WDW Annual Pass Timing Speculation

[Tigger's ally]

Knowing this about the Pixie being marketed to the true local and the only pass to survive during the suspension of sales brings a new realization about when sales of the higher AP tiers at WDW will return. They may never reopen AP sales. The sale of pixies with the ability to upgrade after a year seems to all but assure Disney that, except for those grandfathered in, new passholders will mostly be true locals. In short, they changed the program to be a local program.

My prediction is that at present there are no plans to resume sales of the higher three tiers. There are no current plans to resume annual pass sales to international guests, out-of-state guests or DVC owners. The only way one gets an Incredi-pass or sorcerer now is if they are grandfathered in or a Florida resident (most likely local) who has renewed.

So you trust the news from the pp about the Pixie passes, but don't believe the same pp on news coming for other passes before their March trip? That's interesting to me.

 

[RoseGold]

I defined a true local as a guest who came from their own home nearby for a single day or just a few hours and returned to their home after leaving the parks. NO hotels onsite or offsite, no DVC, no AirB&B, no staying with family (because that guest is from out of the area and likely to go all day successive days.) The "local passholder" is still preferred by Disney for some reasons that are of benefit to Disney. We are the market they would miss if they did not sell annual passes to locals.

Meh, if that were true, they would have kept the after 5 ticket, or some version of that. That's a true local ticket, and it's been gone a long time.

 

[Jrb1979]

Meh, if that were true, they would have kept the after 5 ticket, or some version of that. That's a true local ticket, and it's been gone a long time.

This weekday pass is close to that. It keeps locals away on weekends when the parks are the busiest.

 

[Scalemaster34]

This weekday pass is close to that. It keeps locals away on weekends when the parks are the busiest.

With restaurant running a lower capacity for the last few years, and there being no nighttime shows at DHS or AK... I think the need for an after 5PM pass just wasn't there. Add in the revenge travel and how busy Disney Parks have been...

The bottom line is does Disney need to offer discounts to bolster attendance at times... it's clear those that can visit without high travel expenses have their value at both WDW and Disneyland.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

All I know is Universal is ecstatic that Disney is no longer selling AP in abundance.
They have been the beneficiary of "can't buy Disney so lets buy Universal" on many occasions.
That plus more new rides, faster at opening new rides and an entire new gate, is just adding fuel to the Universal fire.
They'll take all that business, happily. Heck, they even let all AP buyers do monthly payments.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

So you trust the news from the pp about the Pixie passes, but don't believe the same pp on news coming for other passes before their March trip? That's interesting to me.

Honestly though, even a "Disney executive correspondence specialist" doesn't always provide accurate information.
I assured by one in that exact position that the old Disney internal park to park bus system was not going away when the rumor came out that it was doomed. I wrote and shared how much we loved it and was hoping to put in word to try and keep it around. Said Executive told me that I was wrong and it wasn't going anywhere.
Within 5 days it was gone.
So yeah, I take what those in that position write as useless. They are great at making it sound like they know but they don't know or won't truly share what they know any more than a bus driver does. What they are good at is telling the guest/writer what they want to hear.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Disneyland's Magic Key Pass sales didn't last very long.... what was it nine days?

I bet WDW AP sales won't last that long.

 

[MaveDatthews]

Disneyland's Magic Key Pass sales didn't last very long.... what was it nine days?

I bet WDW AP sales won't last that long.

If they ever come back at all at this point…haha. Agreed though, if/when they do come back, it’ll be a quick flash in the pan.

 

[naman1221]

Disneyland's Magic Key Pass sales didn't last very long.... what was it nine days?

I bet WDW AP sales won't last that long.

As far as I can tell, they are still on sale?

 

[Tigger1]

Since I will not have an annual pass I will be spending much more time at the resorts, cooking meals like I said I was gonna do when I bought DVC.

 

[Smugpugmug]

All I know is Universal is ecstatic that Disney is no longer selling AP in abundance.
They have been the beneficiary of "can't buy Disney so lets buy Universal" on many occasions.
That plus more new rides, faster at opening new rides and an entire new gate, is just adding fuel to the Universal fire.
They'll take all that business, happily. Heck, they even let all AP buyers do monthly payments.

This is very true, at least for my sister. She wants a Disney AP but cannot get one right now so she bought a Universal one instead. I decided to get one too so we'll be going there way more often. I have a Disney AP too and if I'm being really honest the Universal one has way better perks.

 

[Titanium]

It's exactly that. They want out of state guests paying full price.

You could also argue that they want DVC and Resort Hotel guests paying full price I think.

 

[Cindra]

Yup. Want AP but if cost is too high then alternatives are an option. Pls Disney bring back option for annual passes including DVC so it can compete

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

.

 

[Boomatt]

All I know is Universal is ecstatic that Disney is no longer selling AP in abundance.
They have been the beneficiary of "can't buy Disney so lets buy Universal" on many occasions.
That plus more new rides, faster at opening new rides and an entire new gate, is just adding fuel to the Universal fire.
They'll take all that business, happily. Heck, they even let all AP buyers do monthly payments.

This 100%. Been an AP holder for many years and decided to let it lapse this October since the parks are such a hassle now (genie+ is one of the worst things to happen to WDW frequenters). I did this knowing that I may never be able to get one again, that’s how bad the park experience has gotten at WDW. Last year we spent 33 days at WDW and 2/3 of those days were in the parks where we would buy merch, drinks, food etc. we will be spending the same amount of time at our DVC resorts this year and about 2/3 of those days will be spent at the Universal parks where we will spend our money on Merch, drinks, food etc… real smart, Disney.

 

[Titanium]

Since I will not have an annual pass I will be spending much more time at the resorts, cooking meals like I said I was gonna do when I bought DVC.

There's an abundance of free things to do just outside the park entrances at WDW and many many alternatives to Prix Fixe menus! Josh D'Amaro should be more careful about what he wishes for.

 

[Bo1203]

No annual pass, no problem. We'll just take the skyliner from boardwalk joe's to bar riva, to and fro.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

DVC is designed to be run at very high occupancy. We leave in two weeks for yet another resort only stay. Just because DVC reports are full it does not mean everyone is going to the parks.

Very true! I do know DVC owners that only go every other year and never had an AP. They are going to buy a 2 day ticket instead of a longer pass. My point was that offering a discount to incentivize a DVC stay isn't necessary but it may become necessary to fill hotel rooms if occupancy goes down.

 

[Cfabar1]

I think not offering the annual passes to DVC members is a real big mistake…. I think they should open the pass sales to DVC members TODAY… I am grateful to be a FL resident so we can at least still get Pixie passes and (for now) upgrade them after one year if we want to…. Frankly with the parks so crowded, I’m not sure weekends are that attractive to visit the parks…

 

[Doug7856]

Very true! I do know DVC owners that only go every other year and never had an AP. They are going to buy a 2 day ticket instead of a longer pass. My point was that offering a discount to incentivize a DVC stay isn't necessary but it may become necessary to fill hotel rooms if occupancy goes down.

We've been happy DVC members since 2003. Of that time we've only had an AP for one glorious year, but generally we can't justify the purchase. Over the past few years, we've reduced our time in the parks. We used to buy 10 day non expiring tickets and use them over the year, but since that's not available anymore, we must purchase less days. This year we're going two days in August and three days in December. Far fewer than the 10 days a year in the past.