For many reasons I have enumerated elsewhere on this site, we will not be renewing our Annual Pass this year. However, just for kicks I wanted to see what the prices went up to for renewal compared to last year. I tried to look on the new "renew on your phone" feature. This is what I saw:
I clicked on "Renew Passes and Save"
Interestingly, when I got to this next screen the site disabled my screenshot as it said it was for "security reasons". Convenient, since this is the screen that lies to you. "The pass type owned by the Guest you're renewing for (Weekday Select) is no longer sold. Please select a new pass type. Wow, no longer sold? So they have gotten rid of the Weekday Select? Well...let's just see about Gold or Silver then...wait NOPE. Not there either. Just Platinum and Platinum Plus. That can't be right...
So, I abandon the heavily advertised "convenience" of using the new in-app renewal service and try for online renewal. Again, only Platinum Plus and Platinum are available.
I think to myself, "Surely this can't be right. I know! I'll get some help with the handy chat feature." I look and the chat link is dark. I hover over it and it says that all cast members are busy assisting others. No problem. I just will wait. 10 minutes later I try furiously clicking on it since it's still dark. I navigate over to a FL Resident vacation package page that's trying to sell me a room and ticket package. Then the chat feature "magically" turns back on. I click it and wait for a cast member to acknowledge. It takes only 30 seconds or so. Here is a portion of the chat:
I said yes, that I was well within the window as the pass expires next month (60 day window prior to expiration).
The cast member asked for me to provide my information in a secure window so they could access my account. After several minutes they responded:
I would have added more screen shots, but by the time the conversation ended all the chat history disappeared. (Note to self, prioritize screenshots while chatting so they can't deny what they said.)
So, to sum it all up...
1) When trying to renew a cheaper annual pass (FL Residents only) on the app it lied and told me the pass was no longer available and that I would have to upgrade to one of their two most expensive annual passes.
2) When trying to renew online I was also only given the two most expensive passes as an option to renew.
3) When trying to get assistance from a cast member they said their system wasn't able to override it.
4) I was directed back to 1890's technology to renew over the phone.
Question for discussion: Is this a subtle way to try to get impatient and/or gullible passholders to upgrade to the more expensive pass? Since there are no refunds given on passes, when the person finds out later they could have bought the cheaper pass it will be too late. And most will not have a screenshot with Disney's outright lie that the pass is no longer available to fight them with.
I clicked on "Renew Passes and Save"
Interestingly, when I got to this next screen the site disabled my screenshot as it said it was for "security reasons". Convenient, since this is the screen that lies to you. "The pass type owned by the Guest you're renewing for (Weekday Select) is no longer sold. Please select a new pass type. Wow, no longer sold? So they have gotten rid of the Weekday Select? Well...let's just see about Gold or Silver then...wait NOPE. Not there either. Just Platinum and Platinum Plus. That can't be right...
So, I abandon the heavily advertised "convenience" of using the new in-app renewal service and try for online renewal. Again, only Platinum Plus and Platinum are available.
I think to myself, "Surely this can't be right. I know! I'll get some help with the handy chat feature." I look and the chat link is dark. I hover over it and it says that all cast members are busy assisting others. No problem. I just will wait. 10 minutes later I try furiously clicking on it since it's still dark. I navigate over to a FL Resident vacation package page that's trying to sell me a room and ticket package. Then the chat feature "magically" turns back on. I click it and wait for a cast member to acknowledge. It takes only 30 seconds or so. Here is a portion of the chat:
I said yes, that I was well within the window as the pass expires next month (60 day window prior to expiration).
The cast member asked for me to provide my information in a secure window so they could access my account. After several minutes they responded:
I would have added more screen shots, but by the time the conversation ended all the chat history disappeared. (Note to self, prioritize screenshots while chatting so they can't deny what they said.)
So, to sum it all up...
1) When trying to renew a cheaper annual pass (FL Residents only) on the app it lied and told me the pass was no longer available and that I would have to upgrade to one of their two most expensive annual passes.
2) When trying to renew online I was also only given the two most expensive passes as an option to renew.
3) When trying to get assistance from a cast member they said their system wasn't able to override it.
4) I was directed back to 1890's technology to renew over the phone.
Question for discussion: Is this a subtle way to try to get impatient and/or gullible passholders to upgrade to the more expensive pass? Since there are no refunds given on passes, when the person finds out later they could have bought the cheaper pass it will be too late. And most will not have a screenshot with Disney's outright lie that the pass is no longer available to fight them with.
