I haven't been around in a while, perhaps I need to pay more attention to MP, but regardless I hope this saves SOMEONE else a headache...
On August 3rd I needed to get into the parks but we all downgraded to SoCal last year due to my husband being in Grad school and making a career change, so I was blocked out. My pass was set to expire on August 21st. I went to the ticket booth and explained to the agent that I needed to get into the park a few times before the 21st, so I wanted to upgrade my renewal to a Deluxe pass so I could get in. No problem, she says. I asked, to be sure, if i pay today it is upgraded today, correct? Yes, no problem, she says. She seemed to be learning still and a supervisor was standing right over her answer questions and guiding her through the computer, and she also agreed, no problem.
I went to the gate to get in and, of course, it bonked at me. I said I just paid and upgraded like 5 minutes ago and showed her my contract. No problem, she says, the computer just hasn't updated.
I came home and had this nagging feeling so I looked in my account and, lo and behold, there is a problem. It still shows SoCal and exp 8/21. So I call Disney and they tell me that the "policy" which is clearly new, is that if you renew before your exp date, even within the 30 day window, it does not take effect until the expiration date. So basically in the least 2 weeks I paid one payment for my old pass, one payment for my new pass which they are HAPPY to bill immediately even though you can't use it, and I made a downpayment (because I can write off a one day ticket as a business expense but not my whole pass), and yet I can't even use the dang thing because SoCal is blocked out until the 18th. Now since I need to get in the park this week I will have to buy a regular ticket, AND the kicker is that I can't even apply that ticket towards my pass unless I pay the rest of the balance off in full.
Not happy. Clearly. I am really not a cynical person, but I have to say this is just another example of these new AP "policies" that change out of the blue with no notification, unless you are bored enough to hunt down the T&C online and read them once a month to scan for changes. I got bit by another new "policy" last year that suddenly appeared which cost us money too. I've renewed/upgraded early several times and never had a problem, it was always effective the day you paid. I even asked them to change my exp date to the date I paid so I lose a few weeks but at least I can get in and they said it is "not physically possible to change a person's expiration date in the computer" Bunk. Anything is possible.
Disney, why, oh why, can't you phase in new policies with a one year grace period, so that those of us who have loyally given you way too much money over way too many years are not blindsided by these things??? Or, here's a thought, NOTIFY AP's when there are substantial changes to the way AP's are handled. Like, in an actual letter or email saying what the change is. Not just tell us "It's in the T&C" after the fact.
Rant over. Moral of the story don't bother upgrading/renewing your pass until the very DAY it is due unless you enjoy paying for things you can't have.
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