News Annual Passholder dining discount drops to 10% for 2018

[lostpro9het]

Does anyone know if the new feature that automatically applies AP discounts when you pay with your Magic band is working? I love that idea

It does not...BUT when we were at Sanaa last week our server noticed our AP slider on our bands and he ended up giving us the discount without asking to see our card. Its sad how little functionality they really have with the bands and the back end DBs.

 

[Bob Harlem]

This move? We had APs for about 15 years straight starting in 1998 and I have never felt any more than a "We will call you when we need you" level of value.

You think its bad now... just wait until passes start getting into the opening window for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. They are starting to ramp it down now so it won't seem as drastic -- and make no mistake, it will be drastic.

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

Does anyone know if the new feature that automatically applies AP discounts when you pay with your Magic band is working? I love that idea

Don't you have to be a resort guest to pay with your Magic Band?
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/passholders/non-guest-magic-band-usage/

 

[disneygeek90]

Don't you have to be a resort guest to pay with your Magic Band?
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/passholders/non-guest-magic-band-usage/

Yes.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It does not...BUT when we were at Sanaa last week our server noticed our AP slider on our bands and he ended up giving us the discount without asking to see our card. Its sad how little functionality they really have with the bands and the back end DBs.

Sad indeed. It was a $1 billion dollar server/wifi upgrade disguised as "guest service"...still necessary though...

And now you can book figment 2 months in advance

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Don't you have to be a resort guest to pay with your Magic Band?
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/passholders/non-guest-magic-band-usage/

Since the credit data is not stored on the band...it has to be linked to a folio (hotel account in laymans terms) for them ever to be able to get the money...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You think its bad now... just wait until passes start getting into the opening window for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. They are starting to ramp it down now so it won't seem as drastic -- and make no mistake, it will be drastic.

The worm has turned on that for me...a couple of years ago I was planning on centering pass usage around that (the value is not there...so I've reduced annual passes to "biannual" passes now)...

...now I think I'm going to avoid 2019...maybe 2020...we'll see.

I defended Disney's ownership of Star Wars for 3-4 years and gave them credit for how they handled it (that's high praise for me)...but that has run out. They don't seem to have any clue what Star Wars really is now...

I'm more stoked for the Epcot additions as it stands

 

[HauntedPirate]

You think its bad now... just wait until passes start getting into the opening window for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. They are starting to ramp it down now so it won't seem as drastic -- and make no mistake, it will be drastic.

"Due to an overwhelming amount of guest feedback, we've made the following enhancements to Annual Passholder benefits starting in 2019:
- No advance FastPass reservations
- Blackout dates for Disney's Hollywood Studios at all levels of Annual Passes that include the first 6 months of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge being open
- No dining discount of any kind"

 

[Cake]

Yes

No. Magic bands can be used to make purchases even when not staying on property. I do it all the time. Just need to add a credit card to your Disney account, add a pin for magic band purchases, and voila your money is flying out of your bank account

 

[Cake]

And while I’m sad the 20% discount is over, I enjoyed it while it lasted. Curious if the 20% discount on merchandise purchased on property is going away, too.

 

[jaxonp]

And while I’m sad the 20% discount is over, I enjoyed it while it lasted. Curious if the 20% discount on merchandise purchased on property is going away, too.

It seems silly to get rid of the 20% discounts on food and/or merchandise. I know many, including myself, have purchased way more merchandise because of the discount.

 

[Bob Harlem]

"Due to an overwhelming amount of guest feedback, we've made the following enhancements to Annual Passholder benefits starting in 2019:
- No advance FastPass reservations
- Blackout dates for Disney's Hollywood Studios at all levels of Annual Passes that include the first 6 months of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge being open
- No dining discount of any kind"

You are probably closer to being right than you realize. Not all levels of pass, but price will go up (particularly for the passes that don't block out Hollywood Studios), benefits lowered, and blackout dates will expand. It may involve a fast-pass style ticketing system similar to avatar previews (And Harry Potter when it first opened) just to get into the land even then (at least for the first few months and around Christmas). They may introduce a paid-for variant of that even, but doing it in a very roundabout way.

