Florida Resident Annual Pass Black Out Dates?

[C.Ann]

When I get to Florida (hopefully late March) I plan on buying a regular AP and was going to buy a Florida AP for my sister, who now resides there year-round.. (Well actually, I guess I would need to give her the money and she would have to buy it herself..)

I didn't know the Florida ones had black out dates though.. I'd like to know what they are so we can plan our trips to the parks accordingly - including a trip in December when my DD, her DH & my DGD will be coming down as well..

Any info would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks!

 

[degrapevine]

Hi, C.Ann!

There are actually several different types of Florida Resident Passes available, the Annual Pass, the Premium Annual Pass, and the Seasonal Pass.
The Seasonal Pass is the least expensive and is the only one with blackouts.
Here's some information I copied from All Ears Net about the Seasonal Pass and its blackout dates.

Florida Resident Seasonal Pass - A Seasonal Pass that entitles you to admission to Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park except during the following blackout dates:

April 8-21, 2006
June 10 to August 17, 2006
December 22, 2006 to January 5, 2007
Note that the Seasonal Pass does include a subscription to the Mickey Monitor newsletter but does NOT include complimentary theme park parking. For current pricing information, visit our Ticket Chart page.

When you order the Seasonal Pass in advance, you will receive a certificate in the mail. Redeem the certificate for a Seasonal Pass at any Walt Disney World Theme Park ticket window by presenting the certificate and valid photo ID. The Seasonal Pass is valid for 365 days from certificate redemption. When ordering the Florida Resident Seasonal Pass at the Walt Disney World Resort, your pass will be activated at purchase.

Proof of Florida residency is required -- you must provide any one of the following:
Florida driver's license
Florida state-issued ID card (must have Florida address)
Florida voter's registration card with corresponding picture ID
Florida college/university ID
Florida-based military ID

Hope your travel dates aren't within the blackouts!
Enjoy ...
Rose

 

[lewdyan1]

It seems like you are refering to the Florida Seasonal Passholder tickets. They are the ones with blackout dates. This is the info from Disney's website. There is also a Florida Resident Annual Pass that is good all year and the Premium that includes the water parks.

A Seasonal Pass entitles you to admission** toMagic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park Except the following dates:
* December 22, 2005 - January 5, 2006
* April 8, 2006 - April 21, 2006
* June 10, 2006 - August 17, 2006
* December 22, 2006 - January 5, 2007
**Except for activities/events separately priced.

You also get:
* The exclusive "Mickey Monitor" Passholder newsletter
* Special offers on Walt Disney World® dining, merchandise, backstage tours, and much more!

When you order the Seasonal Pass, you will receive an exchange certificate in the mail. Redeem the exchange certificate for a Seasonal Pass at any Walt Disney World® Theme Park ticket window by presenting the exchange certificate and valid photo ID. The Seasonal Pass is valid for 365 days from exchange certificate redemption.

Proof of Florida residency is required -- you must provide any one of the following:
* Florida driver's license
* Florida state-issued ID card (must have Florida address)
* Florida voter's registration card with corresponding picture ID
* A college ID for a Florida college
* Florida-based military ID

Passes are non-transferable, are only valid during regularly scheduled operating hours and exclude activities / events priced separately. No additional discounts apply.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks! Now does that Seasonal Pass include park hopping or is that extra?

Also, is there any reason an "Annual" Florida pass would be better for her than a "Seasonal" pass?

All these passes and ticket options make my head spin - LOL..

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

Basically it goes like this :

All of the Passes include the parkhopping feature, as well as discounts on certain items and at the resorts

the most Expensive pass is the Florida Resident PREMIUM annnual pass which includes free parking at all parks and hotels,entrace to the four main parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom,Epcot, ans Disney Mgm Studios) It also includes admission to Both water Parks (BLizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) Disney Quest ( an indoor arcade/ similar to a Dave and Busters or Gameworks but better) and other perks that Im not exactly certain about but you can check on Disney's Website this pass has no blackout dates (you can go ANYDAY of the year)

Next in line would be the Florida Resident ANNUAL Pass which includes Admission to the four main parks, free parking, it basically takes away the option of waterparks and disneyquest, etc.

the last in line would be Florida Resident SEASONAL Pass wich works just like the ANNUAL pass except it has blackout dates, mainly the Summer Months, The week of Thanksgiving, The weeks Around Christmas and New years And the Weeks around Easter and Spring Break.

