If you had the unlimited ability to go to Disney World whenever you wanted, how often would you visit? Would you be a daily theme park diehard or a casual weekend visitor? Would you ride the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction every single day or walk around the World Showcase each evening? It’s fun to dream, isn’t it?
Now if only Disney would let us sleep in Cinderella Castle…
Between the location and the price, it’s not easy for most people to stroll through the gates of the Magic Kingdom whenever they want. But, thanks to Disney’s Annual Pass program, guests can essentially prepay for a year’s worth of trips to the parks — though the privilege isn’t cheap!
Now that Disney is selling Annual Passes again, we asked our readers, “Do you plan to buy a Disney World Annual Pass when they go on sale on April 20th?” Here’s what our readers had to say!
Those results are CLOSE!
As you can see, it was a tight race! 53% of our readers said “yes,” and 47% said “no.” Now let’s talk about WHY!
Annual Passholder Card
We’ll get the obvious answer out of the way first: for many people, Disney’s Annual Pass pricing structure is cost-prohibitive. Currently, the Disney Incredi-Pass is $1,399, the Sorcerer Pass is $969, the Pirate Pass is $749, and the Pixie Dust Pass is $399. That said, guests who either don’t live in Florida or are not Disney Vacation Club Members are only able to buy the Disney Incredi-Pass — a.k.a. the most expensive pass.
These things aren’t cheap!
Additionally, many guests explained that they would buy an Annual Pass if Disney allowed out-of-state guests to use a monthly payment plan. Only Florida residents can make monthly payments on new passes at the moment.
Disney only allows Florida residents to use a monthly payment plan
Another common deterrent is the issue of logistics. After all, out-of-state Passholders still need to pay for travel and accommodations each time they plan to visit Disney World! Plus, it’s not always easy to take off work or school for a little trip to the parks (no matter how badly we may want to drop everything and go to Disney World).
Flights can be expensive!
Many of our readers told us that they’re still debating whether or not they plan to purchase an Annual Pass. Luckily, we have a handy guide that can help you weigh the pros and cons — after all, it’s a big decision!
Click here to decide if an Annual Pass is right for you
Keep in mind that Disney stated that they plan to limit the sale of Annual Passes, so passes could sell out!
Annual Passholder Magnet
We also heard from a few readers who are intending to upgrade an existing Annual Pass. Under Disney’s current tier system, different Annual Passes offer different levels of park pass availability and block-out dates. Those planning to upgrade are likely hoping to have a little more flexibility with their pass.
Anyone down for a park day with us?
While Disney’s Annual Pass program offers some nice perks, like the freedom to hit the parks without a reservation and that sweet merch discount, ultimately the price is a big deterrent for many. What do you think? Are you interested in buying an Annual Pass? Let us know in the comments!
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Are you interested in buying an Annual Pass? Let us know in the comments!
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Of course I’m interested, but am I going to purchase one? No, and won’t until they make the cheaper passes available to out of state residents or until I can justify the cost.
New Floridians will buy, long-term Florida residents and AP’s won’t, but a huge percentage.
First, we’ve been a hundred times. Nothing new to get excited about. Better ways to spend that money, even if discounted for FL residents.
Next, there are no accommodations for FL AP holders to get any discounts for their friends and family coming into the state to visit! Do I have to pick up their outrageously priced regular park passes!? Or do THEY have to pay it because I get in for free and they feel obligated to go?
Finally, a trip to Disney guarantees a FL resident ridiculous crowds, the lousiest, most overpriced food in the state, rip-off hotel prices, and an incredibly unsatisfying customer service experience.
And I’ll just make a quick mention of their woke and cancel culture policies.
Have been a long term Annual Pass holder Caught Covid, ebidently at thre Amnual WDW Pin Trading Event at EPCOT, I have been to for over 20 years.. It Debeloped kingo Long Covid and do not have energy to use our Pirate Passes except once in Oct before the Covid I had in Aug that leot us from going to the Disney parks finally got me down on Oct 21. My Doctors says it may take up to 2 years to fully recover. Sure hope not for Aug pin trading ciming up, annual pirate pass renewa, and may not hsve eecivered enough to use. Ad you can see, we have not been able to come back since early last Ict and heading towards 80 yrs od.
Hope I can put l can put on hold until I am to return. Sure midd visiting and sering our Grandson who lives in Tampa.
I would love to purchase the Annual Pass. 1. Very expensive 2. No payment plans unless you live in Florida 3. Only 1 is available if you live out of state 4. Why???? Why are out of state park goers have so much against them for living out of state???? This is for all parks; not just Disney.
