AP Sales Paused

[MillauFr]

I remember Pete Werner on one of the DVC shows... "What? It's going to cost how much? That's ridiculous! Here's my credit card."

This is the correct answer. People will complain incessantly claiming that Disney should honor "Walt's Vision" whatever that is and run it like a charity. Nope not going to happen. As long as they continued to be slammed by massive crowds the prices will increase. Disneyland already had to suspend their $1,400 annual passes due to too much demand. That is even after it became apparent those passes really aren't unlimited and that you had to book a Saturday reservation 2 months in advance.

 

[motherof5]

I think this is exactly the intent. They know most who are traveling over the holidays will have purchased their passes in order to secure park reservations. When they come back, it will boost sales in the end to help 1st quarter numbers. I don't expect the 'pause' to last after holidays.

Agreed.

 

[zavandor]

And there goes my plan to ask how much would be to upgrade my UK Ultimate ticket to a Sorcerer AP during my stay in early December.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I am not happy. Advice from WDW and others was “wait until you get to WDW and upgrade in person so you don’t lose your existing park reservations”. I even questioned the CM when I called about the caveat that the AP sales could be suspended, and response basically was “you don’t need to worry about that“. I have 3 trips planned in the next year and that might have to change if I have to spend more $$$ on tickets.

I had the same experience but I told them I was certain i wanted to upgrade my ticket to AP (last month for this upcoming December 3rd trip), because I wanted it done in advance. All I had to do was purchase the other tickets for my family that's staying with us and not getting APs and pay for them day of. Didn't bother me any since our final payment date was only 3 days away. The woman was SO worried about me losing my park reservations, but I had 0 issues with it. I'm really glad I did since I have this trip, a spring break trip with my friend and her daughter, and then Galactic Starcruiser with a few extra days at the end all planned out. I would be upset if I couldn't have had the discounts on food and merch for these trips, or the Photopass.

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

The woman was SO worried about me losing my park reservations, but I had 0 issues with it.

This is the biggest issue I have with the change. Lot's of people with existing reservations were told by cast members to upgrade onsite so their park pass didn't get lost.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Very well said. There is really no win win for everyone involved.

And that's what people miss. It exists in every business and every culture. It's an unfortunate fact of life that there are some decisions you have to make where some group will have ill effects in order to benefit the larger organization / society / culture / group. It's a fallacy that in every scenario and every choice, everyone can benefit and no one suffer.

As leaders of companies, organizations, groups, societies, worlds - we look to minimize these choices and head them off as much as we can. Sometimes we succeed, but we can't always - no one human ever can. When we fail as we inevitably MUST, we will be forced to make that hard choice. To downsize a company, or lay off individuals, or stop creating a product that had a following, or stop making a TV series that people loved, or change a tax, or policy, or law. Such choices are never loved by everyone and never benefit everyone, and we are never liked for making these choices. But that doesn't change the facts of the world - a choice MUST be made.

In this case, the leadership team must suffer the righteous anger of some groups in order to protect the experience of other groups. There is never a GOOD choice in such a scenario, but inaction is also a choice and a doomed one. Personally, to me it's a good sign that someone in there is willing to make the harder, hated choice of action compared to the easier and potentially more harmful choice of inaction. And again, it sucks there has to be a choice. But the fact that the choice sucks doesn't change anything.

Sorry. I will get off my soap-box. It's been a tough week.

 

[Brian Noble]

People will complain incessantly claiming that Disney should honor "Walt's Vision" whatever that is and run it like a charity.

Yep. What's more, if you read any competent biography of the man, "Walt's Vision" was hardly charitable.

Neal Gabler's excellent book is a good place to start.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

This is the biggest issue I have with the change. Lot's of people with existing reservations were told by cast members to upgrade onsite so their park pass didn't get lost.

And I 100% agree with you on this... it totally sucks. No CM should have said that. No CM should ever tell anyone that they are guaranteed to get something in the future that they do not do today. They should know better.

As with anything Disney (or frankly in life), if you see a product on sale, you need to purchase it that moment and sort out the details later, or you need to be comfortable with the fact that it may not be there later. I can't tell you the number of times I saw a product that I wanted to buy that they had plenty of, and I passed it up only to come back later, and there were none - and I have never seen that product again.

