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

[Einstein509]

If we didn't have our AP's I would probably buy a Universal AP and spend my days there, and use my DVC for rest and relaxation. I wonder how many others would consider that option?

This is exactly what we started doing after not renewing our APs. We have a Universal APs (much cheaper than Disney), drive over, free parking, and just relax at our DVC resorts.

 

[tjkraz]

I can't speak of official Disney numbers. But as a DVC owner coming from Hawaii, we go for two weeks and buy the 10-day pass and works out fine. We have never considered buying APs. But I could be in the minority.

The biggest change for us was when Disney stopped offering non-expiring tickets. We used those more than APs, and would stretch them over 2 or 3 trips. In response, we generally stopped taking multiple shorter trips and moved toward longer trips. Like you point out, a 10 day pass is pretty economical. Certainly cheaper than two 5-day passes or three 3-day passes. Also cheaper than an AP.

DVC sales may be hurting a little bit due to the lack of APs but I'm sure the revenues from selling day tickets more than make up for that loss IMO.

The thinking here is that people who sell tickets don't really care about DVC points sales. And there's probably a lot of truth to that. Anyone who has worked in a large company knows that each division is forced to protect its own turf. Sometimes decisions are made which are deemed to serve the greater good. Other times decisions just happen to favor one division over another. The latter could be the case here with increased ticket revenue trumping whatever harm is coming to DVC.

I too agree that tourism numbers will remain strong for 2023. Arrivals to Hawaii so far has returned to pre-pandemic levels. And that's not even accounting for the Japanese and the Koreans who haven't fully returned yet. I don't care what people say about a possible recession. Unemployment last month was at a 53 year low. As long as people have jobs, they can afford vacations.

Agree. Especially with many jobs having moved remote. There are undeniable advantages to remote work, but it also brings a degree of cabin fever. More than ever, I think people will be looking for the change of scenery that comes with a vacation. Not saying WDW will be the destination of choice. But many will find the resources to travel.

 

[RyMickey]

This may not be the thread to ask this question, but we renewed our DVC Sorcerer passes. In the past, you’ve had to stop at Guest Relations to verify the pass (essentially confirming you were a DVC member). Is that still the case now that everything is linked in My Disney Experience?

I thought I read somewhere months ago that you may not need to do that anymore, but I can’t find that thread and vacation is looming.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

What baffles me is why they haven't introduced a "resort stay only" AP. It would be the perfect DVC pass, would incentivize staying onsite and it would be self limiting in adoption (it cannot cause overcrowding).

It’s because the people running the company right now are seriously not intelligent. They company is not merit based at this point.

 

[MinnieSueB]

This may not be the thread to ask this question, but we renewed our DVC Sorcerer passes. In the past, you’ve had to stop at Guest Relations to verify the pass (essentially confirming you were a DVC member). Is that still the case now that everything is linked in My Disney Experience?

I thought I read somewhere months ago that you may not need to do that anymore, but I can’t find that thread and vacation is looming.

Any help is appreciated.

When I renewed in November, I was told no need to stop by Guest Relations. I have had trouble with my MB ever since - not sure if it's related to the renewal and GR doesn't have a clue what the problem is.

 

[Sandisw]

This may not be the thread to ask this question, but we renewed our DVC Sorcerer passes. In the past, you’ve had to stop at Guest Relations to verify the pass (essentially confirming you were a DVC member). Is that still the case now that everything is linked in My Disney Experience?

I thought I read somewhere months ago that you may not need to do that anymore, but I can’t find that thread and vacation is looming.

Any help is appreciated.

They now verify you are eligible to renew on the phone first, and then send you to ticketing to process the renewal so it is an actual pass, continuing from your old one. It is no longer a voucher. This changed last summer.

So, you should be all set for it to work without stopping at GR.

 

[Brian Noble]

The latter could be the case here with increased ticket revenue trumping whatever harm is coming to DVC.

And that is perfectly sensible. The Parks are the engine that drives everything else in the two domestic Resorts, and Disney has historically been excellent at maintaining what folks refer to as "gate integrity"--meaning, ensuring that there is a minimum average spend per person, per day.