Live in Illinois, would buy annual pass IF they discontinue reservations.
Probably won’t renew my AP after this year. It’s worth it if I’m going to a lot of anniversary stuff, but after the 50th, 40th, and 100th, I’m done for a while.
I think if you are a non florida resident and don’t live near enough to Orlando for a reasonable drive and hotel stay . Don’t buy it
It’s just too expensive if you are coming less than several times a year.
One year in Anaheim a family asked if they could have our tickets. Seemed odd but at that time they could use “today’s ” ticket as a down payment for an annual pass. We handed our tickets over. They were able to get 2 more annual passes and we got the signing bonus of that year’s popcorn bucket.
I have the Incredi-Pass (formerly Platinum Plus) but will likely let it expire this July. Although local, I go less and less, especially since they put the park reservation system in place. It is somewhat lifted, after 2 pm, but if you go before then, back to the reservation system. Beyond that, while the price continues to increase, the perks keep disappearing, such as:
1. Photopass
2. Golf – free 9 hole and a larger discount on regular golf
3. Food – It used to be 20%, now it is 10% at most places
4. Fastpass – Absolutely never ever going to pay another $1 to get line privileges, one ride at a time, after dumping $1,400.00 on a single annual pass.
5. Free stuff – less and less of it, I think you get a magnet once a year these days
6. runDisney (this is a big one) – You got a special day to register, not any more so someone in our group keeps missing registration so we decided to just give up
One the final reasons is that I want to go to parks and relax, have fun, people watch, etc. To be on my phone the entire time scheduling rides and mobile ordering, checking out, etc. isn’t a fun day. This is my time with family and friends to get away from technology, not be a slave to it. This is the single biggest mistake at Disney, in their quest to have everything in one place, they never stopped to ask if that is what people wanted. It’s good to have it, it’s bad when you must use it.
Unfortunately I am not repurchasing an annual pass. I live in Virginia and the cost plus travel and accommodations make paying that much money and not being able to say I can go enough to warrant that much money.
Probably because most people feel it is no longer worth the price. Not to mention the waiting to park hop at certain times instead of whenever you wanted to go. Now you have to wait until a specific designated time.
But I feel the main reason is the reservation system. One of the benefit was to go when ever you wanted on a whim as long as is was not a blackout day. Now you can only go with a reservation.
Then you have the two reservation calendars for reservations. Pass holders try to make a reservation, but it states it is sold out, yet it is open for single-day tickets on another calendar. This s is why you have lawsuits on both coasts.
Would love to have an annual pass, but since I’m out of state it is way too expensive to justify. I won’t have the money for flights, accommodations and food to be able to go often enough to make it worth it.. which makes me really sad, because I would love to go to Disney all the time!
Dvc member here. Blockout dates made me a NO since I’m coming for NYE and in July. Would have bought but cost and BO dates was a turnoff
I live in Florida and I will not buy any Annual Pass. Too many benefits were taken off from the last time I had Premium Pass
We use to be AP for a long period of time up until the pandemic. Once Disney reopen we went and still AP. That all change when Disney began starting getting Woke. Their prices reflected that as well. You use to get a lot for being AP, now what’s left of the discounts not even worth it. Disney is catering to the woke and ultimately the price increase doesn’t show any value or appreciation towards AP Holders. Everything new about them especially Genie+ just isn’t worth it. There’s magic and there’s magical, Disney forgot that they go hand in hand. My family will spend our hard earn money elsewhere.
I really wish that Disney would consider offering payment plans for out of state pass holders especially since we have to buy the most expensive pass. That is how we pay for our Universal and Sea World passes. It makes it much easier to budget for and still be able to afford plane tickets and hotel.
HELL NO !!!
No annual pass for me although I WAS A PASSHOLDER FOR 20 YEARS AND I AM A DVC MEMBER !
Disney took away SO MUCH and at the same time raised their prices FAR MORE than the grocery stores and the inflation rate.
WHO WANTS TO WALK AROUND LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE ALL DAY TO SCHEDULE RIDES ???
Vacation is not a good time to be connected to your phone !
No one wants genie + and being forced to look at their phone all day!
NO ONE !!!
Fastpass worked very well for many years – Now Disney is so greedy that they are SELLING genie + which is a rip off.
I live 11 hour drive from WDW but I have been there well over 100 times !
I AM DONE WITH DISNEY until Bob Iger REWINDS THE WHOLE THEME PARK EXPERIENCE BACK TO 2018 !!!
JUST UNDO EVERYTHING THAT CHAPEK DID !
I had HOPE when Iger came back – BUT HE HAS DONE NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE WDW EXPERIENCE !
