Anyone cancelling trips due to lack of AP?

[MinnieFan4ever]

I have a question I hope someone can answer here, if not I’ll start a thread. My husband has an AP voucher from an October 2019 trip he couldn’t make with is. My daughter and I did the AP sell back thing during the closure. Can my husband buy regular tickets with us for an upcoming October 2022 trip. I don’t want to use his AP voucher until we all can get an AP, so we can get some value out of it. If they don’t bring back DVC AP’s before our trip then we will not go to WDW for Spring Break 2023 and will probably just rent out our points…again.

 

[DebbieB]

I just read an article (may not be reliable) that DL is going to stop renewing their top 2 AP’s. I have a Sorcerer, not sure what I would do if WDW did this. I’ve had AP’s since 1998 and typically only bought every 18 months by spacing my trips and buying new. So I thought being forced to renew was bad, this would be worse.

 

[HopperFan]

I just read an article (may not be reliable) that DL is going to stop renewing their top 2 AP’s. I have a Sorcerer, not sure what I would do if WDW did this. I’ve had AP’s since 1998 and typically only bought every 18 months by spacing my trips and buying new. So I thought being forced to renew was bad, this would be worse.

I have only seen one report of the renewal being refused - so if that is the case not sure the article saying they are not doing any renewals at all might be just a made up story. I'm waiting for more reports.

The person reporting he was refused a renewal had purchased military tickets, not APs, then he had upgraded them to APs at the park. I am wondering if him not being able to renew is more tied to how he obtained, paid or his discounted price paid to begin with. Perhaps they will no longer allow renewals of APs not directly purchased. Perhaps they are going to stop upgrading of tickets (which I expected when they reopened).

Disneyland does have the lawsuit they are dealing with but I don't think that would affect WDW, two totally different types of parks and AP customers and we aren't having the extreme issues they are having. Honestly if they drop the reservations system all of the issues go away.

I could see our top pass becoming more expensive, I could see a revamp of DVC options, but I don't see FL AP going anywhere. Disney is too dependent on non-Disney hotel guests and an AP brings a big commitment to Disney, in a town with lots of competition from other parks with APs.

 

[bakerworld]

After cancelling 3 trips in 2021 and 2 trips in 2022, I am done cancelling. We like the parks and enjoy being there but the rides don't pull us like in the past. In the parks or out we spend most our time just enjoying the atmosphere. Heck Epcot is one big party in a cup - can't even get the better half on most of those rides or in attractions. Even if we just go for the resorts and Disney Springs it will be worth the trip for us.

 

[KPeterso]

I just read an article (may not be reliable) that DL is going to stop renewing their top 2 AP’s. I have a Sorcerer, not sure what I would do if WDW did this. I’ve had AP’s since 1998 and typically only bought every 18 months by spacing my trips and buying new. So I thought being forced to renew was bad, this would be worse.

There is no way to know for sure if Disneyland will be renewing Magic Keys. The one report was someone whose pass is expiring 5/1 from an upgraded military ticket. Very very few will expire prior to late August (8/24 would be my guess, but I don't remember exactly what day they went on sale last year). So people are not yet at the renewal window to know what the situation will really look like. All passes had been cancelled prior to that. So that military ticket upgrade was a one off situation. Mine expires 9/3 so I should have a good feel in early August. My WDW AP was just renewed at the end of March, so I am good for another year. I just wish the Premier Pass for both coasts would come back.

Oh and no cancelled trips due to lack of APs. I cancelled in September 2020 as I was not comfortable going then. And then I cancelled last month due to a family emergency. The AP situation made no difference on those. Now, if DL ends the MK program, I will be an unhappy local, but I seriously doubt that I will not be able to renew my key.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The DVC thread is long, but there's some good theories in there. I think the theory of the CA lawsuit (filed in November) having teeth might be true. The lawsuit argues Disney was misleading about the blackouts because it used the bucket system to make more blackout dates for APs, when other categories had availability. The outcome of the lawsuit could impact the whole AP/bucket/park reservation plan.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/ap-sales….3876364/

Is there a cliffnotes version on how this impacts WDW since the AP there didn't have the same blackout stuff? I agree with CA APs got the shaft all the time. But it sucks to tie the WDW AP in to them when they were so different.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I have a question I hope someone can answer here, if not I’ll start a thread. My husband has an AP voucher from an October 2019 trip he couldn’t make with is. My daughter and I did the AP sell back thing during the closure. Can my husband buy regular tickets with us for an upcoming October 2022 trip. I don’t want to use his AP voucher until we all can get an AP, so we can get some value out of it. If they don’t bring back DVC AP’s before our trip then we will not go to WDW for Spring Break 2023 and will probably just rent out our points…again.

I can help here. We have AP vouchers that I've assigned to "dummy" names in my MDE account. This prevents them from being used until I want to use them. You can assign and reassign vouchers as often as you want.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I was able to renew my AP this year so that is not a problem for me. Wonder what will happen next year. Can I still renew? Will AP holders become as rare as an honest politician?

