Any idea when we can buy WDW annual passes?

[CaptAwesome]

Person 2 lived far away from Disney and APs were not financially feasible, so Person 2 visited every year, sometimes twice a year, and bought tickets each time. Then Person 2's dreams came true and Person 2 got to move to the Orlando area. Person 2, with pixie dust in the eyes, called Disney and said, "Hey Disney, I just move here and I'm so excited to visit your parks a lot more often and I'd love to purchase APs!" (Imagine, at this point, Person 2 has the same look as when Ralphie told Santa that he wanted the BB gun in Christmas Story). Disney turns to Person 2 and says, "Are you crazy? We have a reservation system and if we sold you BRAND NEW APs the whole system would shut down." Person 2, looking stunned, says "But you just sold BRAND NEW APs to Person 1 a few minutes ago. Why not me?" Disney looks angry and mutters "Well, previous AP ownership or something, not enough reservations, too many AP holders here on weekends and holidays, COVID, that's why. But, would you like to buy a day ticket for this weekend or any other weekend this year? We're not limiting the purchase of day tickets." Person 2's life is shattered (okay, that's a little too dramatic, but you get the point).

I am another Person 2.

I sent an email to Passholder Services last week and was told (paraphrasing) tough luck, and we don't have a timeline for when we're going to sell them again.

All I want is some kind of idea of when they might be available. I don't understand the difference between those who had them before and asked for a refund, and those who didn't have them. And, as a local, I'll spend money in the parks, just not on tickets. It's especially maddening when Universal let us buy them with no issues and gave us three extra months to enjoy them.

I've already purchased two sets of the Florida resident passes. I don't really want to do that again. I'm hopeful that the money we've spent on those passes can be used towards APs when they are available again.

 

[whiteness]

I don't understand the difference between those who had them before and asked for a refund, and those who didn't have them. And, as a local, I'll spend money in the parks, just not on tickets. It's especially maddening when Universal let us buy them with no issues and gave us three extra months to enjoy them.

I agree. I think it is wrong for Disney to create different classes of Guests based on who happened to have a pass prior to COVID.

 

[TinkB278]

I agree. I think it is wrong for Disney to create different classes of Guests based on who happened to have a pass prior to COVID.

I also agree with both of you. The whole thing just seems wrong and unfair. In my opinion, if they don’t want to create resentment, it should be an all or none thing.

 

[starry_solo]

First, I apologize if this has been asked before (it's hard to wade through all the posts). DH and I both let our passes expire after the parks reopened. We live in NJ and with travel restrictions (that we must adhere to because we are both teachers) and have not been able to book a trip (actually we've moved the same trip 4 times).

We purchased 10 day tickets from DVC, but would we be able to upgrade them when we arrive in Disney this summer? I saw some people were able to "reactivate" cancelled passes, but wasn't sure if this was the same with expired. Our 5yo has an AP since we renewed hers thinking we would actually get to go to Disney during the school year.

TYIA. And again apologies if this has been asked before.

The responses I have seen have been no, you cannot buy new APs if yours expired and you are past the renewal period. I haven't seen anyone post that they were allowed to purchase new APs after theirs expired and were past the 30-day grace period (I didn't search through this thread, but there has been another thread that talks about the same thing).

 

[MuppetBaby]

Hubby and I are in the group of, “had out of state APs, skipped a year - because we were going to Disneyland - decided to move here and wanted to wait until we could get resident prices and then we got here riiiiiight as everything shut down and now we are out of luck”.

What really burns my goat is that people who canceled their passes during the closure were able to get them back but I can’t buy one. THEY GAVE THEIRS UP. Why would Disney allow them to get them back? I don’t think that’s fair. Or why not let new people buy one and don’t allow renewals.

I’m frustrated that Disney looks down on APs and doesn’t think they spend enough money. That logic escapes me. When we lived in Virginia, we came here 5 times a year. That’s hotel money, food money, occasional merch, special hard ticketed events. We COULD come here that much BECAUSE we had an AP. If we didn’t have one for WDW we would probably do what we are doing now - spending our money at other local themes parks that offer APs. In the last 6 months we’ve stayed onsite 4 times (Riveria, Boardwalk and Coronado twice) and eaten on property even more. But they won’t let me buy an AP because they don’t spend money? Beyond frustrating.