So If your sister lives nearby Orlando and will be visiting the parks alot during the summer of aroumd holidays it may be better to purchase either the ANNUAL or PREMIUM ANNUAL pass.

Hope I helped Click Here for Disneys Page with all the Info

 

[lillygator]

You can hop all you want with the seasonal!! Only the blackout dates apply!! Personally - unless you want to be able to go any day...there is no difference in the AP and SAP...the SAP is blocked during holidays and summer. Why to most Floridians is not that great a time to go, I may change my mind once my girls are in school! Up until this year we had SAP, but got the PAP....this year...I am thinking we may be spoiled! We still won't use it during the summer, but wanted the water parks as well!

 

[jeffn5631]

It has been our experience that WDW is doing you a big favor with the black out dates because you will want to stay away anyway with so many people being there during those dates. We also have AP to Sea World and Busch Gardens so it is a good time to visit those parks during the black out dates and they have no restrictions like WDW. I would recommend if you plan on attending regularly, one person get the regular pass and the other the seasonal pass because the regular pass will pay for free parking and that savings alone almost pays for the seasonal pass and if you attend many times (parking fee $9.00) it will more than pay for it.

J & J

 

[C.Ann]

Basically it goes like this :

All of the Passes include the parkhopping feature, as well as discounts on certain items and at the resorts

the most Expensive pass is the Florida Resident PREMIUM annnual pass which includes free parking at all parks and hotels,entrace to the four main parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom,Epcot, ans Disney Mgm Studios) It also includes admission to Both water Parks (BLizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) Disney Quest ( an indoor arcade/ similar to a Dave and Busters or Gameworks but better) and other perks that Im not exactly certain about but you can check on Disney's Website this pass has no blackout dates (you can go ANYDAY of the year)

Next in line would be the Florida Resident ANNUAL Pass which includes Admission to the four main parks, free parking, it basically takes away the option of waterparks and disneyquest, etc.

the last in line would be Florida Resident SEASONAL Pass wich works just like the ANNUAL pass except it has blackout dates, mainly the Summer Months, The week of Thanksgiving, The weeks Around Christmas and New years And the Weeks around Easter and Spring Break.

So If your sister lives nearby Orlando and will be visiting the parks alot during the summer of aroumd holidays it may be better to purchase either the ANNUAL or PREMIUM ANNUAL pass.

Hope I helped Click Here for Disneys Page with all the Info

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Thanks! That's exactly the info I needed.. She lives about 50 minutes away, so I could see her jaunting down there for the day with some friends when I'm not in Florida myself, so I think the Annual Pass would be the way to go.. She's not interested in the Water Parks or Disney Quest, so the premium isn't necessary, but it would be nice for her to be able to go any day that she wants..

 

[sodaseller]

It has been our experience that WDW is doing you a big favor with the black out dates because you will want to stay away anyway with so many people being there during those dates. :

Our experience exactly. The SAP is a no-brainer to us, as we steadfastly avoid going during crowded times in any event, and that lets us save money

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

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Thanks! That's exactly the info I needed.. She lives about 50 minutes away, so I could see her jaunting down there for the day with some friends when I'm not in Florida myself, so I think the Annual Pass would be the way to go.. She's not interested in the Water Parks or Disney Quest, so the premium isn't necessary, but it would be nice for her to be able to go any day that she wants..

Glad I could be of help, but dont discount these wise peoples opinion! The dates blacked out on the Seasonal are blacked out because they are THE BUSIEST times of the year...I say maybe this year (her first in Florida I am assumming) get the regular Annual Pass and see how much she uses it during the dates that are normally blacked out...if she finds that she doesnt mind the crowds, then the Annual Pass is best for her, but if she finds that the weather is to HOT and HUMID (which it will be) and she doenst like those crowds then maybe the next year she could go for the seasonal ...or vice versa...shecan do seasonal this year and see how it goes..when it comes time to renew she can always Up-Grade!

 

[C.Ann]

You can hop all you want with the seasonal!! Only the blackout dates apply!! Personally - unless you want to be able to go any day...there is no difference in the AP and SAP...the SAP is blocked during holidays and summer. Why to most Floridians is not that great a time to go, I may change my mind once my girls are in school! Up until this year we had SAP, but got the PAP....this year...I am thinking we may be spoiled! We still won't use it during the summer, but wanted the water parks as well!

