The new "Magic Pass" poll

[pentex]

The MYP does nothing for my family. The bottom line is that Disney has become smug about their success during the booming economy....i.e., changing the renewals on Annuals, not coming up with any valid passes for DVC'ers, eliminating the Magic Kingdom Club for the joke of a Disney Club. If things slow in the economy (which they appear to be doing), they may have hurt themselves in the long run.

I refuse to buy annuals for all four of us; it would cost a fortune and who knows if we'd be able to use them. So, last year, we spent less days in Disney and tried some other parks out....we all loved Universal, and the kids loved Sea World. Spent 4 days in all at those parks, tried some great restaurants in Universal, etc. We plan on doing that again this year, and maybe even trying a few other places in Florida...I guess there is life beyond Disney, and it was Disney who showed us that. If we had a viable Disney option (i.e. Rich's suggestion on discount on annuals), I can say without hesitation that we would have spent the whole time at Disney and our money would have went there instead.

 

[TnRobin]

Here is my situation 2 adults and one child.

4 - 5 day hoppers for my family = $2459.20. (210.42 x 4 x 2 (adults) + 175.96 x 4) These never expire and I can use them in any combination I want. 6 days this year, two next year, etc.

3 of the Magic Passes = $2250.00. These are not flexible at all. These will also expire in 5 years.

Difference in total price if bought today (with my DC discount) $209.20.

I will buy hopper passes or APs

Note: my son's 4 - 5 day hoppers only cost $703.84 and Disney wants me to pay them $750 for this Magic Pass for him?

Disney Vacation Club Board Co-Moderator
DVC and Cruise Chat Hostess
Cruise Board List Mistress

<font size=4 color=blue font face="Comic Sans MS">Robin

 

[sixcats]

It's definitely useless to us. If they want to do something for us, why not offer us a nice discount on an Ap? Or a good discount on hopper passes when we have a guest along?

Debbie

 

[Werner Weiss]

sixcats asked:<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>If they want to do something for us, why not offer us a nice discount on an Ap?[/quote]
What would be the business motivation for Disney to offer a discounted AP to DVC members? Disney is a business.

When any business offers a discount, that business is doing so for business reasons -- typically to generate additional sales, to introduce customers to a new product or service, or to sell excess capacity.

Selling APs at a discount to DVC members who would buy APs anyway is a losing business proposition.

On the other hand, a DVC-only admission plan that reinstates the "golden handcuffs" to DVC members while staying in WDW DVC resorts could be a good business proposition.

-----
Werner Weiss, Curator of Yesterland, featuring discontinued Disneyland attractions

 

[wdw4us2]

Wow! This is the first time I've ever read through 4 pages of posts. I'd have to agree with the majority - this plan stinks. I don't quite understand who Disney was trying to target with this offering, it sure isn't most of the DVC members I have met. As far as AP's go, in our family of four, I have one and the rest of the family has Fla. Resident Passes. This is only due to the fact that I became addicted to pin trading last year and had to get to the parks during the black-out dates. I definitely would not have one otherwise. We have actually discussed skipping a year of buying the passes because of the rising costs over the years. Especially when Universal and Sea World/Busch Gardens keep offering such great deals on their AP's. Just IMHO, of course.

 

[bicker]

You've really hit on it Werner. If anyone has an answer to Werner's question I'd sure love to hear it.

Brian Charles Kohn
"in my own words"
Some Imagination, huh? - Mickey Mouse

 

[tiggersnj]

No Thanks, I'll keep my AP. We are in WDW for more than (5) days and I like the fact that I can go as much or as little as I choose without all the restrictions. I don't see anything magical about the new pass. Just my opinion.

 

[sixcats]

Werner,

I said IF they wanted to do something for us. It would be a nice thank you, but I know that they wouldn't do it as it won't make money for them. Although if you only buy enough points for say a 6 night or so stay, a discounted pass might make buying it worth it to you over a six day hopper. You might want to add on to your membership so you can stay for two six night trips.
It wouldn't hurt for them to offer a discount on a pass that would be for a guest of a DVC member. If I bring my brother's family down with a discounted pass, and they are staying at a DVC resort with us, they may very likely be enticed to buy. Maybe they could tie the offer in with a tour? Jeez, I'd settle for a license plate holder instead of the full plate they sent.

