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The timing may actually not surprise you at all.
Annual Passes paused
When both Disney World and Disneyland closed in March 2020, many changes took place. Among those was their annual pass programs. At one point, you could not purchase new passes for either coast for several months.
In August 2021, Disney finally announced new/modified programs at both Disneyland and Disney World. There are now more tiers, higher prices, and different park pass allotments.
However, that was short lived as many of the tiers sold out. They have been unavailable for months. Most Guests who want to purchase new passes or let their passes expire are out of luck. If you currently have a pass and are even considering visiting in the future, keep your pass current! Do not let it expire!
For those of you waiting, when can you expect them to return?
When can we expect them to return?
According to the website Florida Politics, experts claim Disney is waiting for the economy to worsen before resuming the sale of annual passes.
“Disney doesn’t have much of a reason to bring back the full slate of annual passes right now. Disney World is generating record revenue and operating profits with fewer guests than before,” said Rick Munarriz, an analyst for the investment website The Motley Fool.
“Disney’s annual passes will come back when the global economy buckles to the point that visitors can no longer pay the cover charge for a Disney gated attraction. Annual Passholders have a right to be ticked off. The experience isn’t the same if you’re not going to pay to play. Mickey Mouse moved their cheese.”
It actually makes sense. CEO Bob Chapek has said before resort guests spend more money than Annual Passholders (although as an out of state passholder, I beg to differ). Why should Disney lose money with Annual Passes when park attendance and spending continue to remain elevated?
What are your thoughts on Annual Pass sales? Do you expect them to return when the economy gets worse? Do you think more Guests will have to stay home with the current economic environment? Let us know in the comments below and on Facebook.
Source: Florida Politics
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Michelle Benetti
Thursday 4th of August 2022
I'm so disappointed in Disney. I'm a Florida passholder and spend a freaking fortune everytime I go. In May I took my family and spent over $9,000. I have to take off work to go because they won't open up other passes. I'm to the point I'm about to stop going period. I'm looking at going on cruises instead of going to Disney. I despise Chapek, he's ruined Disney. I've been more times in the last year than I can count...I stay on property. Eat on property, buy souvenirs that I don't need but yet treated like a no body. Thinking of canceling my September trip at Fort Wilderness and my December trip. Just fed up.
Sara
Tuesday 2nd of August 2022
Well, Bob doesn’t want us so we are obliging. We are out of state Passholders that come 3-5 times a year for 7-10 days a trip, stay on property, eat on property, and spend $$$ on merchandise. Come November when our current passes expire we won’t be renewing. We did however renew our Universal and SeaWorld passes. They actually seem to like their Passholders. So thanks, Bob, you saved us many $$$!
Donna Manheim
Monday 1st of August 2022
I recently moved to Florida only to find that I can’t get an annual pass. I spent and will spend a fortune on Disney annual pass holder or sing tickets. Please bring the passes back!
CRT
Saturday 30th of July 2022
The problem is that Disney no longer wants to fully staff its parks. That is why they continue using the reservation system. If they started selling annual passes again, the reservation system would be even more of a mess than it is now. I expect to see a different type of pass when they do bring them back (e.g., no guarantee that new passholders will be able to renew their passes in the future or forcing passholders to renew into a different level pass). Disney has lost their focus on the customer. It's all about greed and the bottom line now. This is going to continue to get worse unless customers start refusing to pay the freight.
Anne
Friday 29th of July 2022
JW, same here. Out of state. They don’t care though. They lump us all together in a big pile. Doesn’t matter that we stay at their resorts and eat all our food there when we travel down there. Doesn’t matter we never get the benefit of the f passholder previews because we live 14 hrs away. They just don’t care.