We have bad news for Disneyland fans who are accustomed to making the most of their annual passes. Last week, Disney Parks officially announced it would be canceling annual passes. Boo to that! But don’t worry yet—Disney has promised to replace them with a new program.
What Is the Annual Pass?
The Disneyland annual pass debuted in 1984 and only cost $65. The price certainly has creeped up over the years, as the program expanded into multiple tiers and added perks like discounts and event invitations. It’s estimated that the number of annual passholders equals somewhere around 1 million. That’s a lot of Disney fans!
See what Disney parks have looked like through the decades.
Why Is Disneyland Doing This?
The coronavirus is certainly to blame to some extent. While Florida’s Disney World reopened over the summer, both Disneyland and its companion park, California Adventure, have been closed for the past 10 months due to the pandemic. We’re certain the annual passes were profitable for Disney, but with travel limited for the past year, even the most fanatical have been stuck at home.
In a statement, Disneyland President Ken Potrock says that they’re “currently developing new membership offerings.” But there’s no official word on what that program might look like yet.
Is Another Option Available?
It’s predicted that once the California parks are able to reopen, there will be a new version of the pass program. If you’re an annual passholder, you’ll get a prorated refund, as well as a 30% discount on select merchandise from certain stores on Mondays through Thursdays through February 25.
In the meantime, it looks like we’re going to have to make do with creating Disney magic at home. At least we have recipes for those famous churros and Dole whip!
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