In a letter to the editor of the Orlando Sentinel, a now-former Annual Passholder suggests Walt Disney World no longer values passholders.
You can read the letter, penned by Kristen Richards, in full below:
“Money has overshadowed magic at Disney
Walt Disney World lost the magic. I grew up in Anaheim and spent my seventh birthday riding the Matterhorn in Disneyland – seven times! Now, I enjoy the Magic Kingdom regularly as a passholder with my own daughters. But we are not going back – because Disney World has lost the magic. And it isn’t COVID-19’s fault. It is Disney World’s fault.
Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek said, “Typically someone who travels and stays for five days to seven days is marginally more valuable…than someone who comes in on an annual pass.” I can tell you how betrayed I felt when I read that, Disney World no longer values passholders because we’re “worth less” than others, something new policies make very clear.
The problem is that Disney put money before magic. It put money before courtesy. It put money before show. It put money before efficiency. It has been five months and I am still waiting on a refund for my annual passes.
My message to Disney – Bring back the magic and I might just want to bring back the money. You need to tell your passholders that we are part of the Disney family as we always have been. You need to say, “Welcome home!” to passholders.”
Annual Passholders! Do you agree or disagree with the content in the above letter? Let us know in the comments below.
