No More Annual Passes ???

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Disneyland just stopped selling NEW Annual Passes.
2) They will only sell RENEWAL passes.
2) Can WDW be far behind?

What-Ya-Think?

 

[GFShelley]

I'm surprised! I guess that's a way to make sure people renew. I cannot imagine the feedback for this will be positive. I have WDW passes and intend on keeping them but that's sad for those that want passes and maybe won't be able to get them.

 

[Aaeolien]

That's crazy. Aren't passes a sure fire way to get people to return to spend more money? Surely the money that gets spent on those return trips is more than the money it costs disney to provide passes. Hmmmmmm interesting.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

I had misread the news. I thought it was just the SoCal pass. I thought it was a nice benefit for those in the area, but I didn't understand why Orlando residents didn't have one--just the Florida resident.

I hope they don't get rid of the Annual Pass at WDW. Planning on moving down in 2016-2017. Maybe there will be a new Resident+ ticket. But I won't be surprised to see the Epcot 4pm go away.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

1) Disneyland just stopped selling NEW Annual Passes.
2) They will only sell RENEWAL passes.
2) Can WDW be far behind?

What-Ya-Think?

Someone gave you misinformation.

There was price increase, but Disneyland still sells Disneyland Deluxe passes (now $519, up $20), Disneyland Premium passes ($699, up $30), and Disney Premier (California and Florida) passes ($1,029, up $50). These are available to anyone, whether a Southern California resident or from any anywhere else.

Only Southern California residents have had their options reduces for new discounted Southern California resident annual passes.

The cheapest pass, the Southern California Select Annual Passport ($289, up $10) is good for 170 days of admission to both theme parks.

The better Southern California Annual Passholder pass is not available to new buyers, but is still available to those whose pass expired in the last three months.

Annual passes were a problem at Disneyland, especially on Sundays when the parks would be overrun with Southern California Annual Passholders (but not by those with Southern California Select Annual Passports).

Annual passes are not a problem at WDW. Far fewer people have them, and there's not a big problem with locals who come every weekend.

 

[southlakejr]

As far as I can tell, they are only eliminating one category of pass that was for SoCal residents and allowed weekends. Is there a report stating that others are also gone? You can still purchase other plans online.

 

[Aaeolien]

Well that makes more sense now. Seemed kinda crazy to eliminate all passes.

 

[Figmentforever24]

But either way this really brings up an interesting topic. Sure they are removing only one type of Annual Pass at Disneyland, but is that where they stop? Annual Passholders come more often and they don't spend the money like single or a few time visitors spend. Now I am not saying they are going to remove all Annual Passes but it is interesting. Something else to consider is how Disneyland is heavily local based. Many of the people who come are local and not international unlike Walt Disney World which is the exact opposite. so would removal of Annual Passes be a big deal at Walt Disney World? For me it would and surely there would be upset people, but would it move the needle as far as attendance and income? At the same time since there are not a lot of Annual Passes would they be more inclined to keep the passes and make money off of the few who have them. Just sayin

 

[nalajms]

Annual Passholders come more often and they don't spend the money like single or a few time visitors spend.
... so would removal of Annual Passes be a big deal at Walt Disney World?

I think they'd lose a big chunk of profit by removing the AP from WDW. Based on our spending compared to co-workers who go once every 4+years, our average spending per trip (2+ trips a year) is always greater than my co-workers. No matter how I try to cut the spending for the kids, DH & grandma always buys them whatever they ask for.

 

[kbelle8995]

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.

 

[Cobern]

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.

Same here. I don't want to go when it is super crowded. We may have to upgrade to an annual pass when the kids start school though. Might only be able to go in the summer :/

 

[lockedoutlogic]

1) Disneyland just stopped selling NEW Annual Passes.
2) They will only sell RENEWAL passes.
2) Can WDW be far behind?

What-Ya-Think?

Come On, Scup...

you know damn well that the capacity issue in disneyland is driving that "temporary" move there...and WDW has never been close...nor is likely to ever be close to that level.

they could sell 20 million annual passes at WDW and they wouldn't blink

"the blessing of size"

 

[Figmentforever24]

I think they'd lose a big chunk of profit by removing the AP from WDW. Based on our spending compared to co-workers who go once every 4+years, our average spending per trip (2+ trips a year) is always greater than my co-workers. No matter how I try to cut the spending for the kids, DH & grandma always buys them whatever they ask for.

Oh yea I am a season passholder and I spend plenty when I go, but I know how first timers are. First Timers have to buy the hats, and photos, and ice cream and popcorn, and souviners from each park, and multiple shirts, and trinkets for other family members that didn't get to go, and then they buy plenty of other things. Disney also knows that they can charge high prices for certain things and first timers wouldn't know better unlike Annual passholders who are smarter then that. Like I said I don't think the passes are going anywhere, but it creates an interesting point.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Come On, Scup...

you know damn well that the capacity issue in disneyland is driving that "temporary" move there...and WDW has never been close...nor is likely to ever be close to that level.

they could sell 20 million annual passes at WDW and they wouldn't blink

"the blessing of size"

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said They eliminate APs they lose MANY locals

 

[southlakejr]

I doubt Disney will ever completely do away with the annual passes. They might eventually become exorbitantly expensive... but they will never completely go away.

