Why No Monthly Payment Plan for Non-Florida Annual Passholders?

[Zbornak]

Does anyone know why the annual passholder monthly payment plan is not offered to non-Florida residents? Do you think Disney is concerned that out-of-state residents (who are causal visitors) will establish a payment plan with the intention of taking a vacation, and then not making good on payment? I mean a FL resident could do just the same, right?

Do you think an AP monthly payment plan should be available to DVC members? I would love to see that. We are a family of five, and it would make the family AP cost a bit more palatable.

Thoughts? Anyone?

 

[ml sumner]

We live in South GA and I've always wished we could do the payment plan too! We are only 4 hours away and go every year, but never buy the AP's because it is a large chunk at one time. Oh well maybe in a few more years when the son is older and child care expenses are gone.

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe they have more ability to collect in FL?

Maybe they only want to extend that courtesy to those more sure of visiting regularly. Otherwise I could see someone in another state getting the AP on the payment plan because it's cheaper, then not able to get back and deciding to stop paying (by closing the bank account or CC).

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Maybe they have more ability to collect in FL?

Maybe they only want to extend that courtesy to those more sure of visiting regularly. Otherwise I could see someone in another state getting the AP on the payment plan because it's cheaper, then not able to get back and deciding to stop paying (by closing the bank account or CC).

This is my guess. They probably think FL residents will visit the parks more often than once or twice a year. Many (not all) FL residents can visit for the day, then go home at night. They could go several times a year. When we lived in Tampa, we would visit the parks on weekends for a few hours, have dinner, then go home. Our staycations were often at WDW also. Our visits were steady throughout the year. I'm guessing this is what they're hoping for, when they make it easier for FL residents to purchase APs. The same applies to Tables in Wonderland.

 

[DawnM]

Can you just set up a savings account and put that amount aside every month until you have it available?

We did that with another thing we needed to plan for every year. We just set aside $100/mo and by the end, we had our $1,200 needed.

 

[Shmily1]

We live in South GA and I've always wished we could do the payment plan too! We are only 4 hours away and go every year, but never buy the AP's because it is a large chunk at one time. Oh well maybe in a few more years when the son is older and child care expenses are gone.

You sound like you are close by. I live in South Georgia and am 4 hours away too. We have APs but that price is crazy all at one time.

 

[10MoreMinutes]

I'm another one from south GA (3.5-4 hour drive) who just hasn't pulled the trigger on an AP yet, mostly because of the price. I know if/when I ever do buy it, though, I'll be down there all the time.

 

[Minnesota!]

I wish they did; I would jump on that in a heartbeat. I do a savings account now for vacation, of course, but I find other ways to eat it up - staycations, etc. So, to have the money into the passes already...would be fantastic!

 

[danielocha30]

I'm a Florida resident and since Disney and all other parks started offering deals, going to Disney every other month wasn't appealing, is just an incentive for locals who might keep a steady flow of parkgoers to elevated revenue, remember all this started around the recession and when park attendance was hit after 9/11, monthly payments and lower price is all part of the strategy, you pay less but going multiple times a year inevitably will have you spending more than a outstate guest

 

[osopecoso]

Does anyone know why the annual passholder monthly payment plan is not offered to non-Florida residents? Do you think Disney is concerned that out-of-state residents (who are causal visitors) will establish a payment plan with the intention of taking a vacation, and then not making good on payment? I mean a FL resident could do just the same, right?

Do you think an AP monthly payment plan should be available to DVC members? I would love to see that. We are a family of five, and it would make the family AP cost a bit more palatable.

Thoughts? Anyone?

It's just one of the perks with living in Florida, just like the ticket specials they run a few times a year where you can get 4 days for $200 (I remember a few times where it was $100 for 3 days). All states have incentives like this for residents. I think Colorado/Utah give its residents lift ticket specials that I cannot get.

 

[jt'smom]

Maybe they have more ability to collect in FL?

Maybe they only want to extend that courtesy to those more sure of visiting regularly. Otherwise I could see someone in another state getting the AP on the payment plan because it's cheaper, then not able to get back and deciding to stop paying (by closing the bank account or CC).

