Beginning March 20, all new and renewal Annual Pass purchases will be issued an RFID-enabled cards. All will have the green background, but feature a colored stripe to designate parking privileges.
Between March 20th and May 19th, current Annual Passholders may visit then Odyssey Center at Epcot during regular park hours to have their pass converted to the new, hard plastic ticket. The new tickets will function in existing FastPass machines as they still possess a magnetic strip on the back. As well, these new passes can enter the park via the old or new entrance methods, putting the ticket into the machine or by tapping the new touch-points.
So while Annual Passholders may not be getting a MagicBand anytime soon, they will have the modern conveniences of an RFID-enabled ticket.
What happens to Annual Passholders after May 19th? We don't plan on going to the World before then…
We expect it will then be handled at Guest Relations at that point.
What is meant by parking entitlements? Does that mean annual passholders will not get free parking anymore?
Only certain passes include parking, this is not anything new
The Seasonal and Week Day Select Passes which are only available to FL Residents do not include parking.
"Beginning March 20, **ALL NEW AND RENEWAL ANNUAL PASS PURCHASES** will be issued an RFID-enabled cards."
Thank goodness for that! No more soggy and self destructing park passes after a trip on Splash Mountain!!
It's amazing that it's taken so long, but the RFID features will track our every move, preference and purchase! Win win!