Disneyland Is Ending Its Annual Pass Program

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Disney Park News just released a statement on Twitter announcing they’re ending their Disneyland Resort Annual Passports.

“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.”

Just before the pandemic hit, my wife and I took our kids to Disneyland and California Adventures twice within a week, compliments of Undercover Tourist, which offers discounted tickets to popular attractions.

We only live 40 minutes from Disneyland and we spent the night at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, which is the resort’s nicest hotel. My son loved it even though it was cold and rainy for half the time. We loved it so much that we debated buying annual passes since it’s such a good deal if you live in Southern California and visit at least three times.

Based on information provided by the nifty crowd size calendar on Undercover Tourist’s website, we went on the slowest day of the year (midweek in February) and we still found it to be crowded. We were told most of the people there were using the annual pass. So one positive out of this is that it might make crowds smaller once they’re allowed to reopen and go back to full capacity. On the other hand, perhaps not since there’s so much pent up demand.

According to CBS LA: Ken Potrock, president of Disneyland wrote in an email to annual pass holders: “For nearly four decades, our Annual Passport program has been an important part of connecting with some of our most valued Guests.”

According to the L.A. Times: “A replacement for the annual pass program is not expected to be implemented until the pandemic recedes enough for Disneyland Resort to welcome guests at or near its pre-coronavirus levels of attendance. Potrock emphasized that, long-term, he believed this move would be a “silver lining” of the pandemic for Disney, allowing it to shape a program better suited to the still-unknown financial realities of many of Disneyland’s fans while also potentially having more flexible tiers for those who don’t necessarily consider themselves park regulars.”