Disney Premier Passport

[SuzanneSLO]

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.

I think the analysis is generally more complicated than that because if you only plan to go to WDW or DL, the AP for that specific park is going to be a better value.

For me, the starting point is that you need at least 2 trips to either WDW or DL and a 3rd trip to the other for it to possibly make sense. Even then, you still have to run the numbers.

For example, if you are making enough trips to DL for the $649 PAP to make sense for you, it is only about $225 to upgrade to a Premier. However, if you only plan to go to WDW for one day, then as you stated, a 1 Day PH is less than that. Under that scenario, don't buy the Prmeier; instead buy an DL PAP and A WDW 1 day PH. -- Suzanne

 

[CalvaryMike]

The calcualation also gets more complicated, if you use a multi-day ticket and/or discounts. For instance, going to DL on two consecutive days is $200 full price ($180 local work discount) vs. two non consecutive days $376 full price.

 

[Brumbie13]

I think the analysis is generally more complicated than that because if you only plan to go to WDW or DL, the AP for that specific park is going to be a better value.

For me, the starting point is that you need at least 2 trips to either WDW or DL and a 3rd trip to the other for it to possibly make sense. Even then, you still have to run the numbers.

For example, if you are making enough trips to DL for the $649 PAP to make sense for you, it is only about $225 to upgrade to a Premier. However, if you only plan to go to WDW for one day, then as you stated, a 1 Day PH is less than that. Under that scenario, don't buy the Prmeier; instead buy an DL PAP and A WDW 1 day PH. -- Suzanne

The calcualation also gets more complicated, if you use a multi-day ticket and/or discounts. For instance, going to DL on two consecutive days is $200 full price ($180 local work discount) vs. two non consecutive days $376 full price.

You guys do all the algebra you want, I like the keep things simple.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

You guys do all the algebra you want, I like the keep things simple.

well it would be worth it if you had a DL Premium or Deluxe pass and you were going even one time to wdw...because its about $300 for a 3 day PH pass at wdw and the difference between DL premium and the Premier is $200 and deluxe and premier is $300

 

[DLR29]

I plan on buying the Premier when my current Premium runs out because I'll be running the WDW Goofy Challenge in January.

So I figure that if I go early and go to the parks for 4 days in FL, that's a $270 base ticket (through UnderCover Tourist), $312 if you add park hopping.

Subtract that from $850 and you get $580, which is less than a Premium AP, which is very much worth it for me because I take lots of friends on weekend trips.

So if you normally get a Premium at DLR and are planning even one trip to WDW, the premier is worth it.

 

[aan1701]

For me the economics were really easy. We always got premium passes to DL because we live 30 miles away and we can go whenever we want and we like to go on New Years. So our mind set is if we go to WDW for three days it pays for its self.

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[Tiradan]

Just wanted to thank everyone who replied to my question upthread, and to post my experience purchasing and using the Disney Premier Passport (DPP).

• After arriving at the Fairfield Inn at 0330, I woke up at 0630 and walked to Disneyland.
• After displaying the contents of my backpack to the CM in the green security tent, I made it to an open window at the ticket booths.
• It took approximately 30 minutes to get the DPP which cost exactly $876.60 ($849.00 + $27.60 tax).
• The reason it took so long is that they kept trying to verify that the information reached the computers in Florida.
• The CM selling me the DPP told me to keep my credit card receipt and guard it with my life.
• During my 30 minute wait I traded $100 for $100 in Disney Dollars, which are super cool .
• I got in line to DCA at approximately 0730. After showing them the DPP, they asked me for my ID and let me in.
• After obtaining a WoC FP, I got another FP that told me to register for an EE, which I did when I got back home to Hawaii.
• When I used the DPP the 2nd day they asked me for my ID again and told me I needed to take a picture with one of the ubiquitous PhotoPass photographers.
• I found one right inside the gate, asked him if my hair was ok, and took the picture.
• I saved approximately $60 using the DPP when buying food, drink and souvenirs.

 

[Brumbie13]

Just wanted to thank everyone who replied to my question upthread, and to post my experience purchasing and using the Disney Premier Passport (DPP).

• After arriving at the Fairfield Inn at 0330, I woke up at 0630 and walked to Disneyland.
• After displaying the contents of my backpack to the CM in the green security tent, I made it to an open window at the ticket booths.
• It took approximately 30 minutes to get the DPP which cost exactly $876.60 ($849.00 + $27.60 tax).
• The reason it took so long is that they kept trying to verify that the information reached the computers in Florida.
• The CM selling me the DPP told me to keep my credit card receipt and guard it with my life.
• During my 30 minute wait I traded $100 for $100 in Disney Dollars, which are super cool .
• I got in line to DCA at approximately 0730. After showing them the DPP, they asked me for my ID and let me in.
• After obtaining a WoC FP, I got another FP that told me to register for an EE, which I did when I got back home to Hawaii.
• When I used the DPP the 2nd day they asked me for my ID again and told me I needed to take a picture with one of the ubiquitous PhotoPass photographers.
• I found one right inside the gate, asked him if my hair was ok, and took the picture.
• I saved approximately $60 using the DPP when buying food, drink and souvenirs.

Thanks for the update!

