WDW to prevent AP holders from visiting parks many mornings

[Ms Bibbidi]

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[Ms Bibbidi]

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[ParkHoppers]

I predict another nothing burger here……

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

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[Ms Bibbidi]

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[AnnaKristoff2013]

Again, I just don’t agree that APs have to be what they always have been and Disney has every right to make the product what they want it to be.

I think the issue here is going to be whether they do this only for *new* passes, or they try to bootstrap these restrictions onto existing passes. I absolutely agree with you that they can change new passes however they want (so long as they change the terms in a way that doesn’t mislead purchasers). If they try to do this to existing passes though, I think they’re going to run into trouble. If they try to do this with new passes while still marketing a top tier pass as a “no blackout date” pass without *lots* of warnings that the pass may actually only function for evenings, I similarly think they’re going to run into lots of trouble.

 

[jimim]

A pass excluding mornings would work great for us.
Even when staying on site, about the earliest we can get ourselves to the parks is about 1:00.

And a pass excluding afternoons would work for us. We go in early and are out by noon the latest.

 

[Sandisw]

I think the issue here is going to be whether they do this only for *new* passes, or they try to bootstrap these restrictions onto existing passes. I absolutely agree with you that they can change new passes however they want (so long as they change the terms in a way that doesn’t mislead purchasers). If they try to do this to existing passes though, I think they’re going to run into trouble. If they try to do this with new passes while still marketing a top tier pass as a “no blackout date” pass without *lots* of warnings that the pass may actually only function for evenings, I similarly think they’re going to run into lots of trouble.

I think there is a big assumption being made that this rumor means that AP owners are going to be restricted from mornings more than they are now,

I simply don’t see that. I think this option, if true, is to create a third bucket so passholders have two options instead of one. Why? Because it benefits Disney to spread APs out so they can save more morning spots for ticket holders. And if it is being talked about, it means they have data to support the move.

In reality, APs are not really getting anything that can’t get now, but eliminates the step of booking another park just to tap and then hop to the one they really want. I even get many pass holders would welcome this option when dealing with a sold out day.

In terms of new, as long as they add the correct language to new passes, then buyers can decide whether the ticket type works. Pretty simple for Disney to sell an AP that only guarantees you the ability to enter at some point. They can define a non block out day to mean whatever they want, as long as it is clear. No need for lots of warnings,..just that a non block out days are eligible for entry for either whole or partial days, subject to availability

Even easier to sell a yearly pass that doesn’t give access to 365 days a year.

I agree that any pass in existence has to stay with the same terms. So any move to offer reservations for afternoons or evenings can’t take away the ability to reserve whole days.

But they can end the current program, like they did last year, and either refund inactivated certificates or they activate into the new passes.

Since they hold all the cards on what product to sell, they can find a way to make it fit their needs as they don’t have to offer an AP program if they don’t want to do that, It will certainly cost them business which is why I think there will always be some type of yearly pass.

 

[whiteness]

If Disney started selling a pass that only allowed access after 12 Noon, that might actually work for us.

We breed Roof Rats, and have to care for them every morning, every day of the week (it's not like they stop eating and drinking on the weekends, right?) For that reason, it is almost impossible for us to do anything before noon.

As passholders living 20 minutes from the parks, we're not lacking for access, right? I'm not losing any sleep over this...

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

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[Ms Bibbidi]

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[Ms Bibbidi]

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[Ms Bibbidi]

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[Miffy]

It means to create this “third bucket” Disney will absolutely grab the whole day tickets to prefer the ticketed guests who arrive at the park kiosks without park reservations. Since most local passholders are also short term planners — because they have to be in order not to have dead space in their passes (no on site length of stay advantage) it is the local passholder who will be deliberately shut out is park morning entries. We will have to eat the heat of Florida days!

I hadn't even thought of this--that they're working on accommodating the guests who arrive at the parks without reservations, i.e., guests who aren't AP holders, who aren't repeat guests, who are pretty much unaware of how things work now at WDW.

This is quite possible, although, of course, Disney could fix this problem by eliminating park reservations. My feeling is (and I could be wrong) that the main reason park reservations are still in place is that Disney is woefully short-staffed. Perhaps they intend to remain this way. If so, they're going to bleed high-quality CMs (the CMs that used to be the majority of CMs at WDW) and become a place that very few people want to work.

I just do not trust them.

The only thing I trust is that their main motive is to make money. This doesn't mean I don't still love going to WDW--I do. But I'm ever more aware that their repeat guests have been downgraded to a status below one-and-done guests. However, at some point, they are going to want repeat guests, because so-called revenge travel can't last forever, and both the US and world economy are ever-changing.

 

[tjkraz]

When Disney reintroduced APs in September 2021, they were not planning to make available unlimited Park Pass capacity for passholders. The lawsuit--and Disney's subsequent actions--suggest even they believe the suit has enough merit to warrant a change.

I do not believe that Disney wishes to eliminate all Annual Passes, nor restrict all Passholders to late day admission. Everything has a price. Keeping die-hards interested in the parks is important to Disney in other ways...like selling $20 fast food meals, $300 purses and $30k DVC contracts.

But I also think they want to free-up more capacity for MYW ticket buyers. And when I say "free-up more capacity", I'm talking more about identifying / controlling *WHEN* passholders intend to arrive rather than the current system which assumes they may all be in the park at open.

That control could take the form of a specific after-5 pass or restrictions on the number of reservations that can be made or held during a set period. I still think a true after-5 pass would have the most positive impact for Disney, while being the most economical pass for guests who are willing to live with that restriction.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

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[Ms Bibbidi]

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[jade1]

I hadn't even thought of this--that they're working on accommodating the guests who arrive at the parks without reservations, i.e., guests who aren't AP holders, who aren't repeat guests, who are pretty much unaware of how things work now at WDW.

Do we know if this happens a lot? Turn down $150 per person?

Or do they just give them a reservation on the spot.

 

[jade1]

I wonder if there would be a market for an "after 12" AP, or an "after 5PM" AP.

Does EPCOT still offer an after 4PM?

And what would that discount need to be? $250 off for noon, $500 off for 5PM?

 

[RoseGold]

Have we already forgotten that Magic Key calendar with no weekends at all? Zero. For the special, more expensive weekend pass?

After that, I knew Disney was capable of a lot. If that wasn't clear, the earnings call about us cheapskates made it even more clear. People thinking this will be bonus and you get even more reservations LOL. Writing is on the wall.