Disneyland.
After nearly a year of remaining closed because of thenovel coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic,Disneylandannounced Thursday that it is ending its annual pass program.
“We want to thank our Annual Passholders for their understanding during this closure period,” Disneyland president Ken Potrock said in astatement.
“Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic and limitations around the reopening of our California theme parks, we will be issuing appropriate refunds for eligible Disneyland Resort Annual Passports and sunsetting the current program,” Potrock said.
Potrock continued to say that they are “developing new membership offerings that will utilize consumer insights to deliver choice, flexibility and value for our biggest fans.”
A Disneyland spokesperson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
In an email sent to passholders, Potrock said that while it is “disappointing” that the program is ending, “we are also very excited about what’s ahead.”
Those who held an active annual passport as of March 14, 2020, will receive a pro rata refund. The discounts offered to passholders will remain in effect at Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street locations until new membership offerings are announced, Potrock said in the email.
Disneyland.GC Images
And from January 18 through February 25, passholders will receive a 30 percent discount on “on select merchandise at select locations in Downtown Disney District and Buena Vista Street, Monday through Thursday.”
Disney California Adventure Park.Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty
California Governor Gavin Newsom said back in October that hewasn’t in a rushto get theme parks up and running.
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“We don’t anticipate in the immediate term any of these larger theme parks opening until we see more stability in terms of the data,” he added.
A portion of Disney’s California Adventure Park that included restaurants and shopsopened in November, butoperations were forced to roll backjust a few weeks later.
Disney’s California Adventure.AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Disney Parkslaid off 28,000 employeesin September amid the shutdown. AnSEC filingfrom the company in November suggested that those layoffs would be expanded to 32,000 employees this year.
Disneyland is set to see some visitors in the coming weeks, however, as it will be used as a mass point-of-dispensing (POD)site for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Southern California remains in an intense surge of COVID-19 cases after the holiday season.
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source: people.com
