No more annual passes in 2013?

[mekchin]

I heard a rumor from that annual passes may be eliminated in 2013. The reason is because the average annual passholder does not spend as much money while in the parks as a tourist. I certainly hope this rumor is not true. Has anyone else heard this? I know if I can't buy an annual pass I will not go to the parks more than once a year. I will also stop collecting Disney. The bright side - I will save a lot of money!

[DannyLand]

yes, plz. some ap go to DLR WAYYY too much. like, you went there this week, why exactly are you going again next week. but if it wasn't crowded i wouldnt mind as much.

[Eric5675]

yes, plz. some ap go to DLR WAYYY too much. like, you went there this week, why exactly are you going again next week. but if it wasn't crowded i wouldnt mind as much.

We are going again because we enjoy it... Stop jealin'

[saramommy]

This can't be true! They make way too much money from AP's, don't they??

[DJS]

AP's are great marketing tools. They are upping the prices and many are not renewing because of that, but I doubt they are discontinuing it.

[G24T]

I doubt the rumor is true since the marketing geniuses are finding ways to get AP's to spend more (meaningful) time & money in the parks, i.e. Carsland AP preview, Candellight Processional, etc. I wouldn't be surprised though if one or both of the SoCal AP's are discontinued as they are likely the reason for the typically crowded weekends.

[PetiteMortKvsh]

APers, for the most part, spend a lot of money on pins and limited merch items. I know when I go, sometimes once a week or once every few weeks, I spend money on food and on seasonal treats. Without APer, yes the park wouldn't be as packed...but Disney would lose a lot of money that they have come to depend on.

[k_peek_2000]

They are going to cut off 50% of their income? I think not.

[PetiteMortKvsh]

Also, Aper's are not limited to Ca. My family who lives in Az all have passes even though they come maybe twice or three times a year. And if you saw their houses you'd think you had walked into Disney Store.

[JerrodDRagon]

As bad as people make APer's to be.....honestly without them Disneyland would make so much less...they'd have to cut down on the maintenance and the parks would become MUCH worst...\

I know I'd only go...maybe once every 2 years without an AP..I spend much more as an AP..then not one....Locals are going to be cheap but at least with the Aps they get 200-650...upfront

[Chesire]

As bad as people make APer's to be.....honestly without them Disneyland would make so much less...they'd have to cut down on the maintenance and the parks would become MUCH worst...\

So you're saying the first 34 years of the park were bad?

[toonaspie]

I heard a rumor from that annual passes may be eliminated in 2013. The reason is because the average annual passholder does not spend as much money while in the parks as a tourist. I certainly hope this rumor is not true. Has anyone else heard this? I know if I can't buy an annual pass I will not go to the parks more than once a year. I will also stop collecting Disney. The bright side - I will save a lot of money!

If that's the main problem then I highly doubt that ending the AP program will do them much good. If people were given better motivation to spend more in the parks than the situation could be improved. I'm not saying make everything cheaper but the food, the service, and the merchandising all have to be worth the large price tag. For example: If most of the merchandise can be bought online or at your local Disney store for less, why buy it for more in the Disney parks?

I had suggested this before, but I'm thinking as an addition to the AP discounts have an AP rewards spending program where if you spend a certain amount of dollars during your visits you could be entitled to more exclusive discounts or win prizes and stuff.

[TONY THE BEAT]

HAHAHA If this was true DL would loose so much money with how many APers there are. They make way too much on them. It'd be like them saying, "No please don't give us your money any more."

[mouseknotts]

durring the slow times the Ap helps to keep the park going, that is the reason they have the souther Cal passes. It is also why they are blocked out during the summer.
I doubt that they will do away with the AP, they might change them but they will still be around.
We got a card in the mail reminding us to regester our AP online. I think they are starting to see a drop off of Ap renewals.
Only time will tell what is going to happen.

[swampymarsh]

durring the slow times the Ap helps to keep the park going, that is the reason they have the souther Cal passes. It is also why they are blocked out during the summer.

That is a good point that is important about running the company. While there are many people looking for extra work that are willing to work just on thier weekend, there are more that need full time 5 days a week jobs. Evening out the demand to staff the park, makes it easier to staff the park. This doesn't just extend to frontline CMs but also entertainment, maintenance and more. In sum this can be a money saver as well since you can pay lower wages to find full time employers instead of higher wages to attract harder to find part timers, lower cost per employee.

The reason is because the average annual passholder does not spend as much money while in the parks as a tourist.

This is probably true on revenue per guest day, but not revenue per guest. Many APHs would only go to the park a day or single trip per year if they didn't have an AP.

In my experience I used to go every now and then, a couple times per year. They get two tickets, a few meals, and a few souvenires out of me. When I got an AP they got the cost of a few tickets, dozens of meals, and several souvenires from me. Also I started taking my family, while this is a change that may of occured anyway, having an AP I asked them to join me, which they do a couple times a year multiplying the revenue. I also stay onsite which means a lot more revenue from me, 2 or 3 times a year, instead of a rare night in the old Disneyland Hotel(which wasn't owned by Disney).