PAP discount drops to 10%

[london75]

DLRP is already the #1 destination in Europe.
Can you believe that there is about the same number of guests visiting DLP and MK each year ? (roughly 16 millions each)

I had to check this and I apologise if this seems like checking up on you, I was genuinely interested. This is only wikipedia so pinch of salt although the sources look ok,


2011 attendance

Rank 1 Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort 17,142,000
Rank 20 Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris 10,990,000

Which is a pretty big difference.

In size terms

MK is 107 acres
DP is 140 acres

I can't find anything reliable on staffing levels but it appears there are significantly more in Orlando than Paris as a ratio of staff per visiting guest.

The tickets are pretty cheap for DLRP really, if the experience were there and the service and food were there it could be making money on a much larger scale. This is all armchair management of course.

 

[chmurf]

2011 attendance

Rank 1 Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort 17,142,000
Rank 20 Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris 10,990,000

Disneyland park is actually #5 theme park worldwide, in regards to attendance
http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme Index 2011.pdf

I integrated the Studios attendance (4.5 million) it's true that many guests are counted towards both parks, but the figures match those of MK (4.5 + 10.9)

The tickets are pretty cheap for DLRP really

rack rate, DLP is about £60 (74¬) when WDW with hopper is about £80 ($135 with hopper)
yes, that's £20 cheaper, that's not that expensive ... until you look at what's offered in both locations.
DLP is one park and a half (and I'm being generous), WDW is 4 parks with a higher quality standard.
In that light, DLP's tickets are overpriced.
Silly calculation : £60 for 2 parks is £30 per park in DLP. £80 for 4 parks is £20 per park (as far as the offer goes).
You may not agree with the way I calculate things, but from my standpoint DLP is 1.5 times more expensive than WDW when it comes to how much I'm offered vs how much I pay for my tickets


and inside the parks ... ridiculously expensive.
A $14 plush toy in WDW is sold 19.99¬ in DLRP (£8.75 vs £16 almost twice as much)

Snacks, you get them for 30 or 40% more than in WDW

 

[Samaya]

Long time lurker here who is now bothring to post!! This last year when I went in august/september (been going for 30 years at least annually) I bought a bi costal pass instead of an annual as I am going to cali in april for my birthday. Really liked the 20% discount and had more or less decided it was worth a pap in august to get it - well you know whats coming I dont use the water parks so back to a normal ap obviously!! I do think disney is now price gouging I love disney delux resorts but this coming year I am going to stay in either the best westrn or the hoton lake buena vista I go for a month and its just not worth the money
Jacqui

Hi Jacqui,

If you're thinking of the Best Western or Hilton hotels at Lake Buena Vista instead of a Disney's deluxe resort for a month and if you are paying anywhere near to $100 a night off site then why not try renting Disney Vacation Points for just a 5-night mid-week stay as a taster and out of season would be cheaper.

If you stayed at in a studio at OKW from Sunday for 5-nights in either of the last 2-weeks in August it could cost about $650 to $845.

Whereas a 5-night mid-week stay at OKW from Sunday for 5-nights in either Sep. Oct. most of November and most of Dec up to 23rd could cost about $500 to $650.

Points vary between $10 to $13 per point.

And because you are staying on site you have a few extra benefits, the uses of the free transport, Magical Express if arriving-departing at MCO on same day as checking in or out and free parking at the main parks which is a saving to those staying off-site of $14 a day, but as you say you will have an annual pass and so that's free parking.

How would that price compare to a 5-night stay at one of the two hotels you mentioned? (trying to entice you to post again!!!)

 

[disneyholic family]

Not seen anything about it but I don't read anything beyond UKTP.


But there is a point where they cut too much and lose too many customers. They need to attract new customers not squeeze more out of loyal customers or they leave.

i'm with you Wayne (am i not always???)

i hadn't read anything about the drop to 10% before seeing your thread..
that sucks.....the 20% discount was a big benefit for us...

i've been posting for at least the past year about how i feel that WDW and DCL have priced themselves out for me...

we'll be in the US in August for my nephews wedding and instead of the traditional WDW visit, we're planning on hopping on a last minute cruise (probably RCCL)....and if it's still too expensive for our blood, we'll just head straight for detroit for a bit of shopping till we drop, with a day or two at Cedar Point to break up the monotony..

as for seeing other parts of the US - one of my bucket list trips is a road trip to end all road trips....visit all of the lower 48 including every national park!!
i can't say enough about the US national parks, with their free ranger guided walks.....there isn't a national park in the union that isn't worth a visit...
one day......hopefully, before i get too old to drive!

