Lifetime Passes for DVC members

[TwingleMum]

I got the survey on discounts for tickets. Mine qouted 15% and I told them I thought 25% was the least I thought would be fair. There was also a comment section I asked about DVC members getting lifetime passes for $1000/immediate family . They could even max out the number of passes according to points.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Sign me (and family) up for lifetime annual passes...

 

[spiceycat]

a lifetime pass to any and all the WDW theme parks - or just the ones opened now?

 

[tinkgrl]

Originally posted by BostonDisneyKid
Sign me (and family) up for lifetime annual passes...

Hi,

Sign me up too!!

Allison an associate

 

[PamOKW]

Are you saying $1,000 per person for a lifetime pass? I think we'd have to add at least another "0" before Disney even started to think about that one. A PAP is already over $500 per year.

Good point about what a "lifetime pass" would cover. When AK opened it was not included in the DVC pass program. The same thing with APs that were purchased prior to AK opening -- a premium had to be paid to include the park.

I would like to see DVC offer a discount that is comparable to the FL resident discounts. The idea of being able to choose whether to purchase an AP/PAP or park hopper packages is also appealing. This would give us options for years when we won't be at the parks enough to justify an AP.

The "lifetime pas" idea is also a terrific thought. I just think it would have to be an expensive outlay for it to make sense for Disney -- especially if a child could purchase a lifetime pass. Our financial whizzes could run the number but on the surface it seems it would have to pretty expensive. I would think Disney would have to charge at least 20 times (20 years) the current going rate -- that would be $10,000 per pass.

 

[RuthnPaul]

My feeling is that I'd want age to somehow be factored in. Someone buying lifetime passes when they are in their 20's is more than likely going to get a lot more use than would my DH and myself, being in our early 50's!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by spiceycat
a lifetime pass to any and all the WDW theme parks - or just the ones opened now?

Does it really matter?!?! For $1000 I'll take the parks open now and stick a Park Hopper in my drawer in case I ever want to visit a new gate.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Better than age related - tie it to the duration of your DVC package... expires in 2042 and/or 2050 and mark up the annual fees accordingly to cover the 10K (much more realistic than $1000.00) over the 38/50 years.

 

[Candace]

A couple of months ago, someone mentioned on this board that they had bought a lifetime pass with their DVC membership when the Vacation Club first opened. They said it was offered an extremely short time and ran around $2500. Does anyone remember this post or this actually happening at DVC? I have been a member since 1994, and it was not offered then. We did, however, enjoy the free passes through 1999.

 

[Shadeaux]

Originally posted by Candace
A couple of months ago, someone mentioned on this board that they had bought a lifetime pass with their DVC membership when the Vacation Club first opened. They said it was offered an extremely short time and ran around $2500. Does anyone remember this post or this actually happening at DVC? I have been a member since 1994, and it was not offered then. We did, however, enjoy the free passes through 1999.

Someone that has worked with DVC from the beginning said no such lifetime passes were ever offered. The only free passes were those early owners received through 1999. After getting this information, I questioned the person who claimed to have bought those lifetime passes, but they never responded.

 

[spiceycat]

I don't remember it - but that doesn't mean it did not happen.

the current park hopper are only go for the current parks - if WDW comes out with another park - you will find that your current passes won't work - and you will be forced to buy new passes - or don't go to the new park.

the little pamplet that comes with your passes says what parks they are for.....

I really wish that WDW would come out with a pick your park pass - not like the one they have now - one day one park (non park hopping) - and each day a differ park - one day can be either a new park or one you have visited - I think it is for 4 days -

I want a pass that will include two parks - like the MK and Epcot - so park hopping is okay - but not include AK and Studios - so the price will be cheaper.....

or whatever you want - but you get to decide - not WDW

 

[Candace]

Thanks, Shadeaux - I remember thinking when I read this post that others would have heard of this happening. So, it was just a fish tale after all, huh?

 

[TwingleMum]

I was dreaming out loud. I knew the experts on this BB would flesh out all the difficulties. But its still nice to dream....

 

[Sammie]

Best I remember from friends is that Lifetime Passes were offered for a limited time when the MK opened. At times certain guests such as the one millionth visitor, etc have been given lifetime passes.

However the lifetime passes that were offered in 71 were only good for the MK, not the other parks after they opened.

I will ask around and see if I can get some more info. It's like pulling teeth though,

 

[disneycrazed139]

My feeling is that I'd want age to somehow be factored in. Someone buying lifetime passes when they are in their 20's is more than likely going to get a lot more use than would my DH and myself, being in our early 50's!

So then maybe Disney could come up with the Lifetime Pass Table--sort of like a life insurance table of premiums...and the cost, instead of going up as your age goes up, would go down as the age went up! lol. You could, of course, also select AP or PAP and I suppose this would be similar to the non-smoking and smoking columns.

Sorry. It's late. I'm making strange analogies.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I like the idea, but I think it has as much of a chance as a real snowball at Blizzard Beach! I would settle for a 25% discount on the APs. That would be awsome!

 

[Mickmse2002]

Like the concept but probably couldn't afford it. I would think it would be easier to index it to the expiration of your points and be included in your dues. That would be an interesting option.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I do seem to recall getting an offer about a lifetime pass back when I was a college student. It seemed $$$$ at the time and I had no $$$ and no idea what how much annual passes would go up to. I think regular annual passes were around $159 or less back then - over 10 years ago.

If the price mentioned of $2500 was correct then it was substantially more than the annual pass prices of the time. So, Pam's estimate of $10,000 per person for a lifetime pass now seems realistic. Although, a lot of $$$!!!! Think of all the points we could buy instead!

I think I got the offer in the mail because I was an annual pass holder at the time. But I don't remember any of the details really and if I had to swear that I received such a lifetime offer, I'm not sure I could - maybe I only THOUGHT I received it when it was actually something else. So, if there was a lifetime pass, it probably had nothing do with DVC.

Regarding the DVC lifetime pass, I agree they would probably need to tie it in with the DVC expiration date. So, would it really be a LIFETIME annual pass then?

Also, what happens if you decide to sell your DVC membership? Do you get to keep your passes? If no, do they transfer over to the buyers? If yes, will the buyers get to buy them too or have you already used up the "quota?"

Things to keep in mind...

 

[Bacs22]

I'd take 20 to 25% off an AP. Better than the old Disney Club discount. If you factor everything in, Disney makes alot off of us, they could give us a discount, without hurting their bottom line.

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
I would settle for a 25% discount on the APs. That would be awsome!

As awesome as this would be there is no way Disney will ever agree to a 25% discount on passes. I mean they already have us locked into vacations at least every other year, and some multiple times a year. This means that unless you're not going to the parks at all, you will have to purchase some sort of park pass, and that is easy money for them.

When is the last time you saw Disney discount anything more than 10-15%?? Heck, right now we don't even have the "standard" 10% discount on passes anymore. Any discount in my mind would be welcome. If they want to give us 15% great!!

Brian