OMG. Disney Has Reached New Lows

[CookiesNcream]

We get AP's every year. Some years we only go once and maybe that's a waste of money but other years we go almost every month and I think over time it all works out. Besides, just walking around the parks is enough for me. Sometimes I'll feel guilty that I'm not spending any money though. When that happens I'll buy a pretzel or a Mickey bar. Makes me feel good and I'm sure the mouse appreciates it

 

[jcjen519]

I would think from strictly a business perspective, it makes no sense to accommodate AP holders any more than they already do. I would suspect that vacation-type resort guests tend to spend more than AP holders who come more often. The more an AP holder comes to a park actually reduces the margin on the AP ticket which was sold to the customer. I cannot think of a single reason outside of selling more APs that they would want to offer AP holders anything. And with Disneys attendance soaring, they are probably not feeling the need to sell a lot more Annual passes.

I think you're thinking of AP holders as locals who stop in for day trips maybe? To offer another perspective--we are not local but have APs because we do several trips a year ranging from 4- 10 days. We always stay club level at a deluxe resort, we often get deluxe dining or at least do signatures many/most nights, and for the last year we've been doing VIP tours on our trips. I feel pretty comfortable stating that our trips, even without the cost of APs added in, are on the high end cost wise for the average disney resort guest. I really don't know what the break down of AP holders is but it seems there are a lot of people on these boards who have APs because it makes sense when you take multiple trips. From what I've seen posted here on the boards I don't believe we are unique in our spending.

I can see why Disney would limit the AP fastpasses when you don't have a resort stay planned. However, it irritates me that they would limit an ap guest to either the AP limit or resort limit. I can't really think of a situation where it would impact me because we don't stay offsite and we rarely book fastpasses each day of our trip, but I don't see any logical reason to take away the ap days regardless of a booked resort stay.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I think you're thinking of AP holders as locals who stop in for day trips maybe? To offer another perspective--we are not local but have APs because we do several trips a year ranging from 4- 10 days. We always stay club level at a deluxe resort, we often get deluxe dining or at least do signatures many/most nights, and for the last year we've been doing VIP tours on our trips. I feel pretty comfortable stating that our trips, even without the cost of APs added in, are on the high end cost wise for the average disney resort guest. I really don't know what the break down of AP holders is but it seems there are a lot of people on these boards who have APs because it makes sense when you take multiple trips. From what I've seen posted here on the boards I don't believe we are unique in our spending.

I can see why Disney would limit the AP fastpasses when you don't have a resort stay planned. However, it irritates me that they would limit an ap guest to either the AP limit or resort limit. I can't really think of a situation where it would impact me because we don't stay offsite and we rarely book fastpasses each day of our trip, but I don't see any logical reason to take away the ap days regardless of a booked resort stay.

I think I would be willing to bet that a very large percentage of AP holders are locals within driving distance (even a few hours distance). I would also be willing to bet that very few AP holders spend as much as you do when you go to WDW.

 

[jcjen519]

I think I would be willing to bet that a very large percentage of AP holders are locals within driving distance (even a few hours distance). I would also be willing to bet that very few AP holders spend as much as you do when you go to WDW.

I don't know what the make up of AP holders is or how many there are and I don't know how much people spend. I'd be willing to bet though that many people buy APs because they plan to visit on a long trip or a few shorter ones and it makes financial sense. I'd bet they spend like your average resort guest while saving a bit on tickets.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why wouldn't she get the 7 (seven) days for the AP (annual pass) AND the 6 (six) days of FP+s (FastPassPlus) for the days (nights) in the hotel (resort)?

I'm with you. WHY shouldn't an AP holder who also books an onsite stay get both? She's not asking to get them at the same time (double FP+s), she's just asking to get the AP benefit AND the onsite benefit. I bet if you put it to the Person In Charge Of This they would say "hmm, of course they should get both, don't they already?" and then they'd go talk to the 19 year intern in Seattle who programmed the FP+ stuff and figure out how to make it right. The issue ...as always...getting to the Person In Charge Of This.

I don't know what the make up of AP holders is or how many there are and I don't know how much people spend. I'd be willing to bet though that many people buy APs because they plan to visit on a long trip or a few shorter ones and it makes financial sense. I'd bet they spend like your average resort guest while saving a bit on tickets.

I'm also with you. Because that's how we are when we buy APs. Which happened 3 years at Disneyland and 2 years at WDW, and now we keep APs for Universal because there's still serious value in that.

If I had an AP for WDW, though, I would want my benefits for our onsite stay (no doubt happening because I booked yet another rundisney event, which I have yet to enjoy in ANY way, but I keep booking them hoping to have the same good feelings everyone else does!) AND after the WDW stay I would want to be able to book a couple FP+s for the evening at WDW, after finishing out our day at Universal (while staying up there. They would probably get dinner-money from them, some walking-around time, a few rides, and then we would leave. I don't see the downside for them for allowing this.

