Call for Ideas: New Membership Program Perks

[WDWRLD]

If everyone goes through the main gate dosent that defeat the purpose of the employee entrance perk?

Let's just say that there's 250 active members on here.  And we each tell 1 other family or driver of a car about this.  That's 500 possible cars going.  What are the odds that (1) all show up on the same day, (2) all show up at the same time, and (3) a large number have the wrong password.  And on top of that every one of them are Premiere Members to boot?

I think those odds would be slim.  I think at worse you get about 15-20 cars in that line with only having 1 or 2 having the wrong password.  And anyways, you would have to show your pass like you do now, but you would just hand if over saying "I'm here for Nessie's parking."

First off you are eliminating all pass holders that are not part of this fan group. What if they went with another fan group and you were left out of the loop all together. What if they offered that as a free perk but only gave those "passwords" to a website that charged their members to access the page. The password system would never work or be fair. That would be like saying exclusive events are a perk of membership but you have to have the correct password from a 3rd party website has to get in.

 

[warfelg]

Ok? If they did a few targeted forums it wouldn't change much because it's based on having a membership. You got to remember that us on this board represent a very small percentage of the actual membership/pass holders.

In all honesty I don't really have a problem that not all members having access to it, because it would be limited to the top level of Membership anyways.

 

[WDWRLD]

If everyone goes through the main gate dosent that defeat the purpose of the employee entrance perk?

IIRC it's at Downtown Disney, where you could pull up, and say something like that (again last time I remember my uncle saying "I heard Goofy is in town") and they gave you a 'blank ticket' for parking which gave you a no fee for the day (it was an hourly lot).  We then took transit over to Hollywood Studios for the day and spent the day there.  No charge parking.  (Or I actually think it was a cast member lot).

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If you parked in France, would an Ireland entrance still be a good perk? Tampa has something similar with a gate that is occasionally used for pass holders, and it drops people right in the middle of their park. Williamsburg hardly has a "middle of the park" area to speak of, due to their less square shaped layout.

I also worry that the park will jinx the employee entrance system, rendering an Ireland entrance less appealing. Until then, an Ireland entrance is a page right out of my greatest dreams.

Well, I think the idea here is the Ireland entrance is available but you don't have to use it.  You could still go to the main gate if you parked in France or Italy or Ireland.  That's why giving a way to park at those other lots goes hand in hand with the extra available gate for members.

At least that's the way I see it.

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Not sure what you are talking about paying to park at "Downtown Disney". Disney Springs as the name is now does not charge to park in their parking garages, only if you Valet or use preferred parking. And what you said you did about parking there and taking a bus to Hollywood Studios is exactly why for a period in time there was no bus service from DTD to theme parks. Because people were abusing the system and getting a free ride. If you used the employee lot that is a completely different circumstance you were using a trick to get a perk. It had nothing to do with being a passholder. That would be like a non passholder using the employee entrance and saying the password is "Nessie" to park for free using the passholder entrance because they say it on this fan site.

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Ok?  If they did a few targeted forums it wouldn't change much because it's based on having a membership.  You got to remember that us on this board represent a very small percentage of the actual membership/pass holders.

In all honesty I don't really have a problem that not all members having access to it, because it would be limited to the top level of Membership anyways.

Its advertised as a perk of membership.....that means everyone who pays for it gets to use it. Not a few elitist members of a fan website.

 

[Nicole]

Where did you see use of the employee entrance and England lot advertised? Marketing refused to commit to it as a permanent benefit, when we spoke with them.

 

[warfelg]

Not sure what you are talking about paying to park at "Downtown Disney". Disney Springs as the name is now does not charge to park in their parking garages, only if you Valet or use preferred parking. And what you said you did about parking there and taking a bus to Hollywood Studios is exactly why for a period in time there was no bus service from DTD to theme parks. Because people were abusing the system and getting a free ride. If you used the employee lot that is a completely different circumstance you were using a trick to get a perk. It had nothing to do with being a passholder. That would be like a non passholder using the employee entrance and saying the password is "Nessie" to park for free using the passholder entrance because they say it on this fan site.

Last time we did it was back in 2009, so almost a decade ago. But I still distinctly remember him showing his local membership pass, saying a phrase, and getting in for free.

Its advertised as a perk of membership.....that means everyone who pays for it gets to use it. Not a few elitist members of a fan website.

Again, talking about the future not at the moment.

And here's where things get twisted a bit. They could send it out in an email to all top level members if they want. They could do it through a site as a test pilot to see how it goes. Maybe send it out to 'frequent visitors' so the more you visit, the more likely you are to get the special parking.

Not sure why it's such a big deal. If the issue is that the parking could be too busy because everyone can use it, what's wrong with turning it into a 'secret perk' that anyone with that level can use, but you have to know it exists to use it?

Personally I have no problems with "secret perks" where they don't list it but it's available.

 

[WDWRLD]

Where did you see use of the employee entrance and England lot advertised?  Marketing refused to commit to it as a permanent benefit, when we spoke with them.

