(Article last updated: September 7, 2017)
When you hear about Disney World Annual Passes, you might think "I'm not going more than once this year - why would I need that?"
And it's true that financially it makes sense for anybody going more than 10 days or for people planning more than 1 trip in a 12 month period, but it also often makes sense for people going for shorter stays.
Here's why...
The discounts and perks that come with having an Annual Pass often make it worth the upgrade, especially when you consider that only 1 person in your family needs to have one to take advantage of the discounts.
Let's look at the numbers...
In this article
What exactly is a Disney World Annual Pass?
Annual Pass is the general term for Disney World tickets that last for 366 days versus those that last for a certain number of gate entrances or entitlements. There are actually several different types of Annual Passes available and they all have slightly different perks, benefits, and prices.
What does a Disney Annual Pass cost?
There's no getting around it: an Annual Pass isn't cheap. If you live in Florida or if you are a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, you are eligible for some discounts. Aside from upgrading a discounted ticket, you really can't save a lot of money purchasing an Annual Pass, but many people find that the additional perks and benefits associated with their Annual Pass offset the cost.
Here are the levels, prices, and benefits for each type of Annual Pass:
How do you purchase an Annual Pass?
Like with any ticket, it is recommended that you purchase your Annual Pass at least 30 days in advance (if you are staying offsite) or 60 days in advance (if you are staying on-property) so that you can book your FastPass+ reservations.
There are several ways you can purchase it:
- in person at any Guest Relations or ticket location at Walt Disney World (note: you receive an activated Annual Pass instead of a voucher if purchased this way)
- online through the Disney website
- by calling Disney at (407) 939-7679
What is an Annual Pass voucher & where do I exchange it?
If you purchase your Annual Pass via any method other than in-person on Disney property, you will receive a voucher that you must redeem once you arrive.
You can link your voucher to your My Disney Experience account (the same way you can a ticket) so that you can make FastPass+ reservations. While it can be a hassle to redeem the voucher when you arrive, your ticket start date doesn't begin until you physically hand over the voucher and pick up your pass.
You can exchange your voucher at any Guest Relations or ticket location at Walt Disney World. This includes the Guest Relations windows at Disney Springs. Note: don't forget to take your photo ID with you when you redeem your voucher or purchase your Annual Pass.
You can not, however, exchange your voucher at your resort. This is important to note because if you book using an Annual Pass resort discount you may be asked to present your Annual Pass at check in, which means you'll need to exchange your voucher before you can do that. Note: there are reports of Cast Members not asking to see the Annual Pass at check-in but Disney does state that you must present it so it is better to be prepared.
What about upgrading?
Upgrading a current Magic Your Way ticket is another option for getting an Annual Pass. When you upgrade a ticket you receive credit for the full original purchase price, even if you've used part of the ticket. This means even if you don't decide until halfway through your trip that you want to upgrade you can still do that and not lose any of the value of what you already spent on your original ticket.
There are some quirks to be aware of, though:
- If your original ticket is a Magic Your Way Park Hopper Plus (that's the ticket that lets you park hop plus gives you entry into the Disney Water Parks) and if you have used any of the entries into the water parks (either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon) you can then ONLY upgrade your ticket to a Platinum Plus Annual Pass. If you haven't used any of the entitlements for the water parks, you can upgrade to either the cheaper Platinum or the more expensive Platinum Plus.
- When you upgrade, the start date for your Annual Pass will be the first day you used your original ticket and NOT the day you upgraded.
What are the perks and benefits to Disney World Annual Passes?
Free on-site parking
Guests staying on-site also get free parking, but this allows Annual Passholders to park for free even if they're staying off-site. Savings: $20/day.
Hotel discounts
Usually, about 2-4 months in advance, AP resort discounts are announced for up to 30% off on resort rooms.
You can always find the current AP resort discounts as well as information on what discounts were offered in the past on our guide to Disney World discounts.
Tip: if you hear of a new AP resort discount that you want to take advantage of, go ahead and book your reservation even if you don't have an Annual Pass. As long as you have one at check-in, you can use the discount.
Food discounts
For $150/year, Annual Passholders can join the Tables in Wonderland program which gives 20% off on food and beverages - including alcohol at many WDW dining locations, plus valet parking (which normally costs $25/day) is included.
Only 1 membership is needed for each group. There are other perks and rules around participation in the Tables in Wonderland program that you can read more about on Mousesavers.
The Disney-owned restaurants onsite also frequently offer an Annual Pass discount on dining that ranges from 10-20% off. The restaurant list (as well as the meals offering discounts) can change, so be sure to double check when dining whether or not a discount is offered. It never hurts to ask!
Merchandise discounts
The standard discount for Annual Passholders is 10% off Disney merchandise; however, sometimes Disney will run a promotion which allows you to save up to 20% off of your eligible purchases.
Other discounts
Annual Passholders also have access to discounts on everything from movies at the AMC in Disney Springs to a round of golf to spa treatments.
