Dad 2 M & M
Well-Known Member
BTW......it is not out of the realm of possibility for the Parks to be PACKED at the Grand Re-Open
Let the "Disney will limit" comments flow......
Let the "Disney will limit" comments flow......
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Refunds or cancellations of Disney World Annual Passes
- Thread starter twilight mitsuk
- Start date
Depending on the thing you buy and the terms of the company you bought it from, you may be able to return it or an unused portion of it for future credit or refund. Clearly, in the case of a Disney AP, the terms are and have always been ‘all sales are final’. So you are correct, Disney owes nothing.
In this economic crisis (and before), I have already gotten pro-rated refunds on some subscription / installment payment services from other companies. Disney is under no obligation to follow suit, but it is not an unusual thing to offer at all. Given the exceptional situation, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for a consumer to ask.
This extension of the AP timeline is a boon for me.
I'm out of state and use the AP as a discount on tickets because I go 3 times a year: first weeks of Oct, Dec, and Feb.
However, my AP runs out near the end of Jan. So, if I really do want to go in Feb, I have to commit to renewing at the end of Nov (for the 60 day FPs). This also means I'm committing to the following Oct and Dec if I want to realize the discount on tickets.
But now, my renewal will be maybe sometime in March (of 2021). This is a much more palatable time to consider if I'm going to run the 3 weeks again or do something different that year.
I'm out of state and use the AP as a discount on tickets because I go 3 times a year: first weeks of Oct, Dec, and Feb.
However, my AP runs out near the end of Jan. So, if I really do want to go in Feb, I have to commit to renewing at the end of Nov (for the 60 day FPs). This also means I'm committing to the following Oct and Dec if I want to realize the discount on tickets.
But now, my renewal will be maybe sometime in March (of 2021). This is a much more palatable time to consider if I'm going to run the 3 weeks again or do something different that year.
What I think will happen when everything opens up Disney will add 3 months to the expiration to the AP and those renewing their pass will get 15 months instead of 12.
Why do I say this?
After 911 and during the 2008 financial melt down and I renewed my pass, they gave 15 months. They have a prior history on this. The economy will be a bit shaky and this is a way to lock you in.
Disney never lowers the price, they just give you more... smart business model. make you feel like you are getting something..
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
I could do without the extension. But more bang for my buck would be the return of 20% at select quick service resturants.
Bpmorley
Well-Known Member
Disney can't control this. If they didn't shut down, they'd have been ordered to. Shutting down was the responsible thing to do. That being said, disney is compensating AP holders by extending the length of the pass. You will still get the same amount of days for the price you agreed to pay. Either disney is going to make you pay your monthly payment now or they'll get it when they reopen, it won't be both. And yes some people will get screwed with this. People who had planned trips in March, April, May and possibly June. I'm sure when things get back to normal you can call customer service and hopefully they will work with you.
Horizons '83
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
The title of this thread might as well read "disney not allowing refunds after my most recent trip"
monykalyn
Well-Known Member
Oh it was obscene at the time too lol! And we fully knew what we were doing, and can afford it. Adding days to the pass works because the date we were looking at in January (if it still happens- DCP Alumni reunion) will now be in the range of the pass, instead of ending right before it.
However - we bought the passes with the idea that the parks would be 100% functional and all parks open to full capacity. It remains to be seen if that will be the case. I get this is an extraordinary circumstance though. I really think part of the issue is in the past Disney would have been the one to step up and do the extraordinary guest recovery and now they do bare minimum to keep up with the competition.
DisneyCane
Well-Known Member
As far as I can recall, I don't think Disney ever extended the expiration dates for hurricane closures. That means that doing it for this closure is probably more than they have to do if they go by the letter of the fine print in the AP contract.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
A 1-2 day disruption is a tad different...especially when this straddles some of the most busy weeks of the year
DisneyCane
Well-Known Member
It's definitely different but the "I paid to be able to use my pass on specific days" argument could be made with a 1-2 day closure also. The fact that the fine print of the contract doesn't require them to compensate for those closures probably means that they aren't forced to extend the expiration for this either. If they didn't they'd have a customer service nightmare on their hands and get terrible publicity but they don't "have to" do it.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
No...I got you. Just saying this is a whole new scenario.
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GymLeaderPhil
Well-Known Member
For some context, you all should know that Disney uses a third-party company to handle the installment contracts for Florida Resident Annual Passes. There is no language in the agreement that allows for the date payment is to be taken to be changed, delayed, or stopped. It clearly states that the 11 payments for X amount occur within five days of purchase (the 12 payment being the same timeframe, but lesser amount.)
Another key thing to understand is that the payments have always had their own start and end date, completely separate from the validity dates of the pass itself. Grandma could have bought the passes for her family in December and they may have not used them until January. Pass validity has never been tied to the payment plan since it was introduced in the early 2000s.
I am unsure of the scope of the partnership that Disney and the third-party lender has. Disney could be bound contractually and unable to alter the payment timeframe.
Even if they were able to work out a solution to delay payments with that third party company, I’m wagering that they are predicting that a very small percentage of passholders may be unable to continue paying for the pass due to financial hardships and it’s not worth the amount of work/money/time it would take to force another company to change a legal agreement with a very large number of contract holders.
