Originally Posted By friendofdd Noting the frequent discussions about Disney Parks annual passholders, I wonder if the negative feelings might apply to other areas. When living in Hawaii, it is customary to ask for "Kamaaina" (local) discounts. You may have to show proof of residence to get the discount. Visitors always pay more. Membership in a "country club" brings lower greens fees. National Parks have frequent use entry passes that can be purchased. Entertainment and sports venues (theaters and arenas) have season tickets that always get the better seats. And so on. Locals frequently get better deals than visitors in many areas - state parks, beaches, museums, etc. Frequent fliers get benefits not available to less-frequent fliers. Similar benefits go to those using a "chain" of lodging. I could go on, but you get the idea. So what do you think? Should we feel negatively toward those getting these "perks", or should those feelings be reserved for Annual Passholders and their ilk?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Like so many things, it's the bad behavior of the few that reflects poorly on other APers. There are APers who overstep the bounds of guest vs. cast member or those who get upset when things don't go their way. A recent blog in the Orange County Register about someone who did very little research became a topic here on LP. She went with a lot of heresay and popped over to the parks one Friday evening expecting to see World of Color with no problem. The tone of her piece suggested that, as an APer, didn't she deserve better treatment? It's that sort of entitlement attitude that gives APers a bad name. The fact is, the vast majority of APers are no trouble at all, go about enjoying themselves at the parks without causing a ruckus, and provide a very steady flow of income to Disney (otherwise, why would they keep selling more and more APs, and making them even more affordable for locals?).
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight I think it's fine with getting perks if they are offerd , that's why they are offering them in the first place and IF you want to take them up on thier offer (who ever is offering what)that's fine.Not everyone will use thier perks and some will take advanatge of them. Thats human nature. I just think there are people out there that let a few little perks go to thier heads and get mean and act all snooty because they are "entitled" to what others maybe aren't offered. Those are the ones that ruin it. But you will find that in everything that has to do with places that have perks.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight Did I even understand this thread right? Good heavens I hope I got it right.
Originally Posted By Terminus I think because this is a "Disney" fan site, I guess people will complain about the perks/abuses the APers get. If it was a site about National Parks, then they might be complaining that the frequent visitors to the parks are rude or whatever. So while your question makes sense, I think the answer "here" is no one feels negatively towards people getting those other "perks", but will feel negatively towards APers and their ilk. I still want to believe a tiny bit of it is jealousy (of APers and their ability to go to a place they love to go often). But I wouldn't really tell the complainers that, because it sounds mean. Wait! I guess I just did! Oh well... I really agree with Kar2oonMan, that a few APers probably feel entitled to things, and that it irks others. I'm an APer and don't feel like I deserve anything special because of it. Hell, I already get a 15% discount on food and (right now) a 20% discount on merchandise. I'm fine with that. I can wait for World of Color fastpasses like everyone else (and have a couple times already). Anyway, that's my opinion.
Originally Posted By LuLu Fodd, you're such a gem Of course a few APs give the whole lot of them a bad rep. But I think with the ease of finding info on the internet, others may become jealous of the great deals others (but not themselves) qualify for. And of course the internet makes it a lot easier to make somewhat accusatory or derogatory comments, since you're only talking to "virtual" people anyway!
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE It is nice to receive a few bonus's from time to time , we do not live close to Disney and are only able to come once or twice if we are lucky a year, our Ap's help us with some cost savings which allow us to stay a little longer than if they Didn't..there are probally other perks available to us, that we don't know even exists, if you know any , spread your wings as LS says they are there to use not abuse, would nice if there was a international AP pass or Family for the folks who can only get there on a limited basis..that would be cool... : ) Does the Anahiem ET book offer specials that any one knows of for Disney...
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance If you stop and think about the world, you realize that most of us live the way we do because of the simple fact that there are always going to be a few bad apples in every bunch. Think about how differently every single thing in life would be if everyone could just trust that everyone was honest and would have no ill intentions towards anyone or anything. Every law and rule set up in this world is to negate some idiot from taking advantage of someone or something. But, I think it's great that locals get discounts. And, I think it's totally fair. After all, they are Disney's frequent, repeat customers and they should get perks. And if it wasn't for the APers, Disneyland would probably be a lot different. The fact that tons of APers are in the parks often causes Disney to freshen things often and change things up. If I was a local and spending a lot of my money at DLR all the time, you can bet I'd be happy with the discounts and perks too!
