AP sales…

[Ms Bibbidi]

Thank you, John.

 

[Sandisw]

They can obviously target whom they want. Their park. The flip side is they deter whom they want too.

I never bought So-Cal or Florida Resident passes until forced to this year. Never liked their restrictions that were always hostile to even professionals who had office hours to keep. So, their in-state specials were pretty illusory as far as favoritism or real value. I was off-site so no packages or specials. Now, having looked into the bucket system and seeing specials offered to other groups and recalling the past is information valuable to me. A magnet is not going to compensate. Watch their next APs remove free parking. How do you think that will impact locals?

I am sure that will be a huge hit…the question will then be how long will it take for them to realize that it was a mistake and adjust.

Like adding parking fee to the resorts for cash guests…did it do want they wanted it to do…meaning bring in the revenue they had hoped? Or did less people drive? Or worse, stop staying onsite?

Right now, they are obviously not seeing the impacts of loss of guests…at some point, we have to assume it will happen…and then they wlll have to decide how to get more back, especially locals an other AP holders that help during down times.

If this new program is modified enough to make locals and other think twice, then Disney will either have to deal with the loss…or make it more attractive again. At that point, the big question will be whether it is too late.

 

[RoseGold]

It’s likely the local component is part of the agreements for all the building and special tax structures. I agree it’s a pretty sad offering right now, even for Florida locals.

I thought eliminating the after-5 Epcot pass was a bummer for locals, but I can see why they did it, now that Epcot is the shiny new park again.

 

[Sandisw]

It’s likely the local component is part of the agreements for all the building and special tax structures. I agree it’s a pretty sad offering right now, even for Florida locals.

I thought eliminating the after-5 Epcot pass was a bummer for locals, but I can see why they did it, now that Epcot is the shiny new park again.

Or was it due thr the park reservation system and the caps on capacity? Cant offer someone a pass for after 4 or 5 pm when you can’t guarantee how it’s going to work with that system.

 

[john7994]

Thank you, John.

I remain a fan and appreciate your contributions!

 

[pianomanzano]

Does anybody recall Disney ever offering US based guests a free dining offer? I do not think I have ever seen that.

They used to offer free dining plans in September. First time we stayed on property back in 2013 was because they offered a free dining plan. We stayed at pop century, which I think at the time offered the quick service plan for free and we paid a little bit more to upgrade to the standard.

Edit: here's a link to a blogpost describing the free dining offer https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/05/06/news-2013-disney-world-free-dining-offer/

 

[Brian Noble]

Oh, and if Disney decided to give Alaska residents a different deal then they do me as New Yorker, then that’s up to them

They have from time to time offered resort discounts to e.g. Georgia residents. It's not unprecedented.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Best way to control mobs of people: "Bread and circuses.”

 

[npatellye]

That used to be the case in the US. There were truancy laws. Parents could be held responsible. It was considered child abuse to deprive the child of education.

It’s still the case with truancy laws and excessive absences in the many states and districts. After absence 9, even if they’re all illness related, our district sends out truancy letters informing parents they may be referred to the state truancy board if there are additional absences. When my oldest was in kindergarten (2018-2019 academic year), she caught the flu and missed 8 days of school for the flu, that was after having had to stay home for 1 day due to a fever (district policy is they need to be fever free for 24 hours without medication to return to school). I received that letter for her absences. My husband was livid but it’s the policy.

 

[john7994]

I never go to WDW on weekends, it’s too crowded for me. I think it would be nice if the Tuesday ticket were cheaper than the Saturday ticket. That totally makes sense to me — and maybe someone who travels like me could see a decrease in ticket prices?

If Disney gets rid of the APs, they’re going to have to fill the low volume days somehow, and that’s a way to do it. Plenty of people would plan around the cheap Tuesday tickets.

Update - I had the park hopper option on the original post

Looking at advanced (1 day) ticket cost per day (below), starting in August and more pronounced in September through the end of the year, Tuesday's are "cheaper" than Saturdays (as are Wednesday and Thursday). Not blow your socks off to be sure - but @$30.




But, when you go to a 7 day (below) and all the way down to a 3 day ticket discounts, the difference evaporates - So of course, at 1-day and 2-day, the corresponding individual day rate is more costly.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

If I recall correctly, free dining was far from free.
You needed to pay full rack rate for your room to get it, or you could generally get a sizable discount if you did not opt for free dining.

