The return of annual passes

[joelkfla]

So I calculated out - I was paying $611 to renew my Gold Pass (DVC Member). It is now $764 per person, plus I have to add $99 to the price for Photo Pass (we take a ton of photos usually). $712 more per year for my family of 4 with the Photo Pass addon.

We go to the parks roughly 14 days a year as DVC Members, if we opted to purchase Genie+ every day, which is $840 more per year. Disney just increased our vacations by $1552 per year.

On the positive side of this announcement, the Disney Sorcerer Pass no longer blacks out Spring Break, but it adds Thanksgiving to the blackouts (Christmas has always been a blackout), and you get 5 Park Passes at a time, meaning maybe we could stay offsite sometimes if we don't have enough DVC points. They also mention up to 20% discount on Dining and Merchandise. Previously most dining discounts were only 10% - so if they standardize on 20% dining discounts - then the price increase would probably be worth it, since I'd save more than that in dining discounts - essentially it'd replace the Tables in Wonderland offering. But since it says up to 20%, it might just be only 1 or 2 restaurants offer 20% off.

It might vary seasonally.

 

[DisFanDad]

But deeds are no longer accepted. Deeds, mortgage contracts, mortgage payment booklets and leases are not accepted.

So uh - what the hell is accepted to prove "florida resident" status ?

 

[CaptAwesome]

So uh - what the hell is accepted to prove "florida resident" status ?

Leases are accepted, or else we wouldn't have been able to get the resident discount.

But we just use our driver's licenses.

 

[DisFanDad]

Leases are accepted, or else we wouldn't have been able to get the resident discount.

But we just use our driver's licenses.

OK - so when the other person said leases they were wrong? I've got to assume lots of people don't have driver's licenses.

 

[msm1444]

I am not happy with the price increases but I do understand. Disneyland was closed for approximately 400 days and WDW for a bit as well. The company took a big hit and they were doing so well before the pandemic. If the price increase puts them back on track and they are able to resume building resorts and adding a fifth gate in the future I am all for it.

 

[Liquidice]

It might vary seasonally.

As I was poking around the site, they said the discounts can be found here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/passholder-benefits-and-discounts/ and it is the exact same link previously used for the discounts. You get 20% off Joffrey's coffee in Disney Springs, so I think it is still the same - mostly 10% off dining and 20% off at 2 places (the 2 coffee shops).

 

[scauzilloc1121]

Actually this will work for us. Our family pays monthly for Platinum but we do not use it during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays (too crowded) and summers (too dang hot!!). Even though the summers are not blocked out we won't mind not going. So getting the Sorcerer Pass will be perfect. We really don't use the photopass except on occasion, and don't go to the water parks. I've been a passholder since 1995 and things change. Glad to see Disney mixing it up.

 

[DisFanDad]

Starting to think we would have gotten more perks if we had just bought a home in Florida / Time share instead of DVC - least then we'd qualify for Florida resident rates.

I am not happy with the price increases but I do understand. Disneyland was closed for approximately 400 days and WDW for a bit as well. The company took a big hit and they were doing so well before the pandemic. If the price increase puts them back on track and they are able to resume building resorts and adding a fifth gate in the future I am all for it.

This isn't about putting them back on anything - good lord I hate this thinking. The company was making 10s of billions before the pandemic, a year and a half of losses is nothing to them. This is about jacking up profits and giving them to management/shareholders. None of this HELPS YOU THE CONSUMER. Stop thinking it does.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Actually those that live in other countries get a great discount on tickets. Look at Expedia's UK web site and tickets on there when you do the conversion price to USA dollars is cheaper that what Americans pay.

I'm 8 hours away. So when i go, i need a hotel room for at least 2 nights, and we almost always stay longer than that. They almost all but guarantee us for 2 full weeks of vacations if we buy Annual Passes also.

It would be nice if they would find a way to incentivize us to come more.

 

[katyjeka]

They also will use utilities in your name which are also tied to

But deeds are no longer accepted. Deeds, mortgage contracts, mortgage payment booklets and leases are not accepted.

They also use utility bills that are attached to the address as well as tax payments. They view the documents over your phone so no need to carry papers when activating them. Maybe we've been lucky but we've never had an issue.

 

[Pooh's World]

So correct me if I’m wrong: I am an out of stater, I try to go to Disney every other year, my next trip scheduled is December 2022. My tickets are 1550 for two pepper (750 each) for 10 days in the parks. Trip itself is over 5 figures. For me to have the annual passes work for me I would need to have at least 15-18 park days every year. Now I understand there maybe some other discounts with annual passes but it’s not productive of an out of stater to have an annual pass unless they go to Disney at least 3-4 weeks per year! Correct! Never mind what Disney has done by taking away other perks little by little, plus adding the money grabber Genie plus and Lightning Lane. So even with an annual pass you still can get quacked with adding more money with Genie plus and Lightning Lane. Disney has not told us any of the added costs to the Annual passes. Wow, it’s getting to be for the Rich and Famous!

At that point you might as well just live in Florida or buy a second shack to get instate prices.

 

[Pooh's World]

So correct me if I’m wrong: I am an out of stater, I try to go to Disney every other year, my next trip scheduled is December 2022. My tickets are 1550 for two pepper (750 each) for 10 days in the parks. Trip itself is over 5 figures. For me to have the annual passes work for me I would need to have at least 15-18 park days every year. Now I understand there maybe some other discounts with annual passes but it’s not productive of an out of stater to have an annual pass unless they go to Disney at least 3-4 weeks per year! Correct! Never mind what Disney has done by taking away other perks little by little, plus adding the money grabber Genie plus and Lightning Lane. So even with an annual pass you still can get quacked with adding more money with Genie plus and Lightning Lane. Disney has not told us any of the added costs to the Annual passes. Wow, it’s getting to be for the Rich and Famous!

