AP Sales Paused

[robinb]

Has park pass availability opened up? Some days during the holidays were sold out for ticket and resort guests but were open for AP. If they reallocated capacity across the buckets and days are available, then tickets sale restarts immediately.
It is just common sense they stop selling tickets if parks have no capacity. One could buy a ticket before looking at park pass reservations and ending not having anywhere to use them.

They will not even sell you a ticket if one of the days that your pass is valid is sold out. Even if you don't plan on going to a park that day.

I had a problem back in May. I booked a trip with my DD22 and made her reservations on a 10-day PH but she could only make 4 days. I didn't want to burn her 10-Day PH on a 4 day trip so I went to buy her a 4-day PH about a week or two before our trip. Yes, I procrastinated. I could not buy the 4-Day because one of the days in the time that the PH was valid was sold out. It was in the middle of the 7 days the PH was valid, I think on day 5. I had to call Disney and they were able to sell me a pass and transfer her reservations.

 

[Sandisw]

Respectfully, that’s not a valid reason IMO.
I could just as easily say “because they should give others a turn at it”.
Both are bogus IMO.
If they are selling X number of APs, it should be first come first served. I don’t think someone should be able to lock up a slot for life, plus be able to add kids as they turn 3.

It is absolutely a valid reason. Nothing has to be fair or equal. You may not like the decision, or agree with it, but it is what they decided to do. You have one, you get to continue to have one. If you didn't, then it is a product not currently available for you to purchase.

Your reason for "they should give others a turn" is also a valid reason which they could have decided to do...but they did not.

For those that think it is only about money, it makes sense. Which is why we differ. I don't think the driving reason was just money...it's capacity... because in the end, why pause at all? Sell them, collect the money, limit the use of the bucket, and let the person who bought have a product that can't be used.

Allowing renewals doesn't increase the number of passes out there (except for 2 turning 3), and selling new passes does. We simply don't see it the same way.

 

[CBMom01]

I saw a post the other day that made me wonder if they are trying to actually increase the number of people in the parks by limiting AP sales. I started to wonder that when I saw an an AP holder posting about going often for a couple of hours in the morning. When that happens, the park reservation is taken up by someone who may go into the parks and spend $0 on top of what's already been paid for the AP. It also means that the park is underutilized by one person for all but those two hours. I've been wondering if they are limiting AP visits to make the parks less crowded but I'm really starting to wonder. After that post I started thinking about all the vlogs I've seen over the years where the vlogger is talking about themselves and people they know "heading over for dinner" or "an afternoon visit" or whatever. It might be that population of frequent short visit AP holder guests isn't enough to move the needle. I don't know.

ETA: Even I'm confused by my post. What I was trying to say is that maybe the pause in AP sales isn't to lower the number of people in the parks. Maybe it's an attempt to ensure that when a park reservation is used up it's by someone who's going to spend the maximum $$ per park reservation all in: Ticket, food, resorts, experiences, etc. which I have to assume are the guests who come for multiple days on date based tickets , especially those who stay at Disney resorts. The ultimate result could be that at any point in the day there are more humans in each park relative to the number of park reservations. Put another way, if everyone were to go and stay open to close the parks would be wayyyyyyyyyy more crowded than if 50% of visitors went just for the morning or just for the afternoon even though the number of available and utilized park reservations would not have changed.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It is absolutely a valid reason. Nothing has to be fair or equal. You may not like the decision, or agree with it, but it is what they decided to do. You have one, you get to continue to have one. If you didn't, then it is a product not currently available for you to purchase.

Your reason for "they should give others a turn" is also a valid reason which they could have decided to do...but they did not.

For those that think it is only about money, it makes sense. Which is why we differ. I don't think the driving reason was just money...it's capacity... because in the end, why pause at all? Sell them, collect the money, limit the use of the bucket, and let the person who bought have a product that can't be used.

Allowing renewals doesn't increase the number of passes out there (except for 2 turning 3), and selling new passes does. We simply don't see it the same way.

Okay, I’m not going to argue with you. I said “in my opinion” it’s not a valid reason, and you are demanding you are correct.

 

[Sandisw]

Okay, I’m not going to argue with you. I said “in my opinion” it’s not a valid reason, and you are demanding you are correct.

Sorry, I thought the post was saying valid reasons, and we are both correct in the way we look at things just don't agree.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

For those that think it is only about money, it makes sense. Which is why we differ. I don't think the driving reason was just money...it's capacity... because in the end, why pause at all? Sell them, collect the money, limit the use of the bucket, and let the person who bought have a product that can't be used.

This for me is the biggest argument that it's not about money. Because Sandi is 100%. If the choice was about dollars, they would have been better served to sell all the AP's in the world with a "no refund once activated" policy, leave the park reservation system to manage it and boom. You get a lot of upset guests, but you maximize your profits. The ONLY valid reason I can see for limiting AP SALES (not capacity, but sales) is because it's about managing guest expectations; trying to do the right thing. And for everyone on here complaining they didn't get an AP, there are 100+ guests who were not angry after purchasing a product that can't actually be used the way they wanted.

And I will repeat.... there really was no good answer / solution for management. They had to choose between evils. They made a choice (it happens to be one that I agree with).

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Tells me they were holding back for more money.

Please do not take this the wrong way. I am not attacking you, or meaning to come off offensively. But I am HONESTLY CURIOUS.

If you view Disney as such a money grubbing, bad for customers, over-bearing organization, WHY do you maintain a DVC contract and hang out on a Disney board? At the VERY LEAST, it would seem you need to just take a break from Disney for a bit. Come back in a year and see if they have changed, and if they have not, get out.

But for the life of me, I do not understand why you buy and support the company's products. If I had a severe problem with the taste, cost, and business practices of Coke, I would not purchase coke. I would find another product that I agree with.

