Is it still worth being a shareholder?

[Rosie]

like many people on this board I hold 20 shares at present. My membership of shareholders club expires in june this year so am wondering what to do.
I can raise the money to buy another 80 shares and will do that if I can find reasons to do it but Salon Mickey and the shareholder discounts seem a little lacking for that investment.
Does anyone here think shareholders may get better perks once the new shareholding club rules are fully in force?
Is there any information out there about any changes to membership benefits (assuming there will be no dividends paid for the foreseable future)?
What are other membership club DISers doing aout this issue?

 

[DLPdaft]

my shareholders card expires in October this year. As I currently hold only 5 shares, its a no-brainer for me. I will no longer be a shareholder from November. I had my last visit to Salon Mickey earlier this week - and I will miss it , but as my DD is now nearly 12, any future visits we have to DLP we will have at least one AP, so I won't really miss the shareholders discounts as the AP will more or less make up for that.

 

[mommy2ash]

i think it really isn't worth it for people anymore. if you work out how much the shares would cost you vs how much you would have to spent before you make that back on discounts it is quite a lot.

 

[Jonjo]

It all depends on what you personaly get out of being a member of the shareholders club. Do you attend the GM or vote on any of the proposals? Do you attend any of the Round Table Events? Are you benefiting from the discounts and other perks?

If your not then I guess APs are the way to go.

I see being a shareholder as a long term investment, if you buy the extra 80 shares needed now, your not going to see a return this year but if you plan on going at least once a year for the next 5 or so years then you will slowly get your money back on the discounts you benefit from. At the moment the share price is on the way down, closing at 4.93 today. Historicaly May has been the cheapest time to buy shares in Euro Disney.

APPAED the association of small shareholders are lobbying Euro Disney SCA for some more benefits for shareholders. A new magazine, extended opening hours for Salon Mickey and more special events for shareholders to attend.

If the rumored offical DLP fan club launches it will be interesting to see what benefits the members of that club will get.

If your a small shareholder more information about APPAED can be found on their website which can be found here: https://sites.google.com/a/appaed.com/appaed/.

 

[markpsych]

We're not renewing this year. AP discount will suffice.

 

[zavandor]

You are not really paying all the money to buy the shares: you are investing them.
I purchased 20 shares and paid less than 10 euros in fees.
Then I sold them and paid other 10 euros in fees.

So my total cost of ownership was 20 euros. But in the meantime the price increased, I bought at 70 euros and sold at 100, so I even earned 10 euros.

Add to that the fees from the bank to keep the shares (mine were free).

My point is that you should check how much you would pay in fees, that is your cost. Then add the risk that the shares price could drop (difficult to assign a value to this).
For me, the discount on the annual pass (I bought a Dream one) made up more than I paid in fees, plus I had all the others perks (breakfast at Salon Mickey being the best one).

For me it is a no brainer, I'll buy again the shares when I'll need them.

 

[lilacgems23]

I cant afford to buy another 79 shares just to renew my membership. Its really annoying as it saved us loads on our trips. Buying an annual pass just for discount in shops and restaurants probably wont save me any money either.

 

[Ware Bears]

I'm still undecided what to do. My DH owns 25 shares that he can transfer to me and then I would only need to buy 50 as I've got 25. I'm not sure - it's not so much the money but the principle! but he's keen that I buy them so that one of us is still a member.

We're not going back to DLP this year ..... unless our numbers come up ..... so no real urgency but on the other hand it would be nice to have unbroken membership.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[Jonjo]

DW and I are in the same position we are both shareholders, so we are going to transfer our shares to one account, and buy the extra we need and apply for joint membership.

 

[DLPdaft]

You are not really paying all the money to buy the shares: you are investing them.
I purchased 20 shares and paid less than 10 euros in fees.
Then I sold them and paid other 10 euros in fees.

So my total cost of ownership was 20 euros. But in the meantime the price increased, I bought at 70 euros and sold at 100, so I even earned 10 euros.

Add to that the fees from the bank to keep the shares (mine were free).

