When I was a child I remember taking yearly vacations to the Disney Parks. There is so much to do and see for all ages which never got boring for me. Plus it was only a short drive away. As a child the prices were not too bad for a magical vacation but fast forwarding to having a big family of my own it is very expensive. If we wanted to go for a week to any of the Disney Parks for all 8 of us it would be thousands of dollars. Honestly that is not in our budget. Last year we took the plunge. We weighed out our options for going for a week at Disney on day/week passes or do we get the annual pass. It made more sense for us to get the annual pass because we could go back several times during the year for the price it would be for a week’s vacation. I am so glad we made this choice because we have had some of the best times as a family. Since then our pass expired and we have renewed with many more vacations scheduled throughout the year. So why get an annual pass verses a day pass, week pass, etc?
There are several annual pass options. More expensive with different perks. Some of black out days while some do not. Here are the benefits of having an annual pass:
The annual passes include admission to all 4 Disney Parks for a year (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studio’s)
You can visit all 4 theme parks on the same day. So if you want to “hop” from park to park you can.
You can save a few dollars with discounts on select dining and merchandise. Discounts can be up to 20% depending on where and what it is you are purchasing.
When you become a annual passholder Disney sends you a annual passholder magnet which you can use on your car (I prefer mine on our refrigerator or homeschool dry erase board because believe it or not people steal them). Plus they send you a annual pass holder slider that slides on your Magic Band.
Resort discounts. Depending on where you stay and what time of the year you can save anywhere from 10% to 30% on your stay.
Certain events Disney passes out free merchandise to passholders. Last year during the Food and Wine festival I was able to get exclusive buttons.
No paying for parking at any of the Disney Parks which is awesome because the standard parking is $22 a day! Ouch!
When you go to any of the 4 Disney theme parks there is a separate annual passholder entrance. It can make it easier and quicker to get in while the standard lines are frequently longer. There have been many times that the annual pass holder entrances do not have any lines and we have been able to walk right it.
A subscription to Mickey Monitor which is a collectible Passholder-only publication which keeps us up to date with new Disney happenings.
The Disney annual pass is not just for locals. Sure the prices are different if you are out of state verses a Florida resident but I encourage you to compare the price differences in day tickets verses the pass. With all these perks it just maybe worth getting the annual pass! Not to mention you can use it all year long and who doesn’t love Disney vacations? When was the last time you went to any of the Disney theme parks?
Be sure to check out other discounts and specials that Disney offers.
I love this. I just makes sense to be a passholder if you’re a big Disney fan. It makes multiple trips more affordable, and that’s really the name of the game.
My friend was thinking of getting a passholder membership, and I’m totally going to show her this! Thanks so much for the great info – she’ll save a TON!
These are all great perks to having an annual pass. If we lived closer I would definitely get one.
If we lived in the area, we would certainly be passholders. We’d probably go there almost every day!
We have not gone to Disney in a few years and my kids want to go back. It definitely seems like a great idea to get an annual pass but I know we will only go once so it might not be worth it.
We have had our passes for about three years now. With all the new additions, we are going to keep them.
I know, right! Star Wars and Toystory Land – cannot wait!
If we lived close to one of the Disney parks we absolutely would be pass holders! I am Disney obsessed and so are my kids.
Sounds amazing! I wish I lived near! So many benefits! We looooove Disney!
If we lived by Disney, I would so get pass. We don’t get to go very often since we live so far. Jealous!
These are really cool! Those perks are really worth it! I can’t wait to check it out!
Those perks are really worth it! I can’t wait to check it out!
There are so many great benefits for being a Disney annual passholder! Very cool.
Wow there really are so many different perks to becoming a disney annual passholder. I totally love this.