Why we're not renewing our Disney Annual passes

[palmtreegirl]

They're just too darn expensive. The price is bad enough but not offering a flex pay feature like Universal(or even Cypress gardens) does seals the decision for us, we simply can't afford to pay 1256.70 upfront. Oh well.

We will however be renewing our Universal passses because of the flex pay feature. Thank you Universal!

 

[Metro West]

They're just too darn expensive. The price is bad enough but not offering a flex pay feature like Universal(or even Cypress gardens) does seals the decision for us, we simply can't afford to pay 1256.70 upfront. Oh well.

We will however be renewing our Universal passses because of the flex pay feature. Thank you Universal!

I hear ya! I still can't imagine why Disney won't do this. It would open up the parks to so many more locals who can't afford it now. Plus, Disney will NEVER offer the park discounts Universal offers. I guess Disney is all about the $$$.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

when comparing the prices, remember Universal is 2 parks, Disney is 4..
by the way, did you hear that Cypress Gds is filing for Chapter 11?
It would be great to have the flex pay, but even with the flex pay, you don't get it on renewals do you? I have been renewing for years & never got flex pay on it????.... only first time paying.
Actually this year, I didn't renew. I let it expire, cheaper to to the buy one year get one free thru Beals dept store code..

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

We're downgrading to the Florida Resident Seasonal Pass, have you thought of that?

 

[rcraw45425]

Well, all I have to say is that Universal is making itself look better and better to this family of four. Add their new ticket promo to the fact that we can bring our four legged baby with us and I sense a new "home" for the Crawford family in Orlando! Our Disney AP's will all expire in November and I truly can't see $1600 for four.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I don't know if this would work for you, but what we do sort of feels like a flex-pay.

Say we visit WDW in May of 2005. We have no passes in hand. We buy the Florida Play Three passes for $120 (wish they were still $99!). After our three days are up, we then have 90 days to upgrade to a FL resident seasonal pass and make up the difference once we're back home. Last year, it was an additional $80 or so, but I see FL seasonal passes have gone up a little. Then our passes are good until May of the following year.

Come May the next year. Don't renew unless you're headed there at that time, anyway. Say, for instance, your next trip won't be until September when the crowds are gone. Just do the Play Three again and renew in a month or two after you're back home and have some $$$ replinished in your bank account. Then, too, your next expiration date isn't in May like it would have been had you just renewed; it's now in September.

This has worked for us for several years now

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

As for the usual apples and oranges comparisons, IMO Universal wears thin MUCH faster than Disney (it's 2 parks vs. 4 + 2 water parks). So yes, it's less expensive but it should be. How much time are you planning in the Parks becomes a very important question.

This isn't meant as a slam against Universal and I'm not saying that Universal is inferior to Disney but comparing them side by side, dollar for dollar isn't a fair comparison.

As a short term vacation destination the Universal Hotels CERTAINLY match up well with what Disney offers, especially considering the FOTL perk. Not to mention that City Walk is generally considered better than DD.

 

[Amity 3]

we made up our own flex pay system for the parks. we set up a checking account and direct deposit a certain amount from our pay each month. BG/SW debits the account each month, and we have the funds to renew WDW and UO each year with the debit card.

it's sickening that all three of us can renew our UO AP's for the same price as one WDW AP. what's even more disgusting is the lack of benefits WDW offers compared to UO or the AB parks for much less.

 

[flortlebap]

Agreed. You pay more for Disney because they offer more... 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping complex, 500 restaurants to visit, Disney Quest, golf courses etc... Universal have one smallish theme park, one large one, and a bit of shopping with some bars and restaurants scattered in between. It's no wonder they charge less really - there IS less!

 

[Foladar]

I love both parks, and I thought $223 for the seasonal AP was expensive, but its only $100 more than Uni's seasonal AP and we get two more parks. Pretty cool if you ask me, getting mine in Oct :thumbup .. I think hotel wise, though, Disney is (obviously) cheaper. So I think (imo) in the long run (atleast for fla. residents) it evens out. We can go three days for $120 (or the seasonal AP for 223) and get a cheaper hotel onsite for the EMH and transportation. I think Disney is fun, I use to be all Universal but after going for ESPN the Weekend, then 3 days last year .. it was pretty fun and I didn't even do MK. Can't wait for RnR & ToT in a month! (and MIB!!)

