Disney Announces Discount for Passholders & DVC Members

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

From time to time, Disney increases it’s normal 20% off merchandise discount up to 30% to Walt Disney World annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members. Disney has announced the first bonus increase in 2021, and we hope not the last.

Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can receive 30% off select merchandise purchases at Walt Disney World Resort owned and operated merchandise locations now through March 2, 2021. See offer terms and exclusions.

Discount does not apply to Walt Disney World Resort Operating Participant locations, including but not limited to: The Disney Store, Disney’s Character Premiere, Disney’s Character Warehouse, Cast Connection and any other locations or kiosks that are not owned and operated by the owners of Walt Disney World Resort.

Discount is not valid on certain items, including but not limited to previous purchases, ticket media, Disney Gift Cards, Park admissions, arcades, tobacco, alcohol, outdoor vending (e.g. in-Park balloon vendors, glow vendors), Add-a-Dollar (Wildlife Conservation Fund), postage stamps, rentals (e.g. strollers, ECV), personalization, Memory Maker, Memory Maker One Day, select print packages and any online purchases from Disney PhotoPass®, Disney Store Online, Artist Sketch Program (original art), live auction artwork, original or consignment art, newspapers/periodicals, DVDs, CDs, sundries, pantry/prepared foods, kitchen products, digital/video/disposable camera, film, consumer electronics, national-branded fragrances, treatments and cosmetics, Lladró, Swarovski® Crystal, Tiffany & Co.® Jewelry, Bvlgari, select collectible originals, select specialized toys, select specialty items, handmade items, special orders, purchase-with-purchase offers, select reusable shopping bags, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/The Pirates League/Savi’s Workshop— Handbuilt Lightsabers/Droid Depot packages, shipping or taxes, or on phone, email, online or mail order purchases. Each Guest must present a valid annual pass card and government-issued photo ID at time of purchase to receive discount. Discount is for personal use only and may not be used to purchase merchandise with the intent to resell the merchandise. Locations and operating hours subject to change without notice.

Magic Kingdom at Capacity for Annual Passholders on Disney’s 50th Anniversary

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

It’s hard to believe we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World next year! If you’re making plans to visit Walt Disney World chances are you already know a Disney Park Pass is required for park entry at one of Disney’s four theme parks. Well, it looks like the official 50th Anniversary date, October 1, 2021, is already at capacity for Magic Kingdom when it comes to Annual Passholders.

As you’ll see in the screen shot below, October 1, 2021 shows for Annual Passholder it is unavailable. The other three parks are still currently open. Theme Park Tickets Guests and Disney Resorts Guests are still showing availability for all four parks on October 1.

Why are Annual Passholders planning to be at Magic Kingdom on October 1, 2021? It’s such an amazing thing to experience huge milestones at the most magical place on earth. Disney will likely offer special celebrations, not to mention the hopes of being able to ride the new TRON coaster currently being constructed in Tomorrowland.

We have Park Passes to Magic Kingdom on October 1, and simply can’t wait to celebrate Walt Disney World’s 50th! Park guest or regular ticket holder? Be sure to snag your park pass via the Walt Disney World website before they are gone!

Full Park Pass Availability Replenished Once Again for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders Through August 28

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Another day, another change in the Disney Park Pass Availability calendar. However, this seems to be another rare instance of good news, as Disney has quietly added availability at all four parks for Annual Passholders in August—yes, again.

To check for the most current and up-to-date Disney Park Pass availability, you can take a look at the calendar here. As a reminder, Annual Passholders are limited to three rolling Park Pass reservations at a time, in addition to any acquired via a Disney Resort hotel stay.

August – Disney Park Passes for Annual Passholders

We now see most of the month replenished with full availability for Annual Passholders starting tomorrow, August 22, through Friday, August 28. These dates include Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Once we get to the weekend, however, it’s fully booked up, and only EPCOT is available on August 31.

