No More Annual Passes ???

[Chuck S]

ITA. I think also that WDW also has its drawbacks but I am grateful that we at least have a decent discount. I too have the seasonal and hope that this option does not disappear.

The options at Disneyland is more like yes you can buy a pass but you are going to pay for it. And it's going to be a really high price.

I heard part of the problem with DL was that some locals were using the park as a babysitter while the parents worked, dropping their kids off unsupervised. Imagine that in the summer when school is out. Eliminating a discounted CA annual pass may help control that problem.

 

[kbelle8995]

I heard part of the problem with DL was that some locals were using the park as a babysitter while the parents worked, dropping their kids off unsupervised. Imagine that in the summer when school is out. Eliminating a discounted CA annual pass may help control that problem.

Oh they do that here too and a higher price won't stop that. I was informed that it is to thin out crowds period. It's to maximize profits as well let's not forget that.

 

[TisBit]

Disneyland has historically been much more of a local theme park then a real tourist attraction. Over the last few years that has changed, Disney has added more resort capacity, the growth or rundisney events and even Califorina Adventure park getting Carland has caused it to be much larger tourist draw (as well as a number of other factors). Attendance is up and they no longer need to rely on the local residents to fill the parks. Locals generally do not spend money in the parks and the close proximity of offsite places to eat, etc makes it much better for them to reduce the number of locals in the parks during peak times (still primarily weekends as Disneyland is still not a full week vacation destination).

So giving locals the restricted option or charging full price for full year AP's makes more sense.

 

[I M Fearless]

I would imagine the introduction of Magic Bands at WDW will play a big part in deciding the way annual passes are priced, distributed and the days on which they can be used in the future.

Disney are soon going to know exactly what each guest spends (and roughly what they cost to look after) by evaluating the data from the magic bands.

I think it's very unlikely that Annual Passes will ever go away. Worryingly for AP holders, it would allow Disney the option of increasing the regular AP price and then offering targeted discounts/offers on the price to those customers who didn't then renew their passes, if Disney realize that those guests spend a lot while at the parks.

My feeling is that like with everything else, Disney will want to squeeze as much money out of annual passes as they possibly can, and why wouldn't they? After all they are a business.

 

[1MCSCROOGE]

I suspect they will charge u by ur visits at some point.

 

[hedberg1661]

A few comments:

One thing to note about DLR...size wise they have a lot less room to distribute people. 2 smaller parks v 4 larger parks plus a lot of land makes a huge difference. Also factor in the APs in California use their pass in a much different way that APs in Florida.

Also, as PPs mentioned they only limited one type of pass for now. They have done this in the past with other passes as well.

While I too found this somewhat alarming at first I honestly never see this happening at WDW. They are just 2 entirely different animals.

 

[Chuck S]

Disney are soon going to know exactly what each guest spends (and roughly what they cost to look after) by evaluating the data from the magic bands.

Doubtful in CA, far higher percentage of locals, not staying onsite and using payment methods not linked to MagicBands. In FL, they pretty much already had that info from years of onsite guests using the room charge throughout the parks.

 

[Epcotfan64]

Disney are soon going to know exactly what each guest spends (and roughly what they cost to look after) by evaluating the data from the magic bands.

I have an AP but I can't use it to make purchases; I pay either with cash or my Disney Visa.

Does WDW know what you're spending because it can sense your presence with the MB near a cash register? If so, that's worrisome.

 

[Chuck S]

I have an AP but I can't use it to make purchases; I pay either with cash or my Disney Visa.

Does WDW know what you're spending because it can sense your presence with the MB near a cash register? If so, that's worrisome.

Oh they may be able to know your location, if the MagicBand system is that sophisticated, but at WDW they gather the spending info because most onsite guests charge purchases back to their room accounts...which they were doing before MagicBands were ever introduced.

 

[kathyk671]

I fear that what WDW will do is not due the seasonal pass anymore. Which is what I have. I'm not interested in coming when it's blocked so it works out.

Thus having me keep it for another year.

My thoughts exactly. We switched to the FL resident 3- or 4-day passes when our son was born because we weren't going as often when he was really small. Now that he's turned 4, we were thinking to go back to seasonal after this summer's blockout ends in August. He's much more into Disney now, and he's much easier to handle since he's out of baby and toddler stage. Plus, he travels a lot lighter now that we don't need a diaper bag, bottles, sippy cups, burp cloths, change of clothes, baby food and spoons, bibs, stroller...

And I agree that the blockout dates are not a problem. I look at it as a helpful hint from Disney: "trust us, you do NOT want to come to the parks during Christmas week, Easter, or summer." Advice I'm only too happy to take!

Fingers crossed they keep the seasonal pass available for their Florida neighbors.

 

[doconeill]

Oh they may be able to know your location, if the MagicBand system is that sophisticated, but at WDW they gather the spending info because most onsite guests charge purchases back to their room accounts...which they were doing before MagicBands were ever introduced.

There are still indications that they plan to incorporate MagicBand charging for non-resort guests, probably by linking to an intermediate account and then charging the credit card in a single transaction (which would save them on transaction fees - thus increasing margins.)

The Disney Vacation Account system seems like it might be a step in that direction, but forward-funded.