Will the Annual Pass discount continue into 2006?

[tjkraz]

Just curious to hear what everyone thinks. 100% speculative, of course. Feel free to share your reasoning if you wish.

 

[SamSam]

I think it will continue at least 1 more year. My reasoning is that if they didn't continue it at all, people would be very upset. Although IMHO this was a PR move, I think that ending too quickly would almost be insulting and counteract any good PR from the original discount.

 

[tomerin]

i sure hope so. although we may not fit in the extra trip we thought we would be able to do this year we still saved a bit of money with the AP. if they offer the discount every year we will buy every year

 

[MarylandPirate]

I think that it's in their best interest to continue the AP discount. Technically we're Florida property owners Now that I'm a DVC owner and I'm going more frequently to Disney, this will keep me in the parks! If I have to drop a $1000.00 every time I come to Disney for Park Hoppers I would probably spend some of my time and money at other Florida attractions. I am very loyal to Disney, I still (much to the distress of my children) haven't visited Universal....

 

[Muushka]

I sure hope so. I didn't renew my US/IOA AP this year because of the discount.

 

[DebbieB]

It took so long for us to get this benefit, I would hate to think they would take it away after 1 year. The only reason I could see them doing that is if it wasn't working as planned. But I'm sure hundreds or thousands of DVC members have taken advantage of it.

 

[WDWLVR]

I sure hope so. I didn't get to use it this year (are passes were renewed in early December) and hope to for our 2006 passes.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think we'll continue to have it. The card that they sent out announcing the discount doesn't seem to have any small print saying "for a limited time."

Bobbi

 

[JimC]

I think they would want to give it a two year test so that they see how AP sales adjust. Also they needed a really good pass program to complement DVC on lodging.

Now with DDE available to any AP holder the combination of DVC, AP, DDE is really quite attractive (lodging, passes, meals).

 

[Laurajean1014]

Economically this makes sense to everyone. Disney gives a discount to DVCer who will use points (may even buy more) for trips because of the AP and DVCers will frequent more in restaurants, hotels, parks, etc. which will clearly make up for the discount.

I think it was a very smart move on DVC or Disney to offer this and I think it's a smart idea for DVCers to continue to buy it.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

I think it's a wonderful perk and it would be wise to continue to offer this benefit indefinitely! Please don't giveth and then taketh away!

 

[lllovell]

Didn't Disney just post a positive quarterly report (maybe a $0.38 cent dividend - or did I just pull that out of dreamland?).

If more people are heading to the parks (and lets face it, its a great selling "bonus" for the guides to mention) then I am sure it will stay. I think as long as the money is coming in on the positive side, it will remain. If things slip again, they will rethink all these new programs. However, one year at WDW hardly seems like long enough to test most theories (since so many people go once a year or less), especially things like the new AOP program and "free dining" (which was to get people in during the hurricane season I am sure), etc.

I am hopeful!

Laura

 

[MinnieGi]

I sure hope so! We were not actually going to buy AP's this past year but b/c of that discount we did and we will renew if the discount is still in place. In fact we have an extra trip in the works b/c of that AP! I'm sure we are not the only ones so I hope the discount stays for awhile.

 

[DVCJEN]

I sure hope it does! I am planning on renewing when ours expire!

 

[trampslady]

Admittedly, this subject gets me a bit nervous as we are debating on taking advantage of the offer in November when we go down, or just use the two vouchers that we got for AP when we added on at SSR. Of course, I would love to keep that $600 or so in my pocket this year. However the uneasy concern I have as to whether this discount will continue so that I can purchase new AP November 2006 with the discount makes me wonder. Not to mention that every new year means a new price increase.

I'm not a math kinda girl, so trying to figure out the advantage makes my head hurt!

 

[JimMIA]

I think it will continue for several reasons:

1. It's been very popular, and it costs them nothing.
2. It has undoubtedly attracted many DVCers to the AP who did not buy one before.
3. Possibly the most important - it makes DVC owners eligible for DDE, which puts seats in seats in their resaturants where their profit margins are high.
4. There would be a lot of disappointment - and probably some backlash - if they cancelled it

...Unless they replace it with something better, of course

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would hope this isn't a "fly by night" kind of perk, and I think the answer to it continuing will be directly related to how many folks use it, and what the bottom line is for Disney. At any rate, I am sure it will be at least a 2 year deal, because they would need that long to really see how folks use it.

 

[JimMIA]

At any rate, I am sure it will be at least a 2 year deal, because they would need that long to really see how folks use it.

Very good point. In our case, for example, we bought an AP for the same trip where we took the tour and decided to buy DVC. It's still in effect, but when it expires, we'll definitely do it again. I'm not sure if the renewal break is enough to make us renew -- we'll probably just wait for the next trip, but that depends on how our trips space out.

Actually, we're Florida residents and the DVC discount is only $25 for us, but I'd like to see it continued for the rest of you fine folks.

 

[CharlesTD]

I voted no but it is really tough to say I don't see them continuing it with all teh changes going on with the AP rates etc and AP bookings but that said I don't think those things factor to highly on the DVC aspect of the discount offered. If it is around next year I don't see it continued much longer after that.

 

[goofy4wdw59]

Yes, I think that the DVC annual pass discount will be around for sometime. IMO, it took long enough to get a good discounted pass. DVC/powers-that-be won't want to upset members by taking it away, and, I don't think they will unless they're really losing money on this perk.
Speculating here--I think the numbers$ (#of members/AP purchases and extra spending, etc.) are probably where they want to see them or better.
Well...we'll see...

(PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT AWAY!)