At that point you might as well just live in Florida or buy a second shack to get instate prices.

It depends how long your trip will be I guess. For me, I have 2x 7 day trips planned for a total of 14 days, a 7 day trip in early December, and one in late April / early May. The cost for a 7-day park hopper from a ticket reseller that starts with U is $603.29 for December and $583.76 for a 7-day Park Hopper in late April - total is $1187.05 (before tax) vs. $1299 Incredi-Pass (before tax). So it is more expensive in this case, although if you renew it is $1104 plus tax, so it is just a little bit more after tax. A $99 Photo Pass for the year is still cheaper than if you pay for 1 trip at $169 (plus tax) for each trip or $338 for the 2 trips.

I am DVC, so the cost is actually cheaper when I renew the Sorcerer Pass.

If you make 3x 5-day trips though, the price is different ... lets say you go once this coming December for 5 days, once in May '22 and once in October '22.

Then the cost is $574.08, $548.39 and $572.32 or $1694.79 ... So cheaper to get the Incredi-Pass at that point.

If you did individual tickets you wouldn't get hopper, so you can't include the hopper price in your calculus.

 

[katyjeka]

So uh - what the hell is accepted to prove "florida resident" status ?

We have for many years showed our deed to our home. We also have shown house insurance, utility bills and have never been questioned. We would keep a Florida license however for my dh business we have to have a Pa. He handles a lot of chemicals and must use it for purchases.

 

[thewholeshabazz]

We

Starting to think we would have gotten more perks if we had just bought a home in Florida / Time share instead of DVC - least then we'd qualify for Florida resident rates.


This isn't about putting them back on anything - good lord I hate this thinking. The company was making 10s of billions before the pandemic, a year and a half of losses is nothing to them. This is about jacking up profits and giving them to management/shareholders. None of this HELPS YOU THE CONSUMER. Stop thinking it does.

We actually did exactly that. We tossed around dvc to try to make the numbers work for about two years. Totally on the fence. Could have gone either way. My wife had a transfer opp for work come up and we took it and made the biggest dvc purchase. A house 20 mins south of the parks.

 

[Liquidice]

If you did individual tickets you wouldn't get hopper, so you can't include the hopper price in your calculus.

So I would get the Park Hopper for myself which is why I included it. I don't think you can assume that if someone bought individual tickets they would definitely not buy the Park Hopper option.

Feel free to do your own calculations for your own personal usage and see if the Annual Pass works for you. It is not a black and white decision is all I'm trying to get at - it varies depending on when you travel (seasonal pricing), how many days and how many trips.

Generally speaking you can say the cutover point is around 14-15 days, but YMMV.

 

[DISJeff74]

How? Every single pass went up in price. Unless you were planning on buying individual tickets for each trip there is no way it is cheaper.

Bingo...its cheaper.

 

[msm1444]

Starting to think we would have gotten more perks if we had just bought a home in Florida / Time share instead of DVC - least then we'd qualify for Florida resident rates.


This isn't about putting them back on anything - good lord I hate this thinking. The company was making 10s of billions before the pandemic, a year and a half of losses is nothing to them. This is about jacking up profits and giving them to management/shareholders. None of this HELPS YOU THE CONSUMER. Stop thinking it does.

Stop thinking Disney is your friend because they make cartoons This is business. Did you think they would come out of this offering discounts? Pre pandemic, the parks were so busy you could hardly move. Heck even the cast members I spoke with stated Disney had to do something about capacity. Well they have, deal with it or don't go.

 

[Pooh's World]

Stop thinking Disney is your friend because they make cartoons This is business. Did you think they would come out of this offering discounts? Pre pandemic, the parks were so busy you could hardly move. Heck even the cast members I spoke with stated Disney had to do something about capacity. Well they have, deal with it or don't go.

I think it was teased that out of state would have the option of Sprinkles pass ($399), Scoop pass ($599) etc. for out of staters based off California. So that is naturally going to lead to disappointment.

 

[BrianL]

Stop thinking Disney is your friend because they make cartoons This is business. Did you think they would come out of this offering discounts? Pre pandemic, the parks were so busy you could hardly move. Heck even the cast members I spoke with stated Disney had to do something about capacity. Well they have, deal with it or don't go.

This is a fact to consider. I know it's hard when seeing that you get less for more money, but the fact is Disney is only responding to our demand, which has been high. They're not "doing it to us" so much as we are doing it to ourselves. That goes to some extent at any rate. I will say that price increases would be more palatable if the level of service and maintenance etc. hadn't fallen off so much. If they were really offering 100% of what they used to, then I wouldn't balk so much at these major increases. If they spend it where we can see it, then I am okay with it generally.

 

[Pooh's World]

This is a fact to consider. I know it's hard when seeing that you get less for more money, but the fact is Disney is only responding to our demand, which has been high. They're not "doing it to us" so much as we are doing it to ourselves. That goes to some extent at any rate. I will say that price increases would be more palatable if the level of service and maintenance etc. hadn't fallen off so much. If they were really offering 100% of what they used to, then I wouldn't balk so much at these major increases. If they spend it where we can see it, then I am okay with it generally.

On the flip side it could reflect Disney's desperation as the company that may be in deep financial trouble (with Disneyland and WDW being closed, return of the pandemic, crusie ships being halted, people not going to movie theaters, Lionel Messi leaving ESPN/La Liga and ESPN collapsing).

With the return of Delta one more shutdown could wipe them out.