I saw it posted by Busch somewhere yet I cant find it now. Im sure like much info it has been scrubbed off the site and was probably a mistake to be made public. The only place I could still find it was on BGWfans link here. http://bgwfans.com/2018/busch-gardens-williamsburg-unveils-membership-program/
I guess I need to start taking screen shots of everything from Busch as they cant be trusted.

 

[Nicole]

I wrote that article. We chose the language, “when available” very carefully.

The use of the employee entrance was mentioned last year as being available for a limited time each morning. We have not seen it anywhere this year, and Marketing was very clear that Operations was not willing to agree to making it a full-time and official perk.

 

[WDWRLD]

I wrote that article.  We chose the language, “when available” very carefully.

The use of the employee entrance was mentioned last year as being available for a limited time each morning.  We have not seen it anywhere this year, and Marketing was very clear that Operations was not willing to agree to making it a full-time and official perk.

Well I cant find it anywhere now and many comments and links have been removed or pointed toward the cleaned up perks list.

 

[Nicole]

My impression is that the park wants to leave it as an unofficial perk both for the problem you mentioned of their being too many Premier Members, and because they sometimes use that entrance for special events. Keeping it an “underground” benefit manages the potential capacity issue, and gives them the ability to turn Members away at will.

 

[WDWRLD]

Exactly why I thought it was odd that all of a sudden they were publicizing it.

 

[Zimmy]

1. of all your example of Pass member preview is hardly representative of the daily passmember population. i would argue that pass member preview is a special day and a much large population shows up.
2. If that parking lot did fill the member would simply be re-directed to England. It is a perk not a right.
3. Nicole is right the DJ stuff is always terrible.
4. Shea is also right, unless I am there for another reason I would never go to BGW as if it were a club. First of all meh. Second of all HRBT. Finally VA Beach and Orf are filled with night clubs that are very close to me that I stopped going to in my 20s.

 

[WDWRLD]

1. of all your example of Pass member preview is hardly representative of the daily passmember population.  i would argue that pass member preview is a special day and a much large population shows up.  
2.  If that parking lot did fill the member would simply be re-directed to England.  It is a perk not a right.
3.  Nicole is right the DJ stuff is always terrible.
4.  Shea is also right, unless I am there for another reason I would never go to BGW as if it were a club.  First of all meh.  Second of all HRBT.  Finally VA Beach and Orf are filled with night clubs that are very close to me that I stopped going to in my 20s.

I think many people underestimate the number of passholders at BGW, but anyway. Im also not suggesting the park build a "night club" like at the oceanfront. Busch, if you want to talk let me know, you know my number.

 

[warfelg]

I don’t want to speak for everyone, but I think it’s less that we’re underestimating the number of pass holders, and more your overestimating how many show up every day.

Preview day is the only day a large % will show up on the same day/time.

Like I’ll say my most frequent days/times are Monday’s 6-close; Thursday 7-close; Friday daytime; Saturday 5-close. That’s what my work schedule sets up best for. I doubt there’s that large of a percent of members/pass holders getting to and leaving the park at the same time as me. Add in pass holders that aren’t local (some on here have said they drive 2-4 hours to get there) and you leave a lower likelyhood of them being there. Factor in vacations; family obligations; etc. There ends up a low likelyhood that you have a large number.

I would say last time I went with a large group and used some benefits for their benefit; it’s when a bunch of park enthusiast friends came down from PA, and we loaded into one car using my pass at BGW and KD for parking. Then again I bet both would have rather had 1 full size SUV with 8 people than 2-3 cars taking up spaces. Granted it means less revenue, but it also increases the need for more auxiliary lots to be opened when groups come in multiple cars.

 

[Zachary]

Just my two cents: I believe the community has a tendency to underestimate pass member attendance numbers but overestimate the number of Platinum/Premier memberships.

If we were talking about the entire membership base being granted access to the employee entrance and England lot it would be a nonstarter. That said, as a perk for just the top tier pass, it doesn't just seem reasonable, but I would argue it's essential.

I don't understand why, but every time the employee entrance and England lot are brought up to BGW as a Platinum/Premier perk, they start equivocating.

The fact of the matter is that a special parking entrance and "super-premium-type" parking is a core benefit of the top tier pass offerings at many parks. BGW, a park which has historically really not offered much to its AP holders in the way of benefits, has always provided that one key advantage to its top-tier passes.

Quite honestly, for many years, the use of the employee gate and England parking lot was the only perk that differentiated Platinum passes from the other tiers in Williamsburg. For many, this perk alone was enough to justify the purchase and renewal of a Platinum pass regardless of whether or not the pass holder plans to use the pass at another SEAS park.

In other words, despite the park being completely unwilling to actually make it an official benefit, it is an essential part of the value proposition for many Platinum/Premier membership holders. If you think about that for just a moment, it's insane that the park won't commit to the only valuable perk they have given exclusively to top tier passes.

The absurdly of this situation has all been compounded since the addition of the park's "Premier Parking" option which sells employee gate and England lot access to non-pass holders. This offering ensures that the logistics to facilitate guest access to the England lot through the employee gate are in place day in and day out. Yet, for some reason, the park is still unwilling to officially offer this same perk to Premier membership holders.

