Disney Mistake Means Super Cheap Annual Passes For Some Lucky Customers

Disneyland mistakenly extended a special annual pass program to ineligible customers last December, but only realized it recently. At the time of the sale, residents of certain Southern California zip codes could buy an annual ticket on a 12-month installment plan, free from any interest rates or other fees. When they discovered that some customers weren’t in valid zip codes, they ended the payment agreement with them—but they’re letting them keep the annual passes.

Here’s the letter that Mark, the now proud owner of a nearly 60% discounted annual pass for 2009, received:

Dear [Redacted],

Thank you for your purchase of a Disneyland Resort Annual Passport.

Unfortunately, per the terms of the Retail Installment Contract for the Annual Passport Monthly Payment Plan, the Monthly Payment option is only available to residents of Southern California within zip codes 90000-93599. You were inadvertently sold a pass under a program in which you are, regrettably, ineligible to participate. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause as it is never our intention to inconvenience our guests in any manner.

We will stop billing and collecting all future scheduled payments on May 1, 2009 and your contract will be terminated at that time. For your enjoyment, however, the Annual Passport purchased by you under the Monthly Payment plan will continue to be valid for admission until the printed expiration date. When your current Annual Passport does expire, we would invite you to renew your Annual Passport, using a standard one-time payment. Again, we apologize for any disappointment this may cause.

Disappointment? What? We couldn’t hear you because we were going into the Haunted Mansion for the 18th time so far this year.

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