Disneyland annual pass program to end amid California theme park's 10-month COVID-19 closure

Disneyland announced it would end its Annual Passports program on Thursday, at the same time offering refunds to 2020 pass holders after COVID-19 kept visitors locked out of the theme park for the majority of the year.

"Due to the continued 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," Ken Potrock, president of Disneyland Resort, said in a statement. 

Potrock thanked annual pass holders for their understanding of the situation and added that Disneyland is developing "new membership offerings."

Disney officials did not say how many people hold these passes or how much the move will cost the company.

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As they work on creating the new offerings, Disneyland will "utilize consumer insights to deliver choice, flexibility and value for our biggest fans," Potrock added.

California's large theme parks have not been able to reopen since shuttering in March. Under state guidelines and amid surging COVID-19 cases, they aren't expected to open anytime soon. State health officials have said large amusement parks like Disneyland can only reopen once transmission reaches minimal levels, and then park capacity will be limited to 25%.

On Monday, Orange County officials announced that the Anaheim resort, which has been closed for 10 months amid the high rate of coronavirus in the state, will serve as the first of five "Super PODs (point of dispensing)" – or mass vaccination sites. The park's size will allow public health workers to administer thousands of vaccine shots a day.

Contributing: Jayme Deerwester, USA TODAY, The Associated Press