Annual Pass Renewal

[jo-jo]

We're very similar except you own DVC so stay longer. Which also means Disney doesn't get any $$$ for a hotel stay.

Except for the 2 to 5 grand most are paying for dues every year .

 

[DanielleC]

Don't fool yourself that a company doesn't know what you're buying/how much you're spending just because you're using a credit card. That card is in your name, and they know everything you've bought from them on it, when, and how much you spent.

A local chain grocery store here sends me coupons regularly for things I've purchased there - not using their store loyalty card, and always charging it on a credit card. I know they all do the data mining, but this makes it REALLY obvious. It annoys me to no end...

They really can't. The Chase privacy policy prohibits it unless I allow it and I don't. Disney would get in a whole lot of trouble if they capture that data. And besides, I spend more cash than use a card.

 

[DanielleC]

Except for the 2 to 5 grand most are paying for dues every year .

Yea, dues are paid. but they have to use that for maintenance. That can't be booked on the AR as Income.

 

[sheilafri]

Great thread. My AP expires in two weeks. So was coming here to find all the info that was included in this thread. So looks like there is no advantage of me waiting until the expiration date to renew. Might as well do it today.

And like others have said, with the risk of AP's not coming back for awhile, going to keep renewing while I can.

If you know you are going to renew might as well do it as soon as eligible (60 day window) to avoid the chance of a price increase or policy change for the worse.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Don’t let your AP lapse unless obviously it’s not financially responsible

 

[set88]

Besides, if they dropped all AP totally, as in no one could renew, then by the time that year rolled around attendance would suffer. No way would ticket sales totally offset all AP attendance. They are crazy if they think otherwise

I agree... I think when the current travel boom starts to die down, coupled with increased capacity and staffing, APs will be back. I doubt it will be multiple years. Maybe 2024.

 

[jrsharp21]

If you know you are going to renew might as well do it as soon as eligible (60 day window) to avoid the chance of a price increase or policy change for the worse.

Yup, I was thinking the same. Renewed yesterday! So good through end of September 2023 now!

 

[jrsharp21]

Question about renewing AP. So I just renewed online. Do I need to go get a new AP card the next time I go to WDW? I have been asked in the past at the resort to see my AP card. The AP card that the CM gave to me when I bought my AP back in September 2021 had an old expiration date on it. When I questioned him about it, he said it didn't matter and that they were using up old back stock of cards that they had left over when the parks shut down in 2020. He said that when it was scanned, it would show up active and valid. When a CM at one of the resort stores asked to see my card, he kept telling me the card was no good because it had an old expiration date on it. I kept telling him what the CM told me who gave me the card. He said I was told wrong. So I actually had to pull up my AP information in MDE to show him my pass was valid. So just checking to see if I do need to go get an updated AP card as to not run into this again? If so, where can you go get them, any ticket booth?

 

[Kingoglow]

Question about renewing AP. So I just renewed online. Do I need to go get a new AP card the next time I go to WDW? I have been asked in the past at the resort to see my AP card. The AP card that the CM gave to me when I bought my AP back in September 2021 had an old expiration date on it. When I questioned him about it, he said it didn't matter and that they were using up old back stock of cards that they had left over when the parks shut down in 2020. He said that when it was scanned, it would show up active and valid. When a CM at one of the resort stores asked to see my card, he kept telling me the card was no good because it had an old expiration date on it. I kept telling him what the CM told me who gave me the card. He said I was told wrong. So I actually had to pull up my AP information in MDE to show him my pass was valid. So just checking to see if I do need to go get an updated AP card as to not run into this again? If so, where can you go get them, any ticket booth?

If you have run into this problem, then it might be a good idea to go ahead and visit a ticket booth and get a physical card. Know that all of the information be shared right now says that Disney would rather see your Memberships & Passes screen in the MDE app. Some places wont accept the physical card anymore.

I got a physical card because I like to keep it in my wallet, but on both my trips this year, no one would accept the card; only the app.

