This is the first year I have purchased Annual Passes in the many years we have visited Walt Disney World. When you decide if you want to purchase a standard pass or an annual pass ask yourself a couple questions:
1. Are you a Florida resident? (there are significantly more options if this is the case, none of which I am going to cover here so go here to see what you qualify for https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/)
2. How many days are you planning to visit in a one year period? This is the most important question, annual passes when first purchased are valid from your activation date (first day in the parks) for one full year. (Example, I purchased my annual pass in March but don't activate until my vacation on July 10; my pass is good from July 10, 2018-July 9, 2019.)
2018 Pricing for the current Annual Pass (Platinum/Plus) is $849/$949 for ages 3+. The difference is that the Platinum Plus includes unlimited access to the two water parks, Oak Trail Golf Course and ESPN Wide World of Sports, otherwise all benefits mentioned apply to both passes.
For a 10 day Park Hopper pass (age 10+) you will pay $520, the Plus option is $545, the kids (ages 3-9) tickets are $20 less. So if you are just visiting for a week in the summer, an annual pass is probably not what you need but if you plan to go for more than 10 days the savings will add up. And remember if you plan to go for 6 days this June and then come back for 5 days next March, that's 11 days and you'll need 2 separate park hopper tickets ($470 for 5 days and $480 for 6 days).
So you decide you might need an annual pass, here's 10 reason's why if you are coming for more than 10 days you should consider it:
3. You park for free at the Theme Parks. That $22 a day for theme park standard parking.
4. Discounts on other special events. Like on advanced purchase of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets are $15 off, Disney After Hours is $30 off, and Disney Junior Dance Party on Tour is 20% off.
7. This is a silly but fun one. Annual Passholders get free magnets or other gifts during certain events when they visit the parks. Right now you can get a Donald Duck magnet. They send you a Mickey one when you get your welcome letter. People collect these and there are other items only Passholders can purchase.
8. Disney PhotoPass downloads are included. This is a big one because you don't need to purchase Memory Maker which is $169/$199 based on if you purchase it in advance. This means that you can be in your vacation photos and it includes those fun ride photos!
9. Dedicated entrances to the parks. Each park has multiple lines to scan your ticket or Magic Band to get into the parks. These lines can get very long. If you are a Passholder there is special queue just for you that is often shorter than the other lines, plus (most) people in this line know the drill so it moves pretty fast.
10. Facebook (unofficial) Annual Passholder group. This is a closed group that Passholder can join where people share tips and tricks and information that will make your trip more fun. There are threads on topics including favorite resort, restaurant, which rides are worth standing in line and which to skip or Fast Pass, and tons of other information that comes from people like you not from a Cast Member trying to sell you something. https://www.facebook.com/groups/194388491127682/?fref=nf
Here's the link so you can review the current Passholder promotions and decide what's right for you. Also keep in mind only one person in your group needs to be a Passholder to get the benefits, so if you don't always go as the same group the person who goes the most should get the pass. Just make sure they scan it for parking, you add all your friend and family on the My Disney Experience App so you can get all the pictures and the Passholder pays so you get the discounts.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/specials/
1. Are you a Florida resident? (there are significantly more options if this is the case, none of which I am going to cover here so go here to see what you qualify for https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/)
2. How many days are you planning to visit in a one year period? This is the most important question, annual passes when first purchased are valid from your activation date (first day in the parks) for one full year. (Example, I purchased my annual pass in March but don't activate until my vacation on July 10; my pass is good from July 10, 2018-July 9, 2019.)
2018 Pricing for the current Annual Pass (Platinum/Plus) is $849/$949 for ages 3+. The difference is that the Platinum Plus includes unlimited access to the two water parks, Oak Trail Golf Course and ESPN Wide World of Sports, otherwise all benefits mentioned apply to both passes.
For a 10 day Park Hopper pass (age 10+) you will pay $520, the Plus option is $545, the kids (ages 3-9) tickets are $20 less. So if you are just visiting for a week in the summer, an annual pass is probably not what you need but if you plan to go for more than 10 days the savings will add up. And remember if you plan to go for 6 days this June and then come back for 5 days next March, that's 11 days and you'll need 2 separate park hopper tickets ($470 for 5 days and $480 for 6 days).
So you decide you might need an annual pass, here's 10 reason's why if you are coming for more than 10 days you should consider it:
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| The Wonderland Tea Party is 20% off for Passholders |
1. You get early access to special events, right now there is a Passholder Event in the new Toy Story Land, early booking for the Food and Wine Festival activities and the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages and early registration for Run Disney events.
2. You can save up to 20% off on dining, merchandise and tours. We saved 20% off our Character Meal at Hollywood & Vine during our last visit, which was about $40 in savings.
3. You park for free at the Theme Parks. That $22 a day for theme park standard parking.
4. Discounts on other special events. Like on advanced purchase of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets are $15 off, Disney After Hours is $30 off, and Disney Junior Dance Party on Tour is 20% off.
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| My new Passholder Magic Band and Slider |
5. You get free Magic Bands. They are the standard colors but you can have your name (or nickname) put on them and shipped to you after you activate your pass.
6. Disney runs Passholder specials on resort pricing at all resort levels and right now they have a special for WDW Passholders at Aulani in Hawaii.
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| Fun Passholder Magnets |
7. This is a silly but fun one. Annual Passholders get free magnets or other gifts during certain events when they visit the parks. Right now you can get a Donald Duck magnet. They send you a Mickey one when you get your welcome letter. People collect these and there are other items only Passholders can purchase.
8. Disney PhotoPass downloads are included. This is a big one because you don't need to purchase Memory Maker which is $169/$199 based on if you purchase it in advance. This means that you can be in your vacation photos and it includes those fun ride photos!
 |
| The PhotoPass Photographers capture the best moments, I capture her picking her nose. |
9. Dedicated entrances to the parks. Each park has multiple lines to scan your ticket or Magic Band to get into the parks. These lines can get very long. If you are a Passholder there is special queue just for you that is often shorter than the other lines, plus (most) people in this line know the drill so it moves pretty fast.
10. Facebook (unofficial) Annual Passholder group. This is a closed group that Passholder can join where people share tips and tricks and information that will make your trip more fun. There are threads on topics including favorite resort, restaurant, which rides are worth standing in line and which to skip or Fast Pass, and tons of other information that comes from people like you not from a Cast Member trying to sell you something. https://www.facebook.com/groups/194388491127682/?fref=nf
Here's the link so you can review the current Passholder promotions and decide what's right for you. Also keep in mind only one person in your group needs to be a Passholder to get the benefits, so if you don't always go as the same group the person who goes the most should get the pass. Just make sure they scan it for parking, you add all your friend and family on the My Disney Experience App so you can get all the pictures and the Passholder pays so you get the discounts.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/specials/
Just a reminder that I don't make any money or get anything in return for these blogs. Everything is based on my personal opinion and experience.
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