The return of annual passes

[BrianL]

I know we are joking but we are fast approaching a time where it's going to be cheaper to go to Tokyo Disnelyand and enjoy superior services and quality (from Disney USA yesteryear) than go to Orlando/WDW.

Well, no doubt TDR is vastly superior to the US parks. I wish it were as easy to go visit them - I want to go back so badly!

 

[soniam]

Interestingly, the difference between the 2 passes (renewal price) is $340 now, which is exactly the same as the old price difference.

Platinum Renewal Price: $951
Gold Renewal Price: $611
Difference: $340

Incredi-Pass Renewal Price - $1104
Sorcerer Renewal Price - $764
Difference: $340

The initial pricing is different with the Incredi-Pass being $400 more than the Sorcerer Pass while the older initial price was $476 different.

The way I figure it is for a family of 4 that buys the Sorcerer (or Gold) Pass, you "save" $1360 per year, for me when I bought 100 points for my blue card (now a 150 point minimum) was roughly 8 years of APs to break even on the extra cost (about $10K more). This completely ignores any other Blue Card Perks such as Moonlight Magic. The perks can go away at any time, but I've bought 3 years worth of APs so far with the discount.

At 150 points, and today's prices for Bay Lake Tower where I bought, it is about $12K more for Direct. So 9 years to break even. All of these numbers will vary based on where you buy and how much you could have paid at resale.

That was about the math I saw when we bought BWV resale last summer. Plus, I really wanted BWV and didn't want to have to wait for it to become available. I didn't want any of the readily available ones at the time.

Well, no doubt TDR is vastly superior to the US parks. I wish it were as easy to go visit them - I want to go back so badly!

Hoping to make it there for the first time summer 2022. If not due to world issues, then maybe summer 2023. Fingers crossed.

 

[BrianL]

That was about the math I saw when we bought BWV resale last summer. Plus, I really wanted BWV and didn't want to have to wait for it to become available. I didn't want any of the readily available ones at the time.


Hoping to make it there for the first time summer 2022. If not due to world issues, then maybe summer 2023. Fingers crossed.

I hope you do! I was going to go to Paris last year, but, you know.... Tokyo is totally worth it - it's amazing, especially DisneySea!

 

[katyjeka]

You are correct - the huge demand is driving these prices. Leisure travel is still pretty hot, and Disney sees the demand and they are reacting to it. I would say though that they need to keep their standards as high as ever though, which is where there is a disconnect. Still, people are going and paying it, though that bubble may burst - it already shows some signs that it is not sustainable.

Full disclosure: I also work for Hilton.

I've never witnesses such an increase in sales in such a short amount of time. People are traveling and the number increases daily at our location. It's great for business but very hard to explain to guests that have been staying with us for years why they are paying so much... glad I only work one day!!!

 

[joelkfla]

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.

They're not exactly in distress: Disney Earnings Are Good News for Both Disney+ and Theme Parks | Barron's (barrons.com)

 

[mrpolo23]

Dumb dumb dumb…..

I’m one of Disney’s main “target markets”
Dual income family millennials who make great money with no kids .
We are from Long Island NY and we would come 4-7 times a year staying at DELUX hotels been AP member for years andddd this will be our last year .
Not worth it anymore, Disney lost its magic ! And it’s sad -

 

[msm1444]

By that logic you would assume that once Disney 'gets back on track' that they will be lowering prices? Zero chance. They are/were/will be doing fine unless and until we all stop going, and that's never going to happen.

We just need to take our medicine and come in here and whine about it but we shouldn't be making excuses for them.

Also now I'm REALLY hoping that Genie is a complete failure. Will be looking at $60/day for my family plus the ridiculous $5200 cover charge.

Still hate that there's only one, super-expensive out of state option. Never understood it and still don't. Out of state should always be lower priced but we've bought into it for so long that it seems right.

I have until April to decide, but I'm right on the edge.

Yeah its tough. My hope is with the upcharges they come back bigger and better and we get what we pay for.

 

[cakebaker]

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.

This is where I am. I'll take the price increases in stride- it's the huge cut back in offerings and services that I'm balking at. We still don't have parades, shows ( and no, not the mini-versions like FOTLK), decent park hours, after hours, real parties, decent menu offerings and a whole long list of use to have's.