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance "She is going after my retirement to the tune of about 80k, since Oregon is a no fault divorce state and she can't work since her lungs were nearly destroyed last Oct from the H1N1, Double Pneumonia , she is also wanting about 700 a month in spousal support. I am using her atty as I can't afford to get one, so we can mediate a settlement involving the house, spousal support and such. It's been tough, but I'm working through it. She has short term memory loss from her near death experience and can't remember things we discussed so I have made sure that she emails everything to me so I can help her with recall as she is changing her mind constantly about what she wants. So..you can see..no vacation this year! I am fighting to keep the house so am basically kissing her ass with kindness to keep her from taking everything. We don't have the court date for the divorce until 09/28, so a lot is going to happen! I am looking for a motor home to live in, in case I decide to just walk away and let the house go due to her demands. I have found a beauty, a 93 Holiday Rambler in awesome shape. 32 ft. for 5k from a Nam vet that actually bought it for the same reason a few years ago. He's hurting since his divorce, but at least now has a house again. He told me if he didn't need the money, he'd just give it to me. So I am trying to get it basically as a back up place to live but it's hard to get a loan when you are divorcing, and are not sure what you will have left at the end of the month. I will hit my ten year mark with the S. O. on Feb 1st next year and will get a 8% longevity raise which I am not going to tell her about. That will make up most of the spousal support payments! Looking forward to that! With what she is taking from my PERS( retirement) I will still have about 150k to retire with plus my soc. security at 62. I'll do ok in the long run." By the way, the reason I went off on this rant was because just because a few people give APers a bad name, doesn't mean APers are a bad thing.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance UMMMMM WHAT THE HECK!!!!???? OKAAYYYY LOL!!!!! oops, sorry about that. Must have been something someone else in my family copied and pasted last, LOL!!!! This is my intended post!!!... "If you stop and think about the world, you realize that most of us live the way we do because of the simple fact that there are always going to be a few bad apples in every bunch. Think about how differently every single thing in life would be if everyone could just trust that everyone was honest and would have no ill intentions towards anyone or anything. Every law and rule set up in this world is to negate some idiot from taking advantage of someone or something. " By the way, the reason I went off on this rant was because just because a few people give APers a bad name, doesn't mean APers are a bad thing. There, that was what I MEANT to say, lol, I didn't mean to give you the nitty gritty details on my mother in laws divorce, LOL!!!
Originally Posted By Terminus I was reading that first one thinking "What the heck?!?" ... Thanks for the explaination. Heh! So confused... =)
Originally Posted By Ursula I don't think the frequent flier comparison if fair. They pay full pop EACH flight to get a frequent flier perk, and the A/P holder well, doesn't. (They don't pay full price for each entry.) But agree with 2oony. It is always the few bad apples that ruin the entire bushel.
Originally Posted By friendofdd Of course I was generalizing, Ursula. But frequent fliers do get a discount. X number of actual miles flown will be rewarded with a free flight or other perks. But, beyond that, if one has an affinity credit card, additional miles or perks will be added just for using the affinity card to make everyday purchases. BTW, we save Disney affinity card extra dollars to be applied to our AP renewals. Pretty cool, charge dinner and gasoline and get an AP.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I call it savvy I use any discount or perk I can get with what ever card I have. I also remember to say thank you just for the heck of it I have never heard the word affinity card before DH would say I am a rabid affinity card user. He gets "the look" if he so much as looks like he is going to use one of the cards that don't reap rewards Guess which one is my favorite I appreciate having my AP and pleasantly hand it to the CM along with my Disney Rewards card or Disney Visa Savvy, no?
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< But, beyond that, if one has an affinity credit card, additional miles or perks will be added just for using the affinity card to make everyday purchases. >>> *Additional* miles? The advanced freeloader will somehow manage to get free tickets on airlines that they never actually buy tickets on.
