Disney doesn't do more for the annual pass holders for a reason.

[k5jm]

Brian I think you make a valid point. Disney has to tow the line somewhere with discounts. Where they can discount less, or not in some cases, is frequent return visitors. The only way this changes is the long time frequent visitor just stops going. That is the only way to convey the message. What do they call that? Vote with your wallet?

So since we are talking about payment plans. If you think an AP payment plan is a good idea, what about a room payment plan? You purchase so many nights in a package and pay off a little at a time.

Disney corp. calls this........drum roll..................

This is how they want you to finance your AP, your rooms, and your whole vacation @ 9%.

"He once purchased a car with a whisker. Why, you may ask? Because, he is, the most interesting man, in the world."

 

[Mindy5767]

See, it's true...the man is a GENIUS!!!

Seriously, DVC lets me pay my annual dues across 12 equal monthly payments with no interest...which, by the way, add up to MUCH more than the cost of my AP!

Really? I had no idea you could pay your annual dues in monthly payments without interest. I wonder if DH knows this. We just put the whole thing on our Chase Disney Visa (for the points).

I am a DVC member and currently hold annual passes. The current promotion to renew my annual pass and get 15 months is a serious incentive this time around. I bought an AP (DVC price) in November 2007. I used it for that week long trip, and then returned for Flower & Garden in April 08 and MNSSHP & F&W in Oct 08. 3 trips. Averaged out to about $16.00 per person/day. However, Disney made money on our in-park and in-resort spending. All the meal, the souvenirs, the dinner shows etc. We did not renew out AP's when they came up for renewal in Nov 08. If we had that pass would have been good from Nov08-Nov09. During that time period we had 1 visit for a week in July. However, what we did was, when we returned IN July, we bought another AP set for me, DH and DD7. DD21 and DS17 wanted WPFM... I wasn't springing for THAT AP. Too pricey. So they got 8 day park hopping WPFM. Now we are returning next week with me, DH, DD7 and DS18. The three of us will use last July's AP but DS18 will require a new 6 or 7 day regular park hopper. If we choose to renew our AP's because they expire in July, we will get 15 months instead of 12 and that is a good enough incentive to try to fit in more trips. As far as I know, the pass would be the DVC renewal price. So that is additional savings.

I think there would be a significant risk of default after AP holders got their vacations in that they'd wanted but before they had paid off their passes. People can use their credit cards to stretch out payments. Use their home equity lines etc (I know... who has equity anymore?). I guess Disney doesn't think that this is an acceptable risk for them. As a stockholder, I'm good with that. Also, think about this, in order for Disney to offer such a plan, they'd have to run it through the financing arm of the business that they run their DVC membership financing through. The parks division probably doesn't have the infastructure businesswise. Disney Development does.

Besides, AP are often offered room only discounts. We're offered discounts on shopping and dining. It is interesting because you really have to keep track of your discounts. For instance, DVC offer discounts, AP offers discounts AND AAA offers discounts. However, they're different. One time DVC might be better, another time the AP might be. And Earl of Sandwich only offers AAA discount.

I'm a DVC AP holder who lives 889 miles from the mouse.

and while we contemplate this all.. I'm doing the single digit dance

 

[ADP]

Disney corp. calls this........drum roll..................

This is how they want you to finance your AP, your rooms, and your whole vacation @ 9%.

"He once purchased a car with a whisker. Why, you may ask? Because, he is, the most interesting man, in the world."

Good point. Do the other theme park payment plans charge interest? I didn't think they did, but not sure since I've never done it.

 

[SamSam]

We're from Kansas and have been buying Annual Passes since the early 1990's. Although, I do think that WDW would sell more annual passes if they had a payment plan.
When you're buying AP's for 2 adults and several kids it can add up to quite a chunk.

 

[Mindy5767]

Good point. Do they other theme park payment plans charge interest? I didn't think they did, but not sure since I've never done it.

What theme park payment plan?

If you buy a vacation package from AAA or probably any other travel agent, you can pay for your vacation in several payment with the balance due some number of weeks before the vacation. I wonder if the cruiseline does this.

