News Disney modifies monthly payment structure for Annual Passes

DarrenD

New Member
I know this is a wildly unpopular opinion, and it would never happen but I wish theyd just get rid of APs all together. I know they make soooo much money and getting rid of them would be bad for many reasons lol ( i didnt say this was a good idea) but everytime I go to DL in the last couple years its just soooo packed its not even fun anymore. Just endless crowds packing every nook and cranny, no matter how wonderful and immersive the lands are, they are just too packed for me to feel the "magic" anymore. Maybe Im just getting old or something though...

But if everyone had to pay full price to go to the park it would be so much less busy and a much better experience imo
That's not entirely true. Tokyo got rid of APs with Covid and they're seeing busy crowds at higher levels than ever before, and they're staying the entire day because you can only go to the park on a day-ticket. If you're only buying date based tickets, you're more likely to spend the entire day in the park vs. just going to DCA or Epcot for 2-3 hours after work because you want to get the most value for your money. It'll soften some of the weekdays, but weekends would be a nightmare.

The best thing to help out AP crowds right now is the pause of VQ. Making it so people don't need to be in the park by 1 PM is a great way to make sure people who don't *need* to be in the park, aren't in it sooner than they want to be.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Buy an incredipass for a 10 day trip to Disney, then immediately stop making payments because you’re not going back the rest of the year is why.
I also think Florida…land of wealth and opportunity…probably has a lot of people who end up stop making the payments…so Disney could be keeping 30,50,70% the price for maybe only a couple of days
 

bmr1591

Well-Known Member
Buy an incredipass for a 10 day trip to Disney, then immediately stop making payments because you’re not going back the rest of the year is why.

1. This isn’t exclusive to non-Florida residents. Heck, someone in Tampa could do this very thing.

2. Unless you’re planning two five day trips, a 10 day straight trip is cheaper to purchase tickets for rather than APs.
 

Fido Chuckwagon

Well-Known Member
1. This isn’t exclusive to non-Florida residents. Heck, someone in Tampa could do this very thing.

Sure, they could, but they’re less likely to since they live locally, and Disney figures they want to come back.
2. Unless you’re planning two five day trips, a 10 day straight trip is cheaper to purchase tickets for rather than APs.
What? No. The down payment on an incredipass plus first month is $99 + $129, for a total of $228 + tax. That’s significantly lower than even a 5 day ticket at basically every time of year. If a non-local was giong to be a one and done at Disney, it would be way cheaper to go this route.

Universal’s payment structure is different (I am an AP holder there). They require that you put the cost of half of the pass down, and their multi day tickets aren’t that expensive to begin with compared to Disney.
 

Laketravis

Well-Known Member
1. This isn’t exclusive to non-Florida residents. Heck, someone in Tampa could do this very thing.

2. Unless you’re planning two five day trips, a 10 day straight trip is cheaper to purchase tickets for rather than APs.

The Incredi-pass is $99 down with 12 monthly payments of $130. So yes, you could pay $229 for the first month and then stop making payments.
 

bmr1591

Well-Known Member
I misunderstood, but yes, that makes sense. Again, though, I feel like if an OOS Passholder has shown that they come often and have spent the money on a full pass before, they should have the option.
 

Basil of Baker Street

Well-Known Member
I'm out of state and only do AP's once every 3 years or so. In fact my AP expires this month with no plans to renew. Now if they offered a lower tier AP, I would probably renew every year, even if I was only going down for a couple of long weekends a year. They would at least get some hotel stays and food purchases from me.

Having said that, I have stayed in the campgrounds without passes before. But if the same passes that FL residents can purchase were offered to me, my trips would be more frequent. I don't fully understand Disney's stance of resident vs non resident passes.
 

Laketravis

Well-Known Member
I don't fully understand Disney's stance of resident vs non resident passes.

It makes no sense to me, either. Make it less expensive for locals to flood the parks outside of blackout dates yet make it more expensive for non-locals to make an additional two or three trips a year?

