Does the new Genie+ pay-per-attraction system alter your views on DVC's value?

[sethschroeder]

Others can feel differently but rope drop was never more important than it is moving forward. Get that 30 min head start and be there for a week so you can hit 2 headliners per day rotating through the park to get short waits.

MK1: 7DMT + Space
MK2: Peter + BTMR + Splash
ect

 

[Airb330]

Add G+ to the AP Sorcerer increase versus Gold & no DVC discount on the “incredi-pass” and the hits keep coming.

On a related note, I’m surprised they didn’t extend the monthly payment option to DVC as well. They let us pay monthly on our dues. That would likely entice some people on the fence.

For us, our 3-week old gold AP vs a sorcerer today would’ve been a 32% increase…

 

[DVCPAT]

Motley Fool the investment website are praising the move and encouraging buying Disney stock. This is just another move to placate the fund managers and wall street, it really isn’t about the guests.

I think Disney has to pass on the increased costs due to inflation to the consumer. The more currency the government prints, the higher the cost of materials. The middle class will feel real pain when real estate leases expire in 12-24 months. The middle class is going suffer and so will Disney. I remember vacationing in Disney during the last economic downturn. CMs we’re thankful for DVC members because our spending provided pay checks. An old poster on the disboards called DVC annual passes golden handcuffs. Once the handcuffs are gone, our money will be spent offsite.

 

[Chuck S]

The middle class will feel real pain when real estate leases expire in 12-24 months.

True, some of my leases (I'm a residential landlord) have already been renewed at a higher rate about 7% above where they were. This is mostly due to increases in costs of taxes. Both tax rates and property valuations have increased very dramatically here during the last 18 months. Of course, insurance has increased too, but at a much lower rate than the taxes. That said, Texas, like Florida, has no state income tax, everything is property and sales tax.

Disney is riding high right now on the 50th Anniversary. It will be interesting to see what happens after.

 

[Airb330]

For those DVC members with no active AP yet: The top tier pass now has no DVC discount, an increase of 55% from the old platinum pass to the Incredi-pass ($957.44 to $1299+99 for photos+ tax $1488.87). The gold to sorcerer pass is a 31% increase ($765.73 to $899+99plus tax $1004.44). When one starts to think of G+ on top of it, it's a large increase for DVC.

My family, it's just 2 people. So those increases aren't great, but doable of course. Then you add we only typically visit 7-14 park days over 2-3 trips...it still saves money. Let's just say we want to do G+ on only a third of the park days, that's another $150 right there, add in UberX or renting a car too, and it all ends with a lessor experience for consierably more money. At least bring back non-expiring tickets, those really helped us with out vacation pattern.

I saved about $400 (only would need one 'photo' add on of $99) by being able to buy 2 Gold Recovery passes last month! I know prices go up over time but 2021 has been a lot to swallow so far for this DVC couple. We'll wait it out and would never sell right now, but if this trend continues and the value keeps slipping we may choose more 4 day long weekends elsewhere.

 

[Grumpylarr]

It is part of the continuing erosion of the value of staying on property not just DVC. The end of ME, no early access to fast passes, the charging for parking at a resort if you aren’t staying on points and under current conditions no more early access to dining reservations. Also, some
might disagree, bus transport seems less dependable.

 

[DeeCee735]

We were waiting before booking a trip next year. Waiting to see where it’s all going. Well now that we know, no DVC trip planning for next year. The mouse is getting too greedy.

 

[Donna M]

I am at a point where I am thinking of selling a contract because Disney doesn't give me that happy feeling it once did. I think the turning point was ending the Magical Express, and I didn't even like it, and rarely used it, but it was a great feature for a lot of people. Ending the non expiring tickets was a big blow for us because of the way we vacationed. Then they ended valet service, paid parking at hotels, ticket prices kept going up, and now Genie+. A lot of these didn't affect me, but it was a way for Disney to suck more money from people and give people a lesser experience.

I still like the resorts and we have a trip planned for Oct. Our experience in the MK will help us decide if we keep DVC or decide it is not worth it for us.

