new annual pass program BLUES

[disneymom2one]

As for those DVC members that is great that you have your perks, but imagine in a few years how you will feel when they do away with those you will also feel non important or apprieciated. (snipped) .

It wouldn't bother me in the least. DVC is VERY good about making its members feel pretty special - even without "perks". I can't explain how exactly they do that but we definitely feel appreciated. We didn't buy into DVC for the perks at all. We bought in because it's a wonderful program that allows us to have dream vacations for years and years.

We also have annual passes and I have no problem with the best rate program. Between that and Florida resident rates (which will always exist probably) we're covered for cash stays where we don't use points.

 

[lillygator]

We stay at pop century with all our children it is all that we can afford. We are not a well to do family, but it the one thing we splurge in.

There are definitely cheaper hotels/rentals even than the lowest Pop discount.

 

[jmclester]

I call it "working the system"! A benefit is a benefit.

 

[UniversalAddict]

...If they can not show me the loyalty I have show to them I may consider now staying at Universal Studios. ...

I feel the same way that's why a few years ago we tried Universal after being loyal Disnal annual pass holders for years. We are now loyal Universal Fans. Universal definitly appreciates their AP holders. Some perks are 15-20% off all restaurants (lunch, dinner, no blackout dates, no "dining card" needed), Free parking, excellent AP rates at thier on-site hotels (which are cheaper yet comparable to Disney's "deluxe" class and you get express passes on all rides with your room key, and you can walk or boat to the parks), Happy Hour at the restaurants (1/2 off beer and others), prefered viewing areas at parades,.... Also, they just offered us to renew at the normal rate (~$175) and get one year for free. Now that's appreciation.

Don't get me wrong, we love Disney but we just can't afford the AP every year. We are thinking about maybe getting a Florida resident Disney pass every couple years instead and renewing Universal every year.

 

[sanfordx5]

univearsal addict thank you I am so glad someone else understands and you are correct they do know how to treat their guests in general. I love disney, but I do see huge difference in there customer service from when I began going 14 yrs ago. It is wonderful that they treat DVC members so special, but we can't all afford that. Being a dvc member gaurentees that dvc members will go at LEAST once a year, but they are not all pass holders. Being an AP holder usually means that they go several times a year. They should show some apprieciation for that. Now if I stay off property just because I have a large family shouldn't they want my business on their property and keep doing what they can to keep it there, or are we just not important enough? I wonder what Walt would think of that? or Universal? Besides isn't enough that they have built several resorts JUST for the DVC members? They also have special sections of almost all the deluxe resorts, I would think that they could leave the tiny bit of a discount as it was for us AP holders and just teach the cast members how to do their job correctly so the guest wouldn't be effected by their change. It sounds more like they are to lazy fix it. I don't take this personally I know that this is business, but that was why disney was so successful because they use to know how to treat their guests. Whisch is now what other companies are doing ie.. Universal. So if disney doesn't care enough then they deserve to loose my business and my referrals.

 

[disneymom2one]

(snipped) Besides isn't enough that they have built several resorts JUST for the DVC members? They also have special sections of almost all the deluxe resorts, (snipped)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
DVC may build those resorts but it's DVC members (in record numbers) who are buying in. That's what allows DVC to expand at the rate it does - it's so popular that they're barely keeping up with demand right now.

We waited a long time (10 years) to buy in. Other things came first for a long time. And since we're a small family (we only have one kiddo) we can get buy with a studio which makes DVC an incredible buy.

 

[FanOfStitch]

(snipped) Besides isn't enough that they have built several resorts JUST for the DVC members? They also have special sections of almost all the deluxe resorts, (snipped)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
DVC may build those resorts but it's DVC members (in record numbers) who are buying in. That's what allows DVC to expand at the rate it does - it's so popular that they're barely keeping up with demand right now.

We waited a long time (10 years) to buy in. Other things came first for a long time. And since we're a small family (we only have one kiddo) we can get buy with a studio which makes DVC an incredible buy.

Not only that, but the DVC resorts are not only for DVC members. You can make a ressie using cash at any of the DVC resorts without being a DVC member.

I am a DVC member and I can tell you that DVC will always tell you when a perk is introduced that it is just that, a perk, and can be taken away at any time. Would I be disappointed if a perk was taken away? Sure. Would I feel unappreciated or unimportant? Not at all. Disney giveth and Disney taketh away. It's just business. I've had an AP for 3 years and can't remember once using the AP discount rate to book a room. I use the pass to get cheaper park entrance since I can't stay away and visit as often as I can. You can probably get just as good of rates by subscribing to mousesavers or some other letter of that type which gives out really good discount codes.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

univearsal addict thank you I am so glad someone else understands and you are correct they do know how to treat their guests in general.

Oh, I TOTALLY get how good Univeral's AP program is. They really do know how to treat their AP holders and resort guests. As far as perks go, I think they win, hands down.

BUT, ...........it's not Disney. And although I tried to like Universal, I just didn't. Someday I will try IOA.......I think I will like that much better. MGM isn't my favorite park either, but I like it a lot more than Univ. I'm a DISNEY FREAK!! Some times I wish it weren't so, but God help me.........I am!

 

[WonderWomanDC]

I'm not sure we'll renew our APs when they come up in May. The discounts were part of the reason that made it worthwhile for us, and we're not willing to book so far in advance either. My husband is self employed, so he can't always follow through with our best laid plans.
I wish they hadn't done away with the bulk of the discounts; it is probably cheaper for me to just go with an AAA package once our passes expire.

