News on Annual Passes

[Mrs.AMC]

Interesting - so you're saying there are 3 buckets now?

1. Ticket Holders
2. Annual Pass Holders
3. Resort guests

Where before there were 4 buckets?

1. Ticket Holders
2. Annual Pass Holders
3. Ticket holders staying at a Resort
4. Annual Pass Holders staying at a Resort

I wonder if Disney is allowing APs to pull from the ticket bucket if they have ticketed guests in their travel party.

Again this will become more obvious during the holiday season if a group of only APs can't book a Park Pass while a group of AP+Tickets can.

I've had issues even outside of Holiday times by the way. Last trip was July.
You are trying to put another bucket by group AP/Ticket, AP, and then Ticket all with the Resort group. Why? Why do you think they'd go so far as to break it down further?
Why can't it just be all Resort together?

 

[Liquidice]

I've had issues even outside of Holiday times by the way. Last trip was July.
You are trying to put another bucket by group AP/Ticket, AP, and then Ticket all with the Resort group. Why? Why do you think they'd go so far as to break it down further?
Why can't it just be all Resort together?

On the one hand, it makes sense to combine the resort buckets together - giving APs a better shot at getting a park pass when they're paying to stay at a hotel. Essentially negating one of the drawbacks of the AP.

My pessimistic view of Disney is that they wouldn't ever do anything that gave an advantage to an AP holder in their war to try to limit how often they come to the parks Just my default pessimistic thought - that maybe they would allow APs to pull from the ticket bucket if Disney is at least making some money off of tickets (from some of your party). It is like one of those things when Disney has done everything in their power to tell you that APs aren't wanted at their parks - you assume they wouldn't do anything to benefit you

 

[Liquidice]

So according to Scott Gustin who is a theme park reporter, he says that even though you can book ticket holders and APs together (when not paired with a resort stay) - Park Passes must be available in both "buckets" for things to work. He also seems to suggest there are only 3 buckets (but did not explicitly say this):

1. Ticket Holders
2. Annual Pass Holders
3. Annual Pass Holders with a Resort Stay

Option 1 and 2, you choose the first option on the website to book, but it still pulls from different buckets for ticket holders vs. APs. Option 3, you choose the second option on the website to book and it pulls from a different bucket for APs with a resort stay. You can modify a Park Pass reservation with 1 or 2, but not with 3.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1562170936622710786

https://twitter.com/x/status/1562169238533595141

 

[Mrs.AMC]

On the one hand, it makes sense to combine the resort buckets together - giving APs a better shot at getting a park pass when they're paying to stay at a hotel. Essentially negating one of the drawbacks of the AP.

My pessimistic view of Disney is that they wouldn't ever do anything that gave an advantage to an AP holder in their war to try to limit how often they come to the parks Just my default pessimistic thought - that maybe they would allow APs to pull from the ticket bucket if Disney is at least making some money off of tickets (from some of your party). It is like one of those things when Disney has done everything in their power to tell you that APs aren't wanted at their parks - you assume they wouldn't do anything to benefit you

I can only report that it worked opposite how you’re thinking. As the AP I had better availability than the ticketed guests. Theirs booked up. I was still able to get reservations for all the dates. AP had the advantage

 

[Mrs.AMC]

So according to Scott Gustin who is a theme park reporter, he says that even though you can book ticket holders and APs together (when not paired with a resort stay) - Park Passes must be available in both "buckets" for things to work. He also seems to suggest there are only 3 buckets (but did not explicitly say this):

1. Ticket Holders
2. Annual Pass Holders
3. Annual Pass Holders with a Resort Stay

Option 1 and 2, you choose the first option on the website to book, but it still pulls from different buckets for ticket holders vs. APs. Option 3, you choose the second option on the website to book and it pulls from a different bucket for APs with a resort stay. You can modify a Park Pass reservation with 1 or 2, but not with 3.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1562170936622710786

https://twitter.com/x/status/1562169238533595141

I don't know who this is or if he has some special inside knowledge but I wonder why he is saying the inability to modify the reservation is supposed to mean something?
I have AP reservations w a Resort stay that don't have the modify option and some that do
All for my trip from 9/27-10/1
They are a mixture. I just figured it was yet another MDE quirk that makes no sense.

