Any news when DVC members can get an annual pass???

[Jimmy Mouse]

Here's an article on a non-park DVC visit. I think more and more people are starting to do this. As gmi3804 noted, our recent vacation without the parks was so much more relaxing.

https://www.****************/a-week-at-walt-disney-world-without-any-parks-js1/

That was a very good article. Thanks for posting the link!

 

[DebbieB]

If that's true then in my opinion, it is right up there with with Bob Chapek's comment about an "unfavorable" guest mix in Anaheim causing revenue shortfalls. One of the stupidest things to come out of Disney management's collective mouth in recent history.

He made the statement in a meeting with financial analysts. Revenue was not as expected. Reason - not enough day ticket sales. They make more money on day tickets vs the large number of annual passholders at DL. Seems a reasonable explanation. The mix is unfavorable. No need to sugar coat on a financial call, they will see right through it.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

Beating dead horse……dvc should get the same ticket deals as Florida people. Again , I’m sure there are dvc people who go more than some “locals”. Why do people in Key West gets a better deal, than a 700 point dvc owner who lives in Georgia ?

I live in GA and have often wondered the same thing. How come DVC owners can't get the Florida AP / ticket deals? We do pay property taxes on a property in Florida so doesn't that make us Florida residents?

 

[DebbieB]

I live in GA and have often wondered the same thing. How come DVC owners can't get the Florida AP / ticket deals? We do pay property taxes on a property in Florida so doesn't that make us Florida residents?

Legally, you have to live there 6 months out of the year to be a Resident. Disney does make exceptions for part time residents by showing a utility bill or bank statement with a Florida address. DVC is not a resident, the property tax part of dues is a chargeback of taxes that are legally paid by Disney.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I live in GA and have often wondered the same thing. How come DVC owners can't get the Florida AP / ticket deals? We do pay property taxes on a property in Florida so doesn't that make us Florida residents?

Disney can use whatever metric they wish to issue Florida resident passes, but simply paying Florida taxes does not make you a resident.

Further more, your DVC contract expressly says you are not a resident.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Legally, you have to live there 6 months out of the year to be a Resident. Disney does make exceptions for part time residents by showing a utility bill or bank statement with a Florida address. DVC is not a resident, the property tax part of dues is a chargeback of taxes that are legally paid by Disney.

Yes… I think you are referring to homesteading. That is a legal Florida thing, not a Disney thing.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Disney does not require homesteading to qualify for resident passes… although maybe it should.

The requirements for homesteading are much higher, and a legal Florida thing.
Happy to say I’m just hitting my 40 months for full homestead.

 

[kristenrice]

I'd be happy with bringing back TIW for DVC members. Let me PAY to receive a discount on my (overpriced) food and beverages. It sounds like a win/win situation to me! If they really want to be generous, add CS locations to the offerings. This might encourage DVC members to eat more meals onsite instead of cooking in their villas or ordering from delivery services.

 

[gmi3804]

I'd argue it's not far off. The actual quote was in direct response to questions about why there were not more perks, and they said "The foundation is the savings on lodging." They didn't address anything about other discounts in any way while responding to the benefits and perks question.

I understand, and may not disagree regarding the underlying message that was sent, but even "not far off" isn't what was said (and the question was "did they actually say that"), and is paraphrasing.

Girls! Girls! You’re both pretty!

 

[heynowirv]

No, they didn't. It's a hyperbolic "paraphrasing" of what was said.

Thanx I just saw the actual quote from someone else.

 

[RoseGold]

It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of DVC owners are actually commercial businesses. I've personally rented from two, and not through an agency. There's certainly demand on social media for well-booked studios, and you could make money with this if you actually made a job of this and rented out points on the high side, buying well and booking well. Its consistent with the booking patterns as well. Weekends and studios, and low point rooms.

Eliminating APs is making people sell. But professionals don't care about that. This policy might just be shuffling those points to professionals, and increasing the rental market. This competes more with Disney's hotel rooms, and puts even more pressure on studios. Oops.

 

[Titanium]

He made the statement in a meeting with financial analysts. Revenue was not as expected. Reason - not enough day ticket sales. They make more money on day tickets vs the large number of annual passholders at DL. Seems a reasonable explanation. The mix is unfavorable. No need to sugar coat on a financial call, they will see right through it.

As a shareholder and someone with three decades in media finance I couldn't agree more with you Debbie, but insulting one sub-group of loyal customers was one of the factors that led to Chapek's firing. No one should say that out loud and expect to keep their job because Disney isn't going to fill the parks with just DVC owners, they need all their customers.

 

[tjkraz]

Imo, there are some large holes in that list.

I think you and I both know it's not a comprehensive list. There was a limit to the amount of time I was willing to invest, and I stuck to the highlights.

