DVC UMP Discount now 6% or less

[TiggerFreak]

After doing the math for a 6 night UMP.

Old and new advance purchase price $313.00 +tax.
New at the resort/park price $325.00+tax.

We can't get the DVC discount in advance, so 325 x .9 = 292.50 !
Thats a difference of 20.50 off the price of the advance purchase.
292.5/313 = 94%(rounded).
So in effect our discount is only 6% off the lowest price everyone else could pay. If you add the DC discount into the mix.
DC price 296.85.

296.85/313 = 95%(rounded)

A DVC member will pay only 1% less , not counting the cost of the DC(t 29.95/yr ).


Some deal huh.
Lets see 29.95 divided by 14000.00 equals .....

 

[Richyams]

Lets see 29.95 divided by 14000.00 equals .....

They continually amaze me with their arogance toward DVC members. I think any DVC member who visits Universal or any other place during a DVC stay should photocopy their stubs and send them to Disney.

Universal is a great place for a few days. I have been to WDW parks almost every single day that I have stayed at OKW. I used to have free passes and now have a FLorida residents pass. If I were paying for passes, I would certainly take advantadge of some of the cheap prices you can get on other tickets for at least a few days.

Disney could have a sompletely captive audience of above average earners simply by giving a decent discount to DVC members. I have found their discounts so far to be insulting.

 

[AnnK]

I think DVC is missing the boat on this one. I have never used the UMPs, although sometimes one of my guests will want it. The best Discount they could offer would be on Ap's or PAP'S. We used to purchase them, but not anymore. We bought 7 day hopper plus passes TWO years ago and we still have days left. We now use the pass and go to the parks all day, and then skip days. When we had the AP's we would go to the parks almost everyday, even if it was just to walk around or grab a bite to eat. We do have Ap's at Universal, they offer discounts on parking and other stuff. We find we now spend more time at Universal parks, we often stay there for a few days each trip so we can get the FOTL access, this is especially nice when we go in Feb and spring breaks.
I have e-mailed DVC, they tell you that the UMP is the BEST pass for DVC members. It's only 50.00 a day to enjoy all the parks, blah blah blah.
I never had the free passes ( must have been awesome), all I want is a decent discount on AP's.

 

[CarolMN]

Our annual passes expire early in December. We won't be renewing either. Plan to purchase 7 DAY PHP passes and use them over the course of several trips. We'll be spending more time (including mealtimes) off site.

LOS pases have never seemed right for us. (They'er even less attractive now that the parks are closing earlier). I just don't like the idea that they include options we wouldn't use and that they are a "use or lose" proposition. Don't like feeling that I HAVE to spend every day in the parks - we usualy do, LOL, but I don't want to feel locked in, either.

We would love a discount on park hoppers or annual passes, but I am not expecting to see either anytime soon.

 

[Lesley]

CarolMN, I agree about the LOS passes.....it just seems to push us to do way too much in one trip. We used them once on a 3 night stay at the Polynesian and boy, did we run ourselves ragged those 3 day. We had to add an extra night and day elsewhere to recover!

With the increases I may actually reconsider getting AP's for our trips in 2003 and 2004. Perhaps a park hopper and some trips to Universal are in order....gee, we could stay at Universal and save some points too..hmmmmm....

 

[Eeyore2U]

The LOSs work for us. We seem to use all the options.

This year DW and I will use PAPs. The savings seem to be owrth it to us. Maybe we're different but we bought DVC for the accomodations. All the rest are secondary perks that don't make a huge difference to us.

Edited to add.

I thought you could only buy UMP/LOS at your resort on checkin? The price on the Disney website represents the price if you purchase a package.

Unless percentages changes 10% is still 10%. Will the cost go up, I'm sure. Will it be less then others pay. Yes.

