Annual Pass advice needed

[BriarRose924]

With no new sales of APs (besides Pixie) looking like it’s coming any time soon, would you purchase the Pixie now instead of waiting for another pass to be back? I’m wondering if after the comments about APs, if they will halt all sales and I’ll be stuck with no options. What’s everyone’s thoughts on if they will do away with new sales or possibly even renewals? I moved to FL and now I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit like we had hoped. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Will you use it? If you will, grab it.

If you’re just buying it to snag a chance to have one in the future that would be a waste of money to me and I would not do it.

 

[CinderEmma94]

With no new sales of APs (besides Pixie) looking like it’s coming any time soon, would you purchase the Pixie now instead of waiting for another pass to be back? I’m wondering if after the comments about APs, if they will halt all sales and I’ll be stuck with no options. What’s everyone’s thoughts on if they will do away with new sales or possibly even renewals? I moved to FL and now I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit like we had hoped. Any advice is appreciated!

We had to buy pixie for our 3 year old when she turned 3. If we want to upgrade we can at renewal but as Orlando locals we avoid the weekends and major holidays anyway so we will likely downgrade the rest of the family (two pirates and a sorcerer) instead of upgrade hers. It depends on when you’ll be able to go.

 

[lorenae]

If you go on weekdays and non-holidays, the Pixie pass is better than no pass (and it’s free parking even if you go on a day when you need to purchase a ticket, like on on Saturday). If you only want to go when kids are out of school and that’s mostly weekends and holidays, then it’s no deal at all.

 

[BriarRose924]

Will you use it? If you will, grab it.

If you’re just buying it to snag a chance to have one in the future that would be a waste of money to me and I would not do it.

We would definitely use it, but we were holding out for a pass without as many block outs. I think we’d prob use one with weekend and kids time off more but this would work for us too. But now I’m also wondering if they will get rid of AP all together!

 

[BriarRose924]

If you go on weekdays and non-holidays, the Pixie pass is better than no pass (and it’s free parking even if you go on a day when you need to purchase a ticket, like on on Saturday). If you only want to go when kids are out of school and that’s mostly weekends and holidays, then it’s no deal at all.

We would use it but I think an upgraded pass would be better for us but we could make it work. Do you think they will get rid of all APs at some point. Go figure moving close to Disney, and now worrying you won’t have APs in the future haha

 

[CinderEmma94]

We would definitely use it, but we were holding out for a pass without as many block outs. I think we’d prob use one with weekend and kids time off more but this would work for us too. But now I’m also wondering if they will get rid of AP all together!

I wouldn’t hold out for one without as many blackouts if I were you. They could turn off sales completely at any time They could get rid of them entirely (including renewals) but no one knows that except for Disney. People have been arguing about both sides on the boards for months. The truth is no one knows anything except what they told us - they value day tickets more and there is one pass currently available to buy.

 

[RoseGold]

If the other passes come back, they will probably let you upgrade and prorate it. They used to do this in the past.

 

[BriarRose924]

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate the input and advice!

 

[JodyK]

I had this situation and bought the Pixie Pass I'm hoping to upgrade it when/if they bring the other passes back.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

If the other passes come back, they will probably let you upgrade and prorate it. They used to do this in the past.

Once sales reopen you can upgrade. They do not prorate. Passholder line said if it is not activated they will credit full value against the upgrade. If it has been used, you pay the difference and the start date is the same as the old pass. You can also abandon the old pass and just buy the new pass with a new start date. You can also buy pixie now and upgrade at renewal.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

The truth is no one knows anything except what they told us - they value day tickets more and there is one pass currently available to buy.

I disagree with your statement that no one knows anything. Sorry. Chapek, CEO OF Disney and McCarthy, CFO Of Disney have reported and spoken about considerably more than what you just said. They capped the number of annual passes they distributed at WDW. They lowered gate attendance caps to help with guest experience quality and they will not bend on that decision. They want the right mix of guests between ticketed guests and passholders. They do not want infrequent guests turned away at the gates so they want to reserve some park spaces for them. They intend to exercise more control over who enters their parks, when and how often. They want to remain a world class destination resort and not somebody’s private playground. However, most importantly, they capped the number of annual passes sold. Now, people do say they are not renewing for many reasons. Eventually, when Disney has enough non-renewed passes where they can have enough inventory to re-open sales for a reasonable time they will do so. They might tweak the program too. So, WHEN is when they have enough inventory. All of this comes from Disney.

