Monthly payments for WDW annual pass?

[nitsirk]

I remember reading on this board somewhere that WDW was going to offer a monthly payment plan for Florida resident pass holders. Is this still the case? If so does anyone know when it will be available?

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Nothing past the rumor stage, yet-

Here is some discussion about it.

This rumor states "maybe in July" for tests.

 

[ChrisandMeghann]

That would be a cool idea. I guess if you default on you loan they will just cancel your ticket. Not a florida resident but to get anual passes for an entire family is not cheap even with it being discounted.

 

[Robo]

I guess if you default on you loan they will just cancel your ticket.

That's the EXACT problem.

The problem with defaulting (not finishing to pay) on an AP which has allowed time-payments is easy to understand.

Guest Family X decides to buy 4 AP's via incremental payments.
Payments to be made throughout the course of a year.

They receive the AP's in April 2010.

They visit Disney for 5 days in April 2010.
They visit Disney for 6 days in May 2010.
They visit Disney for 4 days in June 2010.
They visit Disney for 8 days in August 2010.

They now decide to make no more Disney visits that year.

Even though they still owe the Disney Co. about 60% of the payments,
they have already used 100% of the AP benefits they wanted for the year.

So, they decide to make no more payments on the AP that year.

Not good.

Without the ability to prosecute in all areas, Disney can't recover their losses.



.

 

[nitsirk]

Thanks for the update. I was hoping for a payment plan for my renewal. I live in Orlando and I benefit from monthly payment plans with sea world and universal. It's always painful to shell out that lump sum!

 

[selina4disney]

That's the EXACT problem.

The problem with defaulting (not finishing to pay) on an AP which has allowed time-payments is easy to understand.

Guest Family X decides to buy 4 AP's via incremental payments.
Payments to be made throughout the course of a year.

They receive the AP's in April 2010.

They visit Disney for 5 days in April 2010.
They visit Disney for 6 days in May 2010.
They visit Disney for 4 days in June 2010.
They visit Disney for 8 days in August 2010.

They now decide to make no more Disney visits that year.

Even though they still owe the Disney Co. about 60% of the payments,
they have already used 100% of the AP benefits they wanted for the year.

So, they decide to make no more payments on the AP that year.

Not good.

Without the ability to prosecute in all areas, Disney can't recover their losses.



.

Exactly! I was wondering how they'd ever ensure they'd get paid after someone already used it for their trip. And if they had a lot of defaults, guess who would be making up the difference? The rest of us.

 

[disnut8]

I thought I read the way to "ensure" the payments would be made was to have a credit card on file so that when the payments were due, the card would automatically be charged. So even if you used the pass the way Robo described it, Disney would still get their money from the credit card. Yes, you could close your credit card account but that's going to the extreme. I'm sure some people would think to do that but I doubt it would be very many.

 

[nitsirk]

I totally understand the elimate of risk involved with a monthly payment plan but on the other hand it may increase the amount of Florida residents who purchase annual passes. I did read that you would be required to put a downpayment equal to a one day pass down to begin the payment plan. This would reduce some of the risk. You also reduce risk by limiting the payment option to Florida residents.

 

[nitsirk]

I thought I read the way to "ensure" the payments would be made was to have a credit card on file so that when the payments were due, the card would automatically be charged. So even if you used the pass the way Robo described it, Disney would still get their money from the credit card. Yes, you could close your credit card account but that's going to the extreme. I'm sure some people would think to do that but I doubt it would be very many.

It has been my experience with these types of contracts that even if your credit card expires or you try to change your card number, Disney would have the ability to get your new account info if they give the credit card provider proof of an unbreechable contract.

(I had a very bad tanning salon contract dispute so I went throughout this)

 

[Robo]

I totally undersand the elimate of risk involved with a monthly payment plan but on the other hand it may increase the amount of Florida residents who purchase annual passes. I did read that you would be required to put a downpayment equal to a one day pass down to begin the payment plan. This would reduce some of the risk. You also reduce risk by limiting the payment option to Florida residents.