Again, I am not attacking you. I really am curious - if you view their product that poorly, why are you here? What is your goal? You are not going to change Disney by posting negative comments here. Are you hoping to drive other loyal customers away from their business by posting terrible things?

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

Please do not take this the wrong way. I am not attacking you, or meaning to come off offensively. But I am HONESTLY CURIOUS.

If you view Disney as such a money grubbing, bad for customers, over-bearing organization, WHY do you maintain a DVC contract and hang out on a Disney board? At the VERY LEAST, it would seem you need to just take a break from Disney for a bit. Come back in a year and see if they have changed, and if they have not, get out.

But for the life of me, I do not understand why you buy and support the company's products. If I had a severe problem with the taste, cost, and business practices of Coke, I would not purchase coke. I would find another product that I agree with.

Again, I am not attacking you. I really am curious - if you view their product that poorly, why are you here? What is your goal? You are not going to change Disney by posting negative comments here. Are you hoping to drive other loyal customers away from their business by posting terrible things?

Loving the product but hating how it's currently being offered is allowed. A lot of people are upset with the decisions being made by the current management.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Please do not take this the wrong way. I am not attacking you, or meaning to come off offensively. But I am HONESTLY CURIOUS.

If you view Disney as such a money grubbing, bad for customers, over-bearing organization, WHY do you maintain a DVC contract and hang out on a Disney board? At the VERY LEAST, it would seem you need to just take a break from Disney for a bit. Come back in a year and see if they have changed, and if they have not, get out.

But for the life of me, I do not understand why you buy and support the company's products. If I had a severe problem with the taste, cost, and business practices of Coke, I would not purchase coke. I would find another product that I agree with.

Again, I am not attacking you. I really am curious - if you view their product that poorly, why are you here? What is your goal? You are not going to change Disney by posting negative comments here. Are you hoping to drive other loyal customers away from their business by posting terrible things?

First, your description of how I view Disney are mostly your words, not mine.
Second, I sold my DVC almost eight years ago. 21 contracts, and somewhere around 2000 points.
Third, I spend time here because while I did sell my DVC, i still frequent WDW.
The Disney company has extreme amounts of potential as proven throughout the years. I do not like their current path, but like to stay in tune with things in hope things get better.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Loving the product but hating how it's currently being offered is allowed. A lot of people are upset with the decisions being made by the current management.

Agreed. I do love the idea of the product, and was a member for 10+ years.
Truth is the *main* reason for selling was an impending job loss.
One reason I don’t repurchase is the direction of the Disney company in general.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Okay, I’m not going to argue with you. I said “in my opinion” it’s not a valid reason, and you are demanding you are correct.

Pretty much anything on an annual renewal plan that’s limited gives priority to current users. Maybe everyone is doing it wrong.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

if it was only about money they would stop offering renewals completely and you would have to buy a new AP whenever yours expires (if available).

 

[TiggerBouncy]

First, your description of how I view Disney are mostly your words, not mine.
Second, I sold my DVC almost eight years ago. 21 contracts, and somewhere around 2000 points.
Third, I spend time here because while I did sell my DVC, i still frequent WDW.
The Disney company has extreme amounts of potential as proven throughout the years. I do not like their current path, but like to stay in tune with things in hope things get better.

I am going to just say "thank you for your honest, open reply".

 

[CBMom01]

I'm curious, and find the AP information online confusing: Do most locals (let's say people who live within a 2-3 hour drive) that get APs have passes that allow them to access to the parks at busy times like the week before & after Christmas? I know I've read here that the DVC APs are blacked out at that time but I've always had the impression that huge holiday crowds are in large part local/day visitors. Is that true?

 

[JETSDAD]

I'm curious, and find the AP information online confusing: Do most locals (let's say people who live within a 2-3 hour drive) that get APs have passes that allow them to access to the parks at busy times like the week before & after Christmas? I know I've read here that the DVC APs are blacked out at that time but I've always had the impression that huge holiday crowds are in large part local/day visitors. Is that true?

It depends in what AP they have. Only the Incredipass wouldn't have any blackouts. I think the large holiday crowds are a lot of non-locals traveling.

 

[cheryl.UK]

I'm pretty convinced that this whole thing is to try to sop us buying a pass for the holidays and then upgrading at the end. I remember many DVC members stay that this was their intention to try to get around the new blackout dates for the Sourcerers pass. As for the Incredipass, would you have been able to buys a 6 day pass, then upgrade to that to have 2 Thanksgiving's from one pass?

 

[JETSDAD]

I'm pretty convinced that this whole thing is to try to sop us buying a pass for the holidays and then upgrading at the end. I remember many DVC members stay that this was their intention to try to get around the new blackout dates for the Sourcerers pass. As for the Incredipass, would you have been able to buys a 6 day pass, then upgrade to that to have 2 Thanksgiving's from one pass?

That loophole was shut down pre-covid with regards to trying to get around blackouts that way.

 

[Brian Noble]

...and the anniversary date of an AP that is upgraded from MYW tickets is back-dated to the first day the MYW ticket was used.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I am going to just say "thank you for your honest, open reply".

You’re welcome. I’m always willing to answer questions.
That said, somehow I don’t feel you are satisfied. Feel free to PM me if you want to stray from topic.

 

[The Jackal]

if it was only about money they would stop offering renewals completely and you would have to buy a new AP whenever yours expires (if available).

For some yes and some no. I usually let mine expire and I get 3 one week trips in. We go in the fall and spring. For example we buy AP’s for fall trip, use them in the fall, then spring trip, then go a week earlier in the fall. I get 3 uses out of one pass. So in 3 years I will buy only 2 passes.