So far, I've found as an AP that I had more days open than the ticketed guest did. Don't know what that means for AP sales other than I sure wish for those that want them they'd reopen them.

 

[Liquidice]

I don't know who this is or if he has some special inside knowledge but I wonder why he is saying the inability to modify the reservation is supposed to mean something?
I have AP reservations w a Resort stay that don't have the modify option and some that do
All for my trip from 9/27-10/1
They are a mixture. I just figured it was yet another MDE quirk that makes no sense.

So far, I've found as an AP that I had more days open than the ticketed guest did. Don't know what that means for AP sales other than I sure wish for those that want them they'd reopen them.

Ability to modify was one of the new features being touted and it doesn't appear to work for Park Passes booked under the Resort Reservations according to Scott. I don't think it means anything except that was his experience when booking Park Passes.

But as always with Disney IT it does not appear to be consistent - some people dont have the modify button that were not booked with resort stays and it appears you have some that can be modified as resort stays.

Scott is a journalist reporting on theme parks and is usually very accurate and is trusted by many in what he reports, but he isn't perfect - especially when there are inconsistencies.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I have never been able to modify a reservation booked as a resort (AP) guest. I can modify reservations booked as AP. Seems to be the same after today.

AP buckets did not always have better selection of park passes. That changed around the time of the lawsuit. Correlation, causation, or coincidence? No idea.

 

[Jrb1979]

From reading the changes, I could be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised sales of new APs don't come back for awhile. They will always allow renewals. Unless a lot of people let their passes lapse I don't see new AP sales happening any time soon. IMO they are happy with how many AP holders they have right now

 

[Liquidice]

From reading the changes, I could be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised sales of new APs don't come back for awhile. They will always allow renewals. Unless a lot of people let their passes lapse I don't see new AP sales happening any time soon. IMO they are happy with how many AP holders they have right now

The remaining "loophole" for FL residents is to buy a Pixie Pass and then renew into one of the higher tiers after 1 year.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I have never been able to modify a reservation booked as a resort (AP) guest. I can modify reservations booked as AP. Seems to be the same after today.

AP buckets did not always have better selection of park passes. That changed around the time of the lawsuit. Correlation, causation, or coincidence? No idea.

Guess we’ve just had the good fortune to hit it at the opposite. I’ve never had a date where my ticketed guests could access a park and we could not. Since day one

 

[Jwaire]

Guess we’ve just had the good fortune to hit it at the opposite. I’ve never had a date where my ticketed guests could access a park and we could not. Since day one

That happened to me the week before Christmas last year for Magic Kingdom, ticket guests could go but not AP. So, everyone in my family had passes (regular tickets), but not me. However, because I had a resort stay (DVC), they switched me to the resort calendar and it worked fine.

I wouldn't expect to be able to modify a park pass when booked using the resort calendar. They don't want APs (or anyone else) booking resort stays and cancelling just to get a park pass.

It's why when you move your resort stay, they ask you if you already have passes and adjust them for you manually.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Good discussion on today’s observations. Thanks to all.

Prior to today, my observation, for Disney World only, was three classifications, but two buckets.

1. Ticket Holders — used Bucket 1
2. Resort Guests — both Tickets and Annual Passholders used Bucket 1
The reason I combined these two is their park reservation availability was always identical

3. Annual Passholders (not at a resort) — used Bucket 2

Today was supposed to be the first day of the new system. Supposedly there will be modifiable plans and being able to book various mixed gate admissions at the same time.

What we have observed across the boards is a mishmash. Maybe the IT is not fully and reliably functional yet. Also, most park availability right now is all green. So we really cannot observe much difference to define a potential rearrangement of buckets or prioritizing until there is some unavailability. One possibility I am watching for is there might be one bucket and to the extent possible it is moving towards first come first serve. That would be a logical move towards shoring up the park reservation system against recession impacts. If so, there will be greater effort to moving excess demand at any park towards other parks with less emphasis on the type of gate admission. Today’s results may be off because they had to start with existing reservations. So, for now I am just watching the new system.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

… I wouldn't expect to be able to modify a park pass when booked using the resort calendar. They don't want APs (or anyone else) booking resort stays and cancelling just to get a park pass….

