Membership Magic Beyond

[PrincessGidget]

Purchase of Walt Disney World® Resort Five-Day Date-Based Weekday Theme Park Ticket Plus One Water Park Visit: From time to time, Members enrolled in the Optional Benefit Program are granted the ability to purchase up to eight (8), five (5)-day, date-based, weekday tickets (“WDW Tickets”)

What the heck does “from time to time mean?
Is it the same as “only good on February 29th”?

 

[Judique]

$99 is a very fair price I feel. Maybe they’re playing the psychology game - we will undervalue this perk in hopes to get future direct members? As a resale member I am definitely feeling the FOMO. My pea brain doesn’t care that the perk is still not worth the difference in price between direct and resale.

I paid 56.95 a direct point for Boardwalk. There was a time when direct was the only game in town. I will happily pay $99 for a discount on OTU points that makes them pretty much cheaper than any rental.

We've never purchased OTU points or memory maker. We've never stepped foot in the member lounge and we've never used our points for DCL, ABD, etc. We are already Sorcerer's pass holders. Unless we happened to be going to DL sometime this does nothing for us. I think I'll save myself $99. But I can see it being useful for some.

I've never bought OTU points either. But I already plan to buy them next year. So, for me this hits at the right moment. Borrowed a lot of points for my Feb 25 trip and want to book several trips for later in 2025.
They got me.

 

[xdan0920]

I guess the one distinction I would make is that everything on here is value added. It's not taking anything away from people who decide not to pay the $99. Well, the lounge access is a little TBD--if some people get in sooner, others will get in later. Exactly how that manifests remains to be seen. Aside from that, it's a new character greet, new ticket discounts, new OTU points perk, etc.

If it leaks over into other areas in the future...well, let's just say my perspective is subject to change.

The very idea that it won’t leak over is laughable. Soon, all benefits will be hidden behind the paywall.

 

[Judique]

This feels like an ad that says SALE and then in the small print excludes everything you’d actually want to buy…. (Ahem… weekday only tickets….)

For a family of 4 it’s only $25 a person for an entire year… but it’s missing something to put it over the top….

There may be something in each aspect that works for someone. I won't save on the memory pass as I've had it for free and haven't valued it enough to print out a picture.

Your comment on where's the Aulani love - same here for DHHIR and Vero Beach Resort.

 

[Judique]

I just read all the terms and conditions. So it is an expiring ticket that can be used within 8 days or upgraded to a sorcerer's pass with DVC points by last use. I wonder if in that case, your cash is refunded and points subtracted from your direct contract?

Our son and DIL are on our direct contract but live in a different state. I see all tickets have to be from the same household which I'm okay with. If someone does not have an answer for that I will ask our guide next week. In fact, I will ask him LOTS OF QUESTIONS and won't he be happy to see me (he is a sweetie!)

Well this rumor has been swirling around for quite some time, but I think Poly took my eyes off this subject recently. Interesting, if sales are so great, they finally feel they can sprinkle some pixie dust on us?

I have the same question on the different addresses.

Not quite a problem as if they go they'll travel with me anyway.

 

[JackosinDIS]

The very idea that it won’t leak over is laughable. Soon, all benefits will be hidden behind the paywall.

Sadly, I think you’re right. DVC-Y will simply allow you to have the opportunity to purchase the benefits, and won’t actually give you any!

 

[Sandisw]

Purchase of Walt Disney World® Resort Five-Day Date-Based Weekday Theme Park Ticket Plus One Water Park Visit: From time to time, Members enrolled in the Optional Benefit Program are granted the ability to purchase up to eight (8), five (5)-day, date-based, weekday tickets (“WDW Tickets”)

What the heck does “from time to time mean?
Is it the same as “only good on February 29th”?

It’s there because tickets are in the control of DPR and not DVD…so they have to add that in case something happens and that other division stops offering them.

 

[xdan0920]

Sadly, I think you’re right. DVC-Y will simply allow you to have the opportunity to purchase the benefits, and won’t actually give you any!

100% correct. Look where we’ve wound up with FastPass….

