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

[TinkB278]

I bought dvc thinking we would add more points and go multiple times per year. However, making transportation arrangements and thinking about paying for LL has turned me off on going more than once per year. So I would say the AP not coming back would not cause me to sell due to other bad changes being made by Disney. If things were how they used to be prior to 2020 and I couldn’t buy an AP, I would be pretty upset that I couldn’t go multiple times per year without having to pay for tickets each time.

 

[808blessing]

I wonder how not having annual passes is affecting DVC sales now.

Calling on DVD and Ticketing to collaborate for the win. Otherwise...yikes!!

 

[RoseGold]

I'm actually considering the Pixie Dust pass since the weekends have been so crowded lately. DVC Sorcerer pass looks like a pretty good deal still with minimal blackout dates.

Pixie Dust pass would work for my needs. The weekends are so crowded anyway!

It makes no sense to me that there isn't at least some kind of Blue Card ticket. 20 days/year, black out everything good. Pixie Dust. Something!

 

[EM Lawrence]

Hi, just curious if the podcast mentioned, or if you know, at what capacity the (non-DVC) hotels are operating? I'm just curious. I do think you are right that it's going to be awhile before AP's are offered again. The labor shortages aren't going away any time soon. And I think the earnings call made mention that park reservations aren't going away for another couple of years.

The podcast did not mention any specific numbers about hotel capacity. I don't know if Chapek covered that detail in his earnings call or whether it would be information that Disney would keep close to the vest.

 

[808blessing]

I wonder how not having annual passes is affecting DVC sales now.

Calling on DVD and Ticketing to collaborate for the win. Otherwise...yikes!!

I see they collaborated with themselves for Moonlight Magic for the (possible) save.

 

[Song of the South]

I selected "too hard." I'm super irritated but still have a few 4 day tickets that were going to become AP stored. I'll use those for our trip next month and buy the remaining tickets we need. I'm not going to cancel our fall trip yet but I am *not* buying tickets and *will* cancel that trip 30 days out and sell if AP aren't an option. We were set to sell last fall but didn't so I thought we'd go a lot this year. LOL.

One thing I *might* do is sell my 2 contracts and pick up one small VGF contract. I love the VGF one bedrooms for a weekend trip without going to the park. But it also depends the asking price. Going from many point to just a few at the same price point would be *dumb*.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I selected "too hard." I'm super irritated but still have a few 4 day tickets that were going to become AP stored. I'll use those for our trip next month and buy the remaining tickets we need. I'm not going to cancel our fall trip yet but I am *not* buying tickets and *will* cancel that trip 30 days out and sell if AP aren't an option. We were set to sell last fall but didn't so I thought we'd go a lot this year. LOL.

One thing I *might* do is sell my 2 contracts and pick up one small VGF contract. I love the VGF one bedrooms for a weekend trip without going to the park. But it also depends the asking price. Going from many point to just a few at the same price point would be *dumb*.

Interesting choice. That looks just like a 'No' to me, at least in the context of the question. You said straight up you were already prepared to sell and that you would now if you couldn't buy APs. What you *might* do afterwards is another poll.

 

[dcfromva]

We did not purchase DVC so we could get APes. But, we sure have enjoyed the discounts. Our DVC usage has changed over our 20 years of ownership, so APes don't play as big of a role (currently).

Our first purchase was only enough for one visit a year. At that time -the thought of more than one visit was an unimaginable luxury. It was only after we added on (more DVC) that more than one visit a year was possible. The Annual Pass contributed to making it more economically viable for us (might be a chicken and egg situation, though )

As I mentioned above, our DVC usage has changed over the years. We now have more family (son's family of 5) that due to work and school schedules can't get away for more than one visit a year. And, I invite other friends and family at various times. So, it boils down to I am about the only person (using our points) that would benefit from an Annual Pass. I will make the necessary adjustments, but I won't give up my DVC.

Side note: I ponder why they keep adding more DVC projects (instead of more hotel rooms) if DVC members are so detrimental to the bottom line?

 

[bobdacat]

We used to go every other year and get APs and go at least twice for 4-10 days, short trip and long trip or whatever. Not sure now, got points banked and need to use them before the year is up. A little bummed they stopped selling them. Not sure I would sell, but putting up points to rent might be a thing in the future. Although DVC is the only timeshare you can sell and get money out of, if not all your money back. We should be grateful for that i guess.

 

[Vulnox]

I would still own as I bought expecting I may rarely use it. For example this year would be a prime year for it since we just went in Feb and are going again in November, but our trip in November crosses over almost every blackout date for the Sorcerer's pass. I can't buy the pass anyway, but even if I could it wouldn't help us. In the future we may have more chances to use it and make it worth it. I don't suspect we will make a lot of Thanksgiving or Christmas/End of December crossing trips in general.

I think offering it though is pretty much a no-brainer for Disney on retaining and gaining new DVC memberships. They sell DVC as "owning" a piece of the magic, and that magic is in Florida, where Florida residents also get an AP discount, although on a much more restricted pass. The point is you are buying your quasi-Florida residency from Disney, so the idea of a pass for DVC members and it being well priced just goes hand in hand. They can talk about taking away certain perks, but even for those that may not use it much like us, I would have an expectation that buying into DVC and being on property gets me some advantage to park tickets.

