Gold Pass

[Maistre Gracey]

I don't think it's any secret that Disney's IT is a little slack at times but it's also possible that DVD wants the uproar to get people's attention. Kind of like bad publicity being better than none at all. Still, I think it's reasonably clear DVD's intent for anyone who's aware there are limitations though I could see someone without any awareness of the resale limitations being caught off guard. And I do think it's a little "Mickey Mouse" to allow one to purchase but not activate it in this situation.

Agree on all accounts.

MG

 

[apple9117]

Interesting

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Interesting

Very interesting

MG

 

[D-Trick]

Reading this whole thread has been pretty valuable. I was under the impression that recent resale DVC members can still buy the Gold Pass, albeit without the discount. Looks like I'll be buying that 25-point direct add on contract sooner than I anticipated...

 

[Wakey]

Reading this whole thread has been pretty valuable. I was under the impression that recent resale DVC members can still buy the Gold Pass, albeit without the discount. Looks like I'll be buying that 25-point direct add on contract sooner than I anticipated...

I'd still give it a shot if I were you and see what happens. Go armed with the print outs, kick off it isn't specifically stated as not been included and see if they capitulate. Appreciate not everyone is prepared for a bit of good old confrontation though.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Reading this whole thread has been pretty valuable. I was under the impression that recent resale DVC members can still buy the Gold Pass, albeit without the discount. Looks like I'll be buying that 25-point direct add on contract sooner than I anticipated...

The Gold AP is a product itself. There is no discount off it for DVC members, but it's not a product that is available foe everyone to purchase. It used to just be for FL residents.

 

[erionm]

The Gold AP is a product itself. There is no discount off it for DVC members, but it's not a product that is available for everyone to purchase. It used to just be for FL residents.

The Gold Pass is a new pass level that was created specifically for FL Residents & DVC Members back in Oct 2015.
You may be thinking of the Silver Pass (former Seasonal Pass), which is still only available to FL Residents.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The Gold Pass is a new pass level that was created specifically for FL Residents & DVC Members back in Oct 2015.
You may be thinking of the Silver Pass (former Seasonal Pass), which is still only available to FL Residents.

Yes I was. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Dean]

I'd still give it a shot if I were you and see what happens. Go armed with the print outs, kick off it isn't specifically stated as not been included and see if they capitulate. Appreciate not everyone is prepared for a bit of good old confrontation though.

One could approach this is 3 ways. Go in prepared for a fight, do it and be prepared to be told no and wait (hope) for a refund to show up at some point or realize it's only for qualified members and forego it. The third is the best IMO, the first unreasonable for those that are now informed of the requirements. Life's too short. I'll be the first to stand up for what I think is right but I don't want to spend my vacation time and energy in this manner if I can avoid it.

 

[Wakey]

One could approach this is 3 ways. Go in prepared for a fight, do it and be prepared to be told no and wait (hope) for a refund to show up at some point or realize it's only for qualified members and forego it. The third is the best IMO, the first unreasonable for those that are now informed of the requirements. Life's too short. I'll be the first to stand up for what I think is right but I don't want to spend my vacation time and energy in this manner if I can avoid it.

Fair enough but Disney, a multi billion dollar company should a) specifically say on its website this pass is not available to resale (it isn't clear as discussed) and b) when a resale buyer clicks on buy tickets, not be taken to a page where they can buy the thing. A tiny proportion of people will look at this in this detail, some are bound to just buy it because it is available and restrictions are unclear, oblivious. Disney needs to get it together here.

 

[D-Trick]

Fair enough but Disney, a multi billion dollar company should a) specifically say on its website this pass is not available to resale (it isn't clear as discussed) and b) when a resale buyer clicks on buy tickets, not be taken to a page where they can buy the thing. A tiny proportion of people will look at this in this detail, some are bound to just buy it because it is available and restrictions are unclear, oblivious. Disney needs to get it together here.

You would think if they can look up in the system at Guest Relations if you're eligible for a Gold Pass, the website could do it too. It's 2017, there are 20 year old kids that could probably easily write code for that.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

One could approach this is 3 ways. Go in prepared for a fight, do it and be prepared to be told no and wait (hope) for a refund to show up at some point or realize it's only for qualified members and forego it. The third is the best IMO, the first unreasonable for those that are now informed of the requirements. Life's too short. I'll be the first to stand up for what I think is right but I don't want to spend my vacation time and energy in this manner if I can avoid it.

I would try option 2. What have you got to lose? No need to fight, but why not try in a friendly manner?

MG

 

[Dean]

Fair enough but Disney, a multi billion dollar company should a) specifically say on its website this pass is not available to resale (it isn't clear as discussed) and b) when a resale buyer clicks on buy tickets, not be taken to a page where they can buy the thing. A tiny proportion of people will look at this in this detail, some are bound to just buy it because it is available and restrictions are unclear, oblivious. Disney needs to get it together here.

