Disney Annual Passholder: 11 Great Perks in the Parks!
For fun-seekers who love Walt Disney World and want more access to the parks year-round: you might want to consider becoming a Disney Annual Passholder!
Have you ever been driving behind someone in traffic who has a “Disney World Annual Passholder” sticker on their car? Seems kind of cool, right? Like they belong to a special club… But what does it mean?
We know you probably have some questions about the program, and we’re prepared to answer them! So, whether you’re a seasoned pro at the Passholder life or new to Annual Passes, we’ve got information and a list of Disney Annual Passholder perks (aka the incentives to sign up!). Check them out and see if an Annual Pass might be right for you!
What’s a Disney Annual Passholder?
First things first:
By Walt Disney World’s definition, a Disney Annual Passholder is a guest who pays annually for a “pass” that acts as their ticket to the parks that they can reuse all throughout the year. The biggest and most obvious perk here is that those with the pass essentially only have to pay for a resort reservation, and their trip is set up and ready to go! This, of course, does not include dining and souvenir purchases. However…as a Disney Annual Passholder, guests will get discounts on dining and souvenirs, so it’s really a win-win-win!
The Annual Passholder program has been really popular for many, many years.
Fun Fact: “The Original Annual Pass” was the first pass to be sold for WDW, and it was introduced in 1982. Can you believe it?
What Are The Benefits of Being A Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholder?
If you’ve always wanted to be a Disney Annual Passholder and have that exclusive status, as well as all the perks that come along with the pass, we hear you! Let’s walk through all of the benefits so you can decide if the upgrade is worth it for you and your family.
1. By purchasing a WDW Annual Pass, it is paid for throughout the entire year. This means you can take multiple trips within the year more easily. There are certain days that Disney World deems “blackout dates,” that not even Passholders can use due to the higher-anticipated crowd levels. (You can bypass these blackout dates if you have an Incredi-Pass.) However, despite the rules about certain dates, the pass often pays for itself, especially if you go to Disney World often or are planning to visit several times. More fun Disney vacations for you! Woohoo!
2. As a Disney Annual Passholder, you can access exclusive events for Annual Passholders only. These events will vary and change, but you will be notified when they occur.
3. Annual Passholders at Disney World get multi-park reservations included in their Passholder benefits. This means that there are no additional fees to park hop, and Passholders have the ability to visit multiple parks in a day! Awesome, right?
4. With the Annual Passholder at Disney World, you get free parking at the theme parks included in your pass!
5. WDW Annual Passholders get exclusive discounts on Disney dining and shopping. (They also get discounts on resort reservations during certain times of the year!) Annual Passholder discounts can be applied almost everywhere you go on Disney property – just let the servers and employees know you’re part of the club! This even extends to Disney Springs, the waterparks, golfing, spas, and more. Don’t forget to ask!
6. As a Passholder, you’ll have exclusive access to unique MagicBand styles. (Be sure to check those out if you already have a WDW Annual Pass!)
7. A lesser-known Passholder perk: WDW Annual Passholders are currently being offered discounted rates at Alamo Rent-A-Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and National Car Rental. Fantastic!
8. There is also an add-on feature for PhotoPass at a discounted rate if you are a Disney World Annual Passholder.
9. Access to an exclusive section on the My Disney Experience app – for Passholders only! The section on the app is known as “The Passholder Buzz,” and there, you’ll be able to get the scoop on all benefits and discounts available for Passholders. It’s a hub of information!
10. Sometimes, there are “Passholder-exclusive” snacks and beverages available in select theme parks and can only be purchased by those with a Disney World Annual Pass. This also goes for merchandise! (Like the previously mentioned Passholder-exclusive car stickers and more!)
11. When you stay in the program, you also get a discount for renewing your pass!
BONUS: Right now, Annual Passholders are receiving $10 off their Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets on specific nights! The exciting thing about the Annual Pass is that you have to keep checking back because there are constant updates.
When Can I Sign Up To Be A Passholder?
We have some important news about the current options available for becoming a Passholder:
Due to recent changes and policies at WDW, unless you are currently a Florida resident, you will have to be patient in waiting for your chance to purchase an Annual Pass.
The Annual Passes are typically available in the form of four different levels:
- Disney Incredi-Pass
- Disney Sorcerer Pass
- Disney Pirate Pass
- Disney Pixie Dust Pass
Of course, this is all subject to change, but currently, guests are only eligible to purchase an Annual Pass if they are Florida residents. Additionally, the only Pass that is available to be purchased at this time is the Disney Pixie Dust Pass starting at $399.00 annually.
Disney World fans expect the Annual Passholder program to eventually return to its original setup, with all four “levels” being available once again. However, for now, we wait patiently for the availability to resume to all guests, not just Florida residents. There is speculation that the other passes could open up to all guests in 2023.
We don’t know about you, but we are super excited and anxiously waiting for the return of Annual Passes at Walt Disney World. With all of the Incredi-ble (See what we did there?) perks and exclusive access, it’s well worth the purchase, in our opinion. For now, we are thrilled for guests who are existing Annual Passholders because they are the only WDW guests who are currently allowed to keep their status as a Passholder through the other “tiers.” For example, if you used to be an Incredi-Pass Passholder, you have been granted permission to renew that tier due to being grandfathered in.
If you’re lucky enough to fall into that category, or if you live in Florida, we hope you enjoy your Annual Pass benefits to the max!
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