My point is that you should check how much you would pay in fees, that is your cost. Then add the risk that the shares price could drop (difficult to assign a value to this).
For me, the discount on the annual pass (I bought a Dream one) made up more than I paid in fees, plus I had all the others perks (breakfast at Salon Mickey being the best one).

For me it is a no brainer, I'll buy again the shares when I'll need them.

yes, i get where you are coming from zavandor.

But 500 euros is a sizeable chunk of money to invest, even if only for a short time, at shareholders club renewal time/shortly before a trip to DLP.

A dream pass through cemultiavantages or promoparcs, including all fees etc, is around 179 euros (cheaper still if you buy more than one in a year). And no requirement to tie up any more money in shares to get them.

 

[netimka]

I only become member last year and didn't even manage to visit Salon Mickey last time but we have decided to buy more shares...

its more like investment plus the feeling of owning a little piece of magic...
I've got now 40 shares and might buy another 20 tomorrow as it a special offer on halifax and it only £3.95 fee for a day... got the other 20 last year when they had this offer as well...still got over a year till my card expired so hopefully will have enough by then and they wont increase them again...

plus I like the 10% off here in disney stores

 

[Ware Bears]

DW and I are in the same position we are both shareholders, so we are going to transfer our shares to one account, and buy the extra we need and apply for joint membership.

I remember you saying about joint membership before - I can't find anything about it on the website do you have any more details?

 

[Rosie]

Thanks everyone who replied - it is down to personal circumstances and views as much as anything but just nice to know what others are doing

Jonjo thanks for your comments ;

APPAED the association of small shareholders are lobbying Euro Disney SCA for some more benefits for shareholders. A new magazine, extended opening hours for Salon Mickey and more special events for shareholders to attend.

If the rumored offical DLP fan club launches it will be interesting to see what benefits the members of that club will get.

If your a small shareholder more information about APPAED can be found on their website which can be found here: https://sites.google.com/a/appaed.com/appaed/.

I shall take a good look into this!

I am watching the share price and exchange rate - hoping for a share price below 4 euro and an exchange rate of 1.2 plus.

I would like to see a discount on VIP FP and or the concierge level rooms for shareholders and longer hours for Salon mickey. It would be nice to have more notice of special events too so i might actually be able to make something special as I seem to miss the openings of new attractions by days each time .

I can't say I'm over keen on the way the company is running things right now. like most people here I'm disappointed at the lack of shows and all those magical extras we used to enjoy. I feel you have to go in summer just to enjoy the parks as outside summer there are so many closures.

 

[Jonjo]

I can't say I'm over keen on the way the company is running things right now. like most people here I'm disappointed at the lack of shows and all those magical extras we used to enjoy. I feel you have to go in summer just to enjoy the parks as outside summer there are so many closures.

Could not agree more.

 

[jillrobinson]

I can't say I'm over keen on the way the company is running things right now. like most people here I'm disappointed at the lack of shows and all those magical extras we used to enjoy. I feel you have to go in summer just to enjoy the parks as outside summer there are so many closures.

Actually we have our first summer trip booked for July and there aren't any shows on then either and no Fantillusion

Suffice to say I am majorly disappointed especially given the cost as the family now consists of 4 adults. Yes we have long hours but not sure what we'll find to do to fill them !

I was lucky had my renewal in August so still have a while to run, I don't hink I'll be increasing my shares though to renew in 2014. It would be mroe sensible and cheaper for us to invest in AP's for those of the family that want them and make use of their discounts instead.

 

[dlpSteve]

I priced up 4 days in August as we are now limited to school holidays with Lucas and I was shocked at how much it was, even with the 30% off. With the lack of entertainment I think we'll be waiting until 2014.

When I spoke to some of the execs at DLP in November and asked about Fantillusion they said it was gone for Christmas but seemed to imply that it wasn't gone completely. I've been expecting an announcement to say it will be back for summer, but then announcements from DLP aren't their string point so we may not find until much nearer the time.

My club membership runs out at the end of August and we'll not be renewing. It's a shame after so long, but it's not worth it when we visit so infrequently these days.