who has posted above, they are issuing Platinum APs for AP certificate holders.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

According to a CM in ticketing, who has posted above, they are issuing Platinum APs for AP certificate holders.

Are they DVC or FL RES? This poster is DVC.

I do believe that Tourist APs purchased would slide into the lateral new program of Platinum. I'm not just sure that applies to DVC or FL RES current pricing (which are the same.)

 

[AngiTN]

The difference from child to adult ticket is about $6, I think. So they assume that an annual ticket has already met that discount for use, basically. There are no child discounts on annual passes.

Right, not any more but they used to have Child AP rates. Had they increased the AP but then added back in a Child AP, with a lower rate, maybe it would be easier to stomach the adult AP price increase. That's all I was saying.

 

[Amy Stepp]

It's much more palatable for a single person. Even with two adults it's more justifiable. But for an average family of four, with two children, who travel together, they're now paying $428 for Memory Maker. Doesn't seem like that good of a deal for them.

If you have an annual pass I would think you go at least 3 times in a year. $160x3 = $480. I do not have kids. I go with my husband, mom, and sister. Everytime I go I get Memory Maker. Everyone I know gets Memory Maker. I would think a family who goes with children would def want memory maker. So if you go at least 3 trips you are still saving money. Yes, it sucks to pay it in one lump sum, but it still works out to your benefit.

 

[rfc0001]

I posted on another forum posts, to my knowledge, how the new programs effect current/new and renewals.
Renew online ASAP. Get that certificate.

It's a little late now You have to pay the new renewal rate starting yesterday -- $100pp more for Platinum or $17pp more for Gold.

I just inquired this morning about selling my DVC contracts.

I'll gladly take them off your hand for what you paid for them

It's time for another round of my favorite game!

Priceless...stealing

 

[AngiTN]

Universal's attendance in 2009 was abysmal, at around 5.5M and 5M at their two parks. Disney, meanwhile, was at 17M MK, 11M Epcot, and 9M at HS and AK.

Universal: 10.5M plus 38% is around 4M extra guests.
Disney World: 46M plus 9% is around 4M extra guests.

If it were not for Harry Potter, Universal would be left in the dust. I hope they do continue this and they find a 2nd bit of IP to pull guests to their parks, cuz the one feature alone will not carry them forever. All Universal did was fill in relatively deserted parks with a showing that still leaves them far behind. Meanwhile Disney was packed to the walls in 2009 and still managed to fit in as many new guests as Universal did.

I know we went to Universal on New Years Eve back in what, 2003 or 2004. It was barely crowded. We rode everything multiple times for the entire day. We went again in 2005, I believe and it was still not overly crowded. This was before HP opened. So far we are not returning for the simple reason DGD can't ride enough yet. Until she can ride everything it makes no sense, to us, to go there. I find it no fun to sit and wait while DH rides alone, and then ride alone while DH sits and waits with DGD. Surely we aren't alone in the height requirements holding us back from Universal

 

[eliza61]

Always interesting to see the difference of views here vs. the dvc forums.

seems here people don't mind disney surcharges.

I've decided to bail and sell my dvc.

1) I've been going for decades. I order maybe 4 pictures from my last visit. Memory makers/photopass is absolutely no value for me whatsoever.
2) one of the reason my dvc was so valuable is it allowed me to get quality rooms at great prices ANY TIME, now with the up sell on the AP that is no longer true. If it's going to blackout the dates I usually go, now making my passes worthless, why bother.
3) old and tired parks. I wouldn't mind so much if the parks were updated. Hollywood studios is basically an large parking lot with 2 rides and AK is old also. now while the new attractions have been announced, they have been rumored for more than 4 years and we've got nothing. so I'm not holding my breathe waiting for these new lands to materialize.
4) I believe this will be the first. I do believe tiered pricing on all passes will be next.

all and all, I will still visit the world for a long weekend here and there but my days of family vacations here are at an end. It has been a good run so I've got no complaints.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

It's a little late now You have to pay the new renewal rate starting yesterday -- $100pp more for Platinum or $17pp more for Gold.

Got it.

Whoever got their certs before 10/4, good for you!

Whoever got their mailings BEFORE 10/4, good for you!

Definitely hang on to ANYTHING Disney sent you.

 

[rfc0001]

Are they DVC or FL RES? This poster is DVC.

I do believe that Tourist APs purchased would slide into the lateral new program of Platinum. I'm not just sure that applies to DVC or FL RES current pricing (which are the same.)

CM confirmed standard APs and Renewal APs -- not specifically DVC

 

[MrInfinity]

Hmmm, WDW website shows a 7 day base ticket at $356 after taxes, $424 with park hopper. So are you buying your tickets from somewhere else to get them for $310?

Yeah. We committed before the price hike in what... February was it? (thus I compare to the pre-hike AP when I look at the tradeoff) And then at around 10% off due to buying offsite.

You would only have to go for two separate one week trips to make it worth it. Assuming you are out of state, A 7 day adult park hopper is $450 x 2 trips = $900. Mem maker =$160 x 2 trips = $320. $900+$320=$1220. The price of the new annual pass aka. Platinum pass = $800 after tax. You get significant savings on just 2 trips.

Well yeah, if we were to buy Park Hoppers and Memory Maker, then it's a small savings after the 2nd trip. But we wouldn't buy either. I think this is what is particularly hard to swallow for AP'ers, that they're being forced to save on buying Memory Maker to which they probably attribute $0 value.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Always interesting to see the difference of views here vs. the dvc forums.

seems here people don't mind disney surcharges.