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I suppose I could just show her the blackout dates (I assume they "kind" of stay the same from year to year) and then let her decide.. Personally, I can't see myself ever being there during the really crowded times (and summers are definitely out for me because I'm up in the Adirondack Mts from mid-April to late Oct/early Nov) but the Dec. trip (with the rest of my family) will probably be right around Thanksgiving or the 1st week in Dec. and I want to be sure she can come along too..

The one thing I know she would absolutely LOVE is the Flower & Garden Show..

I guess I'll leave the decision to her.. After all, it's my gift to her, so I want to be sure to get what she really wants..

 

[Talking Hands]

Florida AP and PAP do not have blackout dates. Florida Seasonal Pass has balckout dates.

 

[Talking Hands]

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I suppose I could just show her the blackout dates (I assume they "kind" of stay the same from year to year) and then let her decide.. Personally, I can't see myself ever being there during the really crowded times (and summers are definitely out for me because I'm up in the Adirondack Mts from mid-April to late Oct/early Nov) but the Dec. trip (with the rest of my family) will probably be right around Thanksgiving or the 1st week in Dec. and I want to be sure she can come along too..

The one thing I know she would absolutely LOVE is the Flower & Garden Show..

I guess I'll leave the decision to her.. After all, it's my gift to her, so I want to be sure to get what she really wants..

Since I like to go spur of the moment I have an AP. WE do like to go during Christmas Season as well as during Spring Break or Easter depending on our church obligations. I interpret, Jim does drama. At one point we had PAP but never use the water parks or DQ. I just buy a PI annual pass for me and if my husband wants to go we go on Friday.

 

[becobscot]

Even if you don't plan to go during the busy times, consider that the SAP does NOT include parking. So if your sister goes often, it would be 9 bucks to park each time with the SAP.

 

[C.Ann]

Even if you don't plan to go during the busy times, consider that the SAP does NOT include parking. So if your sister goes often, it would be 9 bucks to park each time with the SAP.

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Hmmm...good point.. I don't think she'd be too thrilled to be paying $9 to park if she just wanted to zip down there for a few hours..

Thanks for bringing that to my attention!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

the last in line would be Florida Resident SEASONAL Pass wich works just like the ANNUAL pass except it has blackout dates, mainly the Summer Months, The week of Thanksgiving, The weeks Around Christmas and New years And the Weeks around Easter and Spring Break.

Click Here for Disneys Page with all the Info

The week of Thanksgiving has never been included in the blackout dates.... only summer months, 2-3 week span over Christmas & 2 week span over Easter...

 

[mrzrich]

Last year they lifted the summer blackout dates early. We got a post card in the mail in July which said "Come on over...the summer blackout is over" It gave us an unexpected visit before the kids went back to school, but it was hot and crowded, and I wouldn't go in July again blackout dates or not!

This Christmas we went the week before the blackout started Dec15-20. It was lovely, we saw all the Christmas events and decorations. No crowds, short waits, always a seat on the bus, lots of restaurants to choose from. On our last day the crowds arrived. The buses were packed, waits for rides that had been walk ons the day before were suddenly 40-90 minutes, Fastpasses were gone by 11, counterservice entailed waiting in a long line, and then searching for an empty table, The walkway between IASW and Peter Pan towards Liberty Square had was packed. It was the Polar opposite of the relaxing days we had just had in the precceeding days.

Trust me Disney does us a favor by blacking us out.

 

[safetymom]

I have the Florida Annual Pass. I like that one because I don't have to worry about blackout dates. I have visitors come throughout the year and I don't have to worry whether or not I can get in the parks.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We like getting the annual pass as well since we will generally want to see Disney during some of the blackout times. We just know it will be crowded and go see the lesser known things.

 

[Martha7]

For your sister, the parking fees would be a consideration, since she lives close enough to visit the parks without needing a resort to stay in. For those who live a distance away, the SAP might still work, since if they stay in a Disney resort, their parking would be free anyway! This is what we used when we lived in the Ft. Lauderdale area. I agree that in her case, the regular AP would be the way to go. Has she visited the waterparks? She might love them, and then wish that she had gotten the PAP.