Of the many (many many!) things that have completely changed at Disney World over the past year, one thing that’s TOTALLY different right now is Annual Passes. Remember those?!
Annual Passholder Sticker
Annual Passes haven’t been for sale since the parks closed last March HOWEVER, we just learned that Disney IS still selling Annual Passes. BUT, they’re only available for two very specific sets of guests!
When the parks closed in March 2020, it drastically changed the way Disney handled Annual Passes, allowing members to cancel and even get refunds!
Annual Passholder Pop-Up Shop
Ever since, Disney’s plan to move forward with its Annual Pass system has been up in the air.
Annual Passholder Pop-Up Shop
If you’ve been looking to purchase an Annual Pass, you’ve been on standby—until now! Well, for some of you… .
Magic Kingdom
Actually, VERY few of you!
Disney IS currently selling Annual Passes, but ONLY for kids who recently turned three with a parent who has a Pass currently and for Annual Passholders who canceled their Passes during the parks’ closure!
Passholder Shirt
Confused? Allow us to explain. We confirmed with a Cast Member all the deets, and here’s what we know:
Annual Passholder Pop-up Shop
Say you had an Annual Pass and had a little one in your house. Kids under three get into Disney World for free. After that, they need a ticket just like anyone. If you’re a family of Passholders and, over the course of time that Passes have not been for sale, your two year old had a birthday and would now would need an Annaul Pass of their own, you’d need a way to get them one. Well, you can.
Disney World Annual Passholder Magnet
If you want to buy a new child’s Annual Pass, you need to currently be an Annual Passholder yourself, and your child must have been two before the closure and three now. In other words, you’re good to go if your child turned three after March 16, 2020! This is a SUPER SPECIFIC situation that won’t affect too many guests, but still — if you have a now three year old and you’re wishing they had a Pass just like you, you can make it happen.
Tinker Bell Magnet
As long as they’re listed as the right age on My Disney Experience, you should be good to go—no birth certificates necessary!
Annual Passholder Pop-Up Shop
Annual Passes are also available for Passholders who cancelled during the closure, and have changed their minds (totally get it!). As long as your pass didn’t expire BEFORE the closures, Disney will work with you.
Animal Kingdom
For both circumstances, you need to call the general ticketing number (not the Annual Pass number), and submit info to a Cast Member who fills out a form for the ticketing team, which will then review and call you back within seven days.
Animal Kingdom Passholder Preview
We’re told that in most cases, as long as your AP was set to expire after March 16, 2020, you’ll be allowed to get a new one! This is very case-by-case and after the Cast Member you speak with sends off your info, including your type of pass, when you canceled, and a few more details, it will be reviewed to see if you qualify.
Figment Annual Passholder Magnet
One caveat: you’ll have to pay full price, NOT renewal prices. It would be like purchasing a brand new pass. Do note: Those simply renewing their Annual Passes (meaning they never canceled) will still get the 15% discount renewal rate.
Magic Kingdom
Phew! Got all that? Navigating the Annual Pass system has been a WHIRLWIND in these past month, to say the least, but it’s super exciting to see that even a (very) small amount of people can purchase them at this time!
Here’s why Disney World paused Annual Pass sales!
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Did you cancel your Annual Pass and change your mind?? Let us know in the comments!
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So does this mean I cannot renew my Florida weekday pass?
I’m a DVC member since 2009 and I never see any info from Disney or anywhere on benefits to members. You see everything about annual pass holders but never DVC. What do you know?
If you fall into the category of ‘your AP expired during the shutdown and you didn’t renew’ can you renew with monthly payments or do you have to pay in full?
Do you know where we can get the Annual Passholder magnets? I really wanted the Tink and I love the “this is my happy place magnet!
What about selling to DVC members. We are the money that forms the dollar bank backbone of Disney, as noted with our Jan 15th dues. We deserve to get breaks as well.
I guess my new fiancé will not be visiting Disney with me anytime soon, sadly. No passport for her, I was told 😞
If you qualify for AP’s, can you still avail of the monthly payments or do they have to be paid in full?
Anyone know of this would mean your pass becomes active immediately or when you next go into the parks and would that need to be before a specific date! International pass holder so cancelled as still unable to visit but would love to repurchase for when I can next visit but might be awhile.
