Disneyland is ending its annual pass program after being closed for nearly a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the resort announced on Thursday.
With Southern California experiencing the worst increase so far in cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations, and with no clear idea when the theme park will finally reopen, Ken Potrock, president of the Disneyland Resort, said in a statement that the resort will be “sunsetting” the popular annual passes and issuing refunds to eligible members.
“We want to thank our Annual Pass holders for their understanding during this closing period,” said Potrock. “We are currently developing new membership offers that will use consumer insights to offer options, flexibility and value to our biggest fans.”
The Walt Disney Company closed the Anaheim resort and several other major parks in March 2020, with the same closing from around the world. Resort officials planned to reopen Disneyland in mid-July with limited capacity, but those plans were canceled due to an increase in California’s COVID-19 cases.
Despite rising prices in recent years, the annual pass program has continued to be a popular option for Southern California families and other diehard Disney fans who spent their free time riding Splash Mountain, wandering Fantasyland and walking down Main Street with an ice cream in hand.
“As a holder of an annual years pass at Disneyland, I am very heartbroken by this news”, tweeted Lauren J. Mapp, reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I was looking forward to going back there again when it was safe to do so, but I’m not sure if it will still make financial sense.”