DVC Annual Pass price increase experience

[MarkLyndaJakeChloe]

I know this is not directly connected with DVC but just wondered if anyone has experienced this.

We purchased our DVC Premium Annual Passes via the website in July with will call option. I had expected the prices to rise in early August but knew we were exempt from this.

However, upon our arrival at the Magic Kingdom Will Call window on the 5th August, the CM stated that he required an additional $84 (due to the price increase)!!

I basically had to explain that as far as I was concerned I had paid for the tickets before the increase and that I will be paying no more (in a polite tone, of course)!!

He then stated that he would "let it go this time" as if he was doing me a favour!

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Corinne]

Oh my goodness! We purchased our AP's with the will call option the last week of July. We redeemed them on August 22 and did not have that happen to us. The CM was WRONG! Glad "he let it go", but he needs to learn what will call means!

 

[Tara]

I know this is not directly connected with DVC but just wondered if anyone has experienced this.

We purchased our DVC Premium Annual Passes via the website in July with will call option. I had expected the prices to rise in early August but knew we were exempt from this.

However, upon our arrival at the Magic Kingdom Will Call window on the 5th August, the CM stated that he required an additional $84 (due to the price increase)!!

I basically had to explain that as far as I was concerned I had paid for the tickets before the increase and that I will be paying no more (in a polite tone, of course)!!

He then stated that he would "let it go this time" as if he was doing me a favour!

Has anyone else experienced this?

You are correct and the CM was mistaken. I would have been tempted to ask that CM if he thought I speak to his manager about his poor training or if I should "let it go this time."

I am certainly no expert on ticketing transactions, but I have a hard time envisioning how the CM could have rung up this $84 transaction without some manager override.

 

[backyardponder]

You are correct and the CM was mistaken. I would have been tempted to ask that CM if he thought I speak to his manager about his poor training or if I should "let it go this time."

I am certainly no expert on ticketing transactions, but I have a hard time envisioning how the CM could have rung up this $84 transaction without some manager override.

I'll bet there's some sort of key on the register which reads "Mouse Food" which is for anything else they can get!

 

[stampinshauna]

We were afraid that this might happen to us, so when we purchased at the end of July we paid the $4 to ship the passes. What we got were cards that we turn in for the actual passes. I'm glad to hear they "let it go" but hopefully it isn't common for them to try to get more $ out of you. If they are worried about price increases, they should only sell passes until the next price increase date.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

It certainly didn't happen for us. They gave us the tickets without question. I'm glad you held your ground.

 

[mandjblum]

We were good also. Bought on the last day prior to the increase and picked up about a week after the increase.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Isn't that the purpose of purchasing the tix PRIOR to the price increase ...to save the extra $$$$???

 

[Sandisw]

Wow. I did the same thing as you. Matter of fact, I even picked them up at the Guest Relations in Epcot the same day as you and had no issues.

It is amazing how misinformed CM's can be. Can you imagine how many people might actually pay the difference because they don't know?

 

[Mr. Disney 652]

We had the same thing happen, only ours was with the free AP's given when adding on a few years back. I went bonkers after spending over 10G's and then being told I had to pay more because of the increase. The manager "waived" the fee though...great PR.

 

[littlestar]

I've heard about an "attitude" at that location from family that recently came back from a trip. Pretty amazing with a recession when you think about it. I'll have to make a point NOT to pick up our Annual passes at that location. Hopefully Disney didn't downsize all their good help/management.

 

[DVCGeek]

I bought two APs @ DVC rate (NOT renewals) with the Will-Call option on July 19th. Plan to pick them up on Oct. 23rd (our arrival day) @ DHS. Hopefully they won't try and play any games! Sorry to hear this happened to you but I'm very glad you did NOT pay any more than you should have.

 

[katmittens]

I also bought our APs with our dvc discount the end of July and will be picking them up on Oct 13, so I hope I don't have a problem. I placed two separate orders, since DH and I will pick ours up in Oct. and our DS and DD will be with us in Jan and will be picking them up then.

 

[manning]

I know this is not directly connected with DVC but just wondered if anyone has experienced this.

We purchased our DVC Premium Annual Passes via the website in July with will call option. I had expected the prices to rise in early August but knew we were exempt from this.

However, upon our arrival at the Magic Kingdom Will Call window on the 5th August, the CM stated that he required an additional $84 (due to the price increase)!!

I basically had to explain that as far as I was concerned I had paid for the tickets before the increase and that I will be paying no more (in a polite tone, of course)!!

He then stated that he would "let it go this time" as if he was doing me a favour!

Has anyone else experienced this?

I would have asked for a supervisor and straightened this guy out.

 

[littlestar]

I would have asked for a supervisor and straightened this guy out.

My family's experience was so bad at that location that they told me they would never buy another Disney multi-day pass again. The only thing I could think to tell them was that maybe Disney had downsized some of their better management with the economy being the way it is.

 

[n2mm]

I have purchaed my tickets and AP renewals prior to price increases for years and have never been asked for additional money. Like everyone else, I renewed in July before the increase and will do my ticket exchange in October. I've done it this way for the last 5 years and it's never been an issue. You locked in a price by purchasing early. Heck, I just traded in a AP voucher I bought 5 years ago for $299 and it was no problem getting an AP for my grandson with it. OP -- the CM was incorrect.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I know this is not directly connected with DVC but just wondered if anyone has experienced this.

We purchased our DVC Premium Annual Passes via the website in July with will call option. I had expected the prices to rise in early August but knew we were exempt from this.

However, upon our arrival at the Magic Kingdom Will Call window on the 5th August, the CM stated that he required an additional $84 (due to the price increase)!!

I basically had to explain that as far as I was concerned I had paid for the tickets before the increase and that I will be paying no more (in a polite tone, of course)!!

He then stated that he would "let it go this time" as if he was doing me a favour!

Has anyone else experienced this?

Choosing the "will call" option was the mistake here. We always have the vouchers sent. Then when you exchange them, there is no way to know what you actually paid for them. In reality, by doing "will call" you are deferring final payment until you pick them up.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Choosing the "will call" option was the mistake here. We always have the vouchers sent. Then when you exchange them, there is no way to know what you actually paid for them. In reality, by doing "will call" you are deferring final payment until you pick them up.

It shouldn't matter what you paid. You purchased an annual pass. If there is no clause, and I don't believe there is, that states you must pay the difference IF there's a price increase......it doesn't matter.

The CM was misinformed.

 

[n2mm]

Choosing the "will call" option was the mistake here. We always have the vouchers sent. Then when you exchange them, there is no way to know what you actually paid for them. In reality, by doing "will call" you are deferring final payment until you pick them up.

Not true. I've done willcall for many years and it's never a problem. I always renewed my APs and purchase multiday tickets via willcall right before a price increase. I've never been told that I need to pay more when picking up.

 

[MarkLyndaJakeChloe]

Many thanks for all your comments!!

So glad that the vast majority agreed with my thoughts!!

I was just thinking, what if you were to apply the CM's (and certain other Disers) theory to other situations where you have pre-paid? Say, reserving a hotel room, booking flights etc. only to turn up and be told the price had increased and you must pay the difference!!

I don't think so!!

Me thinks that the CM made a mistake but rather than admitting it, said that he "would let it go this time" to make himself look good!