 

[kehlyrsmom]

My husband and I are strongly considering the annual pass since we are making two trips this year one in May for 6 days just the two of us and back again in Sept for 9 days with our children for our Bounce Back offer. I even suggested to him that if we did get it that maybe we would try and take the kids next spring or at xmas for our daughters b-day.

But the one thing holding me back is the fact that I would not be able to use it with our Bounce Back offer promotion. I have called down a couple of times and have gotten different answers. I think we would have to purchase at least a one day ticket for us, not sure how it would work with the kids since we were not planning on getting the annual pass for them.

Anyway I guess my point is if they would allow a little more flexibility in the use of them there may be more of us purchasing them. I live in central IL, 18 hours away from the mouse and I would be willing to purchase the AP actually I would prefer to purchase it this year and would try to convience my husband to go on a third short trip this year if it made economical sense for us to do so. Since we would have to purchase additional single day tickets for both of us for our trip this fall, I think in the end it would cost us more then our current tickets.

 

[mrzrich]

By your definition (less than 200 miles) you would consider me a local. I live 90 or so minutes from WDW and I almost always stay onsite. DH hates waking up early, driving to WDW and then driving home tired. Maybe, I can get him to do this ONCE a year. Usually, we stay onsite 5 or more times a year for 3 or more nights at a time.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I've been thinking about this and can't really see much of a downside for Disney, so I'm really wondering if maybe they are really concerned about those who would use the pass, only make payments for six months or less, then close the credit card. I could really see that happening more than we here might think it would. I mean, what if someone used one of those pre-paid Visas you can get at Walgreens, made one payment, got their passes, went to Disney, even once just for a week or 10 days and then threw the "no more money on it" pre-paid card away. If the monthly payment is say $75-$100, that would be way less than a 7-10 day Park Hopper.

 

[doconeill]

My husband and I are strongly considering the annual pass since we are making two trips this year one in May for 6 days just the two of us and back again in Sept for 9 days with our children for our Bounce Back offer. I even suggested to him that if we did get it that maybe we would try and take the kids next spring or at xmas for our daughters b-day.

But the one thing holding me back is the fact that I would not be able to use it with our Bounce Back offer promotion. I have called down a couple of times and have gotten different answers. I think we would have to purchase at least a one day ticket for us, not sure how it would work with the kids since we were not planning on getting the annual pass for them.

If you know you'll make a trip in the future where you won't need a package, keep the 1-day tickets for future use. They won't expire and you can upgrade them when you eventually use them.

If you are only talking about APs for you and DH, I would do this:

1) Get the best deal you can on whatever tickets you can get ahead of time (mousesavers, AAA, etc.) for you and DH, so long as they cost less than the AP. When you arrive, use them once*, then upgrade them to APs. This will save you a few dollars.

2) On your bounce-back trip, get 1-day tickets for everyone. save the 1-days for you and DH for a future trip, and upgrade the kids 1-days to whatever length you need after you arrive. Use the 1-days first before upgrading if the price goes up between now and then*.

3) Do whatever other trips you can do within your APs - note that if you can plan enough ahead and it makes sense, in step 2 upgrade your children's 1-days to APs.

4) On a future non-AP trip, use the 1-days you saved and upgrade them.

* The reason you do this is that regardless of what the purchase price was of a ticket, if a ticket is used the will (or at least are supposed to) bridge the price of the ticket to the current gate price.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

They do the payment plan at DLR, seems like they could make it work for WDW.

There's bound to be a different reason.

 

[ADP]

What theme park payment plan?

If you buy a vacation package from AAA or probably any other travel agent, you can pay for your vacation in several payment with the balance due some number of weeks before the vacation. I wonder if the cruiseline does this.

I meant an AP payment plan. The other parks offer AP payment plays except Disney.

 

[cslittle999]

So since we are talking about payment plans. If you think an AP payment plan is a good idea, what about a room payment plan? You purchase so many nights in a package and pay off a little at a time.

