The Current Disneyland Annual Pass Program Has Been Cancelled

[Malcon10t]

I'm from Canada so not speaking from experience but to me this just makes sense from a business point of view. An average annual passholder is maybe paying $25 bucks a day while someone on the day passes is paying over 100. If they can even get 75% of the people with daily passes they double their income! I've heard the arguement about food, etc but I bet daily pass people spend way more a day on average as well. To me, it just makes sense! Now if I lived close I would be super annoyed, but from a business point of view it just makes sense to use this pandemic time to recalabrate.

Disney isn't doing this "to make money". They are doing this because the negative publicity when they reopen from APs not being able to get reservations to get in the park when they have a Signature Plus or Premier, or any other that was valid previously. Disneyland is going to reopen with a capacity of 10 or 15K in Disneyland, and 7-10K in DCA. With almost 2 millions APs, it was going to be a publicity nightmare, especially with Avenger's Campus opening. While this is negative publicity, it is better than the other way. Once things get settled, and capacity will increase, we will see a new program.

Do you know it costs a family of 3 staying at the DL hotel for 4 nights about $3500 dollars with a 3-day park hopper ticket? Why would it be that much if they are rolling in cash from AP holders?

Yes, as a family of 6 with APs, who usually stays at the DLH most trips (once every 6-8 weeks) I do. You seem to think all APs are local, but a large number are not SoCal residents. I know we aren't the only ones. I have friends who live in the Corona area who comes over to join us, also APs, and stay at one of the 3 hotels. Others from San Diego area, they prefer the Grand. And why is the hotel that much? Because it is what people are willing to pay.

 

[Malcon10t]

Back when I got my first AP in 1990, it was close to $400 when the single day ticket was $27.50, and a SoCal special allowed people to get in for $20.

I got my first AP in 1990 also. It was $90 and I was not a So Cal. I had 4 kids, so I know what we paid. In 1995, it was $119. Prices went up quickly though and by 2003, it was $279. It was never $400 in 1990.

 

[montreid]

From what we've seen so far from CA state gov't, Disneyland isn't going to open until the vast majority of SoCal is vaccinated, and the positivity rate gets so low, you'd have to wonder why social distancing and masks are even a thing anymore.

It's not out of thought that Orange county get to yellow in the summer before we hit Group 2 and even school kids.

25% capacity still is ripe for a superspreader event. Imagine getting on small world fully loaded for 30minutes indoors.

Remember the measles outbreak at DLR a few years ago? Disney won't be wanting that PR and will have masking/distancing deep into 2021.

 

[HairyChest]

THIS IS NOT GOOD. credit to Dusty Sage from micechat.com He just put out a podcast and pretty much said no more annual pass, just a membership where you can buy discounted day tickets. He is very reliable with his information and knows things before announcement so I believe him. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. As a CA resident and passholder, it was a huge part of my life and why I live here. I can’t afford a ticket each week. I doubt most other passholders can either. Only going a few times a year won’t work for those of us that grew up with it. I think Disney is making a HUGE mistake and will see very few passholders buy daytickets, and notenough vacationers come in to Be as profitable as they were with passholders. They will quickly change course once they see how much it’ll hurt their bottom line. Disneyworld is actually cheaper for a tourist then Disneyland because of all the accommodation options and amount of things you can do.

 

[VandVsmama]

I think that the monthly payment plan turned into a big beast over the years that dramatically increased the AP numbers. I would be so frustrated and disappointed if I had an AP right now. I totally understand everybody who feels that way.

Because DL remains closed with no end in sight, we are going twice to WDW this year instead. DH and I are leaving this Saturday for 6 days in WDW and then we’re going to sweat our butts off therein early June for a week with the kids in tow, too. Normally at that time of year, we’d be doing 3 days at DL and staying in a hotel on Harbor Blvd.

We do not live in CA. We are not in So CA, so a monthly payment plan was never an option for us. I often felt frustrated at the park crowds that would swell in numbers in the evenings on weekdays.