 

[NearTheEars]

Meanwhile as a SeaWorld passholder I get discounts on everything from food, alcohol, merchandise, special pricing for reserved show seating, even actual passholder previews for their holiday shows. We used to have a private lounge with free soda (since closed during new ride construction). I believe I was even able to attend Christmastowne at Busch Gardens Tampa for free one day last week. On top of that we get monthly 'gifts', they're pretty low key but still nice nonetheless, no block out dates etc....all while paying the same monthly price I paid when I initially bought the pass.

We got SeaWorld APs last year to give us something to do while our WDW silver pass was blacked out in the summer and major holidays. We came away very impressed. From the lounge to the monthly gifts, periodic free admission for a friend, discounts and the fantastic Christmas shows and Electric Ocean it was definitely worth it.

We aren't going to renew this year as I think we need a bit of a break. I feel like I can only see the Shamu and sea lion and otter shows so many times. But we will likely return at least for Christmas next year.

it was nice to actually feel like you were wanted somewhere as a local.

 

[trampdog]

It’s not hard at all to surpass that mark. We have been doing TiW for the past 10 years and will continue to get it. It’s still a bargain to us. Granted, we are 2 people from Pennsylvania that probably average 35-40 days in Disney each year and enjoy the occasional adult beverage with our meal. With the 20% discount on all alcohol makes it a no brainer. Most people forget the discount is also off alcohol. We are not big drinkers at all but when you can get that discount for food and beverage it’s a win-win for us. We figure we usually pay for the card the first week to 10 days we are in Disney so the next month or so we are their totally benefits us. I’m guessing for a week or 10 day stay a year would be close for some but a party of four? It will work.

I get the TiW card every year. It's an awesome bargain for me. I am at the park at least 3 or 4 weeks a year, lately more like 6. I bring my staff to a meeting there every year and because of the discount, work pays for the card. Think of the discount on 10 people at CA grill. Card paid in one meal!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

"Due to an overwhelming amount of guest feedback, we've made the following enhancements to Annual Passholder benefits starting in 2019:
- No advance FastPass reservations
- Blackout dates for Disney's Hollywood Studios at all levels of Annual Passes that include the first 6 months of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge being open
- No dining discount of any kind"

Sad...but...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No. Magic bands can be used to make purchases even when not staying on property. I do it all the time. Just need to add a credit card to your Disney account, add a pin for magic band purchases, and voila your money is flying out of your bank account

Really? I didn't realize they had that capability yet...but I guess that makes sense...

 

[Nubs70]

It seems silly to get rid of the 20% discounts on food and/or merchandise. I know many, including myself, have purchased way more merchandise because of the discount.

Actually, your scenario is really bad for someone whose metrics are based on margin.

It appears evaluation metrics have changed from top line sales to margin.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Actually, your scenario is really bad for someone whose metrics are based on margin.

It appears evaluation metrics have changed from top line sales to margin.

There is absolutely no doubt...they have desired "more for less" for some time...and the fact that there was ZERO backlash from consumers during the housing crash as they raised prices only encouraged it...

It's really a sad state if you're a longtime parks fan.

 

[disneygeek90]

No. Magic bands can be used to make purchases even when not staying on property. I do it all the time. Just need to add a credit card to your Disney account, add a pin for magic band purchases, and voila your money is flying out of your bank account

Huh? That's not accurate. While you can purchase food from the mobile order locations via the app now, with your credit card info, I don't think there's a way to link a magicband for any purchases across the World.

I just checked on the app where you would add a payment method and it says right on there "If you're staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can charge select meals and purchases to your room using a Magicband." It also mentions the pin number. Myself, as a local AP, have never been able to purchase with a band alone.

 

[larryz]

We got SeaWorld APs last year to give us something to do while our WDW silver pass was blacked out in the summer and major holidays. We came away very impressed. From the lounge to the monthly gifts, periodic free admission for a friend, discounts and the fantastic Christmas shows and Electric Ocean it was definitely worth it.

We aren't going to renew this year as I think we need a bit of a break. I feel like I can only see the Shamu and sea lion and otter shows so many times. But we will likely return at least for Christmas next year.

it was nice to actually feel like you were wanted somewhere as a local.

For only double the money, you can get their Platinum pass, and then have access to all 11 SeaWorld properties with parking, discounts, and other passholder benefits. Right now, they're doing a buy 12, get 3 free (get 15 months for a 12-month pass fee).