 

[zackiedawg]

I guess the one distinction I would make is that everything on here is value added. It's not taking anything away from people who decide not to pay the $99. Well, the lounge access is a little TBD--if some people get in sooner, others will get in later. Exactly how that manifests remains to be seen. Aside from that, it's a new character greet, new ticket discounts, new OTU points perk, etc.

If it leaks over into other areas in the future...well, let's just say my perspective is subject to change.

Each step they've made since starting the paywall extra cost features have leaked over - just not enough so far to drastically impact my trips. When FastPasses were free, I noticed it actually improved overall waits at every ride, because nearly everyone got them, and they were able to control the flow onto the rides. Once it went to LL or FP+ or whatever initial name it got, I did notice standby lines grew longer. It was seasonal, and some times of year some rides were easy to walk on - but other times, standby lines doubled in wait times. And posted standby waits are less accurate then they used to be - I find they tend to underestimate wait times by 5-10 minutes at most rides, sometimes more.

I expect the paywall for lounges to have the same effect - certain times of the year, or even certain times of day, it may not have any real impact - but other times I'd expect waitlists to grow for anyone not purchasing this 'perk' - by how much we won't know until it happens. The result with the LL is that I now occasionally skip certain rides that I otherwise would have gone on because the standby times aren't worth it - I'd say I get on Haunted Mansion about every 3rd trip as the standby line routinely runs over an hour now - before paid lightning/fast passes it typically ran 20-40 minutes.

With the lounge, if the standby waitlist is running 20-30 minutes, which is the worst I've encountered at Epcot's lounge before this paywall, then I'd still wait to get in - but if presented with a 50 min to over an hour waitlist, likely that means I'll just skip it. While not ruining my trip or even my day, it is having an impact overall on my park experience when a perk I've long enjoyed suddenly becomes difficult to impossible to enjoy without paying more money. My stubborn side says I could do more enjoyable things with that money than spend it go shorten my wait for a free coke - I'd much rather hit a nearby bar and enjoy a few cocktails for that money.

 

[tx911]

Sadly, I think you’re right. DVC-Y will simply allow you to have the opportunity to purchase the benefits, and won’t actually give you any!

I'm hopefully optimistic that things like Moonlight Magic, Sorcerer's pass, etc. remain included.

I can see them adding more perks to the Beyond package though, at higher price points of course.

 

[TexasJedi]

Since my family likes to visit both WDW and DL regularly, annual passes have never made financial sense to us, so the Memory Maker benefit alone makes this worthwhile since we always purchase it for our longer trips. Any other benefits we're able to take advantage of will be added value.

I'll be very curious to run the numbers on buying the discounted tickets + buying additional days at rack rate vs. buying the full number of days in one transaction direct. Based on numbers we've run in the past for public discounts on specific-day passes, it's typically been better to buy the full slate of tickets because of the multi-day discounts as opposed to a discounted + non-discounted set for a trip.

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

It's certainly infuriated this UK member! Just spent 45 minutes debating the benefits with my DH only to find out we can't buy in anyway! Grrrrr

As a fellow UK DVC-er, I’m not sure I get the benefits for us.

The UK park tickets are cheaper even with the discounts offered here.

And we have a sorcerer AP anyway. I guess the MM add on is alright, but you get that for free with UK tickets and we just add it on to one of our APs anyway.

 

[dez1978]

hmmmm. I wonder how many points it will cost to buy an AP... Probably more than I have lol

 

[buzlite]

At first I was very excited. But then I noticed the tickets were listed as week day only. Any idea if we will be able to extend the number of days for the ticket or if a separate ticket would need to be purchased for adding 1-2 weekend days.
Not as big a deal for WDW but for DL we plan to visit on a weekend.

 

[Canchaser143]

I am slightly impressed that they included Disneyland into these perks! It is exciting! Now if only I had a blue card

 

[mort1331]

Q: Who is eligible to purchase the Membership Magic Beyond option?