 

[marybaby08]

I didn't know about the premier pass. A few weeks ago I bought the Florida resident annual pass with no blockout days. I only pay $30 monthly, in November I'm going to Disneyland for a week can I upgrade to premier?

 

[Flynn_Rider]

I didn't know about the premier pass. A few weeks ago I bought the Florida resident annual pass with no blockout days. I only pay $30 monthly, in November I'm going to Disneyland for a week can I upgrade to premier?

Yes, but you'll pay the difference between your pass and the $850 premier pass and then continue making the $30 a month.

 

[ethanwa]

I love the Premier Passport. Allows me to get ALL discounts at both parks.... food, hotels, tickets, etc etc...

If you plan on going to DL and WDW even just ONCE each within a 12 month period, look into it! It may save you a bunch of money depending on how long your stay is!

As you can see from my sig, I will have been to both parks a combined 21 days within a year. Just non-park hopper tickets alone for 21 days would costs WAAAY more than the Passport cost me!

 

[dalstitch45]

I guess I am a little late to the discussion, but I also find the PAP pays for itself in our case. Since we are not FL or CA residents, those numbers don't work for my family. We always bought the Premium in FL every year until the Premier came out. The first year was the 15-month deal, which was fantastic.

Since we go to WDW several times a year, and we try to get to DLR at least twice a year it definitely pays for itself. If we lived closer, we would go to DLR more often. When we factor in all the discounts on both coasts, it's even better.

The numbers work out better for us being on the east coast. It was a no brainer to buy the PAP for us. The cost of the Premium AP in FL plus a 3-5 park hopper at DLR is more than the cost of the Premier. Even with the price increase this year, we will still make out better getting the Premier.

The only issue we had using the Premier in DLR was the picture on the pass. This was when the Premier first came out. Some of the DLR CM's could not understand why we did not have our pictures come up at the ticket turnstiles. The first year they would not even take our pictures because we purchased them in FL. Since then, our pictures are in the system. We never had a problem with the FP kiosks. The passes have always worked just fine at DLR.

 

[sceavis]

Hope somebody can help when In WDW this September i'm looking to upgrade the 8 day base ticket to an Premier pass.What i'm trying to figure out how much more I will need to pay to upgrade?I booked my package before the price increase so do I get credit from what I paid then or after the price increase thanks for the help!!

 

[starry_solo]

Hope somebody can help when In WDW this September i'm looking to upgrade the 8 day base ticket to an Premier pass.What i'm trying to figure out how much more I will need to pay to upgrade?I booked my package before the price increase so do I get credit from what I paid then or after the price increase thanks for the help!!

Allegedly, if you've activated your ticket (used it once in the park), WDW gives you credit for the gate price. But I don't know if they've closed that loophole (DLR never had that loophole).

Be prepared to pay the difference between the discounted rate (whatever it was) and the premier pass (which is $849 + tax).

 

[purple figment]

Hope somebody can help when In WDW this September i'm looking to upgrade the 8 day base ticket to an Premier pass.What i'm trying to figure out how much more I will need to pay to upgrade?I booked my package before the price increase so do I get credit from what I paid then or after the price increase thanks for the help!!

WDW still bridges the ticket price. Since you booked your package before the June 3 price increase you need to use the tickets at least once to enter a theme park to get that day's gate value before upgrading to the DPP (Disney's Premier Passport).

Here's a link to everything you need to know about DW tickets. Cheshire Figment is a ticketing CM and keeps the information up to date and absolutely accurate. Post #7 explains how to upgrade tickets to APs and Post #18 has ticket prices:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

 

[anonymousegirl]

I loved my golden annual pass. The first year it came out, I had separate annual passes for WDW and DLR. One day, a new golden card appeared in my mailbox and it had the DLR expiration date which was four months after my WDW date. So I got an extra trip to Florida!
And when I used it at DLR for the free paking, the CM at the gate was all impressed. I was his first "Coast-to-Coast" as he said.
I didn't get it this past year but I am going to get it this October when my WDW annual pass expires.
I am annoyed that you cannot get the DVC discount though.

 

[aan1701]

I loved my golden annual pass. The first year it came out, I had separate annual passes for WDW and DLR. One day, a new golden card appeared in my mailbox and it had the DLR expiration date which was four months after my WDW date. So I got an extra trip to Florida!
And when I used it at DLR for the free paking, the CM at the gate was all impressed. I was his first "Coast-to-Coast" as he said.
I didn't get it this past year but I am going to get it this October when my WDW annual pass expires.
I am annoyed that you cannot get the DVC discount though.

I remember once I was in DCA. See all the food CM's ask if you have a pass. I took out my Premier Pass for my discount. The CM asked me to give him the pass I used to get into the park in. I told him he was holding it and that he needed to type in the bar code for the discount as the magnetic strip is the admission for WDW. This was about 6 months after the pass was out. I may be the only person who is not annoyed there is no DVC discount. If you add the price together with the DVC discount it is still way cheeper. I am good.

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[Travelingdad]

One thing isn't clear to me with premier passport. Do you get discounts on resorts at WDW and DL? If so, how much.

 

[aan1701]

One thing isn't clear to me with premier passport. Do you get discounts on resorts at WDW and DL? If so, how much.

Yes you do. You get whatever are being offered to AP holders.

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