[Dopey]

Here's an interesting article that I just found today. It's kind of long about AP holders and how valuable they really are

http://jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/...le.php?ID=1577

[llama]

Well....what does one say? We're AP holders - but don't have any of the attitudes the author talked about. We did it for purely economic reasons - it worked out cheaper for us, because we're DVC members. But I don't expect any "special treatment". I don't think I'm taking up too much room in the park (I was on South Beach for two months), and I'm not trying to "out-Disney" anyone. I hope I haven't ruined the enjoyment of a first-timer or a one-park visitor - I can't think of how I could. My touring suggestions to a first-timer are meant to help, I hope. I'd like them to enjoy WDW too. I won't deny I don't enjoy a discount when I can get it - I'd like to be able to say "money's no object" to me, but that's not the case. But who doesn't happily accept a discount - AP'er or not? Pretty negative outlook - I can't figure out whether it's "tongue in cheek" or he's serious.

[jwdj4lfe]

Very interesting article Dopey, thanks for sharing. All though it casts a very dark image on AP holders, to an extent I understand what he means. Being an AP holder myself and having just moved to Orlando, I've gone to Disney World 8 times already and didn't realize I did some of the things in the article until just now. I'm not one of those complainers, but I have begun to pick up on the slighest thing being out of order in the parks. I still love the magic, I just need to appreciate it more!
Joe

[Cavey]

Well, I get to Disney once every two years. I've never seen this problem. What's more, I appreciate our AP holders on DC who share their regular trips. I've never felt any of DC's AP holders were Disney-bashers.

So I really don't get were the author is coming from.

I also am glad for my infrequent trips to WDW. Like Joe implied I think regular access to Disney would ruin the magic.

[mickaholic4077]

I've been to Disney more than 100 times since I got my Annual Pass in 1999 and the magic is still there for me.

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by mickaholic4077

I've been to Disney more than 100 times since I got my Annual Pass in 1999 and the magic is still there for me.

Yes, for you the magic is still there, but Disney thinks that you don't spend enough money there. Just look at MommytoMJ, she goes on Disney day trips every week. They, most likely, bring their own food and drinks. That's what's cutting into the bottom line. I think that is what the author was talking about.
They are not talking about the Llamas of this world who stay and play.

[jodilt]

I also bought APs to save money. I get 2 trips in the time before they expire and it saved me $ over buying MYW tickets for each trip. I would think that there are alot of people who do this, from out of state and we have to spend money to get there! Speaking for myself, I spend a ton of money everytime I go!

[fearless1123]

Originally Posted by jodilt

I also bought APs to save money. I get 2 trips in the time before they expire and it saved me $ over buying MYW tickets for each trip. I would think that there are alot of people who do this, from out of state and we have to spend money to get there! Speaking for myself, I spend a ton of money everytime I go!

This is me and my family also.
I thought this author was a mean-spirited blow-hard and I hope one of our members who is a good writer will write that rebuttal!
(I apologize for name-calling and speaking negatively about someone - it is totally out of character for me. His exaggerated whinning and complaining really got to me.)

[gingita]

Definitely an interesting perspective...but the author is definitely negative. I bought an annual pass for my first trip to Disney World since it worked out to be slightly less of a price with the hotel discount than a regular package. That way I in case I do return within a year, my ticket is already covered.

I don't think I am trying to "out-Disney" anyone. If the opportunity is there for a discount, of course I am going to take it. I am not weasling around for it--Disney presented it and I took it like any human being would do. I don't see anything wrong with having an annual pass. I think the author would be surprised just how much annual passholders do contribute financially at the parks and resorts. I think I actually bought more than I normally would because I justified it with getting a discount.

[Dana]

Imagine if you will, you pay a lot of good money to become a member of a private exclusive club. You expect and get treated well. Your clubs are cleaned. Your name is known by all the employees. Your opinion on changes to the place is sought out. But suddenly, one day, your exclusive domain is shattered. To add a little cash flow to the club's bottom line, they allow in non-members on a pay as you go basis. They want prime tee times. They want their clubs cleaned. They get the same good treatment as you, but don't pay as much as you. Not fair? No, it is not.

Well, in a way, annual passholders are the same problem as those non-members for the Disney theme parks. They purchased their passes because they saw a good deal. With the passes, people who are real Disney fans could get in as much as they wanted and not have to pay so much money.

With the rising price of a one day ticket, having an annual pass makes sense to the real Disney fan. After five or six trips, the pass has more then paid for itself. So, the diehard fan could make repeated visits to the park, some go almost daily, and enjoy the rides and shows and not have to fork over the big bucks. But those same fans are now the problem; they are costing the company money, and actually squeezing some of the fun out of going to the parks.

Yes, I am talking to all of you Disney fanatics; or Disney diehards, Disnoids, or whatever you call yourselves. The Walt Disney Company has had some problems for several years, both economic and personnel. A lot of those problems have been very well publicized. Some of the Disney diehards have been at the forefront of exposing those problems. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the worm, and the diehards have squeaked a lot. But, is all the squeaking good? It is time for an examination of the annual passholders at the parks.

First of all, I understand why so many people want to go to the parks. It is an escape from reality; a chance to explore one's childhood and escape the harsh reality of real life. A lot of the diehards go there an awful lot. There are websites devoted to every minutia of the parks that point out the exact times and locations that characters will show up, to pointing out the paint flaking off the wall two stories up on Main Street. All of this duly reported by the nearly daily visits of these annual passholder diehards.

