Also, Disney suspended new sales of its popular Southern California annual passport because of the crowds. Those who already have them can renew them. And those who let Southern California passes expire in the last 90 days can renew them as well.
The parks have been particularly crowded on Sundays – the only weekend day usually available for those with the Southern California passes, which now cost $379 on renewal. A cheaper pass – the Southern California Select at $289 – is blocked out on weekends and is available for new purchases.
Other annual passes – the Deluxe, with Saturday and holiday blackouts, selling for $519, and the no-blackout Premium, selling for $699 – may be suspended in the future.
“Due to the popularity of our annual pass program – and to preserve the guest experience for our annual passholders and all guests – future sales of all annual passes will be subject to availability,” Brown said in the statement. “We continue to offer a variety of other annual passes so that our guests can choose a pass that’s right for them.”
The Southern California passes could be sold again when “renewal rates return to an appropriate level that preserves the guest experience,” Brown said.
Disney rarely suspends annual pass sales, last doing so temporarily in 2001 when Disney California Adventure opened.