We do our AP's every year on the payment plan, but you do sign a contract, so if you tried to do that, even as a FL resident, they would send you to collections. Once you've signed the contract, you are on the hook for the entire year, and they don't let you cancel mid-plan.

 

[ChiTownZee]

...(I remember a few times where it was $100 for 3 days).....

I remember close to 20 years ago when my oldest was little they had the play four days passes, four days for $99. And they were hopper tickets. I miss those days.

 

[willowsnn3]

Mid Georgia here and would love the payment plan. We kept AP's for about 3 years and went often. Still go a lot but would do more short trips if I had an AP.

 

[cvjw]

We are also in Georgia and have had AP's for 10+ years. Just make your own payment plan. If you know you want to purchase AP's in a few months, then set aside money every month and pay cash for them.

You don't have to wait for Disney to make you a payment plan - do it yourself with a savings account

And the reason that Disney doesn't offer the payment plan to all states is probably because they don't want to have to deal with small claims court or collections in 49 other states. They can more easily deal with non-payment from Florida residents than other states.

 

[Zbornak]

We are also in Georgia and have had AP's for 10+ years. Just make your own payment plan. If you know you want to purchase AP's in a few months, then set aside money every month and pay cash for them.

You don't have to wait for Disney to make you a payment plan - do it yourself with a savings account

And the reason that Disney doesn't offer the payment plan to all states is probably because they don't want to have to deal with small claims court or collections in 49 other states. They can more easily deal with non-payment from Florida residents than other states.

Excellent point on the collections aspect.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Maybe they have more ability to collect in FL?

Maybe they only want to extend that courtesy to those more sure of visiting regularly. Otherwise I could see someone in another state getting the AP on the payment plan because it's cheaper, then not able to get back and deciding to stop paying (by closing the bank account or CC).

This, I think.

 

[snoopy two]

I asked about this, as well as the black out option on the passes offered to FL residents, while I was down at WDW last month. I really wasn’t given a good reason for either. As far as the payment plan goes, she said they would have to have “contracts” with every state. My thought was if QVC can do it, Disney should be able to. She had no answer to why out of state residents weren’t offered the option to purchase passes with the black out dates. She recommended I write customer service. I did that when I returned home. No answer from them, either, but rest assured that my comments were sent on to the appropriate decision makers.

 

[msjprincess]

I wish this was an option. I pay my DVC dues monthly it would be nice if I could pay for annual passes monthly. Even Six Flags lets out of state guests pay monthly for passes.

 

[Zbornak]

No answer from them, either, but rest assured that my comments were sent on to the appropriate decision makers.

I think I'll follow your lead and write to Disney as well. As others have said, we can do our monthly payment plan through savings. But, I dunno, just wish out-of-staters had the option to participate. Especially with WDW having such a magnetic draw and huge fan base. Seems like they'd do more to draw regular visitors down more. I get that businesses offer perks to residents. But Disney has international appeal. Can't say that for my local art museum, for example.

 

[PigletsPal2]

As a FL resident, I really appreciate the payment plan. We just renewed our passes, upgrading from an Epcot After 4 pass to the pass limited to weekdays; it only costs $10 more per year for each of us. That's not a typo, it really is only $10 a year more. With the upgraded pass, we can go to any park, any weekday, with two two-week blackouts (the Christmas/New Year season and at Easter/Spring Break) in addition to the Saturday/Sunday blackouts. We can also park-hop, and parking is free. We get the dining and shopping discounts too. We're not stressed by the weekend and holiday blackouts because we're retired and wouldn't go on a weekend anyway, and the special events (Flower and Garden, Food and Wine, and Candlelight Processional) fit in with our dates.

I wouldn't begrudge other state residents a payment plan; I'm just glad we have one.

BTW, we lived here in 1973, and annual passes cost $100 for adults and $50 for kids. I don't think they were offered to the general public, because I think they still used A-E tickets. I think we got them because we were part of a specialized demographic, but I couldn't tell you who the demographic covered (It was a long time ago and I'm old!). Every time my older DD had a day off school, we'd park her baby sister with Grandma and head for the Magic Kingdom!

Queen Colleen