How much is the lack of AP sales affecting DVC?

[HIRyeDVC]

APs do not affect us. We bought resale so we weren't eligible anyway.

My theory;
We bought DVC because we were going to WDW about once a year for a week each trip, and felt like we really were getting something special staying on-site. So much so that, why not buy DVC if we were coming that often and always stayed on-property? Now the on-site perks are a fraction of what they were, staying on-property isn't really worth the premium $$$. Not sure how much longer we'll keep our DVC contract, but I do know for a fact that we would not be buying into DVC now, given the current state of staying on property. That fact has a lot more to do with the current dip in DVC than the APs IMHO.

But isn't the most common adage "don't buy DVC for the perks because they always change"? I get that the entire experience seems degraded for the "old timers" who saw amazing perks. But I'm not too sure if it's impacting current families looking to buy DVC?

 

[tidefan]

So let me reset the discussion. Most of you seem to be taking the tack of how this affects DVC sales. That wasn't exactly what I was going after, I was wanting to see how it affects DVC, as in how does it affect the membership and usage patterns (I may not have made this very clear in the original post...)

 

[Lumpy1106]

But isn't the most common adage "don't buy DVC for the perks because they always change"? I get that the entire experience seems degraded for the "old timers" who saw amazing perks. But I'm not too sure if it's impacting current families looking to buy DVC?

Not talking about DVC, I'm talking about staying on-property. My advice to WDW newbies is don't do it - it's not worth it and there are plenty of great hotels just outside the gate.

 

[DonMacGregor]

As I said in the other thread, we have enough points to take two 5-night trips to WDW in a 2BR villa, plus another shorter trip to Aulani (also 2BR). Of the 4 full days we spend on each WDW trip, we might do theme parks 3 days total, on average. That's 6 days per year. We almost always have at least one dedicated resort day. We also have been doing less park hopping of late. Being there twice a year, we don't feel the desperate need to be in every park every single time. They aren't going anywhere. If we decide to hit two parks in one day, for whatever reason, I just add on the hopper option for that day.

So...... Our +/- on an AP is around $900 each for two 3-day, single park tickets per year ($450 per ticket). (I may have said 5-day in the other thread and need to go fix that).

 

[Lumpy1106]

So let me reset the discussion. Most of you seem to be taking the tack of how this affects DVC sales. That wasn't exactly what I was going after, I was wanting to see how it affects DVC, as in how does it affect the membership and usage patterns (I may not have made this very clear in the original post...)

In that case, it doesn't affect us either. We don't have enough points to spend enough days to make the APs worth buying NMW. Besides, if you are coming for a longer trip the gate ticket price is a lot more generous for longer stays - It takes multiple trips to make the AP math work.

 

[tidefan]

But isn't the most common adage "don't buy DVC for the perks because they always change"? I get that the entire experience seems degraded for the "old timers" who saw amazing perks. But I'm not too sure if it's impacting current families looking to buy DVC?

Ability to purchase an AP wasn't a DVC perk. Anyone could buy one.

Some passes and some discounts were DVC perks.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

So let me reset the discussion. Most of you seem to be taking the tack of how this affects DVC sales. That wasn't exactly what I was going after, I was wanting to see how it affects DVC, as in how does it affect the membership and usage patterns (I may not have made this very clear in the original post...)

I understood your intent, and it doesn't change my stance. I don't think it impacts the way I experience DVC. Some may experience it differently because of their unique travel patterns.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Ability to purchase an AP wasn't a DVC perk. Anyone could buy one.

Some passes and some discounts were DVC perks.

I was referring to the Sorcerer's pass and the former gold pass. Without those, out-of-state DVC members would have had to buy the most expensive APs.

 

[tidefan]

I was referring to the Sorcerer's pass and the former gold pass. Without those, out-of-state DVC members would have had to buy the most expensive APs.

I'd be happy with the most expensive APs

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I'd be happy with the most expensive APs

my point exactly! APs are grossly under priced

 

[tidefan]

my point exactly! APs are grossly under priced

In all honesty, I'd really be even more happy with 10 day unexpiring tickets, or even something like 10 day, but you have to use them in a one year period tickets...

