Originally Posted By danyoung >Between this and the free admission on your birthday (like a free grand slam at Denny's), it's soon becoming the ghettoest place on Earth. < Sorry, but pure crap. These aren't huge moves like the announcement of a new E ticket, but both of these promotions have terrific value.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP Hey, all you non-so cal people, you can still make payments for your AP. You just have to make them for the year before, THEN buy. Then, once you have your AP keep making "payments" (perhaps to an envelope in your sock drawer) and al a ka zam, by the time it's renewal time, AP ready and waiting!!
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Sorry, but pure crap." I think that the new promotion and the AP payment plan is tacky and both cheapen the Disney brand. I understand that there is a downturn in the economy right now, but these new developments make Disney look, well, desperate.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Mrs ElderP, you are absolutely right, sweetheart. The thing is, I just need to remember to set up something like that at the bank (like a Christmas club, in this case my heart n'soul club)...thanks for reminding me. ♥
Originally Posted By fkurucz I wonder if a large number of SoCal APs were not renewing, because of the bad economy?
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones If someone can't afford the one-time cost of $130-$160 bucks for a SoCal AP, maybe they shouldn't be buying one anyway, payment plan or not.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ Thanks a lot Morgan Stanley. And what are you are ideas for solving the economy while you are at it? lol. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Anatole69 Sorry, my comment was for #27. You have to be really fast on your reply here it seems. >_< - Anatole
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Prices just went off so my figures are a little off. A SoCal Select pass is $134. It includes 170 pre-selected days. This is mostly weekdays. A SoCal pass is $174. 215 pre-selected days. You know, no Saturdays, no Summer, no Holidays, etc. I think the payment plan is designed to encourage people to pay more for a premium pass since the cost is spread out over a deposit and 12 payments. But like I said, if people can't afford it they can't afford it, payment plan or not. And if they don't pay up, I wonder if Disney is going to send collections after them and ding them on their credit report.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "^^ Thanks a lot Morgan Stanley. And what are you are ideas for solving the economy while you are at it? lol." What does that have to do with anything? I didn't know this thread was about solutions for the economy. I'm saying this payment plan is bunk and those who use it are being irresponsible. You make payments on things that you need and have a humongous upfront cost, like a car or tuition or something. To go on a payment plan for frivolous items like an annual pass or a TV is ridiculous. If you can't afford something, you can't afford it.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer >>But like I said, if people can't afford it they can't afford it, payment plan or not. And if they don't pay up, I wonder if Disney is going to send collections after them and ding them on their credit report.<< The way it works at LEGOLAND and SeaWorld, if your monthly payment (charges to your credit/debit card) doesn't clear, your AP is automatically blocked at the turnstiles, and you are sent to the Ticket Windows to fix the problem. I don't think they will be filing a report with a credit agency, but might use the legal system to recover the amount (small claims) if the amount is high enough. (Won't bother with one SoCal holder, but a family of 4 Premium AP's might get the attention of the legal department, aka cost vs benefit).
Originally Posted By Anatole69 >>I'm saying this payment plan is bunk and those who use it are being irresponsible. << You might have a point there, and I agree the socal pass is fairly low anyway. However your earlier comment about the ghettoization of Disneyland did relate to the economy, which is why I made my comment. I think that if you invoke the economic situation in one reply, you have already opened that up for discussion... and I disagree with the characterization of Disney's wish to maximize profits by using the term "ghettoization" since in this case it is perjorative towards those of a lower economic status. - Anatole
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "and I disagree with the characterization of Disney's wish to maximize profits" Interesting that you mention maximizing profits. I think this promotion may do a good job at making people think they are getting something for nothing, when in fact they ended up spending more (or experiencing less) than if Disney had never done this promotion and they actually paid full price for all tickets. Disney doesn't give anything away for free. I think they ran the numbers, and like taking a hit on the price of an AP, they more than make up for it in merchandise sales and food sales, especially in this slow economy. This isn't rocket science and I'm just a dummy. If anything, I'm going to go ahead and register for this promotion, go on my birthday, take the bus there (which is paid for by my school), go by myself, not buy any food or merchandise, and then criticize everything about my experience online. I'm gonna make out like a bandit
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones The only thing though, is that they'll get the tick on the turnstiles, showing their investors that many people took advantage of the promotion. Damn. Hopefully I can turn the turnstiles backwards a couple times before I leave... Can't let them have that!
Originally Posted By Anatole69 Haha... you are my new hero now. Yeah I totally agree about that, they are doing this in the hope of making more money in a downward moving economy. In their view giving free admission but making money on concessions, merchandise and parking is better than not making any money at all if it means the difference between someone going to the park for free admission, or not going at all. If the economy was good, I seriously doubt we would be seeing this promotion. - Anatole
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "If the economy was good, I seriously doubt we would be seeing this promotion." I think we could spin it in such a way that Disney is taking advantage of the poor economy in order to squeeze more money out of people. They're taking advantage of people's desperation to feed their Disneyland habit... Sinister.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<If someone can't afford the one-time cost of $130-$160 bucks for a SoCal AP, maybe they shouldn't be buying one anyway, payment plan or not.>> Multiply that by 4 or 5 family members, and that isn't chump change. Move up to deluxe or premium and it really gets expensive.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains We live in N.CA - Me and all 4 of my kids have AP's (me premium them deluxe) none of us have the same expiration date. We have done that intentional to spread out the costs.
