I cannot be 100% for sure, but this is what I believe is the case so far. This post is strictly for informational purposes only, it could change at any moment.
-NEW PASSHOLDER Certs purchased that go to the window to activate, you will automatically receive the new pass holder status that is closest configured to your purchase. For example, if you ordered online a PREMIUM pass, your status when you go to the window will automatically provide you PLATINUM PLUS pass holder status. (Premium passes no longer exist.) You will get the benefits with this pass, which include the photo downloads and of course, the magicband, and included (not free) parking, and applicable discounts.
-RENEWAL CERTS, this is trickier (believe me!). I'm still trying to figure it out 100% myself as we will renew in the spring. This is what I believe is the case so far. If you renewed your pass online or in the window in your applicable renewal time, (60/30 days) your certificate should include the new pass holder status as well. For instance, if you previously held a Seasonal pass (which btw did not include parking as you know), I believe you will correlate to Silver pass status now. Please note, NOT ALL PASSES have the photo downloads! But YES, ALL PASSES NOW INCLUDE PARKING. SO when you come to renew your pass, you will no longer be renewing your "seasonal pass" (does not exist in the system). You will be getting the benefits of renewing your pass, but essentially you should be grandfathered in to the new pass which now includes the new benefits. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IN-BETWEEN TIME MAY NOT EFFECT EVERYONE INDEFINITELY. I'm THINKING THERE IS A SPECIFIC DATE THAT THIS APPLIES TO RENEWALS, WHO KNOWS, IT MAY BE JUST A WINDOW OF A FEW WEEKS. PLEASE DON'T SAY "I SAW IT ON THE INTERNET", because it could change at any moment. This is the information I have an idea of at this time.
Please be patient when activating your renewal certs. There is still a lot of local confusion to work out!
ALL NEW PASSES AND RENEWALS FROM THIS POINT ON WILL BE ON NEW STANDARD GOLDEN COLORED PASS HOLDER CARDS FEATURING MICKEY. (No more, can I get Minnie? Can I get this character? ALL new passes NOW LOOK THE SAME.) Discount cards will no longer be used. This new media is your included parking and discount card, so you will want to keep it on you. If you go to the window as a CURRENT AP holder and need a new card/media, you will also receive THIS new media, because these cards will be used at the Auto Plazas.
SO......
What if you JUST bought a NEW pass? Well, there are a few options for you. As stated in the emails, YOUR PASS IS STILL GOOD through the anniversary year. If you purchased a seasonal pass, you still HAVE a SEASONAL PASS. If you lose your ticket media, you will still get the same card like you had before for the use of your pass. You have all the same benefits you purchased prior.
However... maybe you decide, looking at all these new options that ALL include parking and some of which include all the attractions and photos downloads, "I want THAT pass!" Well, of course, you are welcome to upgrade to that pass. These products did not exist until 10/4. So there would have been no way to purchase them a few weeks ago, etc. when you purchased your pass. You are welcome to UPGRADE the difference from FORMER pass to NEW pass at any point and cover the difference. Now, you have a NEW pass that includes the new benefits. As far as I know, your anniversary date still applies, so the earlier you upgrade, the better to take advantage of the new features (especially if you do NOT have parking included on your present pass.) To my knowledge, if you paid parking that day, and decide to come and upgrade your pass to a new program pass that DOES include parking, BRING YOUR RECEIPT TO THE WINDOW WITH YOU. They may be able to apply it towards the difference.
Please note: FREE upgrades would not apply to you, because your pass is still good as you purchased it. That means you have a year to enjoy the benefits you purchased at the time. However, you can certainly pay the difference (ie. the SAME as everyone as of 10/4) to get the new products. Considering that parking went up a $3, it might well be worth it. But of course, you have the option NOT to, to keep everything the same for the life of your current pass, if that's what you decide.
I also would encourage families to get on the same levels of passes. I mean, what you do is up to you. But think about this. Before hand, maybe one family member would get the AP and the others seasonal, and that way they would not have to pay for parking. But, the AP holder is able to go all year, the seasonals would not, and so the AP holder probably didn't much either. In this case, ALLLLLL the passes now include parking. So if one in your party purchases a Gold pass, they now can come every week (minus Christmas/New Year's and Easter) and the remaining family members can only go Silver (block out dates apply) so that doesn't make much sense now. Because they all pay all year but they can't all play the same time. I believe it is now the best option for either ALL the family to get gold (or platinum if you want etc), or ALL get silver (and have the summer blocked out) etc. Because EVERYONE now gets parking. Make sense? At least everyone can finally go together!
(Example: Say Dad buys an AP cert online so he doesn't have to pay parking, comes to the window to activate, it automatically goes Gold, he finds out that ALL the passes now have parking, why should wife only get Silver? Because that means he won't be coming in this summer with the family? But he already has his gold pass? So at this point, the best option is for both to get gold, come all summer long too, and they both get the free parking and downloads. And if they break it up on installments, she would potentially be paying all summer each month and not being able to use her pass? Makes no sense.)
I firmly believe the families should be on the same levels now, whatever that might be... That is just MY opinion though. I would never have a different level than my husband and not be able to go at the same times. (Or hold back his pass since I was blocked out.)
Ok folks, that's all I have for now. All I can say is that most of the passes are actually pretty close in benefits to the former ones (although NO NEW passes or renewals now cover DisneyQuest. If you LOVE DQ and your current pass includes it, you should keep your CURRENT PASS, but that's why they offered the downloads in its place, and all the other same admissions still apply ie. ESPN, WaterParks etc. Obviously with DQ getting ready to close, they don't want to feature it on new year long passes, that's why.) So anyway the only real difference is that GOLD is now a sort of in-between pass that did not exist before. It's a great option for our locals who still want to come all summer long.
As noted, this is very new, and all of this could change at any time. To recap for now, if you have a current AP RENEWAL CERT, within your window, you are now getting the closest pass that applies to you. If you purchased a NEW AP RENEWAL CERT, you are now getting the closest pass that applies to you, this may not last longer than an introductory period, so if you get into your 60 day window, GET THAT RENEWAL CERT ACTIVATED ASAP! (Of course, no changes will take place until you activate/your pass anniversary date.) If you recently purchased a NEW AP on the former program, you still have the same pass you purchased until your anniversary date, although you are welcome to cover the difference and now get the benefits of the new pass holder programs.