 

[LSUmiss]

Hubby and I are in the group of, “had out of state APs, skipped a year - because we were going to Disneyland - decided to move here and wanted to wait until we could get resident prices and then we got here riiiiiight as everything shut down and now we are out of luck”.

What really burns my goat is that people who canceled their passes during the closure were able to get them back but I can’t buy one. THEY GAVE THEIRS UP. Why would Disney allow them to get them back? I don’t think that’s fair. Or why not let new people buy one and don’t allow renewals.

I’m frustrated that Disney looks down on APs and doesn’t think they spend enough money. That logic escapes me. When we lived in Virginia, we came here 5 times a year. That’s hotel money, food money, occasional merch, special hard ticketed events. We COULD come here that much BECAUSE we had an AP. If we didn’t have one for WDW we would probably do what we are doing now - spending our money at other local themes parks that offer APs. In the last 6 months we’ve stayed onsite 4 times (Riveria, Boardwalk and Coronado twice) and eaten on property even more. But they won’t let me buy an AP because they don’t spend money? Beyond frustrating.

That’s us. We go 6 times a year & stay deluxe or villas (cash side). We also buy a lot of merchandise since DS is 2. Luckily we still have our APs & continue to renew. But on the list for a callback to but DS one since he’ll be 3 for next trip.

 

[Catlover77]

Hubby and I are in the group of, “had out of state APs, skipped a year - because we were going to Disneyland - decided to move here and wanted to wait until we could get resident prices and then we got here riiiiiight as everything shut down and now we are out of luck”.

What really burns my goat is that people who canceled their passes during the closure were able to get them back but I can’t buy one. THEY GAVE THEIRS UP. Why would Disney allow them to get them back? I don’t think that’s fair. Or why not let new people buy one and don’t allow renewals.

I’m frustrated that Disney looks down on APs and doesn’t think they spend enough money. That logic escapes me. When we lived in Virginia, we came here 5 times a year. That’s hotel money, food money, occasional merch, special hard ticketed events. We COULD come here that much BECAUSE we had an AP. If we didn’t have one for WDW we would probably do what we are doing now - spending our money at other local themes parks that offer APs. In the last 6 months we’ve stayed onsite 4 times (Riveria, Boardwalk and Coronado twice) and eaten on property even more. But they won’t let me buy an AP because they don’t spend money? Beyond frustrating.

Maybe we “gave ours up” because we had cancer and couldn’t risk dying of Covid! Attacking someone because they’re ill is not nice!

 

[beesly]

Out of state. But I don’t know how much a new AP costs now b/c we have been renewing for a few years now.

$1,272.68

 

[DL1WDW2]

I am not complaining but the decisions do seem weird Especially since Disneyland just cancelled their entire AP category And plans to introduce something different altogether.
The amount of time and energy for guests plus hiring castmembers to staff phone lines to answer questions and issue refunds, then change decision and let’s have more of the same to answer phones to tell guests another castperson will return calls wasting more time and money. How can this be a decision that makes any sense?

 

[MuppetBaby]

I’m not attacking anyone because they are ill. I’m sure most people had valid reasons for cancelling (financial, geography, etc). I’m just stating that if you gave up your pass and they currently aren’t selling new ones you should be out of luck like the rest of us. You relinquished it. You should have to wait like everyone else.
Those that have them, hang on to them.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I’m not attacking anyone because they are ill. I’m sure most people had valid reasons for cancelling (financial, geography, etc). I’m just stating that if you gave up your pass and they currently aren’t selling new ones you should be out of luck like the rest of us. You relinquished it. You should have to wait like everyone else.
Those that have them, hang on to them.

I intend to ... I was able to renew my DVC Florida resident platinum pass for $813.66 including tax with expiration of 4/27/22 . The $1272 price tag seems outrageous.

 

[LSUmiss]

$1,272.68

Thank you!

 

[whiteness]

I suppose Disney must have looked at the data, and their models told them that whatever they are doing and planning to do in the future will make them the most money. Individual Cast Member might even agree with us that this is unfair and unreasonable, but the higher up you go in the organization, the less people care about being "fair and reasonable."

The people who actually make the decisions at Disney today only care about what will bring the greatest return to their shareholders. They do just enough to give the appearance of caring, to keep negative public sentiment from impacting the bottom line, but that's it.