 

[Cyberc1978]

I’m in the same boat that if I can get an AP I will go more and once a year without it.

without the AP I would eventually sell off most of my contracts but hang on to my smallest just for staying a few days every 2-3 years.

I do however expect it to return. It’s a great sale incentive for pushing direct sales. Right now they only have a potential saving over Disney rack rates.

 

[DduzDis]

It would have some impact on us, but not sure how much. We have APs now so haven't had to 'feel it'. We bought DVC to have close access to the parks. For us APs are far more economical than park tickets each trip. If we didn't have APs it would be far more planned (less spontaneous short trips) and likely fewer in number requiring less points on the books. If APs were not an option I would have to imagine our travel would adjust in some way. I don't know that we would sell everything, but likely something (if we could even pin down our least favorite contract)... fortunately so far we have not had to.

ETA - This has nothing to do with discounts on APs for DVC members. This would apply if we had no access at all to APs long term....such as today.

 

[mort1331]

We bought in without the APs. after owning for more than 10years, have only had APs for 1 year. So for us not a game changer. We have always looked at it as a time share, with some side perks that change.
Remember when OKW 1st started you were given passes, did those people sell once they could no longer get passes?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

We bought in without the APs. after owning for more than 10years, have only had APs for 1 year. So for us not a game changer. We have always looked at it as a time share, with some side perks that change.
Remember when OKW 1st started you were given passes, did those people sell once they could no longer get passes?

Actually, quite a few did from what I understand. And those were free, but at least there was a purchasable option once it ended.

I guess one of the biggest flaws I see in my poll in hindsight was the fact that I should have clarified that it was intended for those with enough points where APs offered a significant savings related to the number of points they had to 'spend.'

If you have enough points for a studio for 21-28 days a year and those are the type of accommodation you typically use, you have a very different problem from someone that only has, and intends; to stay in a studio one week every year or two. That is in no way a judgement on anyone that possesses a smaller contract. It is simply a statement of fact for those of us that have more points and have them solely in order to be in the parks more days and more often during various times of the year.

 

[RoseGold]

I have an AP until October and this AP question is still a giant elephant in the room for me.

Even if VGF opens ridiculously low, I don’t see how I can buy into this system or hold what I have when there’s no AP option. My plan was always several trips with a chill park plan of maybe just going in the afternoon or whatever.

Without APs, I will be completely out on Disney. I’ll sell and move on. Maybe a one- off trip to swolphin in a few years. The more complicated scenario is if Disney allow legacy passes to renew a year or two (yay!), do I hold DVC? Do I hold onto a product that Disney keeps punching in the face?

 

[sethschroeder]

No AP and I will sell before others wake up.

What's strange is others don't over lap trips by 11 months to be able to get 2 trips out of an AP yet still go once per year. Tickets are just getting too expensive comparing to other vacation options.

I am going to Alaska this summer, 2 balcony rooms, unlimited specialty dining, and its coming out to like $5000 total. Flip side WDW my tickets would be $2600 and for $2400 thats only like 200 points which wouldn't get me 2BR wouldn't even get me a 1BR for the week. Plus I don't have food which would be another $1500-$2000.

Only way to bring down the price is APs.

I am fine with paying more but only if crowds are lower.

 

[BeachClub2014]

What's strange is others don't over lap trips by 11 months to be able to get 2 trips out of an AP yet still go once per year. Tickets are just getting too expensive comparing to other vacation options.

We do this as well. It's the best way to get extra nights out of an annual pass. We would typically go for 10-nights in August, then a shorter stay in October for F&W, then another 10-night trip the following July. It works.

 

[jimim]

My family has never purchased AP’s. If we lived closer to Florida I probably would but being from the northeast and going 2 or 3 times a year doesn’t justify the cost.

how could u go 2-3 times a year and not buy season passes in the past? you have to be getting slaughtered in ticket prices? in the past 11-12 days put you even or close to it.

 

[MonaMN]

No AP and I will sell before others wake up.

What's strange is others don't over lap trips by 11 months to be able to get 2 trips out of an AP yet still go once per year. Tickets are just getting too expensive comparing to other vacation options.

I am going to Alaska this summer, 2 balcony rooms, unlimited specialty dining, and its coming out to like $5000 total. Flip side WDW my tickets would be $2600 and for $2400 thats only like 200 points which wouldn't get me 2BR wouldn't even get me a 1BR for the week. Plus I don't have food which would be another $1500-$2000.

Only way to bring down the price is APs.

I am fine with paying more but only if crowds are lower.

Maybe sometime in the future we could do that, but when you have school aged kids (not pulling a middle or high schooler out of school), there is no flexibility to do that - you're stuck with the schedule you're given.

 

[jimim]

It's not just about the discount, though. For some owners, having any AP is key to being able to use their annual allotment of points and also go into the parks. If Disney stops selling APs, the cost of making multiple trips each year becomes cost prohibitive. Hence the number of posts declaring that owners will divest themselves of some of their contracts.

exactly. it's not difficult math to figure out. I know others said they will do other things elsewhere around Disney or spent time at the hotels and stuff. that's awesome, but for us I would rather go sit ocean front on a beach in a huge comfortable house or hit a lake in a cottage and fish all week for way way less. Florida for us is Disney and the parks without that I have no need to be in Florida. just us though.