News on Annual Passes

[racefanof88]

Who said anything about better pass options? Just said if Disney is going to open AP sales again to anyone, it should be DVC first. That's all. Not different or new ones, just existing ones.
If you don't think the Parks are included as a part of the appeal of buying DVC you are incorrect. Why else did DVC have a discounted AP? However, at no time did anyone mention they are part of the contract. Only that having them and access to them is why the majority bought DVC contracts. Do some take Disney vacations with no plans to go to the parks, sure. Do most, no. When you go to a sales pitch for DVC you can bet parks are included as a selling point. Telling those guests they will have to buy park tickets for each trip is not something sales teams are going to want to point out

When Disney first started selling DVC one of the perks was several years of APs free, so they were tying the DVC sales to the parks.

 

[fumanchu2488]

DVC never gave “Annual Passes”. The first few years of its existence if you bought DVC they offered free park tickets for half the room capacity for your stay that was valid thru 1999.

It was definitely never an AP and was not valid for any stay outside of DVC.

 

[fumanchu2488]

When Disney first started selling DVC one of the perks was several years of APs free, so they were tying the DVC sales to the parks.

DVC never gave “Annual Passes”. The first few years of its existence if you bought DVC they offered free park tickets for half the room capacity for your stay that was valid thru 1999.

It was definitely never an AP and was not valid for any stay outside of DVC.

 

[DebbieB]

DVC never gave “Annual Passes”. The first few years of its existence if you bought DVC they offered free park tickets for half the room capacity for your stay that was valid thru 1999.

It was definitely never an AP and was not valid for any stay outside of DVC.

It was also only for the number of nights of your stay, so if you wanted to go to the parks on checkin and checkout day, you had to pick a day not to go.

It was only new members from 1992 to mid 1996. When BWV opened in mid 1996, it was discontinued for new sales.

 

[princesscinderella]

DVC never gave “Annual Passes”. The first few years of its existence if you bought DVC they offered free park tickets for half the room capacity for your stay that was valid thru 1999.

It was definitely never an AP and was not valid for any stay outside of DVC.

They did at one point give annual passes as a perk for buying into DVC but it was a one time deal to drum up sales.

 

[HopperFan]

It was also only for the number of nights of your stay, so if you wanted to go to the parks on checkin and checkout day, you had to pick a day not to go.

It was only new members from 1992 to mid 1996. When BWV opened in mid 1996, it was discontinued for new sales.

I read about the history of DVC perks here, and it has your same information.

https://dvcnews.com/other-resources...aring-more-than-a-decade-of-membership-extras

 

[DebbieB]

They did at one point give annual passes as a perk for buying into DVC but it was a one time deal to drum up sales.

I think it was Animal Kingdom Villas.

 

[Llama mama]

I received a lengthy survey today from Disney. It was regarding DVC, annual passes, perks, prices. the park reservation system and are were visiting less frequently. They also asked my ethnicity and sexual orientation

I got one recently too.. I was brutal and once it asked if I was visiting other parks …Universal. It then asked questions comparing the two vacation options. I listed price , availability to attend etc as why we are now adding Universal to our stays.

 

[KPeterso]

They did at one point give annual passes as a perk for buying into DVC but it was a one time deal to drum up sales.

I got 2 APs included when I purchased my SSR DVC in 2007. They were included in the purchase. I had my choice of WDW or DL ones (not sure if DL was offered since I am a SoCal local), but I took the WDW ones since we already had DL ones.

 

[princesscinderella]

I got 2 APs included when I purchased my SSR DVC in 2007. They were included in the purchase. I had my choice of WDW or DL ones (not sure if DL was offered since I am a SoCal local), but I took the WDW ones since we already had DL ones.

If they offered this today I’d add on just so I can get my son’s girlfriend an annual pass so she can come with us more often. We have subsidized too many day tickets. Plus we’d have more DVC points . I think they would sell points very quickly if that’s the only way you could get the opportunity to get an annual pass.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

So we are dropping one pass and downgrading to a pixi pass cause of cost. If others are are doing this do you think they will open the other groups of passes?

 

[XQIXX]

I don't understand why DVC should get better pass options. You are buying into an accommodation contract, not park entry.

DVC does not get Free Dining when offered but they offer it to people making "accommodation contracts" for regular stays as well. Making a 50 year commitment should come with some perks. Having access to discounted admission was a selling point when they were pitching DVC. I understand nothing is guaranteed but they have taken away way more perks than they have added for DVC members. Feels like bait and switch when it is done to you. But I still make the best of it. The DVC pass allowed members to take smaller vacations several times a year if wanted and not have to pay full ticket price for each trip. Clearly DVC is profitable or they would not continue to build them. The discount was not that much in reality. DVC or not, all the prices are getting insane now. It is not inflation based but greed based in my opinion.

 

[CarolMN]

I don't understand why DVC should get better pass options. You are buying into an accommodation contract, not park entry.

That's certainly true. DVC Members are not entitled to any perks just because they purchased a contract.

The perks and access to special prices for annual passes was/is offered SOLELY as a sales incentive. It's been a HUGE incentive. If it does not return soon, it will likely have a noticeable effect on direct sales, which are very, very profitable. Sadly for DVC Members, AP decisions are not made by DVD (sales division). I am certain that if they were, DVC members would still have the ability to purchase APs. No one wants them back more than DVD sales.