Maybe I'll get a cheap apartment somewhere around Orlando, buy a resident AP for a few bucks a month, become a blogger and go to the parks every day while spending nothing and spreading bad press.
 

Basil of Baker Street

Well-Known Member
Yes,
It makes no sense to me, either. Make it less expensive for locals to flood the parks outside of blackout dates yet make it more expensive for non-locals to make an additional two or three trips a year?

Maybe I'll get a cheap apartment somewhere around Orlando, buy a resident AP for a few bucks a month, become a blogger and go to the parks every day while spending nothing and spreading bad press.
Exactly. Now I have heard/read before that part of the deal with WDW being in Florida involved cheaper passes for residents but that may just be urban legend. But like you said, it just seems backwards to me.
 

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
I am guessing they are doing this to boost AP sales? Why? I thought Disney did not want (low spending) APs in the parks; they want families from Denver to stay for two weeks in a deluxe and buy LLPPs for their entire stay?

Is this desperation?
 

Vegas Disney Fan

Well-Known Member
The locals pass is only good weekdays and on weekends after 2, they’re purely filler to keep the parks busy when fewer tourists are actually in the parks. The restaurants and bars likely don’t make profit without them.

Disney knows they’re “less” profitable than non locals but they still result in profits.
 

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
Exclusive for APers!
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Fido Chuckwagon

Well-Known Member
The locals pass is only good weekdays and on weekends after 2,
This is inaccurate. Pixie Pass is weekdays only. Pirate Pass includes some weekends. None of them include an “only after 2:00” restriction. You are confusing the “you don’t need a park reservation after 2:00 except at MK on the weekend” rule for AP’s with when they can be used.
 

Batman'sParents

Active Member
Not a good sign for Disney. APs in their eyes don't generate as much revenue as someone staying at Pop or Riverside with a four or five day park hopper. Any time they cater to AP's, it always feels like they are starting to struggle financially. That and their promotion for up to 20% off VIP tours in the summer.
 

SoFloMagic

Well-Known Member
I am guessing they are doing this to boost AP sales? Why? I thought Disney did not want (low spending) APs in the parks; they want families from Denver to stay for two weeks in a deluxe and buy LLPPs for their entire stay?

Is this desperation?
APs have reservations still. They can control us. They want us to fill the parks up when there aren't enough of y'all, then they block us out when it's busy.

As for why the payment plans are for FL only, I believe I read it has something to do with Florida law on payment plans and wanting to be sure the agreements can just be for one state instead of having to comply with 50 sets of laws.
 

Tony the Tigger

Well-Known Member
The locals pass is only good weekdays and on weekends after 2, they’re purely filler to keep the parks busy when fewer tourists are actually in the parks. The restaurants and bars likely don’t make profit without them.

Disney knows they’re “less” profitable than non locals but they still result in profits.

Not a good sign for Disney. APs in their eyes don't generate as much revenue as someone staying at Pop or Riverside with a four or five day park hopper. Any time they cater to AP's, it always feels like they are starting to struggle financially. That and their promotion for up to 20% off VIP tours in the summer.

Let’s remember that Florida is large, and many FL pass holders live 3-4 hours away.

The “less profitable” idea may or may not apply to some in the immediate Orlando area. If they are showing up at night regularly to drink at a bar, and not bothering with Ratatouille, that’s profitable.

When we drive up from Fort Lauderdale, we are still staying on property (almost always) and dining, etc.

When we went from 3-4 day passes to AP’s, our total spend never went down. We just had more to spend on extras.

When we started getting significant points from our Chase Disney Visa, our total spend went up, because we’ll eat at Toppolino’s, Jiko, or Cali Grill and rarely bother with QS. We are as or more profitable than the average tourist from another state, and we’ll go more frequently than most. (I said most, you know who you are. 😉)

What did go down was us clogging up queues. We’ve done everything. If something is a walk-on or 10 minute wait, we’ll do it.
 

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