 

[yooperfan]

I got $79. per night for POR in Jan. You can hardly beat that off property in most parts of the country. I look at it like this, no one complains that Fl residents get a discount just for them, so I figure, is it so bad that people who plan way in advance can get a discount not suitable for short planners? The airlines reward people who book way in advance with lower fares all the time. The fact that I don't have to wait until only a month or two before arrival to know I can get a room discount I consider a great perk. When you have to buy airline tickets for a WDW trip, it is nice to know in advance what kind of discount you can get on rooms. Disney should come up with a plan for those who want last minute ressies discounts to fill open rooms though, it seems only fair.

 

[bicker]

Discounting empty rooms is not always a good idea. It ends up devaluing the offering comprehensively, as many customers start to wait for the last minute deals. Companies have to walk a very fine line or their risk losing their profitability completely.

 

[seashoreCM]

You can't buy more than 12 days of theme park admission with hopping (maybe 13 using advance purchase discounts) using standard tickets* without exceeding the cost of an annual pass.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/dispass.htm

*"My mommy went to France and all she brought me was this card with Mickey's picture on it (a promotional 21 consecutive day Disney ticket)"

 

[Cameo]

I agree with the OP. I would possibly have purchased a new AP this year, but will not now. And, yes, I purchase them mainly to get the room discount bonus. I imagine that's why they had that perk in the first place, to encourage more sales of APs. Not being able to get an AP rate except by doing it more than 60 days out will not work for us. Instead of staying at a Disney-owned resort, we will now be staying at SOG. Of course, we'll still buy park admission, food and trinkets, but we'll not be spending all of it in one of their hotels.

Also, I think it's fine for Disney to close the loopholes like guests purchasing a child's AP and using to get a room, but the 60-day window seems ridiculous to me.

 

[PamNC]

Oh yes - I've never liked the BRP program. Like you, we have a hard time planning 60 days out at times. My DH and I are self employed so our projects and "gigs" (my husband is an opera singer and that's the only word I can think of right now for his engagements) dictate when we can take time off to travel. I agree with everything you're saying and we considered not buying another AP. But, we go 2-3 times a year and it's still cheaper than buying individual MYW tickets with the hopping option, which I must have. I will say that we decided a couple weeks ago to go for Thanksgiving for 4 nights so of course BR wasn't an option for us. Guess what? I called the Dolphin and got an AP rate of $169.50. No 60 days rule, no non-refundable deposit...it was wonderful.

And, to top it off, the passholder BR site sucks - it's slow and it often doesn't even work. That just adds insult to injury! I for one hope BR goes away, but I seriously doubt it. I do think we have ourselves to blame for calling and calling CRO and asking about codes and discounts. I hate to say that, but I do believe it's true.

I'm right there with you - I despise the program.

PamNC

 

[PamNC]

Me again. One thing I forgot to mention. When BRP first came out, I wrote a letter voicing my concerns and got a call from Disney. They told me point blank that I would always be able to book AP discounts the old way, by calling CRO and that BR was only an option.

LIE.

PamNC

 

[boomhauer]

Me again. One thing I forgot to mention. When BRP first came out, I wrote a letter voicing my concerns and got a call from Disney. They told me point blank that I would always be able to book AP discounts the old way, by calling CRO and that BR was only an option.

LIE.

PamNC

Ooooooooooooh - Better you than me! I would be RIPPED if they had told me that!

As I and a scattered few others have found out, it may be possible to book the AP rate the old way, depending on who you get on the phone. Nothing to feel guilty about - I will most definitely have my AP at check-in, and that's all that should matter.

 

[bicker]

As I and a scattered few others have found out, it may be possible to book the AP rate the old way, depending on who you get on the phone.

That's great to hear. Surely, this is the best of both worlds: Those of us who struggled to get AP discounts in the past, because the discounts were always given to the folks with the faster fingers before, now can benefit from the discount as well. It's not even to get me to give up my DVC membership, though, and go back to using APs.

 

[boomhauer]

That's great to hear. Surely, this is the best of both worlds: Those of us who struggled to get AP discounts in the past, because the discounts were always given to the folks with the faster fingers before, now can benefit from the discount as well. It's not even to get me to give up my DVC membership, though, and go back to using APs.

I must be half asleep. Can't tell if you're happy about it or not.

 

[dalstitch45]

I bought an annual pass for the first time in May, 2005. I have been other times over the years and never thought of purchasing one. I know years ago they used to have what was called the World Passport or something close to it. I have been to Disney five times in the last twelve months, three of which I used my AP. I am going back in December, 05, and at least one more time before my current pass expires. My pass has more than paid for itself in park use, so I will not have a problem purchasing another one. However, I enjoyed the perk of being able to get the AP discount for my room. I am a loyal disney fan who usually goes by myself. The Disney experience seems to be catered around families of four or more, so when I go by myself I liked being able to get the discount. There are a lot of us who don't abuse the system. I agree that Disney should not penalize the rest of us who use the AP within the rules. I like staying on Disney property, and the room discount allowed me to get some really good deals. I really do not like the value resorts, since usually tend to be very noisy. Any suggestions for someone like me?

 

[boomhauer]

There's no WAY I could complain about getting my money's worth from the AP. I mean, I paid $400 for it last year, and I spent 31 days at the parks. That's less than $13 a day. Then, all the money I saved in room discounts.

My problem with the system no is, they are making something that clearly does not need to be so difficult, extremely difficult.

I agree with Disney 100% - If you don't have an AP when you check in, then you don't get the discount. Easy as that. No excuses. But you should still be able to book it over the phone, regardless of whether or not you have purchased the AP yet.

Maybe they could penalize the guests a flat rate if they try to get the discount without the pass or something.