Disney Premier Passport

[JennyN]

I am not sure where to post this question so I am trying both here and the WDW thread, hopefully someone will know the answer. I am trying to find out information about the Disney Premier Passport ( annual pass for both WDW and DL). Do you get any discount on dining or merchandise with this pass? The website doesn't say, it just mentions parking. I can't even find the pass on the WDW website. Has anyone looked into or bought one of these passes, any information would be appreciated.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I am not sure where to post this question so I am trying both here and the WDW thread, hopefully someone will know the answer. I am trying to find out information about the Disney Premier Passport ( annual pass for both WDW and DL). Do you get any discount on dining or merchandise with this pass? The website doesn't say, it just mentions parking. I can't even find the pass on the WDW website. Has anyone looked into or bought one of these passes, any information would be appreciated.

The premier AP gets the same discount benefits just as the premium APs at the DLR and WDW. You can look up the premium AP rates at both resorts and find out what the discount rates are.

Right now the DLR premium AP gets 15% discount on most of the quick service and sit downs (except for the carts, Napa Rose) and the merchandise is right now at 20%. WDW dining is at 10-20% discount on specific restaurant. Unlike the DLR which you gets more discounts on the dinging than at WDW, you can get more discount on dining at the WDW if you get the Tables in Wonderland card which gets you 20% off at most sit down restaurants WDW. It not good for quick service just for sit downs. For the merchandise it is at 10-20% at selected stores around the WDW. Just like the dining, the merchandise is limited on selected stores that will accept it.

 

[oc_tony]

My family of 3 spent two weeks at WDW last Christmas, but we are DL locals and are at the parks frequently. When it came time for us to renew our premium APs last December, we crunched the numbers and found that it would actually be cheaper to get the premier pass instead of buying separate hopper tix for WDW in addition to our premium DL APs.

Sorry, I can't help you with on-line info, as we purchased our premiers at the ticket booth at DL, and had them processed in DCA at the designated location in the park. From start to finish, the whole process took about 30 minutes.

As PP indicated, discounts are comparable to premium APs, and CMs have gotten much more familiar with the premier passes. When they first came out, we got some unusual looks when we presented them for our discounts, but this hardly ever happens anymore.

 

[kirsnikity]

Jenny, have you seen this page?
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disney-premier-passport-ticket/

 

[aan1701]

As previous posters have said, you get all the entitlements of a Premium Pass at both WDW and here at DL. I have nothing more to add except I think it is a great deal at $750

 

[csharpwv]

You can't buy them online, OR at the ticket kiosks outside the gates of the park!

I found this very interesting - (as I am a frequent WDW visitor, but got the visit Disneyland 2 times this spring - and am going again soon!) - You can't buy the Premium Annual Pass at the Kiosks. You have to buy a one day ticket, and go inside the park to upgrade it to a PAP.

My transaction took a little longer than 30 minutes as I had gift cards that I was also redeeming as part of the purchase.

At Disneyland, they take your picture - and every time you enter the gates at Disneyland, your picture pops up on the screen for them to confirm that it is indeed YOU coming into the park.

I haven't used my AP at WDW yet, but they were sure to tell me that before I do go to use it, that I will need to stop by guest services OUTSIDE the gates at WDW to get my fingerprint scan digitally attached to the card.

WDW Tickets use a coded magnetic strip on the rear of the card, while DLR uses a thin-line barcode on the rear of the card.

While on the face it seems that one would be just as good as the other, but I quickly found that that wasn't true at all!

Every time I went to get a Fastpass at DLR I had to jiggle the card, change kiosks, put it in, take it out, wait a few seconds and try again. At WDW the kiosk TAKES your card mechanically, where at DLR you just insert the card into a manual slot that is lined up with a red laser scanned on the inside of the slot. It seems antiquated compared to the efficiency of the ticket system at WDW.

IMHO, the magnetic strip at WDW is far more effective than the alternate system at DLR - BUT that information is based on two visits!

Hope the info helps some!

