Disney World opens floodgates for annual passes for first time since 2021: What to know before buying
Disney fans will be able to purchase new annual passes for Walt Disney World, regardless of where they live.
Disney World paused sales of most new annual passes in November 2021. Only the Pixie Pass, which is limited to Florida residents and has the most blockout dates, has been available since then. Existing annual passholders have also been able to renew passes.
All four annual pass options will go on sale no earlier than 6 a.m. ET Thursday, but most people will be limited to one option, the top tier Incredi-Pass, which has no blockout dates but is the most expensive. And they may sell out.
“Please know, as we look to provide a great experience for our Passholders, the quantity of passes will be limited and passes, or a pass type, may become unavailable for purchase at any time,” Disney senior manager of communications Eric Scott wrote on the Disney Parks Blog.
Here’s what hopeful annual passholders should know.
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What are the different types of Disney annual passes?
There are four types of annual passes at Disney World, with varying prices and blockout dates.
- Disney Incredi-Pass: This pass is open to everyone. There are no blockout dates. It costs $1,399.
- Disney Sorcerer Pass: This pass is only available to Florida residents and those members of Disney Vacation Club, Disney’s timeshare program, who are eligible for Membership Extras. The only blockout dates are the latter half of Thanksgiving week and the height of the holiday season, from Dec. 20 through Jan. 3. The pass costs $969.
- Disney Pirate Pass: This pass is only available to Florida residents. Blockout dates include peak periods and holidays. It costs $749.
- Disney Pixie Pass: This pass is also only available to Florida residents and restricted to weekdays. Blockout dates include weekends, peak periods and holidays. It costs $399.
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When will Disney annual passes be available?
Sales will open to the general public no earlier than 6 a.m. ET Thursday.
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Is it worth it to get a Disney World annual pass?
Depending on when and how often guests plan to visit Disney World, it can be. Guests who want to visit multiple times over the year, particularly during peak periods, can save substantially. However, guests who plan to visit only once are better off with standard park tickets.
park-specific pricing rolled out last December. Park hopper tickets, which let guests switch parks after 2 p.m., cost more.
However, the cost per day drops as more days are added to tickets. The cheapest 10-day ticket, for example, costs $599, which is less than half the price of the Incredi-Pass.
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What do Disney annual passes include?
Beyond park admission, Disney annual passholders get discounts on dining, merchandise, resort stays and activities, among other perks including Disney PhotoPass benefits.
They may visit theme parks without park reservations after 2 p.m., but still need to make reservations to enter before that.
Passholders may also preview attractions before they open to the general public, as they did with TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.