AVP
05-18-2012, 05:44 PM
OK folks, I've collected your questions from MousePad, Twitter, Facebook and e-mail about the just-announced Disneyland ticket price hike and how it affects YOU, and have gone straight to Disney for official clarification. Some of this comes from Disneyland's media relations department, some of it comes from the passholder hotline, but none of it is to be considered gospel. If you need a 100% confirmed definite answer for your situation, call Disney.
Tickets:
Q: Can I buy tickets online before the prices go up on Sunday and use them later this year?
A: Yes. Right now Disneyland is offering two types of ticket online, Theme Park tickets (good for 1-6 days depending on what you buy) and a Promotional Park Hopper Bonus Ticket. The Theme Park tickets are good through December 31, 2012, so if you're planning a visit before then, grab your tickets NOW. The Promotional Park Hopper Bonus Ticket is only valid through May 28th, so don't buy that one unless you're visiting next week.
Q: Can I buy ticket gift cards at my grocery store before the prices go up on Sunday and use them later this year?
A: Yes, just be sure to check the expiration date printed on the back of the gift card. We believe most currently in circulation have a December 31, 2012 expiration date.
Q: What happened to the 6-day ticket?
A: It will no longer be offered after May 20th. If that's the ticket you wanted for your next visit (before December 31, 2012 at least), you can purchase it before prices go up on May 20th.
Annual Passports:
Q: Can I buy an annual pass or AP Gift Voucher online before the prices go up on Sunday and use it later this year?
A: Yes. We've been told that annual pass vouchers or gift vouchers purchased online at Disneyland.com before prices go up on May 20th can be activated after May 20th without penalty - you will not be required to pay the difference between the purchase price and the then-current AP price so long as you activate the pass before December 31, 2012. If you activate the pass on or after January 1, 2013 you will be required to pay the difference. [Note: we've now confirmed this date - vouchers purchased online have a "redeem by" date printed on them, but that date does not appear anywhere on the Disney website]
Q: Can I buy Annual Pass gift cards at my grocery store before the prices go up on Sunday and use them later this year?
A: Yes, just be sure to check the expiration date printed on the back of the gift card.
Q: My Annual Pass expires in May or June, can I renew it now at the lower price?
A: Yes. Passholders with May or June expiration dates can renew at the current price provided you renew no later than 60 days after your pass expires.
Q: My Annual Pass expires in July/August/September/some month after June, can I renew it now at the lower price?
A: No. Disney is only allowing passholders to renew at the current price if their pass expires within 40 days, but they've stretched that a few days to include all May and June expiration dates. However, you CAN purchase an annual pass voucher or gift voucher online at Disneyland.com before prices go up on May 20th, and activate that AP after May 20th without penalty. It's important to note that you will need to treat this as a NEW AP, not a renewal.
Q: I've been planning to upgrade my AP - can I do that by phone or online before the price goes up?
A: No. Upgrades must be done in person - there is no phone or online option.
New Q: Can I buy an annual pass online before the prices go up on Sunday using the monthly payment option but wait to activate the pass later this year?
A: This is sort of a tricky one, but we've been told by two cast members at the AP hotline that this IS possible. First, this only works if you're buying a Premium or lower AP (Premier passes can not be purchased online and don't qualify for payments anyway) AND you live in California. AP Gift Vouchers are not eligible for the installment plan.
We've been told that your down payment is payable immediately, and that your installment payments will begin as per the usual schedule, but you can wait to activate the AP before December 31, 2012 with no penalty. Once again we're getting conflicting answers from different sources, so we advise you to call Disney directly (714-781-PASS) before you do this to confirm it will work for your needs.
Keep the questions coming - we're happy to help if we can
Adrienne
Tickets:
Q: Can I buy tickets online before the prices go up on Sunday and use them later this year?
A: Yes. Right now Disneyland is offering two types of ticket online, Theme Park tickets (good for 1-6 days depending on what you buy) and a Promotional Park Hopper Bonus Ticket. The Theme Park tickets are good through December 31, 2012, so if you're planning a visit before then, grab your tickets NOW. The Promotional Park Hopper Bonus Ticket is only valid through May 28th, so don't buy that one unless you're visiting next week.
Q: Can I buy ticket gift cards at my grocery store before the prices go up on Sunday and use them later this year?
A: Yes, just be sure to check the expiration date printed on the back of the gift card. We believe most currently in circulation have a December 31, 2012 expiration date.
Q: What happened to the 6-day ticket?
A: It will no longer be offered after May 20th. If that's the ticket you wanted for your next visit (before December 31, 2012 at least), you can purchase it before prices go up on May 20th.
Annual Passports:
Q: Can I buy an annual pass or AP Gift Voucher online before the prices go up on Sunday and use it later this year?
A: Yes. We've been told that annual pass vouchers or gift vouchers purchased online at Disneyland.com before prices go up on May 20th can be activated after May 20th without penalty - you will not be required to pay the difference between the purchase price and the then-current AP price so long as you activate the pass before December 31, 2012. If you activate the pass on or after January 1, 2013 you will be required to pay the difference. [Note: we've now confirmed this date - vouchers purchased online have a "redeem by" date printed on them, but that date does not appear anywhere on the Disney website]
Q: Can I buy Annual Pass gift cards at my grocery store before the prices go up on Sunday and use them later this year?
A: Yes, just be sure to check the expiration date printed on the back of the gift card.
Q: My Annual Pass expires in May or June, can I renew it now at the lower price?
A: Yes. Passholders with May or June expiration dates can renew at the current price provided you renew no later than 60 days after your pass expires.
Q: My Annual Pass expires in July/August/September/some month after June, can I renew it now at the lower price?
A: No. Disney is only allowing passholders to renew at the current price if their pass expires within 40 days, but they've stretched that a few days to include all May and June expiration dates. However, you CAN purchase an annual pass voucher or gift voucher online at Disneyland.com before prices go up on May 20th, and activate that AP after May 20th without penalty. It's important to note that you will need to treat this as a NEW AP, not a renewal.
Q: I've been planning to upgrade my AP - can I do that by phone or online before the price goes up?
A: No. Upgrades must be done in person - there is no phone or online option.
New Q: Can I buy an annual pass online before the prices go up on Sunday using the monthly payment option but wait to activate the pass later this year?
A: This is sort of a tricky one, but we've been told by two cast members at the AP hotline that this IS possible. First, this only works if you're buying a Premium or lower AP (Premier passes can not be purchased online and don't qualify for payments anyway) AND you live in California. AP Gift Vouchers are not eligible for the installment plan.
We've been told that your down payment is payable immediately, and that your installment payments will begin as per the usual schedule, but you can wait to activate the AP before December 31, 2012 with no penalty. Once again we're getting conflicting answers from different sources, so we advise you to call Disney directly (714-781-PASS) before you do this to confirm it will work for your needs.
Keep the questions coming - we're happy to help if we can
Adrienne