 

[maberlyne]

Is there anyway to buy this while not being at the parks, and still get the monthly payment option? I'd love to buy around March of next year, but am trying to plan trips and maximize so I don't have to buy a pass before I actually need it!

 

[kikiq]

Is there anyway to buy this while not being at the parks, and still get the monthly payment option? I'd love to buy around March of next year, but am trying to plan trips and maximize so I don't have to buy a pass before I actually need it!

I can answer this since I asked this question when we tried to convert our DLR APs to Premier at WDW this last May. No monthly payment for WDW addition. In fact, if you add WDW to your DLR pass, then it will have the same renewal as your DLR AP. For us that meant our Premier pass would be up for renewal in December, not even a full year. It actually cost more to add the Premier pass to our DLR Premium pass for 7 months, than to buy a DVC AP which would get us 12 months until our next WDW visit during May 2012.

 

[csharpwv]

As PP Said - no option to make payments.

It's another funny difference between the two passes -

There is a ticket tax on the Florida portion, but no ticket tax on the CA portion - so you actually have to pay FL tax in CA. There was a single line item on my receipt for FL tax!

It is an odd pass in that is really only like buying an AP to WDW and DLR - but putting that AP on one card. Each system will track the pass individually, the systems don't actually communicate to one another - at least as far as I can tell!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

You can't buy them online, OR at the ticket kiosks outside the gates of the park!

[snip]

Not sure when you bought your Premier AP, but DL no longer has AP processing centers inside the parks. All AP transactions are now handled at the ticketing booths. I assume this means you now buy or upgrade to the Premier at this location as well. -- Suzanne

 

[csharpwv]

Not sure when you bought your Premier AP, but DL no longer has AP processing centers inside the parks. All AP transactions are now handled at the ticketing booths. I assume this means you now buy or upgrade to the Premier at this location as well. -- Suzanne

I just bought my pass in April 2011! Have they made that change since then? WOW

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

I just bought my pass in April 2011! Have they made that change since then? WOW

Yes, they closed the AP processing center at the Plaza Pavilion to convert it into the Jolly Holiday Bakery.

 

[AquaDame]

When I bought my premier pass last September I absolutely bought it right at the ticket counter at DL... I used the voucher showing I had paid for it to gain entry into the park and then go to the now extinct AP spot to have my picture taken and get the actual card. Not sure why the other person had to buy a one day pass then upgrade...

I received 20% off at a bunch of restaurants and merchandise locations - counter service and the carts seemed more hit or miss with it and in WDW the discount was less. In order to get 20% off food in WDW you have to buy the Tables in Wonderland card and then it automatically adds 18% tip every time you use it. Ive heard you can ask a manager to alter it if you receive truly awful service but I never did...

You do get to park at the parks in WDW for free - I was just waved through when I flashed my card and with the TIW card you get free valet parking at the resorts when you show your receipt proving you ate there (we did this many times... I am going to miss that since I'm not renewing the pass for next year).

Technically you are supposed to be the only person who uses the discount but my Mom used it without issue as long as she used cash - the real catch is the name on the CC has to match so if there is no CC name then they don't seem to care. Or perhaps we just got lucky - I was always standing right there with her after all.

What else can I answer?

 

[aan1701]

I received 20% off at a bunch of restaurants and merchandise locations - counter service and the carts seemed more hit or miss with it and in WDW the discount was less. In order to get 20% off food in WDW you have to buy the Tables in Wonderland card and then it automatically adds 18% tip every time you use it. Ive heard you can ask a manager to alter it if you receive truly awful service but I never did...

You do get to park at the parks in WDW for free - I was just waved through when I flashed my card and with the TIW card you get free valet parking at the resorts when you show your receipt proving you ate there (we did this many times... I am going to miss that since I'm not renewing the pass for next year).

Were did you get 20% off on food at Disneyland? I always get 15% off. As for TWI I will be getting that again in a few weeks when I get to WDW. I do not mind they put the tip on there. Makes my life easier not having to figure out the tip on the original bill and you get the discount on the booze, that's the best part. I will be getting another Premier pass as long as I live 30 min from Disneyland and a DVC member going to WDW for two weeks a year. It really is the best ticket deal if you use it.

