Annual pass replaced with Membership for DL and AP returning by October

[StaceyHSD]

Disneyland at least in recent AP configurations did not have free parking for all tiers. I could be wrong but I think in 2019 there was only free parking for the top tier. Maybe the two two tiers? This one at least has 50% off parkibg for the second tier.

Looking at it, it’s not THAT different from the pre-covid AP tiers for DL. For example, pre-covid the lowest level tier was also blacked pretty much all the weekends. The top tier is a little more expensive and it doesn’t include the MaxPass anymore which is a bummer but otherwise seems pretty similar with the level of food and merch discounts and so forth. I’m curious to see what the AP reservation avalibility will be. I just looked at the DL park reservation calendar and there are no days from now until Nov. 1 (EDIT: Dec. 1) (as far as it goes) that you can’t get a reservation for either park. Obviously weekends are where there will be problems if there are problems. Pre-covid it was not unheard of for the Mickey & Friends parking structure to completely fill up.

 

[NotUrsula]

In addition to the issues already mentioned about DL crowd control, one of the things that struck me most on my visits there were the number of kids being dropped at the parks during summer. I was at a convention about 14 years ago at the Anaheim Convention Center, and had to walk from my hotel down Harbor past the guest drop-off area every morning and afternoon. In the morning the street backed up for a couple of blocks as carloads of kids were dropped at the gates, many of them carrying lunchbags. There was one family in particular that I happened to notice because their car was an odd color; there were 2 young teens escorting in a minivan's worth of younger kids; and I saw them dropped at the parks 4 days in a row. I was chatting with a CM later one evening, and she told me that with the cost of AP's being pretty low, huge numbers of Orange County families treated DL like day camp in summer, dropping their children unsupervised every single weekday that school was not in session. She also said that a fair number of them were not given money for food, and ended up begging from CMs and other guests.

 

[SarahWI]

I just looked at the DL park reservation calendar and there are no days from now until Nov. 1 (as far as it goes) that you can’t get a reservation for either park.

I’m able to see out to 12/1 for park ressies. Is it 90 days for some people and 120 for others?

 

[StaceyHSD]

I’m able to see out to 12/1 for park ressies. Is it 90 days for some people and 120 for others?

Ha! That was my mistake because I can’t read. You are correct it’s December 1.

Also, I stand corrected regarding park reservations, 8/3 and 8/4 the only starting park available for parkhoppers is DCA. Everything else is wide open, though.

 

[SarahWI]

Ha! That was my mistake because I can’t read. You are correct it’s December 1

I was afraid there was something I had missed - I have way more WDW experience than DL. I’m terrified of missing some nuanced detail and messing up our January trip.

 

[Pooh's World]

In addition to the issues already mentioned about DL crowd control, one of the things that struck me most on my visits there were the number of kids being dropped at the parks during summer. I was at a convention about 14 years ago at the Anaheim Convention Center, and had to walk from my hotel down Harbor past the guest drop-off area every morning and afternoon. In the morning the street backed up for a couple of blocks as carloads of kids were dropped at the gates, many of them carrying lunchbags. There was one family in particular that I happened to notice because their car was an odd color; there were 2 young teens escorting in a minivan's worth of younger kids; and I saw them dropped at the parks 4 days in a row. I was chatting with a CM later one evening, and she told me that with the cost of AP's being pretty low, huge numbers of Orange County families treated DL like day camp in summer, dropping their children unsupervised every single weekday that school was not in session. She also said that a fair number of them were not given money for food, and ended up begging from CMs and other guests.

that would have been really fun. Wish I could've done that.

 

[malba2366]

It will be interesting to see if FL restructures their AP program to be like magic keys how they will equate to the present tiers … I’d assume
Platinum/Platinum Plus (anyone) >> Dream
Gold (FL Residents/DVC) >> Believe
Silver (FL Resident) >> Enchant
FL Resident Select>> Imagine

Likely very similar, the big change will be the reservations and higher priced passes will have more reservations at a time. There will probably e less blackouts in FL since there is much more capacity relative to the local population.

 

[Liquidice]

I think they will limit the number of Magic Keys and not simply sell as many as possible like the Annual Passes. There are a lot of interesting bits of info in the Terms and Conditions here: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/magic-key-terms-conditions/

PASS TYPE AVAILABILITY:

Pass types are limited in quantity, and not all Pass types may be available at any given time. Please check for Pass type availability before attempting to upgrade into a Pass.

Specifically it states that the Magic Keys are limited quantities and not all types of Passes may be available.

I also remember in the original Disney World Park Pass information that there was a "no show" penalty for Annual Passholders - so it doesn't surprise me that it is part of the Disneyland Magic Key program. I can't easily find info on it now, so maybe it was just a rumor when Park Passes first came out, but it was exactly the same as the Magic Key "penalty" that you could be "banned" from making park reservations for 30 days if you no show 3 times in a 90 day period. I don't believe this has ever been enforced at WDW for APs though.

Will be interesting to see what WDW does, if they just sell the existing APs at a higher price in the next few months or if they change the program a bit. It would be nice to have 6 Park Passes as an AP holder instead of just 3.

