News Disneyland cancels Annual Pass program

[drizgirl]

Hopefully they eliminate all the cheap passes and move forward with something that is only in the $1500+ range and requires full payment. Too many poors were allowed in and it gummed everything up for the rest of us. Disneyland should always feel more exclusive than it has recently, and I hope this is the first step in bringing that feeling back.

All righty then.

 

[el_super]

It's absolutely fascinating seeing how differently TDA has chosen to handle this when compared to Knott's or Six Flags or any other park operator. Didn't Knott's extend everyone's pass a year or something? This move makes me think Disney has zero faith in their Anaheim property for the next year or two.

Nope. Exactly the opposite.

At the end of the day, the Annual Passport option is a discount program. You pre-purchase admissions for a discounted rate.

By continually removing/scaling back the options and amenities for the Annual Pass program (from cancelling the So Cal pass to adding the Flex Passes), Disney is a hoping for strength in their core product and a desire to scale back discount programs. They would only scale back discounts if they believed people would be willing to pay full price.

I have to wonder why they didn't just extend the passes past the end of the reservation period for park attendance. If capacity is severely limited through December 2021, then just allow each pass holder to book x amount of reservations during that time, complimentary, and extend their pass the applicable amount of time after the park gets back to normal.

But legally, that's not the Annual Pass program is it?

There was no possible way that they would be able to offer the same product that was sold to AP holders, in a system where reservations are required and capacity is severely limited. Refunds have to be given anyway.

As for good will, they are extending merchandise discounts, so at least there is that.

The AP program was incredibly lucrative- it will be back in some form.

A form of admissions discounting will be back, for sure. Will it be an annual pass? Maybe not. Will it be a pre-paid block of admissions that require reservations? Maybe. Will it just be access to permanently discounted tickets? Maybe. Who knows.

Hopefully they eliminate all the cheap passes and move forward with something that is only in the $1500+ range and requires full payment. Too many poors were allowed in and it gummed everything up for the rest of us. Disneyland should always feel more exclusive than it has recently, and I hope this is the first step in bringing that feeling back.

The ultimate form of AP entitlement: being so entitled you are happy they are getting rid of everyone else's APs.

At $1500 why not just buy one day admissions?

 

[MisterPenguin]

An alternate system of discounts could be like what's done with Tables in Wonderland: For a one time fee, all your restaurant meals will be discounted.

It's like what the big box club-stores do (Costco, BJs, etc...). You pay a fee up front for access to discounted product. Or Amazon Prime: with an up front fee, you get free and expedited delivery (and the perk of Amazon Prime streamer).

So, e.g., Disney could could have a package where you pay $1,000 and then you only pay $50 for each entry ($30 after 4p). And you get Disney Plus for a year.

 

[Disstevefan1]

One thing is for sure, whatever they come up with, we will be paying more and getting less.

I also wonder what will happen with the WDW annual pass programs, again, one thing is for sure, we will be paying more and getting less.

 

[el_super]

An alternate system of discounts could be like what's done with Tables in Wonderland: For a one time fee, all your restaurant meals will be discounted.

That is exactly what I was thinking of. Something like this:

$200-300/year for a "loyalty" program.
-Includes admission to a one time party night ala Disneyland After Dark with exclusive characters/food opportunities.
-Includes discounts for Downtown Disney shops/restaurants
-Includes ability to purchase discounted tickets ($40 for single day/$60 for a park hopper)
-Maybe Includes "Surprise" admissions for evening hours during the off season to keep the park full.
-No monthly payment plan.

 

[Disney Irish]

Too many “poors?” Who is “the rest of us?”

Disneyland was not created to be an exclusive experience for the wealthy and rich and it should never be like that. I guarantee you the commoners will still be making appearances in the park.

I know right, its like they have disdain for anyone that would dare step foot in "their park" that hadn't paid full price like them.

Also my guess on the monthly payment system (since that has always been a complaint about "easy access") is that a very large block used it out of convenience not necessity. I know that was me, I could have paid full price for an AP, but why when I can spread the cost over the course of the year.

 

[Disneyland/DCA]

Hopefully they eliminate all the cheap passes and move forward with something that is only in the $1500+ range and requires full payment. Too many poors were allowed in and it gummed everything up for the rest of us. Disneyland should always feel more exclusive than it has recently, and I hope this is the first step in bringing that feeling back.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I know right, its like they have disdain for anyone that would dare step foot in "their park" that hadn't paid full price like them.

Also my guess on the monthly payment system (since that has always been a complaint about "easy access") is that a very large block used it out of convenience not necessity. I know that was me, I could have paid full price for an AP, but why when I can spread the cost over the course of the year.

Right. I would think Disneyland would not be up to par for snooty wealthy folks. Having that kind of attitude about Disneyland seems contradictory.

That was my thought. I could have paid up front as well, just decided not to.

 

[Brer Oswald]

An alternate system of discounts could be like what's done with Tables in Wonderland: For a one time fee, all your restaurant meals will be discounted.

It's like what the big box club-stores do (Costco, BJs, etc...). You pay a fee up front for access to discounted product. Or Amazon Prime: with an up front fee, you get free and expedited delivery (and the perk of Amazon Prime streamer).

So, e.g., Disney could could have a package where you pay $1,000 and then you only pay $50 for each entry ($30 after 4p). And you get Disney Plus for a year.

Not a bad idea.

 

[TikiDisney]

Too many “poors?” Who is “the rest of us?”

Disneyland was not created to be an exclusive experience for the wealthy and rich and it should never be like that. I guarantee you the commoners will still be making appearances in the park.

Hopefully not as many.

Nope. Exactly the opposite.

At the end of the day, the Annual Passport option is a discount program. You pre-purchase admissions for a discounted rate.

