Refunds or cancellations of Disney World Annual Passes

[peter11435]

But what are they gonna do when one of the parks doesn't open with the rest? I bought an annual pass for 4 parks right?..

Most likely move the expiration date of your pass.

But the pass also includes this:

Passes do not guarantee theme park admission, especially during high attendance periods. Admission to the theme parks and availability of standard theme park parking are subject to capacity and other closures. Other restrictions apply.

 

[deeevo]

https:///2020/03/universal-orlando-...l&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

[Jon81uk]

If you paid on credit card, would you expect the card company to freeze payments?

 

[Disstevefan1]

During normal times, Disney was king and could do whatever they wanted to, regardless of the customer experience.

All the contractual technicalities, moral judgments aside, in these days of the world wide Coronavirus closures, it's up to Disney as to what it wants to do from a customer experience perspective. My hope it takes the high road for their guests instead of the same old Disney.

In the end, Disney may again, even in today's environment, choose to take the hard line, regardless of the customer experience.

 

[JoeCamel]

During normal times, Disney was king and could do whatever they wanted to, regardless of the customer experience.

All the contractual technicalities, moral judgments aside, in these days of the world wide Coronavirus closures, it's up to Disney as to what it wants to do from a customer experience perspective. My hope it takes the high road for their guests instead of the same old Disney.

In the end, Disney may again, even in today's environment, choose to take the hard line, regardless of the customer experience.

I think we find out at 4:01 ET today

 

[IMDREW]

Guys, I was just kidding. No one could have foreseen this of course. But I will say, they kept raising prices and had billions in revenue, so I would not think it's fair to ask us to give them much slack now that they're in trouble. Prices went totally overboard the last few years. Where did all that money go and where is it now.

(Still worth it in my opinion)

 

[lazyboy97o]

Guys, I was just kidding. No one could have foreseen this of course. But I will say, they kept raising prices and had billions in revenue, so I would not think it's fair to ask us to give them much slack now that they're in trouble. Prices went totally overboard the last few years. Where did all that money go and where is it now.

(Still worth it in my opinion)

What slack? People bought something and used it.

 

[TJinSF]

We're going to acknowledge the extreme predicament the entire world is in and cut them a break. No one, especially not Disney, could have predicted this. They will open when they're able to. Nitpicking their conditions once they do reopen doesn't help.

You mean like the break some people are seeking on their AP payments in light of the extreme predicament the entire world is in? I get that we’re all here because we have the warm and fuzzies for Disney parks, but I don’t know why some expect that grace to flow only from consumers to the company with $70B in revenue last year and not the other way around. I have no outstanding obligations to them and that still strikes me odd.

If you paid on credit card, would you expect the card company to freeze payments?

No, and personally I wouldn’t put a leisure purchase on my card that I couldn’t immediately cover in full with cash. But the addition of a middleman changes the conversation. Asking Disney to defer collection of a payment made directly to them for a service they’re not providing at this time anyway is a different matter from asking the bank you asked to pay Disney on your behalf to both do that and make your problem with Disney their own.

The few rather hollow calls for a class action aside, just as I agree that some consumers are conflating installment payments on an annual purchase with discrete monthly subscriptions, I think some who believe Disney should do nothing are conflating the hope for a customer service gesture of goodwill with claims that Disney is obliged to make one.

During normal times, Disney was king and could do whatever they wanted to, regardless of the customer experience.

All the contractual technicalities, moral judgments aside, in these days of the world wide Coronavirus closures, it's up to Disney as to what it wants to do from a customer experience perspective. My hope it takes the high road for their guests instead of the same old Disney.

In the end, Disney may again, even in today's environment, choose to take the hard line, regardless of the customer experience.

I think this is exactly the point. Disney’s peers are offering deferments on their equivalent products. Entities with access to far fewer resources than Disney are offering deferments on payments of all kinds, including on obligations over far longer terms than the installments for an AP.

These times are tough on Disney too, absolutely. But when so many others are rising admirably to the challenge and leveraging what they have to make consumer friendly choices, I’m not surprised that many feel Disney should step up further.

