Disney's new perk: pay for 12 - get 5!

[never2muchdisney]

Oh my, what a surprise! Disney annual deluxe pass holders no longer get discounts on most theme park and hotel merchandise locations. When we purchased the passes in July 2010, did they bother to mention, post, announce, or be courteous enough to let us know that starting in 2011 our passes would no longer be good for a 10% discount in stores? No!

So our contract with Disney when we purchased the passes stated that we would receive 10% off for 366 days. But in tiny print, you can cheat your pass holders because you have covered yourselves legally. Feel no regret for advertising a great 10% discount in July 2010, with the intention of dropping it in 5 months. Surpise, surprise and a big thank you for letting us pay for 12 months of discounts and getting only 5! I hope you spend your profits off us wisely.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Ummmm....that was never a permanent perk and isn't printed in the AP brochure as one last I saw. And for some reason I thought it WAS continued until the end of 2011.

Found it: MousePlanet weekely update

...The extra merchandise discount offered to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders has been extended yet again, this time through December 31, 2011. Premier and Premier passes are good for a 20% discount on qualifying merchandise; all other passes are eligible for a 10% discount. Along with this latest extension of the merchandise discount comes a waiver of the $10 minimum purchase requirement.

 

[Belle Ella]

^ This (posted by 3Minnies1Mickey) is what I was told by CM's just this past week. Where did you hear that they were discontinuing this? It sounds like someone was misinformed.

 

[never2muchdisney]

Hi, we got heads up from an Emporium CM the last week of December that deluxe passes would no longer receive merchandise discounts starting January 1st. And sure enough, on Disneyland.com, the 10% is good only for premium pass holders.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Deluxe passholders don't receive a merchandise discount as part of their AP purchase. SoCal passholders don't either. The only pass that has a merchandise discount written into the "benefits" or "perks" "contract" or however you want to look at it has always been the premium pass. Premium pass holders receive a 10% merchandise discount and 15% dining discount. All other passholders receive no merchandise discount and 10% dining discount.

What you may be used to is that for over a year now Disney has offered a merchandise discount of 20% to premium AP holders and 10% to all other AP holders. This has been a nice bonus with specified end dates although it has been extended several times.

I had read on several sites that the merchandise discount had been extended through the end of 2011 and that the $10 minimum purchase requirement had even been waived. I don't know if what I was reading was official and confirmed or rumor. Nor do I know if it was limited to certain classifications of passes.

Did you actually attempt to make a merchandise purchase and get told you no longer receive a discount or is this something you have simply heard or read about somewhere?

Hmm...see that you posted again before mine got up. I don't think the 10% discount was ever listed on the benefits list for the other passes on the AP website since it was a "temporary" thing. Also, not all CMs are always fully informed. I would wait and see if there is any official confirmation one way or the other or go in and ask a CM now if the discount is still in effect or try to make a purchase and find out.

 

[nana50]

I have the socal pass and constantly forget about the discount. Usually the cast member remembers though. It is not that important to me. I go a lot and would use it a lot. I feel my discount is being able to go numerous times for one price.

 

[Belle Ella]

Ah, I get it now. In reality though, the AP is still such a great deal if you use it, even without discounts. But it looks like that lower levels getting the merchandise discounts as well was a special that they kept around longer than originally intended so I guess it makes sense that it would go away eventually.

If you go often enough and the discount means that much - why not just upgrade to the Premium? I've found it to pay for itself pretty fast between days used and food/merchandise/tour discounts.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Ummmm....that was never a permanent perk and isn't printed in the AP brochure as one last I saw. And for some reason I thought it WAS continued until the end of 2011.

Found it: MousePlanet weekely update

Aha. I knew I had read it somewhere. MP is usually pretty reliable. I think I've been reading discussions about this too on the MP board and elsewhere.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Oh my, what a surprise! Disney annual deluxe pass holders no longer get discounts on most theme park and hotel merchandise locations. When we purchased the passes in July 2010, did they bother to mention, post, announce, or be courteous enough to let us know that starting in 2011 our passes would no longer be good for a 10% discount in stores? No!

So our contract with Disney when we purchased the passes stated that we would receive 10% off for 366 days. But in tiny print, you can cheat your pass holders because you have covered yourselves legally. Feel no regret for advertising a great 10% discount in July 2010, with the intention of dropping it in 5 months. Surpise, surprise and a big thank you for letting us pay for 12 months of discounts and getting only 5! I hope you spend your profits off us wisely.

Well, no. The 10% off for passholders other than Premium was a special that Disney offered. It is not generally part of the Deluxe AP. It is not a case of them taking it away, but moreso a case of them offering it much longer than they initially stated. It was an extra "goody" that they kept around longer than originally anticipated.

You didn't pay for 12 months of discounts. You paid for 12 months of admission to DLR Parks based on the Deluxe blockout calendar. You were given 10% off for a time as part of an additional offer that Disney was never contractually obligated to offer.

So in reality it's: Thanks, Disney, for giving your Deluxe AP holders an extra discount for an extended period, even though it wasn't part of what we paid for initially.