It depends on what you mean. Today you can book a package and make regular payments with the condition that it is paid in full 45 days prior to arrival. From reading on the boards many people do this. Disney has all of your money prior to you making use of the service. If you don't pay then they have the option to deny you service.

If you mean staying and then making payments later I don't think it would work. What happens if you stop making payments? You've already received the service. Disney's only option would be to send it to collections and deny you access to Disney hotels until you paid. Maybe not even that.

The AP payment plan would work because Disney can simply disable the pass if you stop paying.

 

[hookedonears]

And some are right handed and some arent.

In other words Kevin, from a statistical point of view, taking a sample of opinions from this board would not achieve a desirable un-biased outcome.

 

[HunnyBunny]

We usually ask each other "Where are you from?" and it has always struck me that no one has ever told me they were from Orlando and a very few from Florida.

You must not be talking to me! I'm a local and probably in the minority of how often I visit. Since we got our annual passes on Feb 19th, I've been 9 times, usually twice in a weekend. A payment plan would have been great for us.

I think a lot more locals would go on a payment plan as most of them work for minimum wage in the areas hotels and other attractions. Because Disney doesn't pay a very high wage to most of their cast members, neither does anyone else in this town. I know plenty of people who work for Disney just to have that cast member pass.

I know we would have had passes sooner if a payment plan was an option.

 

[Mindy5767]

I meant an AP payment plan. The other parks offer AP payment plays except Disney.

OH!!!! By other parks... you mean shhhhh non-Disney parks! I heard there might be some nearby? So can't even imagine getting an AP for them that it never occurred to me that that was what you were talking about!

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

I know this is a WDW-focused discussion, but out here in DL we have a totally different issue. Depending on who you talk to, APs have either hit 1 million or are very close. According to some Disney cast members, APers at DL are primarily locals and spend less than most out-of-townies because DL APers frequently eat and stay off-property. They also tend to spend less on souvenirs, but I think that may be due to the quality of souvenirs in the park. I know a lot of APers who tend to purchase the big-ticket collectibles rather than the standard trinkets. Supposedly, it's not uncommon for APers to outnumber tourists at DL. However, from what I recall I think DL offers more discounts to their APers.

We live in Northern California, but have had APs for years. We tend to go against the trend since we eat on property, always purchase something and tend to stay on property since we're DVC members. Since we're planning to go on the Podcast 2.0 Cruise, it's cheaper for me to upgrade to the Premier Pass this year.

There is a rumor that DL plans to begin raising the price of the DL AP significantly over the next few years to reduce the number of APs. There has even been rumors of bringing back the ticket books to force people to have to choose which attractions they really want to go on in the hopes of reducing the lines in the queues.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I know this is a WDW-focused discussion, but out here in DL we have a totally different issue. Depending on who you talk to, APs have either hit 1 million or are very close. According to some Disney cast members, APers at DL are primarily locals and spend less than most out-of-townies because DL APers frequently eat and stay off-property. They also tend to spend less on souvenirs, but I think that may be due to the quality of souvenirs in the park. I know a lot of APers who tend to purchase the big-ticket collectibles rather than the standard trinkets. Supposedly, it's not uncommon for APers to outnumber tourists at DL. However, from what I recall I think DL offers more discounts to their APers.

We live in Northern California, but have had APs for years. We tend to go against the trend since we eat on property, always purchase something and tend to stay on property since we're DVC members. Since we're planning to go on the Podcast 2.0 Cruise, it's cheaper for me to upgrade to the Premier Pass this year.

There is a rumor that DL plans to begin raising the price of the DL AP significantly over the next few years to reduce the number of APs. There has even been rumors of bringing back the ticket books to force people to have to choose which attractions they really want to go on in the hopes of reducing the lines in the queues.

Interesting. Aren't locals DL's bread and butter? I've heard this before about DL. As much as I want to see DL, it makes me a little hesistant about going. It seems like they say it's ALWAYS crowded. I suppose you could say the same about WDW, but I manage to go when crowds are (to, me) are very reasonable and I can strategize the best park to go to crowd wise, but seems like with all the locals who go to DL and with much less space this isn't the case there.

