some random complaining

[Brian Noble]

I'm not suggesting that anyone would turn them down! Rather, I'm asking what's in it for Disney to offer them? And, my answer to that (rhetorical) question is: "not much."

Nearly every discount that Disney offers is really a way to generate more money for Disney. For example, the Member restaurant discounts? They are all at less-popular restaurants during less-popular times. It's a way to try to direct traffic to under-utilized restaurants and away from things that would book full anyway.

 

[DenLo]

I would be happy paying for APs on some kind of payment plan throughout the year.

You can, just deposit the money into your savings account each pay day. And don't touch it until your buy your AP.

 

[BeesKnees]

I'm not suggesting that anyone would turn them down! Rather, I'm asking what's in it for Disney to offer them? And, my answer to that (rhetorical) question is: "not much."

But I have already answered your question:

Even though we only go to the parks half of the days we spend there and we eat many meals in the room

As a DVCer I have a nice vacation home that I don't have to leave. Our commando days stopped about 7 years ago so while the ticket prices keep going up the value we get from them keeps going down.

 

[Muushka]

OP, you're preaching to the choir with me.

What have we done in reaction to high AP and ticket prices? No more APs (we have vouchers from several years ago that we have yet to use). We buy non-exp tickets and in a 6 or so day vacation we may go into the parks 3 times. We probably have 30 days total on those passes (several different ones) left.

In addition to high ticket prices, the upping of the weekday points has had us cut back to WDW once a year, down from twice (sometimes three) a year.

We find we love to cruise. And with the money we save on Disney, we do!

Once those tickets are gone, who knows what we will do!

I wish they would offer some sort of AP option added onto maint fees (greatly discounted, of course!)

 

[Lynne M]

No one's been curt, we're just explaining why it's not realistic to think that we'll see substantial ticket discounts. If they offer them, you bet I'll take them. I bought my current AP with the DVC discount.

But what we're trying to get at is that Disney, like all companies, needs a REASON to give discounts. And 'because the customer spent a lot of money buying something from another division of the company' isn't a valid business justification. Apparently, they found a reason to justify the AP discount. Members must be spending more money in the parks when they use the AP discount, on average more than $100 per person per year. If that stops, the AP discount will go away.

Remember, the point of sales, discounts or loyalty programs is to get MORE money out of you than you would have normally spent.

And really, we're already in a loyalty program of sorts. In return for paying up front, we get huge discounts off the rack rate for villas at DVC resorts.

 

[Chuck S]

I wish they would offer some sort of AP option added onto maint fees (greatly discounted, of course!)

I doubt that such an option would be legal, considering maintenance fees are tied to actual resort operational expenses by law. How could a park pass be considered a legal operational expense of a timeshare?

 

[ToddyLu]

You can, just deposit the money into your savings account each pay day. And don't touch it until your buy your AP.

I know but that is just too rational and responsible.... We used our birthday money this year

 

[BeesKnees]

No one's been curt, we're just explaining why it's not realistic to think that we'll see substantial ticket discounts.

I don't know how unrealistic it is though. This thread was started by someone who may be struggling to afford the passes for a vacation. Who knows where the majority of DVCers are right now financialy because of the economy. Disney doesn't make any money if we can't afford to get there.

Unless they build another SSR soon it won't be too long before the majority of DVCers will be empty nesters and getting older and may start spending less time going to the parks at these prices.

 

[rentayenta]

What we do is schedule a "yearly" trip that fits inside an AP "year". For example, my kids have two weeks off in October for Fall Break. Year A we'll go the second week of that break. Year B we'll go the first week of the break. Since the Year B end date is before the Year A start date, we can get two trips in within the 365 day window of the AP.

I wish DH would go for 2 WDW trips within the same 12 months. Heck I'd settle for same 18 months.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't know how unrealistic it is though. This thread was started by someone who may be struggling to afford the passes for a vacation. Who knows where the majority of DVCers are right now financialy because of the economy. Disney doesn't make any money if we can't afford to get there.

Unless they build another SSR soon it won't be too long before the majority of DVCers will be empty nesters and getting older and may start spending less time going to the parks at these prices.

But, if people are struggling to afford the admission tickets, do you really think they'd be willing to spend enough $ in the parks to justify the the discount? Or would they be the ones that pack their own lunch, bring their own snacks, and allow $20 per person for souvenirs? As has been pointed out, the purpose for businesses to offer a discount is to boost the bottom line, not save the consumer $

 

[BeesKnees]

But, if people are struggling to afford the admission tickets, do you really think they'd be willing to spend enough $ in the parks to justify the the discount? Or would they be the ones that pack their own lunch, bring their own snacks, and allow $20 per person for souvenirs? As has been pointed out, the purpose for businesses to offer a discount is to boost. the bottom line, not save the consumer $

Disney's first priority is to get people there. You could use the same logic to do away with trip discounts altogether. Sure some people who take those discounts will do Disney on the cheap but they must work because they still offer them.

