You can't buy SoCal Annual Passes anymore?

[halfmonkey]

So I just checked the Disneyland website and it says that the SoCal Annual Passport is no longer available and only the SoCal Select is available. That really sucks. B Igor is really doing a great job with the Disney brand and doing well for the shareholders but dang, he's really making it tough to enjoy DLR with these changes for my family of five. We can't afford the Deluxe nor the Premium and the SoCal Select is so limited, it's better to just do multi-day park hoppers.

It looks like this is the last year that we will have annual passports so our trip will now more than likely be reduced to either a multi-day trip in late September since my kids are on a year round schedule and they'll be on fall break or we go after Thanksgiving to enjoy the holiday decorations. We typically go the week after Thanksgiving. We'll see.

 

[SMD]

They suspended the sales of new So Cal APs, but if you already have them you can renew.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

I feel your pain. We all have SoCal passes, but my son is only 2 and will turn 3 in December. This kind of puts us in an awkward situation. I can't truthfully say this came as a complete surprise, but it still is hard to deal with.

There's really no way to tell why they did this, but there is plenty of speculation. It seems the most likely event is that they are trying to tone down the crowds for the upcoming 60th anniversary and this is just the first step. I don't personally think this plan is going to work, but we'll see.

 

[bcla]

I think it's pretty simple. These SoCal passes were designed to help fill the park during the less busy days - especially without parking included. Now that they're starting to approach the saturation point. Also - it looks like the Southern Califonria Select pass (with extreme limitations including all weekends blocked out) is still available. The regular Southern California pass at least had most Sundays outside of summer.

It was supposed to be some sort of benefit for those in the area who had to put up with certain hassles, but the definition of "Southern California" was rather arbitrary. The resident of Imperial County doesn't really have to deal with any issues, but they're still eligible for the passes.

 

[Coffee50]

I heard on the news that 1 of the (supposed) reasons was that the SoCal pass was selling too well & the amount of AP's going on Sunday was very high, (which I'm assuming leads to less purchases made on food / merchandise during that day).

Again I don't know how true that report was in terms of the reason why.

That being said, I don't think it will be gone forever. It's one of those thing they can re introduce anytime they want.

It could come back next year.

 

[tarheelalum]

When the current SoCal housing bubble pops, again, they will be begging people to come back. I remember back 2010 how dead the parks were some days. It will all happen again sometime in the next two years.

 

[azdisneylover]

When the current SoCal housing bubble pops, again, they will be begging people to come back. I remember back 2010 how dead the parks were some days. It will all happen again sometime in the next two years.

I agree. Disney is upping the prices, this year, and next, because there will be a lot of excitement at Universal Hollywood when Harry Potter opens up there in 2016. They anticipate losing some crowds to them.

 

[MychaelP]

I feel your pain. We all have SoCal passes, but my son is only 2 and will turn 3 in December. This kind of puts us in an awkward situation. I can't truthfully say this came as a complete surprise, but it still is hard to deal with.

There's really no way to tell why they did this, but there is plenty of speculation. It seems the most likely event is that they are trying to tone down the crowds for the upcoming 60th anniversary and this is just the first step. I don't personally think this plan is going to work, but we'll see.

I don't feel they are trying to tone down the crowds at all. Recently thy began offering AP's with expiring dates a special event to retain them. They now have created a situation where if they do not renew, they cannot get the same pass again, thereby getting retention percentages higher.
For those who wanted the So Cal pass but didn't buy, they now can get the Select with fewer days, but probably wouldn't due to missing weekends, so they will buy the Deluxe instead. The cost of the deluxe offsets by much more than those who probably wouldn't pay the extra $10.xx or so per month.
Disney will make more money off passholders this way, yet keeping the other ticket prices with less of an increase. Tourists with multi-day passes are barely impacted.
AP billboards are still over over So Cal, so they still want them, and probably are experimenting with this new way of selling them, or why keep the So Cal pass on the ticket information at all?

 

[DahliaRW]

I feel your pain. We all have SoCal passes, but my son is only 2 and will turn 3 in December. This kind of puts us in an awkward situation. I can't truthfully say this came as a complete surprise, but it still is hard to deal with.

There's really no way to tell why they did this, but there is plenty of speculation. It seems the most likely event is that they are trying to tone down the crowds for the upcoming 60th anniversary and this is just the first step. I don't personally think this plan is going to work, but we'll see.

I wonder if they will make exceptions for children of current SoCal pass holders. Have you called and asked?

