Interesting JHM article

[hcswingfield]

The money I save by being a passholder I more than spend on nicer meals and more T-shirts and souvenirs than I would have bought if I didn't have the annual pass. I probably spend more money at WDW since I bought the pass. Plus I really talk the place up. And I'm not local, unless you consider the 9 hour drive from Birmingham, AL to be "local." (Although I don't even need a map anymore, and could probably drive it with my eyes closed).

 

[wdwishes2005]

(Although I don't even need a map anymore, and could probably drive it with my eyes closed).

please don't......

 

[CoffeeJedi]

We help support ... a young boy with premature balding.

so sad... hopefully li'l Timmy can finally afford that hairpiece this year... i'll never forget when he looked up at me with hope in his eyes and said "don't worry Mishter Jedi. Shoon I'll be lookin' so shwell." as he put his tattered turn of the century street-urchin style hat back on his little shiny head

 

[hcswingfield]

please don't......

:lol: :lol:

 

[nemobruce]

Slappy magoo you put it best "former Imaginer." and JH.

I for one can say I have been going to Disney for 31 years. Most of that without an annual pass. I have stayed at most of Disney’s resorts and used just about all of there services. I recently bought an annual pass about 4 years ago, and if not for that pass most of my trips in the last four years would not have happen. I think that writers depictions of the " AP Holder” is incorrect. I have herd more complaining of the parks condition and how bad the services are from people who don’t have annual passes, and for some unknown reason visit once a year.

Along with most of members on here I spend just as much or more then non AP holders do, I always stay and eat on property. I believe that the AP holders and Florida residents keep the parks semi going during the slow time. Just look around the next time you go during off peek time, most of the license plates are from FL, and yes some of that is from rental. I believe that any change to the AP program will have a big effect. Just my opinion, sorry had to vent that article pist me off

 

[lebeau]

Wow, that was a lousy article. Others have pointed out some of the flaws in logic and in the writing. So I won't rehash. I'm just amazed at how transparent this guy is in his personal grudge against AP-holders (of which I am not). What purpose does all of this serve?

And this guy was an Imagineer? (I suspect he was heavily involved in Dinorama and the Sorceror's Hat )

 

[Hakunamatata]

so sad... hopefully li'l Timmy can finally afford that hairpiece this year... i'll never forget when he looked up at me with hope in his eyes and said "don't worry Mishter Jedi. Shoon I'll be lookin' so shwell." as he put his tattered turn of the century street-urchin style hat back on his little shiny head

You know Timmy too!

I will keep everyone posted about his hair growth.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Wow, mark this down folks.... The first Jim Hill article I agree with, in spirit. However, I do think that this rationale applies better to WDW than to DL. DL relies a lot more on the funds coming from Annual Passholders, therefore it must bend over backwards to placate these "Disney-Philes." At WDW, there is no need to placate the AP's, because there is so much business coming in from other areas. As a result, things that Annual Passholders want to see (like Haunted Mansion Holiday, or taking away Stitch's Great Escape) won't come to pass. That is what I see is the biggest difference between DL and WDW.
Believe me, I know exactly what Jim Hill is talking about, for once. Annual Passholder's have an ego issue, and when they start off every conversation with "I'm an Annual Passholder, and I don't like Stitch's Great Escape, it should be done any with." That shows a certain amount of brass cojones. Personally, I think the park belongs to first time visitors, who see Mickey for the first time and simply light up. Who walk down Main Street and envision what it must have been like in the old days. Not the Annual Passholder who is sitting taking pictures of some chipped paint (that will be taken care of, but not before its plastered over websites to show people how retentive the AP can be)

Interesting position....I took the opposite approach, that it does apply much more to DL. A larger % of the park attendance is AP from what I've read...and they are the only ones providing numbers to some attractions (most participants of Millionaire are reported to be AP, and it's been long said that they have been the bulk of attendance at DCA).

For WDW, with the multiple parks and special events, I think the AP's spend more money more often. Things like Food and Wine, Garden, even MNSSHP and MVMCP seem to me to be enticements for locals to stop by more often (and they do).

While I fully agree with your comments on obsessiveness, many do just use it as it makes better financial sense. I only flash my card to get a special pin or a discount, and never consider myself and "upper tier guest". As far as complaining, I see both parties very guilty of it... in different ways. An obsessed AP might complain about Stitch or that Brer Rabbit wasn't hopping today, but I hear too many of those first time guests complain that a space wasn't saved right up front for them for the parade or that CM's didn't personally teach them about FP.

I also don't agree with the idea of raising the cost of AP. Then you WOULD see the prima donnas expecting CM's to carry them through the park and go to the bathroom for them.

I don't have an answer, and while there are some interesting points raised, I believe there are too many generalities and opinions stated by the article author to give it toom much value.

PS...curious...what's 9/30?

 

[Enderikari]

PS...curious...what's 9/30?

September 30, 2005. Serenity comes to the big screen. A movie with an interesting history. It's based on the best television show in many, many years.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I don't understand the article.

First of all, he groups all Annual Passholders together - mistake. Not every Annual Passholder is the same. Demons running through the parks? Um... okay...

Honestly, I think if it weren't for annual passholders, Disney would be cutting back more than it does. A great percentage of annual passholders notice changes (let's say... oh... the slow removal of live entertainment). If these groups didn't write to Disney against the removal of entertainers, then a big chunk of what defines Disney would be gone. And it's safe to say those without annual passes would find these groups delighting, based on the audience member, of course.