 

[Tiradan]

Hello everyone. My first post here. I am planning on buying the Disney Premier Passport ($849 + tax). I understand I can only buy this pass while I'm physically at Disneyland (I'll be there next Saturday, 7/14, woohoo!) and I have a few questions:

• Can I buy the Passport and use it the same day?
• Can I buy the Passport from the Ticket Booths outside of the park? (I'm assuming I can based on previous posts, just wanted to confirm).
• What time do the Ticket Booths open? On 7/14 Disneyland is opening at 8AM, will I have enough time to buy my Passport and still get to the entrance turnstiles for the mad dash to the FastPass machines?
• Will I have to get my photo taken somewhere in the park? If so, how will I get into the park if I don't have a picture yet?

Thanks in advance for all the help

 

[Flynn_Rider]

Hello everyone. My first post here. I am planning on buying the Disney Premier Passport ($849 + tax). I understand I can only buy this pass while I'm physically at Disneyland (I'll be there next Saturday, 7/14, woohoo!) and I have a few questions:

• Can I buy the Passport and use it the same day?
• Can I buy the Passport from the Ticket Booths outside of the park? (I'm assuming I can based on previous posts, just wanted to confirm).
• What time do the Ticket Booths open? On 7/14 Disneyland is opening at 8AM, will I have enough time to buy my Passport and still get to the entrance turnstiles for the mad dash to the FastPass machines?
• Will I have to get my photo taken somewhere in the park? If so, how will I get into the park if I don't have a picture yet?

Thanks in advance for all the help

Yes, yes, about 30 minutes prior to the opening of the gates (so kinda meh if you're trying for RSRs), and yes go to any PhotoPass operator and tell them you need a photo.

 

[ludari]

I am not sure where to post this question so I am trying both here and the WDW thread, hopefully someone will know the answer. I am trying to find out information about the Disney Premier Passport ( annual pass for both WDW and DL). Do you get any discount on dining or merchandise with this pass? The website doesn't say, it just mentions parking. I can't even find the pass on the WDW website. Has anyone looked into or bought one of these passes, any information would be appreciated.

I've had the Premier Passport for two years and yes you do get the biggest discounts on merchandise and some dining locations offered because each passport is different. I also purchased Tables in Wonderland (TIW) for $75 which is $25 off if you use your Premier Passort discount. TIW is only good at WDW but it's still a great value for what you get.

 

[aan1701]

Yes you can buy the pass at any ticket booth. Keep in mind it takes them a while to do it. The fastest I have ever had it take was about 7 min when we ran down to get my wife's pass two days before the price increase. There are a few extra steeps the CM has to go though to sell the pass. Once you get the pass it will be active so you can use it a DL. You don't need to find a photopass person right away. Go get your FP for whatever you are getting then you can take your pic. Heed this warning. Hold onto the receipt. Take it with you the first time you use it at WDW. When I first used my current pass at WDW on 2/29 it did not work. Not going into that story as there is more than one story, just a heads up.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[sandgrace]

Has anyone done the numbers on the Premier Passport? How many times would you need to visit DLR and WDW in a year to make getting a Premier worth it?

 

[Brumbie13]

Has anyone done the numbers on the Premier Passport? How many times would you need to visit DLR and WDW in a year to make getting a Premier worth it?

Premier Annual Pass: $850
California Park Hopper Pass: $120
Florida Park Hopper Pass: $100

Go to California parks 7 times a year and your pass paid for itself.
Go to Florida parks 8 times a year and your pass paid for itself.

Also factor in the free parking ($15/day) the merchandise discount (20%) and the restaurant discount (15% in California) and it works out to be less.

I would say if you spend 6 days a year at California parks or 7 days a year at Florida parks or a combination of 7 days a year at either of the two parks the Premier Passport is worth the money.