Why we're not renewing our Disney Annual passes

[Peter Pirate 2]

Well, maybe I started it because I thought that Disney's florida Resident Seasonal Pass might be a better option than no Disney AP at all.

I agree that there is no call for negative comparisons between the two, we are all just guests looking for the best place to spend our $$$. It doesn't really matter if we all agree or not, does it?

 

[FayeW]

Well, maybe I started it because I thought that Disney's florida Resident Seasonal Pass might be a better option than no Disney AP at all.

I agree that there is no call for negative comparisons between the two, we are all just guests looking for the best place to spend our $$$. It doesn't really matter if we all agree or not, does it

Peter Pirate 2, you made an excellent suggestion for the OP, and other Florida residents. If I lived there, I would have AP's to everything!

 

[BikeFan]

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 $$$.

And Universal's not?!? indeed. They're both corporations, in the business of making money. I don't hate either; I've been to both, enjoyed both, and plan on returning to both, so I'm not picking on Universal, but I also don't think they're more 'benevolent' than Disney. Both companies would double their prices overnight if they thought people would actually pay it.

 

[ChrisFL]

Obviously theyre both all about the $$$, yet reading just these boards it's clear that Disney has a captive audience, some of who would never step foot in Universal unless there was pixie dust and hidden mickeys everywhere.

 

[BikeFan]

Obviously theyre both all about the $$$, yet reading just these boards it's clear that Disney has a captive audience, some of who would never step foot in Universal unless there was pixie dust and hidden mickeys everywhere.

True, but that's not Disney's fault. I can't really explain why some people are so loyal to a corporation. Heck, I'm leaving for Disney in a week, so I obviously love WDW, but I'm also plotting future trips to USO, and I don't think Mickey's going to refuse to speak to me if I go to the 'Other Place'. The "Disney or Death!" people, I just don't understand them.

 

[Metro West]

And Universal's not?!? They're both corporations, in the business of making money. I don't hate either; I've been to both, enjoyed both, and plan on returning to both, so I'm not picking on Universal, but I also don't think they're more 'benevolent' than Disney. Both companies would double their prices overnight if they thought people would actually pay it.

I agree with you about doubling their prices and as long as people keep showing up, they will continue to charge more. I was referring to the fact that Disney wants their money for the AP's up front and why they don't offer any type of flex-pay is beyond me. I would think more people could afford to go to Disney if they did that...I'm just guessing here.

 

[bubba's mom]

they started it.

sorry for the interruption....carry on......

 

[DOOM1001]

I have Disney seasonals, Universal annuals and Busch platinum passes.I just renewed Disney's for $207, I renew Universal's for $106 and Busch takes out $12 from my debit card each month.In my opinion I feel the prices are very fair for all three but if I had to pick which one I feel I get the best bargain for the money I would pick the Busch parks.I feel this because with Disney seasonals I have to pay to park,discounts are almost nonexistent and sure I can't get in all year, but hey it's Disney and I gotta have them since I do go very often.

Universal has the cheapest renewals and it makes sense, it's only 2 parks and they have barely done anything at IOA since it opened a good 7 years ago.Also taking out things like Universal Express isn't exactly great for customer service.But Halloween Horror nights is like my all time favorite event and to just be able to get the discount for it makes it worth it to me.Also heir discounts are pretty good when compared to Disney.

The Busch parks fall in the middle pricewise, but with my platinum pass I get into Busch gardens Tampa and Williamsburg, I've gone to the Williamsburg park a couple of times and it's an excellent park.I also get in to The 3 Sea World parks( Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego) only been to Orlando but I'm planning to do San Antonio next year along with Six Flags in San Antonio.The pass also gets me into the 2 waterparks in Tampa and Williamsburg.Adventure Island didn't look that great from the outside before I went, but it surprised me how nice it actually was inside.But to me what makes this the best deal is how they treat their passholders, the platinum gets me in free the first 2 nights of Howl-O -Scream, they have great discounts at certain times of the year for Discovery Cove, they even once sent a free admission for the Makahiki Luau in Sea World for your birthday.Also things like priority platinum seating for shows and ride again priviliges with great discounts and I have to choose the Busch parks as the best offer!!!

 

[WillCAD]

The $99 renewal rate prompted me to renew my Uni AP last year, something I have never done with my WDW APs.

I have had WDW APs twice over the years. I got three trips, and 16-17 park days, out of each, so I certainly got my money's worth, but the higher price made it impractical for me to renew when they expired. I simply let them go, and got a new AP on my next trip.

I do want to get a WDW AP for my next trip, on the assumption that I will want to make at least one more trip on the AP that will make it worthwhile, but the higher upfront price is making that difficult for me. I might wind up having to settle for a MYW pass instead.

I understand why the WDW AP is more than twice the price of a Uni AP; much as I love Uni, and defend it like a madman in the many "pissing contests" on the DIS, I am pragmatic and realistic enough to realize that Uni is only two parks, three resorts, and an entertainment complex, which WDW is physically much larger and offers more. I don't mind the higher upfront cost because I think it's worth it for the larger product.

But what has always disgusted me a little is the pitifully small discount that WDW Passholders get on renewals. New WDW APs are $462.21; renewals are $419.61, a savings of only 10%.

New Uni APs are $179.95; renewals are $99, a savings of a whopping 45%! Add to that the 20% discount on merchandise in the in-park and CityWalk shops (including stuff that's already on sale!), 20% off food at the in-park restaurants and counter service eateries, and even discounts at the Universal outlet stores in Orlando, and the Uni AP becomes a much better bargain to me than the WDW AP.

 

[TDC Nala]

Obviously theyre both all about the $$$, yet reading just these boards it's clear that Disney has a captive audience, some of who would never step foot in Universal unless there was pixie dust and hidden mickeys everywhere.

They're not exactly captive, they just prefer pixie dust and hidden mickeys.

The captive ones are the ones with no rental car because they took the free bus from the airport, who are also tied to Disney restaurants for all their meals because they bought the dining plan, who noticed that the more days you put on your Disney Magic Your Way ticket, the less expensive it gets per day, so they bought more days.

 

[palmtreegirl]

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.

That was exactly my point. If Disney offered the Flex pay feature we'd renew in a heartbeat! We'll definitely end up getting AP's again in the future, it's going to take us awhile to save up the money. We're trying for sometime early next year after the holidays. And when we do we're going to take Peter Pirate 2's advice and get the seasonal pass. Thanks Peter Pirate 2!

 

[Foladar]

I agree with not renewing, I'm getting my seasonal AP in Oct and won't be renewing next Oct until our next trip (why waste a few months for $30 or less) .. Universals $99 renewal though, thus far, has kept me around renewing .. though I haven't gone for the past year. If only we could have the best of both worlds. I prefer Disney's hotel prices (FOTL isnt that big of a deal to me since we go in offseason) and Universal's ticket options.