Becoming a Disney World Annual Passholder is a bucket-list dream for many.

There are plenty of perks to being an Annual Passholder, too — from getting to go to the parks whenever you want (as long as you have a Park Pass reservation — with some exceptions!) to discounts on dining, hotels, and so much more. But, there might be some Annual Passholder perks you don’t know about — so let’s find out how you can use them ALL to your advantage!

There’s nothing like walking into Disney World as an Annual Passholder for the first time. Whether you are one or are thinking of becoming one, knowing about the PERKS of being an Annual Passholder (aside from park access) is critical for making the most out of your pass. Here’s what you need to know!

Theme Park Access

Of course, access to the four main Disney World theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios is the biggest perk to being a passholder. Keep in mind, though, that in most cases you’ll still need Park Pass reservations to visit.

As of January 9th, 2024, Disney World no longer requires a Park Pass Reservation for most guests. Those who buy a regular date-based ticket from Disney (either on its own or as part of a vacation package) no longer have to reserve their park visit in advance. (Date-based tickets are what Disney describes as the “standard” ticket option offered to guests.)

But, select guests including — but not limited to — Disney World Annual Passholders and Cast Members must still make Park Pass Reservations (with some exceptions).

So, when do Annual Passholders NOT need a Park Pass? First, Annual Passholders can visit the Disney World theme parks after 2PM WITHOUT a Park Pass reservation — with one important exception. Passholders still need to schedule Park Pass reservations for Saturdays and Sundays if they want to visit Magic Kingdom, even if that visit is planned for after 2PM. So, if an Annual Passholder wants to go to Magic Kingdom on a Saturday or Sunday, even if they plan to visit after 2PM, they’ll still need a Park Pass.

Disney World Annual Passholders (and Cast Members) are also eligible for “Good to Go” days which do not require a Park Pass reservation and do not count against your Park Pass reservation allotment. “Good to Go” days are added to the calendar throughout the year so you’ll want to keep checking it for updates.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Park Pass reservation system in Disney World and how it works now

Free Parking

Standard Parking is included at all the theme parks, and you can upgrade to Preferred Parking for an additional fee if you want a spot a bit closer to the entrance.

This can come in handy if you plan on driving to Disney World, and since many Annual Passholders are locals, it helps cut down on some additional costs normally associated with your trip.

Park Hopping

People with standard park tickets have to pay a bit more if they want the ability to Park Hop — or switch to a different park (a quick reminder that Park Hopping is available all day long once again thanks to changes made in 2024). But for Annual Passholders, Park Hopping is included with the pass!

So, if you want to start your day in Magic Kingdom and end it at EPCOT, you can hop over to EPCOT anytime (as long as you’ve scanned into Magic Kingdom first!) You could even hit all four parks in one day. Keep in mind that Park Pass reservations are still often required for Annual Passholders (with the exceptions of the “Good to Go” days and the after 2PM rule), so make sure you’ve reserved the park you want to start at first if a reservation is required for the day of your visit.

Click here to see our full page about Park Hopping at Disney World

Discounts

Annual Passholders get discounts on a TON of different things throughout Disney World. You can receive up to 20% off your purchase at select restaurants throughout the parks and hotels — though alcohol is not included and there are some exceptions like third-party operated spots, EPCOT festival booths, and a few others.

Not only that, but Passholders can get up to 20% off their purchase of select merchandise! This can be a great way to grab some of the latest Disney gear without breaking the bank, and even if you don’t plan on buying anything on your trip, it’s nice to know that the discount is there if you need it.

Oh, and did we mention you can also save on hotels?! Disney often runs deals for Passholders — meaning you can save a TON on your hotel stay. We’ve seen offers for as much as 35% off your entire stay, which can really make a difference when you’re shelling out the big bucks for a Disney World hotel.

CLICK HERE to see the current Disney World hotel discounts and deals for Annual Passholders (and everyone else too!)

Exclusive Food & Merch

Annual Passholders also have access to exclusive food items! In the past, we’ve seen secret passholder drinks at Joffrey’s Coffee locations, EPCOT festival booths, and even secret passholder-only chocolate. You might have to flash your Annual Pass or My Disney Experience app (specifically the portion of the app showing your Annual Pass) to get them, but you’ll feel pretty cool while you do it.