I hope you enjoy using your AP on visits throughout the year!

- Dreams

 

[blackjackdelta]

Well, no. The 10% off for passholders other than Premium was a special that Disney offered. It is not generally part of the Deluxe AP. It is not a case of them taking it away, but moreso a case of them offering it much longer than they initially stated. It was an extra "goody" that they kept around longer than originally anticipated.

You didn't pay for 12 months of discounts. You paid for 12 months of admission to DLR Parks based on the Deluxe blockout calendar. You were given 10% off for a time as part of an additional offer that Disney was never contractually obligated to offer.

So in reality it's: Thanks, Disney, for giving your Deluxe AP holders an extra discount for an extended period, even though it wasn't part of what we paid for initially.

I hope you enjoy using your AP on visits throughout the year!

- Dreams

Exactly. We got ours in August and it was posted in many posts and forums.

Jack

 

[Mom2Joce]

"So in reality it's: Thanks, Disney, for giving your Deluxe AP holders an extra discount for an extended period, even though it wasn't part of what we paid for initially.

I hope you enjoy using your AP on visits throughout the year!"
NICE!! LOL!!

Ok, so I'm reading but I'm not sure I'm understanding...I have the Deluxe AP right now and if we go in April/May I will not get the merchandise % off but will still get the food % off? Did I read that right? Or is it simply NO % off?

 

[never2muchdisney]

The 10% discount on merchandise has been one of the many benefits to being a deluxe annual pass holder. It was offered as a benefit, marketed as a benefit, and I paid for annual passes good for 366 days which included that benefit. This merchandise discount wasn’t something Disney just threw in every now and then to make the deluxe pass holders think they were getting something special, or a little goody, wild or extra. This was one of the bolded benefits to purchasing the deluxe pass and marketed as such online and phone.

I agree, the annual passes are a great deal, and that’s why my family and I have purchased them for the past 4 ½ years and have received this merchandise discount for 4 ½ years. When I purchase an item, any item, via Disney or other pass, I research and see what the advantages and disadvantages are for my needs as the consumer. And when I purchase something with a marketable benefit for 12 months, I as the consumer should get nothing less for that 12 months. I shouldn’t have to purchase an upgraded premium pass to get the benefit I’ve already paid for with the deluxe.

I’m not looking for a solution to getting the 10% merchandise discount; I am complaining that I will no longer get something I’ve paid for, and that Disney has the legal right to reduce my benefits anytime during my 366 days without notice or a refund. It’s wrong, and it’s poor business management. And the kicker is, most consumers won’t even notice, and that’s what they’re counting on.

 

[disneychrista]

I though the APs were for admission to the park?

 

[never2muchdisney]

"So in reality it's: Thanks, Disney, for giving your Deluxe AP holders an extra discount for an extended period, even though it wasn't part of what we paid for initially.

I hope you enjoy using your AP on visits throughout the year!"
NICE!! LOL!!

Ok, so I'm reading but I'm not sure I'm understanding...I have the Deluxe AP right now and if we go in April/May I will not get the merchandise % off but will still get the food % off? Did I read that right? Or is it simply NO % off?

Correct. The deluxe pass will still honor the food discount, but no longer good for the merchandise discount.

 

[Belle Ella]

Ok, so I'm reading but I'm not sure I'm understanding...I have the Deluxe AP right now and if we go in April/May I will not get the merchandise % off but will still get the food % off? Did I read that right? Or is it simply NO % off?

You are correct. You'll get the food discounts, but not the merchandise.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

The 10% discount on merchandise has been one of the many benefits to being a deluxe annual pass holder. It was offered as a benefit, marketed as a benefit, and I paid for annual passes good for 366 days which included that benefit. This merchandise discount wasn’t something Disney just threw in every now and then to make the deluxe pass holders think they were getting something special, or a little goody, wild or extra. This was one of the bolded benefits to purchasing the deluxe pass and marketed as such online and phone.

I agree, the annual passes are a great deal, and that’s why my family and I have purchased them for the past 4 ½ years and have received this merchandise discount for 4 ½ years. When I purchase an item, any item, via Disney or other pass, I research and see what the advantages and disadvantages are for my needs as the consumer. And when I purchase something with a marketable benefit for 12 months, I as the consumer should get nothing less for that 12 months. I shouldn’t have to purchase an upgraded premium pass to get the benefit I’ve already paid for with the deluxe.

I’m not looking for a solution to getting the 10% merchandise discount; I am complaining that I will no longer get something I’ve paid for, and that Disney has the legal right to reduce my benefits anytime during my 366 days without notice or a refund. It’s wrong, and it’s poor business management. And the kicker is, most consumers won’t even notice, and that’s what they’re counting on.

