The worst part about this is not knowing. Disney is being so secretive about this. Personally it’s frustrating for me since I moved to Florida in May expecting to buy an AP once the parks reopened. While I completely understand that they are trying to keep capacity lower during the pandemic I wish they would give us some indication as to when/if they plan to resume sales because I made a huge life change for this and I’ve now been in limbo for almost a year.
I 100% agree with all the comments made in this article from folks who have or want the AP. Being a Disneyland “Legacy” (give me a break…) AP I have made the same points.
Disney World is different due to their size and amount of parks and being they have only about 25% of the APs Disneyland has, so it would make no sense for them to do a drastic change of their program. However if Disneyland does so that could result in more WDW annual passes as folks may go there more (as many Disneyland YouTubers have already done!)
But let’s look at the facts, at least for Disneyland: There are about 1-million APs, with passes ranging from about $400 – $1400. So that’s an average of at least $800 per pass. The means Disneyland would be leaving $800,000,000 on the table! And if those APs just spend $25 per person on each visit and go just 10 times, that’s another $250,000,000. And that spending is on the low end because APs are notorious for grabbing all the Disneyland merch and collectibles they can.
So is Disneyland really willing to give up a guaranteed income that is well over 1-Billion dollars? Heck no! And if they did the average day guest and tourists are going to see park tickets and hotel rooms skyrocket to make up for it. And nort to mention every other major themepark and resort is embracing their passholders, even tot he point of offering huge discounts this year to renew.
If the Disney parks are hurting now, it will get worse if they drastically change the AP program!
Disney knows what they are doing. They realized people are desperate to go to Disney and are willing to pay without an AP. Last I heard, Disney World is making bank from parking fees alone.
If a FL resident used to have an annual pass parking was included, now if they are planning on going 8 different days it’s over $200 per car. Plus the tickets. Plus food and souvenirs. They are not losing money. This is guaranteed income.
Disney is smart, they know AP purchases are losing them money especially at Disneyland. Selling everything as an add-on will always make them the most money.
I expect when they return they might do what Universal is doing. Only including specific discounts and free or discounted parking for higher tiers and not for seasonal or weekday type APs
We moved from MD into the WDW local area in September 2020, soon after AP sales went away. We are here because this is where we took our family vacations, and were excited about the opportunity to spend some leisurely evenings after work wandering – and eating in – the parks.
I read where Josh complained about FL residents being a major part of attendance. Did one of us ever stop a ticket-holder from getting in? If that’s his concern, then there is the park reservation system to control who gets in. I hope this doesn’t turn into the D’Amaro vendetta against FL residents who ONLY spend a grand a year each for the chance to enjoy the magic as often as we can. Plus, like another respondent said, eat really pricey meals because we enjoy what used to be the park atmosphere.
Our family of four bought the resident deal once. That will be our final four days spending Disney money for a long, long time if the AP program is gutted.
I really hope they are bringing back FL AP’s. My husband accepted a position here just before the pandemic started. The whole big pull was we are now a 35 mins drive to Disney. That being said I cannot afford to pay the big ticket prices plus have money to spend on food and merch in the parks more then a couple of times a year if the passes go away. So hoping this is not true because we saved money out of the moving expenses so we could buy passes when they became available. Will definitely be disappointed if DW does not bring them back.
We have been going to Disney World since I was a little girl and the day their doors opened. We had resident passes for as long as they had resident passes, right into adulthood, as well as my 80+ year old parents still having theirs. We would go multiple times a year and spend a lot of money, as we’d stay right at the resorts.
Last year, we all cancelled our passes. We had annual passes because we wanted to be able to go to Disney whenever we wanted, including with last minute trips or day visits. But when they decided you needed to have reservations to be into a park (and you might not get in), could no longer park hop, you had to wear masks, limited eating, etc. People we talked to who had gone up, including just a few weeks ago, said it was terrible, and won’t be going back. So, from the BS Disney has been doing, and reports we were getting back from others who had gone and won’t go back, it just wasn’t worth it. So…..the entire family cancelled out our passes.
If DW doesn’t bring them back, and get back to total normal, we won’t be going any longer. So, although I will miss going, as I literally grew up going to the park, that will be it for me and the rest of the family. And from what I am hearing, a lot of people have had enough.
All I know is that without the ap, locals are going to start going less often due to 1) not having a guarantee, 2) having to spend a lot more money then they used to, and 3) not having free parking and discounts. Also, Disney ignores that over 70% of aps are individuals who, because they’re local, use it to only go to the parks for a few hours a week, 6 hours a month, where they’ll use it not even to ride rides, but to go eat and shop. Take that away, what gives prior aps a reason to return when the prices aren’t going to go down and are most likely to still go up? If anything, this is going to really give other theme parks a lot more business, especially with how Universal has a lot more variety now and more appeal thanks to Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, the Simpsons, and in the near future, Nintendo. Honestly, Disney getting rid of APs is going to hurt a lot more than help, and what visitors who only go once or twice a year ignore is that without aps, Disney’s gonna need to recoup the loss of revenue APs used to bring in, which means major price increases on Disney tickets since now, they have that hole with no guarantee it’s gonna be refilled.
Comments for Will Disney World Change the Annual Pass Program?
