WDW Passholder Discounts gone?

[RickEff]

I know this is a "Parks" News and Rumours, but I couldn't see where else to put this.

I received an email from somebody who said they were told by a CM at Downtown Disney that the stores will no longer be offering merchandise discounts to annual passholders after Dec 31. Anyone else hear that? Anyone going anytime soon to confirm it?

Thanks!

 

[orlpassholder]

I wouldnt doubt it. They pulled the ones from Virgin Record Store. So this could very well happen.

 

[RickEff]

In a way, I understand a third party store not supporting discounts for passholders. I don't think it's a smart move, but at least I understand it. It's the Company stores that concern me!

Thanks for the response. Let me know if you hear anything further!

 

[Woody13]

I agree with you in that I don't think it's a smart move either. However, I also think that a lot of this revolves around the closure of the Disney Club this December and the imminent closure (or sale) of The Disney Stores. Disney is trying to work it's way out of retail. Wal-Mart is much better at selling Disney items than Disney.

During the last several years, all of the discounts at DTD have steadily disappeared. Also the interesting range of sales items has gone way down hill. In addition, the prices at the Virgin Megastore are higher than the owner's flight path.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Unfortunately sad but true.

I don't shop at Walmart anymore (personal reasons), but when I did I found it troubling that so many Disney items could be found there ... and at far more reasonable prices than the Disney stores ever though about, btw.

What really gets me is that if Disney wants out of retail, why do they create ride/attractions based on how large a gift shop they can tack on the end? Or even worse, make the icon of a park a pin shop??

 

[civileng68]

well

Well as a Business major currently in college I had to do a full Marketing plan for Disney World.

I found that many of Disney's financial woes are not so much from attendance drops but that Disney has got it's feet into too many different waters. What I mean is, Disney needs to pull away from retail some. Disney has it's name in too many venues. Did you know that Disney's owenership also owns all or part of ABC and ESPN and many other things as well. Then they go out and buy all sorts of stores to sell merchandise from.

They need to get back into the Park business more and not outside the parks so much. Maybe this is their plan slowly becoming reality.

I hope, it's not healthy to spend as much money outside of the parks on outside interests as they have done.

Eisner either needs to stick with ABC and ESPN or Disney, not both in my opinion.

 

[GaryT977]

As long as the discounts continue for hotel rooms, dining, park tickets, etc, I'll continue to renew my pass.

 

[civileng68]

cost

Originally posted by GaryT977
As long as the discounts continue for hotel rooms, dining, park tickets, etc, I'll continue to renew my pass.

How much does it cost to renew your pass in FL? I am a resident of FL and have my renewal coming up in March. How much does it run with tax?

 

[DisneyWorld30th]

I heard the same thing from a cast member.

December 31 - Disney Club runs out and no longer can be renewed.

I heard that discounts will only be ties in with the Disney Visa card.

 

[EvilMortimer]

Re: cost

Originally posted by civileng68
How much does it cost to renew your pass in FL? I am a resident of FL and have my renewal coming up in March. How much does it run with tax?

Hmm. All the infomation is on the FL Resident Passholder site. Except the price for a renewal pass. Renewal pricing can be obtained at any Walt Disney World® ticket window or by calling (407)-560-PASS (7277)

 

[Tim G]

Originally posted by RickEff
I know this is a "Parks" News and Rumours, but I couldn't see where else to put this.

I received an email from somebody who said they were told by a CM at Downtown Disney that the stores will no longer be offering merchandise discounts to annual passholders after Dec 31. Anyone else hear that? Anyone going anytime soon to confirm it?

Thanks!

And what about "World of Disney"??

They always stated that "World Of Disney" would have an AP discount forever...

I will ask around...

 

[DisneyDefenders]

Don't Forget...

Civileng68...you're forgettting that Disney also owns A&E and Lifetime not to mention the many film studios it owns. I disagree that they should pull out of those just cuz I think that they're managing just fine!