 

[WDWRLD]

Ive held a Platinum pass for I think from the first year they were offered up until two weeks ago when I changed over to the membership. I am there a few times a week, and its usually in the evenings and any combo of weekdays or weekends. Its very rare that I dont see the same guests over and over. I had one particular long conversations with a past park President in the Brauhaus year before last where he was asked about all the benefits of pass members at Seaworld Orlando and BGW Tampa. He was new to BGW at the time and I was curious of his thoughts and plans at the time. His number one answer to just about every question was the number of pass holders we have here. He said that at any given time there are so many passholders in the park and the number rose in the evenings and weekends that anything like the re rides would be overwhelmed by pass holders. We talked about special seating sections in shows and concerts, again his response was those sections would be fuller than the day guest sections. We didn't discuss things like breakdowns of pass levels just people in the parks on some type of unlimited admission ticket media other than a single or multi day admission. He said many of those perks in the Florida parks were to get pass holders into the parks. Many Florida Pass holders may only go a couple times a year but a pass is cheaper than two single day tickets. So where they may also have a large number of pass holders they are not in the park every week like here. In Florida there are other options they have to entice the pass holders to come there to spend more money. Here, there is no other competing park really for a family that just wants to ride a few on a Saturday afternoon. As far as the using the employee entrance and parking in the bus lot, for me its not an issue. Its easier and faster to just park in the normal lot coming right off the interstate. No if it could go back to the ways of the 90s where everyone came in that way and that was the "preferred" lot that would be awesome. And please bring back the bags of snacks they gave out as you climbed the hill back to the parking lot. I would always make sure to get a drink on the way out of the park to go with my free snacks every night.

 

[Nicole]

My understanding is that most pass holders were 1 and 2 park pass holders and Fun Card holders.

 

[whanna]

I still say that simply having a few (1/3?) dedicated toll booths for pass members would be welcome. Scan and go. Scan and go. No fishing for quarters between the seats AFTER pulling up to the window, passing credit cards, etc. The same is true at the turnstiles to get into the park. Set 1/3 for pass members only - a lot less fumbling with six pages of 8.5x11 (one for each member of the family for their one day visit).
I don't mind parking in Germany/Italy and riding the tram, but I get frustrated waiting 15 minutes from the time I can see the toll booth until I get there. Likewise getting into the park at 10 am with the crush of everyone else. I just drove five hours, I want to get to Ireland and see the facade of Grogan's - then I'm in the park, vacation has started, DC traffic stress is fading away.

I would be interested to know the daily demographics of park attendance. Are 50% of the attendees, daily average, pass members of some flavor? 80%? My guess is closer to 50% than 80%, and the park will likely never allow such a figure to be published. I get that it's higher than the majority of amusement parks around the world, but the pass holders/members are more likely to be organized and get through admission points much quicker than 'the rest of them' (I am NOT trying to sound elitist).

 

[WDWRLD]

I still say that simply having a few (1/3?) dedicated toll booths for pass members would be welcome. Scan and go. Scan and go. No fishing for quarters between the seats AFTER pulling up to the window, passing credit cards, etc. The same is true at the turnstiles to get into the park. Set 1/3 for pass members only - a lot less fumbling with six pages of 8.5x11 (one for each member of the family for their one day visit).
I don't mind parking in Germany/Italy and riding the tram, but I get frustrated waiting 15 minutes from the time I can see the toll booth until I get there. Likewise getting into the park at 10 am with the crush of everyone else. I just drove five hours, I want to get to Ireland and see the facade of Grogan's - then I'm in the park, vacation has started, DC traffic stress is fading away.

I would be interested to know the daily demographics of park attendance. Are 50% of the attendees, daily average, pass members of some flavor? 80%? My guess is closer to 50% than 80%, and the park will likely never allow such a figure to be published. I get that it's higher than the majority of amusement parks around the world, but the pass holders/members are more likely to be organized and get through admission points much quicker than 'the rest of them' (I am NOT trying to sound elitist).

I see just as many passholders holding up the line, things like expired paid in full passes, people that the credit card they have on file has changed/expired causing pass to be locked and other issues hold up the line just as much as day guests IMO. And at the toll booth even for pass holders its slow, you hand them a pass, they scan it, then ask for a zip code, then collect the stack of useless paper and a parking pass which that have to date, then hand it all back to you. Its so slow.

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My understanding is that most pass holders were 1 and 2 park pass holders and Fun Card holders.

Those were the largest majority of pass holders. Platinum is a small percentage.

 

[Nicole]

Yes. That was my point. Which why I believe a Premium entrance in Ireland would work.

 

[warfelg]

Only time I've spent more than 30 seconds at the booth is when I'm taking care of a kennel stay for Maggie, and even then it doesn't take more than 2 minutes. I dunno when or what's going on when you get there.

In fact I did have a problem with my card not going through once, and they let me in and told me to go to the CS stand and take care of it without stopping me too long at the booth there.