Campaign to continue package benefits

[longfamily]

As most of you know, Disney will begin a new program next year to allow guest to customize their tickets. This program will allow the majority of guests to save money if they choose to stay more days. However, by implementing this program, other programs will be discontinued.

With the current "Add-ons" a guest is still able to "customize" their trip. The silver allows for flex features that will become unavailable once the new program begins. The current gold add-on is the equivelent to the new Premium ticket. But, it will be less 25 restuarants and the Platinum add-on will go away completely. Also, with the add-ons a guest would recieve the ultimate park hopper which allowed the guest to go to any park including the water parks, pleasure island, and disney quest any time they chose to do so. With the new version you will only be allowed to visit these other attractions a certain number of times (7 visits on a 10 day trip). Many of you have purchased and enjoyed these add-ons and the extras that are included with them. Once the new program begins you will be required to pay more for these extras and this will get very expensive if you choose to still participate when you have to pay for things individually.

The new program will benefit many people, however, many people will be shattered that options have been discontinued. There is a way that the new program and a version of the old programs can co-exist to make everyone happy. Some of us would like to start a campaign with Disney to continue the packages with additional features and the all-inclusive plans.
Many of you have never used any of these packages but alot of the people that you know from this site do.

Please write to Disney to ask them to keep these packages.

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10, 400
Lake Buena Vista, FL. 32830

Thank you for your time!

 

[Lynx04]

Question, are annual passes affected by the new ticket system?

 

[jesserin]

not that I've heard - in fact you can still add on the meal plans for your individual trips as it will be part of the hotel package and not ticket package anymore... or at least this is how it was explained to me It seems as if this new plan will be of great benefit to annual passholders... but not so much to those purchasing the old packages... i'm kind of on the fence with this one - i knew very few people that actually booked the platinum plan - most people use the silver plan but thought that it was kind of a waste of money as they felt like they were constantly eating just to use up their wishes - the new plan seems much more feasible to the average Joe to me.

 

[longfamily]

the silver package had more features to it than just the meal choice. If you had purchased the Silver, you would have been able to choose 2 flex features a day. This would have included meals, cirque du soliel, special merchandise, and spa treatments. Under the new system, there will be no more special merchandise (it was actually really nice stuff), no cirque du soliel unless you upgrade to the premium, and no spa treatment.
Now granted, if this package was only purchased to take advantage of the meal feature, you are right that the package could be considered a waste. But take into consideration that the person who purchased the Silver also was able to go to both water parks, disney quest, and pleasure island as many times as they wanted without restriction (restrictions are in new plan), they could park hop as often as they wanted without needing to purchase an upgrade. All for $70 extra per adult per night (with flex features). The new program cost an additional $80 per adult for the combination of the two tickets that will allow you to park hop the major 4 parks and to utilize the water parks, disney quest, and pleasure island. And in the new program, if you choose to use the ticket for the water parks, ect. you may only use them a limited of times based on your length of stay (7 times for 10 days). Now some might say that's no big deal, but many people use one of these a day during their stay. This above prices do not include the Meal feature which is an additional $35 a night. Mathmatically speaking, just to get the sme advantages of the silver plan (without the extra flex features) it will cost $115 per adult extra!

The family who visits for a short amount of time and does not have the time to spend doing the activities available through the packages will benefit greatly from the new program. However the families who need/opt for certain features will lose out greatly.

 

[Computer Magic]

Average Joe here that used the Silver package and don’t find the new package feasible.

Longfamily did a wonderful job in explaining the issues. There are more to the Silver package then just meals.

Everyone that used a Dream Maker package will lose the following:

1. Specially Created Disney Merchandise
2. 25 less participating counter-service or table-service restaurants throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Quick glance looks like most places removed are from Downtown Disney. That means no Fulton, Rain Forest Cafe, Bongos, Planet Hollywood, Houe of Blues, Wolfgand Puck and Portobello Yact Club to name a few. I hope it just not on the list but will be allowed to use.
3. Lose extras (flexibility) many enjoyed on vacation.

I don’t think people that used the Dream Maker package to the fullest will save money on their vacation, the new package yes. There will be more out of pocket spent at the parks for the extras they enjoyed from the package.

People that never used the Dream Maker package may like the new package.

I will be contacting Guest Communications and let them know they need to offer a more customized plan and give us all the restaurants of the Dream Maker package.

If other feel this way, please contact Guest Communications. There is strength in numbers. Even if your are on the fence, let them know.

Thanks LongFamily for this thread

 

[phichi17]

Not to get off thread, but where did you find the dining info at for the new package?

 

[Computer Magic]

Not to get off thread, but where did you find the dining info at for the new package?

I wouldn't say your off topic. Here is the link to the new packages.

http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html#2005

 

[longfamily]

Thank you Computer Magic

I hope that everyone will help if they can. I would really hate to lose benefits. On a positive note, the Dream maker packages (silver, gold, platinum) are still in effect for 2005. Perhaps the "Magic Your Way" tickets are being offered at the same time to test which package/ticket types that guest would rather have before discontinuing the Dream Makers all together. One can wish..

 

[Computer Magic]

Thank you Computer Magic

I hope that everyone will help if they can. I would really hate to lose benefits. On a positive note, the Dream maker packages (silver, gold, platinum) are still in effect for 2005. Perhaps the "Magic Your Way" tickets are being offered at the same time to test which package/ticket types that guest would rather have before discontinuing the Dream Makers all together. One can wish..

That's a good note. How did you confirm Dream maker packages are still good for 2005?

I emailed my letter on Monday Dec 7th.

Do you have to purchase the package in 2004? I think it's time to bring in our own Kingdom Konsultants to look into this for me

 

[Been_There]

I picked up the 2005 travel booklet in November and it had nothing but the Dream Maker packages in it. Also, if you go to the Disney site, it is still advertising/offering the Dream Makers for 2005. They have advertised on that site that the Magic Your Way tickets will be available for January 2, but they have the 2005 Dream Makers right next to it and a comparison of the silver, gold, & Platinum with slight changes from the 2004 versions.

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

The new packages will overtake the Dream maker packages. Disney is suggesting that clients book a room only and then add on the new options. The only package that will totally phase out will be the prince princess add on.

Pam

 

[KevinPage]

As an AP holder I'm glad that I don't even have to attempt to comprehend these changes.

Did Disney ressurect Albert Einstein to come up with these ticket equations?

E = Magic Your way - park hopping + meal, which is the sum of a week long Silver, blah, blah, blah.

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

It is confusing, but not brain surgery. I will be able to help anyone with any questions on it. I cannot however price it out on the travel agents site until they upgrade thier system. I have to call all pricing inquiries in.

Pam

 

[longfamily]

I have seen how the current silver and gold plans can be accomplished with the new Magic Your Way program. I have yet to see anything that indicates that there will be anything available to compare to the current Platinum plan. Have you seen anything like this?

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

The new premium package will be the one most like the platinum plan.

It includes B,L,D, recreation, Cirque, tours, etc.

Pam