As a reminder, Magic Kingdom is now fully booked for Annual Passholders on Halloween, and Labor Day weekend is also fully booked across the board for Theme Park Ticket guests, guests with room reservations, and Annual Passholders.

Haunted Mansion Ghost Organist Funko Pop Being Released Exclusively to Annual Passholders at Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs Today

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

According to the Walt Disney World website, there will be a passholder-exclusive shopping event today, August 19, for a brand new Haunted Mansion Funko Pop.

The Funko Pop is of organ-playing ghost Victor Geist.

There will be two locations for the event. The first will be at World of Disney at Disney Springs on the morning of August 19. There will be signs for Annual Passholders to follow to the event’s designated entrance. The second location will be the Frontier Trading Post in Magic Kingdom for guests who have a park pass reservation.

Any remaining Victor Geist Funko Pops will then be released to all guests on August 20. The Funko Pop is a parks-exclusive and only available while supplies last.

This event will have a limit of 1 transaction per Passholder and 3 items per transaction. An Annual Pass and ID must be presented at time of purchase.

Shanghai Disneyland Increasing Capacity, Transitioning to New Reservation System Starting August 24th

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Shanghai Disneyland was the first Disney property to reopen after extended COVID-19 closures back in May. And with CEO Bob Chapek stating that Shanghai is the model for other parks reopening, new developments are always important to watch. Now that the pandemic has seemingly slowed down within China, the Chinese Government is allowing tourism spots to raise capacity from 30% to 50%. As a result Shanghai Disneyland will increase its capacity effective August 24th, and will transition from its current phase of advance reservations to the next phase, according to the official Resort website. This makes Shanghai Disneyland the first Disney-owned park to increase capacity after reopening.

According to Shanghai Disney Resort, this new system will allow Annual Passholders and day guests to visit on any eligible date based on the conditions of their pass or ticket. Guests will still be required to make a reservation in advance, but the process will become much more flexible for both day Guests and Annual Passholders. Let’s start with the new system for Passholders.

Annual Passholders

Beginning August 24, 2020, Shanghai Disneyland Annual Passholders will no longer be required to obtain a visitation spot or choose the arrival time of their visit in advance. Instead, procedures will work as follows:

  • Annual Passholders will be able to visit the park on any eligible day, depending on their pass level.
  • Annual Passholders will need to make a reservation by submitting their visit date and personal information through the resort’s official online platforms to obtain a Shanghai Disneyland Reservation QR Code prior to their arrival at the park entrance.
  • Guests may arrive and enter the park at any time on their selected visit date.
  • The current seven-day reservation calendar will be expanded to a 30-day window for Annual Passholders, including for same-day reservations. A 30-day window for Annual Passholders to reserve a visit starting from August 24th will open on August 18th at 1:00PM China Standard Time.
  • Annual Passholders will be provided with one reservation per visit per pass, and a new reservation can be made once the current one is redeemed, cancelled or expired.

Annual Pass expiration dates will also be extended for the 212-day period between January 25th and August 23rd, 2020. For passes purchased during that period, the validity period will start counting on August 24th.

Day Tickets

As with Annual Pass holders, General Admission ticketholders and tickets with specific dates will not be required to obtain a visitation spot beginning August 24th. Instead, they will only need to make a reservation by submitting their visit date and personal information to obtain a Shanghai Disneyland Reservation QR Code prior to their arrival at the park’s Main Entrance. Tickets will still not be sold on-site at ticket booths, but they may be purchased through the Shanghai Disneyland website or through travel agency partners.

Like with Annual Passes, General Admission ticket validity will be extended 212 from their original expiration dates. Ticket validity for General Admission tickets bought during the period between January 25th and August 23rd will start counting expiration from August 24th.

It’s interesting to see Shanghai Disneyland pave the way forward. They’ve already resumed parades and fireworks on a trial basis and are well on their way towards normality once again. We can only hope that these changes can safely make their way to Walt Disney World and the other Disney resorts soon enough! In the meantime, stay tuned to WDWNT for the latest news as the Disney Parks worldwide recover from the effects of COVID-19.