New APs? Will this affect DVC passes?

[ThunderSnow]

So now anyone, not just DVCers, have access to all the old FL resident options?! My old DVC AP price point blacks out the summer (when we went most with kids in school)?! And they jacked up the price for the discounted AP to force all 6 of my family to buy photo pass?! Should have never bought DVC.

 

[pangyal]

So basically we can keep our DVC discounts and pay the same prices as before, and get blacked out during one of the most solidly booked times of the year in December, or we can cough up an additional $100 per person, per year to cover those extra days? Bummer.

Since our trip was long booked for this year for December 11-21, I'm glad I bought before the changes, but that is our timeframe for the next decade at least, so I am feeling really frustrated right now by this blatant money grab. I wonder if they would offer discounted tickets to bridge blackout dates? Doubtful, I know.

I did buy my passes literally an hour before these changes took place. I'm planning on calling them soon to clarify things like vouchers, renewals on current APs, etc. I'll post any findings here later!

 

[LauraLea]

Wow, that's a HUMONGOUS increase on the seasonal, over 50%. But the increase on the premium is very marginal, $30-40. Interesting. Actually the price differences between the 3 aren't that much anymore.

I wonder if they will still sell the cheaper weekday select or not, and if so what the pricing is there.

The Gold is not the same as the Seasonal pass (now Silver). Gold only has Easter and Christmas blackout, Seasonal/Silver also has summer blackout. Looks like my renewal for the new Silver will be up about $30 and now includes parking which it did not in the past.

Laura

 

[dwight16]

is this retro active for the photo pass? I activated my DVC pass end of august will i get photo pass or do i have to wait for renewal?

 

[pangyal]

Where are you guys seeing Silver? Is that Florida residents only?

 

[mac_tlc]

We are going Christmas/New Year's week so this change basically adds about $100+ per ticket and adds the photopass which is useless to us. After 80 visits, how many more pictures do I need ?????? I was going to downgrade from a PAP to AP to save a few bucks.

My bet is this is the first of many changes to charge more on the busy times ---- summer season is next, I bet.

 

[pangyal]

is this retro active for the photo pass? I activated my DVC pass end of august will i get photo pass or do i have to wait for renewal?

I would assume that already activated passes continue with the same benefits. Unactivated vouchers are a gray area that I plan to tackle with them after a bit more coffee.

 

[mac_tlc]

Silver is Florida Residents only and basically blacks out Christmas, Easter and the summer and does not include the Photopass

.

Where are you guys seeing Silver? Is that Florida residents only?

 

[Mommee]

Interesting that it says there's no guarantee of these prices/availability after December 31.

 

[Meriweather]

So will vouchers be good for the gold level?
I have mine for Jan.
Now I see TiW increased too

 

[huey578]

Just go off the phone with rep. He confirmed what is currently posted on the annual pass holders site. Full benefits remain until pass expires. I have the DVC Gold

 

[DisMom829]

Just go off the phone with rep. He confirmed what is currently posted on the annual pass holders site. Full benefits remain until pass expires. I have the DVC Gold
View attachment 127057

Thanks. Guess I'll be calling to add MM for our Nov trip.

 

[sleepydog25]

Per my only minutes-old phone discussion with MS, if you have a current regular annual pass already purchased (we bought ours this past summer), then the blackout dates for this holiday season do not apply. To renew to a similar status as regular AP, then the new Gold AP is closest and it comes with PhotoPass downloads. However, it will have blackout dates and cost a bit more: $466 plus tax which will bump it near $500 (the new purchase price will be $585 which includes tax). If you choose a Platinum AP, then the price is even greater somewhere in the $690 range though it won't have blackout dates. We're headed down for a quick trip to see the Osborne Lights one last time (another sore subject for me), so at least we're grandfathered with blackout dates, but no longer in the future. APs will be a thing of the past for us.

 

[Anal Annie]

Uggg. I honestly don't give a rats you-know-what about photo pass. I just called tho to make sure that there are no changes now to our current AP's (like the new blockout dates). We're safe. For now...

 

[LvsTnk]

I guess I have to call and see what my renewal that I bought last week gets me, I hope I don't have to upgrade as our trip overlaps into the block out dates. I have it attached to my MDE already but when I book FP in a few days I want to make sure it doesn't go ahead and recognize block out dates. I could totally see them adding this feature.

 

[huey578]

What exactly is PhotoPass downloads? Do we get to download photos for free?

 

[emilymad]

So glad we purchased our APs during our trip last week. We debated doing it but now so glad we did.

 

[sleepydog25]

I guess I have to call and see what my renewal that I bought last week gets me, I hope I don't have to upgrade as our trip overlaps into the block out dates. I have it attached to my MDE already but when I book FP in a few days I want to make sure it doesn't go ahead and recognize block out dates. I could totally see them adding this feature.

If you've already purchased your AP, then you're golden. According to the MS rep when we called, the price/category changes going forward from today fall under the new guidelines. Prior purchased APs still have the old, no-blackout-dates system going for them. I'd likely call to make sure just because I'm that paranoid, but you should be fine.

 

[Rylie Grite]

does anyone know if dvc ap's purchased before oct 4 will include memory maker? This is our first year with DVC and we purchased APs in sept, we are planning 3 more trip on this AP and it would save me a lot not to have to buy downloads or memory maker for our trips.

 

[JDirrim]

does anyone know if dvc ap's purchased before oct 4 will include memory maker? This is our first year with DVC and we purchased APs in sept, we are planning 3 more trip on this AP and it would save me a lot not to have to buy downloads or memory maker for our trips.

My guess would be no. You get the exact pass u purchases when you purchased it. I would assume you could pay the difference and upgrade your pass to the mm one, but I doubt you would get that add on for nothing