Premier Passport vs AP w/DVC Discount

[DVCinderella]

I'm just starting to research the new Premier Passport. I've learned from the Dis that there is no DVC discount. We usually buy WDW AP's with the DVC discount, and always try to time it so that we get two trips in within the 365 days. Right now we are planning a May WDW trip (9 nights), and a January DL trip (3 nights).

There is no guarantee that we will get back to WDW a second time before passes expire May 2011. So I'm trying to determine if the Premier Passport is worth it?

We would be 2 adults, 2 children...and I know the Premier Passports are same price for adults & children ($700).

I read one thread where someone upgraded a DVC AP to the Premier Passport...and if I understood it correctly, they only had to pay the difference between the full-price of the AP and the Premier Passport. In other words, they did not lose their discount on the original AP.

So I'm wondering if I should do this? Buy a DVC discounted AP in May, and then upgrade at DL in January to the Premier Passport? Or would it be cheaper to just do MYW's in May and 2 or 3-day passes at DL?

P.S.

Here's two things I wish Disney would consider:
1) A "less-deluxe" Premier Passport that only includes the theme parks, and no water parks or DQ.
2) A DVC discount ...anyone writing letters to DVC about this?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Off the top of my head and without actually pricing out your exact situation I'd say you are best off buying the DL park tickets and then either a WDW DVC annual pass or the MYW tickets - depending on what is less expensive.

I've looked at the premier pass for us. I only have one trip to DL planned this year - it will be 4 nights and it will still be less expensive to purchase DL tickets. Since there is no discount on the children's pass I would guess it will be the same for you. Lots of use of the waterparks might change the numbers - or a need for parking at DL.

And I agree with you - I wish they had a pass option without the water parks and parking. We stay onsite with DVC and don't do the water parks so the pass would cost us more than normal.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can't see how the premier would help, since you are planning such a short DLR vacation. If you were planning two short DLR vacations, or one long one (over 6 days, since they don't sell tickets in the States for longer than 6 days), then it might make sense (if you were taking two WDW vacations). But not as your plans stand...

Though...do the math, include the discounts on food/merchandise at DLR, really find out what the $$ difference is for you.

 

[Tara]

I read one thread where someone upgraded a DVC AP to the Premier Passport...and if I understood it correctly, they only had to pay the difference between the full-price of the AP and the Premier Passport. In other words, they did not lose their discount on the original AP.

I'd be interested in reading that account - do you have a link? I'll admit I'm skeptical - I don't think this is possible. If upgrading a DVC AP to a WDW DVC Premium AP, you don't start at the value of a regular AP, you start at the value you paid and then upgrade from there.

 

[DVCinderella]

I'd be interested in reading that account - do you have a link? I'll admit I'm skeptical - I don't think this is possible. If upgrading a DVC AP to a WDW DVC Premium AP, you don't start at the value of a regular AP, you start at the value you paid and then upgrade from there.

Scroll down to post #5...it says you pay the difference between the "retail price" of your existing AP and the Premier Passport price.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2418625

It does not say the difference between the "discounted price" of your existing AP. So that's why I drew the conclusion that you would pay the difference from the full price of the AP...therefore keeping your DVC savings in tact.

 

[erionm]

Scroll down to post #5...it says you pay the difference between the "retail price" of your existing AP and the Premier Passport price.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2418625

It does not say the difference between the "discounted price" of your existing AP. So that's why I drew the conclusion that you would pay the difference from the full price of the AP...therefore keeping your DVC savings in tact.

The DVC APs are a unique class of tickets with their own prices. So, the retail price of a DVC AP is the price paid for it.

 

[Tara]

Scroll down to post #5...it says you pay the difference between the "retail price" of your existing AP and the Premier Passport price.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2418625

It does not say the difference between the "discounted price" of your existing AP. So that's why I drew the conclusion that you would pay the difference from the full price of the AP...therefore keeping your DVC savings in tact.

Yeah, I don't think that's what it means. Everything I've ever seen is that the DVC price is not a discount but a reduced rate, if that makes sense. So the 'retail' price of the DVC pass is not the non-DVC price. I could be wrong about this, but they were so unequivocal about the fact that there's no DVC discount for the Premier Pass that I don't think they'd effectively give the discount in this way. It would be great if it meant that, but I don't think it does.

In fact, I just went to the passholder site to the renewal page and the prices are shown in 2 columns - regular price and discounted price - but they're the same price. I'd show you what I mean but then I'd have to save a screen shot, upload it and then post, and I'm too lazy for that tonight.