The end of the Complimentary Anytime Express Pass?

[Goldendreamer]

Hey Everyone,

I recently read that if rides go down and you decide not to wait after the announcement that Disney will no longer offer guests the Anytime Express Pass unless they are evacuated from a ride. Has anyone else heard of this new policy? We were at the park the first weekend of October and had waited 30 mins in line for Rise when it went down. We left and cast members at the entrance set us up with the AEP so we could return and ride it up until 9:00pm.

I’m thinking that if they are doing away with AEP’s, then it might have something to do with Lightning Lane policies. I read reports today that when the paid Lightning Lane rides went down at WDW guests were not offered a refund or an Anytime Express Pass. Instead, they were directed to go find Cast Members in blue shirts and request a gift card for the value that they paid. My thinking is that Disney wants to make sure the situation is considered fair from the perspective of the higher paying guest. They couldn’t offer a Genie + holder a free pass when they aren’t offering one to someone who paid for a specific ride on a specific day for a specific time. The only way I can see this as a cost cutting measure is that they don’t have to pay to staff the rides which are prone to breaking down.

Curious to see if there’s any validity to the rumor and what others thoughts are regarding the situation.

[Stormy]

Could you cite your source, please?

[Goldendreamer]

Could you cite your source, please?

Sure!

[Stormy]

I know that Kenny the Pirate is a well known 'source', but I know nothing about his reliability or if he's prone to 'panicking' at things.

That being said and setting aside ride evacs, I was always under the impression that one only got a recovery pass IF the line was actually shut down and everyone was told to leave, no option to wait it out. If people voluntarily left during a '101' when they had the option to wait, they got nothing. Maybe I'm 'misremembering'.

[Starcade]

This is so on brand if true. I swear it's like they put a bounty on corner cutting. The only way to advance in cheap parks team is to find something to cut.

Succeed by process of elimination is a race to the bottom fueled by the fluffing of bonus checks.

[savarese04]

This is so on brand if true. I swear it's like they put a bounty on corner cutting. The only way to advance in cheap parks team is to find something to cut.

Succeed by process of elimination is a race to the bottom fueled by the fluffing of bonus checks.

It's one thing to be unhappy with a decision, but the attempt at "dot connecting" here is asinine. Please explain how this policy change has anything to do with corner cutting or saves them money.

[TacAlert]

Sure!

An article referring to Disneyworld, not the Disneyland Resort.

[Goldendreamer]

An article referring to Disneyworld, not the Disneyland Resort.

True, and in the article it is implied that Disneyland had previously ended the courtesy pass to visitors. This was not my experience when we went to Disneyland the first weekend of October. I was trying to see if either the article was incorrect or if that had been a more recent change.

[Stormy]

True, and in the article it is implied that Disneyland had previously ended the courtesy pass to visitors. This was not my experience when we went to Disneyland the first weekend of October. I was trying to see if either the article was incorrect or if that had been a more recent change.

I have a feeling that many policies, past and present, will be in flux during the 'break in period' for LL and LL+. What happens today, may not happen tomorrow and vice versa.

TBH, there was always a bit of variance in courtesy passes. Some CMs handed them out freely, others were 'stingier' with them. My party got one once because we asked a CM by Soarin' if he knew what the wait time was for TSMM. He handed us 3 passes and said 'Don't worry about the wait time" with a wink.

[Golden Zephyr]

This is so on brand if true. I swear it's like they put a bounty on corner cutting. The only way to advance in cheap parks team is to find something to cut.

Succeed by process of elimination is a race to the bottom fueled by the fluffing of bonus checks.

This 100%

It is almost comical to read about the next cut, "monetization" or other customer experience depreciation that goes on.

I had warned years ago that Chapek employs an army of efficiency experts who continually ask "Can we cut it, can we trim it, can we monetize it?" They endlessly comb through every aspect of park operations and ask those questions. They seemly have a mandate to transform the parks from the "happiest place on earth" to "the most profitable place on earth" Their goal is to leave no upsell unimagined, no extra untrimmed, to leave nothing of value in the "general admission experience".

Profiteers have replaced Imagineers.

It is coming to the point that a normal day general admission ticket will be only for the privilege of entering the parks, everything beyond the turnstile will be an upcharge.

Chapek truly has transformed the parks like none other before him.

[Eagleman]

This 100%

It is almost comical to read about the next cut, "monetization" or other customer experience depreciation that goes on.

I had warned years ago that Chapek employs an army of efficiency experts who continually ask "Can we cut it, can we trim it, can we monetize it?" They endlessly comb through every aspect of park operations and ask those questions. They seemly have a mandate to transform the parks from the "happiest place on earth" to "the most profitable place on earth" Their goal is to leave no upsell unimagined, no extra untrimmed, to leave nothing of value in the "general admission experience".

Profiteers have replaced Imagineers.

It is coming to the point that a normal day general admission ticket will be only for the privilege of entering the parks, everything beyond the turnstile will be an upcharge.

Chapek truly has transformed the parks like none other before him.

YOU HAVE IT !
BINGO............
Chapek have truly has transformed the parks like none other before him.......
and not just Disney Parks........"BUT WHOLE COMPANY"
IMO

[Starcade]

It's one thing to be unhappy with a decision, but the attempt at "dot connecting" here is asinine. Please explain how this policy change has anything to do with corner cutting or saves them money.

Placing barriers that were not there prior for customers to claim refunds or to be made whole is done so to deter said refunds.