Let's be happy for once

[Doctor P]

Yes, they do offer a discount, that is true, but it should be noted that the discount for DVC members has effectively been cut back by the fact that everyone except DVC members can now get a discount by purchasing their passes in advance and the DVC discount is off the full price before tax. For example, a 7 DAY UPH pass is available to the general public for $360. The DVC price is approximately $346. So, in effect, our true discount is about 4% on a 7 day UPH as compared with the previous discount of 10%. As of January 05, that means that the difference between a 7 day PHP pass and the 7 day UPH pass will be about $35 less for the 7 day PHP pass that does not expire (but also does not include unlimited hopping among water parks or admission to Pleasure Island, or unlimited hopping among those options). If you are not going to DQ, the PHP tickets are probably a better deal at least for the 7 day ticket. And I certainly agree that a DVC discount for the current type of PH and PHP tickets really would not make much sense, though it would be nice (and probably be gone quickly due to abuse, etc.).

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Doctor P
It is very easy to say that all of the issues are/were my choices, but I'm sorry, the issues we are talking about are NOT my choice, nor are they the choice of many other DIS'ers and DVC'ers. I really find it very interesting and disturbing that people are quick to jump on the band wagon and indicate that they know my life better than I know it. I will reiterate: park passes are not just any perk--the parks are the central reason to own DVC versus another timeshare. Keep in mind that in the situation I have outlined, we have lots of DVC members who could go EVERY year, use EVERY point they have EVERY year, go to the parks EVERY day that they are at Disney, and still not be able to benefit from the annual pass discount that is being offered. To me, that is a serious problem, and one that unfortunately affects me personally on many of the dimensions. I think there is something wrong with the theme park pass discount structure, or with the way that DVC has been sold, if someone who goes to Disney under the above circumstances cannot substantially benefit from the theme park pass discounts that are offered to members. And it is obvious, contrary to many posts, that members feel they DESERVE this perk, given the reactions when I suggested that there should be more restrictions on the annual pass discount. People are happy until their ox is the one getting gored. In this particular case, my ox is being gored and I think I am entitled to express displeasure about it.

Dr. P if you truely can not make use of the AP then I can understand your unhappiness with Disney offering a Discount that some members can use and not offering an alternative to those that can't use it. However I think when you try to take the new discount and start wishing for restrictions that would serve no benefit to anyone, yourself included, it just comes off as being petty.

Putting restrictions on the new AP discount is not going to change your situation. It would appear that your wish then becomes, Misery loves company.

There is always going to be some situation where some will profit and others won't. Basically that is just life.

Many can't travel the week you can and probably have never had the opportunity to experience Disney at Christmas, which is truely a magical experience. While there are limitations in place that week, such as pool hopping, a perk that I think is overated, but then there are limitations by visiting others times such as shorter park hours. It is basically all a wash to me.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

 

[Doctor P]

I don't think that the restrictions I suggested on the annual passes were at all driven by sour grapes or by having people share the misery. What I was suggesting was that if the motivation was truly a business decision, I believe that more restrictions on the passes may have actually been more consistent with what, IMHO, would have been a good business decision. A lot of people disagree with my opinion on that, and many have effectively explained why my reasoning on that point may have been incorrect or incomplete. You will notice that I acknowledged that, and I respect those opinions. The only thing selfish in the analysis is that I, selfishly I admit, do not want the annual pass discount to further adversely affect my ability to get reservations or further increase congestion at an already congested time of the year. In that case, as a member who cannot take advantage of the annual pass discount I will not only not get the discount but also be paying a "higher price" at the time that I can travel and therefore have additional costs placed upon me by the policy. I am not suggesting that this will actually happen, but if it did I hope that you can understand that that would be particularly disturbing to me.

 

[Dean]

I've been thinking this over. There appear to be MANY ways to play this issue as posted on the website. I can easily figure out how to get 16-24 passes legally every year. Of course the rules may change but I'm sure most of my ideas will work with any set of rules they can come up with. Max cost to me would be about $500 to make this many people eligible.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by Dean
I've been thinking this over. There appear to be MANY ways to play this issue as posted on the website. I can easily figure out how to get 16-24 passes legally every year. Of course the rules may change but I'm sure most of my ideas will work with any set of rules they can come up with. Max cost to me would be about $500 to make this many people eligible.