So far I see nothing to indicate you can not renew. We've renewed twice since the sales have been on hold.

 

[RoseGold]

Is there a cliffnotes version on how this impacts WDW since the AP there didn't have the same blackout stuff? I agree with CA APs got the shaft all the time. But it sucks to tie the WDW AP in to them when they were so different.

The argument is pretty simple. Disney advertised certain AP blackout dates, and then blocked access on other dates using the bucket system, while other categories of guests could get in. That is APs were blacked out, even though it wasn't at capacity. It was really bad in CA, like no weekend availability, that kind of thing.

And so, during the more recent WDW peak times, there have been many days where AP has availability, and not the other buckets. Guessing that isn't how the mouse wanted to use the buckets... The argument is they are trying to prevent a similar lawsuit or behaving like that until it's resolved in some way.

The only ones being sold right now are for locals, which is usually a condition of big building permits and such.

I can't picture the Incredipass coming back at all, and I think they could block even renewals any minute.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The argument is pretty simple. Disney advertised certain AP blackout dates, and then blocked access on other dates using the bucket system, while other categories of guests could get in. That is APs were blacked out, even though it wasn't at capacity. It was really bad in CA, like no weekend availability, that kind of thing.

And so, during the more recent WDW peak times, there have been many days where AP has availability, and not the other buckets. Guessing that isn't how the mouse wanted to use the buckets... The argument is they are trying to prevent a similar lawsuit or behaving like that until it's resolved in some way.

The only ones being sold right now are for locals, which is usually a condition of big building permits and such.

I can't picture the Incredipass coming back at all, and I think they could block even renewals any minute.

Sure. They can do whatever they want. Their company. Heck, they can wake up tomorrow and decide to sell only single day tickets from now on. Both choices would make them a lot more money. Still would surprise me if they did it

 

[mistysue]

So I understand this correctly--Disney started selling AP's last September (I know because I bought mine then)--and have again placed a 'hold' on AP sales recently? What is the reason for this--since they have sold them as recently as a few months ago?

They started in September and stopped in November. I don't know they really gave a reason, but stated up front they were selling limited quantity.

@Mrs.AMC - oh gosh, don't give them any ideas. 10 single day tickets each for a family trip, I would vomit.

 

[robinb]

I cancelled two trips last year because I didn't have an AP and I took one trip anyway. I was able to buy an AP in the small window in which it was available in the fall.

 

[ajfd]

I can help here. We have AP vouchers that I've assigned to "dummy" names in my MDE account. This prevents them from being used until I want to use them. You can assign and reassign vouchers as often as you want.

Be aware ... I had done the same thing back in 2019. In 2021 I noticed that all my "dummy" accounts were gone and the vouchers reassigned to me (I presume because I am the primary account holder).

EDIT: I have recreated the dummy accounts and reassigned in the mean time. The point being that before going on a trip and tapping in make sure the vouchers are still on the dummy accounts to avoid APs getting prematurely activated.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I have 4 stays booked in the second half of this year. If no AP sales I will most likely only keep one of them. I have one on the Independence Day weekend that I may keep without admission if I can score a California Grill reservation for the 3rd or 4th. I would love to see the fireworks and I realized it's probably less expensive to have a meal and a view than have a ticket and a view.

I just wanted to follow up on this with an update. I have CG reservations for dinner on the 3rd and 4th, and I have not purchased theme park admission for this trip and don't plan too. Disney has not posted nighttime fireworks for those dates yet but the park shows closure at 10:00 pm so far. I should get a fireworks view and a nice meal for less than the cost of admission.

I guess I spoke with my wallet.

 

[Shellyred8]

DH says “we should really be in Disney for your 50th.” Well, you can’t say that to a Disney freak without ending up with a trip booked the next day.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one like this!!! LOL!!!

 

[gharter]

Not yet. We just sold 1 of our DVC contracts so we will only be going once a year.
It really will depend on the cost of renewing our AP vs a 7 day park hopper as to which we do going forward.
When we were going twice a year, the AP was an easy choice.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Sure. They can do whatever they want. Their company. Heck, they can wake up tomorrow and decide to sell only single day tickets from now on. Both choices would make them a lot more money. Still would surprise me if they did it

I’m pretty sure selling only single day tickets would, in fact, make Universal a lot of money.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I’m pretty sure selling only single day tickets would, in fact, make Universal a lot of money.

So would dropping all AP. I think more and more are going to universal with this stoppage in sales

Plus Universal allows out of state to pay monthly, something Disney has never allowed. Not to mention a 3 day park to park Universal ticket is the same price as a seasonal AP (last time I checked).

In the end though, Disney has not shown themselves to be good at smart decisions as of late. I’m not sure I’d put anything past them

If they are using the fact that sold out reservation days are causing lawsuits to stop AP sales then it’s causing problems with multi day ticket sales too. No lawsuits but are they just a matter of time?