Disney AP-Not Quite Monthly Payment Option
I thought I would continue with the Disney theme of the day. Today I went and renewed my Disneyland Resort Annual Passport. With the new Monthly Payment Option for Southern California Residents, my wife and I concluded that it is within our budget at this time. I did the research, and read the Monthly Payment FAQ so when I arrived I expected to be on a payment plan of $30.75 a month for a total of $369. Since it had been over a year since I had my pass, it turned out that I didn’t qualify for the renewal price, and had to pay the new pass price of $389 with a $69 one time payment, but it was only $26.67 a month. Not bad I thought. A lower monthly price. So I give my credit card, and they swipe it. As I am getting ready to sign the payment contract, the cast member informs me that the first payment would be taken from my account in the next couple days!?! What? Didn’t I just make a one time payment? Then I am informed that the payments will be auto-withdrawn approximately every 25 days. Not the same day each month. Some months one might make two payments. Is it false advertising? It is definitely misleading. I actually voided the first transaction and called my wife to check our budget since she was out of town and I didn’t want the unexpected charges to cause other financial woes.
In addition to that, I was informed by the Parking Toll Attendant that I only had to bring my parking receipt to the ticket booth and I could be refunded the twelve bucks since I was getting a pass that included parking. As I parked my car, I tore the receipt half of the ticket off (the pat that showed I payed with a debit card) and left the other half in the car. Then at the ticket booth I was informed I needed the other half of the ticket also to get a reimbursement. Arrgghh! Luckily I can take both halves back next time I go and get reimbursed, because I was not about to wait in that tram line again.
Did the way the morning started make me grumpy, Yes. Did I let it ruin my day? No. I do want to give props to the cast members (Lynette, Nance, Elena, and Niki) who put up with my grumpiness this morning. Working in customer service I understand what it is like on the other side of the glass and I appreciate the professional way you all handled it, cause although I knew it wasn’t your fault, you may have gotten a little attitude from me.
If anyone else is looking at the “Monthly” payment option, learn from my experience.
For the record, you don’t have to leave the parking receipt in your car – its purely for your bookkeeping.
Let me know the next time you come – we’ll see what I can do to make your visit a little more pleasant.
I go again Friday if I don’t go to LA. I’ll look you up if I do.
Thanks for posting this. Every 25 days is indeed a big difference compared to, say, the 1st of every month.
And hey Jon, I’m planning on being at Disney tomorrow. Can you make MY visit a bit more pleasant? ;)
[…] revamp California Adventure and now that they are working on it, and now that they have the “Monthly” Payment option, I renewed my pass. While walking Paradise Pier, I observed the drained […]
Sounds like a pain in the ass, and Disney shouldn’t refer to these as monthly payments.
However, this isn’t exactly "shady" and appears like an awesome service Disney is offering… they’re offering installment plans without interest or additional fees? Its a small token, and clearly partly because they need more business, but I appreciate it.
It may actually get me back to the park in the coming days. Thanks for the heads up, Fej!
and I’ll be out of the office friday…. of course… :(