We still have 2-day one park per day tickets for DL. Tickets that I bought one year ago. Tickets that expire now in Jan 2022, but who knows if we’ll actually be able to use them at all. It’s frustrating. And with the pent up demand just in CA alone for DL access, I’m counting on NOT being able to get ANY park reservation for several months unless we stay on site. We usually do not stay on site in order to stretch our travel $$ farther.

AP folks have a legitimate reason to be upset. There will be something coming in its place. We just don’t know how it will go yet. And the not knowing is frustrating right now.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For help with AP Refund questions:

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AP "Sunsetting" FAQs:

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[cruisehopeful]

What worries me most about any new membership system is cost. Thus far, it seemed like the more expensive passes became, the more people showed up. Disney knows that it has not hit the ceiling for pricing yet. And it is to their advantage to get more money out of fewer people, not because smaller crowds are nicer for guests, but because smaller crowds mean needing fewer resources like staff. I could see them keeping a similar pass system but raising the cost *substantially*, like doubling the prices. Many would refuse to pay, but it doesn’t matter, because some people will pay, and they’ll need fewer customers if those customers are paying more. There is a cost benefit sweet spot where cost of business and revenue are optimized, and they must know that they could charge a lot more while offering the same experience. What do you think?

I do think they could easily double the prices, make it reservations only and still fill the parks to the 25% capacity. There are people who don't care how much it costs and there are always new people moving to the area and traveling through. I honestly think they can price it out at any rate and be full every day when it reopens. Maybe they'll need to lower the pricing when they can operate at 100%, but I can't imagine them being able to open at full capacity for a long time, perhaps a couple years.

 

[DontSpamMe]

Disney isn't doing this "to make money". They are doing this because the negative publicity when they reopen from APs not being able to get reservations to get in the park when they have a Signature Plus or Premier, or any other that was valid previously. Disneyland is going to reopen with a capacity of 10 or 15K in Disneyland, and 7-10K in DCA. With almost 2 millions APs, it was going to be a publicity nightmare, especially with Avenger's Campus opening. While this is negative publicity, it is better than the other way. Once things get settled, and capacity will increase, we will see a new program.


Yes, as a family of 6 with APs, who usually stays at the DLH most trips (once every 6-8 weeks) I do. You seem to think all APs are local, but a large number are not SoCal residents. I know we aren't the only ones. I have friends who live in the Corona area who comes over to join us, also APs, and stay at one of the 3 hotels. Others from San Diego area, they prefer the Grand. And why is the hotel that much? Because it is what people are willing to pay.

Of course there are AP holders that aren't local (I'm one also) not sure where I said that. I was simply countering that all local AP holders drop a lot of money when they go. There are over 1 million AP holders in southern California. Of course SOME local AP holders spend gobs of money, but my bet is that's the exception not the rule.

As a 100% newbie to Disneyland these are my impressions and things I've seen. It is obvious the local APs have become a bug-a-boo for Disneyland. My guess, at least for the next couple years if not forever, gone are the unrestricted come whenever you want type passes.....for the common folk at least. I always found Fridays at Disneyland interesting. The place will be calm all day, but after 5pm the place gets nuts.

 

[longboard55]

I got my first AP in 1990 also. It was $90 and I was not a So Cal. I had 4 kids, so I know what we paid. In 1995, it was $119. Prices went up quickly though and by 2003, it was $279. It was never $400 in 1990.

yes 1990 an adult was more like $100 for all days no restrictions and included parking. Oh the good ol days. I can say we made the most out of the pass system the last 30 years, it has been a great ride. I assume after covid it will be back in some form

 

[brightlined]

My in-laws upgraded from 3-day tickets with Maxpass to Flex Pass with no Maxpass. They had 8 months and 10 days remaining on their passes when the parks closed. Their per pass refund was $220.77. I've done the math a lot of ways and I still can't pin down how Disney did their math.