 

[DanielleC]

If you have run into this problem, then it might be a good idea to go ahead and visit a ticket booth and get a physical card. Know that all of the information be shared right now says that Disney would rather see your Memberships & Passes screen in the MDE app. Some places wont accept the physical card anymore.

I got a physical card because I like to keep it in my wallet, but on both my trips this year, no one would accept the card; only the app.

I prefer staying off Disney's radar so while I have a really good smart phone I also have a flip phone which is about as dumb as they come. I show them that and that I can't put the app on it. I shut down MDE on the smart phone when I enter a park so they can't track me. My AP only says 2022-2023 so after I renew in March I get a new card issued at some point but I don't worry about it when I renew. And I keep it in an RFID shield when it's in my wallet. Disney must really hate me with what I do to stay off their radar.

 

[Jrb1979]

I agree... I think when the current travel boom starts to die down, coupled with increased capacity and staffing, APs will be back. I doubt it will be multiple years. Maybe 2024.

I disagree. I think it all depends on the amount of people who let their passes lapse. Instead of adding more pass holders they will have to get rid of when times are good again they will most likely ease some black out dates.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

I agree... I think when the current travel boom starts to die down, coupled with increased capacity and staffing, APs will be back. I doubt it will be multiple years. Maybe 2024.

I do not agree. Your two points of increased capacity and staffing have been dismissed by Disney itself. That is old logic that may have been valid last spring, but it appears from recent statements of Chapek and McCarthy that those reasons are no longer valid.

Disney now has an artificial cap on attendance -- about 17% below park maximum capacity. Disney also states, for the first time they have put a cap on the number of APs they have distributed. Chapek also says they will not bend on the artificial attendance cap, so they have to manage who they let into the parks. They want room for the ticketed family from Denver who comes once every 5 years. So, they "manage" annual passholders -- how many times they can go and when they can go. Christine McCarthy, CFO, said they had a lot of levers including relaxing block-out dates on existing passholders. But, if Disney feels it has the right mix with the capped attendance and capped number of AP sales, then they will use all their other tools/levers like sales, room discounts, lifting blackout dates, higher discount incentives and more to sway the attendance. They are not likely to add to the number of APs outstanding unless there is an increase in attendance capacity -- like new attractions. Neither Chapek, nor McCarthy has recently included lack of staffing as a reason for not opening new AP sales. That is not their current issue. So, increased capacity is not happening because Chapek said so directly and staffing is not the current issue. The issue is demand and saving spots for the family from Denver. Since they capped the number of APs distributed, they have to wait until people do not renew before those numbers are replenished for new sales of APs.

 

[Nick6300]

same situation as OP, our renewal is due early Nov. and we're not sure next use with a baby due in April. We have the Sams Club APs that had a long maturity (2030?). If we skipped renewal, and picked up again with our Sams APs, wouldn't we be able to renew those (despite no new sales), assuming no issues exchanging from Sams APs to Incredipass (maybe without memory maker).

 

[cm8]

First I think their reference to "unfavorable" was def a dig at Disneyland AP holders who literally come in many times a week, don't spend a dime, go on some rides, watch parades and fireworks then leave. It literally sits where it is an afterschool, afterwork, couple hours on the weekend stop off. I think the WDW guest base is completely different and there is no reason the two locations need to be treated the same in operation or annual passes.

In my devil's advocate you are the guest I am describing, the one who drops plenty of money in restaurants, stores etc. They already have your DVC commitment. My question to you is will your visits change, dining, shopping etc IF they no longer offer a discounted AP? What if they just offer discounted tickets to DVC like the FL Resident tickets (either the regular kind or those 4 day one park per day kind)?

I feel like the holdup on APs is (1) Right now operations are not sufficient for the current attendance so they have to fix that first. (2) I wouldn't be surprised to also get revamped APs like DL with all levels having block out dates. (3) I seriously hope the powers that be are doing more serious planning than in the past so they don't alienate a base that they will need when Epic Universe opens. LONG TERM plan instead of this knee jerk they've been doing.