In this particular "dog-wags-tail" scenario, DVC is the tail, not the dog.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

This may not be the thread to ask this question, but we renewed our DVC Sorcerer passes. In the past, you’ve had to stop at Guest Relations to verify the pass (essentially confirming you were a DVC member). Is that still the case now that everything is linked in My Disney Experience?

I thought I read somewhere months ago that you may not need to do that anymore, but I can’t find that thread and vacation is looming.

Any help is appreciated.

Just a consideration - if you happen to have any old tickets in your MDE account, you might want to stop by GR to verify the new/renewed AP is the priority ticket being used when entering the park. We had an issue where we didn't do that and it started eating away at some of our non-expiring passes we were saving, and is still causing us issues to this day. If this is your only ticket, you should be fine to bypass GR.

 

[Chuck S]

And that is perfectly sensible. The Parks are the engine that drives everything else in the two domestic Resorts, and Disney has historically been excellent at maintaining what folks refer to as "gate integrity"--meaning, ensuring that there is a minimum average spend per person, per day.

In this particular "dog-wags-tail" scenario, DVC is the tail, not the dog.

They could probably increase souvenir sales to DVC members if they ever get enough Cast Members to reinstate resort delivery of park purchases, which would help offset the DVC APs. I know I don't buy nearly as much as I did when they had the delivery, as I don't want to carry stuff around all day. Of course, that also depends on if they have T-Shirts and things that appeal to me, sometiimes they do, sometimes they don't.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

What actually baffles me the most in terms of lack of AP sales is the amount of out of state people who actually go multiple times. We have the AP - purchased it back when they sold the 399 pass for DVC members and renewed every year since. Up until that point, we purchased 10 day tickets, would go off-site on our non-park days. the AP, kept us on-site and spending lots of $$ on-site instead of off. If we didn't have the AP - as I said before, I would buy a US AP and spend time and money there, use DVC for pools, gym, sleep and relaxing. So yes the AP has increased my spending at WDW. I guess the higher ups have not figured that out yet....

 

[Brian Noble]

So yes the AP has increased my spending at WDW. I guess the higher ups have not figured that out yet....

They know EXACTLY what the average AP guest spends, because they are the ones counting (a) the money and (b) the turnstile clicks.

 

[Sandisw]

What actually baffles me the most in terms of lack of AP sales is the amount of out of state people who actually go multiple times. We have the AP - purchased it back when they sold the 399 pass for DVC members and renewed every year since. Up until that point, we purchased 10 day tickets, would go off-site on our non-park days. the AP, kept us on-site and spending lots of $$ on-site instead of off. If we didn't have the AP - as I said before, I would buy a US AP and spend time and money there, use DVC for pools, gym, sleep and relaxing. So yes the AP has increased my spending at WDW. I guess the higher ups have not figured that out yet....

Remember, though, they don't compare your spending to just one non-AP guest. They compare your spending for each trip to a cash guest for just that one trip.

So, if I go five times a year and spend $1000 each trip, I spend $5000. A family who goes once, might spend only $2000 for that trip, so I spend more than them. But, five individual families, each spending $2000, total $10K...

That is why, in general, the average day guest is spending is more than an AP holder. So, they know that you individually may spend more...I do too...but collectively, I am sure that I do not when comparing me to those one time guests.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

They know EXACTLY what the average AP guest spends, because they are the ones counting (a) the money and (b) the turnstile clicks.

Now they do - perhaps. (It would involve Disney IT you know) In the past I don't think their systems integrated enough.
What they don't necessarily know is if it keeps AP holders visiting vs going offsite nor additional guests and revenue it might bring. They might be integrated enough to get some info from onsite stays or the Family&Friends but that would again depend on Disney IT and AP holders linking with guests they go with etc.

I don't actually have a lot of faith in all of their number gathering.