These are just a few examples of the discounts that have been offered in the past so be sure to review your Annual Passholders benefit information to see what is currently being offered during your trip:
- Sports & Recreation - discounts on things like golf, rentals from Sammy Duvall's Water Sports Centre, bowling at Splitsville, bike rentals and miniature golf
- Tours - 15% off tours is the normal discount. Some of the tours discounted are: Disney's Family Magic Tour (Magic Kingdom), Keys to the Kingdom (Magic Kingdom), Backstage Magic (Epcot), Wild Africa Trek (Animal Kingdom) plus many others.
- Discounted party tickets - Passholders are often eligible for discounts on tickets for select nights of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
- Spa treatments - several of the spas at the resorts offer 15% off their services to Annual Passholders
So when does it make sense to buy an Annual Pass?
By the time you do the math, it might make sense for you to upgrade 1 ticket in your group to one of the Disney World annual passes (especially with hotels - the price to upgrade can pay for itself in just a couple of nights at a Deluxe hotel).
Going by ticket prices alone - and not taking into account any of the other discounts - you can see the points where people break even or start to save money by purchasing an Annual Pass:
But if you plan to access any of the other discounts (especially resort discounts), your savings might outweigh the cost of the Annual Pass much faster.
Lots of people focus on the Free Dining promotion but it's important to keep all options open when booking your trip. So the next time you hear about a new AP discount code that's been released, pay attention. It might work out to be your best option.
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54 Comments on "How Disney World Annual Passes can save money (even if you only go once)"
I read that resorts are charging for parking now. Does the AP give you free resort parking in addition to free parking at parks?
We are heading to Disney in August with a 21 day Ultimate UK ticket (hopper, stare park etc). We are then heading back at Christmas. Just wondering if you think it would be worth us upgrading to an annual pass in August instead of buying tickets separately for Christmas (I’m tempted as it would make squeezing an extra holiday in next Easter quite appealing!)
Also, if we do upgrade, would it affect out fast passes etc that would be linked to our ultimate tickets?
Thank you!
How does this work if my family of 4 is going to book a package online? I’m the only one with an AP. How do I make sure I’m on the reservation and included in the meal plan and hotel room?
Will all this still work if the child (7 years old) is the one who holds the annual pass? It seems like that would be the way to do it since the child annual pass is cheaper than the adult annual pass.
Unfortunately, Annual Passes are the same price for everybody age 3+.
If I book a room with the AP discount that only one person in my party has, can all other members of my party get Magic Your Way Multi-day tickets as a package? I am curious if the non-APs can get free mini-golf. Also with the Disney Chase Visa credit card you can get “0% for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages.” Can an AP make room only bookings or can an AP also book ticket + room packages while retaining the AP room discount?
Your comments about savings accrued with the Annual Pass are accurate, but you don’t mention that most of those savings are also available to Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owners. I own DVC, so I would estimate my annual pass saved me a little over the savings I get from my DVC Membership Card, mostly at more upscale restaurants.
Need a separate article called “how DVC can save you money” 🙂
Just to let you know you have a typo in your cost comparison chart. It appears that you are using the price of a platinum plus pass that includes water parks and not the regular platinum pass which is roughly $100 less.
Good catch! Thank you for pointing that out. The image has been updated.
HI there, I am looking for some help. My husband and I have our anniversary trip booked Jan 2018, but we’re thinking of going over Thanksgiving week Nov 2018 with our kids. We will be getting the AP, but not our girls. During our trip in Nov, will our kids have to use the traditional lines to get into the parks or can they go through the line with us?
Do you mean at the entrance where there’s a line for Annual Passholders? They often check to make sure each person has an AP, but those lines also don’t often save much time. Will need to go through the regular lines (usually the ones on the ends are less busy anyway).
Just wonderring if yr advice from this 2015 piece still holds? Does Disney really not sell a pass for more than 10 days? We’re planning 2 week stay with family coming and going within it. But hubby and I want 14 or 15 days’ worth. Thanks
I have the AP VOUCHER but not the actaul pass yet since we won’t be going until Feb 2016. I know I get free standard parking, but will I have to pay for parking on our first day since I will still only have the voucher when we park? I assume you pay for parking prior to going to Guest Relations to get the actual AP. Or, will they apply the free parking if I show my AP voucher when we actaully park?
I just called about this because I too just have the email confirmation. I was told that the parking attendant should honor the voucher, if they don’t costumer service will refund you parking g for the day.
Can others use your annual pass? If I purchase 2 annual plans for me and my wife, would it be ok if we let our 2 kids use it?
No, it can only be used by the person who it belongs to.
If you have the annual pass and the free dining plan offer is available. Do you have to only purchase your room to qualify for the free dining offer?
No, packages are required to get Free Dining and must include tickets and a hotel room. You can always save the tickets that come with your package for a future trip (after your AP expires, for example). You would just want to call Disney to let them know the order you’d like to use your tickets.