 

[DeeCee735]

We decided we won’t sell - at least not every contract. We are going to start going elsewhere with our points. And we still have our Marriott in HH which is such a wonderful treat for us to actually RELAX on a vacation! We booked that for next Spring break instead of disney. Thinking of the National Parks with RCI in 2022. Just started doing the research. I’m mad at the mouse right now so a no go for us (outside of a long ago booked resort only trip for
December with friends). We’ll have a car then too(friends are driving down), so Citywalk and off-site dining on the table.

 

[DVC92]

WDW's value is certainly going down in my estimation. Between ticket price increases, no FP+ because of Genie+ and its additional cost, shortened park hours, food price increases, no DVC EMH or other perks, etc., the value is certainly not what is once was. MK closing at 9PM. Seriously! Where are the days when MK would stay open 'til midnight with EMH until 3 in the morning

 

[Sammie]

No.
I think what many forget is not everyone gets upset over these changes. I don't. Sorry too much lost in the last couple of years to worry over this. Also I never compare new to old, what I do check to see is will the new offer to DVC save me money over buying a week long multi-day pass with hoppers, and it does. So as long as I am saving money, it's all good to me.
When I bought DVC; discounted tickets of any kind were not offered. In fact there were very few perks at all. I bought to be able to get a two bedroom villa at some type of discount and I did and have for over 21 years. I think some have unrealistic expectations, forget that Disney is a business, forget they bought a timeshare and nothing more, and therefore set themselves up for disappointment.

 

[Airb330]

I think some have unrealistic expectations, forget that Disney is a business, forget they bought a timeshare and nothing more, and therefore set themselves up for disappointment.

It's a lot of hits in one very short time period. I think if this was spread out longer, there'd be less outcry. Just because we all did only buy a timeshare (I agree with you), if the place the timeshare is located feels lesss magical overall (perceived or real), it is going to affect how people feel about DVC.

For us personally, we know DVC is still saving us a ton on rooms (and that is all we bought), but we are starting to feel nickle and dimed elsewhere on G+, APs, etc. We can still feel DVC is a huge value to us, but feel like overall WDW is not.

 

[Sandisw]

It's a lot of hits in one very short time period. I think if this was spread out longer, there'd be less outcry. Just because we all did only buy a timeshare (I agree with you), if the place the timeshare is located feels lesss magical overall (perceived or real), it is going to affect how people feel about DVC.

For us personally, we know DVC is still saving us a ton on rooms (and that is all we bought), but we are starting to feel nickle and dimed elsewhere on G+, APs, etc. We can still feel DVC is a huge value to us, but feel like overall WDW is not.

I do agree with you that many are struggling to find value with the cuts and there are a lot all at once.

But, on the flip side, many of us are still fine with it all, and will continue to go.

There really is no right or wrong way to look at it since everyone is different, and expectations for what makes it an enjoyable experience.

I also know it’s not just about money…even when one can afford it. People have options and it sounds like many will venture out. For us…at least me...I will stay in the bubble, and pay for what our family finds worth it and not for other things.

I am looking forward to seeing how the new changes play out. I already experienced using a car service vs DME when I went with friends and family and it was well worth it over the bus.

GP+ will hopefully be in full swing when we go next end of October. My friends are already planning on having to pay for it two of the three days we will be there. I am also paying for others..not me…to ride FOP since I can’t do it and it will allow us to enjoy more of the park as a group.

We are in for some interesting times ahead!

 

[Sammie]

It's a lot of hits in one very short time period. I think if this was spread out longer, there'd be less outcry. Just because we all did only buy a timeshare (I agree with you), if the place the timeshare is located feels lesss magical overall (perceived or real), it is going to affect how people feel about DVC.

For us personally, we know DVC is still saving us a ton on rooms (and that is all we bought), but we are starting to feel nickle and dimed elsewhere on G+, APs, etc. We can still feel DVC is a huge value to us, but feel like overall WDW is not.