 

[london75]

Disneyland park is actually #5 theme park worldwide, in regards to attendance
http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme Index 2011.pdf

I integrated the Studios attendance (4.5 million) it's true that many guests are counted towards both parks, but the figures match those of MK (4.5 + 10.9)



rack rate, DLP is about £60 (74¬) when WDW with hopper is about £80 ($135 with hopper)
yes, that's £20 cheaper, that's not that expensive ... until you look at what's offered in both locations.
DLP is one park and a half (and I'm being generous), WDW is 4 parks with a higher quality standard.
In that light, DLP's tickets are overpriced.
Silly calculation : £60 for 2 parks is £30 per park in DLP. £80 for 4 parks is £20 per park (as far as the offer goes).
You may not agree with the way I calculate things, but from my standpoint DLP is 1.5 times more expensive than WDW when it comes to how much I'm offered vs how much I pay for my tickets


and inside the parks ... ridiculously expensive.
A $14 plush toy in WDW is sold 19.99¬ in DLRP (£8.75 vs £16 almost twice as much)

Snacks, you get them for 30 or 40% more than in WDW

I'm not actually disagreeing with you although on second reading it sounds like it. I just think that the acreage, audience and potential is there for it to be as successful if not more so than WDW. They've got the space and infrastructure but for it to feel quite so crowded and busy in Paris when at least 50% more people go through the gates of MK in a year, something is being done wrong.

Even if you write off the CM experience, fewer people go to a bigger site and wait longer for food and rides than in Orlando. Why is that happening, is it over all lack of attractions, I haven't done a count of comparable rides between the parks so that might be next.

50% fewer people in 30% more space = feels busier!

Paris opening hours seem to be a fair bit down on Orlando's as soon as it's off season so that could explain some of that experience.

I think we need a new thread for this chat as it's honestly very interesting why it's failing. It's definitely not just weather as I think it handles rain as a park admirably.

I might create an overlay of how the two parks are spread out over each other to see what the differences are.

 

[Magic Megadegs]

I think it boils down to weather, no magic, little atmosphere, definitely not a 'welcome home' feeling and as a race us Europeans being slightly more into 'culture' rather than commercialism (don't get me wrong I LOVE Disney) but there is soooooo much to see in Europe that I wonder whether for a lot of their potential demographic (DLRP) the place is more of a quick weekend place rather than somewhere to spend their main holiday?!?

 

[Magic Megadegs]

Just re read what I've written and realises it reads sooo wrong! What I meant is that in a continent as compact as Europe (distance) but so varied in cultures, there is so much to see / do and so many people chasing sun from cooler areas that maybe for the European appetite is more for other holidays with DLRP being for quick trips not main holidays x

 

[london75]

Just re read what I've written and realises it reads sooo wrong! What I meant is that in a continent as compact as Europe (distance) but so varied in cultures, there is so much to see / do and so many people chasing sun from cooler areas that maybe for the European appetite is more for other holidays with DLRP being for quick trips not main holidays x

I certainly think Spain might have been a better home for Eurodisney, weather, more laid back culture etc. I assume at the time they started planning 25/30 years ago they couldn't predict that you'd be able to fly Ryanair to Spain for £39 so went with Paris which is much better placed for UK, Germany, Holland etc by car/boat.

Imagine if Disney bought a whole Balearic Island, could've been the biggest/best theme park in the world lol. Saying that, a man made island in the Med wouldn't be out of the question these days!

 

[Magic Megadegs]

I certainly think Spain might have been a better home for Eurodisney, weather, more laid back culture etc. I assume at the time they started planning 25/30 years ago they couldn't predict that you'd be able to fly Ryanair to Spain for £39 so went with Paris which is much better placed for UK, Germany, Holland etc by car/boat.

Imagine if Disney bought a whole Balearic Island, could've been the biggest/best theme park in the world lol. Saying that, a man made island in the Med wouldn't be out of the question these days!

Love it! A whole Disney island!!!!

 

[Jacqui8374]

Ah an interesting option but there is one major problem which also stops me from going to a moderate which is a shame as I used to love French quater. I travel with an electric scooter (my own) I need valet paring to get the scooter in and out of the car which is a pain. Yes bell services can do it but believe me thats an even bigger pain which I experience these days when have to ask for it at Cornado when I go ti get my pins for the event Its just not worth the hastle. Hence the other hotels they have it

Jacqui

 

[Jacqui8374]

Its always been the case that wdw is cheaper than dlrp I go once a year for a pin event and frankly its getting worse and worse and thats just maintenance let alone anything else. I remember my first visit in 1996 when I couldnt believe it was disney. However I like to meet all my french friends once a year at east so I put up with it but surfice it to say what I paid in december for four nights plus a train ticket is going to be more than I will be paying in april to go to california for two weeks. OK its not a disney hotel but actually one nearer and I did get a reward flight upper class with virgin but the hotel coms out at less money - that makes something wrong somewhere!

