Warning about Black Out dates on new AP

[CarlyMur09]

People have reported that your pass will be activated as one of the new passes, with the new rules for blockout days.

We won’t know for sure until after September 8th, when we get reports of what actually happens. IMO, I think they should keep all old benefits and days of use or offer people a refund.

Yeah, I chatted with a CM today on the website, and they said renewal exchanges are going to be activated as the equivalent new pass. But due to our situation, they were able to activate our renewals early (with our membership? I'm still a little confused on that) so we can keep our late nov/early dec trip intact.

 

[Tiberella626]

This. So much this.

Honestly, we bought direct partly because of the AP discounts - we had been looking at how Disney was constantly increasing AP prices, and felt we were starting to get priced out of Disney vacations with all the hotel/food/ticket increases. Losing those makes me unhappy, *especially* that they've made it so that the new Sorcerer pass has blackouts over Thanksgiving. This jumps my ticket costs from approximately $766 ($651 renewal) per person ($3064 for our family) to $1383 ($1176 renewal) per person ($5532 for our family - an increase of ~$2500! Almost double!). And that new "Incredi-Pass" isn't all that incredible, because it does NOT include Water Parks & More NOR Photopass. If I included those, I'd be looking at close to $1600 per person!

When you then add in $15 per person per day for Fast Passes (sorry, Lightning Lane) + Variable Additional Costs per person per day for the most popular rides, it's getting ridiculously expensive to visit the Mouse.

I'll give DVC my feedback, though I doubt that will make a difference. Especially as Disney seems to think we wanted all these changes and extra costs, since they keep saying "based on feedback." I'm not sure what feedback they are basing this on, though.

Absolutely given them your feedback!! They need to know. I sent an email last night and got a call back today, unfortunately I was in a meeting and couldn't take it but I will be calling back tomorrow.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think they should keep all old benefits and days of use or offer people a refund.

I think they will end up keeping the old benefits (e.g. Memory Maker) because that was defined as a benefit of the pass purchased. But the blockout days were defined as specific days in specific years. Did Disney ever publish a blockout calendar for a Gold Pass in 2022? If not, I don't think they are beholden to any particular set of days, and the T&C likely give them the freedom to establish them as they see fit.

 

[wnielsen1]

I think they will end up keeping the old benefits (e.g. Memory Maker) because that was defined as a benefit of the pass purchased. But the blockout days were defined as specific days in specific years. Did Disney ever publish a blockout calendar for a Gold Pass in 2022? If not, I don't think they are beholden to any particular set of days, and the T&C likely give them the freedom to establish them as they see fit.

The current gold pass calendar goes out through Sept 2022 on the DW app. Dec 17-31 are blocked out as is Apr 9-22, 2022. Thanksgiving 2021 is not.

 

[Sandisw]

The current gold pass calendar goes out through Sept 2022 on the DW app. Dec 17-31 are blocked out as is Apr 9-22, 2022. Thanksgiving 2021 is not.

So at least those renewing who have a trip planned for Thanksgiving 2021 should be allowed to visit. But, for Thanksgiving 2022, I can see it not being an option since that time has not yet been published.

 

[Matty B13]

People going over Thanksgiving 2021 might want to take a screen shot of the current calendar to show the AP people.

 

[T-i-double-guh-er]

People going over Thanksgiving 2021 might want to take a screen shot of the current calendar to show the AP people.

I did just that because of the conflicting info I have seen, as well as my park passes.

Making park pass reservations requires having a valid park admission for the day being reserved. I have park passes booked for 11/25-11/27 with my unactivated Gold Pass renewal certificate. So, their system is saying that my Gold Pass renewal certificate will be valid to enter the park on those days. If I get there 11/25 and they try to tell me otherwise, I will be quite unhappy.

 

[cellomom]

Who in their right mind would buy an annual pass that blacks out EVERY weekend? Why is that even an option? I guess someone would buy it. I just can't imagine who.

Works for us! Four hours to get to Disney, arrive on a Sunday leave on a Saturday.
edit: 3 times a year

 

[starry_solo]

I did just that because of the conflicting info I have seen, as well as my park passes.

Making park pass reservations requires having a valid park admission for the day being reserved. I have park passes booked for 11/25-11/27 with my unactivated Gold Pass renewal certificate. So, their system is saying that my Gold Pass renewal certificate will be valid to enter the park on those days. If I get there 11/25 and they try to tell me otherwise, I will be quite unhappy.

Check it after 11/8...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Who in their right mind would buy an annual pass that blacks out EVERY weekend? Why is that even an option? I guess someone would buy it. I just can't imagine who.

We live in SW Florida and the Weekday pass we used to get worked great for us. No holidays, no Sat/Sat and most of the summer blacked out. This isn't very different to us. We might arrive on Mon or Tues and leave on Fri.

 

[DVCsloth]

Just activated my pass on Sept 11th. I had a FL resident Silver pass and since I dropped it down from a Gold pass I had the honor of waiting at MK for about 40 minutes for them to active it and then they explained that it is now called a Pirates Pass. Looks similar with more blackout dates is what I see. I think they should have let the pass renew as a Silver pass since i renewed it months ago. But I guess I showed up a few days late for that. After this last trip I am actually looking more closely at the Pixie Dust pass and just skipping the parks on the weekends. The weekdays were not crowded at all and the weekends were starting to get a little too busy for me. We usually go the 2nd week in September and it is usually very low crowds except for the weekends.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

I just can't imagine who.

This pass would make more sense to me for NON Florida residents as they tend to stay longer.

