Sea World: "Dark Pattern" Pass Renewal

[Brian Noble]

TL;DR: If you have an active Sea World pass that you don't want to keep, take active steps to make sure it does not renew. Boo Sea World. Yay AmEx.

Last year, I bought a promotional sea world pass, paid in full. I got an email that it was due for renewal, and that to prevent that I either needed to (a) log into my account on the web site to cancel the pass or (b) call a toll free phone number. I tried logging into the site via the link they sent, but could not find a way to cancel the pass anywhere. I called the 800 number and it was "no longer in active service." There was no way to remove the card associated with my account, only a way to replace it with another card. So, I (stupidly) figured the renewal notice was a mistake, and it would not be posted because I was not on EZ Pay.

Today I got a notice from AmEx (the card that I had listed on my account) about a "recent charge attempt that required my attention". It was for the renewal. AmEx declined the charge, and asked me to verify if it was correct. I might get a fraud notice on this card maybe once every several years--the fact that this was marked suggests to me that it's something a lot of people have been complaining about. The Sea World site also helpfully informed me that I had a payment past due. I told AmEx to decline the charge, and used SW's "send us a note" link to complain and make sure they didn't try to re-post it.

This is an example of a "dark pattern"--and specifically a "roach motel", which is easy to enter but hard to leave. If it hadn't been for AmEx being on the ball, this would have been much messier. So: Boo to Sea World, and Yay to American Express. If you also have a SW pass, and you do not want it to renew but can't find a way to make that happen, at least use the "contact us" form to tell them not to renew it. Screen shot the form before you hit submit; I did not get a copy of my request. That way, if your credit card company is not quite as proactive, you have at least something that you can use to try to dispute the charge.

 

[Yoshi]

Thanks for the warning. My pass is set to renew next week and although I am keeping the pass, I wanted to make sure it renews at the $396 sale price and if not, I would cancel and buy a new pass.

I tried to log in yesterday since the email I got also stated I could cancel online but the page said to call the number. That’s annoying to hear the number no longer works.

As much as I like SeaWorld and Busch Gardens they can be frustrating to deal with. A few weeks ago the rides at Busch Gardens kept closing because of high winds. The app kept changing from displaying wait times to saying the coasters were closed for the day. Then it was posting wait times for rides closed for refurbishment like the log flume. I called the park, once on the Platinum Pass number, once on the regular number. Both people said the park was closed for the day at 3 pm. Hearing that, I didn’t drive to the park. I found out the next day they never closed early and once the rides reopened later, they were walk ons.

 

[Brian Noble]

The number on the page might work if it is different from the one in the email. As for the renewal price--the charge they attempted for me was full price, but that was on the 20th and I don't think the sale had started by then.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

On the flip side, I "cancelled" autorenew because I didn't want it to renew /charge me in full when I didn't expect it. So a week or 2 before my pass expired, I called to renew manually and wasn't eligible for renewal rates. I just had to wait until mine expired and pay the new pass rates.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

Most annoying thing about Sea World to me is they send me emails almost daily to buy an Aquatica pass. But I just bought platinum passes for the family so why would I want to buy aquatica passes?