When there are multiple "owners" on the deed, are there also multiple addresses of record? Will each "owner" on the deed receive a maintenance fee statement and confirmation letter for every reservation - or will those mailings be sent to just one address of record?

If there is just one address of record, the intent to allow a maximum of eight passes may not be as easily defeated as it may seem to some. The caveat by DVC that the perk will be removed if abuses occur would also appear to be an important consideration before testing some elaborate plan to bypass the intent of the benefit.

I sure don't wany 16- 24 different people making reservations, banking and borrowing on my account anyway.

 

[loribell]

When there are multiple "owners" on the deed, are there also multiple addresses of record? Will each "owner" on the deed receive a maintenance fee statement and confirmation letter for every reservation - or will those mailings be sent to just one address of record?

I think I can actually answer this one. My mother and I are the purchasers of my contract. We live in different towns and we each get maintenance fee statements and any other mailings DVC sends out but when I make the reservations I am the only one that gets confirmation of that.

Was that what you were asking? Hope I was able to help.

Lori

 

[Doctor P]

Very interesting, loribell. I'm not sure I would have necessarily guessed it worked that way.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
When there are multiple "owners" on the deed, are there also multiple addresses of record? Will each "owner" on the deed receive a maintenance fee statement and confirmation letter for every reservation - or will those mailings be sent to just one address of record?

If there is just one address of record, the intent to allow a maximum of eight passes may not be as easily defeated as it may seem to some. The caveat by DVC that the perk will be removed if abuses occur would also appear to be an important consideration before testing some elaborate plan to bypass the intent of the benefit.

I sure don't wany 16- 24 different people making reservations, banking and borrowing on my account anyway.

Nor do I, actually being FL residents and getting seasonal passes, I doubt we'll even use it but you never know. But the info posted on the website doesn't say address of record, it says a member must present a membership card and picture ID and then you can get up to 8 passes at for those at that same address. But you can have multiple addresses and owners. And it's not even per contract as posted. Actually I can think of ways to get upwards of 64 passes per year but not honestly. I can easily think of ways to get 16-24 honestly within the restrictions posted. But I suspect we'll see some changes in the "rules" as we go along, for this very reason.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Originally posted by Doctor P
, that is not a perk, it's a kickback to a selected group of members (in the best of circumstances).

couldnt disagree more. a perk is a perk, make use of it how you like, or make no use of it at all.

Either way it has zero negative effect on anything any DVC'er has ever done or will do.

 

[Kadorto]

AP Discount!!! Its a great day to belong to the DVC! :thewave: :

P.S. just a little something for those who are unhappy with the discount....

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Originally posted by Doctor P
It is very easy to say that all of the issues are/were my choices, but I'm sorry, the issues we are talking about are NOT my choice, nor are they the choice of many other DIS'ers and DVC'ers. I really find it very interesting and disturbing that people are quick to jump on the band wagon and indicate that they know my life better than I know it. I will reiterate: park passes are not just any perk--the parks are the central reason to own DVC versus another timeshare. Keep in mind that in the situation I have outlined, we have lots of DVC members who could go EVERY year, use EVERY point they have EVERY year, go to the parks EVERY day that they are at Disney, and still not be able to benefit from the annual pass discount that is being offered. To me, that is a serious problem, and one that unfortunately affects me personally on many of the dimensions. I think there is something wrong with the theme park pass discount structure, or with the way that DVC has been sold, if someone who goes to Disney under the above circumstances cannot substantially benefit from the theme park pass discounts that are offered to members. And it is obvious, contrary to many posts, that members feel they DESERVE this perk, given the reactions when I suggested that there should be more restrictions on the annual pass discount. People are happy until their ox is the one getting gored. In this particular case, my ox is being gored and I think I am entitled to express displeasure about it.

man oh man I just can not get a grasp on your logic whatsoever.

