Vail Resorts is moving more of the ski trip into its My Epic app while changing private lessons and equipment rentals for the 2026 to 2027 winter. Starting this fall, guests are expected to be able to buy passes and lift tickets, share Epic Friend Tickets, and use Apple Pay or Google Pay inside the app.
The July 14 announcement also introduces Epic Ascent private lessons at Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek and extends a more specific online rental process to 12 participating resorts. Several other ideas in the plan belong to later seasons, so travelers need to separate this winter’s changes from the longer roadmap.
- App changes: Pass and lift ticket purchases, Epic Friend Ticket sharing, Apple Pay and Google Pay are scheduled to reach My Epic this fall.
- Private lessons: Epic Ascent begins at Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek during the 2026 to 2027 winter.
- Rental choice: Demo rental guests at 12 participating resorts can select a preferred ski or snowboard model online without a My Epic Gear membership fee.
- Group lessons: My Epic ski school tools expand from four resorts to 14 with digital check in, updates, photos and skills tracking.
- Later roadmap: Direct app purchases for lessons and rentals are planned for the 2027 to 2028 season, not this winter.
My Epic is becoming a larger transaction hub
Vail Resorts describes the changes as part of a broader Epic Experience program rather than a single app update. Its official July 14 release says the fall app additions will cover pass and lift ticket purchases, Epic Friend Ticket sharing, and digital wallet payments.
Those functions should reduce the need to move between a mobile browser, an email link and the app during a purchase or ticket transfer. They do not mean that every part of a ski trip will be bookable in My Epic this winter, because lessons and rentals are scheduled to become direct app purchases ahead of the 2027 to 2028 season.
Existing app functions remain part of the plan, including Mobile Pass, lift line wait times, Find My Friends and personalized statistics. The announcement does not give a precise launch day for the new fall functions, so guests should confirm that an option is visible in the current app before relying on it during a time sensitive purchase.
Epic Ascent changes the private lesson package
Epic Ascent will replace the standard private lesson experience at Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek this winter. Vail Resorts says the package adds a dedicated concierge who can coordinate dining reservations, transportation and equipment rental, along with enhanced customer support around the lesson.
The company has not yet published the full booking details, price treatment or every service limit. Its release says more information will arrive ahead of the season, which makes the program a confirmed launch but not yet a complete product travelers can compare line by line.
Independent reporting from SKI Magazine adds that the lesson experience is expected to include a dedicated space where guests can get ready and have rental details arranged in advance. The publication also confirms that Epic Ascent starts at Vail and Beaver Creek before a wider expansion in later seasons.
For a traveler already considering a private lesson, the useful decision is whether that added coordination solves a real trip problem. Guests who need transportation, dining and equipment help may find more value than experienced skiers who already have gear, local transport and a simple lesson plan.
Rental changes start with the demo category
Beginning this winter, guests who reserve high performance demo rentals at 12 participating resorts are expected to receive the curated My Epic Gear selection process without paying a membership fee. They can choose a preferred ski or snowboard model online and can select BOA ski boots or Step On bindings when those products fit the reservation.
The announcement does not name the 12 resorts in the release, so travelers should not assume that every Vail Resorts destination participates. The safest check is the specific resort rental page and booking flow, where the model selection should appear before payment if the location and dates are eligible.
SKI Magazine reports that broader sport and performance rental tiers are planned to gain similar equipment choice during the 2027 to 2028 winter. Returning guests are also expected to be able to save fitting details so equipment can be prepared for pickup or delivery without repeating the full store process.
That later promise does not replace the current choice between renting and flying with personal equipment. Deep Arrival’s guide to ski and snowboard bags for flying remains useful for travelers comparing the control of bringing familiar gear with the convenience of a resort rental.
Group lesson tools expand to 14 resorts
Vail Resorts also plans to expand connected ski and ride school functions in My Epic from four resorts to 14. The tools include direct digital check in for group lessons, skills tracking with milestone badges, and updates or photos that can help parents follow a child’s lesson.
This is distinct from Epic Ascent, which is a private lesson product at two named resorts. A family booking a group lesson should look for the digital school functions in its selected resort’s current flow rather than assuming the concierge services are included.
The expansion could remove some arrival friction, especially when a parent is coordinating lesson times, equipment and meeting points. It does not change the need to verify age rules, ability levels, cancellation terms and the exact pickup location before the ski day.
Some technology promises remain future plans
The company says future My Epic updates may use artificial intelligence for trip planning and personalized recommendations covering parking, lessons, food and other itinerary choices. No specific public launch date, operating resorts or traveler controls were provided for those functions in the July 14 release.
Travelers should treat that portion as a roadmap rather than a current service. The concrete near term changes are the fall payment and ticket functions, the 2026 to 2027 lesson programs, the demo rental selection and the group lesson app expansion.
The wider Epic Experience plan also covers food, staffing, snowmaking and lift infrastructure, but not every element carries a new booking decision today. Vail Resorts says upgraded versions of popular menu items will appear at 15 destination resorts and that the food changes will not bring increases beyond normal inflation.
| Trip need | Relevant change | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a pass or lift ticket on a phone | My Epic purchase tools scheduled for fall | The purchase option is live before a deadline |
| Share an Epic Friend Ticket | In app sharing scheduled for fall | The recipient, date and resort are correct |
| Book a private lesson with trip support | Epic Ascent at Vail and Beaver Creek | Price, included concierge services and cancellation terms |
| Select an exact demo rental model | My Epic Gear process at 12 resorts | The resort, category and chosen model are eligible |
| Track a group lesson | Connected ski school at 14 resorts | The selected resort offers digital check in and updates |
- Check timing: Fall is the stated window for app purchases and digital payments, but no exact release day is published.
- Check resort coverage: The rental and ski school expansions apply to participating locations, not automatically to every resort.
- Separate seasons: Direct lesson and rental purchases in My Epic belong to the 2027 to 2028 roadmap.
- Compare real value: Epic Ascent matters most when concierge coordination replaces work a traveler would otherwise handle.
When will pass purchases reach the My Epic app?
Vail Resorts says guests will be able to buy passes and lift tickets in the app starting this fall. The July 14 announcement does not provide an exact launch date.
Where will Epic Ascent be offered first?
Epic Ascent is scheduled to begin at Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek during the 2026 to 2027 winter, with broader expansion planned for the following season.
Does every Vail resort get the new rental selection?
No. The company says the demo rental selection process begins at 12 participating resorts, but the release does not name every location.
Can lessons and rentals be purchased in My Epic this winter?
The company places direct app purchases for lessons and rentals ahead of the 2027 to 2028 season. That feature is separate from this fall’s pass and lift ticket purchasing update.
Are the artificial intelligence trip tools available now?
No public launch is stated. Vail Resorts describes personalized planning and itinerary recommendations as future enhancements rather than a current booking tool.