When the Pandemic hit, I had let my AP expire and I intended to get it later. No one knew the pandemic would hit, and no one expected that AP's were going anywhere. No one could ever have predicted that. <shrug>

Again, it sucks that CM's told people that. At the same time, most of us are experienced Disney-goers, and we should all know that you can't take what a CM tells you about the future as gospel.

 

[tjkraz]

Lol!! And which bucket do you think they will make sure has availability?

Ironically, Passholders currently have significantly more park pass availability than day guests or resort guests.

As I write this, those using MYW tickets will find that all 4 parks are full 8 days between now and 12/31 and another 12 days have limited availability (3 parks or fewer.)

Excluding blockout dates, Passholders only have 2 days where the parks are completely full and 16 days with limited availability. Right now, Passholders can still get into Epcot, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 12/28-12/30 is showing all 4 parks full for MYW ticket holders. The only pass holder restriction over those days is DHS on 12/28 and 12/29.

 

[dhar_disneyfan]

If I purchased a sorcerer’s pass but haven’t redeemed the voucher yet (upcoming January trip) I will still be able to redeem it correct?

 

[npatellye]

If I purchased a sorcerer’s pass but haven’t redeemed the voucher yet (upcoming January trip) I will still be able to redeem it correct?

I would think so. I don’t see them denying it since you are technically already a passholder.

 

[kes601]

If I purchased a sorcerer’s pass but haven’t redeemed the voucher yet (upcoming January trip) I will still be able to redeem it correct?

You will be fine. You already purchased it.

 

[DsneyDude1]

And that's what people miss. It exists in every business and every culture. It's an unfortunate fact of life that there are some decisions you have to make where some group will have ill effects in order to benefit the larger organization / society / culture / group. It's a fallacy that in every scenario and every choice, everyone can benefit and no one suffer.

As leaders of companies, organizations, groups, societies, worlds - we look to minimize these choices and head them off as much as we can. Sometimes we succeed, but we can't always - no one human ever can. When we fail as we inevitably MUST, we will be forced to make that hard choice. To downsize a company, or lay off individuals, or stop creating a product that had a following, or stop making a TV series that people loved, or change a tax, or policy, or law. Such choices are never loved by everyone and never benefit everyone, and we are never liked for making these choices. But that doesn't change the facts of the world - a choice MUST be made.

In this case, the leadership team must suffer the righteous anger of some groups in order to protect the experience of other groups. There is never a GOOD choice in such a scenario, but inaction is also a choice and a doomed one. Personally, to me it's a good sign that someone in there is willing to make the harder, hated choice of action compared to the easier and potentially more harmful choice of inaction. And again, it sucks there has to be a choice. But the fact that the choice sucks doesn't change anything.

Sorry. I will get off my soap-box. It's been a tough week.

I don't know. Although all of this is true, it would seem years of poor investment decisions and other factors both under the control of said management (and some not), has led to the world leader of this type of enterprise to be seemingly flailing away. Trying to find the right strategy to address keeping WDW as the leader, while trying to increase revenue at every turn without regard to guest satisfaction. I am not quite as inclined to pat them on the back for making the "tough" choices. Many of which have been brought about by bad decision making over recent years. And just because we knew the pausing of sales was "possible", that does not give them a free pass to disappoint their most loyal customer base. It's not acceptable process for any business including this one.

 

[Sparky984]

I don't know. Although all of this is true, it would seem years of poor investment decisions and other factors both under the control of said management (and some not), has led to the world leader of this type of enterprise to be seemingly flailing away. Trying to find the right strategy to address keeping WDW as the leader, while trying to increase revenue at every turn without regard to guest satisfaction. I am not quite as inclined to pat them on the back for making the "tough" choices. Many of which have been brought about by bad decision making over recent years. And just because we knew the pausing of sales was "possible", that does not give them a free pass to disappoint their most loyal customer base. It's not acceptable process for any business including this one.

Until people stop going, until people stop spending all the extra money Disney asks for the same or less return, it doesn’t matter. Until it hurts the bottom line, they are all good business decisions.