For instance I was a tiny bit "relieved" to not have a Disney AP so I'd put money towards other parks. But I eventually decided to activate a voucher. So now I have that AP and am dragging extended family only to WDW when we go even though they can't get AP's. Without that AP? We'd be going to Universal and Sea World too and less days at Disney. Fact. WDW is not maxing out on theme park attendance so we are an add for visits and $$$'s spent vs taking somebody else's spot. We also have family in FL. If they came with us there's little reason to link in MDE now unless all doing something like purchasing Genie+. With FP+ gone the game isn't the same for linking. Disney would have no idea that our visit derived their visits (they are currently non-AP).

 

[Yankee626]

Competition from Universal will force Disney to change their ticket policies and pricing. Once Epic Universe is open (and it looks like its going to be unbelievable) Disney will be begging for customers to come back. Its a small world , Peter Pan and Dumbo will not be able to compete with Harry Potter and Nintendo world and all the state of the art attractions being built by its competitor. Im actualy wondering if Universal will offer its own Vacation club to Rival DVC and what Perks they will add into a membership.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Disney benefits from people using their outstanding AP vouchers and non-expiring tickets while new AP sales are suspended.

 

[clarker99]

Competition from Universal will force Disney to change their ticket policies and pricing. Once Epic Universe is open (and it looks like its going to be unbelievable) Disney will be begging for customers to come back. Its a small world , Peter Pan and Dumbo will not be able to compete with Harry Potter and Nintendo world and all the state of the art attractions being built by its competitor. Im actualy wondering if Universal will offer its own Vacation club to Rival DVC and what Perks they will add into a membership.

Universal has its own juggling act to pull off with how to distribute people away from Epic Universe. How great will it be when they are closing down entry to Epic Universe or certain lands inside due to capacity. People cant just walk over to the other 2 parks. Sure AP's are cheaper but for the average family, park tickets are just as expensive as Disney. We are going to see some very creative ways to sell extra park days that don't allow you to go to Epic Universe.

I am not fully sold that Epic Universe will move the needle all that much in terms pulling from Disney.

And no I cant see them adding Timeshare options.

 

[RoseGold]

Im actualy wondering if Universal will offer its own Vacation club to Rival DVC and what Perks they will add into a membership.

Manifesting this. I've always thought a Harry Potter themed hotel seems pretty straightforward to pull off (you're on the 4th floor of Hufflepuff Wing) and my childhood fantasy.

 

[Yankee626]

Universal has its own juggling act to pull off with how to distribute people away from Epic Universe. How great will it be when they are closing down entry to Epic Universe or certain lands inside due to capacity. People cant just walk over to the other 2 parks. Sure AP's are cheaper but for the average family, park tickets are just as expensive as Disney. We are going to see some very creative ways to sell extra park days that don't allow you to go to Epic Universe.

I am not fully sold that Epic Universe will move the needle all that much in terms pulling from Disney.

And no I cant see them adding Timeshare options.

You cant just walk over to Animal kingdom from MK either. Im sure they will have buses to go back and forth to their hotels . Epic universe will absolutely have an impact on DW. They are adding 3 major hotels and a state of the art Theme park only a few miles from DW. They are doing this within less time that Disney took to build Tron. Im sure it will be more expensive than MK but it wont matter because it will pull 50-100k people a day from DW. Thats going to have an impact.

 

[Brian Noble]

it will pull 50-100k people a day from DW. Thats going to have an impact.

WDW's total average daily attendance in 2021 was just under 100K. They aren't about to suddenly drop by half (or more).

Yes, Epic Universe will draw well. But, the set of people coming to Orlando is not likely to be constant--this park is also likely to attract people to Orlando who wouldn't otherwise come, and some of those people will also go to WDW. If you look back at the years of the Potterverse openings, UO and IoA each got a significant attendance bump, but neither came at the significant year-over-year expense of WDW.

A rising tide really does lift all boats.

 

[clarker99]

You cant just walk over to Animal kingdom from MK either. Im sure they will have buses to go back and forth to their hotels . Epic universe will absolutely have an impact on DW. They are adding 3 major hotels and a state of the art Theme park only a few miles from DW. They are doing this within less time that Disney took to build Tron. Im sure it will be more expensive than MK but it wont matter because it will pull 50-100k people a day from DW. Thats going to have an impact.

People are not going to to just run to Universal and abandon Disney. Disney is still far more attractive to young families.