Fact or Fiction?

[Dopey13]

Does anyone know if this is true or not? I have read on the message board that Disney back in the late 80's or early 90's offered a "LIFE TIME PASS" for $1000. What a deal if that is indeed what was offered. If this was true, have there been any other offers like that since then? What did the pass offer?

My wife and I talked about the idea if Disney would offer that now at $5000 it still would be a great deal. We are both in our early 30's, so it would be a great deal.

 

[KNWVIKING]

... but you should trying posting this over on "news & rumors" board, there seem to be a lot of history/trivia experts over there.

 

[PamOKW]

I've never heard of that one either. There is some kind of "charter" Annual Pass that renews at a very low rate. I think this is for the original purchasers who continue to renew every year.

 

[EROS]

Never heard of it, and I've been going to DL,WDW x 30 years .....

 

[Sarangel]

I believe that there was a "Charter Member" pass offered when the Magic Kingdom first opened (remember that no one envisioned how big the resort would be) in 1972, but I also believe that PamOKW is correct in stating that the renewal rate is simply very low and the original pass cost was high.

My suspicion is that it was intended as a "lifetime" pass, but once they started adding to the resort Disney imposed a "small" renewal fee to cover admission to the other parks. This is supposition only - YMMV.

Sarangel

 

[Micca]

Didn't charter DVC members get passes that were good for 30 years?

 

[mitros]

No, actually, we were given park passes,depending on the size of the accomadation you were in,which only ran until the year 2000. It was a come -on to get people to joinIt is now gone!

 

[HorizonsFan]

It was a come -on to get people to joinIt is now gone!

This is a bit of a mis-characterization. The developer who built OKW offered free passes through the year 1999. It was not a Disney financed promotion and the limitations were clearly stated from the beginning. Not really a "come-on" at all.
As much as we would all like them to, Disney has not and probably will never offer deep discounts on passes. Apparently they don't have to...

 

[mitros]

I still feel that it was a come-on, because they made a BIG issue of the fact that you would receive free park tickets when they spoke to us of the benefits of the vacation club

 

[HorizonsFan]

I still feel that it was a come-on, because they made a BIG issue of the fact that you would receive free park tickets when they spoke to us of the benefits of the vacation club

Did they say the passes would be good forever?

 

[mitros]

No, they told us that they would expire, but they were thinking of coming up with something to replace the program.

 

[Luv2Roam]

mitros - Consumer beware -- Get it in writing.
Even Eisner Thinks of a lot. Doing is another thing.

 

[mitros]

Yea, I agree,theres a sucker born every minute. WE were just so excited about becoming members at the time as we were brand new wdw visitors and were overwhelmed with the place

 

[raidermatt]

Yea, I agree,theres a sucker born every minute. WE were just so excited about becoming members at the time as we were brand new wdw visitors and were overwhelmed with the place

As our friend the Baron has pointed out, there are many who trusted Disney in the past, but will not any longer. Now, they will "get it in writing".

Nothing wrong with that legally, but it does bring up the question of how much that lost trust/loyalty has cost, and will cost, Disney.

 

[mitros]

Your exactly right on that one. I'm sure disney has caused a lot of folks feel that they can't trust what they say anymore. My wife and I have become very cynical about disney's actions in a lot of cases. We also feel that most of this is due to Eisners way of doing business. You can only screw people so many times before they become totally fed up .

 

[nicholas 25]

We had purchased way back when and it was made clear about the expiration of that extra. The value/bang for the buck for the entertainment we get at WDW has always been good (despite the moanings of the few who still manage to "drag" themselves there). This entertainment unfortunately requires the company to act like a business to stay intact. While we would like to belive that Disney works on pixie dust and exsits in a vacuum unchanged from the ideals of the founder, it doesn't. Listening to those who continously bash Eisner, moan about there increasing cynical attitude and complain how we cant trust disney anymore is tiring. Have both eyes and ears open all the time (yes even on vacation). And remember, high school wasn't the best tine of our lives and if you had wings wasnt the all time best atraction

 

[mitros]

Beleive me, we never have to "drag" ourselves to wdw. We love it more then anyplace else for a good time and fine entertainment. It's just that the more you read about eisner and his ways, the more you want to bash him. Of course you have to run a business like a business and you must make money. Kind of like enron and tyco, I guess....nudge nudge, know what I mean?

 

[drusba]

I never heard of the $1000 offer in the over 25 years I have been going. Charter members are persons who bought annual passes (both Florida and non-Florida) when they were first offered (possibly as early as the first year of operation) and their renewal rate is less than others with annual passes).