WDW doesn't recognize "split stays", they see it as two separate events. They shouldn't see "what happens before you checkin or after you checkout" as something to interfere with "what happens during your onsite stay".

 

[Planogirl]

We get AP's every year. Some years we only go once and maybe that's a waste of money but other years we go almost every month and I think over time it all works out. Besides, just walking around the parks is enough for me. Sometimes I'll feel guilty that I'm not spending any money though. When that happens I'll buy a pretzel or a Mickey bar. Makes me feel good and I'm sure the mouse appreciates it

I'm not an AP holder but I do try to maximize my value and I have yet to feel guilty if I find a way to save money. The mouse makes plenty of money.

I'm with you. WHY shouldn't an AP holder who also books an onsite stay get both? She's not asking to get them at the same time (double FP+s), she's just asking to get the AP benefit AND the onsite benefit. I bet if you put it to the Person In Charge Of This they would say "hmm, of course they should get both, don't they already?" and then they'd go talk to the 19 year intern in Seattle who programmed the FP+ stuff and figure out how to make it right. The issue ...as always...getting to the Person In Charge Of This.



I'm also with you. Because that's how we are when we buy APs. Which happened 3 years at Disneyland and 2 years at WDW, and now we keep APs for Universal because there's still serious value in that.

If I had an AP for WDW, though, I would want my benefits for our onsite stay (no doubt happening because I booked yet another rundisney event, which I have yet to enjoy in ANY way, but I keep booking them hoping to have the same good feelings everyone else does!) AND after the WDW stay I would want to be able to book a couple FP+s for the evening at WDW, after finishing out our day at Universal (while staying up there. They would probably get dinner-money from them, some walking-around time, a few rides, and then we would leave. I don't see the downside for them for allowing this.

WDW doesn't recognize "split stays", they see it as two separate events. They shouldn't see "what happens before you checkin or after you checkout" as something to interfere with "what happens during your onsite stay".

This is a great point. This makes me wonder if it wouldn't be smart to create two separate MDE accounts for things like this.

 

[wisblue]

I have an AP because I expect to have multiple visits with different family members over the course of the year.

For our trip last week we had a 7 night onsite stay and I was able to make 8 days of FPs for that trip, including both arrival and departure days. I really wouldn't have expected to be able to get FPs for more days for which I didn't have onsite stays booked.

Then I made another 4 night reservation for early May to take a short trip with my wife, and was able to make FP reservations for all 5 days of that trip too, though I only made them for 3 days because we don't plan to go to a park on either our arrival or departure days.

That really seems right to me. There should be some limit on how many days of FPs AP holders can make in advance. Otherwise they would be able to hoard them to the detriment of other guests just in case they decided to visit. Disney decided on 7 days as the limit, and that seems to make as much sense as any other limit. The only way to hold more than 7 days of FPs at one time is to reserve more days onsite. As an AP holder I have no problem with that. To me , the biggest benefit of an AP is the significant reduction in the per day price of admission.

 

[Candleshoe]

There should be some limit on how many days of FPs AP holders can make in advance.

Yes, but imo that limit should be ten, not seven. It should match the longest standard ticket available. I know there are longer tickets but they're specialty tickets.

I also wouldn't be at all surprised to see no more APs in a couple of years. They've already done away with the no-expirey ticket.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I already wrote this somewhere on here, but they also dropped the prebooking window for APs from 60 to 30 last winter. I remember we were thinking about buying them and then that change happened and we got turned off. Especially since the extra trips we would have taken with the APs would have been done offsite most likely.

Since they are absolutely refusing to build a significant amount of new rides even though their attendance is going up, good ride capacity has become a precious commodity. Why waste that capacity on an offsite AP (local or tourist) when you can give those seats to an onsite visitor? So giving the resort advantage makes perfect sense...if you're onsite you're at no disadvantage with an AP....you get to prebook at 60 for your entire resort stay.

At the time they said it was because APs like to plan closer. Well, having the booking day at 60 didn't stop anyone from booking at a later date. Sure if you're a local you might not plan 60 days ahead, but if you are a tourist AP, you certainly do and it was a huge downgrade in the product (without a huge downgrade in price of course!)

And Disney APs are really expensive at least from out-of-state IMO (don't know the in-state prices).

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yes, but imo that limit should be ten, not seven. It should match the longest standard ticket available. I know there are longer tickets but they're specialty tickets.

I also wouldn't be at all surprised to see no more APs in a couple of years. They've already done away with the no-expirey ticket.

I wouldn't be surprised either. Or they will keep chipping away at the benefits and raising the prices. I could see the free parking going away at some point too.

