Anyone keeping tabs on CM blockout dates?

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Has anyone kept abreast of when the blockouts are released? I'm waiting to see what they have planned for July 31st on the One Day Park Hopper guest tickets, aka Chip n' Dales (not to be confused with the comp tickets, which have no blockouts). It seems it's been consistently released three weeks out, but the last week of July is still TBD. Just wondering if there's a specific day that they update, or if it's delayed because of the Holiday? We're very hopefully, with fingers crossed, using two days' worth of Chip n' Dale's on our trip 7/30-8/6, as well as some Comps, that all expire in September.

 

[FastPasser.]

Good luck finding out what you need. I'm glad I won't have to check that silly chart until things get back to normal regarding CM Main Entrance Passes.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Good luck finding out what you need. I'm glad I won't have to check that silly chart until things get back to normal regarding CM Main Entrance Passes.

Thanks. It's been frustrating, but at least there's hope that we'll actually get to use the tickets my parents earned through their hard work. Up until recently it seemed that the Chip and Dales would be perpetually blocked until they expired.

My parents were part-time, then went down to seasonal, then furloughed, and won't be returning, as Disney put way too many caveats on seasonals if they wanted to come back. My parents are retired and worked because they enjoyed it. It's a shame, as Disney lost two great employees, one a Legacy, when they seem to desperately need help.

 

[FastPasser.]

My parents were part-time, then went down to seasonal, then furloughed, and won't be returning, as Disney put way too many caveats on seasonals if they wanted to come back. My parents are retired and worked because they enjoyed it. It's a shame, as Disney lost two great employees, one a Legacy, when they seem to desperately need help.

I always got the sense that Seasonal CMs got the shaft when it came to their perks. I worked with many of them and couldn't tell the difference. They worked just as hard as FT and PT CMs. Until I checked recently I wasn't aware that Chip and Dale tickets were a thing. Disney should remove all the restrictions that are on all Main Entrance Passes immediately, current and former CMs deserve better treatment, especially now.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I bought passes for my April trip, and for my Fall trip. I won't keep doing that in 2022. I also bought passes for a DL trip in December. Ouch it is painful. (recent Retiree when my TDS closed, I retained my MEP).

 

[FastPasser.]

(recent Retiree when my TDS closed, I retained my MEP).

I probably should know but I don't, what does TDS stand for?

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I always got the sense that Seasonal CMs got the shaft when it came to their perks. I worked with many of them and couldn't tell the difference. They worked just as hard as FT and PT CMs. Until I checked recently I wasn't aware that Chip and Dale tickets were a thing. Disney should remove all the restrictions that are on all Main Entrance Passes immediately, current and former CMs deserve better treatment, especially now.

Yes, I couldn't agree more. At nearly 70, my mother can work circles around people half her age and younger. They had switched to seasonal just to have the freedom to visit their new granddaughter more often.

Disney could have easily honored all Chip and Dale tickets as Comps. Instead, they told all the upset seasonals that they were giving them a gift by extending the expiration dates. Then proceeded to block the tickets. Since those tickets are earned by hours worked, there were many angry seasonals.

 

[Fantasmic303]

TDS = The Disney Store.

I'm a current CM through ESPN, and while we don't have the Chip and Dale limitations, the block out situation has been difficult, especially with reservations. First "World" problems, I know, but I had to purchase tickets for October to guarantee we would be able to get into the parks on the anniversary weekend. There's absolutely a chance that my main entrance or guest passes will open up at one of the parks during the time we're there, but I couldn't risk it (not expecting it for MK or Epcot, but possibly at AK). The worst part about it is that even if we CAN use our passes (which we probably wouldn't know until September), the purchased tickets will expire anyway. I stopped looking at block outs cause it hurts too much to realize that we can't really afford to keep going if we have to spend $500+ on tickets per person for a long weekend. I'm happy we took advantage of it when we could, but it's sad.

 

[FastPasser.]

Yup, it's not just Seasonal CMs, many other CMs have had an issue of some sort, I know I have had my share. My main issue was that I was supposed to have received new MEP cards and didn't. When we visited earlier this year my MEP was useless. I also never got the holiday celebration package. Guest services gave me enough passes to get by. I got it sorted out after I returned home. I retired before Covid hit and moved out of state.

 

[adamreisinger]

TDS = The Disney Store.

I'm a current CM through ESPN, and while we don't have the Chip and Dale limitations, the block out situation has been difficult, especially with reservations. First "World" problems, I know, but I had to purchase tickets for October to guarantee we would be able to get into the parks on the anniversary weekend. There's absolutely a chance that my main entrance or guest passes will open up at one of the parks during the time we're there, but I couldn't risk it (not expecting it for MK or Epcot, but possibly at AK). The worst part about it is that even if we CAN use our passes (which we probably wouldn't know until September), the purchased tickets will expire anyway. I stopped looking at block outs cause it hurts too much to realize that we can't really afford to keep going if we have to spend $500+ on tickets per person for a long weekend. I'm happy we took advantage of it when we could, but it's sad.

I'm in the same boat as you, but luckily managed to get park reservations for Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 using comp tickets. But I'm starting to believe those will be the only two days during that weeklong trip that we'll be able to be in the parks (well, maybe one more, assuming we get our summer comp tickets on time this year).

 

[hopemax]

The last week just went up today. I checked this morning and nothing, but now it's loaded.

I've also noticed that basically since the College Program kids returned, if you check the "day of" it will say you can use passes after 3PM. I've been tracking because my Dad has a Main Entrance and I'm visiting him in August. I visited in May when everything was blocked out and we had to buy 4-days. Once was fine, given the last year, but we're not going to do that as a regular thing. Our Universal AP's aren't restricted.

Even at Hollywood Studios, day of. Even on days that previously showed Red, like Saturdays. The one day I didn't see was the actual 4th at MK and somewhere else. I've checked the reservations and have been able to reach the page to reserve, without getting the no availability message. It may not be the best way to approach a vacation but if you are a frequent visitor, you could sleep in, do lunch at a hotel and then be prepared to grab the reservation and enter a park right at 3PM. Now that evening entertainment has returned a 3-9 schedule is not a horrible day. If AK and Epcot have advance availability, you can plan to start there and then park hop to DHS or MK after 3.