The FLORIDA residents would not be able to default easily.
THEY would be subject to in-state prosecution.

That's why Disneyland offers it to CA residents, and why WDW may offer it to Florida residents.

My example was very specific to out-of-state AP holders.

 

[nitsirk]

That's the EXACT problem.

The problem with defaulting (not finishing to pay) on an AP which has allowed time-payments is easy to understand.

Guest Family X decides to buy 4 AP's via incremental payments.
Payments to be made throughout the course of a year.

They receive the AP's in April 2010.

They visit Disney for 5 days in April 2010.
They visit Disney for 6 days in May 2010.
They visit Disney for 4 days in June 2010.
They visit Disney for 8 days in August 2010.

They now decide to make no more Disney visits that year.

Even though they still owe the Disney Co. about 60% of the payments,
they have already used 100% of the AP benefits they wanted for the year.

So, they decide to make no more payments on the AP that year.

Not good.

Without the ability to prosecute in all areas, Disney can't recover their losses.



.

Sorry I was not aware of guest family x's state of origin. But even with the ability to prosecute that does not give disney money in their pocket. It could take months to get a judgement and even with a judgement it may take longer to garnish wages assuming the person has any. There is still some risk involved, however I am aware that the payment plan would be limited to florida residents which is ok by me since I am a Florida resident.

PS Robo I was not referencing your example in my response about risk.

 

[mickaholic4077]

I would love to have a payment plan.

 

[aaarcher86]

Would it be possible that an account going into default would no longer be able to purchase future tickets until the balance is paid in full?

Similar to a doctor's office?

 

[Nikisha421]

I would love to have the opportunity have a payment plan...but I guess since we are not Florida residents we have a long time coming...

 

[CopasFamily]

We had annual passes to Sea World/Busch Gardens when we lived in Tampa and we had an automatic draft out of our bank account. At the end of the year, it automatically renewed unless we notified them that we didn't wish for it to.

With our DVC membership, our monthly dues are directly debited from our checking account on the 1st of each month. We would love it if they would offer a payment plan. Heck it would be easier if we could split it into two or three payments than a lump sum.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm really hoping they don't do this. Of course, I don't live in FL and couldn't take advantage of it anyway.

I'm preparing for a trip to Disneyland, and since our trip in 07, they started this type of program. The stuff I'm reading on the DL boards has me bracing myself of insane attendance levels. It really has dampened my enthusiasm somewhat.

 

[nytimez]

We had annual passes to Sea World/Busch Gardens when we lived in Tampa and we had an automatic draft out of our bank account. At the end of the year, it automatically renewed unless we notified them that we didn't wish for it to.

That's what I was thinking... Disney is probably hoping they can make more off automatic renewals than they'll lose off defaulters.

i try not to buy things like this if I can't pay for it outright (try... I don't always succeed). But I can see the appeal of it.

 

[MAH4546]

I would love to have the opportunity have a payment plan...but I guess since we are not Florida residents we have a long time coming...

In California, you must show residency in Southern California, so basically the San Diego and Los Angeles areas, to get the payment plan.

It has worked tremendously well in SoCal since it started in late 2008, and there are far more Disneyland annual passholders than Disney World.

In fact, the payment plan might have worked too well as Disneyland now has over 1,000,000 annual passholders.

 

[nytimez]

LA/San Diego has a much bigger population base than central Florida, so it probably should have more annual passholders. My guess is they also have fewer long-distance visitors.

 

[MAH4546]

LA/San Diego has a much bigger population base than central Florida, so it probably should have more annual passholders. My guess is they also have fewer long-distance visitors.

It is more than just that, though. Disneyland is designed for locals - it is in an urban area, its easy to park hop, its open until midnight Fridays-Sundays, there are a lot more seasonal promotions/attractions for locals, the fireworks display rotates by season, etc., etc. It's a locals park.

In Anaheim, everybody and their sister has an annual pass and you just go an spend the afternoon or evening.