Due to concern that the annual passholder program will see thousands flood the park after the COVID-19 restrictions end, Disneyland Anaheim has taken the decision to cancel the annual passholder program and refund what could be as many as up to a million passholders, promising to unveil an alternative in due course.
Disneyland has canceled its annual passholder program out of concern that demand by fans using the popular membership program could overwhelm Disney’s capacity-constrained Anaheim theme parks once an extended coronavirus closure eventually comes to an end.
Disneyland will start issuing prorated refunds to annual passholders starting Thursday, Jan. 14, according to Disney officials. Disneyland officials won’t say how many people have annual passes, but theme park industry observers have estimated the number to be 1 million.
A new Disneyland membership program will be unveiled at a later date — presumably after Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopen.
Disneyland, DCA and Disney’s three Anaheim hotels closed in mid-March and remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Downtown Disney reopened in July and DCA’s Buena Vista Street returned for shopping in November.
California theme parks are unlikely to return to full operation until spring or summer under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Large parks like Disneyland will be restricted to 25% capacity with advance reservations once they reopen under state guidelines.
Disneyland annual passholders don’t need to do anything to receive the prorated refunds.
