Discounted passes for DVC members...should I hold my breath?

[rusafee1183]

I called MS today, because I wanted to buy AP's for this coming April. I heard a rumor about a discount on passes "in the coming weeks" and asked the cast member if I should buy now, or hold out. She said that there was something that was going to be announced for passes in "a few weeks" on the member site and that I should wait to buy my passes.

My FP+ window opens in just under 2 weeks, and I just don't want to hold out for something that won't happen. I don't know how many times I can hear "in a few weeks" and then nothing happens.... And I don't want to miss out on good FP times because I am waiting to buy tickets. We have never been to WDW at this time of year (April 7 - 12) and I just don't know what kind of crowds to expect.

Thoughts?

 

[drusba]

When they told us that on-line booking would be coming "soon" in 2005, it took only 7 years for it to show up so i can understand why you might have some concern that a "few weeks" could be a little longer than that. I would probably wait a little longer just in case. What I have found with FP+ is that you can still get rides you want and decent times well past the 60 day out start date for first making them (added a guest to our room for our trip for early February just two weeks ago and was able at that time to get him the same FP+ the rest of us had reserved at 60 days out) .

 

[ldo]

would this work? Buy a regular ticket--say 5 day MYW and link to MB, make FP+, then when you are at WDW, upgrade the MYW ticket to DVC AP. We have 2 day tickets on MB from Christmas that are unused (from free dining). We are going in April. I stopped by MS at DTD on our trip and they assured me that I could either use the 2 day tickets at Easter and then upgrade to DVC AP before I left, or I could upgrade the unused 2 day tickets prior to DVC AP park entry (and that FP+ would not be lost). I am also holding out for DVC AP special.

 

[nabi]

The system is so new, we'd be leery of doing that suggestion. I won't even link our non-expiring tickets until the APs have expired.

 

[vicki_c]

I confused, but I just saw this thread today. Are we not still getting the $464 price for DVC APs vs the $600 tourist AP price? Or are people just talking about additional/different discounts? BTW, I'm doing what ldo said above in April. We have 6 day hoppers that we will be upgrading to APs. Our tix are already linked in MDE and we will be making FP selections soon. Others have done this and then upgraded with no issues.

 

[rusafee1183]

I confused, but I just saw this thread today. Are we not still getting the $464 price for DVC APs vs the $600 tourist AP price? Or are people just talking about additional/different discounts? BTW, I'm doing what ldo said above in April. We have 6 day hoppers that we will be upgrading to APs. Our tix are already linked in MDE and we will be making FP selections soon. Others have done this and then upgraded with no issues.

I'm honestly not too sure Vicki. From what I was reading on the DVC Facebook page, someone heard a rumor about additional discounts on passes. I called MS to buy my AP's today, and just asked them to see if they had any additional details or if this was totally false. I said "Is this just a rumor, or will there be additional discounts" and her response was "It's not a rumor, something will be announced on the Member site. You are a member, right?" and I said I was, and she told me to "wait a few more weeks" before I buy.

It still feels a little far fetched for me, but I don't know.

I do think that buying a few days just to get the FP+ selections is a good idea, I am just not sure how all that works yet.

 

[vicki_c]

Ok, thanks! We bought our UT tickets in 2012 and we are not upgrading until we arrive the week before Easter. I was just afraid that I had missed something like they took away the DVC price for APs. Tha would make me sad. Anything better would just be gravy to me, since I already have my outlay planned out and a big part of it is already paid for since we have the UT tix.

 

[rusafee1183]

Ok, thanks! We bought our UT tickets in 2012 and we are not upgrading until we arrive the week before Easter. I was just afraid that I had missed something like they took away the DVC price for APs. Tha would make me sad. Anything better would just be gravy to me, since I already have my outlay planned out and a big part of it is already paid for since we have the UT tix.

That's exactly where we're at. I am not someone who feels DVC "owes" me anything, but at ths same time - if there will be a discount further than what is already offered, it's gravy at that point.

Every little bit helps!!! I think I will just wait another 2 weeks or so, and then just go and buy the 5 day passes and upgrade at the park.

 

[Dasha Hermosilla]

Also... On the FP+ times... If at first you don't get what you want- check back closer to the date. I couldn't originally get EE for our MLK trip at 1 1/2 months out, but was able to secure them a week out.

 

[zavandor]

I do think that buying a few days just to get the FP+ selections is a good idea, I am just not sure how all that works yet.

Reports say that the only FP+ unavailable on the day are those for the Electrical parade and Whishes. All other attractions are consistently open on the same day.
So if I were in you I would wait, unless you really want to get a parade FP+. But if they offer again the $399 AP, it would be an expensive FP+ to book.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm honestly not too sure Vicki. From what I was reading on the DVC Facebook page, someone heard a rumor about additional discounts on passes. I called MS to buy my AP's today, and just asked them to see if they had any additional details or if this was totally false. I said "Is this just a rumor, or will there be additional discounts" and her response was "It's not a rumor, something will be announced on the Member site. You are a member, right?" and I said I was, and she told me to "wait a few more weeks" before I buy.

It still feels a little far fetched for me, but I don't know.

I do think that buying a few days just to get the FP+ selections is a good idea, I am just not sure how all that works yet.

Honestly - take the advice that you do not need to worry about booking the FP+ times 60 days in advance. In Dec we were booking the night before and morning of and had virtually no issues. The only one that I had seen a day earlier that I considered getting but that wasn't available the day of was viewing for Illuminations.

 

[rusafee1183]

Amazing news. Thanks everyone! I think just waiting will be the easiest solution, but it's nice to know if I get anxious I can always buy a few days and then upgrade

 

[disneyfanbcv]

I will be there in 15 days. And I have to renew my annual pass. Hopefully something happens in few weeks (14days) lol!!!!!
Waiting!

 

[Meggysmum]

I will be there in 15 days. And I have to renew my annual pass. Hopefully something happens in few weeks (14days) lol!!!!!
Waiting!

I am there in 21 days and want to upgrade to an AP. I can guarantee the announcement will be the day after I return home!

 

[dvc_john]

Just my recent experience:

Yesterday while having my morning coffee and deciding what to do for the day, I decided on DHS, and got fastpass+ for TSMM, Tower of Terror, and Great Movie Ride. (At the times I went, the posted standby times were 85 min, 40 min, and 20 min respectively.) Didn't even head to the park until about 1pm.

Today I decided on AK, and just got my fastpass+ for EE, Kilimanjaro, and Dinosaur. Again, won't even head to the park until about 1pm or so.

I like getting fastpasses the night before or the morning of going to a park because I generally don't like to plan weeks/months in advance.

 

[mrsgoose8]

I'll be so bummed if they do a big discount ; we just got APs in January. I'd guess they won't back date the discount.?

 

[disneygal55]

We need to get new DVC AP's for our May trip and have been waiting to see if there will be a new offer...hoping for a little magic!

 

[SamSam]

Whoa!!! Where have I been that I haven't read about DVC doing away with the AP discount!
I will have to put pen to paper and figure out what the best tickets for our trips our without the DVD AP discount! Hope it comes back.

 

[chukdotcom]

Whoa!!! Where have I been that I haven't read about DVC doing away with the AP discount!
I will have to put pen to paper and figure out what the best tickets for our trips our without the DVD AP discount! Hope it comes back.

They still have the regular AP discount. The OP was referring to the special discounts that are sometimes offered ($399).

 

[breick]

I was talking to MS today and asked about AP's. I also was told "to wait a few weeks". I am trying to wait patiently...