I just purchased my annual passes. Will we have to pay for parking on the first visit which will will pick up the passes at will call. I just have my order confirmation not my tickets yet until I pick them up.
What if only one person in our room has an annual pass and the rest have park hoppers. Would we still get the annual pass room rates or does everyone need an annual pass?
Just 1 AP needed but make sure that person is the one who reserves the room.
Hi, Erica –
I would try to call. You should be able to do it that way.
I have an annual pass while the rest of my group does not and we are staying offsite. I can book fastpasses 30 days before with that extra 7 day window. Does that 7 day window benefit extend to the rest of my party? can I book theirs a long with mine for the entire trip on that first day 30 days in advance?
I’m not sure, but you could test it right now to see if the system will allow you.
We have an upcoming trip with our extended family. Two of the members have the platinum annual passes. We have always purchased memory maker in the past and planned to do so this year. However, with the new photo pass benefits with the AP, do we need to buy memory maker? Will the AP members photopass account pull photos for our entire party or only the AP holders?
P.S. Your site is amazing! This is, by far, the most useful WDW planning site we have used.
Thanks for the nice words! Glad the site has been helpful to you.
As long as you are linked to your family members in My Disney Experience, you can use the photo downloads they get with their AP. You won’t be able to download the files directly (they can download and send to you), but any photos that you take will show up in their account and available for them to download.
Hello – my wife and I just got back from our 6 day honeymoon. We didn’t realize upgrading to and AP was an option for us 🙁 have you ever heard of upgrading to an annual pass after people leave their vacation. We had such an amazing experience (of course) and would really love to get back if we can. An annual pass would save $$
Hi, Justin –
Sorry, but you can only upgrade if you still have days remaining on your tickets and you’re within 14 days of when they were first used.
Do you know if it’s possible to upgrade a partially used no expiration ticket to an AP?
I tried this once a few years ago and was told than even with No Expiration tickets any changes or upgrades have to be made within 14 days of first use. Not sure if this is still the policy so it might be worth a call to Disney!
Hi,
Can I enter the park on the day of my expiration date on my AP? It expires 10/9 and I was wondering if 10/8 would be my last day to enter? I’m seeing conflicting info online since this year was a leap year. Thanks for all your help 🙂
I currently have two separate trips booked through My Disney Experience. One with my family of 4 in June and a sisters trip in September. I did the math and it makes sense for me to get an AP. I have already paid a significant amount down on my June trip (over half). How will this effect those reservations? I know I can upgrade my ticket when I am there, but I would like to take advantage of the photo pass.
does this pass allow the whole family in the park or just one person
You need an annual pass or park ticket for every person in the group. The annual pass is only good for one person and can not be transferred from one person to another.
How will this work for fast pass + reservations 3 months out if only one person in the party have the annual pass? As far as I understand only people staying on site or have a annual pass can book them early and we are planning on staying offsite. Can I make reservations for the whole group or is it just for me?
People staying off-site can make FP+ reservations 30 days beforehand.
For a retired Florida resident the annual pass that limits going on weekends or during holiday black-out times is a great buy. For around $222 you get a park hopper annual pass that also includes some discounts for lodging, etc. If you are retired you have the flexibility of going during the week and who doesn’t want to avoid the parks when they are busiest if possible.
Hi, We will be staying at the Dolphin 6 adults same family, 10 days… Aug 23-Sept 10 , Can we buy one annual pass for the discounts on food and merchandise? I inquired with Disney Vacations and was told no you had to stay at a Disney Hotel. Your site is very helpful.
Thanks,
Marc
You definitely don’t have to stay on-site to buy an Annual Pass. Anybody can get one.
First, love this site!
Is it possible to use the AP room discount with a free meal plan offer or is it still one or the other?
Just 1 discount. AP room discount would be a room-only reservation; Free Dining would be on a package that includes tickets which you don’t need. AP ticket holders can book a room-only reservation and add the dining plan without making it a package but can’t get it for free.
Parking at Disney is now $15 per day!
If you go every year, your annual passes COULD pay for two years of vacation. We get our passes and plan our trip for say, June. Then we plan next year’s trip for May. The cost is almost equal to buying 10-day park hopper tickets each year but we get all the perks and discounts too, and can even squeeze in an extra trip in between sometimes.
Is it better to do ap or 10 day non experation. I have bee debating on these two
Will you be visiting more than 10 days within a year? Might be better to get an AP. Visiting over a longer period of time? Probably best to get non-expiration.
Does it make more sense to buy the annual pass or the park hopper pass? Thank you
Edward,
You’ll need to do the math to see but usually if you go more than 10 days in a year, the AP makes sense. If you’re using it to get a discount, you’ll need to compute the amount you’d be saving vs. the extra cost of the AP. It just depends on your situation.
The passes r great my family goes like every few months so its great but we got rid of them but we might get them again