Not renewing our APs

[sueg]

We have owned DVC since OKW was the Vacation Club. We have had AP almost as long. With our 2 DSs, we had some wonderful vacations. Our use of DVC has changed. DH & I primarily use it for the festivals. F & W was our favorite, where we spent 5-6 days. But the loss of the breakfast/luncheons in the countries and the cooking/baking demos has made F & W our least favorite. We booked 5 days for F & W this year, actually left early on the fifth day, had breakfast at First Watch and drove home.
It was an emotional decision to let our APs lapse, because we may not spend 10+ days in the park. We have 2 contracts & over 400 pts. per year and we really have to figure this out.

 

[DisTravels]

We have owned DVC since OKW was the Vacation Club. We have had AP almost as long. With our 2 DSs, we had some wonderful vacations. Our use of DVC has changed. DH & I primarily use it for the festivals. F & W was our favorite, where we spent 5-6 days. But the loss of the breakfast/luncheons in the countries and the cooking/baking demos has made F & W our least favorite. We booked 5 days for F & W this year, actually left early on the fifth day, had breakfast at First Watch and drove home.
It was an emotional decision to let our APs lapse, because we may not spend 10+ days in the park. We have 2 contracts & over 400 pts. per year and we really have to figure this out.

Timeshares in general are great for phases of life, but not necessarily all phases of life.

DVC may have a little extra utility due to proximity to parks, but not uncommon that needs change. The good news is DVC has value if you do decide to start selling or renting.

 

[Murron]

We have owned DVC since OKW was the Vacation Club. We have had AP almost as long. With our 2 DSs, we had some wonderful vacations. Our use of DVC has changed. DH & I primarily use it for the festivals. F & W was our favorite, where we spent 5-6 days. But the loss of the breakfast/luncheons in the countries and the cooking/baking demos has made F & W our least favorite. We booked 5 days for F & W this year, actually left early on the fifth day, had breakfast at First Watch and drove home.
It was an emotional decision to let our APs lapse, because we may not spend 10+ days in the park. We have 2 contracts & over 400 pts. per year and we really have to figure this out.

This is exactly us. We did renew APs this year, but it will be the last. Our adult children have zero interest in Disney. We will probably sell our 4 contracts at the end of 2024.. At first we thought we'd hang on to Vero Beach for retirment, but we then moved to SE North Carolina with beaches all over the place. We would go to WDW twice a year for Food/Wine and Flower/Garden. Everything changes. Everything overly crowed. Paying for rides. Mediocre food. Less interactive experiences. It's our time to move forward and continue our other adventures. It was a fun ride throughout the years!

 

[SteveH]

Sounds like a good time to give Aulani a try

 

[Judique]

We have owned DVC since OKW was the Vacation Club. We have had AP almost as long. With our 2 DSs, we had some wonderful vacations. Our use of DVC has changed. DH & I primarily use it for the festivals. F & W was our favorite, where we spent 5-6 days. But the loss of the breakfast/luncheons in the countries and the cooking/baking demos has made F & W our least favorite. We booked 5 days for F & W this year, actually left early on the fifth day, had breakfast at First Watch and drove home.
It was an emotional decision to let our APs lapse, because we may not spend 10+ days in the park. We have 2 contracts & over 400 pts. per year and we really have to figure this out.

I've had annual passes on and off for about 25 years. I've based renewing on future plans.

The parks themselves have become less important to me. I've even had short trips without going into a park and had a great time.

I still have a voucher in my account that expires in 2030 so at some point soon I will have to activate it. Probably in a year or two. I'll arrange my trips to allow enough overlap to get maybe 20 days out of it - such as December, January, February and November. Then perhaps letting it lapse and start another in late February. Repeat cycle if desired or just buy a short ticket when desired.

Meanwhile I am undecided on how I'll manage my upcoming Dec and Feb trip. Dec so far is solo. I may just do a park day, Hoop De Do and a lot of Disney Springs, walking and possibly Xmas shopping in the area. Plus a visit to see some Xmas decorations at a few of my favorite resorts.

