Everything You Need to Know About Being an Annual Passholder
A Walt Disney World Annual Pass offers admission to the resort’s four theme parks for a whole year plus a number of discounts and special offers. There are several types of Annual Passes, some with more access and benefits than others, but all guarantee a truly magical year.
Types of Annual Passes
There are a variety of Walt Disney World Annual Passes. Some pass options are available to everyone while others are exclusive to Florida residents and Disney Vacation Club Members.
All prices shown below are current to date of publication and do not include tax.
Premier Passport
- Admission to all four theme parks at Walt Disney World in Florida and both theme parks at Disneyland Resort in California for every day of the year.
- Includes park hopping privileges.
- Includes admission to Walt Disney World’s two water parks, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course with no blockout dates.
- Disney PhotoPass downloads, free standard parking, and Disney MaxPass are included, as well.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $2,099
Disney Platinum Plus Pass
- Admission for a year to all four theme parks at Walt Disney World (no blockout dates).
- Includes park hopping privileges.
- Includes admission to Walt Disney World’s two water parks, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course with no blockout dates.
- Disney PhotoPass downloads and free standard parking are included.
- Up to 20% off select dining and merchandise in store or online at ShopDisney.com.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $1219.00
- Monthly Payment Option (for Florida Residents only) Ages 3+: $77.08 per month after $139 down payment
- Disney Vacation Club Member New Purchase Rate: $999.00 / Renewal: $849.00
Disney Platinum Pass
- Admission for a year to all four theme parks at Walt Disney World (no blockout dates).
- Includes park hopping privileges.
- Disney PhotoPass downloads and free standard parking are included.
- Up to 20% off select dining and merchandise in store or online at ShopDisney.com.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $1119.00
- Monthly Payments for Florida Residents Only Ages 3+: $68.21 per month after $139 down payment
- Disney Vacation Club Member New Purchase: $899.00 / Renewal: $764.00
Disney Gold Pass – Exclusive to Florida Residents and Disney Vacation Club Members Only
- Admission during most times of the year to all four theme parks (blockout dates apply).
- Includes park hopping privileges.
- Disney PhotoPass downloads and free standard parking are included.
- Up to 20% off select dining and merchandise in store or online at ShopDisney.com.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $699.00
- 12 Monthly Payments for Ages 3+: $50.46 per month after $139 down payment
- Disney Vacation Club Member New Purchase: $699.00 / Renewal: $594.00
Disney Silver Pass – Exclusive to Florida Residents Only
- Admission during certain times of the year to all four theme parks (blockout dates apply)
- Includes park hopping privileges.
- Free standard parking is included.
- Up to 20% off select dining and merchandise in store or online at ShopDisney.com.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $519.00
- 12 Monthly Payments for Ages 3+: $34.48 per month after $139.00 down payment
Disney Theme Park Select Pass – Exclusive to Florida Residents Only
- Admission during certain times of the year to select theme parks (blockout dates may vary by theme park).
- Admission to at least one theme park on more days annually compared to Silver Pass.
- From time to time, existing blockout dates for Theme Park Select Pass may be lifted.
- Free standard parking is included.
- Up to 20% off select dining and merchandise in store or online at ShopDisney.com.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $439.00
- 12 Monthly Payments for Ages 3+: $27.38 per month after $139.00 down payment
Disney Weekday Select Pass – Exclusive to Florida Residents Only
- Admission during certain times of the year, Mondays through Fridays only (blockout dates apply).
- Includes park hopping privileges.
- Free standard parking is included.
- Up to 20% off select dining and merchandise in store or online at ShopDisney.com.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $349.00
- 12 Monthly Payments for Ages 3+: $19.40 per month after $139.00 down payment
Epcot After 4 Annual Pass – Exclusive to Florida Residents Only
- Admission for a year to Epcot, any day after 4:00 p.m.
- Invitations to Epcot events and festivals.
- Free standard parking is included.
- Up to 20% off select dining and merchandise in store or online at ShopDisney.com.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $309.00
- 12 Monthly Payments for Ages 3+: $15.85 per month after $139 down payment
Water Parks Annual Pass
- Enjoy one year of admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park during normal operating hours.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $139.00
Water Parks After 2 Annual Pass – Exclusive to Florida Residents Only
- Enjoy one year of admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park—any day after 2:00 p.m. during normal operating hours.
