DVC Perk..then punked

[valeriekc]

I am wondering how everyone else feels?
First Disney offers up a preview weekend only available to DVC members for the fabulous Expedition Everest which means that really very few folks would be able to break free and get down there for the weekend.
I mean in it's initial form the weekend was going to be exclusive and awesome...slow time of year, no crowds, huge new ride only available to those of us that have invested so heavily in Disney.
And I believe it was well deserved.

Then Disney recognized they could make much more $$$$$$ by opening up the "exclusive preview" to Annual Pass holders as well.

Well now look at the hotels and restaurants for this weekend....booked solid and Disney personnel are predicting crowds similiar to Easter

I have noticed all you (better behaved) DVC members are not hollering about it and wondering, am I wrong to be upset??
I mean I feel gypped, they could have held another weekend between now and April for annual passholders (which I am one) couldn't they.
Just my opinion....but thinking Disney has treated DVC folks like the proverbial stepchild again.

 

[jctwizzer]

You're not paranoid; they really are out to get you!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[buckylarue]

Personally, I think that this was always planned to be a DVC/AP preview weekend, and it just happened that the DVC newsletter came out a few days before the AP one did. Of course, it doesn't matter to me anyway, since I can't get there until December...

 

[bicker]

I agree. They typically treat AP holders to the first public previews. If anything, AP holders must be wondering who all these DVC members are, who are clogging their preview weekend.

 

[CapeCodFam]

Disney has a history of combining preview weekends. Personally, I'm happy that Disney allows AP/DVC a preview weekend.

 

[CarolMN]

Why should making opportunites available to more people make those who already have them feel that they are now being treated poorly? Why can't we all just be happy when good things also happen to other people?

Best wishes -

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, I got my AP invitation BEFORE I got my DVC invitation, so maybe the AP holders should be the ones who feel put out. This was always a preview for BOTH groups.

 

[Cass]

I think they should have a Canadian Citizens preview weekend.

After all, we've been paying that horrible US exchange rate for decades.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I'm just grateful for ANY perks DVC gives us. I try not to compare.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was sad when they discontinued the bracelets for priority seating at the Flower Power concerts for both AP's and DVC. Perhaps the privilege was underutilized, but I enjoyed the close up seats without the long line.

I wish we were there this weekend! Have fun all who are going!!!

Bobbi

PS. The tickets for DVC members to see the broadcasting of Who Wants to be a Millionaire over MLKjr weekend were available to DVC members, not AP holders as far as I know. We used them, glad we did it once, but it was a bit boring to us, the show is better on TV! They spent lots of time motivating us to cheer, yell scream whatever. More time was spent practicing than on the show itself, I think.

 

[mickeyluv]

Why should making opportunites available to more people make those who already have them feel that they are now being treated poorly? Why can't we all just be happy when good things also happen to other people?

Best wishes -

Well said Carol!

 

[gcbsdad]

I am happy that they offered it at all. We are going to go on Sunday and try and get on in the afternoon. If it is too crowded, then we will just have to do something else. I mean we will be at Disney so it can't be too bad.

 

[dis-happy]

It didn't seem odd to me -- wasn't the opening for Soarin' the same? And I do like the Member Parties they've been having, no ap's are invited to that.

 

[mbb]

I think they should have a Canadian Citizens preview weekend.

After all, we've been paying that horrible US exchange rate for decades.

Just have to chuckle

Have fun at the preview everyone, we're happy for all of you!..and wish we could be there too!

 

[nowellsl]

Changed my mind.

 

[laceemouse]

It is hard for me to imagine how the crowds for this could be HUGE! I mean, you either plan to vacation at that time of year or you don't. It's not like EE is going to disappear after the preview or something??? I am not a thrill fan, I guess I just don't get it. We were just there in December and will not go again for another year or so....life goes on.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It is hard for me to imagine how the crowds for this could be HUGE! I mean, you either plan to vacation at that time of year or you don't. It's not like EE is going to disappear after the preview or something??? I am not a thrill fan, I guess I just don't get it. We were just there in December and will not go again for another year or so....life goes on.

There are a LOT of AP and DVC members who live within a short day's drive from WDW, so YES, it will effect crowds in the parks over the weekend, but that is part of what Disney wants. This is a slow time of year, and why not spice it up with a little preview?

 

[jennz]

This is kind of off topic but are the crowds really going to be huge? I'm down here in Orlando w/DD for a family emergency and I was planning to take a break and go to WDW for an afternoon or 2, one of them being AK for the EE perk (that was a "there's something good in everything" for me since we could have a fun event in the middle of this..). If it's really going to be packed our "relaxing" afternoon will be far from it...this could change my plans. Thanks for the post.

 

[Pig Pen]

It didn't seem odd to me -- wasn't the opening for Soarin' the same? And I do like the Member Parties they've been having, no ap's are invited to that.

You are correct. We were there for the Soarin' preview and it was for both DVC and AP holders (we are both)! It was not crowded at all, but since the ride is inside and not visible, I don't think the majority of people realized what was going on. I suspect that one glimpse of EE racing around the track will have the majority of AK park attendees racing for the back of the park!

 

[Alexander]

We too were there for the preview of Soarin' and the crowds were not huge or unbearable. At least not anymore than they normally would have been!