Well, honestly, that would be in the range of what I would expect if they only refund the upgrade cost.

The math Disney is using is to count the number of days the pass could have been used versus how many it included at purchase time. Since they bought in November, the blocked out Christmas days wouldn't have counted. Assuming they paid ~$300 for a 3-day MaxPass ticket, that would be ~$300 for the upgrade, and slightly more than 2/3rds of the pass remaining would be about $220. (My numbers are really mushy here without knowing what they actually paid for the upgrade, since it varies a lot.)

I'm surprised that they're doing it that way - there are a handful of scenarios where people would get pretty ripped off.

I had six months left on my Flex, and I upgraded from a 3-day parkhopper, so I'm curious to see what I'll end up getting. (I know I'm in an easier position myself - I was able to use mine enough times in those six months that I felt like I'd already gotten my money's worth for what I paid for the upgrade, so anything I get back is gravy.)

 

[BlueRibbon]

I got my first AP in 1990 also. It was $90 and I was not a So Cal. I had 4 kids, so I know what we paid. In 1995, it was $119. Prices went up quickly though and by 2003, it was $279. It was never $400 in 1990.

I would have put money down that it was $400!! But seems like with many other things, the memory is giving me bad info

Sorry about that!

 

[amyamya]

From yesterday's LA Times article:

The annual pass program was likely profitable, but passholders have tended to be Southern California residents who visit frequently — as often as weekly or even daily — and spend less per visit on food and souvenirs than tourists do.


Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park appreciate modest-spending visitors when they have not reached capacity, especially on low-demand days such as the middle of the week or in the fall after children return to school. But now that the parks have been nearing or reaching capacity on a regular basis, Disney would rather have the parks’ limited space filled by high-spending out-of-town visitors, theme park experts say.

“On a per-visit basis, the annual pass holders don’t make a lot of money for the park,” said John Gerner, a theme park expert and managing director of Leisure Business Advisors. “When they had excess capacity it made sense. Now they don’t have that capacity.”
Ending the annual pass program now lets Disney executives revamp the program to boost profits, he said.

 

[Malela9]

I'm sorry, but Disney basically gave a Big Middle Finger to all those who have waited patiently this past year. I know that I'm not alone in having looked forward to the opportunity to visit the parks once they re-open. A Refund of less than $100 for the 2 1/2 months remaining on my Flex Pass means nothing to me. It is offensive, and AP's are being punished for a situation, the pandemic, which is out of our control.

There are many ways this could have been dealt with better. They could have said that once the parks re-open, all Passholders would be allowed the Lesser of 2 Months validity or the time remaining on their passes. At the same time, they could announce whatever new system they intend to use as a replacement going forward.

This would have allowed their so-called "valued" AP's to get a visit or 2 in before deciding whether they wanted to get whatever new membership they are planning on implementing.

Universal is Damn smart. Ya know why? Every Single Disneyland AP is now an Unrestricted Free Agent. Disney could have created a bridge to their new program, while at the same time giving the most hardcore of their fan base, the FIX they've been waiting almost a year for. Many might have just decided to continue after the 2 month grace period, and Disney would have avoided what they have now. Which are likely many who are probably saying....."Well, we've gone a year without a visit to Disneyland, and now we have our money back, so perhaps we should wait a while longer, and spend money elsewhere."

And I keep coming back to the Free Agent thing. You don't simultaneously cut someone loose, very abruptly I might add, and then tell them how important they are (WERE) to you.

This is an excellent comment. I am going to renew my WDW annual passes and get Knott's passes. I refuse to pay $300 for park hopper tickets at DL for one day. WDW gave AP's 2 days to visit before opening to the public. They have learned how to accommodate their AP's. Yes, DL's occupancy is lower but I agree that they have created ill will with the DL community and set us free to visit other parks. We love DL, but not at the price they are probably going to make us pay. Most pass holders I have talked to are really mad.