NOTHING !!!
DISNEY is losing big bucks on their steaming services SO THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE UP THEIR LOSSES BY CHARGING PARK GOERS OUTRAGEOUS PRICES!
DISNEY IS GREEDY and WDW needs to CLOSE !!!
Not until the park reservation system is gone!
I would buy a pass if they had more options or a payment plan for out of state guest.
I would love to buy a Pirate Pass but can’t because I don’t live in Florida. The blackout dates work best for my family. We wouldn’t come during the holidays anyway. The pricing matches what we would want to pay based on how many times we could come for the year. We live on the west coast. We’d pay more for a pass that allowed Disneyland as well.
As a Washington (state) resident, even if I had unlimited funds (winning a big lotto jackpot or something), there’s no way I could go enough to justify the cost. I work from home, so have some flex in time commitments, but my guy would continue to work even if we won the lotto, as would I, and he only gets so much vacation time a year. As much as we both love the Disney “bubble,” we have other places we want to go too.
We are possibly considering a move to Florida at some point in the future, and IF that happens, we’ll probably fork over the cash once every other year or so, assuming the Mouse doesn’t continue taking away the extras or puts even more regulations on when people can actually use their AP.
I absolutely did purchase three annual passes yesterday for myself and my children! I’m from NY and found myself coming with my kids (8, 11) every 6 months (during summer, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc) since 2021, so it just made sense. As a nurse, I’m fortunate enough to have a flexible work schedule and we enjoy the Disney bubble. Now we can come whenever my kids have a 3-day weekend, or school breaks; especially in the summer. Looking forward to our 9-day stay in July!!!
I agree with Penne. We are DVC members since 1992 when there were decent perks. They are all gone now. When you took away Magical Express that really hurt. Why not offer DVC members staying at the Disney resorts a discount to use Mears Connect? We live in Canada and the rate of exchange has really made our annual dues so expensive. Seriously thinking of selling off some of our 510 annual points. We are also seniors and have trouble with I-Phones and having to look at it all day for schedules, times, etc. Disney took away the joy of just relaxing on a vacation. It is too much work to try and schedule ride times with very expensive costs in addition to the already expensive park passes.
Not my Disney anymore!
I agree with others about the payment plan. We were APs for a while, and then last August we did not renew. The high up-front cost of the pass just didn’t make any sense to us anymore since we do not live in Florida and have to fly there.
We would have to go to Disney World at least four times a year to get any value out of an AP now. That would mean four flights a year, hotel stays, along with food and incidentals, and we just cannot afford to do that.
Why in the world does Disney not offer us who are paying the most to get there, a payment plan?
Maybe someone on your team can look into that and write an article about it? Because I really don’t understand the logic behind it. Of course, I know they are making more money that way, but many people who do not live in Florida would become annual pass holders if there was a payment plan for them.
And still, most of us “out of stators” would only be able to go two or three times a year so it’s not like we’re going to overcrowd the parks.
So when you get a chance AJ, can you look into that for us and try to find out why Disney seems to be punishing you if you live out of state, and have to pay for airfare, and accommodations as well as the most expensive annual pass?
We loved being annual pass holders, but we just couldn’t afford the big up front payment for two people any longer.
If only they had introduced a payment plan for non-Floridians this year, we may have considered becoming APs again. A little sad. 🙁
It makes no sense that out of state people and DVC members (like us) have to fork over a thousand bucks for a pass when out of staters will not be going every week. We never go in the high seasons thats why we did DVC we go when the parks are in low season and the last few times we opted not even to go tons park because for 2 it was over 200 bucks per person . They would get more members in the park by offering the pixie and other lower passes to DVC MEMBERS. I wrote and asked the question and got a standard canned answer back. Disney is slowly pushing people away.
I would ride Pirates of the Caribbean every day, and mispronounce it as “carob bean” every time.
I would walk around World Showcase clockwise on even days, and counterclockwise on odd days to balance it out. And on Walt’s birthday (Dec 5) I would walk around it backwards.
Platinum pass holder for 22 years, but no more as of February, 2023! Also started going to Disneyworld in 1973, kids grew up there and then grandkids.
Higher costs for pass equivalent to platinum pass, no more fast passes, replaced with paying for shorter wait in line. These are a pain in the butt to even get.
Resort guests have an advantage over getting these paid passes in starting two hours before passholder just going to park for the day. Spend too much time on phone trying to figure out all this nonsense and I’m very comfortable with all the tech, just takes away from enjoying the parks.
Just not family friendly anymore and greedy like all the others parks.
Sad to see Disney destroy a magical experience .