PS. Anyone notice the majority of posters in this thread is FL/GA residents? Woohoo!

 

[rcraw45425]

I really wish that GA residents were offered the same type of AP as FL ones. We have gone 2-3 times a year for the past few years. I had been staggering our AP purchase dates but as I mentioned above, it's around $1600 for two adult and two childs passes. Our main benefit has been the resort savings, we stay deluxe and the $100 off of rack was nice, but you can't even count on tha now. The Best Rate program that they implemented last year really ticked me off, we rearely plan a trip 90 days out, this US one is the exception, it's actually a reschedule because my husband was not blocked off for the days in June like he requested.

 

[Amity 3]

Agreed. You pay more for Disney because they offer more... 2 water parks, a shopping complex, 500 restaurants to visit, Disney Quest, golf courses etc...

none of which are included in an average AP. you do get 10% off at World of Disney, which is the same merchandise as every store in the parks.

woohoo.

 

[ADP]

Universal's AP program is incredible. They even have a promotion right now at my local AAA where you can buy an AP and get the second year free. A 2 year AP for $170 is unbelievable. With all the perks you get with the AP it would pay for itself very quickly.

If I lived near Orlando I would be wearing the Universal theme parks out for that price!

 

[damo]

Agreed. You pay more for Disney because they offer more... 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping complex, 500 restaurants to visit, Disney Quest, golf courses etc... Universal have one smallish theme park, one large one, and a bit of shopping with some bars and restaurants scattered in between. It's no wonder they charge less really - there IS less!

To us, Disney has fewer good rides than Universal and you have to visit four different places to ride them. At Universal, the rides are all in one spot and you have to pay less to see them.

 

[ChrisFL]

Agreed. You pay more for Disney because they offer more... 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping complex, 500 restaurants to visit, Disney Quest, golf courses etc... Universal have one smallish theme park, one large one, and a bit of shopping with some bars and restaurants scattered in between. It's no wonder they charge less really - there IS less!

Which theme park is "smallish"? IOA and Universal both have more big attractions than AK or MGM by far

They have 1 water park, Wet'n'Wild. As for CityWalk, you know it has night clubs that are actually OPEN right now, unlike P.I.

 

[Amity 3]

Agreed. You pay more for Disney because they offer more... 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping complex, 500 restaurants to visit, Disney Quest, golf courses etc... Universal have one smallish theme park, one large one, and a bit of shopping with some bars and restaurants scattered in between. It's no wonder they charge less really - there IS less!

your take on Universal in the Disney boards is noted:

On all of our trips we have found the Universal staff to be MUCH worse than the CM's at Disney. Some were uncourteous, some were downright rude, many were unprofessional. And I never noticed a single instance of them "going the extra mile" like the Disney CM's.

why would anyone with such horrible experiences continue to got to UO?

you've lost your credibility.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

your take on Universal in the Disney boards is noted:



why would anyone with such horrible experiences continue to got to UO?

you've lost your credibility.

You are the weakest link...Goodbye!

 

[robvia]

Agree with Damo. Each Disney park has 2-3 thrill rides I want to go on. That means visiting 4 parks. Disney loves this because it makes the people stay for a week.

I have a Universal AP, Busch AP, and a Six Flags AP because their prices are good.

I recently visited AK and bought a $60 ticket at the gate. It was a fun visit riding Everest, but I have no desire to go back to the other parks, even though I'll be back in October for HHN.

 

[FayeW]

WHY, OH WHY, does every post about Universal result in a pissing contest between Universal theme parks and WDW????

The OP said they aren't renewing their Disney AP's because without the flex pay feature that is offered by other parks, IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY ALL AT ONCE! That's IT!

This has nothing to do with whether or not WDW is justified in charging higher prices, or which parks offer more / better rides or attractions. If is about spending $1200+ in one fell swoop instead of spreading it out.

Flex pay option is a nice feature. Disney should do it. There.

 

[Amity 3]

WHY, OH WHY, does every post about Universal result in a pissing contest between Universal theme parks and WDW????

they started it.