Any idea when we can buy WDW annual passes?

[jpeterson]

I don’t think that email means anything for imminent return of APs. Annual passes, presumably, will return at some point, even if after August 16, at which time free magic bands will not be given out.

I don't think so either, but I'm still hoping they are soon, regardless.

 

[Br'er Rabbit is the Best]

I find today’s email encouraging for those who wish to buy an annual pass. I don’t think they’d send the email out if they were planning on ending the program like they did at Disneyland. So I’d expect them to start selling them before the end of the year. Meanwhile I have a voucher that I bought 2 years ago for my since cancelled 2020 trip that I’m still waiting to activate.

 

[heazer]

I really don't think they would continue to renew APs if they were planning a major overhaul of the AP options in WDW, or to end the program. There may be changes, but they won't be as drastic as the changes happening on the west coast.

Our passes expired at the end of February. We requested a callback for renewing. Somehow we didn't end up on a call list. When I called in to check the status they had to add us at that time. And I just got the call Friday to renew. They could have been jerks and said it's too far outside your renewal window. They could have been jerks and said well your renewal is going to be retroactive to the end of February when the passes expired. But instead they said they were going to be recovery passes and sold us vouchers that won't even start ticking down our year clock until we redeem the vouchers on our next trip....which is in August.

Letting people buy vouchers and dragging out the time we all will have them doesn't seem like something they would do if they planned on a major overhaul. But I'm just speculating and have no real knowledge!

 

[Missingmypooh]

I mean, they’re still promoting the product. I doubt APs are disappearing.

Just got this beauty ...

 

[DisneyDad728]

Me too! Going in mid-July and definitely want APs. I wish they would take my money. As an out of state AP holder, they make a lot more money off of me when I have an AP vs. without because we take a lot more trips.

Yes please WDW take out of state $ so we can make multiple trips as AP holders!

 

[Brett Wyman]

I don't think APs will end for WDW but a major overhaul is probably imminent. If Im thinking like an evil C-suite executive, discounted Florida passes need to go first. Those were created at a time when they NEEDED Floridians to fill the parks when there was an attendance lag. There is no longer a requirement or need for that. Florida discounted passes are lost money and they lead to overcrowding.

 

[jpeterson]

I don't think APs will end for WDW but a major overhaul is probably imminent. If Im thinking like an evil C-suite executive, discounted Florida passes need to go first. Those were created at a time when they NEEDED Floridians to fill the parks when there was an attendance lag. There is no longer a requirement or need for that. Florida discounted passes are lost money and they lead to overcrowding.

Honestly one strategy they can use is to simply increase AP prices until the numbers are manageable. I don't want them to do that, to be clear, but they could use that tool effectively.

 

[Pooh's World]

I don't think APs will end for WDW but a major overhaul is probably imminent. If Im thinking like an evil C-suite executive, discounted Florida passes need to go first. Those were created at a time when they NEEDED Floridians to fill the parks when there was an attendance lag. There is no longer a requirement or need for that. Florida discounted passes are lost money and they lead to overcrowding.

The discounted Florida pass is to get in state tax breaks, political backing for WDW's policies through votes. I don't think they want to get rid of that.

 

[Brett Wyman]

The discounted Florida pass is to get in state tax breaks, political backing for WDW's policies through votes. I don't think they want to get rid of that.

Cali did it, so its not an impossibility.

 

[bride03]

We called to get on the recovery list on May 6th, so we're on day 14 of waiting for a call back. I am getting so impatient as summer approaches. I'm wondering if I could call for an update or use the online chat to get an update?

 

[Pooh's World]

We called to get on the recovery list on May 6th, so we're on day 14 of waiting for a call back. I am getting so impatient as summer approaches. I'm wondering if I could call for an update or use the online chat to get an update?

What's the recovery list? Can anyone get on that?

 

[bride03]

What's the recovery list? Can anyone get on that?

You can call the V.I.P. Passholder Help Desk and get on a list for them to review your request to renew (AKA "recover") your expired annual pass. They look at each on case by case basis and call back within 30 days.

 

[ellbell]

What's the recovery list? Can anyone get on that?

It's for people who had passes when the pandemic started and they chose to cancel or their AP expired.

 

[kbtennis]

Called pass holder line to get put on AP recovery call back list on April 28th. Received callback yesterday (May 19th) from a 407 number while at work- they left a voicemail saying we were approved and they put a note on our file and to call back at our leisure to purchase. Called back this AM, after 20 minutes of holding were able to complete the transaction (FL resident passes). good luck to all!