Disclaimer!: I have NOTHING against locals. I think it's great they have such a loyalty and history with DL. I just don't like crowds.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

Interesting. Aren't locals DL's bread and butter? I've heard this before about DL. As much as I want to see DL, it makes me a little hesistant about going. It seems like they say it's ALWAYS crowded. I suppose you could say the same about WDW, but I manage to go when crowds are (to, me) are very reasonable and I can strategize the best park to go to crowd wise, but seems like with all the locals who go to DL and with much less space this isn't the case there.

Disclaimer!: I have NOTHING against locals. I think it's great they have such a loyalty and history with DL. I just don't like crowds.

Hi! Don't let crowds disuade you from visiting DL. It is a charming park and you would really enjoy yourself. Like any Disney park, there are times of the year when it's more crowded than others. Also, there are several types of APs that have blackout dates preventing APers from entering the parks - unless they pay a modest admission price. Also, APers tend to arrive later in the day and leave after the fireworks or first showing of Fantasmic. So, arrive early, take a break at mid-day and relax at your hotel, then return in the evening when DL is absolutely gorgeous. Now all of this strategy could change when The World of Color water pageant opens at DCA.

So, please come on out and visit DL and walk in Walt's footsteps!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

As Michael said, the DL AP situation is very different. We have 4 levels of AP here. Each has it's own blackout dates. WDW has none. This allows all income levels to have a shot of the magic. In fact, since they initated the AP payment program (with no interest), the number of APs rose so drastically that the park has seen an increase in total attendance numbers of 15%. That proves John's point about the value of doing the payment plan.

That being said, Disney is worried they have over-extended themselves with this program - hence, the increase in AP pricing. If they increase the pricing in this way, the folks that bought because of the plan might be less likely to renew, thus "culling the herd" and bringing those numbers back to a more managable levels.

Some of the issues they are facing because of increased passholder numbers include increased demand of parking - the garage fills much earlier and they have to turn to overflow. The new lot opening soon will alleviate some of this. This same issue has increased demand and wear on the trams, too. They have already re-worked the stroller/wheelchair rental center and centralized it.

We also get a lot of discounts, based on the level of our pass. Ones that they extended increased discounts on through May, because we don't buy merchandise. 20% in all Disney owned shops for premium APs. Our pass discounts equal the DVC discount through most of the park and we do get in-park merchandise discounts off $10 or higher purchases. And no - we don't get a discount in WDW for having our DL AP. The new Premier Passport could change that though. As Michael said - we locals don't spend the money like the tourists. We come in multiple cars, we leave before dinner time or come after lunch. I'm very choosy about what I buy and we bring our kid's lunch from home at times. We come to swing dance, or catch a quick ride or two.

All is not doom and gloom for tourists though, because of this. Keep in mind that only Premium AP holders can attend the parks on all Saturdays (Deluxe has to sit them out during summer and peak periods), and most locals work during the week, so tourist don't have that bad of a time with the crowds. The key comes in being smart during peak vacation season. Go into the park early - locals get there after 10 or 11 and leave out by 6pm, especially on Sunday. There is another influx of locals after 4pm, though - the nighttime crowd - there for just fireworks, dinner, or Friday and Saturday date night and dancing. House of Blues concerts will also bring a later crowd, but they focus on DTD.

I hope this gives a little more insight on the pros and cons of the AP payment plan, as we have it here in DL.

 

[georgemoe]

It depends on what you mean. Today you can book a package and make regular payments with the condition that it is paid in full 45 days prior to arrival. From reading on the boards many people do this. Disney has all of your money prior to you making use of the service. If you don't pay then they have the option to deny you service.

If you mean staying and then making payments later I don't think it would work. What happens if you stop making payments? You've already received the service. Disney's only option would be to send it to collections and deny you access to Disney hotels until you paid. Maybe not even that.

The AP payment plan would work because Disney can simply disable the pass if you stop paying.

What I mean is a payment plan, to me, means you agree to make regular payments on something you receive now, not later. What you described above is nothing new. It's called a layaway plan. It's been around for years.

The last thing Disney needs is more cost in the system that would come with a collections department.