 

[HIRyeDVC]

In all honesty, I'd really be even more happy with 10 day unexpiring tickets, or even something like 10 day, but you have to use them in a one year period tickets...

Now you're speaking my language! I think having unlimited access to the parks with APs is ridiculous. I'd much rather prefer 10,20,30,40, or 50 day tickets to last the whole year. If you're mad that you can't go to the park more than 50 times, you can cry me a river.

 

[DonMacGregor]

In all honesty, I'd really be even more happy with 10 day unexpiring tickets, or even something like 10 day, but you have to use them in a one year period tickets...

I'd be all over a 10-day, non-expiring park hopper ticket.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I'd be all over a 10-day, non-expiring park hopper ticket.

non-expiring is a bit much. I can go with a year from the first day use. Maybe even two. Not more than that.

 

[DaveNan]

For me personally, lack of any out of Florida AP's has cured my Addonitas. I may had added some points, or would be serious about PVB-2 if AP's were available. Without AP's I do not need any more points. Overall, I think a bigger impact to DVC sales (direct and resale) is the interest rate. Many members borrow the money for purchases and with the higher interest rates, it might change the hotel/rent/buy math.

 

[DonMacGregor]

non-expiring is a bit much. I can go with a year from the first day use. Maybe even two. Not more than that.

Well, I was agreeing with "10 day unexpiring tickets". I'm fine with 12-months as well.

 

[Sammie]

But isn't the most common adage "don't buy DVC for the perks because they always change"? I get that the entire experience seems degraded for the "old timers" who saw amazing perks. But I'm not too sure if it's impacting current families looking to buy DVC?

That's not accurate though. Many of us who bought in 2000, got a few dining discounts and that was it. No ticket discounts, no special events, no ride previews. Nothing. We bought for the room discount and that has remained constant.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

That's not accurate though. Many of us who bought in 2000, got a few dining discounts and that was it. No ticket discounts, no special events, no ride previews. Nothing. We bought for the room discount and that has remained constant.

you and I are on the same page I think. So what's everybody complaining about? Genie+? price gouging? crowds?

 

[Sammie]

So all those people are first-timers, I guess.

I think some know little of what exists outside of their world. For one no one has mentioned non US members who can't buy an AP, that is a lot of members. I just don't think that many members buy them.
As to the comment about people not going, that again reflects a limited experience outside of these DVC pages. I follow at least 10 deluxe resort specific pages on Facebook, Instagram and people are on there everyday planning trips. Just because does not know what people are planning, does not mean it does not happen.

 

[karrit2000]

I had an AP for years because I was taking anywhere from 3-5 trips each year to attend various special events & always at least 10 days for the F&W festival. I hated when they originally only had discounted length of stay passes because the AP was a better deal for me for the way I was traveling. I first started getting AP's through the old Magic Kingdom Club discount. When the Magic Kingdom Club program was terminated was around the time they finally started offering the discounted AP's to DVC Members so it made me very happy. Now I'm struggling to justify the cost of current multi day tickets because the prices are just too much for basically nothing more than access to walk through the gate. Adding on Genie+ on a daily basis just to be able to get on most rides without crazy wait times isn't something I want to pay extra for and I refuse to pay even more for ILL. Just got back from Disneyland and I did pay for Genie+ for just 2 of my 5 park days there and I probably shouldn't have bothered on one of those days as the wait times for most rides later in the day wasn't too bad due to the crappy weather. I think my last two visits to WDW I maybe bought it for 2 of the 6 days I had tickets for each trip. Now I wish they would bring back non-expiring tickets or offer a 10 day ticket that they give you up to a year to use. I ended up with a leftover day from my last trip due to the hurricane last September which fortunately they have extended but now I need to plan another trip to use it before it expires. At least if they gave you a year to use all the days I wouldn't feel compelled to try to cram everything in commando style. My days of that type of park visit are long gone. TIW I bought only twice many years ago. When I had an AP the included AP discounts plus the discounts offered by DVC & the Disney Rewards Visa made TIW an unnecessary additional expense for me. I still wouldn't buy it even if they ever offered it again because I'd never spend enough to break even on the cost. After hearing what DVC is currently charging people to by into GCV now I'm seriously considering that to be the first contract I sell off.