The easiest solution that can be implemented by Disney themselves is the extension of the pass expiration date for all affected. This satisfies the product being valid for 365 days sans block out dates.
Will a blanket extension of time be the best solution for most guests? Yes. If someone did not have plans to visit at all past their original expiration date, I’m sure Disney would be happy to find a solution for you on a case-by-case basis. However, bottom line, I do not see them stopping payments since they do not control it.
Additionally, as some have shared what other companies are doing, I’m not intimately familiar with Universal or SeaWorld’s installment contracts. However I do know that their programs are more closely aligned to a subscription service since the passes auto-renew after a year. They may also operate the payments in-house and much more control over the payment system than Disney does. It’s hard to draw comparisons since they are different.
One more thing: Disney is also not about to go and start advertising for passholders to contact them if their solution doesn’t fit your needs. They don’t have the manpower to reach out to an audience of that scale individually. Especially when most Cast Members are not working. Annual Passes are not an essential purchase - it’s not a mortgage or car lease. You would be opening a Pandora’s box of entitled passholders asking for compensation if they told them to call/e-mail stating that “Disney will work it out with them.” If the passes aren’t paid for, you simply lose the ability to use them as well as purchasing new ones in the future on a contract until you’ve paid the amount owed.
And before someone goes and asks for a refund, while there are specific extreme allowances to this in the contract for cancellation (such as death), most passholders have likely used their passes so much that there is little, if any, comparable value left on it compared with a multi-day admission ticket.
In short, there are much more things to worry about. If you can’t pay, you can’t play. Disney has done the best they can do given the circumstances.
Another key thing to understand is that the payments have always had their own start and end date, completely separate from the validity dates of the pass itself. Grandma could have bought the passes for her family in December and they may have not used them until January. Pass validity has never been tied to the payment plan since it was introduced in the early 2000s.
I am unsure of the scope of the partnership that Disney and the third-party lender has. Disney could be bound contractually and unable to alter the payment timeframe.
Even if they were able to work out a solution to delay payments with that third party company, I’m wagering that they are predicting that a very small percentage of passholders may be unable to continue paying for the pass due to financial hardships and it’s not worth the amount of work/money/time it would take to force another company to change a legal agreement with a very large number of contract holders.
The easiest solution that can be implemented by Disney themselves is the extension of the pass expiration date for all affected. This satisfies the product being valid for 365 days sans block out dates.
Will a blanket extension of time be the best solution for most guests? Yes. If someone did not have plans to visit at all past their original expiration date, I’m sure Disney would be happy to find a solution for you on a case-by-case basis. However, bottom line, I do not see them stopping payments since they do not control it.
Additionally, as some have shared what other companies are doing, I’m not intimately familiar with Universal or SeaWorld’s installment contracts. However I do know that their programs are more closely aligned to a subscription service since the passes auto-renew after a year. They may also operate the payments in-house and much more control over the payment system than Disney does. It’s hard to draw comparisons since they are different.
One more thing: Disney is also not about to go and start advertising for passholders to contact them if their solution doesn’t fit your needs. They don’t have the manpower to reach out to an audience of that scale individually. Especially when most Cast Members are not working. Annual Passes are not an essential purchase - it’s not a mortgage or car lease. You would be opening a Pandora’s box of entitled passholders asking for compensation if they told them to call/e-mail stating that “Disney will work it out with them.” If the passes aren’t paid for, you simply lose the ability to use them as well as purchasing new ones in the future on a contract until you’ve paid the amount owed.
And before someone goes and asks for a refund, while there are specific extreme allowances to this in the contract for cancellation (such as death), most passholders have likely used their passes so much that there is little, if any, comparable value left on it compared with a multi-day admission ticket.
In short, there are much more things to worry about. If you can’t pay, you can’t play. Disney has done the best they can do given the circumstances.
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DisneyCane
Well-Known Member
No it doesn't. When you purchase the pass and if you choose the payment plan you agree to a contract. As long as Disney is following the contract then there is no grounds for a suit.
disneysithlorderic
Member
This is assuming Disney cares about us in a way other than representing a dollar. I have spent my entire life since first rope drop on Disney property.. But let's not kid ourselves. Disney is about Disney, not its followers.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
ImperfectPixie
Well-Known Member
So...guidelines for creditors in regards to the COVID-19 crisis are as follows...
Payments are deferred until at least May, and could be extended based on government determination. No late charges, maintenance fees or detrimental credit reporting. No foreclosures nor repos during this period.
Why is Disney exempt from this?
Payments are deferred until at least May, and could be extended based on government determination. No late charges, maintenance fees or detrimental credit reporting. No foreclosures nor repos during this period.
Why is Disney exempt from this?
durangojim
Well-Known Member
Disney has put the payments on hold and offered partial refunds. They didn’t need to but I can’t fault them for doing it. I won’t be asking for a refund and will just take the extension as we’re still planning on going mid July and November
The Customer is always right. So to all the ones who said quit complaining that "contractual law" protects them and all that, this is what we meant when we said it would probably happen anyway. I am glad they did and it seems like the smart PR move when your competition does it, and I am not even a Passholder of any kind.