Ours expired in March, and our plan was to renew within the 30 day window. Then COVID happened… so we called Disney and were told that we would be allowed to renew up to 6 months later without loss of our renewal savings, but after considering that my wife is somewhat at-risk, and the parks furloughed all entertainment, we opted out of renewal. Our fears regarding exposure were soon put at ease by all of the posts regarding mask mandates and cleanliness at the parks. But after consideration, we realized our biggest draw was the fact that my daughter worked in entertainment, and besides seeing her perform, we enjoyed the street performers, parades, Fantasmic, and all of the night time shows. Since most of that was either cancelled or scaled way back, an annual pass was no longer appealing to us. We went in with a friend on a pass during the summer, soon after reopening, and realized that we had nothing to look forward to after visiting our favorite attractions. We even stayed in a cabin at Copper Creek over the holidays a couple of weeks ago, and while we enjoyed the resort amenities, we didn’t miss the parks as they are currently operating at all. With that being said, once things open up, we will probably start over with our annual passes.
What about cast members who are no longer cast members and now can no longer go to the parks? They would like to buy a annual pass until they are rehired.
So if we have passes that expire in the spring we cannot renew?
When is Disney going to start selling annual passes for everyone?? I have a annual pass, but my husband, being a past cast member and losing the benefit of free entrance (because of lay offs) can’t get in the parks without paying full price now. It is not fun going alone !!! I think Disney should give the past cast member the
option/opportunity of getting an annual pass now. Thank you !
Doesn’t seem quite fair for those who cancelled During the Pandemic to have to go back to full price. The parks were closed and unable to be used. Our annual pass was rendered useless. Disney needs to rethink this.
A week ago, I called the Disney Annual Passholder Line to inquire about renewing my Annual Pass EARLY. The problem I had was that I had a reservation beginning in April & my Annual Pass expired just before my reservation. As a result, I was unable to book Park Days during my stay at Coronado Springs! Well, the nice Cast Member informed me that Disney recognized this “idiosyncrasy” & was NOW permitting Annual Pass Renewal BEFORE the normal “60-days prior to expiration”! In my case, it was almost 100 days before my Annual Pass expires!
Are current pass holders able to renew!
I am an annual passholder and have been for many years as is my daughter who comes to the parks with me. My question is this, we had reservations at a resort last April which would have been on the last day of the Festival of the Arts and the next day for the Flower and Garden show. We are avid collectors of the magnets and were looking forward to the two magnets that we would have received then, one being the orange bird. No one ever answers me about the magnets or getting any of them through the mail or otherwise so hopefully I can get some response this time. Thank you.
Judy Laabs
I’m very confused by the last statement. If I currently have an annual pass that hasn’t expired I can renew it? I just can’t buy a new one unless I fall into one of those other categories mentioned? Is that correct ?
My pass is about to expire.. can I renew?
What are the current annual pass prices.. for silver?
I’m still a little confused?? Do you know yet the prices of the new (adult) Annual Passes without the 15% discount? Thanks!
Am interested in buying an annual pass after canceling, is it good for 1 year after you use it, and how much are they?
Michele, you need to have had an Annual Pass that you cancelled during the period of the closure (March 16 through July 15-ish) that you’d now like to use. Basically for folks who cancelled their APs and have changed their minds now. If you’re not sure, give Disney a call.
Judy, you could reach out to Disney, but the magnets have received mixed reports about being mailed or not.
Robin, the post explains who’s eligible.
We’ve been DVC members for 27 years and our dues statement for 2021 only went up less than a dollar per month. We live here and let our daughter and her family that live locally use our points for several mini vacas for them in the last couple of months that included The Riviera and they’ve been having a wonderful time. Sure they booked studios in most cases, but were able to get upgrades a few times to a one bedroom. The studios that DVC has in recent years are really spacious with those Murphy beds and full size couches added. The bathroom remodels are so nice, also. For a family of 4 with 2 boys ages 10 & 11, they’ve had plenty of room. Loved the pools and other activities and places on property to visit. Make use of the grills that some DVC properties have with bringing your own food and it makes for a really nice getaway.
I second Sarah’s question. Do they take into effect immediately or when you next visit the parks? My guess would be immediate since you otherwise would have kept the annual pass but just curious if anyone knows for sure. Thanks!
Brian and Sarah, I’m not sure the answer to this. Typically you have to activate an AP at a park or Disney Springs Guest Relations.
No word yet on the price of the silver annual pass full price without the beloved discount??
So I just was allowed to renew my annual pass on my Disney experience. No discount was given. 1080 includes tax. I did talk to a cast member on the phone and he was totally clueless about the rule. I’m not sure if u didn’t have a pass u can get one now. No prices online. All the info on this post is news to me and the cast member I talked to yesterday.
Do we know if their is a time limit to buy these? Mine expired during shut down but not ready to go back quite yet.
As much as I hate to say it, $1080 IS the discounted Renewal Rate — that’s what I just paid to renew my pass.