- Annual Price for Ages 3+: $89.00
Purchasing an Annual Pass
Annual Passes can be purchased online, in person at Walt Disney World, or over the phone at (407) 939-5277. Regardless of your method of purchase, create a MyDisneyExperience account on the Walt Disney World website if you haven’t already.
When purchasing your pass, know that you can use multiple methods of payment; however, you can only use one gift card. Multiple gift cards can be combined into one, and that high balance gift card can be used with a credit or debit card. Just know there is no option to apply a stack of gift cards to your balance one at a time.
After submitting your payment, an email containing your Annual Pass confirmation number will be sent to the email you used to sign in to your MyDisneyExperience account. That Annual Pass number can then be linked to your MyDisneyExperience account in order to make FastPass+ reservations and to sync with your MagicBand.
Your physical Annual Pass card can be picked up at Guest Services or a theme park ticket window at Walt Disney World. Be prepared to show photo ID and a finger scan to link your pass to you personally.
Note: When purchasing a pass exclusive to Florida residents online, be aware that proof of residence must be presented when picking up tickets at Walt Disney World.
Annual Passholder Benefits
Passholder Savings
In addition to free parking and discounts on merchandise and dining, Disney offers Passholder resort room discounts throughout the year and savings on tickets to the water parks, After Hours events and Disney H20 Glow Nights, and seasonal events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Savings often extend to special experiences such as tours, rounds of golf, registration to runDisney events, Amphicar Tours at The BOATHOUSE at Disney Springs, and even car and stroller rentals.
V.I.PASSHOLDER Nights
A relatively new benefit for Passholders is Disney’s V.I.PASSHOLDER Nights. At these events, Disney grants special evening access to a specific park for Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Premier Passholders for free. Passholders receive event invitations via email to register, but they should be aware capacity is limited and valid annual pass and ID is required at check-in. Disney’s latest V.I.PASSHOLDER Night was held at Typhoon Lagoon where Passholders enjoyed free admission, Magic Shot photo ops, specialty treats, and a DJ Dance Party.
Free Passholder Swag
Currently Annual Passholders receive an Annual Passholder magnet when they purchase a pass or renew. They can also pick up free additional Annual Passholder magnets at Epcot which often feature different characters and themes depending on the time of year.
In past years Passholders have had the opportunity to receive other free items if they visited an Epcot festival multiple times during its run for the year. This is why it’s important to stay up to date with the perks being offered to Passholders.
Passholder-Exclusive Merchandise
Disney often produces Passholder-exclusive merchandise for the different festivals, special events, parties, anniversaries, and the like which take place throughout the year. This merchandise usually consists of t-shirts, pins, cups or mugs, and sometimes more. These exclusive products will be found at the park in which the event is taking place and remember to have your pass and a photo ID in hand to purchase.
Free PhotoPass Downloads
Passholders can download Disney PhotoPass photos from their days in the park and at dining locations for up to 364 days after their photo is taken. This perk is included with Disney Premier, Platinum Plus, Platinum, and Gold Pass.
Passholder Park Entrances
The four parks at the Walt Disney World Resort have designated turnstiles for Passholders. At times, those entrances are quicker and have shorter lines; but at other times, they can be longer. You aren’t required to use the Passholder entrance if you are a Passholder–but if it is shorter, it is a nice perk.
Mickey Monitor
Passholders receive a subscription to the Mickey Monitor newsletter, a Passholder-only publication filled with news, updates, and discounts for the Walt Disney World Resort. The Mickey Monitor newsletter is mailed out every February, May, August, and November. Keep in mind that only one newsletter is sent per Passholder household and is exclusive to the United States and Puerto Rico.
FastPass+ Selections in Advance
Annual Passholders can make FastPass+ selections up to 30 days in advance of their visit. FastPass+ users can only make up to 3 FastPass+ selections for one park per day up to 7 days. Passholders staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can make FastPass+ selections up to 60 days before their check-in date and for the length of their stay or up to 7 days. Please note that if your length of stay is longer than two weeks, FastPass+ selections can be made for up to 14 days.
Early Access
In recent months, Passholders have been granted early access to new lines of merchandise at special pop-up events before other guests. These events often take place at Disney Springs, and Passholders need only to show their pass and a form of identification to get the first pick of the new merchandise and to take advantage of their discount!
