Gold Pass

[chainkid]

I have bought mostly direct but also resale prior to 4/4. I have yet to experience any great perks for being a member and I've been a member since 1999. Most of the time its over blown and pricy member cruises or dinners that frankly would leave me cold. The small and say small savings you get on passes would easily be made up for the thousand of dollars you save by going resale. I'm not complaining as I didn't buy DVC expecting anything but a room at a discounted price. I love my DVC but best advice I can give is to stop thinking of membership as an exclusive club and more like a normal timeshare and you won't be disappointed long term. I would never buy direct unless I had to have poly or newer resorts not currently selling meaningfully below Disney prices. Points are points, discounts are minimal at best and often for lunch only not dinner at restaurants . If I could save 10,000 on a timeshare , I wouldn't make up the difference in many years if at all. Buy where you want to stay and at the cheapest price you can find for the use year that works for your vacation schedule and then understand all the in's and outs of using those points. DVC is wonderful if you make good choices and don't overpay.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have bought mostly direct but also resale prior to 4/4. I have yet to experience any great perks for being a member and I've been a member since 1999. Most of the time its over blown and pricy member cruises or dinners that frankly would leave me cold. The small and say small savings you get on passes would easily be made up for the thousand of dollars you save by going resale. I'm not complaining as I didn't buy DVC expecting anything but a room at a discounted price. I love my DVC but best advice I can give is to stop thinking of membership as an exclusive club and more like a normal timeshare and you won't be disappointed long term. I would never buy direct unless I had to have poly or newer resorts not currently selling meaningfully below Disney prices. Points are points, discounts are minimal at best and often for lunch only not dinner at restaurants . If I could save 10,000 on a timeshare , I wouldn't make up the difference in many years if at all. Buy where you want to stay and at the cheapest price you can find for the use year that works for your vacation schedule and then understand all the in's and outs of using those points. DVC is wonderful if you make good choices and don't overpay.

Absolutely agree! I don't think the few 'perks' we get are all that wonderful. My point is that if you buy resale, know what you're buying....Disney is pretty clear about what perks go to direct buyers vs resale buyers. Now, if I were to buy another contract, it would certainly be a resale contract! No way would I buy directly from Disney at this point!!

 

[PapaCharles]

Have the discounts for annual passes been offered most years?

 

[DebbieB]

Have the discounts for annual passes been offered most years?

I believe the standard DVC discounts since 2005 (all the time). There have been a couple promos for better prices (PAP for $399 in 2012, $484 in 2013).

The Gold pass started in October 2015. If you don't go around Easter or Christmas, it's a $220 discount over a public AP with no blackouts.