AP unfair

[Optimus Mouse]

It's Walt's way of helping with all of the hurricanes and flying insects we have to deal with here in the Sunshine State.

Isn't it enough that you carpet-baggers sent all of your retirees down here? Now you want to move in on our AP payment plans?

 

[mp2bill]

I suspect it has more to do with what is involved with going after deadbeats than anything else. A Florida resident is easier to go after for non-payment than someone in a different jurisdiction.

Universal has the same restriction on their monthly payment plan.

Interesting.

 

[mp2bill]

How about:

Life isn't fair.

Just a thought.

That's unnecessary. :shrug:

 

[Horizons1]

I believe he meant that people in California are allowed to make monthly payments on their Disneyland AP's. I'm pretty sure that's limited to zip codes in southern California, too, not the whole state.

I've always understood it to be for the same reason that others have pointed out...people from outside the local area are thought more likely to skip out after a payment or two, and would be harder to track down if they did.

I know what he meant, I was just funning around.

 

[Master Yoda]

Why is it that Fla. residents are offered a payment plan for annual passes but the other 49 states are not? I know being a resident of Pa. who goes at least once a year would love to share in this. I know it is to get Fla. residents to go in the off season, but really it is always crowed. I think this is totally unfair. The way the economy is people would love to have a payment plan. The tickets are the most expensive thing.:shrug:

Be patient. The program just started and I have no doubt that if it is successful it will be expanded. What most people do not realize is that going to a monthly payment plan for anything is not as simple as flipping a switch. An entirely new department will need to be created and like anything new there will be bugs that need to be worked out. Much better that they work out the bugs on a single state then the entire country.

 

[dreamfinder]

I think it has more to do with them wanting to draw more locals to the parks and they figure by allowing them to pay in increments might allow for that very reason.

Exactly. They get you making a day or weekend trip. And then you discover that if you do the flex pay, it is affordable to have an AP. It can become an impulse buy. And if you use it, then Disney gets you to buy food and what not. But if you don't end up using it, they have your money at that point. If someone from out of state makes a trip, they are much more likely to go for a longer period of time, and not so much an impulse trip. So letting them buy an AP on flex pay doesn't really gain them much. They almost do better by not having people from out of state buying AP's. If they make multiple trips a year, they may end up paying more by buying tickets for each year.

I believe he meant that people in California are allowed to make monthly payments on their Disneyland AP's. I'm pretty sure that's limited to zip codes in southern California, too, not the whole state.

Yeah. They have a listing of local zip codes they let do it. I would assume it is because Cali is huge.

 

[Vince3]

Actually? I think it's because the folks in Florida just don't have the cash up front for an AP

I from Florida & pay for my family's AP.'s upfront,as do many other Fl. AP holders. You must be one of those ignorant Little-10 fans.

 

[tizzo]

I have a different take than most others - I assume they just started the program with FL residents and would be very surprised if they don't eventually roll it out to everyone once any kinks are worked out.

Pure speculation, but I can think of all kinds of reasons why they would have started with FL residents specifically. For one thing, they must certainly sell many more APs to FL residents than to those outside FL. Second, having a payment plan may require them to comply with regulations, such as banking regulations, by which they might not otherwise be bound, since the payment plan likely constitutes a "loan". If this is indeed the case, then every additional state in which you offer the program is another set of regulations with which you have to ensure compliance.

I strongly doubt that there's any favoritism for FL residents involved. Consider that FL residents pay less for the APs, and use them significantly more, and that Disney therefore already provides more value per $ to FL resident passholders than non-residents. If I am typical of the FL resident passholder, we also represent less revenue potential exclusive of admission, in that we don't dine or shop on property as much as out of state visitors.

I understand your frustration, but it's a new program. I'd just give them a little time and see what happens.

 

[puntagordabob]

California and Florida residents have been given extra perks, discounts, and advantages for a very long time now... TDA has recognized this for a good many years now....and now TDO is stepping more and more on board. Why? Because most Non-local visitors tend to travel during specific time periods throughout the year (holidays, summer, etc) leaving many dips in attendance for both the parks and the resorts. By paying more attention to your Local populations you tend to smoothe those dips quite a bit...

