Annual Passes at Disney World haven’t been sold since the parks closed in March of 2020, except in very specific cases.
Walt Disney World Annual Passholder
Disney announced at the beginning of the month that Annual Passes WOULD return before the start of the 50th-anniversary celebration! Well, now it’s time to mark your calendars! Disney World Annual Passes will go on sale again on September 8th! And we have ALL the details.
Similar to the new Magic Key system in Disneyland, Disney World’s pass system is getting a revamp.
Disney World Annual Pass
The new system will offer 4 passes: the Disney Incredi-Pass, the Disney Sorcerer Pass, the Disney Pirate Pass, and the Disney Pixie Dust Pass. We’re going to walk you through ALL of the pricing and changes here as simply as we can!
Types of Annual Passes and Pricing
Incredi-Pass Pricing
The Disney Incredi-Pass is the most expensive of the bunch at $1,299 plus tax. Florida residents can pay $99 per month for 12 months after a down payment of $205. This pass option has NO blockout dates and you can hold up to 5 park reservations at one time.
Tree of Life
Sorcerer Pass Pricing
Next up is the Disney Sorcerer Pass! This one costs $899 plus tax. Florida residents can pay $63 per month for 12 months after a $205 down payment. The Sorcerer Pass has limited blockout dates, can hold 5 park reservations at a time, and is ONLY available to Florida Residents or Disney Vacation Club Members.
Magic Kingdom
Pirate Pass Pricing
The Disney Pirate Pass will cost you $699 plus tax, with the option to pay $45 per month for 12 months after a $205 down payment for Florida residents. This pass is available only to Florida residents, has blockout dates around peak times and holidays, and can hold 4 park reservations at a time!
Welcome to EPCOT!
Pixie Dust Pass Pricing
Lastly, the Disney Pixie Dust Pass will cost $399 plus tax. Florida residents can pay $19 per month for 12 months after a $205 down payment, and the pass is only available for Florida residents. Most weekdays will be available for guests with the Pixie Dust Pass, however, it has the most blockout dates. It can still hold 3 park reservations at once.
Slinky Dog Dash
Here’s a look at these passes and prices all broken down in one graphic.
©Disney
Reservation Details
As seen above, the number of park reservations that can be held will depend on the pass type. There will also be “bonus reservations” on the calendar available for Passholders from time time, and that reservation will NOT count as part of the limit.
Let’s Go!
When Passholders stay at Disney World resorts or other select hotels, they will be able to make park reservations for each day of their stay. This is in addition to the number of reservations the pass can hold.
©Disney
There will also be enhancements to the reservation system that includes an integrated calendar that lets Passholders see blockout dates for each type of pass, view available dates, and make, modify, or cancel the park reservations all in one spot.
Customization
Passholders will also be able to customize their pass by choosing to include things like Water Parks, Sports, or Disney PhotoPass. All add-on options will be available to purchase with any of the four new passes.
There is a Water Park and Sports upgrade option for $99 plus tax and PhotoPass upgrade for $99 plus tax. These can be added to any pass type.
©Disney
In terms of the Water Park and Sports option, Annual Passholders can pay $99 (plus tax) for the year to enjoy admission to Disney’s water parks, golf courses, and more. For the duration of the Annual Pass, the Water Park and Sports Option add-on will give the guest one admission to select Disney World experiences with no blockout dates, including Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, FootGolf at Disney’s Oak Trail, and more.
©Disney
Note that there are certain restrictions, like miniature golf is only valid for one round and you can only get one miniature golf visit per guest per day. Be sure to check all of the rules and restrictions when purchasing this add-on.
When it comes to the PhotoPass add-on, for $99 (plus tax) for the year, Annual Passholders will be able to download select attraction photos and videos, Disney PhotoPass photos and videos captured from the first valid date of the pass until the pass expires, and get other benefits.
©Disney
Again, note that there are special terms that apply to the PhotoPass add-on, so be sure to check those before purchasing.
Passes will continue to offer perks and benefits including the park hopping option, standard theme park parking, and discounts on merchandise and dining. Disney also mentioned that there would be a few special surprises throughout the 50th anniversary celebration!
How This Impacts Current Annual Passes
If you are currently in your renewal period, you can choose to renew into one of the current Annual Pass options until September 7, 2021. But if you don’t renew before September 8th, your only option will be to renew into the new pass system.
Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you have an ACTIVE Annual Pass right now that isn’t set to expire before September 8th, you will keep your current pass and all of its benefits until it expires. So, for example, if you have a Platinum Pass that doesn’t expire until March of 2022, nothing will change for you until March. When you get into your renewal period, you will then have to renew into one of the new Annual Pass options.
Annual Pass
If you have an Annual Pass that is NOT activated, like you have a certificate for a pass, this is different. To keep this pass, you need to visit the parks and activate it by September 7th. If you do that, you will keep your pass for the next year.
©Disney
If you do NOT activate your pass by the 7th, your pass will be converted into the new Annual Pass system on September 8th. You will be given a pass that is comparable to the one you already have a certificate for, meaning you will NOT lose any of the perks included in that pass. So, if you have an unactivated pass that includes PhotoPass and the Waterparks and Sports option, you will not lose those perks. They will remain on your pass for free. Your park reservations will also not be changed or deleted.
If You Want to Upgrade Your Ticket
Have you already purchased a theme park ticket? Well, good news! Disney has shared that eligible tickets can be upgraded to select pass types. This can be done through My Disney Experience, at a theme park ticket window, or at the Disney Ticket Center at Disney Springs. You can also call Disney at 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639).
Main Street, U..SA.
Where to Purchase Annual Passes
Passes will be available for purchase on the Disney website or on the My Disney Experience app. You can also call 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639), but you may experience long wait times. You can also purchase an Annual Pass at a theme park ticket window or at the Disney Ticket Center in Disney Springs.
©Disney
But NOTE!! To help with attendance numbers, Disney will be limiting the number of Annual Passes on sale. This means the new Annual Passes CAN sell out. So, if you’re planning to purchase a pass on September 8th, be sure to set your alarms so you have a better chance of snagging one! We’ll remind you when Annual Passes go on sale, so stay tuned for the latest Disney news.
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Dawn, the Incredi-Pass is available to anyone. They do ask for proof of residency when it’s something specific to FL residents.
Bethany, when you renew in February, you’ll be shifted into one of the new Passes. Until then you should be set with what you’ve got. According to Disney, folks who renew and are transferred into a new Pass will retain any perks that they have that are not included in the new Pass (i.e. PhotoPass).
Marie, the Incredi-Pass is for everyone.
Mike, the Passes should be useable from the date of activation not the date of purchase.
Kerry, so far we have not seen anything from Disney on this. We will update if they release information about a new Pass that would include both coasts.
Tracey, if you do not activate by September 7, you’ll be transferred into a new Pass when you do activate. Disney is saying, though, that you’ll carry over your existing perks (like PhotoPass or water parks) if they’re part of your current Pass.
Susan, it’ll start when you activate it in March.
Nina, I don’t believe Disney has released that info. I believe online purchases usually start at 6AM. I think the phone lines open at 7AM (EST for both).
DFB Sarah, I got an answer to my question about my existing Gold Pass Certificate that I haven’t yet activated.
I was told via Disney Chat that only if I activate prior to 9/8 will I keep my Gold Pass benefits which included PhotoPass. If I renew after that it will become a Sorcerer Pass without PhotoPass.
Unfortunately, they say I can’t activate my certificate online and I won’t be in the parks until after 9/8. So, because my trip last May was cancelled, Disney has had my money for all this time and I won’t have the benefits that I paid for. And, they haven’t been giving me the AP magnets or deals because the pass isn’t active. Very poor treatment to the Annual Passholders that have supported them.
Lins, they have. On the AP page, click Read More under each new Pass description. The drop down box will include a link to each calendar.
Mike, I think you need to wait until the 8th, but you could give Disney a call to try.
Rita, it should start the day you activate it, not the day you purchase it.
Thanks for sharing, Lisa. Sorry you didn’t get better news.
Chatted earlier with Disney. From what I gather is that your voucher will carry the same perks as when purchased upon activation. Here are. The highlights of the chat that I copied and saved.
You
at 10:25, Aug 31:
So when I do activate my platinum plus pass voucher, it will still be platinum plus and it will have all of the perks and benefits such as water parks, etc. at no additional cost correct ?
Indigo
at 10:27, Aug 31:
That is correct. You would have the benefits of that annual pass type and once you are 60 days prior to expiration, you would be able to renew your annual pass, and it would be to the new passes that were announced yesterday.
John, that is great information. Thank you for sharing.
If I add on the water park package, is it only good for one trip (total) or as many times as I’d like, like with the other parks – reservations permitting? I can’t tell with the wording.
