By Tinker Bell Diva
No opening details for Disneyland just yet
On January 14th, 2021, my heart was broken when the news was released that Disneyland was sunsetting their Annual Passport program. I purchased my first Annual Passport (AP) in July of 2005 during the 50th Anniversary Celebration. I’ve had an AP on and off over the years since then, and my current pass was originally to expire back in November 2020. I was looking forward to the day when Disneyland would reopen and use those last remaining months on my AP until it expired. Instead, this news leaves us with a few more questions than answers, so today I’ll help you sort through them. NOTE – there are no changes to the Walt Disney World Annual Passport Program in Florida unless you have the Premier Pass for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Are all Disneyland APs cancelled? Even the top tier ones?
Yes, all annual passes are cancelled as of January 14th, 2021. If you have a Premier Pass, which is valid for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, you will receive a pro rata rebate for the Disneyland part of your pass. Your pass is still valid for Walt Disney World until March 31, 2021. After that date, the Premier pass will no longer be valid either.
Will I get a refund? What about refunds for add-ons, like Parking and MaxPass?
A pro rata refund will be given to you if you are eligible for one. You do need to visit the AP refund page at this link to determine if you are eligible. You will receive a refund based on how much you have paid towards our pass, the date your pass became active, how many block out dates your pass had during the time it was valid before the closure on March 14, 2020, and if you already received any refunds. Here is the formula they will use:
- Pro rata refund amount = Total amount paid toward a Passport (minus any refunds given) – Usable value of Passport
- Usable value of Passport = (Total sales price + Total number of access days at activation) x Number of access days available prior to March 14, 2020
If you purchased an AP voucher and never had it activated, you will receive a full refund. Your refund for any add-ons will also be refunded under the same refund system as your pass.
In the equations above, the amount paid towards a Passport and the total sales price includes any add-ons or if you are on a monthly payment plan, it includes your initial deposit. The refunds would be any amount you have already been refunded during the closure. The total number of access days is the number of days allows by your specific pass (i.e. a Signature Pass has 350 access days). Number of access days prior to March 14, 2020 is the number of days from when you pass became activated up to March 14th.
How will refunds be processed?
If you used a credit card to purchase your AP, the refund will go back to that card. If that credit card is no longer valid, Disney will mail you a check. If you paid with a gift card, Disney will mail you a check. DIVA TIP – if your mailing address has changed, call Annual Passholder Member Services at 714-781-7277 to have it corrected. You only need to call if your address has changed. Disney has not announced the timeline for when refunds will be given.
Is my AP still valid for discounts at Downtown Disney District?
Yes! Even an AP that has expired during the closure is valid. Make sure you bring your physical AP card, as if your AP is expired, it will no longer show up on the Disneyland App. Even better, Disney announced a special merchandise discount for our Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders! Passholders who held active Passports as of March 14, 2020 can receive 30% off select merchandise purchases at Disney owned-and-operated locations at Downtown Disney District and Buena Vista Street. This offer is valid Monday through Thursday, beginning January 18 through February 25, 2021 and you can read more about it at this link.
What does the future hold for the Annual Passport Program?
We do not know exactly yet, but there is a future to the Annual Passport Program. Disney has announced that they are working on new options for membership. They may not have those options until Disneyland is reopened, and even then, maybe not until it is fully open and not at limited capacity. Unfortunately, we do not know the details yet. Once we do know, we will post to our Tips from the Disney Diva Facebook page so follow us there.