The list features several timed events that members have to plan around or stumble into: MM, attraction previews, movie previews, etc. But there are plenty of additions in recent years which benefit everyone: shopping discounts, dining discounts, lounges, etc. The post I was responding too suggested that:

1) It's the little things that matter
2) It wouldn't take much effort / money to satisfy everyone

Sadly I don't believe either one of those philosophies rings true. MagicBand sliders and magnets were specifically mentioned. I'm 100% certain that I could go back in the DIS archives to a time when those items were distributed and would find posts complaining "why is DVC wasting money sending me this junk?"

Park tickets are the obvious shortcoming. DVC *SHOULD* come up with some sort of offer for members, APs or otherwise. Even if they have to subsidize the cost. (Years ago I was told that DVC incurred some charge for every discounted AP purchased, but I'm not entirely certain if that is accurate.)

There have been a lot of perk additions over the years, both big and small. Still, the overarching response seems to be "yeah but what have you done for me lately?" I don't think there's anything DVC could reasonably add which would change that mindset.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Girls! Girls! You’re both pretty!

We weren't arguing two sides of the same coin. The comment I addressed was very misleading and needed correction.

I did get some new skin care products for Christmas though...

 

[RoseGold]

Park tickets are the obvious shortcoming. DVC *SHOULD* come up with some sort of offer for members, APs or otherwise. Even if they have to subsidize the cost. (Years ago I was told that DVC incurred some charge for every discounted AP purchased, but I'm not entirely certain if that is accurate.)

They could also do the reverse and follow the nickels and dimes. Paid Blue Card DVC experiences that make money. Dinner with an imagineer, $100 Tshirt (only 250 made!), pins, special tours, special firework spot on the lawn, $50 photo with racecar Mickey. They used to do stuff like this that cost money -- wine tastings, drawing classes, that kind of thing.

DVC might be too cheap to pay for things, but they are also too lazy to pick up the nickels and dimes. I guess the exception is that painful sounding Pizzarizzo dinner recently. Ouch on that one.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I like to separate things into 'perks' and 'benefits.'

To me, perks are things like MM. If I happen to be there on a particular date, then I have a one-time 'perk' of being able to visit a specific park with a relatively small group (But other things in the park are limited also, but I digress.).

To me, benefits are things I can attach a dollar value to that are available all the time. Discounts come to mind and encompass most of the things in this category to me. They may vary from time to time in percentage or whatever, but they are 'always' there. FL resident AP prices. 10% at most restaurants. 10% DVC discount at the DVC stores at the resorts.

Benefits are the ones that matter to me. They are the ones that tell me we matter. Perks are a nice, well, perk. They perk me up and make me happy I bought what I bought.

I think in that long list, the vast majority (granted, at a quick glance and only once) at those items, what stuck out to me was they were mostly perks. And most of the perks are things DVC/DVD can make happen by spending money with another division or without involving another division at all. With no sense of entitlement at all, what matters to me most is benefits. Things that save me and my family money with minimal real cost to Disney.

DVC/DVD has done a much better job of late at increasing perks. Benefits, on the other hand, have either been reduced or in a lot of cases eliminated, without being replaced with anything equivalent or do I dare say it, better. Perks make me feel good. For a moment. Benefits help me. And I don't forget those. And I don't forget losing them either.

 

[CraigInPA]

Because AP sales are immediate cash flow 'on the phone' with no immediate expense whatsoever other than the cost of the agent to carry out the sale. To the tune of millions and millions of dollars. To be honest, I'm surprised even the BOD directors hasn't asked the obvious question, "With millions and millions of dollars of free money sitting out there, why aren't you collecting it?" I'm not stupid. I know it's not that simple. But it isn't that complicated either.

Their accountants may make them amortize the revenue over the whole year. So, while they get the cash without direct costs at the time of sale, it won't help the bottom line because the later realized costs will be offset by the percentage of the AP sales they are allowed to realize during that period. I'm sorry for the accountant-speak, but that's the easiest way to explain the issue.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Their accountants may make them amortize the revenue over the whole year. So, while they get the cash without direct costs at the time of sale, it won't help the bottom line because the later realized costs will be offset by the percentage of the AP sales they are allowed to realize during that period. I'm sorry for the accountant-speak, but that's the easiest way to explain the issue.

I understand all of that. But the benefit is the same. It's cash flow already realized amortized over time. It's real income, and that was my point. Not in accountant speak.

 

[Titanium]

I understand all of that. But the benefit is the same. It's cash flow already realized amortized over time. It's real income, and that was my point. Not in accountant speak.

As a recovering bean counter I resemble that remark! Of course I immediately started wondering how I'd record these annual pass sales when they cross fiscal years.

 

[tjkraz]

Benefits, on the other hand, have either been reduced or in a lot of cases eliminated, without being replaced with anything equivalent or do I dare say it, better. Perks make me feel good. For a moment. Benefits help me. And I don't forget those. And I don't forget losing them either.

By your definition, what DVC benefits have been reduced or eliminated?

Park tickets is an issue that we all agree should be addressed.

Members get discounts on merchandise, food, golf, most other recreation services (beach chair rentals, Surrey bikes, etc), behind the scenes tours, water park admission, mini golf, cabana rentals, spa services.... What meaningful areas are not being covered?