A perk is just a perk! I could go to WDW every day for the rest of my life and still decide not to use the AP perk, who cares, it has nothing to do with it. Its a choice, Disney didnt say "hey everyone we are discontinuing park hoppers, so now you all must buy AP's, but we'll give you a discount"

If you cant use the AP discount, fine, no harm, just continue to go about business as always.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Originally posted by Doctor P
Great, then let's help the tens of thousands of other DVC members do the same thing by giving incentives for going to the parks every day on shorter trips.

i like it, nice and logical .

This is a good point, but its not an agruement to use to oppose the AP discount.

Instead use the AP discount as a positive and hope Disney is looking at ticket discounts for DVC members in general, and hopefully this is just the start and more discounts will come about in the future.

 

[rinkwide]

Originally posted by Doctor P
...I am entitled to express displeasure...

Ad nauseum.

 

[DVCcollector]

We go for 12 - 14 days per year and usually in the early part of Dec. We don't usually buy AP's but we are getting our 8 this time around for our family members we just use the Canadian buy 1 get 1 half price deal it still works out cheaper but I have to say this is a nice perk. It would have been better on PHP in my families opinion. Our guide also told us that this is not supposed to be a permanent perk but more a trial of sorts who knows what that actually means.

 

[WDWMom]

Why would I want to buy an UMP if I don't go to the parks everyday. I stated in my post that we only go to the parks about 2-3 days in a 10 day trip. PHP are the economical way to go. We can use a 7 day PHP for 3 trips. I see no logic in comparing a PHP to an UMP for a family that does not want to go to the parks everyday. The same goes for the AP.

I see the logic that Disney would not want to sell PH/PHP at a discount when we could buy them and then sell for a profit (but they don't mind DVCer's doing for that for ressies boggles my mind though). Too bad they can't come up with a DVC PH/PHP that has a picture or thumb print or whatever AP's have.

Just my opinion.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Count me in as someone who is extremely happy about the AP discount. We don't use most of the "perks" offered through DVC but certainly don't begrudge anyonyone who does. Everybody has the same opportunity to utilize this perk. That is a fact. Many people will choose to not use the perk, which is absolutley fine. I have seen many threads discuss this topic and do agree that many DVCer's had a sense of entitlement to the AP discount. I don't think we are entitled to it but I am very glad that it is offered. It is offered from a business perspective, WDW is trying to bolster market share and "lock" people in as their destination. They already do this in large part through DVC accomodations and now they are extending that to park enticements. If WDW forsee's a trend of DVCer's going elsewhere or not in the parks then they will do something to encourage them to stay. I am willing to bet a paycheck this is what they saw.

 

[russct]

I think anything is better then nothing. I just bought an PAP last week and miss out on the discount this year, but still very happy with this perk.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Well, I'm ticked because some members get to go to WDW during the holidays, and I can't. I can't believe they leave the resorts open when I'm not there.

And I'm ticked because I have to pay a fee for transportation at the resorts when I usually drive my car around WDW.

And I'm ticked because they're building a slide at OKW and I won't ever use it. That's obviously a kickback to a select few.

And I'm ticked because of all the discounts at restaurants I don't want to eat at.

And the miniature golf discounts which I don't use.

And the discount on water parks which I've never used because I bought a PHP that includes water parks.

And on and on and on.

It doesn't end with DVC. It'll eat you alive.



The AP discount is a great perk. It enhances DVC membership whether I get to use it before it's canceled due to abuse or not. Congratulations and thanks to DVC for the work they did to get it for us.

Let's show them we're big boys and girls and they might get us another perk that the "Doctor" can use.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Amen One More Try! This has gotten ridiculous, we get a great perk that the large majority of DVC-er's are happy about. Even many that can't or won't use it recognize it as something positive DVC is giving us. I have seen so many threads begging for this perk before it was instituted and now we get it and what happens--it isn't enough for some people.

I'd like to know where Dr P's objections were posted when we were all discussing how much we wanted AP discounts (prior to actually getting them). Did he post his objections then, or did he wait until we got the perk and then begin his diatribe? And if nothing was said beforehand, why not? If objections WERE posted before we got the AP discount can you please link me to the thread? Because if Dr. P really felt that strongly I would think he would have said something earlier.

 

[elfbo]

Good News ! DR P managed to find a way for the discount to work for their trips!