Buying A Whistler Lift Pass – How Does The 2020-21 Season Look?

UPDATED APR 31, 2021: WHISTLER BLACKCOMB IS CLOSED FOR WINTER 2020-21

Following an announcement from the Provincial Health Officer, Whistler Blackcomb has made the difficult decision to shut its winter operation for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. Read the full story here.

ORIGINAL POST: Your Whistler lift pass options have had a bit of a shake-up this year with COVID-19 introducing a couple of new options to access the Whistler Blackcomb resort. We’ve attempted to decipher all of the information available to us and thought it may be useful to outline the options for you.

Your Whistler lift pass options have had a bit of a shake-up this year.
PC: Vince Emond.

Firstly, 2020/2021 day-of lift tickets will not be available for purchase until December 8th. They will not be available for purchase at the ticket window this season. Whistler Blackcomb will require guests to purchase online or by phone before traveling to Whistler or coming to the ticket window. Due to their limited capacity, the resort will have limited quantities of lift tickets and anticipate selling out early.

Reservations will be required to access Whistler Blackcomb this year.
PC: Vince Emond.

Secondly, all pass holders (with the exception of WB employees) will be required to make a reservation to upload Whistler Blackcomb. The newly implemented reservation system will be accessible November 6. The website explains:

‘For your safety, we will be managing how many people are on our mountains this season and implementing a pass holder reservation system.

Reservations will be required to access our mountains. For the vast majority of days, we anticipate our mountains will be able to accommodate everyone who wants to ski or ride at our resorts.

This reservation system is designed to give you peace of mind knowing that you will have the space you need to feel safe and physically distance, no matter what day you visit.’

The new reservation system is designed to give peace of mind.
PC: Vince Emond.

With that said, let’s take a look at your pass options:

Whistler Blackcomb Day Pass

If you didn’t secure an Epic Pass, fear not! We would recommend the Whistler Blackcomb Day Pass. With this option you may choose between 1 -10 days of resort access and you can use these days anytime throughout the 2020-21 season at Whistler Blackcomb.

If you’re looking for a flexible Whistler lift pass option, this one’s for you. You can control whether or not you have unrestricted access during peak periods and your days don’t need to be used consecutively, whereas lift tickets must be used on specific dates.

All Whistler Blackcomb Day Pass products are non-transferrable and non-refundable however it’s worth noting that Epic Coverage comes FREE with this pass. Prices start at $118 for a 1-day restricted pass and $1,071 for 10-days unrestricted.

Unlimited Season Pass

This Whistler lift pass option is quite often confused with the Epic Pass. It costs $129 more ($1449 before tax) and offers unlimited, unrestricted riding at Whistler Blackcomb only. Perks of the Unlimited pass include exclusive lodging deals and $50 off most ski or snowboard group lesson or camps. If you’re looking for access to Whistler Blackcomb only (and not Vail Resorts full portfolio), this is perhaps your best option for season-long access.

Whistler Spirit Pass

Whistler’s workforce benefit from a reduced rate Season Pass, called the Spirit Pass, which is sold in conjunction with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. Spirit Pass holders also enjoy 20% off on-mountain food, and 50% savings on lift tickets at other Vail Resorts destinations.

At the time of publishing this post, there were no prices listed however Whistler Blackcomb advises eligible Whistler locals should ‘Purchase a Season Pass, and if you become eligible for a Spirit Pass and complete The Whistler Experience®, Whistler Blackcomb will refund the difference’.

EDGE Cards

Starting from $225, EDGE cards are available in denominations of 2, 5 and 10-days, either restricted or unrestricted depending on your preference. Restrictions are identified as key holiday dates: Dec 26-31, 2020; Jan 16, 2021; Feb 13-14, 2021.

This Whistler Lift Pass option comes with it’s own set of perks and benefits including early season skiing or riding, and multi-resort access.

EPIC Pass – Still Available

Perhaps the most familiar option, the Epic Pass is Vail Resorts all-rounder. It provides access to Whistler Blackcomb as well as all 37 of Vails’ U.S operations, 2 Australian resorts, 26 European resorts, and 11 Japanese resorts.

However, COVID-19 may restrict your access to international travel, so what’s available in Canada? As well as unlimited riding at Whistler Blackcomb, the Epic Pass gives you 7 days at:

Fernie
Kimberly
Stoneham
Kicking Horse
Nakiska
Mont-Sainte Anne

The Epic Pass will set you back US$999, and pass-holders get priority access to lift reservations plus Epic Coverage for added peace of mind.

Whistler Lift Pass – Other Options

Sea to Sky Pass
- A reduced-rate Unlimited Pass for grade school students in the Sea to Sky Corridor ages 7-18.
Student Pass
- A discounted pass for post-secondary full-time students attending a school in the pre-approved list of British Columbia or Washington State schools.
Founder’s Pass
- In support of the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and with its own set of exclusive member perks!

Time To Buy?

We’re honestly stoked about the upcoming season and the excitement in town is palpable despite 2020 being essentially a write-off thus far.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center officially issued a La Niña Advisory Thursday, Sept. 10 (Pique, Sept 14 2020).

‘The climate pattern is generally considered to be the opposite of El Niño, and is usually great news for skiers and snowboarders hoping for a season full of champagne powder.’ Writes Megan Lalonde.

Excited for snow but feeling uneasy about forking out for your pass? Don’t. New for the 2020.21 season, Epic Coverage is included free for all pass and EDGE Card Holders.

Whistler Lift Pass – What Is Epic Coverage?

‘New for the 2020.21 season, Epic Coverage is included FREE for all pass and EDGE Card Holders, and provides refunds associated with certain personal events, including illness, job loss, and injury. It also expands coverage to protect you from certain resort closures, such as any due to COVID-19’.

A Local’s Guide To The Best Runs On Whistler Blackcomb

With more than 8,000 acres of skiable terrain and over 200 marked runs, there’s more than enough space to explore on Whistler Blackcomb. With that in mind, we’ve compiled five of the best Whistler Blackcomb runs – as chosen by Whistler locals. Add them to your checklist and have the best day ever!

Where To Stay – The Nita Season Pass Program

The Nita Season Pass is a multi-night package, pre-paid at the beginning of the season. It gives you unbeatable savings on your room rate for multiple stays throughout winter.

The Season Pass is available in 10, 20 or even 30-night packs. In addition, it provides exclusive perks and benefits for pass holders leaving you more time to plan your Whistler adventure!