A.The Membership Magic Beyond option is available for purchase to Disney Vacation Club Members (DVC-Y) with eligible ownership interests currently in good standing, who are U.S. residents. Corporate Memberships are ineligible. To learn more about Membership Extras, including eligibility, Members should see the Membership Extras Acknowledgment and Disclosure Statement. The 2025 Membership Magic Beyond Option Terms and Conditions apply.

Wait - only US residents?
Will this raise the wrath of Canadian DVC owners?

It's certainly infuriated this UK member! Just spent 45 minutes debating the benefits with my DH only to find out we can't buy in anyway! Grrrrr

If this is true and only USA can buy,,,then we are shutting off the Maple Syrup pipeline to all of you.
Serious though, not sure how they can limit just to USA. I know the tickets come from another department, maybe even the MM. But being able to access OTU points,,hmm I have issues with that. That is part of DVC management and has to be equal for all. Unless I am wrong even non Y get OTU if needed.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am slightly impressed that they included Disneyland into these perks! It is exciting!

Same

 

[Judique]

Each step they've made since starting the paywall extra cost features have leaked over - just not enough so far to drastically impact my trips. When FastPasses were free, I noticed it actually improved overall waits at every ride, because nearly everyone got them, and they were able to control the flow onto the rides. Once it went to LL or FP+ or whatever initial name it got, I did notice standby lines grew longer. It was seasonal, and some times of year some rides were easy to walk on - but other times, standby lines doubled in wait times. And posted standby waits are less accurate then they used to be - I find they tend to underestimate wait times by 5-10 minutes at most rides, sometimes more.

I expect the paywall for lounges to have the same effect - certain times of the year, or even certain times of day, it may not have any real impact - but other times I'd expect waitlists to grow for anyone not purchasing this 'perk' - by how much we won't know until it happens. The result with the LL is that I now occasionally skip certain rides that I otherwise would have gone on because the standby times aren't worth it - I'd say I get on Haunted Mansion about every 3rd trip as the standby line routinely runs over an hour now - before paid lightning/fast passes it typically ran 20-40 minutes.

With the lounge, if the standby waitlist is running 20-30 minutes, which is the worst I've encountered at Epcot's lounge before this paywall, then I'd still wait to get in - but if presented with a 50 min to over an hour waitlist, likely that means I'll just skip it. While not ruining my trip or even my day, it is having an impact overall on my park experience when a perk I've long enjoyed suddenly becomes difficult to impossible to enjoy without paying more money. My stubborn side says I could do more enjoyable things with that money than spend it go shorten my wait for a free coke - I'd much rather hit a ne arby bar and enjoy a few cocktails for that money.

I've never had to wait for the Epcot lounge longer than it takes to sign me in. So now by paying I may get priority, but the OTU points discount is what works this time around. Wish I could buy more!

I've absolutely refused in my mind to buy LL or Genie or anything else up until now.

I will join you in buying a cocktail but I think I'll dump it in my cup and sip while in line <g> to make the time go faster on the very few attractions I still do. Haunted Mansion is one. No cocktails for that. Or is there a bar I don't know about?

 

[reddog21]

Every time Disney inches the carrot farther away, I expect blowback and am absolutely dumbfounded when instead, I look around and see everyone around me undoing their purse strings with a smile on their face.

I don't think people are happy about having to pay for certain things however if you look at what's going on you quickly realize this is the world we live in. Disney is just one of many that are putting together add ons. It's never going to go back to "the good ole days", some people just have a hard time accepting that.

I would much rather have the option to pay for something rather then have them increase the price and tell you they included things that you just don't care about.

 

[tidefan]

Don't know if it's just me, but I don't see the value in any of this. Never bought OTUP and we've had AP's so memory maker is a non-issue (and honestly, after having trips for the past 17 years, we don't use that anymore anyway). It also seems like a really strange way to incentivize things by making people think they won't be able to get into a member lounge. Sure, I enjoy my Coke Zero, but I can buy a whole lot of them at Publix for $99.

I'm no DVD executive, but it seems to me, if I wanted to move more direct points, I'd add this in at higher levels of direct points rather than a flat $$ fee to try to drive more sales, but even then, I don't see much value in this.