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

I wonder if they will make exceptions for children of current SoCal pass holders. Have you called and asked?

Yes. We were given a pretty firm "We are no longer offering that pass." We even asked if we could transfer the current one (after expiration) from our older daughter who does not go very often to our son. "Not transferable" was the answer.



I'm hoping a solution presents itself in the next few months.

 

[Coffee50]

Yes. We were given a pretty firm "We are no longer offering that pass." We even asked if we could transfer the current one (after expiration) from our older daughter who does not go very often to our son. "Not transferable" was the answer.



I'm hoping a solution presents itself in the next few months.

I would try maybe speaking to someone in person the next time you're actually at the parks.

I'm sure because this was just announced they have to give firm "No's", but there are probably many families who are in your same situation, so it's possible there could be a solution, but it might require speaking to someone directly when you're there.

 

[eileenkeeney]

I agree. Disney is upping the prices, this year, and next, because there will be a lot of excitement at Universal Hollywood when Harry Potter opens up there in 2016. They anticipate losing some crowds to them.

OR,
Will DL crowds increase because of HP at Universal Hollywood.
When HP opened in Orlando, WDW attendance went up. People who would not have otherwise visited the area came to see HP, and took a side trip to WDW.

 

[chrisaman]

Yes. We were given a pretty firm "We are no longer offering that pass." We even asked if we could transfer the current one (after expiration) from our older daughter who does not go very often to our son. "Not transferable" was the answer. I'm hoping a solution presents itself in the next few months.

. There is a solution, buy the more expensive one. Stop looking for special treatment.

 

[Vintage Mouseketeer]

. There is a solution, buy the more expensive one. Stop looking for special treatment.

I don't believe FryingPans is looking for special treatment, just concern for something that was out of their control....nothing wrong with exploring all options.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

. There is a solution, buy the more expensive one. Stop looking for special treatment.

There are two ways to post in these forums. I prefer the non-confrontational way. It seems some prefer to make their point with unwarranted rudeness. The anonymity of the internet makes people think they don't need to be polite. Aside from this, I can't really entertain this post any longer as it's not really worth my time. Some people deserve consideration, others deserve pity. This comment makes this person fall into the latter category for me.

 

[Gisele]

I don't always like or agree with what remarks people make on my behalf, and I would imagine there are those that feel the same way about me, however, I believe in the quote by Voltaire " I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it"

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

I don't always like or agree with what remarks people make on my behalf, and I would imagine there are those that feel the same way about me, however, I believe in the quote by Voltaire " I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it"

Free speech is a wonderful thing. Sometimes people confuse free speech with the ability to say whatever they want without any social or financial consequences.

 

[goodeats]

I would imagine they'd have to give a time limit to how many exceptions they make. Our SoCal passes expire in August (activated them on a blockout day) and my little one turns 3 in December. If I renew as SoCal I'm not sure I would expect them to allow me a So Cal pass for the little one. If she turned 3 before August I would expect them to make an exception.

Still undecided on what we'll do. We go often and enjoy it, but not sure I can warrant over $1,200 for three passes plus parking on mine. I think this year I'd rather take ski trip to Mammoth.

 

[DarthMole]

I don't believe FryingPans is looking for special treatment, just concern for something that was out of their control....nothing wrong with exploring all options.

Well, saying "I'm hoping a solution presents itself in the next few months." when there is a solution already does sort of sound like they are looking for some preferential treatment. Not that I can blame them. The thought of having to pay that much more for a Deluxe when everyone else is grandfathered into a far less expensive SoCal pass is tough to stomach. Especially when the most expensive pass would be for the youngest member of the family. I know I'd have a hard time with it. That said, I'd look at the big picture and the total expense for the family and then make a decision. Are you really willing to skip buying passes for the family over the cost difference of one pass? If having to get a Deluxe for the child is not going to stop you, then stop worrying about it and just cross your fingers that they allow children of pass holders in as grandfathered members by the time you need to get one. Worrying about it and calling right now is pointless. A lot can change in two months, so any answer you get now may be worthless anyway.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

Well, saying "I'm hoping a solution presents itself in the next few months." when there is a solution already does sort of sound like they are looking for some preferential treatment.

I never meant it that way, nor could I imagine someone taking it that way. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt when such a misunderstanding exists. Maybe that's why I could not see it.

Asking if a better solution exists is not the same as expecting preferential treatment. I find myself puzzled that this even requires an explanation.