 

[Pooh's World]

Will be interesting to see what WDW does, if they just sell the existing APs at a higher price in the next few months or if they change the program a bit. It would be nice to have 6 Park Passes as an AP holder instead of just 3.

It would be nice if you could just go whenever you wanted to like before. That would be the equivalent of 365 park passes instead of just 3 or 6.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I’m really bummed with those blockout calendars. $650 with no weekends in October?

October is one of the busiest months of the year at DLR, thanks to the success of Halloween Time. Weekends can be crazy crowded.

No - I think the financing / payment plan is only available to certain residents. But there is no restriction on who can buy the pass itself. Unless I’m reading it wrong.

The lowest tier pass, the Imagine Key, is only available to Southern California residents. The monthly payment plan is available to all California residents.

 

[Liquidice]

It would be nice if you could just go whenever you wanted to like before. That would be the equivalent of 365 park passes instead of just 3 or 6.

I agree - but unfortunately, I think Park Passes are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

 

[kevtlas]

At this point I'd be happy to see any type of AP offered at WDW. At least the wait would be over!

 

[Disneyfan754321]

And for those wondering about Walt Disney World Annual Passes, new pass sales will become available in time for the start of the 50th anniversary celebration! Walt Disney World Resort will be sharing additional information and details later this month, so be sure to stay tuned to DisneyWorld.com and the Disney Parks Blog...

Finally they aleast give us a timeline, from yesterday announcement about DL this was at the bottom

 

[malba2366]

It would be nice if you could just go whenever you wanted to like before. That would be the equivalent of 365 park passes instead of just 3 or 6.

It would, but this is something Disney has probably wanted to do for a while and COVID is the perfect excuse. It benefits them to control park capacity and control the number of AP guests in the park at one time to the ratio they want since AP guest generally spend less than those on vacation.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

It would, but this is something Disney has probably wanted to do for a while and COVID is the perfect excuse. It benefits them to control park capacity and control the number of AP guests in the park at one time to the ratio they want since AP guest generally spend less than those on vacation.

I totally agree with you. It's just like with FP they knew it needed to change , March 2020 just made it easier.

 

[Disco]

In addition to the issues already mentioned about DL crowd control, one of the things that struck me most on my visits there were the number of kids being dropped at the parks during summer. I was at a convention about 14 years ago at the Anaheim Convention Center, and had to walk from my hotel down Harbor past the guest drop-off area every morning and afternoon. In the morning the street backed up for a couple of blocks as carloads of kids were dropped at the gates, many of them carrying lunchbags. There was one family in particular that I happened to notice because their car was an odd color; there were 2 young teens escorting in a minivan's worth of younger kids; and I saw them dropped at the parks 4 days in a row. I was chatting with a CM later one evening, and she told me that with the cost of AP's being pretty low, huge numbers of Orange County families treated DL like day camp in summer, dropping their children unsupervised every single weekday that school was not in session. She also said that a fair number of them were not given money for food, and ended up begging from CMs and other guests.

Disney already took steps to combat this a few years ago. Children are required to have an adult to enter. Forget what the age cutoff was but IDK if it even worked? I guess an adult could just walk in with their kid and then just leave...

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Disney already took steps to combat this a few years ago. Children are required to have an adult to enter. Forget what the age cutoff was but IDK if it even worked? I guess an adult could just walk in with their kid and then just leave...

I cant imagine walking in to disney to drop off my kid..
Here is from WDW site I'm sure DL is similar...

What is the minimum age requirement for unaccompanied children to enter Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and other locations? Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter the following Walt Disney World parks and locations: Magic Kingdom Park. Epcot

 

[Pixiedustmom12]

I am so excited to hear annual passes will be available before October 1st! We are booked for October 1-11, with park ticket days the 2-10. We are staying offsite. We are hoping to upgrade our tickets to annual passes. My question is, if I do that, will it mess up my park reservation days? I know currently AP holders can only have 3 days if not staying onsite. I thought about waiting to upgrade my last day, but don’t want to miss out on free parking, memory maker, and dining/shopping discounts as that’s part of the reason a pass makes sense for us. Help!

 

[Sandisw]

I am so excited to hear annual passes will be available before October 1st! We are booked for October 1-11, with park ticket days the 2-10. We are staying offsite. We are hoping to upgrade our tickets to annual passes. My question is, if I do that, will it mess up my park reservation days? I know currently AP holders can only have 3 days if not staying onsite. I thought about waiting to upgrade my last day, but don’t want to miss out on free parking, memory maker, and dining/shopping discounts as that’s part of the reason a pass makes sense for us. Help!

If you upgrade it may very well may cause a problem because the ticket you will have will be different.

So, it’s possible you will lose the days beyond the limit.

 

[Pixiedustmom12]

If you upgrade it may very well may cause a problem because the ticket you will have will be different.

So, it’s possible you will lose the days beyond the limit.

What do you think the chances are if we wait until we are there and talk with GS, they would spread some pixie dust let us keep them?