Would You Still Own DVC if APs were No Longer an Option

[AnnaS]

Interesting question.

For many years after buying DVC, we did not have APs. We were (still are/but empty nesters now) a family of five and always purchased 10 day park hoppers/non-expiry. Sometimes with the added "plus" for water parks. We got two - three trips out of them and sometimes had a water park day left. These were the best I felt for us at the time. I miss these tickets.

The past 5-8 years - can't remember, DH and I have purchased APs. They have worked for us since we get 2-3 trips out of them. It kind of forces us to keep going back since we have an AP. We will keep renewing as long as they let us. If Disney also stops renewal, we will buy a few base day tickets. For us, it's not worth all the $$$ anymore sine we spend less and less time in the parks.

I really can't say for now what we could/might eventually do. Time will tell. We still love Disney, being in bubble, going with friends/kids/grandchildren, etc. but in the end - there are a ton of places to see in the world. Will decide where we spend our $$ -

 

[a742246]

We go twice a year, once in March and once in November, each time for 2 weeks. If the AP does not come back we will only go in March for 3 weeks and sell some points to buy another type of timeshare for the November trip. We would buy one 10 day pass for March. We will also enjoy our non theme park days.

Note in the last 45 days:
We already sold one contract and bought a beautiful beach front timeshare on the Tampa Bay coast (Redington Beach).

 

[WDWLODGE]

For us the AP discount was one of the bigger draws for us to purchase DVC. Our typical travel pattern was to buy an AP and use it for 2 10+ day trips within 12 months. This was a nice way for our single income family to be able to fit annual WDW trips into our budget. This would definitely have us leaning towards selling. Not just for budgetary reasons but the "Magic" has been decreasing for us.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

The annual pass is key to our happiness at WDW. We go several times a year, and we like being able to pop into a park for a meal or just to ride one ride sometimes. I won't be buying regular tickets for that. So not sure what we will do if APs go away, but I'm guessing we'd sell a lot of our points.

 

[Shellyred8]

We would keep our ownership, but our stays would look very different (resort only-stays and visiting other Orlando attractions) and we would be more likely to let friends and family use some of our points. If Disney thinks I don't spend enough with them now, wait until they take away more of our perks. I'll use my ownership for exactly what they guaranteed me: a place to stay. I'll take the rest of my vacation dollars and spend them at other Orlando attractions.

This just annoys me to no end.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

I think we probably would sell. Part of our empty nest plan in a few years is to go several times a year to hit all the festivals in Epcot. Having to buy tickets each time would not be something I would want to do. The lack of AP’s was one piece of the pie that led us to rent out our points for this year. I’m hoping they come back by October for our fall break trip.

I can see Disney not bring AP’s back for the general public. I feel they need to have them available for DVC members and for Florida residents.

 

[hhisc16]

What is the current excuse for WDW not selling APs?
I cannot remember the original excuse months ago!

 

[Chilbert]

We were originally planning on getting Annual Passes for our trip last December, then they stopped selling them. We have 2 trips planned this year (October and December) and are not planning any park days (we might do the Halloween Party with my 4 year old Grandson). We will likely be going up to Universal (considering APs there) and Sea World. I have to admit, I am looking forward to these trips more than I have the last couple of Disney trips. For me, the magic just isn't there like it used to be.

 

[gregskellington]

What is the current excuse for WDW not selling APs?
I cannot remember the original excuse months ago!

Probably that it's a random Thursday in February and wait times are more like spring break. The parks are packed to the brim.

 

[SLThomas318]

How long did they even sell passes for when they resumed sales?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We would definitely reduce the number of times a year we go to WDW if we didn’t have annual passes. We would stay longer, and definitely not waste a day‘s admission just to eat in a park. We would be DVC members with fewer points.