Well, to those people I say this: Get a life! You are no longer helping Disney, you are hurting it! Why? Because you cost the company more money then you put into its coffers. Not just in real dollars, but in your economic impact.

Annual passholders are not the end all and be all of Disney. But to hear them talk, they are. They are everywhere in the park, choking the fun out of it. I mean pity the poor, full paying, first time or once every few years visitor. They don't have a chance. They can't enjoy the park as there's a passholder in line in front of them and behind them talking about all the bad things at the park. Or, they explain to the infrequent visitor how to efficiently visit the park and not miss a single ride or show. Well, that might be okay, but if you follow their directions, you won't have any time just to discover things, after all you've been told by them what to do, where to look and what to pay attention to. Running around the park like some robot to get through every ride and show is not my cup of tea. I like to visit the park and enjoy the show.

While I admire the way they enjoy the park, sometimes, it seems to me, they ought to step back and see if they still really enjoy it, or are the passholders trying to "out Disney" one another. It's like a dare contest. And try making a change to an existing attraction that might sorely need it and the annual passholders are worse then religious fanatics. One of the reasons the Enchanted Tiki Room is still the same basic boring show is a large cadre of those passholders think it is sacrilegious to change Walt's original Audio-Animatronics show.

And some of those people work inside Disney too. In fact, they cultivate the fanaticism of these Disney diehards. They use it as a base to promote the changes they want, or to prevent the changes they don't want. But the passholders don't care, all for the greater good of what they think Disney parks should be.

Well, the company is waking up to this problem. The dollars the passholders contribute to the bottom line, while steady, has not been a growing number. Looking at it strictly from a business perspective, I agree with the company's new policy of either more restrictions on the annual passes, or a hugely increased price for them. And I mean hugely. More on the order of five or six times the current prices.

The Disney theme parks are not a private club for the sole enjoyment of the annual passholders. The parks are there for all to enjoy. The value the passholders bring to the bottom line might not be worth the cost. They passholders even have their own line at City Hall to handle all their complaints.

Come on people, if you're going to the park to find something to complain about are you really enjoying the park? No, you are trying to compete with each other to out-Disney each other.

From a business perspective, I would rather have a couple of thousand vacationers paying full price then 5000 passholders any day. The company makes a lot more money off the former. As a shareholder and future pensioner I want Disney to remain a viable economic concern; a growing economic concern. The annual passholders do not add to that growth. They provide some dollars, but not near what they used to versus what they cost.

Bottom line, Disney is a public corporation. It offers a product that a lot of people enjoy. Me, I go to the parks once a year. I still enjoy going to the parks. I like to see changes at the park. No, I don't like all of them, but understand some of them. And just like movies, some of the rides are great and some not so great. But it is not the center of my life. It is a form of entertainment for me and my family.

So, if the passholders want Disneyland to stay in some image they have preconceived in their minds I have a thought: Either purchase the entire company outright and run it as a private club for yourselves, or take a step back and try to enjoy the show.




one word for this article "meow!"

[llama]

Originally Posted by gingita

I think the author would be surprised just how much annual passholders do contribute financially at the parks and resorts.

I think so too. I know I definitely spend my share. And remember - all those "die-hard" Disney fans are the ones that encourage others to go - look how excited we get when a "first-timer" joins DC - how we all look forward to that trip report, hoping they've had a vacation of a lifetime. Nope - don't feel guilty at all for my precious AP.

[Dana]

If the author seen the way I shop while at WDW, he'd eat his words. I have never cheated the system at WDW.. For those that do this article applies.

[jwdj4lfe]

I just finished balancing my checkbook and going over my finances after the 6 weeks I spent in Orlando for Summer term. Turns out, out of the roughly 400 dollars I spent during summer term- $250 were spent at Disney World! Every time I would go to the parks I would by a meal, a cappuccino float from the Sleepy Hollow and an ice cream cone (I just HAVE to have one before I leave the MK)! I'm definitely not cheating the system! lol. So Disney isn't losing any money when it comes to this AP holder. And I still love the Disney magic, I think I just began taking it for granted (something I promised myself I wouldn't do ). I don't know what the author means by "out-disneying", lol . Maybe it's those APers that think they know everything and anything about Disney??
Joe

[mickaholic4077]

With the cost of everything in Disney,I always encourage EVERYONE to bring their own food,drinks,etc. That's the only way I am able to go as often as I do. Also,yes,I don't buy very many souvenirs anymore,so I guess I am a prime example of what the author said. But you know what? I am darn proud of it!!!!!!

[tigger]

I read the article and my thought is...SOUR GRAPES.

It sounds like the guy only gets to go once a year and things the parks are packed because of "cheapskate" AP holders (and he figures his ticket cost are higher because of all the APs too).

I would love to see how Disney figures the cost of the AP...I'm sure they have a pretty good idea on price point. I would also guess that Disney figures that APs will buy a certain amount of food, T-shrits, etc with each visit.

How much does Disney charge for an in park drink? What does it cost them maybe 4 or 5 cents. How about that T-shirt they sell for 17 dollars? Or what is the profit on the mass produced ribs? Dolewhips or Mickey Bars anyone?

I bet that if you could look into the books you would find that Disney makes their park profits off of mark-up on goods and not tickets. I would guess ticket prices are more a throttle on attendance.