 

[DeeP]

I agree that a more substanial discount should be given to DVC members but obviously Disney knows they do not have to so they don't. For anyone that goes to WDW at least 2x in a year period for a week each trip and wants to go in the parks everyday the cheapest pass by far is the AP. The more days you are in the parks of course the cheaper the AP then becomes. I would love to see a DVC discount on APs but even without a discount I can't complain. For those that are at WDW alot an AP can't be beat. When my AP expires at the end of March it will have cost me $4.61 per day for each day that I used it(over 65 days of park admissions) and I had access to 4 parks if I chose to go to 4 parks in one day--which I never do. That is less than a McDonalds combo meal, not a bad deal! For those that are only going to go to the parks 4 or so days per year than of course an AP would not be worth it, but it seems that a lot of DVC members are at WDW many days per year so if you are going to go to the parks and considering you have access to all 4 major parks once you do the math an AP is really not expensive cosidering a 1 park 1 day admission is now $52.00 per day.

 

[AnnK]

Carol,
The PH plus has worked out nicely for us. We have had them two years, gone for 5 visits and still have days left for this coming Nov. I like the PH because I don't feel like I HAVE to go into the parks. We go off-season in Nov, then we go peak time in Feb and Spring, so we don't go into the Disney parks too much during the "peak" times". The AP was nice when the kids were younger and we went more often in the "off" season", we could also plan to go a week or so earlier the next Oct/Nov and get two "off" season trips with one AP. Now that just isn't possible. We still buy the USF AP's because we do use it at Peak times , we stay at their parks and use the FOTL access, so we are not deterred by the crowds at USF during peak season. They also offer other discounts and benefits not given to AP holders by Disney.
Eeyore2U, I don't "expect" anything, nor do I think anyone else here does. We all bought for our own reasons, mine was obviously NOT for discounts or passes since I recieve neither, but since I have been a member for quite sometime now, and I go frequently, IT IS GOING TO TAKE some type of incentive to get me into the Disney parks more than once or twice a trip, ticket disounts would be one of them. I have been to the parks enough that I don't feel highly motivated to enter them anymore. My children also don't "clamor" for the Diseny parks. I am spending more time and money off property. Those are the facts. I DO still love BWV and all it has to offer.
The point is that Disney is losing money by not offering members like myself some type of discount. When we had AP's we ate at Epcot and MGM more often. We bought more drinks, snacks etc, in the park. Some members will continue to buy AP's and PAP's and use them strategically, not me. I use my PH plus when I want to go to the parks, and spend the rest of my time doing other things.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Eeyore2U, I don't "expect" anything, nor do I think anyone else here does. We all bought for our own reasons, mine was obviously NOT for discounts or passes since I recieve neither, but since I have been a member for quite sometime now, and I go frequently, IT IS GOING TO TAKE some type of incentive to get me into the Disney parks more than once or twice a trip, ticket disounts would be one of them. I have been to the parks enough that I don't feel highly motivated to enter them anymore. My children also don't "clamor" for the Diseny parks. I am spending more time and money off property. Those are the facts. I DO still love BWV and all it has to offer.

Ann,

I really don't want to debate but the tone of your post strikes a nerve. You said we all bought for different reasons. I agree. If priorities change is that DVC's or WDW's fault? If you and your family have outgrown WDW is that their fault?

I think we assume DVC is WDW. It's not. It's been debated here many times. Would I like discounts, sure. Was I guaranteed anything, no.

DVC has our money. WDW sees us a captive audience. Some feel like they are being held hostage. I don't and I feel sorry for those that do.

 

[SamS]

What exactly is an UMP?

 

[ahoff]

I love LOS/UMP passes, it gives you so much freedom. But I felt they were not worth it when you count the first and last days, which are not full days. Buying them at check-in is good as they will drop the first and last day. You probably can't do that with purchased in advance tickets.

 

[AnnK]

Hey Mitch,
No debate here, It was the tone of your post

"Maybe we're different but we bought DVC for the accomodations. All the rest are secondary perks that don't make a huge difference to us."

Implying what? I interpreted it to mean that perhaps the rest of us bought for the perks or discounts that we have never received.