Debbie

 

[drusba]

Why not a discount on AP's (or even hoppers)? Disney may be in the business of making money but it is also in the business of making sure it continues to make money by keeping its customers happy and spending maximum time in WDW and minimum outside it. A discount on the AP would help that. Also, even if you stick a 10% or higher discount on the AP Disney's still going to make a huge amount selling them (I am fairly certain the margin on an AP is much higher than 10%). Next, DVD and DVCMC, the companies responsible for DVC and for getting discounts, may be Disney subsidiaries but they are our "fiduciaries" and they have a legal obligation to always act in our interests even if those would not necessarily be in Disney's (the parent's) interest. In other words, they should be out there trying to get us the best deals they can. I mind not having a discount far less than I mind their not even trying to get us one.

 

[ceejay13]

I too agree that this pass is useless. We were at the annual meeting last year at the BWV, which is when we found out about it. They only briefly mentioned it so I asked specifically the cost and details. They quickly told me that information would be out shortly. I thought it was strange at the time that they wouldn't be eager to talk about it, but as soon as I found out the details it made a whole lot more sense. I am sure the powers that be had to know that this wasn't the best idea they have ever come up with. We will stick with our AP's and my DH's CM passes for himself.

 

[gscott8075]

We plan on going every 12-18 months.

I think the 7 day hopper is the best value for us. It gives us 11 days of use for about $30 per day.

We can go to the parks for 2-3 days and a water park for a day and make them last for 3 trips -

 

[KNWVIKING]

How does 7 day hopper give you 11 days use ??

 

[nhmomx2]

I think they should bite the proverbial bullet and give the DVC Members a discount similar to the Florida Residents. The reason they would not do this (IMHO) is because they have a captive audience. Why give someone who has a vested interest, quite literally, in the resort the discount - we are bound to go there anyway, why make it any easier or less expensive for us?! We made it too easy for them to disregard us...we got hooked and bought into the world we love so much!!

"Give a little whistle" - Jiminy Cricket
WDW- '76(Poly) ,'77(Poly) ,'79(Poly),'81(Poly),'83(Poly),'85(Poly),
'87(Poly),'89(X2-Poly/GF),'90(CBR),'96(FW),'97(Cont),
'98(FW),'99(FW), 9/00(BWV), 2/01 (OKW) and 8/01 (BWV)

 

[ScottOKW2K]

In answer to your question, the seven day hopper has four plus options, good for the water parks or disneyquest type admission. Therefore, one would have seven days worth of admission to the four major parks, and four days worth of admission to the "minor" attractions - eleven days total !

11/99 DxL
11/00 DxL
6/01 VWL
12/01 OKW-GV

 

[pluto109]

if you buy the new pass they will let you fit 7 in a studio

 

[KNWVIKING]

Is that a new feature of the hoppers ? I've only purchased LOS and now AP's, but maybe in the future this would be a cheaper alternative.

 

[gscott8075]

I think it makes the most sense if the AP does not work for you.

It has been offered for a long time in different incarnations.

The hopper lets you max out on the parks for 7 days - and then 4 plus options - water parks / DQ.

Best of all, they never expire.

 

[raidermatt]

Any benefits offered to DVC'ers makes DVC more attractive, increasing demand. Increased demand allows Disney to do one of two things:
1- Sell more supply, i.e. more new resorts.
2- Raise the price, i.e. more $ per point to buy into future resorts.

Now, I'm not saying that discounts on APs is good or bad for the bottom line because it would have to be studied. All I am saying is that it is possible. We thought long and hard about joining DVC, and came close to not buying in because of a perceived lack of "fringe" benefits. I'm sure others actually do back out.

Raidermatt

 

[raidermatt]

It is useless to us. Since we live in CA, our trips to WDW are going to be every 2-3 years, for minimum lengths of 8 nights. As Rich said, if we purchased the pass, it would encourage us to check out other things outside of the Mouse's House. While we will spend time at other places, a 5 day hopper just won't be enough.

Raidermatt

 

[AnnK]

GScott,
I agree with you. Originally bought PAP's after a few years found that we no longer went to the water parks enough, so we bought AP's. Now we've decided to go with the 7 day PH plus. We like the idea that they are good forever. We are not going to the parks as much as we used to. The AP's were nice because you could go into the parks for dinner, but now we can't always get enough trips in the calendar year, plus the new renewal policy, we went with the 7 day ph plus. We bought it from this site, (I recommend it.) The price was good, and they delivered it as promised to our hotel.