Using Your Annual Pass
Parking
When parking at Walt Disney World, Passholders need to have their pass and a form of identification in hand to show the Cast Member. For preferred parking, Passholders only pay the difference between regular parking ash the preferred parking rate.
Dining & Merchandise Discounts
When paying for a meal or making a purchase at the Walt Disney World Resort, Passholders should also have their pass and a photo ID in hand to receive their discount. Items and locations eligible for a discount can vary, but Cast Members encourage guests to always ask.
Check for Special Offers & Events
For the latest news about Passholder events or special offers, check the Disney World Passholders Facebook Page and Disney Parks Blog.
Renewing Your Annual Pass
Renewing your Annual Pass for Walt Disney World is a two-step process. Renewal itself can be done online, over the phone, or in person. The pass should then appear in the Passholder’s MyDisneyExperience app and connect to the Passholder’s MagicBand connected to the account.
The second step is to acquire their physical Annual Pass card which must be done in person at Guest Relations or a Main Entrance Ticket Booth at Walt Disney World. This card is necessary for taking advantage of Passholder perks, such as free parking and discounts. It can also be used instead of a MagicBand when it comes to park entry and checking in at FastPass+ locations.
When to Renew
Passholders can save up to 15% when they renew their Annual Pass. Passes are eligible for renewal 60 days prior and up to 30 days after their expiration date. If a Passholder doesn’t see their pass on MyDisneyExperience or are experiencing other issues, they can call (407) 560-7277. They can also visit Guest Relations or the Main Entrance Ticket Booth at a park.
How to Renew
To renew an Annual Pass, the Passholder can renew online, at a Walt Disney World Resort theme park ticket window or the Disney Springs Guest Relations location, or over the phone by calling (407) 560-7277. If you prefer to renew online, Passholders who have already linked their passes can renew on the My Disney Experience app. After logging on, select “My Tickets” and the pass they wish to renew.
A renewal pass is valid for one year beginning on the expiration date of their previous pass.
Renewing Other Types of Passes:
- To renew a Water Park Annual Pass visit Guest Relations at the Park or call (407) 560-7277
- Florida residents cannot renew through the Monthly Payment Program over the phone. They can renew online, at a theme park window, or at a Guest Relations location.
- To renew a Premier Pass, visit Guest Relations at a park
- To renew a DVC Pass, call (407) 566-3800 — Option 1 or visit Guest Relations at the Park
- Though the Annual Passholder does not need to be present for renewal, each Annual Passholder will need to be present at the ticket window to receive his or her pass.
Renewing for Someone Else:
To renew someone else’s Annual Pass, you’ll need their name, address, and Pass ID which can be found on the bottom of the pass. However, proof of Florida residency is needed for the purchase and use of all Annual Passes for Florida residents. Also, the Passholder will need to be present at the ticket window to receive their pass in card form.
Are you an Annual Passholder at Walt Disney World? What’s the best thing about being a Passholder? Do you have any tips or experiences to share? Let us know in the comments.
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To measure the break even point you have to take in account that the lets say Platinum Pass is essentially a park hopper pass you can use any day with free parking and 20% off merchandise and food. Also thrown in for good measure is the photopass photos. If you are doing it all in one trip with consecutive days it might be 10 or 11 days but if you break that up over 2 or 3 trips in a year its more like 8 or 9 days depending on when you are planning on going.
If i buy an annual pass on ticketsatwork will i be able to use what they give me to make fastpasses etc in MDE before we head to Orlando? I already have a hotel booked. Also we are going the week after Thanksgiving in 2020 how common is it to see a AP discount for a value resort around that time? Last question I have is the Photo Pass that is included with AP pretty much the same thing as memory maker? As in if I have a pass, but my family has park tickets, can we still see all our photos? Or will we still need MM?
With all the discounts, if we don’t include merch, let’s face it, that is the hardest to predict,
it would be around 10 to 11 days, depending on how many stays and for how long..
Here’s how I figure it. This is thinking 1 person in the party gets annual pass
Let’s assume 2 visits, on for 6 days, and on for 4.
Tix would be 555, and about 470
At ~150/day for food, with a 20% would add up to 30/day or 300
Parking is $25/day or 250 total, it’s free with the pass.