But, people still go, just like I did. That said, I'm done. I got the trip in to see HEA one last time and until all those things are back, neither are we. As long as people continue to go and even to the point, claim they love it more like it is than it was, they aren't going to do anything but continue to raise prices and refuse to bring back service and offerings. All I know is I've made my last trip where I have to sweep my own floors (although I couldn't because there was no broom), make my own bed, empty the garbage, beg for towels and pay $500 a night to do it.

 

[Ear Scouts]

Is there any reason that a family planning to travel together would need to add PhotoPass to every pass? It seems like you would get the same benefit by just having one person pay the extra $99, right?

 

[BrianL]

This is where I am. I'll take the price increases in stride- it's the huge cut back in offerings and services that I'm balking at. We still don't have parades, shows ( and no, not the mini-versions like FOTLK), decent park hours, after hours, real parties, decent menu offerings and a whole long list of use to have's.

But, people still go, just like I did. That said, I'm done. I got the trip in to see HEA one last time and until all those things are back, neither are we. As long as people continue to go and even to the point, claim they love it more like it is than it was, they aren't going to do anything but continue to raise prices and refuse to bring back service and offerings. All I know is I've made my last trip where I have to sweep my own floors (although I couldn't because there was no broom), make my own bed, empty the garbage, beg for towels and pay $500 a night to do it.

They really do need to bring parades back - that's one of the major holes in the experience.

 

[BrianL]

Is there any reason that a family planning to travel together would need to add PhotoPass to every pass? It seems like you would get the same benefit by just having one person pay the extra $99, right?

You should in fact only need to add it to one pass, especially if you are all staying in a group. I think as long as the profiles are on the same MDE or they are linked, you should see the photos.

 

[Pooh's World]

They're not exactly in distress: Disney Earnings Are Good News for Both Disney+ and Theme Parks | Barron's (barrons.com)

Like I said, money can be moved around to make it look like a sinking ship is a float.
It was discussed earlier in the pandemic.
We've seen this story before.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

We paid about $850 per person (4*850 = 3400) in 2018, that included memory maker. to get the same pass just a few years later, we're looking at about $1900 in increased cost if you add in memory maker.

It's comical, its not even sad anymore.

Well now we know the real reason behind resale restrictions for new DVC resorts. It's because they realized that the "AP discount" wasn't going to be a real perk any more for DVC blue card holders so they had to do **something** to make direct more attractive then resale.

 

[Pooh's World]

They really do need to bring parades back - that's one of the major holes in the experience.

Parades cost way too much money. If Disney Corp was really doing as well as some people seem to be suggesting they would have had parades and fireworks.

 

[Pyotr]

I’m out. I was fine with G+ but the increase in price couple with the removal of Photopass is just too much for me. I’ll still be going to Disney, just not as often.

There are other things to do. And that’s okay.

 

[Karissao]

Well, they are coming back September 8th. With a la cart photo pass as an extra charge and price increases on the base passes also.

 

[BrianL]

Parades cost way too much money. If Disney Corp was really doing as well as some people seem to be suggesting they would have had parades and fireworks.

While I do think their lack of parades is being cheap, I don't think that their absense is indicative of the overall health of the company. There are some rumblings that the Disneyland parade may be coming back soon-ish. They have brought back Fireworks and have a couple of big new shows planned - those cost money too. I just don't think there is a correlation.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Parades cost way too much money. If Disney Corp was really doing as well as some people seem to be suggesting they would have had parades and fireworks.

they are doing well, they want to spend as little money as possible while making as much as possible. They're pushing us until we tell them enough is enough.

 

[DisFanDad]

Parades cost way too much money. If Disney Corp was really doing as well as some people seem to be suggesting they would have had parades and fireworks.

WHAT ??? Why ? They are saving money this way? Good lord - get with it. This is all about maximizing profits. Disney is doing fine, they have been making 10s of Billions in profit over the last decade, they have a ton of cash on hand, their stock price is at an all time high. They are golden.

Disney just doesn't care about the guest experience anymore, they care about money, that's it. And before someone says "they are a business" - you are right, they are, but believe it or not, these are still CHOICES for businesses. Some choose to only maximize profits, others choose to maximize customer experience or perceived value.

 

[BrianL]

they are doing well, they want to spend as little money as possible while making as much as possible. They're pushing us until we tell them enough is enough.

Right, and so far "we" are NOT telling them that. That is key.