Not sure how anyone can determine if Genie+ is worth the cost until they experience it. I might hate it but I have no idea yet.
As to the annual pass, it still saves money over multi day tickets so don't see the out cry there also. YMMV

 

[New Mouse]

Not sure how anyone can determine if Genie+ is worth the cost until they experience it. I might hate it but I have no idea yet.
As to the annual pass, it still saves money over multi day tickets so don't see the out cry there also. YMMV

Would you feel fastpass plus was worth $55 a day? If so, you will think genie is worth it, if not you will likely not.

People can determine if its worth it because its not a new product.

 

[Cabius]

People can determine if its worth it because its not a new product.

Yes and no. In some ways it's worse (top-tier attractions not included) and in some ways it may be better (more day-of availability).

A lot depends on how many people actually pay for it. That dictates how much availability there will be for those who do buy it, as well as what impact it has on standby queues.

We can decide how we feel about it conceptually (boo!), but when it comes to deciding whether to buy it or not, we're not evaluating it against FP+ anymore. We're evaluating the G+ experience to the non-G+ experience, and we genuinely don't know exactly what those experiences will be like.

 

[New Mouse]

We can decide how we feel about it conceptually (boo!), but when it comes to deciding whether to buy it or not, we're not evaluating it against FP+ anymore. We're evaluating the G+ experience to the non-G+ experience, and we genuinely don't know exactly what those experiences will be like.

We do... it was called max pass. This is max pass but without the rides people want to ride included.

Im not trying to bait you, this is literally a product that already existed and was dilluted and upcharged.

 

[Sammie]

Would you feel fastpass plus was worth $55 a day? If so, you will think genie is worth it, if not you will likely not.

People can determine if its worth it because its not a new product.

Genie+ is $15 a day? I think it will be different from Fastpass and until we see what all it offers, my opinion stands that it will be hard to say until each person uses it. I just know at first Fastpass got lots of criticism and then people liked it. Then they made it where you could book in advance and another huge uproar.

 

[vacay77]

We decided we won’t sell - at least not every contract. We are going to start going elsewhere with our points. And we still have our Marriott in HH which is such a wonderful treat for us to actually RELAX on a vacation! We booked that for next Spring break instead of disney. Thinking of the National Parks with RCI in 2022. Just started doing the research. I’m mad at the mouse right now so a no go for us (outside of a long ago booked resort only trip for
December with friends). We’ll have a car then too(friends are driving down), so Citywalk and off-site dining on the table.

What is the National Parks with RCI? After next year, I'd like to focus on National Parks.

 

[vacay77]

My family and I have a trip planned next month, staying at our home resort, VGC. It's been almost 2 years since I've been to DL and honestly, I'm not as excited as I used to be. I was planning on becoming a Magic Key member, but I think that's unlikely now. Yes, we've used MaxPass and I always recommended it to other guests of DL. But, there was still another FREE paper option for people who couldn't spend the extra money. I like that guests had choices. We opted to pay the extra $ for convenience, but it doesn't sit well with me that I'm going to have to pay even more money to ride some of the more popular rides like Radiator Springs Racer. Or perhaps even Space Mountain which is also a favorite ride of mine. Now, I know that we can do standby, but who knows how long that wait will be. And I know my husband - he will just pay the money so that we don't have to wait in the long line.

We have a trip planned in March to WDW - I wanted to go for the 50th anniversary celebration and the new ride (Ratatouille). I'm tempted to just do 2 days at WDW, then the remainder at Universal Studios. After that, we have one more family trip planned to DL, with my mom and extended family. One of the reasons I wanted DVC was because my son is an only child and I wanted to have space for him to bring a friend along as he gets older as well as invite my extended family. But with all the news being released, I think we will be taking a break after that from Disney. We'll still keep our DVC for the occasional DL trip when a new ride opens, but I'll probably start using our points for the Aulani since we are on the west coast and I loved our trip to the Aulani this past May. Unless they start charging for the lounge chairs and beach access, lol.

My husband tells me to wait until our October trip before I decide one way or another.