Also figure photopass is about 170
Total for those two trips is 555+470+300+250+170=1745 when the AP is 1119. so it would take some doing to say an exact break even point depending on if one or all the party gets the AP. but it seems that it’s more like 8 days for 1 of a party of 3 to get the AP…
A note I’d like to make as we didn’t realize this – when renewing, you don’t get your new cards in the mail. You need to go to Guest Services. You may think I don’t need a card it’s in MDE, but stores and for parking you need to show your card AND ID. And when I showed our ORIGINAL card the clerk said it expired I said we renewed (well the card had the original expiry date). I was able to show her my MDE that showed the renewal, but technically they want to see a card – so wish they would just move all to MDE or not (like charge card/gift card to MDE, etc.)
We had thought we got the cards in the mail and just missed it, as we had gotten our AP magnets in the mail, but no, and were told by Guest Relations (they were the only ones that told us, THEY DON’T MAIL RENEWAL CARDS!) Why didn’t anyone else care to mention this.
Memories no more… As an annual passholder this year, we were forced to cancel due to Hurricane Dorian. As our annual passholder account expired a few weeks later, I called to see if they can extend it as we’ve booked the trip again for November. Cliff note version is no! However, stated they’ll extend the time to renew my AP and stated that I received the full value of the AP program. Wait, you offer a program and then hold it against me because I used it. But you didn’t have a hard time taking the money I spent around the park and hotels…. Disney no more and beware!
And the price has just gone up again!
After being a Pass holder for the last five years we are not renewing this year. Prices are just too high anymore and believe me we are sad about it.
We are from the U.K. and have got annual passes this year for the first time – since being annual Passholders we have visited WDW for a week last December, for two and a half weeks in March/April and will be visiting again for 3 weeks in September/October. So far we have saved $1340.87 (just over £1000) being Passholders and we have the trip in September/October still to go. The only down side is that, try as I might and changing the settings etc, we are not getting any emails about any perks or anything else and have to rely on reading them in blogs! Is anyone else having this issue?
At this point, do we know what the break even point is for each pass? This could be more challenging to calculate with Disney’s new ticket pricing structure, but if anyone can do it TouringPlans can!! Just curious. We renewed our AP’s on May 28th (thankfully $) so it doesn’t matter as much for us until next year, but this is always one of the hardest calculations. I know discounts, parking, etc. play into the overall break even point, but what if we are just talking number of days needed to visit the park in order to justify the AP cost. The WDW Today guys still claim 10 days, but I’m not so sure………..
I would also love to see an article with the break even point for each pass. I have also heard the 10 day claim, but I am not sure how that would be the case?
10 days is probably true if buying 10 separate 1-day tickets. However, a 10-day ticket bought from the Disney website with no starting date specified is $738, just a little over half the new price of an AP.
I did not see this mentioned, but it is worth noting that for non-renewal purchases the act of paying and getting your number over the phone does not need to activate the pass. You can also purchase the pass as a voucher. You get the same confirmation number that you get if you purchase an activated pass, that you can put into MDE and use to make Fastpass reservations. When you purchase a voucher, you *must* stop at the ticket window to activate your pass before you can use it in the parks, but your year is counted from the date that you activate, not the date that you actually purchase.
Great article. I’m not an AP holder but as I near my retirement and plan to move to Florida I monitor AP prices and news.
Can we get a similar article for Universal and Seaworld owned parks, too?
We were annual pass holders for one year. We live in UK, but have spent the last 20 plus years holidaying in Florida…wonderful weather, wonderful people…seriously, my spiritual home…but we are now denied the benefits that that annual pass gave us. We are now in our sixties, love Disney, don’t visit water parks, don’t play golf. We aren’t worried about block out dates, don’t necessarily need to visit on weekends or peak times. We just planned our holidays so we could use the annual passes for four weeks in one year. It was brilliant. Sadly, this has now been denied as we are not Florida residents ( maybe we’ll win the lottery) Disney, we love you, but you are now beyond our purse…this year may well be our last. Thanks for the memories…
Something to remember, is that while this is all true now, June 19, 2019, it changes from time to time. I have been an AP holder since 1982, and my things have changed!
Thank you so very much for this summary. It is very helpful! One hint I have left to offer is always ask if there is an Annual Pass discount whenever you buy anything from Disney! It couldn’t hurt, and might save you a few bucks!
For the small number of people that it applies to, you can’t buy the Premier Pass ahead of time online, it can only be purchased at the park. Which if you leave near Disneyland or Disney World is not such a big deal (an excuse to go on an extra visit) , but could be inconvenient for the start of your vacation.