But the difference here is those discussing it now know the difference. Not knowing is a different situation and if I were uninformed, I might take the same approach. I don't disagree that the best place to fix it is up front.

I would try option 2. What have you got to lose? No need to fight, but why not try in a friendly manner?

MG

I might also if I though it had a shot. The issue is waiting on the refund.

 

[CarolMN]

My understanding is that a voucher or exchange certificate will always be at least equal to the value paid - even if it is no longer valid to exchange for an actual pass. In the past, guests have been allowed to apply the value to the purchase of other passes / tickets.

If a member didn't qualify to purchase the GOLD pass, I would not expect her/him to lose the money they paid for an exchange certificate. The cost could just be applied to the purchase of a ticket or pass the member was entitled to purchase. It wouldn't surprise me at all if a CM agreed to refund, either.

 

[abner1776]

I use to think that figuring out my social security benefits was the most confusing process in my lifetime, but DVD is giving the social security administration a run for their money !!!

 

[DarleneP]

I have read this entire thread, and find it, as well as Disney's language as clear as mud. For those more experienced than I, is it ALL resale buyers who are ineligible to purchase the gold pass, or only those who purchased their membership on the resale market after 4/4?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have read this entire thread, and find it, as well as Disney's language as clear as mud. For those more experienced than I, is it ALL resale buyers who are ineligible to purchase the gold pass, or only those who purchased their membership on the resale market after 4/4?

The people who bought after 4/4 and do not own any other resale purchased prior to that date or any direct purchase points. The Gold pass is part of the Membership extras that were what was restricted 4/4/16. The previous resale restriction was from trades to the Disney collection and the Concierge collection but still has all other benefits and trade abilities and so they can purchase the Gold AP.

 

[goofy4tink]

' Members who do not purchase an ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Development Inc. will not have access to Membership Extras.'
This is taken directly from the DVC site...granted, it is in the very small print, at the very bottom. But, it's there. And it seems pretty straightforward. Not sure what all the bother is about. A Gold pass, as stated above, isn't a discounted pass, it's in a class of it's own...with blackout dates. Hence the lower price. As someone who has paid top dollar for her points, through Disney, it's kind of hard to take that others, who are paying much less, through resale, want the same benefits I have. Elitist? Probably. But, you get what you pay for. Now, the smart people added on through resale, after buying originally thru Disney. Therefor, get those perks.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

' Members who do not purchase an ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Development Inc. will not have access to Membership Extras.'
This is taken directly from the DVC site...granted, it is in the very small print, at the very bottom. But, it's there. And it seems pretty straightforward. Not sure what all the bother is about. A Gold pass, as stated above, isn't a discounted pass, it's in a class of it's own...with blackout dates. Hence the lower price. As someone who has paid top dollar for her points, through Disney, it's kind of hard to take that others, who are paying much less, through resale, want the same benefits I have. Elitist? Probably. But, you get what you pay for. Now, the smart people added on through resale, after buying originally thru Disney. Therefor, get those perks.

Most specifically with the Gold Pass you as a direct buyer gain no more no matter who is allowed to buy it. Remember this is a pass that WDW also decides to sell to any FL resident and actually FL residents have access to other even lower cost passes so they don't feel DVC direct owners warrant that. When it comes time to sell you now lose because the benefit is removed once you sell so it's perceived to have lesser value so it comes as a great expense to you. The one benefiting is DVD's bottom line from sales which is why they implemented it.

Access to book events? Historically they have been too small anyway for even only direct buyers to take advantage of so it's a carrot that causes more upset than gain. Now that they are doing these larger park events they could really accommodate any DVC member staying onsite at that time - otherwise it's the FL DVC owners and their friends who benefit from that too. But if you ever went to sell? Lower return for you.

And in the end, DVC can take away any of the benefits anytime from you, the direct buyer. Don't believe for a second they wouldn't if it were to their benefit - the loyalty is to the bottom line. So I'd rather stand next to any resale buyer with the same benefits as my only true gain from any of it would be to have a contract to sell that has the same benefit access. DVD will still sell direct and stay solvent without these restrictions. Most of the other stuff either still isn't worth the direct cost or is so rare it can't be taken advantage of. Being within driving distance would be a difference maker though but that either gains you access thru other avenues to discounted passes or perhaps events ought to be restricted to onsite guests.

 

[Matty B13]

Also, in my families case, the only thing that was being sold direct was Poly at the time which only has studios and we wanted 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom options. We called about VGF but were told that there wasn't an official waitlist, but they would call us up if anything came in to their office, but with no time frame. As everyone knows anything about WDW you have to plan a year in advance and we want to secure a reservation within the 10 month period of our child's vacation week. So we really had no choice but to go resale at the time, of course our guide called us up after we had just passed ROFR on our first contract with the exact amount of points that we wanted. It isn't always buying points cheaper that drives people to resale, sometime it is specific resorts that aren't being sold anymore direct. We would have happily paid full price for Poly if they had more options than the studios and bungalows, because we love it there, but for families of 5 people or more a studio just isn't a real option.