Ten months after Disneyland closed its doors due to COIVD, Disney parks abruptly announced who will end their annual passport program and reimburse existing customers. A replacement for the popular unlimited pass has been promised, but is unlikely to be offered until the pandemic is gone.
Premier Passport, another type of annual pass that grants entry to parks on both coasts, is also canceled, for WDW News Day, a news site focused on Disney parks. Pending Premier passports will remain active until March 31, 2021, for still open Walt Disney World theme parks and perks, after which they will be canceled. All annual passes valid from March 14, 2020 will be eligible for a pro rata refund for the unused Disneyland portion of your pass, details of which can be found at this Disney website.
More than one million people used the multi-tier annual pass, which offers exclusive benefits, such as after-hours hitchhiking hours, special events, movie peeps and discounts. The end of the program shocked loyal fans, especially those from California, where the two theme parks – Disneyland and Disney California Adventure – have become a viable daily or weekly meeting place for locals. Many expressed their shock and dismay on social networks.
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Some advantages still remain, however. Disneyland also announced that any pass holder with active passes on March 14, 2020 can still receive discounts on merchandise, food and drinks at open locations in the Downtown Disney District and Buena Vista Street. There is also a 30% discount on selected merchandise from certain stores, Monday through Thursday, until February 25, by the Los Angeles Times.
When a new annual pass program can be offered again, or whether it will have the same benefits, remains uncertain. California theme parks can only reopen when COVID transmission rates reach minimum levels, at which point the park’s capacity would be limited to 25% and is likely to require reservations. In the meantime, Disneyland’s inactive parking lots will be put to good use – like those in Orange County first massive vaccination site.