Disneyland has begun to survey their former Annual Passholders in the wake of the ending of their previous Annual Passholder Program. In the survey, Disney presents a variety of “passport” options as well as single and multi-day ticket options.
(11:20am EST Update: More Passport configuration options have been added to the bottom of this post)
In the survey, there are multiple different types of “Passport” options, none of which seem to offer year-round access to the theme parks. It’s also worth noting that ALL of the Passport options listed in the survey require a reservation to enter Disneyland, a restriction that was previously only part of the Flex Pass that Disneyland offered. Here’s a look at one of the surveys we were sent.
Let’s break down the Passport types that we’ve seen so far:
$1400 Passport
With the most expensive option, Passholders would be able to make up to 6 reservations at a time, up to 90 days in advance. This pass would also give you two tickets for dates that might be blocked out for you, which appears to be during June and July as well as all weekends. You’d get a 30% discount on merchandise, 10% off of food and beverage, and 20% off of special event tickets. Parking would be included, but MaxPass would not. PhotoPass, a dedicated park entrance, and a “Rewards Program” would be included at this most expensive tier.
This seems to be a Passport for the die-hard, weekday visitor, but with more restrictions and blockout dates than that type of Disneyland visitor would previously be used to.
$1200 Passport (With $400 downgrade option)
This $1200 Passport appears to be very similar, if not the same as the $1400 option we’ve seen in a different survey. It’s possible that Disneyland is changing the price of the offerings to see what price guests will purchase at.
It is worth noting that there is a $400 option presented that limits the reservation window to 30 days, only allows 2 reservations at a time, takes away photopass and free parking, but leaves the rest of the offerings from the $1400 option in place.
$1000 Passport (No Summer)
There are two types of $1000 Passports on the survey. We’ll start with the one that has a similar blockout schedule as the $1400 Passport – that is, June and July blocked out, as well as the weekends.
With this Passport, Disneyland essentially takes the $1400 version and downgrades some of the offerings – 2 reservations held at a time versus 6, a 60 day reservation window instead of 90 days, 1 blockout ticket versus 2, no special event discount, parking is not included, PhotoPass is not included, and this cheaper pass is not part of the “Rewards Program”.
$1000 Passport (More visits)
The second $1000 Passport offered is the “more visits” Passport. This Passport has fewer blockout dates and seems to allow visits on most weekends. Passholders with this $1000 Passport will be able to hold up to 4 reservations at a time and the reservation window opens at 90 days. Just like the other $1000 Passport, this Passport offers a single blockout ticket, drops the merchandise discount from 30% down to 10%, bumps up the food and beverage discount from 10% up to 30% and brings back the 20% special event discount seen in the $1400 Passport.
Parking would not be included, but there would be a 20% discount offered. Unlike any of the other Passports, this Passport would include MaxPass. PhotoPass and a dedicated entrance would also be included, but this Passport would not be eligible for the “Rewards Program” that only the $1400 Passport qualifies for.
$800 Passport
There is also an $800 option that allows for reservations to be made just 30 days in advance. This option would have even more summer blockout dates, but offer two blockout tickets per year. This option would allow for 30% off of food and beverage purchases and include parking for free, MaxPass, PhotoPass, dedicated entrance, and the rewards program.
If we had to guess, this pass seems almost too good to be true, and Disney might be testing an almost unreasonably low price almost as a proof of concept that there would at least be interest at a lower tier price. Disney would then be able to find a “sweet spot” between $800 and $1400 to maximize profits while minimizing crowds.
UPDATE: Even more Passport options have been revealed thanks to a tweet from imaginat1on.
A Whole New World
Disneyland President Ken Potrock recently spoke about Disneyland’s intentions with a new Passport program (via OC Register):
We’re going to use this time as an opportunity to develop new offerings and a new way to think about the business given the situation we find ourselves in.
We’re trying to understand: What do people want in this new world? When do they want to access our parks? How frequently do they want to access our parks? With what level of spontaneity? With what level of value? All of those kinds of things and many more.
There’s nothing off the table as we begin to think about things that are important for people. Whether it’s the number of times that they visit on a product offering. Whether it’s when. Is it midweek or weekend? Is it morning or afternoon? Is it day-part oriented? It’s all of those kinds of things that we’re incredibly curious to hear back from the guests about.
This is not designed to limit choice and flexibility. It’s designed to enhance choice and flexibility. People may say, ‘Here’s how I’ve always used it.’ People may say, ‘Here’s what I bought, but I didn’t quite use it and optimize it.’ People may say, ‘I have a different family structure or my financial situation is different. I would love to do it a little bit differently than I’ve done in the past.’ What we’re hoping to be able to provide is the choice and flexibility for all of those different evolving states.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!