This is kind of funny to me because I predicted in another thread this kind of thing happening when/if Disney stopped offering the extra merchandise discount, which I would like to point out we don't even have absolute, official confirmation that they have done. While I admit I don't recall the exact date Disney started adding the extra 10% merchandise discount, I know that it hasn't been going on continuously for 4 1/2 years. Historically, the Deluxe passholders have gotten a dining discount of 10% in restaurants and NO merchandise discount. We have been passholders since Dec. 2006 We started with the deluxe. There was NO merchandise discount for deluxe holders at that time or during any of the trips we made with those passes. I remember grouping all of our purchases together at World of Disney during our trips for the specific reason that the only way to get a merchandise discount was to use my Disney Visa and spend at least $50. When we renewed our deluxe passes in 2007, Disney sent us a 20% off merchandise coupon for each pass, and we were really excited about this since we didn't get a merchandise discount except for in the way I described through Disney Visa. When we first started as premium passholders in February 2009, the merchandise discount was still only 10% off for premium holders. Sometime in 2009, Disney increased that to 20% and added the 10% discount for other passholders. I think it was a holiday promotion. Then they extended it and extended it, I don't know how many times. It's been extended often enough now that passholders "remember" it always being a benefit! It has not been. Also, each time this discount has been offered, it has had an end date. Most CMs were able to tell you the discount was available and through what date. Then when Disney extended it again, they would tell you the new date. The last one was set to expire right around when the holiday season ended. Rumor is that the discount has been extended yet again, so this all may be moot.

Yes, I love getting the discount. It helps take the sting out of the price increases we've seen for things we want. Did I expect Disney to continue it forever? Not really. Do I buy my pass expecting that Disney will never change any of the benefits? Not really. I hope they don't, but I know it could happen. They're a business; that's what businesses do. Does Disney have the right to change things, even things they've actually advertised as pass perks, at their discretion? Yes, all the fine print and legalese is designed to let them do whatever they think is going to work best for their operations and bottom line. It's in their best interests, of course, to not muck with things to such an extent that they suffer major backlash. Is it disappointing when a previously enjoyed perk disappears? Yes, it can be. I agree with the others though who commented that you can still get a lot of benefit and enjoyment from your passes, and that this wasn't even a regular pass benefit to begin with. If you are dissatisfied with what you're getting for the money or unwilling to risk Disney making other changes to benefits, which may stink but which they have the right to do, then don't renew your passes.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I hate to repeat myself....

MousePlanet weekely update

...The extra merchandise discount offered to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders has been extended yet again, this time through December 31, 2011. Premier and Premier passes are good for a 20% discount on qualifying merchandise; all other passes are eligible for a 10% discount. Along with this latest extension of the merchandise discount comes a waiver of the $10 minimum purchase requirement.

At least until the end of 2011 you will get BOTH food and merchandise discounts no matter which AP you have.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I agree, the annual passes are a great deal, and that’s why my family and I have purchased them for the past 4 ½ years and have received this merchandise discount for 4 ½ years.

I hate to disagree, but we bought DAPs in September 2009 and this was NOT a perk at the time. Only PAPs got merchandise discounts until the 2009 holiday season, when they started this current promotion.

 

[Disney Dreams]

The 10% discount on merchandise has been one of the many benefits to being a deluxe annual pass holder. It was offered as a benefit, marketed as a benefit, and I paid for annual passes good for 366 days which included that benefit. This merchandise discount wasn’t something Disney just threw in every now and then to make the deluxe pass holders think they were getting something special, or a little goody, wild or extra. This was one of the bolded benefits to purchasing the deluxe pass and marketed as such online and phone....

But it wasn't.

I did some searching and found this. In Jan. 2010, the following was posted on the AP website: "Southern California Select, Southern California and Deluxe Passholders can save on gifts and souvenirs by taking advantage of a 10% discount on all purchases at select Disneyland® Resort stores! For Premium Passholders, enjoy a whopping 20% discount instead of the usual 10% discount at these participating stores*!

This offer is valid from now through May 3, 2010."

At that time, it was extended again from the several previous times. And as 3Minnies1Mickey has posted, it seems it has been extended again. However, it is NOT a benefit that you actually pay for when purchasing a deluxe AP. It's an additional perk Disney has extended. Enjoy.

- Dreams

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

But it wasn't.

I did some searching and found this. In Jan. 2010, the following was posted on the AP website: "Southern California Select, Southern California and Deluxe Passholders can save on gifts and souvenirs by taking advantage of a 10% discount on all purchases at select Disneyland® Resort stores! For Premium Passholders, enjoy a whopping 20% discount instead of the usual 10% discount at these participating stores*!

This offer is valid from now through May 3, 2010."

At that time, it was extended again from the several previous times. And as 3Minnies1Mickey has posted, it seems it has been extended again. However, it is NOT a benefit that you actually pay for when purchasing a deluxe AP. It's an additional perk Disney has extended. Enjoy.

- Dreams

It originally started either late November or December 2009. I think a lot of people saw it as a way to get local AP holders to buy xmas/holiday presents in DLR. It originally was supposed to end at the end of the holiday season 2009, then extended like you posted to May 2010, then September, then this holiday season, now until the end of 2011. I guess it worked in getting those local APs to start shopping in DLR since they keep extending it.