 

[WonkaKid]

This is an excellent comment.

I recognize that changes were probably necessary at DL, but I also feel like I’ve been fired without cause. Understanding something intellectually and the way we feel about it are two different things. Perhaps many of us will feel better when we hear what “membership” will entail. Then again, perhaps we won’t. It’s too early to know.

 

[Shinji4u]

Same for us. We are coming all the way from Germany, had annual passes since November 2019 and have booked flights on Monday for November this year. We could rebook the flights, but can not cancel. If Disney would’ve been open by November we would’ve been rebook the flights for a later time. Now we do have flights and NO tickets. Even if we could fly now in November, we have to buy new, expensive tickets which will cost more then we will be getting refunded now. Real bummer for us.

 

[Pachinko]

THIS IS NOT GOOD. credit to Dusty Sage from micechat.com He just put out a podcast and pretty much said no more annual pass, just a membership where you can buy discounted day tickets. He is very reliable with his information and knows things before announcement so I believe him. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. As a CA resident and passholder, it was a huge part of my life and why I live here. I can’t afford a ticket each week. I doubt most other passholders can either. Only going a few times a year won’t work for those of us that grew up with it. I think Disney is making a HUGE mistake and will see very few passholders buy daytickets, and notenough vacationers come in to Be as profitable as they were with passholders. They will quickly change course once they see how much it’ll hurt their bottom line. Disneyworld is actually cheaper for a tourist then Disneyland because of all the accommodation options and amount of things you can do.

I listened to that podcast...they were also talking about going back to using ticket books for individual rides! But I also heard what you mentioned about having memberships with ticket discounts, etc. To my ears, he was just speculating on what he would like, and he was also focusing on the short term when the parks open at reduced capacity.

I think that most people understand that the annual pass program has to “sunset” right now given COVID. It’s what happens after, when there are no longer restrictions, that’s the big question. And people seem much less certain about that.

 

[longboard55]

do the math, one million pass holders, they will probably start at 25% capacity. It had to happen, there is just no other way. We were all wondering what they would do, now we know.

 

[brightlined]

This is an excellent comment. I am going to renew my WDW annual passes and get Knott's passes. I refuse to pay $300 for park hopper tickets at DL for one day. WDW gave AP's 2 days to visit before opening to the public. They have learned how to accommodate their AP's. Yes, DL's occupancy is lower but I agree that they have created ill will with the DL community and set us free to visit other parks. We love DL, but not at the price they are probably going to make us pay. Most pass holders I have talked to are really mad.

To be fair, WDW did it by basically converting their AP passes into Flex passes. You can only book three days at a time in advance. A lot of people took refunds instead, and there was still a lot of complaining from those who didn't about how they were receiving a limited product given what they'd paid.

With the number of DL AP holders, they would've had to cancel all of the existing Flex passes anyway (and probably the SoCal as well), and, even then, AP holders would have gone ballistic with how limited their access would have had to be to make it work.

I get people being disappointed. Just don't really understand the anger. (With the exception of people who get shorted on refunds.)

And, point blank, I think Dusty's completely wrong. DL has too much existing infrastructure to just do day passes like that. (That's not how the "memberships" work at Six Flags, either.) If anything, I think it's more likely they'll do a Flex pass of some kind, where you can book a certain number of days in advance, potentially with fewer restrictions than the old Flex pass.

 

[longboard55]

Since we mentioned WDW, this would be a great year to give it a try. WDW is amazing and most socals never go

 

[Bossy22]

I get the pain but DL doesn’t owe anyone. They gave many of you an amazing experience at an amazing price (especially when you compare it to what normal tickets cost) . They will continue to do what they have to make the most profit they can. Did annual passers save DL? They sure helped at a dire time! Does DL owe them? No, you got what you paid for! Will they do something in the future? Who knows! I choose to visit DL, I pay 8 grande a trip! Do they owe me? Nope! It’s the nature of business.