This is us was well! If they bring back AP’s with all major Holidays blacked out, I think we may consider dropping our AP’s. We are DVC as well and qualify for Sorcerers but one of our yearly traditions are Christmas at the parks and because of it, we purchase the highest tier to have access. It’s not like we’re going for free! We’re paying on average and extra $700 to have the privilege of attending the parks for those 2 blocked out weeks!

We’d resort back to doing Disney less and make use of the Military specials that we used heavily prior to AP. All things being equal, we’d still get a discount using our DVC and Free parking at the parks because we will be staying on property.
I’d also think we’d switch to eating off property a lot more and visiting other FLA destinations just because we can. It’s my money and my right to choose how to spend it. Disney would become a distant memory for my family if things get too out of hand and I’m okay with that.

 

[JiminyCricketNJ]

Incredipass New - what you bought last November was $1299
and
to Renew it this November is $1104


The amount saved isn't really enough for me to renew if I weren't returning for a long time (do the monthly math of what is saved vs lost). And if you will only get one trip out of it, a loss. BUT with no idea when or what format they will return in ... or if out-of-state will even be able to buy AP going forward, that is a gamble one has to figure out the worth. Can you break even by November 2023?

We also live in NJ. DH and I have Incredipasses, purchased on 9/28/21. We are going next week and planning on renewing in the park. However, today I got an email with a "special renewal price" of $1175. This is the first time we have ever had annual passes and I don't want to let them lapse. Should I wait until next week? Is there a better in-park price (because Hopper Fan says renew is $1104)? Thanks in advance as I am just not knowledgeable about how renewals work. Any help appreciated!!

 

[RoseGold]

I renewed my APs and made myself an "Unfavorable Mix" shirt. Say hi when you see me!

 

[Miffy]

We also live in NJ. DH and I have Incredipasses, purchased on 9/28/21. We are going next week and planning on renewing in the park. However, today I got an email with a "special renewal price" of $1175. This is the first time we have ever had annual passes and I don't want to let them lapse. Should I wait until next week? Is there a better in-park price (because Hopper Fan says renew is $1104)? Thanks in advance as I am just not knowledgeable about how renewals work. Any help appreciated!!

I'm 90% sure that $1,104 is the price without taxes. The price with taxes is $1,175. I renewed my pass (formerly Platinum, now Incredi) in May and it was $1,175 and change, including tax.

There is no advantage to renewing it in the park and there is really no advantage to waiting . . . since . . . they could raise the price. If you're within your renewal window, you intend to renew, and you have the funds, renew now. The expiration date will always be one year from the time the former pass was activated, so you don't lose anything by renewing at the earliest opportunity.

 

[RoseGold]

I prefer staying off Disney's radar so while I have a really good smart phone I also have a flip phone which is about as dumb as they come. I show them that and that I can't put the app on it. I shut down MDE on the smart phone when I enter a park so they can't track me. My AP only says 2022-2023 so after I renew in March I get a new card issued at some point but I don't worry about it when I renew. And I keep it in an RFID shield when it's in my wallet. Disney must really hate me with what I do to stay off their radar.

Disney has the cameras of Vegas. They know exactly where you are.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

We also live in NJ. DH and I have Incredipasses, purchased on 9/28/21. We are going next week and planning on renewing in the park. However, today I got an email with a "special renewal price" of $1175. This is the first time we have ever had annual passes and I don't want to let them lapse. Should I wait until next week? Is there a better in-park price (because Hopper Fan says renew is $1104)? Thanks in advance as I am just not knowledgeable about how renewals work. Any help appreciated!!

$1,175 includes the 6.5% sales tax.

 

[Isamar]

I renewed my APs and made myself an "Unfavorable Mix" shirt. Say hi when you see me!

Someone should make “Unfavourable Mix” buttons.