Vote with your wallet. I think some people here as well as Disney management both forget that nobody HAS to go to Disney. When the economy is hot, it seems the parks will fill no matter what. When the economy eventually slows down, they should hope that disneys most loyal haven’t moved on.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I don't know. Although all of this is true, it would seem years of poor investment decisions and other factors both under the control of said management (and some not), has led to the world leader of this type of enterprise to be seemingly flailing away. Trying to find the right strategy to address keeping WDW as the leader, while trying to increase revenue at every turn without regard to guest satisfaction. I am not quite as inclined to pat them on the back for making the "tough" choices. Many of which have been brought about by bad decision making over recent years. And just because we knew the pausing of sales was "possible", that does not give them a free pass to disappoint their most loyal customer base. It's not acceptable process for any business including this one.

You have a resource - (P) for Parks. You have an outside pressure (C)ovid which is providing constricting pressure on the resource. You have demands for that resource (A)P holders and (R)esort guests.

I do not see how any decisions that were made 2 years ago affect this unless your argument is that they should have built a 5th and 6th gate 10 years ago. No decision that was made years ago would have predicted these situations.

 

[CarolMN]

Vote with your wallet. I think some people here as well as Disney management both forget that nobody HAS to go to Disney. When the economy is hot, it seems the parks will fill no matter what. When the economy eventually slows down, they should hope that disneys most loyal haven’t moved on.

If necessary, Disney will offer discounts and incentives. People will come back.

IMO, there's not much risk to Disney. They have gone through this before. The internet posters are always "outraged" and promise not to come back. Most do, and there have always been ample numbers of "new" guests to replace those who don't.

I'm sorry for those who are unable to buy the annual passes. Hoping the option returns soon.

 

[BamaGuy44]

If necessary, Disney will offer discounts and incentives. People will come back.

IMO, there's not much risk to Disney. They have gone through this before. The internet posters are always "outraged" and promise not to come back. Most do, and there have always been ample numbers of "new" guests to replace those who don't.

I'm sorry for those who are unable to buy the annual passes. Hoping the option returns soon.

Very true. Internet boards for enthuisasts, and especially social media, do not reflect real life very well. The "outrage" we see here is a tiny blip in the universe of people who go to WDW. Most people in the parks right now have no idea who Bob Chapek is, don't feel ripped off by Genie+, don't care if APs are currently for sale, aren't dissecting the story line of Enchantment and comparing it to the show they had 10 years ago or whatever and being sad. If you read here and on twitter, you'd think people were lined up outside the parks with torches and pitchforks. But nah, they're just lined up to enjoy the parks and spend their money like always. Parks will be absolutely mobbed this week, just like every other Thanksgiving week.

Sad to say, but Disney is probably fine losing a percentage of the long time fans, and replacing them with new people too young to remember the "good old days" of Disney.

 

[CarolMN]

Just saw Disney suspended sales of MYW tickets for today (11/23) thru 11/26. They must be expecting the Parks to be crazy busy over the Thanksgiving Holiday week.

 

[erionm]

Just saw Disney suspended sales of MYW tickets for today (11/23) thru 11/26. They must be expecting the Parks to be crazy busy over the Thanksgiving Holiday week.

Plus a number of days around Christmas & New Years (12/20, 12/28 - 12/30).

 

[HopperFan]

Just saw Disney suspended sales of MYW tickets for today (11/23) thru 11/26. They must be expecting the Parks to be crazy busy over the Thanksgiving Holiday week.

The holidays are always nuts, I think it will be worse this year - people want to get out, people are not doing their usual international trips, no place is fully staffed .... and Disney is being pre-emptive. I see it as a plus.

Bottom line if you were planning a trip to Disney between November 20th and January 9th ... and still hadn't bought your tickets and made park reservations .... I think the only person to be mad at is oneself.

I was at the Magic Kingdom November 26th, 1971 with 50,000 other people. Disney was prepared for 10,000. To say it was chaos was putting it mildly. All my Mom kept saying was "why did they even let all these people in here if they weren't prepared for it?" Well, at least 50 years later they are trying.

I was there a few weeks ago during a traditionally slow week. It was anything but slow. The smartest thing they can do at this point is stop selling tickets. They started with the APs - I mean by now if you are going you should have bought them. Now the MYW. If I were a person with park reservations I'd be very happy Disney is doing this.

And I know some bought tickets to upgrade .... at some point Disney may restrict this, if they did it would push more people to onsite hotels.