As for AP holders and their spending...

Dh and I were DLR AP holders for several years. (getting our AP status back in September, woohoo!) We were never big spenders- we're not souvenir people, don't do sit down restaurants frequently, don't stay on site, etc. However, we did visit every two months or so for a few days at a time.

Without our APs, we have been only once in almost three years, and that was only because we had the chance to go to Club 33.

So sure, we may not spend as much as a lot of people, but we spend it frequently. And, other than our Club 33 meal, we didn't spend any more on that one visit than we did on our frequent ones. For visitors like us, it will always be best to keep us coming back more often.

 

[Reddog1134]

There's a good article about it here:

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201405/4025/

Basically, there are just too many annual passes out there and the parks are becoming overcrowded with "day guests" that don't spend any money.

 

[DOOM1001]

There's a good article about it here:

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201405/4025/

Basically, there are just too many annual passes out there and the parks are becoming overcrowded with "day guests" that don't spend any money.

Seems like I can't ever move to SoCal,the Disneyland AP options there are too restricting.WDW just isn't going to have that issue with huge numbers of local passholders crowding the parks.The Los Angeles Metropolitan area has 18.1 million people,the entire state of Florida has about 19.5 million spread out over hundreds of miles.The biggest population area and where I live in South Florida is 4 hours away,it's not that easy to get there frequently,I go between 8-10 times a year and I don't know too many people down here who go as frequently as I do,in fact I don't know any.The Orlando area and a lot of Florida is well known for having low wages,a big percentage of the population just doesn't have the money to visit the parks frequently as they're likely spending the majority of their time working.I've known dozens of people who lived in Orlando and they probably went once or twice a year max.If Los Angeles metro was a state it would be near the top of the list for population.And the truth is WDW is getting a large chunk of their visitors from South America,all you need to do is visit frequently and listen to the language and accent the visitors are speaking,down here in Miami we have a lot of Latin Americans but just by hearing the WDW visitors I know they're not Florida residents,you can tell the difference.All it takes is for the economy of some of these countries to go in the tank and WDW will see their numbers drop.For the last couple of years Brazil's economy has been hot,you go to the parks and hear a ton of people speaking Portuguese.Pretty much their economy has dipped a bit recently and all signs point to it sinking even further in the next 5 years or so,meaning a drop in tourist dollars.WDW would be dumb to mess with pass options for Floridians,something that's steady and guaranteed,a majority of WDW visitors unlike Disneyland are actual tourists.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Seems like I can't ever move to SoCal,the Disneyland AP options there are too restricting.

There are Disneyland Resort annual passes that are good every day of the year with no blackout days. Anybody with the money to buy them can do so.

There are also rather inexpensive passes for SoCal locals only. These can be used 170 days of the year. It's a great option for those locals who can go on weekdays and would prefer to go on less crowded days anyway.

Another kind of pass for SoCal locals is currently only available for renewals, but that's hardly a reason why to say "Seems like I can't ever move to SoCal."

Keep in mind that the OP was mistaken.

 

[DOOM1001]

There are Disneyland Resort annual passes that are good every day of the year with no blackout days. Anybody with the money to buy them can do so.

There are also rather inexpensive passes for SoCal locals only. These can be used 170 days of the year. It's a great option for those locals who can go on weekdays and would prefer to go on less crowded days anyway.

Another kind of pass for SoCal locals is currently only available for renewals, but that's hardly a reason why to say "Seems like I can't ever move to SoCal."

Keep in mind that the OP was mistaken.

Oh I understand that,and I still feel like I couldn't live there.I pay like $280 to renew my seasonal pass,the blackout dates are reasonable as they're during the peak periods or during the heat of the summer,so it works for me.It seems like every pass at Disneyland has issues,the premium costs like $700,the deluxe is still like over $500 and still has block out dates throughout the year,the select has more blackout dates than open dates and still costs a few bucks more than my seasonal renewal price,they cut off the sale of the annual which is similar to my seasonal but also has those Saturday blackout dates year round,I mean I can buy a full annual pass to WDW for about that price,so yeah I'm not moving to SoCal.

 

[kbelle8995]

Oh I understand that,and I still feel like I couldn't live there.I pay like $280 to renew my seasonal pass,the blackout dates are reasonable as they're during the peak periods or during the heat of the summer,so it works for me.It seems like every pass at Disneyland has issues,the premium costs like $700,the deluxe is still like over $500 and still has block out dates throughout the year,the select has more blackout dates than open dates and still costs a few bucks more than my seasonal renewal price,they cut off the sale of the annual which is similar to my seasonal but also has those Saturday blackout dates year round,I mean I can buy a full annual pass to WDW for about that price,so yeah I'm not moving to SoCal.

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.