Originally Posted By dizneed Hello, I've read that the "No Expiration" option has been eliminated. Would anyone have more information?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I've also read this, but can't confirm. I know that they really downplayed it in one of the recent price increases, so I'm not surprised that it's gone. For a while it has still been an option, but it wasn't listed on any of the official price lists; you had to know to ask about it. With the way that they priced them, it was about twice as expensive as the 'normal' price, so it would be really tough to justify the added expense. Given all this, I'm not surprised that Disney has just gotten rid of them entirely
Originally Posted By dizneed I'm really bummed if it has been eliminated. I have two 7 day passes that we wanted to add this non-expiry option to.
Originally Posted By leemac <<For a while it has still been an option, but it wasn't listed on any of the official price lists; you had to know to ask about it. >> Wasn't it always listed at the bottom as an "extra"? The ticket booths were supposed to push the option as it increased guest spend. It has now gone.
Originally Posted By dizneed Agreed the option is indeed eliminated, I confirmed it through a chat session on Disney.com. What really gets me is the fact that there was no advanced notice!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Wasn't it always listed at the bottom as an "extra"?<< I think that's where it was originally, but for the last year or so there was no indication that it was an option. I suspect they took it off the signs, so they could say that nobody ever bought it, so they could get rid of it It does seem like an odd strategy, since Disney sure seems to prefer taking your money up front, rather than in increments over multiple visits. Why else do they push DVC so much?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<It does seem like an odd strategy, since Disney sure seems to prefer taking your money up front, rather than in increments over multiple visits. Why else do they push DVC so much?>> Disney already has their money up front when you purchased the original pass. If it expires with unused days on it you will have to purchase another pass, which will bring considerably more revenue than the upgrade charge for no expiration. DVC is a whole different deal. With DVC they are guaranteeing that you will vacation with Disney many years into the future. And in addition to the upfront revenue from points sales, there is ongoing revenue from "dues" (maintenance fees). My annual dues would pay for 11 days at a WDW Disney moderate resort. My points provide for 11 days in a one bedroom villa at the Boardwalk. While the Boardwalk accommodation with a separate living room and full kitchen is obviously much larger and the amenities nicer, it is trading 11 days for 11 days. So basically the initial purchase of DVC points provides you with a 40-year room upgrade and your annual dues pay for your lodging. I never stayed at a Disney deluxe resort before purchasing DVC and I probably never would have. When I purchased my points they were $65 per point and I think they provided good value. Today points are selling at $165 per point. Frankly, I don't know how they convince people to buy at that price.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Wow. Off topic but I may have just talked myself into selling my DVC points. Resale value of Boardwalk points is currently around $80 per point. I could pocket about $25K and just stay at moderates the rest of my life. Hmmmm....
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>With DVC they are guaranteeing that you will vacation with Disney many years into the future.<< Although I don't think it would be for "many years" wouldn't a non-expiring ticket pretty much guarantee you'll return for a future vacation too? It seems like most people would opt to pay extra for that feature would be pretty determined to return in the future. Sure they make some money on unused days, but they'd probably make more money when those visitors return in the future >>My annual dues would pay for 11 days at a WDW Disney moderate resort.<< Wow, I didn't realize that the fees were that expensive; that's pretty crazy. I suppose if you know you want to return to WDW over and over again it could be a good deal, but it still sounds like a fairly large ongoing expense
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, but a local resident is probably going to return anyway. If they have used two days of a three day pass and it expires, they will just buy another pass. Sure they will grumble, but it is not like they've lost a fortune. With DVC you are pretty much locked into a Disney vacation at least once every two years for the next 40 years. The main thing that would keep me from selling DVC is the ability to go on Disney Cruises. Currently my points buy a deluxe ocean-view stateroom with veranda. The amount I pay in annual dues would only provide an inside stateroom. While I have no problem with staying in a moderate resort at WDW, I would not want an inside room on a ship. I'm too claustrophobic for that.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh We really use the kitchen a lot when we stay at Disney, so for us the villa is worth it. Plus some of DVC dues go for property taxes, so are deductible from your income when calculating income tax. And if you can stay at a one bedroom for 11 days, you could stay at a studio for about 20 days.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <Currently my points buy a deluxe ocean-view stateroom with veranda.> Is that for two people for a four night Carribean cruise?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Douglas... yes, I could rent a studio for about 20 days. My late wife and I had been at the Univ of Minn for so long that we earned about 7 weeks a year of vacation so we could do that; though typically we just did one week in a one bedroom and one week in a studio. But my current wife doesn't get anywhere near that much vacation, so we typically either go on a cruise or rent a one bedroom. Last fall we rented a two bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower for five days and still had a good number of points left over. Yes, that is for two people on a 4 night Caribbean Cruise.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh Anytime you have some extra, I could probably use them. I've already used most of my 2016 points for our trip in June. We are staying in a Grand Floridian studio for a few nights, then in a two bedroom at Beach Club, then a one bedroom at Bay Lake, and the last few nights in a studio at the Poly.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'll keep that in mind. Most years when I've had extra points my daughter wanted to rent them. But she has some health issues now that have restricted how much she can work, so she and her husband may not be able to afford WDW vacations for awhile.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros If you're ever looking to sell/rent out unused points, let me know. I think a villa would work well (especially at the Boardwalk!) for my group that typically goes for Marathon Weekend in January. I've looked into renting through sites like David's DVC in the past, but there's still a big price difference between that and a moderate. But if the middle man were cut out, it seems like the cost would be pretty comparable
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Since we are talking about.. ah, let's see, the title says no-expiration tickets but the conversation is about DVC. Oh, well, I wanted to discuss No-Ex for a minute. I have used that option for years. My touring habits preclude long stays so, cost wise there was a slight savings in using the No-Ex system (not much though, my last purchase almost double the cost of a 10 day pass). I have never wanted to spend more then 4 days, on any given trip, to Disney. So, I bought ahead and since I am only 600 miles away, would sometimes get cabin fever, especially in the winter, and head on down for three or four days. In fact, I just did that a couple of weeks ago. I must thank Disney though for changing the policy because now, instead of going to Disney every trip, I will now be able to go to Universal instead and not feel that I am wasting my ticket investment. That's a win for me and Universal. I'll have to think about how that was good for Disney though. I do understand that by purchasing the No-Ex and using it the way I do, I usually manage to skip through a number of rate increases. I can do the same thing now without giving Disney anything during those times. So thank you Disney. I happen to be one of the people that loves Central Florida and all the things that there are to see there. Now I can do it again without feeling guilty about not using my pre-paid ticket. Here I come Universal, SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, Gaterland, Lego Land, Silver Springs, Boc Towers, Bush Gardens... oh, the list is endless. Guess you will have to gouge someone else for awhile.
Originally Posted By Kusin_It " Guess you will have to gouge someone else for awhile." Be very careful with "gouge" around here. No less than 3 self appointed diction mods on LP only allow for strict usage, like the legal/criminal side of unfair business practices.