When will the blockout dates be available? Thank you.
Cari, on DisneyWorld.com/pass, click Read More beneath each Pass description. There should be a link for the calendars beneath each Pass type.
Marianna, the wording is very confusing. Our understanding is that it’s meant to be one admission per person per day when you add it — not just one visit per year. So this would mean if you are buying Annual Passes for your whole family, everyone would need to add the Water Parks and Sports Add-On for each person in your group who intends to use it.
So, I have an unactivated Gold pass, purchased during the AP Recovery period, I bought is specifically for use during a Thanksgiving week trip that is booked onsite at a DVC resort. Are you saying that my poass will NOT be good for the trip it was purchased for, as there is no way to activate it until November 20?
Do you know what time they will be available to purchase?
Trisha, typically online sales start at 6AM (possibly earlier), and phone lines open at 7AM (times in EST).
CRS, when you activate the Gold Pass certificate or voucher, you’ll likely be activated into one of the new Passes (though we know readers have gotten conflicting info on this from Disney) but keep the Gold Pass benefits. If you’re concerned about blockout dates on the Pass you are transferred into, I don’t believe I have that info, so you’ll want to reach out to Disney. (Some folks are having difficulty getting the info they need on the phone right now; if that’s the case for you, you may want to try reaching out after the 8th, when all the changes go into effect.)
Are people really thinking these might sell out like immediately? I thought sure they might but it would be at least days or even weeks but I see people planning like they are trying to a new iPhone or avengers tickets or something. Given how bad the website is I really hope that isn’t the case
John, ultimately it’s impossible to know at this point, but the language from Disney sounds like they’d only suspend sales if they needed to do so for capacity.
So if I want to renew my platinum pass in January…it will be $1500 to keep my photopass and water park benefits? That…seems crappy. Or if we renew a pass it will transfer to the new system with old benefits and a renewal deal?
do you know what time the anual passes will go on sale?
Brittany, Disney hasn’t said. Typically Disney says the phone lines open at 7AM. The online sales may start earlier.
Em, if you are in your renewal window (which… you’re not, based on your reference to January) you’d need to renew by today to keep everything as is. When you renew in January, you’ll renew into a new Pass and not carry over your benefits.
I called this morning to swap my current tickets out for an annual pass. I have reservations for Magic Kingdom on October 1 for the 50th and was told if I get the annual pass today then I will lose my reservations. I was told to go to Magic Kingdom on the 1st and then go to the ticket counter/guest services to get my annual pass. Anyone else encounter this, and is it true? Why put the annual passes on sale before the 50th knowing full well many people will want to swap their tickets for an annual pass and currently have reservations set up if they don’t have a way to prevent guests from losing those reservations?
Are the new annual passes good 1 year from purchase date or 1 year from 1st use?
Mike, should be one year from activation.
I had the Epcot after 4 but then I upgraded / renewed in July ’21. When I renew again, will I have to choose one of the new pass options? I see that Silver and Theme Park Select are still currently active. Will they be discontinued as well?
Beth, I would expect they’ll require you to shift into a new Pass. You might give Disney a call ahead of your renewal to see what they say, that way you’re not surprised.
My husband and I want to get our first ever annual passes. We are doing in place of our honeymoon we canceled during Covid. We want to wait until January but I am so worried they will sell out. Do you think we are okay or should we think about buying earlier?
We don’t live in Orlando and we couldn’t activate our son’s pass which we bought in April until this weekend. They didn’t delete his park reservation but we didn’t know it was a black out. For only him. He has a completely different schedule than us. We all have silver passes. He is 5. They didn’t explain any of that to us at any step and they want us to pay more to upgrade him. We paid for our passes in full and told we had a year to activate them. I know things changed but we didn’t receive anything communication directly from Disney and I read about the new passes but didn’t see this fine detail until now. It’s so much information. They won’t help us have our entire family on the same schedule without downgrading to the new system – so many more blackout dates – or upgrading him.
Angela, it’s hard to say. Disney has used that “sell out” language in some places but “could stop selling” in other places, so it’s a little confusing. If you were to purchase them now, you could wait to activate them in January, that way you’re not losing all the time between purchasing and using them. The APs will be good for a year from activation, not from purchase, so that might be something you could consider. Congratulations on your wedding!
I like that you put a byline on your articles, however, it would also be very helpful if you would date them. This way the reader could quickly tell tell if this were new info or something they may have missed or already read.
Thanks! I love your blog!