Jacqui

 

[janiebubble]

Sticking my head above the parapet with a vote for DLRP. No it's not WDW, but each to our own. For some it doesn't work, others love it. For me it was accessible when WDW was out of price range (I have to go in school holidays as I teach). I've had some magical moments there, Christmas with real snow comes close to being perfect, and my last couple of trips met some truly great CMs who loved their jobs. I've also had some dodgy experiences, just as I've had in WDW. I love Disney parks, Disneyland is my favourite, Florida gives me the most 'bang for my buck' but for a quick fix, I'd take DLRP over any other theme park out there ...

 

[Samaya]

Ah an interesting option but there is one major problem which also stops me from going to a moderate which is a shame as I used to love French quater. I travel with an electric scooter (my own) I need valet paring to get the scooter in and out of the car which is a pain. Yes bell services can do it but believe me thats an even bigger pain which I experience these days when have to ask for it at Cornado when I go ti get my pins for the event Its just not worth the hastle. Hence the other hotels they have it

Jacqui

I believe valet parking is available at these DVC Resorts - Beach Club, Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge.

But the points required per night is more than OKW, most studios range between 10 and 16 points per night for any of the 5-midweek nights (Sun-Thur) in either Sep. Oct. most of November and most of Dec up to 23rd.

A example of a 4-week stay in September in a studio at Boardwalk could cost between $4,280-$5,560 plus the daily valet parking charges.

 

[torsie24]

This is a shame.

We got free APs last trip and really enjoyed the discounts. And as we are considering renting points for next trip I would've maybe bought an AP for one of use to get the discounts/TiW etc.

With 10% it's not nearly as worth it.

 

[Laurafoster]

Personally I got my PAP for a bargain price of $399 so its still a bargain. But I think it would have been better for the changes to only affect new passes and not people who have already purchased one under the assumption that they were going to get 20% discount.

 

[wayneg]

Personally I got my PAP for a bargain price of $399 so its still a bargain. But I think it would have been better for the changes to only affect new passes and not people who have already purchased one under the assumption that they were going to get 20% discount.

Exactly. IMO you don't remove a benefit part way thru a contract, you tell people when they renew they won't get it, they then have the option to renew or not. I purely bought the Premium passes for the discount, we won't use the water parks so it was for the 20% knowing we were replacing all our photoframes while we have the AP's. Thankfully with the deal I got there wasn't a massive difference to buy PAP's so we haven't lost out too much.

 

[Elise79]

They are clever as they only ever give you the perks book 6 monthly. The one I got with DDs pass in December was only valid up to 31 December 2012. Like DVC perks they are never guaranteed. The only thing they have to provide is the park entry.

 

[crabbie1]

Im so glad I did not buy the PAP now as was only buying for the 20%. As we get 10% off anyway now with shops with the dvc card im glad I just got the Tiw card and getting uk tickets.

 

[Samaya]

We were in two minds, it was either the 21-day Ultimate ticket for £284 or the DVC discounted Premium Annual Pass for $425 and after much deliberation, (and we only brought them on the last day of the offer) that we decided on the PAP.

But we're hoping for a second trip before the annual pass expires and if we do it's almost like getting two 21-day Ultimate tickets for the price of one.

Must admit the change from 20% to a 10% saving will possibly save us money in the end as we'll now think twice before buying and will be more swayed towards 'do we really want-need that at only a 10% saving' rather than 'that's a great bargain and with a 20% discount lets buy two'!!!

Also we'll now spend less time in the gift shops as we won't be hunting for that 20% bargain and therefore more sun and fun time, so in a strange way, thank you Disney!!!!!!

 

[crabbie1]

We were in two minds, it was either the 21-day Ultimate ticket for £284 or the DVC discounted Premium Annual Pass for $425 and after much deliberation, (and we only brought them on the last day of the offer) that we decided on the PAP.

But we're hoping for a second trip before the annual pass expires and if we do it's almost like getting two 21-day Ultimate tickets for the price of one.

Must admit the change from 20% to a 10% saving will possibly save us money in the end as we'll now think twice before buying and will be more swayed towards 'do we really want-need that at only a 10% saving' rather than 'that's a great bargain and with a 20% discount lets buy two'!!!

Also we'll now spend less time in the gift shops as we won't be hunting for that 20% bargain and therefore more sun and fun time, so in a strange way, thank you Disney!!!!!!

I agree. If I had another trip planned for next year I would have bought the PAP as saves on park entry but as We are hoping to move in together and rent DB flat we want to spend money on the house BUT as its his first trip to florida and thought DLP was magical Im hoping he may want to go again later next year. So exciting sharing the magic that hasnt been before.