By continually removing/scaling back the options and amenities for the Annual Pass program (from cancelling the So Cal pass to adding the Flex Passes), Disney is a hoping for strength in their core product and a desire to scale back discount programs. They would only scale back discounts if they believed people would be willing to pay full price.



But legally, that's not the Annual Pass program is it?

There was no possible way that they would be able to offer the same product that was sold to AP holders, in a system where reservations are required and capacity is severely limited. Refunds have to be given anyway.

As for good will, they are extending merchandise discounts, so at least there is that.




A form of admissions discounting will be back, for sure. Will it be an annual pass? Maybe not. Will it be a pre-paid block of admissions that require reservations? Maybe. Will it just be access to permanently discounted tickets? Maybe. Who knows.




The ultimate form of AP entitlement: being so entitled you are happy they are getting rid of everyone else's APs.

At $1500 why not just buy one day admissions?

Could if I wanted to. In the past that would mean having to stand around with others, but since it can be done on the app or online now it's not a bad solution.

 

[Tamandua]

I, for one, am glad that Disney is working to get rid of all the smelly, dirty, poor people. It's brilliant. Once the governor sees that the riff raff is no longer welcome, he will allow them to open their doors once again so that all of the important people can enjoy the place in peace. Bravo!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Hopefully not as many.

There will be plenty. They’ll show up in their 2005 Honda Civics, Mickey ears sitting comfortably on top of their low-class heads, and will belt out the lyrics to “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” and howl the Ghost Host’s opening spiel with their low-class voices, ruining your visit.

I love to see it.

 

[mickEblu]

One thing is for sure, whatever they come up with, we will be paying more and getting less.

I don’t doubt that. My only question is in this “less” will we be seeing lower crowds? I’m guessing in the short term yes but not necessarily because of the programs but because of the limited capacity due to COVID. With that said, if they are Penny pinching and staffing accordingly, will it feel like less people? Especially with one way traffic zones, inconvenient mobile ordering, social distancing and lower capacity on attractions. Using WDW as an example, it seems that when they moved up from 25% to 35% is when the parks stopped feeling like their were low crowds. And the parks are bigger over there.

Then when and if something similar to the old annual pass program does come back in a couple years capacity will be back to normal and we will probably all be used to paying more for less.

I’m hoping for some silver lining where the parks feel like the good old days, even if we may be paying more and receiving less perks. If the parks feel pleasant, that’s a major perk for me. I’d have to think they want to change the perception of their parks and will try to limit crowds from getting too out of control in case of a future pandemic, for liability reasons and too play nice with Sacramento. Yet, they have already seen just how much Disneyland can rake in and they will want to see those same numbers somehow. So if they re not willing to take a hit, then the guest experience does. Things like “free” parking going away, magical express at WDW, no entertainment/ streetmosphere etc..

 

[mickEblu]

I know right, its like they have disdain for anyone that would dare step foot in "their park" that hadn't paid full price like them.

Also my guess on the monthly payment system (since that has always been a complaint about "easy access") is that a very large block used it out of convenience not necessity. I know that was me, I could have paid full price for an AP, but why when I can spread the cost over the course of the year.

Yeah same here. I could have paid full price but why, when they aren’t charging interest? So I’d rather use that cash to pay off things that are more urgent or do charge interest. I guess that’s what makes me a “poor” though. Lol. Having to make those choices.

 

[Disney Irish]

Yeah same here. I could have paid full price but why, when they aren’t charging interest? So I’d rather use that cash to pay off things that are more urgent or do charge interest. I guess that’s what makes me a “poor” though. Lol. Having to make those choices.

You and me both my friend, we're "poors" and don't deserve nice things like Disneyland.....

 

[Touchdown]

They want to attract the people that buy WDW APs, at DL (you know the DVC crowd that goes on 2-5 week trips a year.). Whatever is dreamed up will be some scheme to target that consumer.

 

[Stevek]

Summarizing the twitter reaction:
View attachment 524353

 

[Stevek]

Disneyland will probably open sometime this summer and then be at limited capacity well into 2022 (if not 2023), the reality is there is simply no way to accommodate a million (rumored) AP holders with 25% occupancy. This is the only way to avoid years of frustrated and angry APs that paid for unlimited access but aren’t getting it. It may be a few years but I’ll be shocked if APs aren’t back by 2023/2024, they may require a reservation, but aside from a few holidays DL never hits capacity anyway so reservations shouldn’t be a problem.

PS... Why the hate for the vloggers? I live in Nevada and am lucky to make it to DL once a month and WDW once a year, it’s fun to get a bit of Disney news in between trips, isn’t that the exact reason we are all on these forums? I frequently watch fresh baked and Tim tracker, they are entertaining and provide lots of updates.

Not all of the vloggers but the latter appears to be one of the more despised.

 

[CaptinEO]

This AP's sentiment boggles my mind. The cheapest AP in 2020 was $419, and the cheapest single day ticket was $104.

But an AP has both parks, 159-179 for a 2020 Park Hopper depending on how busy it is.

 

[Stevek]

Hopefully they eliminate all the cheap passes and move forward with something that is only in the $1500+ range and requires full payment. Too many poors were allowed in and it gummed everything up for the rest of us. Disneyland should always feel more exclusive than it has recently, and I hope this is the first step in bringing that feeling back.

The poors? Oh boy, this should be interesting. Really poor choice of words. Yes, there are probably people that should not be prioritizing an AP over rent, food, etc. but that's their choice.

Disneyland should never be "exclusive" but like anything else, it may not fit within everyone's budgets. Back in the old days (get off my yard), we went once a year, maybe twice as a special treat. That feeling doesn't exist for many APs because it's an addiction. I know, I was one. Now, we've gone back to the model of 1 visit a year, maybe and you know what...I have a much greater appreciation for it.