 

[JanaDee]

I have an AP because I expect to have multiple visits with different family members over the course of the year.

For our trip last week we had a 7 night onsite stay and I was able to make 8 days of FPs for that trip, including both arrival and departure days. I really wouldn't have expected to be able to get FPs for more days for which I didn't have onsite stays booked.

Then I made another 4 night reservation for early May to take a short trip with my wife, and was able to make FP reservations for all 5 days of that trip too, though I only made them for 3 days because we don't plan to go to a park on either our arrival or departure days.

That really seems right to me. There should be some limit on how many days of FPs AP holders can make in advance. Otherwise they would be able to hoard them to the detriment of other guests just in case they decided to visit. Disney decided on 7 days as the limit, and that seems to make as much sense as any other limit. The only way to hold more than 7 days of FPs at one time is to reserve more days onsite. As an AP holder I have no problem with that. To me , the biggest benefit of an AP is the significant reduction in the per day price of admission.

What is the limit for AP holders staying off-site?

 

[LaurenT]

I also wouldn't be at all surprised to see no more APs in a couple of years. They've already done away with the no-expirey ticket.

I can't see them doing that. There are many years when I think about going to Universal or Busch Gardens .... And then I remind myself that my admission to WDW is already paid for. So they get us and our money for meals, drinks, tours, souvenirs.
If they get rid of the AP, I would get one 7 day ticket and do something else with the other two weeks of vacation time. They'd lose quite a bit of money from me and I imagine many others. And locals would severely restrict their visits - Disney doesn't want that, they want the locals there spending money, that's why they offer a Florida resident discount.

 

[ArwenMarie]

What is the limit for AP holders staying off-site?

7

 

[wisblue]

What is the limit for AP holders staying off-site?

I think it's 7 days but I don't know from experience because we always stay onsite.

 

[JanaDee]

7

With 30 day window, right, not 60?

 

[ArwenMarie]

With 30 day window, right, not 60?

Yep.

 

[LaurenT]

With 30 day window, right, not 60?

It's 7 days with a 30 day window, and you can't do all seven at the start of the window. Each day has to be within the 30 days. Once you use one, you can book a new day. So, if you're going for 8 days, once your first day is over you can book FP's for day 8. And, frankly, even then most things will have availability. But it's a hassle....

 

[Dis703]

I don't have APs so I have no dog in this race - but it just doesn't seem right at all... Folks with APs should have precedence (IMO of course) over even resort guests...

Sorry OP. It should not have to be so complicated. Maybe you will be so over WDW by the last day you won't care what you ride?

Seriously - how does this fit with the whole lock-it-in. Does Disney just not care because they have the AP people's money already? Like from Disney's POV would they actually prefer an AP person not come so much or stay so long? I'd have to think that that AP person, even if they aren't paying admission per day, they are pretty likely to spend money on meals in the parks? Right?

I had an AP in the past but always stayed onsite so it didn't effect my FP+. My guess is with the limit they are avoiding issues with local AP holders booking random just in case FPs that won't be used. Meaning if I lived nearby and had an AP I could just book the entire month if there was no limitations and then just use whatever days I felt like knowing I had prebooked FPs all along the way. Or book every weekend just in case not sure which weekend I'd really use. That was my assumption of course and if that's the case it makes sense they'd need to put some sort of limit on it.

AP still entitles you to a FP with each admission just not to prebooking them more than 7 in 30 days. So OP will have one day that will have to book FP the day of.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I had an AP in the past but always stayed onsite so it didn't effect my FP+. My guess is with the limit they are avoiding issues with local AP holders booking random just in case FPs that won't be used. Meaning if I lived nearby and had an AP I could just book the entire month if there was no limitations and then just use whatever days I felt like knowing I had prebooked FPs all along the way. Or book every weekend just in case not sure which weekend I'd really use. That was my assumption of course and if that's the case it makes sense they'd need to put some sort of limit on it.

I think they need a limit but I think the two allowances should probably add (the 7 for the AP and then the resort stay if you have one)

 

[wisblue]

Yes, but imo that limit should be ten, not seven. It should match the longest standard ticket available. I know there are longer tickets but they're specialty tickets.

I also wouldn't be at all surprised to see no more APs in a couple of years. They've already done away with the no-expirey ticket.

A 10 day limit would be fine. But, the way I look at it, if I am planning enough visits to make an AP worthwhile, I will be in the parks enough to do every attraction I really want to do several times over. I don't see it as a hardship to make FP+ reservations 7 days out if I am staying more than 7 days at a time. From my experience, the FP availability 7 days out is pretty good, and after 7 days the FPs are likely to be for repeats anyway.

I will be really surprised if APs are eliminated completely. Maybe they will put a limit on how many days they could be used within the year, which would really just be a variation on the blackout days that already exist for some types of passes.