 

[sethschroeder]

Cali did it, so its not an impossibility.

Except Cali is very different.....

 

[mackmack]

As a matter of speculation, I believe most of you have heard of Len Testa and Jim Hill? Probably the two most connected individuals who do not actually work at Disney. They don't just know cast members, they are friends with many Imagineers and even execs.

So I will simply quote from their latest podcast(The Disney Dish) starting at the 6:50 minute mark: "We are not talking about annual passes anymore, we are talking about a loyalty program(quoting Chapek's own words from a previous earnings call)" Testa: "That's not an annual pass is it?" Jim Hill in a demoralized tone: "no..."

They continue and once again quote Chapek talking about annual passholders: "We weren't getting the spending we wanted from them"

Testa then goes on to say that last earnings call Chapek said: "if you rank every type of visitor from the most to least profitable, your once in a lifetime grand floridian visitor would be at the top and on the very bottom of the list would be Annual passholders" or "people who pick up mcdonalds on the way to the park" as Jim Hill remarked ...

Testa says: "think of Las Vegas, the more you play or the more you stay the more rewards points you get, I think it's going to be something like that"
______________________________________________________________________

I believe 1000% that the AP program will end at both parks across the board. Those of you who use the fact that you are getting renewals as some form of proof that it will continue, the reason that is happening is because they don't want the bad PR of taking advantage of Covid and so they are allowing a very small percentage of you in limbo to renew, but your pass will end in a year and you will be in the same boat as the rest of us. I believe that more than I believe in gravity itself at this point.

 

[StaceyHSD]

The AP program may end at WDW but everything I’ve heard the execs say (Chapek and Ken Potrock), and what Len and Jim were talking about on the podcast, was specifically about Disneyland Anaheim. That is my home park and the mix of visitors is VERY different from WDW. DL is considered a regional park. 80% of visitors live within 200 miles and a large percentage of them have APs. I think Disney has been trying for a very long time to change up the mix of park visitors to DL. They changed up APs a few years back to have some lower cost options that had more blackout dates. They jacked up the price of the passes that had no/fewer blackout dates and included parking. I don’t think it changed things up the way they wanted, people just bought the more expensive APs.

I’ll be very interested to see what sort of loyalty/AP thing they come out with. The thing is, if they don’t come out with some kind of deal that includes parking my several times a year visits will become maybe once a year. If I’m spending the kind of money they want for tickets I’m going to just go to WDW and have a real vacation.

 

[mackmack]

was specifically about Disneyland Anaheim.

I have to correct you. They were not talking about just land, even though Len mistakes this in relation to the analysts question and Chapeks subsequent answer.

The actual question came from Doug Mitchelson from credit suisse and he uses the term "parks". In fact I believe he says "parks" 4 times in the same question. Please reference the time mark 5:22. Thank you.

 

[ellbell]

As a matter of speculation, I believe most of you have heard of Len Testa and Jim Hill? Probably the two most connected individuals who do not actually work at Disney. They don't just know cast members, they are friends with many Imagineers and even execs.

So I will simply quote from their latest podcast(The Disney Dish) starting at the 6:50 minute mark: "We are not talking about annual passes anymore, we are talking about a loyalty program(quoting Chapek's own words from a previous earnings call)" Testa: "That's not an annual pass is it?" Jim Hill in a demoralized tone: "no..."

They continue and once again quote Chapek talking about annual passholders: "We weren't getting the spending we wanted from them"

Testa then goes on to say that last earnings call Chapek said: "if you rank every type of visitor from the most to least profitable, your once in a lifetime grand floridian visitor would be at the top and on the very bottom of the list would be Annual passholders" or "people who pick up mcdonalds on the way to the park" as Jim Hill remarked ...

Testa says: "think of Las Vegas, the more you play or the more you stay the more rewards points you get, I think it's going to be something like that"
______________________________________________________________________

I believe 1000% that the AP program will end at both parks across the board. Those of you who use the fact that you are getting renewals as some form of proof that it will continue, the reason that is happening is because they don't want the bad PR of taking advantage of Covid and so they are allowing a very small percentage of you in limbo to renew, but your pass will end in a year and you will be in the same boat as the rest of us. I believe that more than I believe in gravity itself at this point.

A lot of WDW AP holders don't even live in the country. It is a very different mix than DL and I do believe Chapek himself was referring to DL.

ETA: DVC owners would end up selling massive points because what's the point of having all those points and no AP.

 

[A2DisneyMom]

I was able to renew my family’s DVC Platinum passes this week. No questions or problems at all. Hopefully they bring back new purchases soon!