Maybe. I do not live in FL, but I do qualify as a Dis FL resident… and I love the weekday pass!! I really don’t like that the pixie added random Mondays & Fridays (so-called “holidays”) to the blockout dates (like Valentine’s Day), but they did open up Jun/July!!!

As it is, I still bought 4 of the pixie passes- for my 4 girls. My 2 boys already have active weekday passes. There may not be tons of large families that regularly visit WDW, but for those that do, you better believe some will want (& be willing/able to plan trips around) the cheapest annual pass!!

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Just activated my pass on Sept 11th. I had a FL resident Silver pass and since I dropped it down from a Gold pass I had the honor of waiting at MK for about 40 minutes for them to active it and then they explained that it is now called a Pirates Pass. Looks similar with more blackout dates is what I see. I think they should have let the pass renew as a Silver pass since i renewed it months ago. But I guess I showed up a few days late for that. After this last trip I am actually looking more closely at the Pixie Dust pass and just skipping the parks on the weekends. The weekdays were not crowded at all and the weekends were starting to get a little too busy for me. We usually go the 2nd week in September and it is usually very low crowds except for the weekends.

I agree with you.

I think the silver pass was hit the hardest with changes… yes, they opened up Jun&July, but not being guaranteed weekends during the rest of the year is a huge, unfortunate change.

My husband has always carried the silver- but now I’ll have to be double checking the blockout calendar before planning trips with/for him

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

We live in SW Florida and the Weekday pass we used to get worked great for us. No holidays, no Sat/Sat and most of the summer blacked out. This isn't very different to us. We might arrive on Mon or Tues and leave on Fri.

That’s what I would do if I lived closer! Why fight the weekend crowds?!?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Gold pass never blocked Thanksgiving. Only the two weeks around Christmas/New Years and Easter.

I'd actually rather have Easter open than Thanksgiving, so I won't mind becoming a Sorcerer.

I don't reside in Florida, so it actually is a discount of sorts that I have the option to purchase the Gold/Sorcerer pass. Florida residents have even cheaper options but it's true, no more discounts for anyone on the top tier pass with no blackouts.

 

[ParkHoppers]

So at least those renewing who have a trip planned for Thanksgiving 2021 should be allowed to visit. But, for Thanksgiving 2022, I can see it not being an option since that time has not yet been published.

We have a renewed Gold pass that we will activate on Thanksgiving when we arrive. Hopefully we don’t get hit with the new blackout dates that we were unaware of when we purchased our renewal over this summer.

 

[Sandisw]

We have a renewed Gold pass that we will activate on Thanksgiving when we arrive. Hopefully we don’t get hit with the new blackout dates that we were unaware of when we purchased our renewal over this summer.

If it’s a renewal, and you did not activate it yet, there seems to be inconsistent information but reports are it will renew as a Sorcerer and not a Gold.

I would call to make sure you are not going to have issue so not spending time dealing with it when you get there.

My DD has a renewal certificate as well and will be activating it when she gets there in a few weeks. I’ll keep all posted as to what happens when she does

 

[brazzledazzler]

Who in their right mind would buy an annual pass that blacks out EVERY weekend? Why is that even an option? I guess someone would buy it. I just can't imagine who.

Florida residents? My husband gets 5 weeks of vacations year & weekdays are less DVC points anyway…We currently have Gold & Silver Passes, but we’ll be getting a weekday pass next year!

My parents have had weekday passes for years. They are retired and enjoy driving over during the week.

 

[brazzledazzler]

If you have an inactivated Gold Pass, you will be blocked out for Thanksgiving. I wrote to Disney on 9/2, and only this week got this email response:

“
Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort and for being one of our valued Annual Passholders!

If you did not activate your Annual passes before September 8, 2021, your Annual passes would change to the equivalent new Annual pass with the new blockout dates.

If you have any other questions or challenges, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling us at 407-WDW-PASS (407-939-7277) or by chatting with us in the Help Center of the Walt Disney World® website. When calling, at the voice prompt, please state "Passholder Help Desk" to be routed to our department. Cast Members are available from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time, seven days a week. We will be happy to assist you further!

Have a magical day!

Sincerely,

Marshall
V.I. Passholder Help Desk”

Sorry to anyone this affects.

 

[CarolynFH]

We have a renewed Gold pass that we will activate on Thanksgiving when we arrive. Hopefully we don’t get hit with the new blackout dates that we were unaware of when we purchased our renewal over this summer.

If you have an inactivated Gold Pass, you will be blocked out for Thanksgiving. I wrote to Disney on 9/2, and only this week got this email response:

“
Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort and for being one of our valued Annual Passholders!

If you did not activate your Annual passes before September 8, 2021, your Annual passes would change to the equivalent new Annual pass with the new blockout dates.

If you have any other questions or challenges, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling us at 407-WDW-PASS (407-939-7277) or by chatting with us in the Help Center of the Walt Disney World® website. When calling, at the voice prompt, please state "Passholder Help Desk" to be routed to our department. Cast Members are available from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time, seven days a week. We will be happy to assist you further!

Have a magical day!

Sincerely,

Marshall
V.I. Passholder Help Desk”

Sorry to anyone this affects.

There has been at least one report, maybe two or more, of people who talked to Disney (being passed to different CMs) about this exact issue. The outcome was that because Disney could see via their MDE that they had purchased the Gold AP voucher and made park pass reservations for Thanksgiving well before the new APs were announced, Disney will make sure they have valid park admission for those days. That’s probably what the email means when it says “If you have any more questions or challenges,” the challenges being those Thanksgiving dates. So please call them, and let us let us know how it turns out.