Or in the case of the lack of paint coats, if certain Annual Passholders didn't complain, management might not be painting. ...which might leave the regular visitor without a pass (who likely took more of his expenses out to pay for the trip) to notice some of the decay, concluding that the park has lowered its quality standards and consider other options for vacation investment. (Of course, Ouitmet just shut most of the attractions down and had the services rebuilt and repaint them, so it's probably no longer an issue).

I think the article needs to accuse less and explain more - good examples of how Annual Passholders have hurt Disney. I could only find one: the Enchanted Tiki Room, which is only the author's opinion. (If it weren't from the pressure of fans, it would still be rotting and decaying now, if not turned into McDonalds). If anything, those same AP holders have been asking the company to open up new attractions in what has been cutback (see: Tomorrowland). . .

Lastly, he is attacking the passholders, not Disney for offering the passes. If he believes them to be harmful, he'd be better off writing to Disney or suggesting they end these ticket sales.

No matter WHO enters the park, I think it's in good hands anyway. Matt Ouimet is opening up to both the diehards AND the infrequent visitors. He caters to both with quality, and that's what I care about.

Well said Grizz!!! I couldnt agree more!!! Belle

 

[brkgnews]

They've now added in a note that they're accepting rebuttals. Just for giggles, I wrote one. If it doesn't get published over there, I'll post it here.

 

[DisneyDream2004]

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

Knowing that quite a few of us are Annual Passholders, I'm curious of your input on this. I know he means Disneyland, but I think it qualifies here too. What think?

Ummm...I plan on moving to Florida at the end of the year. One of the first things I'm going to do is buy an annual pass. Not to complain about paint chips, but because I LOVE DISNEY. I love going there, I love going back there. I think Jim Hill is reading too much into this for the sake of getting everyone riled up.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Post it anyhow!!!! Belle

 

[geubux]

I agree with the article even more after reading these posts. The AP'ers on here are whining just like JH said. Let me rephrase that, MOST of them are whining. With that said, if they raise the price of the AP, it may be worth their while. When just two weeks equals an AP, thats too little.

 

[General Grizz]

Post it anyhow!!!! Belle

I agree.

 

[brkgnews]

Post it anyhow!!!! Belle

Okey Dokey. I'll have to wait until I get back to the home computer this evening. Check back after, say, 9pm Eastern Tuesday.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

I agree with the article even more after reading these posts. The AP'ers on here are whining just like JH said. Let me rephrase that, MOST of them are whining. With that said, if they raise the price of the AP, it may be worth their while. When just two weeks equals an AP, thats too little.

But remember that JH did not write the article.

 

[Aurora_25]

But remember that JH did not write the article.

That's very true and doesn't JH own an AP??? :lookaroun Or did Disney take that away from him a while back???

 

[KevinPage]

The author of that article is about 5 years too late. His opinions have been written about by EVERY devil's advocate on the internet already, so why should we take him seriously this late in the game.

HUGE RED FLAG, he can only visit 1 time per year, so of coruse he is jealous or going to complain.

Presenting 1 side of the situation lacks any credibility, especially when you moan & groan about it.

Most AP holders don't complain or say anything. Like anything in life, it's the vocal MINORITY over the silent MAJORITY. Most people in life go about their day without worry or making a fuss.

But the only people who get attention and written about are the super die hard few who make a ruckus (you can equare this to anything in life).

 

[Grim Grinner]

I may not be an annual passholder, although if I had means to get down to the parks more often I certainly would be. I, like you kind folks have a love and passion for Disney, particularly the parks. Yes. I am a nut and can walk through 2 of the four parks with a blindfold.

That being said, I do not think that the passholders do anything negative, save adding a few more bodies to a line. Sure, it's an extra couple folks ahead of me, but hey... who am I to stop them.

I've met a few passholders, and not one of them have ever been snobs. Online, we may shower criticisms, but in the parks I rarely have any complaints. Compliments mostly, and those I save for City Hall and not other guests.

As for the article telling about fans telling first-timers where to go and what to do... I have no clue how someone would be able to break down an entire itinerary like the writer assumes. Far-fetched? Sure... The closest thing I've ever done like that was a different matter, well... let me explain:

My wife and I were in line for the Haunted Mansion, slowly roasting. Ahead of us was a single mom with two kids. All of which sported that "I'm burnt out from too much vacation" look. Everyone had their heads down looking just plain unhappy. One of the unique things about WDW is that you can start a conversation with anything. I began talking to the mom, and she said that they were near the end of their trip and everyone was tired. They had been all the rides and seen all those shows and these last fews days they were just going through the motions.

I asked her if she had spotted the Hidden Mickeys, and she and her kids picked up their heads and gave me a puzzled look. I explained what they were and where a few of my favorite ones could be found. Their eye turned bright and the kids started asking me where a few from their favorite rides could be found. I gave a couple hints, and then left for the recesses of the Haunted Mansion.

Later on the lady came up to me outside of Buzz Lightyear thanking me profusely for saving their trip. The three of them were enthused enough to start their own Mickey hunt and they even found a few that I had missed.

____________________________

Point of the matter is that we all love WDW and want others to enjoy as much as we do. I do not believe we are heavy-handed, nor do we need to be. Disney is a magical place and one that everyone has the capacity to enjoy.