 

[Howy]

We are recent DVC owners and had to delay our trip due to International travel restrictions. My thought was after buying DVC that we would buy annual passes. We were scheduling a trip and planned on buying them, and they got rid of them one week prior to us booking them. Needless to say we were upset. So will we still go? Yes, but we have already decided that we will go to the park less and that means they won't get the regular money that we normally spend.
The AP would have had us going to the park every day, even part days, and the more you're there, the more you spend. This kept us in the Disney bubble and it made us want to do everything Disney. Without AP and fast passes, there isn't enough reason to be in the parks as much. Also If they switch to a cheaper carnival type entrance ticket and then you have to buy tickets for the rides, I'll probably stop going altogether. This just cheapens the whole experience. (There's nothing wrong with a local carnival, but you still know it's a carnival.)

Universal is getting a lot more love lately, maybe I'll be trying that as well. I do really like the idea of staying at their equivalent Deluxe Hotel and getting free Xpress passes. Disney may want to watch out with prices etc., some of the younger generation just doesn't have enough reason to visit Disney anymore. I know a few young adults that say it was a one and done for them.

So, for our next trip we have decided to only spend a few days at the park and we are going to eat off site instead. There are so many great restaurants in the area offsite that are much cheaper with better quality food. Ask the locals, the majority of them don't dine at Disney. That's one thing I've always paid attention to wherever I travel in the world. Where do the locals eat?

 

[Sandisw]

It’s the lack of communication that is annoying, we don’t know when AP will start, when borrowing restrictions will end, when VGF will go on sale, when park reservations will stop, how they mess up point charts etc.....

Well, some of those are not DVC and DPEP does not seem to be in any rush to reinstate, even for FL residents.

Based on crowds this week…except for rainy Tuesday…they probably don’t need to rush.

I believe they have announced park reservations will be in place at least 2 more years.

 

[Leight19]

I voted yes to selling without annual pass but some nuance for me. We have two contracts which are enough points for us to travel multiple times a year. We were planning to add more points at grand Floridian for gfv2 but no longer. With the concerns about Disney lately and risk of not being able use my points if annual passes go away we decided wont buy anymore dvc but haven’t decided to sell (yet).

With thoughts of not doing more dvc and switching to more general Orlando vacations instead of WDW family decided to put the money into buying condo. This somewhat pushes us to sell dvc now that we have condo but we still like staying on property. Comically, now that we own condo there appears to be chance we can get pixie pass for me and family so that resets some interest in not selling dvc if we can get it.

 

[CarolynFH]

Well, we just renewed our APs because we plan at least two trips to Orlando within the AP year. However, especially with borrowing restrictions, only one trip will be DVC, the other will use another TS we own, and it would be fairly easy to use up our DVC points without spending enough days in the parks to merit APs. Getting older, it's more about the change of scenery and relaxing at the resort, taking advantage of onsite and offsite restaurants, than it is about park days.

 

[clm10308]

We have owned DVC for almost 15 yrs. We have never had AP’s, so we will just keep doing what we have always done

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I said I don't know.... and TBH I don't. I SUSPECT that I would not sell, but my vacations would look different. Rather than 2 trips, I would take 1 and instead do 1BR. Maybe do more resort days.

But to be honest with you, that MIGHT be a tipping point for me WF. I stress MIGHT.

 

[DeeBee3]

I wish they were selling APs because this year I would actually buy. Normally we go once a year so it's not an issue. I would like them being offered so I could at least have the option, but it's not making me reconsider DVC,

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

For the most part I don't care about having an AP, we usually go once a year so it's not necessary. I'd much rather have discounted tickets, like the buy 4 get 2 free they offered last year. We LOVED that deal and I'm certain it made Disney money as we spent two extra days in the park eating and shopping.

 

[DougEMG]

Without an annual pass I'm not spending 3-4 weeks a year at WDW, and if I'm not spending that much time in WDW I certainly don't need all my DVC points. So no annual pass means I will sell some/all of my DVC points and probably just give up on WDW and stay at Universal instead.