Theo
The worst part about this is not knowing. Disney is being so secretive about this. Personally it’s frustrating for me since I moved to Florida in May expecting to buy an AP once the parks reopened. While I completely understand that they are trying to keep capacity lower during the pandemic I wish they would give us some indication as to when/if they plan to resume sales because I made a huge life change for this and I’ve now been in limbo for almost a year.
Lynne
Disneyland get your annual passes back please
KenG
I 100% agree with all the comments made in this article from folks who have or want the AP. Being a Disneyland “Legacy” (give me a break…) AP I have made the same points.
Disney World is different due to their size and amount of parks and being they have only about 25% of the APs Disneyland has, so it would make no sense for them to do a drastic change of their program. However if Disneyland does so that could result in more WDW annual passes as folks may go there more (as many Disneyland YouTubers have already done!)
But let’s look at the facts, at least for Disneyland: There are about 1-million APs, with passes ranging from about $400 – $1400. So that’s an average of at least $800 per pass. The means Disneyland would be leaving $800,000,000 on the table! And if those APs just spend $25 per person on each visit and go just 10 times, that’s another $250,000,000. And that spending is on the low end because APs are notorious for grabbing all the Disneyland merch and collectibles they can.
So is Disneyland really willing to give up a guaranteed income that is well over 1-Billion dollars? Heck no! And if they did the average day guest and tourists are going to see park tickets and hotel rooms skyrocket to make up for it. And nort to mention every other major themepark and resort is embracing their passholders, even tot he point of offering huge discounts this year to renew.
If the Disney parks are hurting now, it will get worse if they drastically change the AP program!
Mitch
Disney knows what they are doing. They realized people are desperate to go to Disney and are willing to pay without an AP. Last I heard, Disney World is making bank from parking fees alone.
If a FL resident used to have an annual pass parking was included, now if they are planning on going 8 different days it’s over $200 per car. Plus the tickets. Plus food and souvenirs. They are not losing money. This is guaranteed income.
Disney is smart, they know AP purchases are losing them money especially at Disneyland. Selling everything as an add-on will always make them the most money.
I expect when they return they might do what Universal is doing. Only including specific discounts and free or discounted parking for higher tiers and not for seasonal or weekday type APs
Alan C
We moved from MD into the WDW local area in September 2020, soon after AP sales went away. We are here because this is where we took our family vacations, and were excited about the opportunity to spend some leisurely evenings after work wandering – and eating in – the parks.
I read where Josh complained about FL residents being a major part of attendance. Did one of us ever stop a ticket-holder from getting in? If that’s his concern, then there is the park reservation system to control who gets in. I hope this doesn’t turn into the D’Amaro vendetta against FL residents who ONLY spend a grand a year each for the chance to enjoy the magic as often as we can. Plus, like another respondent said, eat really pricey meals because we enjoy what used to be the park atmosphere.
Our family of four bought the resident deal once. That will be our final four days spending Disney money for a long, long time if the AP program is gutted.
Casey
The magic is gone. Disney has peaked and Walt is turning over in his grave.
Christine
I really hope they are bringing back FL AP’s. My husband accepted a position here just before the pandemic started. The whole big pull was we are now a 35 mins drive to Disney. That being said I cannot afford to pay the big ticket prices plus have money to spend on food and merch in the parks more then a couple of times a year if the passes go away. So hoping this is not true because we saved money out of the moving expenses so we could buy passes when they became available. Will definitely be disappointed if DW does not bring them back.
kim
We have been going to Disney World since I was a little girl and the day their doors opened. We had resident passes for as long as they had resident passes, right into adulthood, as well as my 80+ year old parents still having theirs. We would go multiple times a year and spend a lot of money, as we’d stay right at the resorts.
Last year, we all cancelled our passes. We had annual passes because we wanted to be able to go to Disney whenever we wanted, including with last minute trips or day visits. But when they decided you needed to have reservations to be into a park (and you might not get in), could no longer park hop, you had to wear masks, limited eating, etc. People we talked to who had gone up, including just a few weeks ago, said it was terrible, and won’t be going back. So, from the BS Disney has been doing, and reports we were getting back from others who had gone and won’t go back, it just wasn’t worth it. So…..the entire family cancelled out our passes.
If DW doesn’t bring them back, and get back to total normal, we won’t be going any longer. So, although I will miss going, as I literally grew up going to the park, that will be it for me and the rest of the family. And from what I am hearing, a lot of people have had enough.
jish55
All I know is that without the ap, locals are going to start going less often due to 1) not having a guarantee, 2) having to spend a lot more money then they used to, and 3) not having free parking and discounts. Also, Disney ignores that over 70% of aps are individuals who, because they’re local, use it to only go to the parks for a few hours a week, 6 hours a month, where they’ll use it not even to ride rides, but to go eat and shop. Take that away, what gives prior aps a reason to return when the prices aren’t going to go down and are most likely to still go up? If anything, this is going to really give other theme parks a lot more business, especially with how Universal has a lot more variety now and more appeal thanks to Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, the Simpsons, and in the near future, Nintendo. Honestly, Disney getting rid of APs is going to hurt a lot more than help, and what visitors who only go once or twice a year ignore is that without aps, Disney’s gonna need to recoup the loss of revenue APs used to bring in, which means major price increases on Disney tickets since now, they have that hole with no guarantee it’s gonna be refilled.
Comments are closed.