I've decided to bail and sell my dvc.

I understand. However, with Rivers of Color and evening Safari opening soon (AK will stay open later now), a new Soarin' program, new Pandora attractions (probably 2017 realistically), along with new Bay Launch SW and a sooner Season of the Force (rumored to be in January with new fireworks) and some new anniversary parades and shows opening in the next 2-3 yrs or so, I do think the parks will be HOT HOT, but it may just take a bit to get there. Whether you feel the investment between now and then is worthwhile to you, that of course is up to you.

FYI, to me, the Gold pass is basically the same as the AP for FL RES/DVC, only that the capacity weeks (Xmas/NYE and SB) are blocked. But we get all the photos we want, and believe me, as locals, we DO scan the photos. They are HILARIOUS. We just download them. To pay $1 more per month, sacrifice an incredibly chaotic week or two, and have that, its basically the same for us. We trade three weeks for all the photos we want with all our friends to download and post or print wherever we want.

I can't compare the PlatPlus with the Premium etc because we have never had it..

 

[Disneytam]

I haven't read through this whole thread so maybe someone else has mentioned this before and I didn't see it. If every person that buys an AP now gets PP for "free" have they increased the amount of photo people that they have in the parks? I have never purchased the MM and have no interest in it but if it's being forced down my throat it better be a good service. I recall in the not so distant past a lot of talk on the shortage of photo pass photographers in the parks on the Dis boards. I know they have photo's taken on some of the rides but how about the other pictures? Now that everyone will have the PP will we all be waiting in line to get pictures taken in front of the castle for example?

 

[pangyal]

Update- I talked to a CM in ticketing who confirmed exactly what the amazingly helpful Ravenclawtrekkie had said- activated APs and renewals from October 3 and prior will continue with the same benefits as at time of purchase or renewal, so you will not suddenly be getting Photopass (or, conversely, blackout dates) and Unactivated ones from October 3rd and prior will be given Platinum passes upon arrival at the gate.

It was super easy to get a refund on the Memory Maker I'd already purchased for our December trip. It sounds like they are giving out a lot of those today!

 

[AngiTN]

I haven't read through this whole thread so maybe someone else has mentioned this before and I didn't see it. If every person that buys an AP now gets PP for "free" have they increased the amount of photo people that they have in the parks? I have never purchased the MM and have no interest in it but if it's being forced down my throat it better be a good service. I recall in the not so distant past a lot of talk on the shortage of photo pass photographers in the parks on the Dis boards. I know they have photo's taken on some of the rides but how about the other pictures? Now that everyone will have the PP will we all be waiting in line to get pictures taken in front of the castle for example?

We are folks who use MM and take a lot of photos. The only time I find a shortage of photographers is in the rain, as they can't stay out in the rain. Any other time they are everywhere. If people are not seeing them it's because they are overlooking them. In locations that are extremely popular, like down Main St or approaching the Tree of Life there are multiple photographers stacked back to back. If one has a line the next one down doesn't.

 

[JOE DELL]

I haven't read through this whole thread so maybe someone else has mentioned this before and I didn't see it. If every person that buys an AP now gets PP for "free" have they increased the amount of photo people that they have in the parks? I have never purchased the MM and have no interest in it but if it's being forced down my throat it better be a good service. I recall in the not so distant past a lot of talk on the shortage of photo pass photographers in the parks on the Dis boards. I know they have photo's taken on some of the rides but how about the other pictures? Now that everyone will have the PP will we all be waiting in line to get pictures taken in front of the castle for example?

Sorry I was wrong.

 

[eliza61]

I understand. However, with Rivers of Color and evening Safari opening soon (AK will stay open later now), a new Soarin' program, new Pandora attractions (probably 2017 realistically), along with new Bay Launch SW and a sooner Season of the Force (rumored to be in January with new fireworks) and some new anniversary parades and shows opening in the next 2-3 yrs or so, I do think the parks will be HOT HOT, but it may just take a bit to get there. Whether you feel the investment between now and then is worthwhile to you, that of course is up to you.

FYI, to me, the Gold pass is basically the same as the AP for FL RES/DVC, only that the capacity weeks (Xmas/NYE and SB) are blocked. But we get all the photos we want, and believe me, as locals, we DO scan the photos. They are HILARIOUS. We just download them. To pay $1 more per month, sacrifice an incredibly chaotic week or two, and have that, its basically the same for us. We trade three weeks for all the photos we want with all our friends to download an post.

I can't compare the PlatPlus with the Premium etc because we have never had it..

The operative word is WILL BE. I'm going on Disney's past record. DTD has been a hot mess for well over 5 years now. something that supposedly only going to be a 2 year upgrade and I was just there in August, and construction was still going on. Now as I said, I buy 3 pictures at the most, so memory maker useless to me. It's like free dining. I don't ever use it. We were there august 23 until september 4, almost 2 full weeks, we took maybe 20 photopass pictures. I brought one and I think the ride photos are ridiculous. (just us, we cannot see why having a photo with other strangers with our faces looking crazy is appealing. lol but once again that's us) we've yet to buy one
No way do I see pandora or star wars world opening by 2017. It's late 2015. nah.

I do like hearing other points and we had been toying with selling our dvc for a few years now, (HS has been boring for a while, mediocre food, visits becoming stale). so this isn't the sole reason, just the straw that might break the camels back.

 

[DisDadDVC]

PP is only on rides, MM is where you get your picture taken in front of Castle

I don't believe this is true.