I don't "blame" anyone. I am very happy using my PH plus. The POINT is that IF DVC did offer a DECENT discount on the AP, my family of SEVEN would purchase them and ENTER the parks on a more DAILY basis, and spend MORE MONEY than we do NOW. I NEVER said we have OUTGROWN the parks, I said that my children no longer clamor to go to them, especially during peak seasons. The fact is that we do still enjoy the Disney parks, just differently than we used too, things change.

I KNOW DVC is NOT Walt Disney parks, but I am certain that they could negotiate a better discount than they currently offer. In fact I spoke with someone who was in the DVC meetings and they told me that DVC felt the UMP was the best value pass they could offer it's members. If you want I can relay the man's name and position if you feel the need to verify this information, but I would not post it on the site.

DVC has my money for my accomodations, which I still currently enjoy very much, however I DON'T consider myself a "captive audience" I venture off property and my family enjoys many other things that are in the Orlando area, and the day I feel I am "hostage", is the day I sell all my points............

 

[sgtpet]

Breaking my silence for this one. What a disgrace! How come DVC members can't purchase them in advance and get the discount. This is another example of the cheapening of DVC for its members. They continually raise points for anything outside the 6 DVC resorts, lower discounts, cut out pool hopping at certain locations, etc. You get the picture.

If somebody asked me to purchase DVC at this point, I would tell them flat out NO. Save your money and maintenance fees and stay at the AKL for $119 per night. At least that way you can use the pool there.

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by AnnK
I don't "expect" anything, nor do I think anyone else here does. We all bought for our own reasons, mine was obviously NOT for discounts or passes since I recieve neither, but since I have been a member for quite sometime now, and I go frequently, IT IS GOING TO TAKE some type of incentive to get me into the Disney parks more than once or twice a trip, ticket disounts would be one of them.

I don't know about anyone else, but I know I agree with you. I don't expect anything other than accomodations for my DVC membership. I know that's all I bought- I read my Product Understanding Checklist that states

"18. From time to time special discounts and other programs may be offered by the developer. These discounts and special programs may be modified, supplemented, or terminated at any time and you should not purchase based upon continued availability of such programs..."

Since DBF and I have no children we are also in the same boat you are. We purchase 7 day passes and only go to the parks only when we really want to which has been averaging 4 days for each 14 day trip.

Don't get me wrong, if they offered a discount, I'd take it- I spend more money for the 7 day pass because it works out to be the lowest cost per day and I'd probably buy a 10 day pass if they offered it, if it worked out to be cheaper per day and as long as it's good forever like the other PHP's.

I understand the disappointment but I feel for me personally I bought DVC for DVC, any discounts, pool hopping benefits or any other discounts or special programs are just icing on the cake for me.

Now if some reason I couldn't get the reservation I want at my home resort within the 11 month window.......then I might be a bit angry!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

That so called "gravy" keeps getting more watered down all the time. Please fly your IOA/USF helium balloons proudly off your DVC balcony.

 

[Lesley]

Though I find it disappointing to be losing some of our member perks, I agree that we bought accomodations and that's pretty much it. Of course, as they take away some of the perks, I'm less likely to stay on property during my whole trip....less likely to spend as much time in the parks, eating at restaurants, etc.... Believe me, any discounts and perks we receive as a virtue of being DVC members do end up making Disney more money. Generally when I see what I'm saving I end up scheduling something else during our trip that will make them more money that I've saved...a dinner, shopping, what have you.

If they chose to turn their backs on that....well, I may just have a more relaxing and ultimately less costly vacation. Hey, watch out, I have a kitchen....and I know how to use it!

 

[Muushka]

Very well said Lesley. These are my feelings also, but I never said them as well as you just did.

Believe me, any discounts and perks we receive as a virtue of being DVC members do end up making Disney more money.

This is the statement that find fascinating. I wish Disney realized it! My major complaint is that I got into DVC just as things started going south. I really wish we had joined several years before we did (2000) so that I would not feel the way I do about Disney. I think it would not have been so bad. At least we could have had some years of feeling like we were valued and not just something to make more $$ from.