new florida AP monthly payment plan

[disney david]

this will be pete new rant for next weeks show Disney finally came out with a monthly payment plan for their passholder program but it only applys to the Florida resident Annual Pass

 

[doconeill]

I was just coming over here to post it (I already did on the News&Rumors board).

Here is the announcement:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...payments-program-begins-at-walt-disney-world/

 

[Willow1213]

I don't see this as becoming a rant. It works exactly like the California AP payment plan works - only for residents. That's who they are trying to attract. I see it as a good thing. Maybe it means they will start doing other things for AP holders.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I wonder what their thinking is on this? Seems like it would be better to offer an incentive/payment plan to people who live further away and are thinking of not re-newing as they have to get a hotel room ect...whereas, in my mind, locals would be more likely to get a pass as they generally live close enough to just do day or 1 night visits. No? Yes? Maybe?

I totally don't understand why you just wouldn't offer the payment plan to all AP holders though? Limiting it makes no sense to me.

 

[disney david]

it is a good thing and yes mybe they do it with all their ap and should do it like ca but pete had a rant early this year with this being a rumor but he might be busy with wwohp

 

[doconeill]

I think in the old discussion/rant I pointed out some things...but the first comes to mind is that Disney is still trying to entice a greater percentage of locals to the parks more regularly, perhaps because they will more readily spend additional cash over their shorter stays than a long-distance tourist who might not spends as much per-day.

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm a non-Florida resident AP holder and I don't have a huge issue with this. Many Florida residents are able to make day trips or short weekend trip. This will help bring an AP in reach of many of those individuals/families. For us an AP is much, much more of a luxury item. Airfare for my family of 5 is $1400 in August and that's only because we're driving an hour and a half to an out-of-the-way airport! Airfare has become more of a hindrance than the cost of an AP. (Not to mention the hotel stay, food, etc.)

I'm sure a payment plan would be helpful to out-of-state residents but it's only a fraction of the cost of Disney for us. If we decide NOT to renew our APs, it will be because the cost of multiple trips in one year has become prohibitive.

Amanda

 

[ADP]

Ok...Let's all say it together....

1...2...3.........."IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!"

 

[shellyminnie]

Ok...Let's all say it together....

1...2...3.........."IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!"

GMTA Aaron!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I don't see this as becoming a rant. It works exactly like the California AP payment plan works - only for residents. That's who they are trying to attract. I see it as a good thing. Maybe it means they will start doing other things for AP holders.

Actually, Florida residents make out better. For the Disneyland APs, only Southern California residents are eligible for the payment plan.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Actually we may get a rant afterall.....if you read the fine print, this offer is only for NEW AP buyers. If you already have an AP, no go. It isn't being offered for renewals.

 

[disney david]

yes and you can only get it online

 

[EDuke98080]

Actually we may get a rant afterall.....if you read the fine print, this offer is only for NEW AP buyers. If you already have an AP, no go. It isn't being offered for renewals.

So much for the loyalty program.

 

[txvjc]

Yeah, I'm a little upset it's only for new AP's and not renewals since mine is coming up next month and will have to either A. Drop the lump sum for a lesser amount (since it's a renewal, plus i'm still eligible for the extra three months) or B. Drop a larger sum of money but spread it out over a year (pretty sure A is going to win)

As far as this only being open to FL residents (at least for now, on the FAQ it says currently, so who know if they'll expand it), I think it may be to cut down on possible abuse and test the waters. If someone decides that this is “the one trip ever to WDW”, they could buy the AP for the initial down and first month payment (which is cheaper than a several day ticket) use it for a week, then just cancel the card that the payments are linked to. The same abuse could happen with Fl residents, but since they’ll have your information on hand (since you have to show your ID) they could also stop you from buying a another pass until the first one is settled up.

Like said earlier, by offering it to residents, I'm sure they are hoping for a lot of day trippers and weekenders. Disney's big money maker isn’t admissions, its food and merchandise, so with more potential repeat visitors the more potential for revenue.

 

[mikelan6]

I'm hoping they will extend this program to renewals by next year when I have to renew.

 

[ssanders79]

I am glad to see this as an option, but I really liked getting 15 months last time around. Too bad it will not be offered to renewals.

Q. Can I renew my Pass online using the Monthly Payment program?
A. No. The Monthly Payment program is currently available for the purchase of select new annual passes only.
from the FAQ section

It says ONLINE, does this mean you can do the payment plan in person for renewals? So I called.....

The Florida Annual Pass Payment Plan hotline number is 888-701-4100.

Considering this is day 2 of the program. I was informed by Megan (very nice and helpful) that any information regarding renewal options would be listed in my renewal packet that gets mailed out. Translation, they do not have an official statement or policy in place as of today. I asked if it a policy would be in place in a few weeks and I was told to check the website.

The hold message does reference new and renewals so it looks to me that not everyone at WDW FL Annual Pass Monthly Payment Plan is on the same page. They should really have a team meeting and iron all these details out.

 

[Golf4food]

I take it this only applies to the full Annual Pass and not the FL Res Seasonal Pass? Which sucks, if so, since so many FL Residents get the Seasonal Pass since we are smart enough to avoid the parks during the peak times anyway.

 

[doconeill]

I take it this only applies to the full Annual Pass and not the FL Res Seasonal Pass? Which sucks, if so, since so many FL Residents get the Seasonal Pass since we are smart enough to avoid the parks during the peak times anyway.

It applies to the Seasonal and Weekday Select passes, as well as the standard and Premium APs.

 

[Golf4food]

It applies to the Seasonal and Weekday Select passes, as well as the standard and Premium APs.

I sit corrected. Can't always see the WDW site at work and it is too slow on my iPhone if I'm not in a WiFi hot spot. All the other posts have only mentioned Annual Passes.

Still, useless to us since we already have them and they are only good for new purchases at the moment. Ours renew in May, so maybe in the next 11 months they'll change their mind about that. We can hope.

 

[doconeill]

I sit corrected. Can't always see the WDW site at work and it is too slow on my iPhone if I'm not in a WiFi hot spot. All the other posts have only mentioned Annual Passes.

Still, useless to us since we already have them and they are only good for new purchases at the moment. Ours renew in May, so maybe in the next 11 months they'll change their mind about that. We can hope.

In one article they did say they plan to offer renewals later in the year.