For a NEW Annual Pass (as opposed to a RENEWAL), the price is close to $1300 including tax ($1195 + 6.5% tax).
I was able to renew my annual pass Saturday the 16th. The nice thing was the price hasn’t changed yet so it was the same as last year (platinum with discount was $813). I choose to put a bigger down-payment on it but you don’t have to. Monthly payments are still available regardless. My AP runs typically 1/1-12/31 because I upgraded from a ticket I bought for NYE years ago and this year it was extended through end January because I chose not to cancel. My personal assumption is they will just start selling maybe mid year without the cheaper passes so they can get an influx of money. But that’s just me speculating. As some ppl pointed out DVC Isn’t as valuable without AP options so I’m doubtful they’d completely cancel, just most likely move away from the cheaper ones.
Hey Christine how long did it take for them to call you back or was your pass already active and you just renewed?
Interesting since I just renewed my Platinum Pass earlier this month & was charged $1080.98 (regular rate for a NEW AP is around $1300). I’m curious as to how you got that rate — Florida Resident? You talk about “down-payments”, but all out-of-state Passholder have to pay all at once.
Why is buying a new annual pass not a benefit for DVC members?
When did they start selling people who cancelled new passes? We just got back from WDW on Saturday and called at the beginning of January to buy new passes since we had cancelled during the closures (we had a baby while they were closed and assumed we’d be able to buy new ones when we were ready to go back) and were told we could not buy new passes. We had to buy park tickets would cost as much as a pass. Is this something that just happened?
Sara you’ll have to call the pass holder number and talk to them we called them yesterday we’re all set to buy but have to do so in person so we’re headed to Disney springs this weekend to buy
Thanks, Ray. We’ll look into this.
We did call the annual pass line about 3 weeks ago and were told no. We’re already back home and would have much rather purchased new annual passes then just regular park tickets. Disappointing, not sure when we’ll get to go back now. Thanks for the info though. We must have just missed it. 😩
My family and I fall into the category of those that can purchase APs. It’s been 3 weeks since my initial phone call. In follow-up phone calls, I’ve ben told that I am still on the list and will indeed be contacted. What’s been everyone’s experience regarding the time frame between initial phone call and call back? We have an upcoming trip in June and don’t want to miss out on theme park reservations.
Denise last time I called they directed me to go to guest services to purchase we’re gonna go to Disney springs to but I hope they weren’t stringing me along it’s a 3 hour drive for me
So I called again yesterday and this time was given a reference number. Went to Disney springs today and we were good to get our passes back. One of mine expired and 2 were canceled during shut down and I was able to renew all 3 today.
Ray, that’s good to hear!
On February 5th, approximately 4 weeks from my initial inquiry, I received the call from Disney Reservations to purchase new Annual Passes. All three APs which were canceled during the shutdown were eligible for new purchase, with a DVC discount. Success! 🙂
Made a call to tickets and was told I’d get something in the mail about being qualified,even though the girl on the phone said I was. She said it would be7-10 days. Well,it’s been two weeks now. Anyone have a similar experience? I have a trip in May and want to be able to get my dining reservations at the dusty days.
My wife and I were at the parks on and off for the first two weeks in February. Our annual passes were extended last year from November to this year April 5th. We went to guest services in the front of Epcot and were brought to a special window and easily renewed our annual passes with the cast member. We were still covered under the old passes ( silver and gold) until April 5th and then the new passes start. Price was the same as this year and we did get our 15% perk. It was an easy and stress free process for us.
Harry, so glad to hear it was easy for you!
In the midst of all this, Disney has increased the price of the Platinum AP for out of state guests! Unbelievable!
Before the shut down, the cost of a Platinum AP was $1119 + 6.5% tax, or $1191.74.
With a 15% discount for renewal, it would be $1012.97
We were charged $1080.98 when we renewed.
Adding insult to injury, we were also only given $507 credit for the 10 day park hopper tickets we bought – our stay was to begin after our passes expired, but within the renewal window, so I bought the tickets so we could book park passes. Purchasing those same tickets online, with start date of Jan. 24, would have been $670. The Guest Relations CM told us because they were part of a resort package, they were discounted. That is totally not correct at all – it is actually a few dollars more to book room + ticket package than to book room-only then buy tickets online separately.
This will most certainly be our last renewal of our APs, and we regret renewing this time.
It’s more than 7 days. Our call back took 2+ weeks (close to 3).
What about DVC AP’S ??? I cancelled in April 2020…so I qualify but it is/was a DVC AP. Are they also being sold? ?