 

[HopperFan]

DVC does not get Free Dining when offered but they offer it to people making "accommodation contracts" for regular stays as well. Making a 50 year commitment should come with some perks. Having access to discounted admission was a selling point when they were pitching DVC. I understand nothing is guaranteed but they have taken away way more perks than they have added for DVC members. Feels like bait and switch when it is done to you. But I still make the best of it. The DVC pass allowed members to take smaller vacations several times a year if wanted and not have to pay full ticket price for each trip. Clearly DVC is profitable or they would not continue to build them. The discount was not that much in reality. DVC or not, all the prices are getting insane now. It is not inflation based but greed based in my opinion.

Free Dining offers are to fill hotel rooms with new reservations at full price. Each hotel gets to decide how many rooms they will offer based on their current reservations and they absorb part of the cost. None of this would apply in the DVC situation just like there are perks for DVC that regular guests can not get.

That's certainly true. DVC Members are not entitled to any perks just because they purchased a contract.

The perks and access to special prices for annual passes was/is offered SOLELY as a sales incentive. It's been a HUGE incentive. If it does not return soon, it will likely have a noticeable effect on direct sales, which are very, very profitable. Sadly for DVC Members, AP decisions are not made by DVD (sales division). I am certain that if they were, DVC members would still have the ability to purchase APs. No one wants them back more than DVD sales.

Curious question ~ I've always wondered (and I'm not expecting an answer) how many DVC owners actually buy in so they can go many weeks a year that would justify AP. Most people I know who hold "timeshares" at specialty locations buy a week here and a week there with different brands. The folks I know who hold a large amount of points, do so in a brand with many more locations, like Marriott or Wyndham. Just thinking if when it comes down to it most DVC guests buy regular tickets anyway because they only go once a year.

 

[jo-jo]

I got 2 APs included when I purchased my SSR DVC in 2007. They were included in the purchase. I had my choice of WDW or DL ones (not sure if DL was offered since I am a SoCal local), but I took the WDW ones since we already had DL ones.

You"re the first person that I've heard getting ticket deals tied to purchase past the 90's. Were there others?

I need to know how jealous I should be.

 

[fumanchu2488]

Curious question ~ I've always wondered (and I'm not expecting an answer) how many DVC owners actually buy in so they can go many weeks a year that would justify AP. Most people I know who hold "timeshares" at specialty locations buy a week here and a week there with different brands. The folks I know who hold a large amount of points, do so in a brand with many more locations, like Marriott or Wyndham. Just thinking if when it comes down to it most DVC guests buy regular tickets anyway because they only go once a year.

Not sure if this is the answer, but for me it isn't the multiple 'weeks' rather than multiple trips. The pricing structure of tickets means that 1 week with park hopper is around $600. It is a bit cheaper than the DVC AP that we used to get. A lot of DVC members either make their trips 51 weeks apart so that they can get the second week in the same calendar year allowing them to use an AP (i.e. go May 10-17, 2022 then May 2-9 2023). Another thing DVC members do is more sporadic trips after a once a year vacation. Maybe it is 1 week then a few longer weekends. Pricing a 2 day or 3 day ticket with a week long ticket is crazy and you get a lot more value out of the AP.

 

[CarolMN]

Curious question ~ I've always wondered (and I'm not expecting an answer) how many DVC owners actually buy in so they can go many weeks a year that would justify AP. Most people I know who hold "timeshares" at specialty locations buy a week here and a week there with different brands. The folks I know who hold a large amount of points, do so in a brand with many more locations, like Marriott or Wyndham. Just thinking if when it comes down to it most DVC guests buy regular tickets anyway because they only go once a year.

DVC members are more diverse in their travel patterns than one might think. Some go once a year for a week. Some go 10-14/days for their annual visit. Some go every other year and some make multiple trips per year. Some schedule their trips 50-51 weeks apart The program is designed to be flexible.

Many DVC Members do buy regular tickets. But many prefer annual passes (when available). APs can make sense for lots of different scenarios, even if a member only has an annual allotment of 150-200 points. Some studios can be had for as little as 8-15 points per night. A lot of us have quite a few more than that.

 

[aka Charles]

Curious question ~ I've always wondered (and I'm not expecting an answer) how many DVC owners actually buy in so they can go many weeks a year that would justify AP. Most people I know who hold "timeshares" at specialty locations buy a week here and a week there with different brands. The folks I know who hold a large amount of points, do so in a brand with many more locations, like Marriott or Wyndham. Just thinking if when it comes down to it most DVC guests buy regular tickets anyway because they only go once a year.

For us, we come down for a week in the summer and a week near Christmas, plus a couple of long weekends in between. (On a long weekend at AKV right now, lol)
And to add to what fumanchu2488 said, the more trips that you do in a year (short or long) the more the AP’s make sense.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Bottom line is APs are a discount program that was needed to help get guest into the parks, resorts, restaurants and stores. That need does not seem to exist right now, if you have a product in high demand, there is little reason to offer discounts. Once demand subsidies, Disney will likly bring back some form of discount option. But I expect the focus is going to be a program that better reflect when DISNEY needs additional guest, rather than when guest might prefer to visit. Disney has even cracked down on what employees were once able to do.

I don't really see AP that have no block out dates happening again... well not unless your paying Club 33 prices.

In my heart I hope at D23 they announce something, but based on booking.... I don't see things slowing down.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I guess as a DVC member I sort of feel like we're being punished. Obviously the majority of us had a BUNCH of points that we didn't use during the height of the pandemic, so I'm sure many people like me planned two trips this year to try to use them before losing them. I planned on purchasing annual passes and...of course that's not available. So Instead of spending around $3500 for a family of four for our two trips I've now paid like $7000 for tickets alone in a year :/