I've said this before (and my opinion is unpopular with some, but so what?): there was a time when upper management actually cared about the guests as individuals rather than little bags of money to be harvested with the minimal possible effort and outlay. About making them feel welcome, and giving them a "good show", beyond what their financial models told them was necessary to keep revenues and profits up.

And, when I say "Upper Management cared", some of you know who I mean by that statement. People hate to hear "what would Walt do in this situation", but Walt made it clear from his statements and actions that he wasn't a bean counter. And he was in charge. How many companies can you think of where that's true, today? I struggle to name more than a handful.

 

[LSUmiss]

I suppose Disney must have looked at the data, and their models told them that whatever they are doing and planning to do in the future will make them the most money. Individual Cast Member might even agree with us that this is unfair and unreasonable, but the higher up you go in the organization, the less people care about being "fair and reasonable."

The people who actually make the decisions at Disney today only care about what will bring the greatest return to their shareholders. They do just enough to give the appearance of caring, to keep negative public sentiment from impacting the bottom line, but that's it.

I've said this before (and my opinion is unpopular with some, but so what?): there was a time when upper management actually cared about the guests as individuals rather than little bags of money to be harvested with the minimal possible effort and outlay. About making them feel welcome, and giving them a "good show", beyond what their financial models told them was necessary to keep revenues and profits up.

And, when I say "Upper Management cared", some of you know who I mean by that statement. People hate to hear "what would Walt do in this situation", but Walt made it clear from his statements and actions that he wasn't a bean counter. And he was in charge. How many companies can you think of where that's true, today? I struggle to name more than a handful.

I agree, but I also think that’s the world today (and it sucks). When you have universities turning out mbas by the thousands they have to have somewhere to go & something to do.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Well this thread has really gone off the rails.

I am also one of those people who moved to Orlando and am not so patiently waiting for AP sales to begin again, and yes it does suck.

Could we please calm this thread down a bit with the fighting and get back to waiting for any news/rumors about the purchase of new Annual Passes?

Whenever I see a new post on this thread some little part of me gets excited that someone has heard news or a rumor, but nope, just more people fighting lately.

There is also another thread on the Theme Parks and Attractions Strategy board for people who are trying to get refunds and extend their passes if anyone wants to join in on that thread.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/a...on-system-extensions-refunds.3798147/page-255

 

[StayGold]

I wanted to chime in about this, especially with something I haven’t seen mentioned yet.

Everyone is talking about the unfairness of Person 1 vs Person 2 vs Person 3. But the one person who was able to renew their pass/buy new passes bought three platinum passes.

It could be that Disney is only making an exception for new passes if they are purchased at the highest tier. This means if you are trying to get a discounted local pass or anything else, they have determined they will make more money off of you if you buy day tickets and so your case is denied.


So for those of you trying and willing, give a platinum shot a go and see if you have more success.

 

[CaptAwesome]

I wanted to chime in about this, especially with something I haven’t seen mentioned yet.

Everyone is talking about the unfairness of Person 1 vs Person 2 vs Person 3. But the one person who was able to renew their pass/buy new passes bought three platinum passes.

It could be that Disney is only making an exception for new passes if they are purchased at the highest tier. This means if you are trying to get a discounted local pass or anything else, they have determined they will make more money off of you if you buy day tickets and so your case is denied.


So for those of you trying and willing, give a platinum shot a go and see if you have more success.

That didn't work for me. We probably would have purchased the platinum, but I was directly told no since I didn't previously have passes.

 

[Haley R]

I wanted to chime in about this, especially with something I haven’t seen mentioned yet.

Everyone is talking about the unfairness of Person 1 vs Person 2 vs Person 3. But the one person who was able to renew their pass/buy new passes bought three platinum passes.

It could be that Disney is only making an exception for new passes if they are purchased at the highest tier. This means if you are trying to get a discounted local pass or anything else, they have determined they will make more money off of you if you buy day tickets and so your case is denied.


So for those of you trying and willing, give a platinum shot a go and see if you have more success.

We don’t plan to buy platinum when they call us back. We’re wanting to get gold so I guess we’ll see what happens

 

[LSUmiss]

Anyone know the average wait time to get a call back now?

 

[Haley R]

Anyone know the average wait time to get a call back now?

It’s been two weeks for me today and haven’t heard back.