I used to love Food and Wine but it's less important to me now.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

This is exactly us. We did renew APs this year, but it will be the last. Our adult children have zero interest in Disney. We will probably sell our 4 contracts at the end of 2024.. At first we thought we'd hang on to Vero Beach for retirment, but we then moved to SE North Carolina with beaches all over the place. We would go to WDW twice a year for Food/Wine and Flower/Garden. Everything changes. Everything overly crowed. Paying for rides. Mediocre food. Less interactive experiences. It's our time to move forward and continue our other adventures. It was a fun ride throughout the years!

Same with the adult children. Agree with your assessment of al things WDW. I've been continually surprised by the condition of the villas at OKW - which is my preferred resort and home of all contracts. So not interested in walking from a parking lot through corridors for a room.

Struggling with the fact that I moved to Florida last year so it is great for storm evacuations (except when it isn't because reservations are shut down) and that I have dear friends here that also love going and also have APs.

Lastly, I wish upon a star every night that my daughter will change her mind and allow my grandchildren to go to WDW. If they were in the mix, I absolutely would not give up the points or the APs.

 

[DisTravels]

Lastly, I wish upon a star every night that my daughter will change her mind and allow my grandchildren to go to WDW. If they were in the mix, I absolutely would not give up the points or the APs.

If not WDW, can they go to Universal? (not sure if SeaWorld is also taboo). That may at least get them to FL and maybe Disney Springs.

 

[condorthb]

If not WDW, can they go to Universal? (not sure if SeaWorld is also taboo). That may at least get them to FL and maybe Disney Springs.

This is what my family is going to start doing. Using OKW as a home base. Getting AP to Universal with express pass after 4. Plus exploring other parts of Florida.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This is what my family is going to start doing. Using OKW as a home base. Getting AP to Universal with express pass after 4. Plus exploring other parts of Florida.

I’ve heard Express Pass at Universal is an absolute Cluster because there are too many people who have it….

 

[marmentrout85]

I’ve heard Express Pass at Universal is an absolute Cluster because there are too many people who have it….

Obviously depends on the day but it's more likely to get clustered after that 4pm window when the Premier APs can use it.

 

[marmentrout85]

This is what my family is going to start doing. Using OKW as a home base. Getting AP to Universal with express pass after 4. Plus exploring other parts of Florida.

We usually split time between Universal and Disney and Universal's overall value is tough to beat. Not to mention you'll have those AP hotel rates in case you want something different than OKW.

I just checked a random string of 4 nights at Endless Summer Dockside for next month Dec 8-12 and rooms are available for $74/night!

Low prices can definitely be had all throughout the year. Sure, it isn't a DVC Deluxe Villa, but you do get that crucial full hour of Early Park Admission when staying on property (but I guess you'd also get the Early Park Admission perk with your Premier Pass so I digress lol). But yeah, as a huge fan of both Disney and Universal I totally understand not wanting to renew the WDW AP.

 

[Sandisw]

I’ve heard Express Pass at Universal is an absolute Cluster because there are too many people who have it….

There is a reason why only the original three resorts that offer it are still the only ones that do.

 

[Travel60]

Have owned DVC since practically the beginning. Have never had an annual pass even when the kids were younger.

Between DHs job, my job, and kids school the only time we had for vacation was first couple of weeks of August. We rotated WDWDVC, Hilton Head, Vero Beach, DCL and once Aulani. We'd go a few days to the parks but other things too.

Now that it's just DH and I, we spend 4-6 weeks in a one or two bedroom at WDW DVC, HHI and VB every winter. It's cheaper and less stressful than the snowbird condo we used to own in Florida. We took the grandkids to WDW a couple of years ago - I made DD do the planning. It was fine but kids would rather be swimming.

 

[broncofan]

"Everything changes. Everything overly crowed. Paying for rides. Mediocre food. Less interactive experiences. It's our time to move forward and continue our other adventures. It was a fun ride throughout the years!"

