Yes, you have to buy park tickets, and this year it has changed that you have to buy a minimum of a two-day basic ticket.
However, what many passholders do (and we have done in the past), is go ahead and purchase the package with the minimum ticket requirement, then just don't use those tickets. (They are good forever if not used). Then when it comes time to renew or get new annual passes, use the value of the tickets towards the annual passes. Just make sure you go to an outside ticket window at one of the major theme parks to do this. They are the most knowleagable as far as ticket upgrades go.
One other tip. If the cost of ticket media goes up between the time you purchase the package and when you actually use them to upgrade. Use the ticket in a turnstyle to enter a park, THEN go back outside to the ticket window and upgrade. The ticket media will instantly be worth full current face value.