I'm not one who believes that one of the wannabe consumer affairs exposés in the Sentinel is going to topple a multinational conglomerate, and I don't think this is about anything Disney legally must do. I do know that, when this crisis is over, I will prioritize giving my business to companies that treated those who paid their bills and filled their war chests in prosperous times as well as they were able in lean ones. Disney isn't at the foront of the line for me so far.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

People who pay monthly are still getting charged. Does this mean we'll keep getting charged for the extension period? I think the monthly payments should be suspended until the parks re-open.

I am a monthly payer. You will be charged until your 12th payment, just like normal. For me, my last payment on this AP year is Mar 29th. So, after that, I will not be charged anymore on this AP. I will get to use the AP once the parks reopen and they add in the closure time to my expiration date. Originally my pass was to expire Apr 9th. Now, who knows maybe May or June? But, I will not get charged anymore because I paid the full yearly amount (12 payments).

 

[IMDREW]

What slack? People bought something and used it.

Im talking about, for example, having to work with a lottery system and not getting in, but losing days on your pass. Or not being able to park hop anymore. Things like that. Not saying thats what will happen. But that wouldnt be fair imo.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I am a monthly payer. You will be charged until your 12th payment, just like normal. For me, my last payment on this AP year is Mar 29th. So, after that, I will not be charged anymore on this AP. I will get to use the AP once the parks reopen and they add in the closure time to my expiration date. Originally my pass was to expire Apr 9th. Now, who knows maybe May or June? But, I will not get charged anymore because I paid the full yearly amount (12 payments).

This brings up another wrinkle in this. Florida residents get good discount for renewing the AP within I think is 30 days prior to expire date? I wonder if the expire date will remain the original day as it applies to renewal even though the expire date for use was moved.

I would to see the expire date for use also be the expire date for renewal, but Disney will do what ever they choose. We will see.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don’t see anyway these “flexible” options that have been described here can play. Like pushing it back for 3,6,9,12 months because a school vacation window is missed.

It will be a straight push back of days based on closure and perhaps an incentive for renewal. People suggesting they need a custom tailored plan are going to be disappointed.

But what are they gonna do when one of the parks doesn't open with the rest? I bought an annual pass for 4 parks right?..

Good question. That’s part of the product.

We're going to acknowledge the extreme predicament the entire world is in and cut them a break. No one, especially not Disney, could have predicted this. They will open when they're able to. Nitpicking their conditions once they do reopen doesn't help.

You’re joking, right?

If Disney adjusts in some way...people will grant them leniency. If not...there’s no reason too. TWDC is a $500 bil international megacorp...not your grandma...they won’t be the “victim”.

Nor should they. We will go back to reward them...no reason we should lose what we already paid for as a “giveback”

I’m sure it will work out.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

This brings up another wrinkle in this. Florida residents get good discount for renewing the AP within I think is 30 days prior to expire date? I wonder if the expire date will remain the original day as it applies to renewal even though the expire date for use was moved.

I would to see the expire date for use also be the expire date for renewal, but Disney will do what ever they choose. We will see.

Last year when they extended the passes by a month it automatically extended all of my passes by that month. So for example my passes used to expire in March. When Disney gave an extra month, it now expires in April. That is now my new permanent expiration month even though it is back down to the normal 12 month cycle. I would assume this would be the same effect. So if we get an extra 3 week then our new expiration date would be + 3 weeks. Unless of course you do not renew next time.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Oh, look:

https:///2020/03/universal-orlando-suspends-payments-sp1/

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Oh, look:

https:///2020/03/universal-orlando-suspends-payments-sp1/

Disney May do that...but I’d say they don’t feel compelled too.

Universal still sells their payment plan as a “budget” plan for affordability...I don’t think Disney has or will ever acknowledge that...even if it is.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Last year when they extended the passes by a month it automatically extended all of my passes by that month. So for example my passes used to expire in March. When Disney gave an extra month, it now expires in April. That is now my new permanent expiration month even though it is back down to the normal 12 month cycle. I would assume this would be the same effect. So if we get an extra 3 week then our new expiration date would be + 3 weeks. Unless of course you do not renew next time.

yes I remember this, ours were extended and so was the expire date as it applies to renewal. Let’s hope Disney does it this way this time too. We will see.