Sadly, if you do not like people living close to Disneyland Resort or WDW Resort having special benefits well then thats "too bad"...either MOVE TO Southern CALIFORNIA OR FLORIDA....

 

[mkt]

I suspect it has more to do with what is involved with going after deadbeats than anything else. A Florida resident is easier to go after for non-payment than someone in a different jurisdiction.

Universal has the same restriction on their monthly payment plan.

I find that logic amusing given that Florida is one of the top states for bankruptcies, foreclosures, and credit card defaults.

 

[rsoxguy]

I find that logic amusing given that Florida is one of the top states for bankruptcies, foreclosures, and credit card defaults.

While your statement is oozing with truth, don't forget that we Floridians are so dazed by the loss of blood caused by mosquito bites that we are easy to catch.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I think it has everything to do with some business model they have that says that a significant portion of their business at certain times of the year comes from local residents. In order to encourage more locals to frequent the parks, they offer this as an incentive. If they did not, their local resident return business probably drops, gross proceeds drop, and they lose money. Just good business for the most part. No hate for anyone living on the other side of the state line....

 

[Vince3]

ummm - see the smiley? It's called a joke - no need to soil your depends. And me from Michigan

LOL! Sorry dude,I was supposed to add an exclamation & smiley face as well! Was distracted when I was typing! Good sense of humor!

 

[cheezedoodle20]

OK but why can't they for 1 week out of the year through some perks this way for us out of state lovers of WDW. I am sure they would not lose that much money, they probably get more business this way all year long from out of state people.

 

[Master Yoda]

OK but why can't they for 1 week out of the year through some perks this way for us out of state lovers of WDW. I am sure they would not lose that much money, they probably get more business this way all year long from out of state people.

Only one week? Right now general public discount promotions (room discounts, free dining, etc) run for about 50 weeks a year and as of late the general public rates have come out several weeks before the AP and Fl resident rates.

 

[AEfx]

Universal has the same restriction on their monthly payment plan.

Is that new? I did that one year and I live clear across the country.

 

[DisneyNut7578]

Why is it that Fla. residents are offered a payment plan for annual passes but the other 49 states are not? I know being a resident of Pa. who goes at least once a year would love to share in this. I know it is to get Fla. residents to go in the off season, but really it is always crowed. I think this is totally unfair. The way the economy is people would love to have a payment plan. The tickets are the most expensive thing.:shrug:

Disney will discount certain things based on certain reasons. I think it has alot to do with the fact that the vast majority of APs are sold in Florida. Since most APs are sold in FL, they will offer a way for FL residents to get them easier.

Free dining is another example. I'm an AP holder, so I am not eligible for free dining, but you are since you don't have an AP. Disney knows free dining will appeal to those who come once a year, so they make it so that you have eaiser access to it.

Anyway, when you book a vacation, aren't you putting in on a credit card, which would be the same as having a AP payment plan put X dollars on your card every month?

 

[DisneyNut7578]

Only one week? Right now general public discount promotions (room discounts, free dining, etc) run for about 50 weeks a year and as of late the general public rates have come out several weeks before the AP and Fl resident rates.

Good point. This year the GP rates came out many weeks before AP rates. And the AP rates were not that much better than GP.

Seems like lately many of the perks are reserved for non AP holders (discounts, free dining). Want to see perks? Check out a DL AP. You are treated like royalty.

 

[Master Yoda]

Good point. This year the GP rates came out many weeks before AP rates. And the AP rates were not that much better than GP.

Seems like lately many of the perks are reserved for non AP holders (discounts, free dining). Want to see perks? Check out a DL AP. You are treated like royalty.

Yeah but that means moving to California...no thanks.:lol:

 

[elfshadowreaper]

I live in Georgia and I'm looking to buy an AP during my honeymoon this month and am considering offering to pay 100% of the cost in cash if they'll sell me a Florida AP. I only live an hour away from Florida, but I realize if I'm an hour away from Florida I may as well be 24 hours away because a non-Floridian is a non-Floridian. Does Disney ever honor bargaining? We Americans typically think of bargaining as somehow dishonest or immoral, but for most of the rest of the world it's an everyday thing. To me(with my limited business knowledge) from a business standpoint it'd seem like a win-win for myself and Disney because my proximity to the park would allow me to go more often and spend more money in the parks. Just a thought.