Do you often find yourself restless while seeking for a similar rush you get while riding on Space Mountain? Do people catch you belting out the same Disney tunes over and over again? Do you spend at least two hours a day scrolling through Walt Disney World group feeds or watching Disney bloggers? Does your house look like the inside of the Magic Kingdom’s Emporium? If you said yes to these questions, my friend you have an addiction to Disney.
It’s time to treat yourself to a Walt Disney World annual pass.
People often find out sooner than later that a Walt Disney World annual pass pays for itself in a quick amount of time. Whether or not you find yourself going on the weekends or even after work, you can go whenever you want and however much you want. Its so worth it! I am going to explain to you all of the perks and benefits of being a Walt Disney World annual passholder and hopefully it will inspire you to find the magic you dreamt of so much as a kid.
I personally have been a Walt Disney World annual passholder for the last two years here in Orlando, Florida. I started off at the lower tier of the Walt Disney World annual passes, “The Disney Weekday Select Pass”. As a Florida resident, I was given the option of monthly payment installments.
Available to Florida residents and all Walt Disney World Annual Passholder tiers!
If you were to be interested in the monthly plan option, you will need to go to Disney Springs’ Guest’s relations or you can go to the ticket windows at the Walt Disney World parks (You will have to pay for parking if you do this). You will need proof of your Florida home address whether it be in the form of a drivers’ license, or two forms of mail with your address on it (must be a utility bill or a bank statement). A down payment of at least 114$ is required for your first attempt of purchasing an annual pass and then over the year at the end of each month, you will be expected to pay the monthly payment in auto pay.
As a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder you will have so many perks like discounts on merchandise and at select table service restaurants, free parking and optional park hopping for all of your Disney attraction needs. Now I did mention there were several tiers within the Walt Disney World annual pass selection. These tiers are divided by the amount of block out dates, perks, and of course, prices.
Epcot after 4, Annual Pass $289
$14.90 monthly payments
This pass is limited to the Epcot park for one year. You will receive 20% discount on merchandise and select dining. And of course, parking is free! This is mainly created for adults who enjoy the night life and like to drink around the world or for those who like to attend the festivities Epcot provides such as the Wine and Food festival.
Disney Weekday Select Annual Pass $319
$17.57 monthly payments
This pass is limited to the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks on Monday through Friday. (There are blockouts) They also receive 20% discount on merchandise and select dining and free parking! This is ideal for those out there who work on the weekends and have a couple days off during the week or for those who want to spend a couple hours in the parks after work!
Disney Theme Park Select Annual Pass $439
$28.22 monthly payments
This Disney pass has limited admission to select parks during certain times throughout the year. I looked over the blockout calendar and there seems to be a lot of Saturdays blocked out and with that, the months in the summer and during peak season also. This is the equivalent of a seasonal pass. This pass also offers 20% discount on merchandise and select dining, and has limited park hopping (see block out dates for verification) This pass also gets you free parking! I personally feel like this is the perfect pass for big families or for those who can’t go every week due to school and work.
Disney Silver Annual Pass $479
$31.77 monthly payments
The Disney Silver Annual Pass has very few block out dates, and by far much less than the Theme Park Select Annual Pass. I would say this is the basic pass for those who like to go to Walt Disney World frequently but on a budget. Those with the Silver Annual Pass will also receive 20% discount on merchandise and select dining. They will also receive free parking!
Disney Gold Annual Pass $609
$43.30 monthly payments
The Disney Gold Annual Pass enters a whole different game on the ball field. They have the advantage of owning a Photo Pass and BIG discounts on prints. That means all ride on photos, character meet and greet photos, and any professional photographer photo! They also get access to “Magic Shots” which are little magical surprise guests in your photos! SO WORTH IT!
There are limited and very few block outs dates on the Disney Gold Annual Pass, free parking and discounts 20% on merchandise and select dining. Disney Gold Annual Passholders also are invited to special Annual Passholder event nights and previews of new merchandise! I have this annual pass, and as a blogger, its important that I take advantage of it by using my Photo Pass and  by getting access first to the new merchandise line such as the “Purple Potion” fashion line.
Disney Platinum Annual Pass $749
$55.73 monthly payments
Not only does the Disney Platinum Annual Pass offer the Photo pass as well, but there are zero blackout dates with this pass! That means if you can conjure up enough courage to brave the crowds, you can enjoy Main Street on Christmas morning with a hundred other people! In all seriousness, this is the all access pass to the main 4 parks. You will also receive 20% discount on merchandise and select dining, invitations to Annual Passholder events and of course, free parking. This is the pass for all the die hard Disney addicts who literally live and breathe Disney!
DISNEY PLATINUM Â PLUS ANNUAL PASS $849
$64.60 monthly payments
If you want to feel like a Disney elite without making payments of 30k a year for Club 33, this is how you do it. Disney Platinum Plus is the holy grail of passes. There are zero block out dates, AND not only do you have full access to all of the 4 parks, but you also have access to Walt Disney World’s 2 water parks! (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) There are two other perks made special for those who own a Disney Platinum Plus, they have access to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course! The Disney Platinum Plus also has the benefits such as the Photo Pass, free parking, invitations to Annual Passholder events and 20% discount on merchandise and select dining.
As a Disney Annual Passholder, you can attend all of the festivities of Epcot such as The Art Festival, The Flower and Garden Festival and The Food and Wine Festival. As of late, Walt Disney World has released special limited edition Passholder merchandise and special menu items! You have the opportunity to see all of the concert series during these events including special chef demonstrations!
Another perk about being a Disney Annual Passholder are the discounts included such as the Tables in Wonderland dining plan. For a price of $150 you can have a 20% discount at over 100 Walt Disney World restaurants (up to 10 people in your party) and you will be invited to special dining events! You also have the benefit of discounted tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! What a deal! Also, let’s not forget the special limited edition Annual Passholder magnets Walt Disney World releases about 7 times a year! I have quite a collection on my fridge’s door!
As a Walt Disney Annual Passholder you will be able to experience so much more than being in the parks for one day or even a week. For example, Kilimanjaro Safaris- there are so many opportunities to see different animals at every visit. I saw an ostrich for the first time not too long ago! You will be able to see shows you couldn’t make, ride the rides that had too long of a wait, and you will be able to experience those new little treats in the parks. And let’s not forget to mention that you can meet all of the Disney characters in the parks and get all of their autographs. Hey I’m not judging! I still have my first autograph book from when I was 8 years old in 1998!
So with that being said, go for it! Its worth buying a Disney World Annual Pass! Whether you’re a Florida resident or not, its a better deal to purchase an annual pass! If you plan on staying in Orlando for a Disney vacation, it is cheaper to buy an annual pass because the price of annual pass is equal to 2-3 days of normal Walt Disney World ticket purchases. You would save a lot of money on food, merchandise, parking, and your next Disney vacation in the same year would be a lot CHEAPER.
The Disney magic is for everyone who follows their heart and learns to have faith, trust and pixie dust and calling Disney home to most of us is the oasis in our hardships.
Thanks for reading and continue Disney Adulting!
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