PRO TIP! If you use Mobile Order, your pass should already connected to the app, making purchasing your exclusive snack easier.

Not interested in exclusive food? Don’t worry, there might be exclusive merchandise around the parks and resorts if that’s more your speed! We’ve seen passholder-exclusive MagicBands, bags, and even EPCOT festival merchandise. You may even be able to shop passholder-only merch online!

You’ll want to keep an eye out for these throughout your trip!

Ride Previews

Disney World is constantly changing and there are often new things to see or do! With the openings of huge new attractions at Disney World — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run — Annual Passholders got to preview the rides before they were officially open! Annual Passholder previews also took place for Moana — Journey of Water in EPCOT.

It may not happen for every new ride opening, but from our experience, it’s one of the best ways to get to ride a new attraction! Disney usually sends out emails or notifications with information about ride previews, but it’s up to you to try and snag one, as not all passholders will get the chance.

We’ve seen Disney use a virtual waiting room for Annual Passholder ride preview registration where you can choose a date and time to experience the new ride, but from what we’ve seen — not every passholder can get one as they go FAST. When a new ride is close to opening, keep an eye out for that email in case Disney gives passholders the opportunity for a preview.

Passholder Entrance

You’ve probably been thrown off-guard by the long lines of people trying to scan into the parks to enter, but passholders usually don’t have to worry about that — thanks to the exclusive entrance! You’ll find them at each Disney World park, and depending on the time of day you might get to avoid a line altogether.

But, just because there’s a special entrance doesn’t always mean it’s your best bet — we’ve seen the passholder entrance line be even longer than the regular ones. It makes sense since there are usually only one or two passholder entrances but there are plenty of regular turnstiles for people to go through. So just be mindful when entering the parks!

Peace of Mind

As much as we love Disney World, we know that it’s not necessarily a relaxing vacation for many people. You’ve spent a TON of dough to be there and you probably want to get your money’s worth (and rightfully so), which can make you feel like you need to see and do everything. We’re talking rope drop to park close, every ride, all the best restaurants, and more.

But, that takes a LOT of work and can be extremely exhausting. Having an Annual Pass often means you can be more relaxed when you’re in the parks since you’re not worried about seeing and doing everything in a single trip. You know that with your pass you can come back to the parks all year long and check it out the next time. Taking the time to really enjoy yourself and see the little things or do something you might not normally do can make the parks that much more magical.

For people who find themselves anxious on trips to Disney World, getting an Annual Pass can totally change the game. Want to just head to the parks for dinner? Why not?! What’s that, you don’t have a plan? Totally fine — just enjoy the parks as they are since you can have a planned trip next time.

Other Special Perks

BUT WAIT…there’s MORE! Disney World Annual Passholders can also get:

• Discounts on certain special events and entertainment (like 15% off the Behind the Seeds tour at EPCOT, 15% off the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, and $2 off admission at the AMC Disney Springs)
• Discounts on certain sports and recreation (like 15% off bike rentals where available, 15% off Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf, and 15% off Winter Summerland Miniature Golf)

Passholders may also get discounts on After Hours events, discounted tickets for holiday parties, and specially priced water park tickets.

AND sometimes limited-time Annual Passholder perks pop up that you will not want to miss! You’ll want to stay tuned to our website for details, but also check the Passholder Buzz section of the My Disney Experience app or the Annual Passholder perks website. For example, starting in early May 2024, Passholders are getting ALL KINDS of special offers for a limited time, including:

• Access to a FREE Stitch Magnet (free Annual Passholder magnets do pop up from time to time throughout the year!)
• Access to a Passholder Lounge in EPCOT (this is something that has popped up previously as well)
• Access to new Photo Ops for Passholders
• A limited-time discount for DisneyStore.com

Becoming a Disney World Annual Passholder is a commitment and one that comes with a lot of benefits. Only you can determine whether or not it’s right for you, but we hope you have a better idea of what being a passholder means. Disney has paused and resumed the sale of passes multiple times in recent years. But,

Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more.

Everything You Need To Know About Disney World’s Annual Pass Program

What do you think is the best part of being a passholder? Tell us in the comments.