Disneyland has canceled its annual passholder program out of concern that demand by fans using the popular membership program could overwhelm Disney’s capacity-constrained Anaheim theme parks once an extended coronavirus closure eventually comes to an end.
Update: Disneyland Magic Key replaces annual passholder program (August 2021)
Disneyland will start issuing prorated refunds to annual passholders starting Thursday, Jan. 14, according to Disney officials. Disneyland officials won’t say how many people have annual passes, but theme park industry observers have estimated the number to be 1 million.
A new Disneyland membership program will be unveiled at a later date — presumably after Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopen.
“Due to the continued uncertainty of the pandemic and limitations around the reopening of our California theme parks, we will be issuing appropriate refunds for eligible Disneyland resort Annual Passports and sunsetting the current program,” Disneyland resort president Ken Potrock said in a statement. “We are currently developing new membership offerings that will utilize consumer insights to deliver choice, flexibility and value for our biggest fans.”
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Rose Keiser, who runs the popular Gothic Rosie’s Disneyland page on Facebook, applauded the move.
“The uncertainty of the path of the virus, the long time period from research to effective vaccine and people’s overall fears drove a large group of APs to just want to step away until everything is safe,” said Keiser, of Northridge. “That is also why we let ours expire (in July 2020).”
Others were heartbroken by the decision.
“This is a big blow to the local passholder community,” said Donna Collins of Valencia, who redecorated her husband’s home office to look like the Haunted Mansion. “My family and I have been passholders for over 20 years. … It’s a shame that Disneyland is forced to make this decision when (Walt Disney World in Florida) has been open since July. Getting into our happy place is moving farther and farther away.”
Disneyland, DCA and Disney’s three Anaheim hotels closed in mid-March and remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Downtown Disney reopened in July and DCA’s Buena Vista Street returned for shopping in November.
California theme parks are unlikely to return to full operation until spring or summer under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Large parks like Disneyland will be restricted to 25% capacity with advance reservations once they reopen under state guidelines.
Disneyland annual passholders don’t need to do anything to receive the prorated refunds.
“We will begin the process of issuing appropriate refunds for eligible Disneyland resort Annual Passports and sunsetting the current Annual Passport program due to the continued uncertainty of the pandemic and limitations and expected restrictions around the reopening of our theme parks,” Potrock said in a letter to passholders.
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Disneyland has launched a website (Disneyland.com/PassportRefund) that will allow passholders to calculate their refunds. Disneyland’s phone banks are expected to be jammed with calls from passholders seeking answers and information about their canceled annual passes.
“We are committed to processing refunds as diligently and as quickly as possible,” Potrock said in a letter to passholders.
The annual passholder cancellation announcement is expected to send shockwaves through the loyal Disneyland fan base that has used the membership program for nearly four decades.
“I know that sunsetting the Annual Passport program will be disappointing to many of our passholders who are just as anxious as we are to reopen our gates and welcome guests back when the time is right,” Potrock said in a letter to passholders. “But we are also very excited about what’s ahead. We plan to use this time while we remain closed to develop new membership offerings that will utilize consumer insights to deliver choice, flexibility and value for our biggest fans.”
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While most Disneyland annual passholders live near the park in Southern California, some are from out of state. Rachel Broughton’s family had annual passes even though they live nearly 400 miles away in Queen Creek, Arizona.
“We loved being able to take three-day weekend trips,” Broughton said. “We can still do them, but paying for tickets each time adds such a large cost that we’re unlikely to do them. We will probably return to being a one-trip-per-year family.”
Annual passholders who had active passes when the park closed on March 14 will continue to receive discounts on food and merchandise at Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street until a new membership program is announced. Disney will boost AP discounts to 30% on select dates from Jan. 18 to Feb. 25 on select merchandise.
Vanessa Dawson of Rancho Santa Margarita, who has had an annual pass for eight years, says she’s optimistic Disney will come up with a solution for fans who like to visit regularly.
“Disneyland wants to be cautious when it reopens, but I have no doubt that some form of passholder program will come back,” she said. “Disneyland has been part of my family’s history since its opening day. I am hopeful I will be able to return to the parks when a new passholder program is established.”