The same research that led them to discounting APs could lead them to discount regular tickets too.

 

[Chuck S]

But, with DVC we are already there. Unlike the cash resorts, that offer "free dining" to fill rooms at full price, and then get people into the parks (also at full price) to use those dining credits, DVCers rooms are already pre-paid. They don't need to lure us to WDW. The cash guests that they target with the free dining are people who may not travel at all without the discount. With DVC, all the resorts costs are pre-paid, even if they sit empty. Not as compelling a reason to give discounts to DVCers.

 

[IknowDoYou?]

But, with DVC we are already there. Unlike the cash resorts, that offer "free dining" to fill rooms at full price, and then get people into the parks (also at full price) to use those dining credits, DVCers rooms are already pre-paid. They don't need to lure us to WDW. The cash that they target with the free dining are people who maynot travel at all without the discount. With DVC, all the resorts costs are pre-paid, even if they sit empty. Not as compelling a reason to give discounts to DVCers.

Not only that, if we don't show up and use our points, they get the chance of renting the rooms we would use at cash rates. Double-dipping is even better for them.

 

[adminjedi]

I have a question....
How many people commenting on this thread go to work every day, all week long, sometimes work overtime or weekends, and expect not to be paid?

What I am pointing out is that Disney, DW or DL, DVC etc are all businesses. The purpose of risking to invest one's money and energy into creating a business is to recoup the investment and make additional income. Not only do they make income for themselves, but they create jobs and income for others participating in running the business.

Yes, it is expensive to vacation at DW or DL. But, they offer a great product. Either you like the product or you don't, willing to pay for the product or not.
No one makes you buy DVC. No one makes you go to DW or DL. It is your choice. I am thankful to live in a country where I have a choice.

 

[BeesKnees]

But, with DVC we are already there. Unlike the cash resorts, that offer "free dining" to fill rooms at full price, and then get people into the parks (also at full price) to use those dining credits, DVCers rooms are already pre-paid. They don't need to lure us to WDW. The cash guests that they target with the free dining are people who may not travel at all without the discount. With DVC, all the resorts costs are pre-paid, even if they sit empty. Not as compelling a reason to give discounts to DVCers.

Then why offer discounts on APs if there is no compelling reason? They don't just want us there they want us in the parks. Frankly I feel like most of my park ticket money is a waste because as a 10 year DVCer I go at such a casual pace that I don't get good value from them. I even had a park free vacation one year. I can easily afford them but that doesn't mean I like wasting money. Now I realize that is on me but what happens as more and more DVCers start shedding their commando mentalities, especially as they get older and kids leave the nest?

The thing is they discounted the AP for a reason. What was the reason?

 

[BeesKnees]

I have a question....
How many people commenting on this thread go to work every day, all week long, sometimes work overtime or weekends, and expect not to be paid?

Not really getting the analogy since I don't recall anyone asking that the tickets be free. Besides that many many many people work overtime every week and do not get paid for it.

 

[Chuck S]

Then why offer discounts on APs if there is no compelling reason? They don't just want us there they want us in the parks. Frankly I feel like most of my park ticket money is a waste because as a 10 year DVCer I go at such a casual pace that I don't get good value from them. I even had a park free vacation one year. I can easily afford them but that doesn't mean I like wasting money. Now I realize that is on me but what happens as more and more DVCers start shedding their commando mentalities, especially as they get older and kids leave the nest?

The thing is they discounted the AP for a reason. What was the reason?

APs do much more than simply give us park admission. They also allow us to purchase the TiW, which would mean we would be much more likely to dine at table service restaurants once inside the parks, with an additional sale price of $75 for the TiW. APs also give us access to cash room discounts, in the hopes we will extend our vacations, or take an extra vacation. With non-expiring 10 day tickets, there are no such side benefits and possible revenue streams to offset the park ticket discount. And this year AP holders received merchandise discounts in the parks, again encouraging us to further spend, spend, spend.

 

[adminjedi]

Not really getting the analogy since I don't recall anyone asking that the tickets be free. Besides that many many many people work overtime every week and do not get paid for it.

The point is, many seem to be complaining about the cost of passes or vacationing at Disney. The analogy is to cause people to consider that yes, Disney is in business to make money, just like they go to work to get paid.

 

[pnyltwk]

Simple soulution is to move to Florida. I have been getting discounted tickets for as long as I can remember as a Florida Resident. That may go away some day but I doubt it will be anytime soon.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The point is, many seem to be complaining about the cost of passes or vacationing at Disney. The analogy is to cause people to consider that yes, Disney is in business to make money, just like they go to work to get paid.

But how many people going to work are now making less then two years ago instead of more?

Looking at BLT sales numbers that were posted by someone I think they are way down compared to a year ago. If DVC can get Disney to offer discounted tickets that they can market as a new perk I'm ok with that!