This is us too - but it's hard to let go of how much we loved the place from when we started 17 years ago to as late as 5 years ago.

It's not even all their fault - that's just how things work. If demand goes up and people will pay more for less, what company can resist charging more and delivering less? Will always be grateful for the memories - it was an amazing way to get the family together having some active fun outdoors for many years. We had some truly special trips - but things change and you just have to change with them!

 

[JeffjonesHfx]

We are actually on the other side of this issue. I just bought resale this spring and my wife and I usually go to DW for 2 weeks in the summer (her being a teacher and all) but would also like to come for a week or so around spring break or possibly a long weekend. But where we are in Canada and only own resale we are blocked out from buying the Sorcerer's pass so we have to buy dated tickets for our summer trip (thanks Attraction Tickets), and can't justify buying dated tickets for other shorter trips throughout the year or buying the top tier pass for possibly 20 - 25 days for the year. So Disney's policy on APs for DVC resale owners actually keeps me away from Disney outside of my once a year trip.

 

[cvjw]

Same. Only we gave up annual passes in 2017 when we started cruising. Had annual passes for over 10 years. Haven’t missed them a bit. Disney has just gotten too complex, expensive and crowded.

We sold over half our DVC points, and rent out some every year to pay for cruises. Disney just doesn’t have the same appeal to us as it used to, which is very sad. We had some great years vacationing 3+ weeks per year at Disney when our boys were younger.

 

[peabody58]

Our AP expires next Sept. We will not be renewing for at least a few years. As we still have 3 NE tics left and 7 'plus' tics for WP/MG, we should be able to do several trips as we let our point balance build up again. We have family in the area to see and would really like to do some Resort only stays. At 67 yo, we don't need the park experience as much anymore. Bringing our Yorkie to the CFW is enticing. Also looking at a HHI stay and visit Savannah / Tybee Island. DVC has a lot of options which do not require park admission.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I can empathize and understand how many long-time WDW fans have become disillusioned with the parks today and will shy away from renewing annual passes. We've contemplated not renewing ours either but view having an AP as a tool for flexibility. If we go to day-based tickets, we'd feel pressure to stay in the parks longer each day to get the full value of using the day on the ticket. With APs, popping into Epcot for even an hour is no big deal and something we may do in the evenings.

Love the flexibility an AP provides.

 

[tidefan]

We also let our APs lapse in August of this year. We just don't go enough to the parks to make it work out anymore like we used to. In fact, we have a nice-sized trip over New Year's at CFW, but just plan on enjoying the campground and maybe visiting some of the resorts to see the decorations and watch Fireworks from the beach at FW.

COVID really changed our usage of points as we branched out more to Aulani, HHI, and VB. Definitely plan on using points there more often. Now, we will still get to WDW, but probably not enough to justify the AP (like we did in the past)...

 

[E2ME2]

I can empathize and understand how many long-time WDW fans have become disillusioned with the parks today and will shy away from renewing annual passes. We've contemplated not renewing ours either but view having an AP as a tool for flexibility. If we go to day-based tickets, we'd feel pressure to stay in the parks longer each day to get the full value of using the day on the ticket. With APs, popping into Epcot for even an hour is no big deal and something we may do in the evenings.

Love the flexibility an AP provides.

We switched from buying APs every 3rd year to renewing every year, beginning in 2020, when I retired. Luckily we renewed before COVID hit, and have not let them lapse. Many fellow DVCers were ticked off when APs were unavailable post-COVID. It’s mainly a convenience for us. Since we are on property for 2 months, it’s great being able to pop in and out at our leisure. We’re not hard-core ride junkies, but enjoy the shows, parades, fireworks, and safaris.
We enjoy EPCOT during the Festival of the Arts. We like hanging out in the DVC lounges. We also love Moonlight Magic nights. When you are on property for 60 days or more, the AP cost-per-visit really decreases.
I also benefit greatly by adding the water-park & sports option onto our AP. That option allows me to golf for free at Oak Trail, and allows the DW and I to play mini-golf for free at all of the WDW Putt-Putt courses.