That was helpful. It would prevent bucket jumping to get into a high priority bucket.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

The remaining "loophole" for FL residents is to buy a Pixie Pass and then renew into one of the higher tiers after 1 year.

Shhh! Not so loud. They might hear you and close the loophole.

 

[Jwaire]

Shhh! Not so loud. They might hear you and close the loophole.

Works the other way too. I plan on downgrading to Sorcerer's.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

That happened to me the week before Christmas last year for Magic Kingdom, ticket guests could go but not AP. So, everyone in my family had passes (regular tickets), but not me. However, because I had a resort stay (DVC), they switched me to the resort calendar and it worked fine.

I wouldn't expect to be able to modify a park pass when booked using the resort calendar. They don't want APs (or anyone else) booking resort stays and cancelling just to get a park pass.

It's why when you move your resort stay, they ask you if you already have passes and adjust them for you manually.

Interesting - I just checked and I still have park passes for Aug 28-Sep 3, even though I cancelled that stay months ago. I thought Disney would have auto cancelled the park passes but apparently not. In fact I now have 2 park passes per person per day (at the same park), probably due to the migration.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Guess we’ve just had the good fortune to hit it at the opposite. I’ve never had a date where my ticketed guests could access a park and we could not. Since day one

That is because you are both in Bucket #1.

If I am right, then annual passholders staying in resorts use the same bucket as ticketed guests — bucket#1. What we are talking about regarding passholders having a tougher time getting reservations is when passholders are in bucket #2 because they are not resort guests, ie locals, staying with local relatives or properties not in the bubble of Disney resorts or Disney good neighbor hotels that have Disnet bucket #1 privileges.

 

[Jwaire]

Interesting - I just checked and I still have park passes for Aug 28-Sep 3, even though I cancelled that stay months ago. I thought Disney would have auto cancelled the park passes but apparently not. In fact I now have 2 park passes per person per day (at the same park), probably due to the migration.

I had that last year too, but it finally dropped off closer to the trip. I wonder if they don't run that check until the passes are gone for a park that day? Otherwise, it wouldn't matter.

Disney IT at its finest.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

That happened to me the week before Christmas last year for Magic Kingdom, ticket guests could go but not AP. So, everyone in my family had passes (regular tickets), but not me. However, because I had a resort stay (DVC), they switched me to the resort calendar and it worked fine.

I wouldn't expect to be able to modify a park pass when booked using the resort calendar. They don't want APs (or anyone else) booking resort stays and cancelling just to get a park pass.

It's why when you move your resort stay, they ask you if you already have passes and adjust them for you manually.

Not sure I understand why you didn't book your reservation with the resort stay to start with. You'd likely been able to book with them just fine if you had.

I've got no problems with modifying park reservations. never had. AP have always been able to modify theirs. Even with a resort stay. Not sure if you knew that.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Good discussion on today’s observations. Thanks to all.

Prior to today, my observation, for Disney World only, was three classifications, but two buckets.

1. Ticket Holders — used Bucket 1
2. Resort Guests — both Tickets and Annual Passholders used Bucket 1
The reason I combined these two is their park reservation availability was always identical

3. Annual Passholders (not at a resort) — used Bucket 2

Today was supposed to be the first day of the new system. Supposedly there will be modifiable plans and being able to book various mixed gate admissions at the same time.

What we have observed across the boards is a mishmash. Maybe the IT is not fully and reliably functional yet. Also, most park availability right now is all green. So we really cannot observe much difference to define a potential rearrangement of buckets or prioritizing until there is some unavailability. One possibility I am watching for is there might be one bucket and to the extent possible it is moving towards first come first serve. That would be a logical move towards shoring up the park reservation system against recession impacts. If so, there will be greater effort to moving excess demand at any park towards other parks with less emphasis on the type of gate admission. Today’s results may be off because they had to start with existing reservations. So, for now I am just watching the new system.

Prior to today, bold 100% no. I experienced numerous dates where this did NOT happen. They were NOT the same pool and availability was NOT identical.
It was too often for it to be an IT glitch
It was on more than 1 trip
It was with more than 1 different ticketed guest.
Others have encountered the exact same issue.
It was 100% certain different pools of availability for resort guests with AP and resorts guests with tickets.