 

[BriarRose924]

Follow up question since it looks like we will be buying the Pixie pass, If my parents want to buy my kids their pass as a gift, but my parents aren't FL residents, can they use their credit card to purchase them or no, Ill have to use mine and them reimburse me? Thanks

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Follow up question since it looks like we will be buying the Pixie pass, If my parents want to buy my kids their pass as a gift, but my parents aren't FL residents, can they use their credit card to purchase them or no, Ill have to use mine and them reimburse me? Thanks

They determine Florida residency by a number of means. There is a page on it on their website on annual passes. But, one thing it came down to when I purchased FL residency is I had a FL driver's license and a credit card with a FL address. If this were me, I would do the purchase and the G'parents can reimburse (because they don't have a credit card with a Florida address.

 

[RoseGold]

can they use their credit card to purchase them or no, Ill have to use mine and them reimburse me? Thanks

You have to have FL credit card to buy FL passes, I believe the same is true for the special UK passes. The workaround would be Disney gift cards, which may or may not work.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

There are other documents that Disney will accept. They are listed on Disney’s website.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Follow up question since it looks like we will be buying the Pixie pass, If my parents want to buy my kids their pass as a gift, but my parents aren't FL residents, can they use their credit card to purchase them or no, Ill have to use mine and them reimburse me? Thanks

They can buy it sure but you’ll have to provide proof of residency at the gate to validate them. Additionally when my mother in law renewed her pass this year she specifically had to use her Florida credit card billing addresses as she didn’t switch everything over yet.

 

[conandrob240]

They can buy it sure but you’ll have to provide proof of residency at the gate to validate them. Additionally when my mother in law renewed her pass this year she specifically had to use her Florida credit card billing addresses as she didn’t switch everything over yet.

You don’t have to provide proof of residency for a child.

 

[BroganMc]

I disagree with your statement that no one knows anything. Sorry. Chapek, CEO OF Disney and McCarthy, CFO Of Disney have reported and spoken about considerably more than what you just said. They capped the number of annual passes they distributed at WDW. They lowered gate attendance caps to help with guest experience quality and they will not bend on that decision. They want the right mix of guests between ticketed guests and passholders. They do not want infrequent guests turned away at the gates so they want to reserve some park spaces for them. They intend to exercise more control over who enters their parks, when and how often. They want to remain a world class destination resort and not somebody’s private playground. However, most importantly, they capped the number of annual passes sold. Now, people do say they are not renewing for many reasons. Eventually, when Disney has enough non-renewed passes where they can have enough inventory to re-open sales for a reasonable time they will do so. They might tweak the program too. So, WHEN is when they have enough inventory. All of this comes from Disney.

If any of that is true then why can I not get a Park reservation for Magic Kingdom on October 5th for my sister who has a day pass which she bought directly through Disney, however I can get a Park reservation for Magic Kingdom for my brother who has a sorcerer annual pass? Apparently in this case they a prioritized the annual pass holder over the day guest. Honestly I don't think these two even understand their own system. But they are just arrogant and stupid enough to hold on to it until they get fired. And then they will probably blame the guest.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

If any of that is true then why can I not get a Park reservation for Magic Kingdom on October 5th for my sister who has a day pass which she bought directly through Disney, however I can get a Park reservation for Magic Kingdom for my brother who has a sorcerer annual pass? Apparently in this case they a prioritized the annual pass holder over the day guest. Honestly I don't think these two even understand their own system. But they are just arrogant and stupid enough to hold on to it until they get fired. And then they will probably blame the guest.

Way back in the forum posts about six months ago there was a discussion about priorities between the two buckets: bucket 1 with ticketed guests and resort reservation guests with either tickets or APs and bucket 2 with all the non-resort APs.

A person who apparently has close ties to Disney explained they want

Club 33 and Golden Oak homeowners
Bucket 1
Bucket 2

Because of the California lawsuit Nielsen v Disney, right now they are prioritizing
Club 33 and Golden Oak
Bucket 2
Bucket 1

It was a little more detailed with cast member benefits etc, but that was the basic explanation. That would explain why Sorcerer APs can still get priority over ticketed guests for now.