 

[disney4life2008]

If you worked for the right company, which I did, you could join the Magic Kingdom Club...

Yesterland: Magic Kingdom Club

www.yesterland.com

Unfortunately that ended in 2000.

I was a loyal member. So many great benefits

 

[doctornick]

The few rather hollow calls for a class action aside, just as I agree that some consumers are conflating installment payments on an annual purchase with discrete monthly subscriptions, I think some who believe Disney should do nothing are conflating the hope for a customer service gesture of goodwill with claims that Disney is obliged to make one.

I think most people here would agree that allowing suspension of monthly payments until the parks reopen would be a solid token of goodwill by Disney. Especially as the potential for decreased visits exists, maintaining good relations with the local base is a great idea. And from a human compassion side, would fit alone with the "everyone helping out each other" mindset that we'd all like everyone to exhibit in this time of need. Disney as a massive corporation can afford it, even with their current financial state and its a reasonable request for them in light of the chaos going on in this country, especially as their peers do it.

That said, I do see from some posters the idea that Disney is "wrong" by not automatically deferring such payments, seemingly under the premise that they "can't use the pass now". This, I would argue, is simply incorrect on the basis of what everyone has mentioned - this is a monthly installment payment just like an auto loan. Disney is under zero obligation to not expect to have monthly payments continue as scheduled.

And, quite frankly though I'm sure some will call me out on this as being too cynical, I would think if you can't afford the monthly payments on an AP due to a loss of income for a month or two, then you probably shouldn't have been buying one in the first place. If you don't have the cash on hand to pay off a luxury good at any time without adversely affecting your fixed expenses then that's a luxury good that you can't afford.

 

[celluloid]

And, quite frankly though I'm sure some will call me out on this as being too cynical, I would think if you can't afford the monthly payments on an AP due to a loss of income for a month or two, then you probably shouldn't have been buying one in the first place. If you don't have the cash on hand to pay off a luxury good at any time without adversely affecting your fixed expenses then that's a luxury good that you can't afford.

You are totally right in the sense that sound advice is people are supposed to live within their means, but when Disney opened up the monthly option(And made the theme park world confusing with tiers and hard ticket events on top of tiers) they opened up the critisism.
And in the world of captialism and free market, it does not matter. They look pretty bad in a world where they have the ability to hit pause and still charge the same amount as other major theme parks are doing.
Ironically, you are talking about a company that has a lot of trouble with the theme parks being fixed expenses right now and are laying off left and right due to this temporary closure and giving bad communication to their own. This is the reaching for pennies concept that comes with good faith and competition. They can hold on to someone's pass and get their remaining months out of them when they are not going to be able to go, but when a customer makes the choice, that is bad news for the company. We live in a world of subscriptions, so if Disney wants to compete with monthly entertainment fees in order to stay affordable, they need to compete with what the rest of the market is doing. A major rule of business is everyone has a competitor, and you are only as good as the last thing you did, not just what you used to do.

 

[TJinSF]

And, quite frankly though I'm sure some will call me out on this as being too cynical, I would think if you can't afford the monthly payments on an AP due to a loss of income for a month or two, then you probably shouldn't have been buying one in the first place. If you don't have the cash on hand to pay off a luxury good at any time without adversely affecting your fixed expenses then that's a luxury good that you can't afford.

I think you're right on the money overall, and I don't disagree on this point either. What I guess I find galling is the Disney-can-do-no-wrong attitude which has led some to suggest that it's unreasonable to request or wish for any accommodation, and that individual consumers are letting down the company and its employees if they fail to pay as agreed. The purchases are made now, and I would argue that Disney has accepted some risk by creating an option to pay on time, in the hopes that their product would reach more consumers.

Paraphrasing another poster, Disney is not our sweet grandmothers (or the diner around the corner), but an international corporation worth billions upon billions. I don't understand why these folks believe that John and Jane Q Public need to have made ironclad plans to weather a scenario like this, but not Bob Chapek and Bob Iger. I don't find you terribly cynical, and perhaps I'm too much of a sap, but I know which parties are more sympathetic to me in this matter, which won't make or break this company.

I don't think Disney should eat the money, but I hope the accommodation you mentioned is forthcoming.