Correct me if I’m wrong….

 

[john7994]

In Georgia, If your child is charged with truancy (more than 5 unexcused absences), you could face penalties. These include community service, a fine between $25 and $100 and/or up to 30 days in jail. Your child could lose his or her driver's license or be unable to get a work permit. Obviously, what is considered unexcused / truant is a different story ...

 

[Mexacajun]

If I recall correctly, free dining was far from free.
You needed to pay full rack rate for your room to get it, or you could generally get a sizable discount if you did not opt for free dining.

Correct me if I’m wrong….

You are correct. No discount on room or ticket. Used it a couple times but I have a large family so it still paid out.

 

[Sandisw]

If I recall correctly, free dining was far from free.
You needed to pay full rack rate for your room to get it, or you could generally get a sizable discount if you did not opt for free dining.

Correct me if I’m wrong….

Yes, you paid rack rate for the room, but the dining plan was free and for many families…ours a family of five..made it a much better deal than room only discounts offered for the same time.

The initial plans even included gratuity so we that first trip we spend nothing for food and Non alcoholic drinks.


Like all other discounts, it depended on which saved more money…but for us, the free dining promotion always worked better given the size of our family.

 

[mlayton14]

Why do folks feel entitled to discounts ? The AP is a discount plain and simple. Please don’t throw around the term loyalty - people don’t goto Disney because they are supporting a cause, they go because they see the value in their dollar spent. No one is shutting anyone out of the parks - you just have to pay for it. If Disney experiences issues filling their parks in the future (inevitable) there will be discounts galore.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I miss Mr. Eisner

Don't know what you had till it's gone?

 

[DVCsloth]

Why do folks feel entitled to discounts ? The AP is a discount plain and simple. Please don’t throw around the term loyalty - people don’t goto Disney because they are supporting a cause, they go because they see the value in their dollar spent. No one is shutting anyone out of the parks - you just have to pay for it. If Disney experiences issues filling their parks in the future (inevitable) there will be discounts galore.

Not 100% sure, but if I remember correctly, that part of the agreement of starting Reedy Creek was that Florida residents would get some sort of discounted ticket offered to them.

 

[Sandisw]

Not 100% sure, but if I remember correctly, that part of the agreement of starting Reedy Creek was that Florida residents would get some sort of discounted ticket offered to them.

I’m not sure about that since back then it was a whole different structures.

But definitely possible that since it was created and over the years those came into play as more was actually developed?

 

[tjkraz]

Why do folks feel entitled to discounts ? The AP is a discount plain and simple. Please don’t throw around the term loyalty - people don’t goto Disney because they are supporting a cause, they go because they see the value in their dollar spent. No one is shutting anyone out of the parks - you just have to pay for it. If Disney experiences issues filling their parks in the future (inevitable) there will be discounts galore.

Entitled? No, of course not.

But as a business-minded individual, I think there's a real risk in alienating your most rabid customers if it's done in an attempt to maximize revenue. I'm skeptical that the Disney Parks can flourish by chasing the infrequent guest while making the frequent visitor pay identical rates.

There's probably a statement to be made about how APs tend to experience the parks in a given day vs MYW guests. I suspect those using MYW tickets are much more likely to be dawn-to-dusk visitor, experiencing every attraction they are able to maximize the value of their $140+ ticket. Passholders may ride 2-3 things and be content. Although both are counted as a visit, the two groups aren't utilizing park resources identically.

I agree there would be "discounts galore" if Disney tries to go down that road. Personally I'd rather not see it reach that point. Some business--some consumers--will be incredibly difficult to win back.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Why do folks feel entitled to discounts ? The AP is a discount plain and simple. Please don’t throw around the term loyalty - people don’t goto Disney because they are supporting a cause, they go because they see the value in their dollar spent. No one is shutting anyone out of the parks - you just have to pay for it. If Disney experiences issues filling their parks in the future (inevitable) there will be discounts galore.

Some folks may feel a sense of entitlement, certainly. I am willing to bet that many AP consumers, if not most, folks have become accustomed to their AP's as part of the overall "value" evaluation of giving Disney our vacation dollars. The entire premise of DVC is to lock in current pricing for access to deluxe resorts into the future, which also factors into the value proposition. Other programs such as free/reduced dining, magical express, etc. have also factored into the value proposition. It all matters. So, it's not a question of entitlement but another piece to the erosion of value.

At least for us.