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Originally posted by GaryT977
As long as the discounts continue for hotel rooms, dining, park tickets, etc, I'll continue to renew my pass.

Yea, but where have the room discounts disappeared to? That was the reason I didn't renew my PAP this past Oct. Are these gone forever? And if they do put out new codes, will they only have a few rooms per resort? This last code they put out was gone in a matter of minutes.

 

[Ausdaddy]

I agree. Without room only discounts, there is no need for an AP . It's Disney's loss because the AP allows me to take more than one trip per year and still keep it affordable. Without the AP, Disney loses money because I can only make one trip and they lose out on resort, food and merchandise revenues from my second trip. I don't believe it's good business on their part.

Steve

 

[civileng68]

Re: Don't Forget...

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
Civileng68...you're forgettting that Disney also owns A&E and Lifetime not to mention the many film studios it owns. I disagree that they should pull out of those just cuz I think that they're managing just fine!

Yes, So see, they own part or all of EsPN, ABC, A&E, Lifetime and many film studios.

That is great when finances are good. They can manage it easy when finances are flying high.

However, the problem is not now but in "trouble" financial times. What will happen is, if any of those companies hit financial troubles, money that would go to Disney could go to those companies to keep them afloat. That's what Im saying. That's whY I dont feel they should be involved in so many ventures because if Lifetime hits a big snag, money will be taken out of Disney to help for Lifetime. Just think if several of their ventures hit financial snags, you'd feel and see the difference over time at Disney.

Have you noticed how Disney's park times have gotten shorter over the years? Have you noticed the layoffs they've had lately, have you noticed the hiring freezes over the past year? Have you noticed how certain attractions are not run because supposedly it's too expensive to run them and maintain them?

Disney blames them on the attendance situation, yet it's really no worse than any other down time they've had in history, the difference is the funds are being diluted into many others companies when it used to all go directly into the park.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I heard that discounts will only be ties in with the Disney Visa card.

As a Disney Visa card holder, I just got a small magazine with coupons at the end. As soon as I read it, I thought how much it reminded me of the Disney Club updates and coupons.

They were good coupons and with the new way they're handling rewards, the Disney Visa seems to be a great thing for us Disney lovers!

(Unfortunately, no room discounts with the coupons, just discounted packages and an extra $100 disney dollars when you use the Disney Visa.)

 

[BwanaBob]

Disney Club and AP confusion??

There are still discounts as an Annual Passholder.
Disney Club is questionable.

As for renewal prices on avg. AP...around 10% from face value, maybe a little more.

As a FL resident, you'll save more as well. I use the term "save" loosley. You're still over $250 (vs. somewhere around 320?)

 

[Lovecraft]

Originally posted by Disneyfalcon
As a Disney Visa card holder, I just got a small magazine with coupons at the end. As soon as I read it, I thought how much it reminded me of the Disney Club updates and coupons.

They were good coupons and with the new way they're handling rewards, the Disney Visa seems to be a great thing for us Disney lovers!
...

Kinda sucks for those of us who do not use credit cards at all.

While the Disney Visa was tempting to me, I decided to stand firm and not get it. I really LOVE not being in debt at all (my cars aren't even financed), and that Visa would have just been too tempting.

Not having any debt and paying cash for everything is one of the reasons I can afford to go to Disney world around 6 or 7 times a year, without discounts, this will likely be reduced to 3 times.

Ah well, c'est la vie, I may just wind up travelling to other less expensive locations next year.

--Lovecraft

 

[Disneyfalcon]

That's great Lovecraft!
We are the kind of people who charge EVERYTHING we possibly can to get the rewards, but pay it off every month. The rewards aren't worth it if you're paying interest charges!

 

[kellydisney]

I do the same with my Disney Visa. It's great. I have just begun using it and now I have a $40 Disney Rewards Card (from purchases I would have made regardless) to use for our Character breakfast in December I think the returns kind of suck, $1 for every $100 you spend... but hey, it is something!