Is an annual pass worth it?

[71 Truck]

I know it can be a question only I can really answer however I am looking for peoples own experiences and opinions.

My wife and I live close enough to Disney that we would visit more often if it were worth it. We have been DVC members since early 1997 so we have been to Disney many many times in the past. We now mainly use our DVC membership for weekend getaways and spend our time around the hotels and Disney Springs.

In 2007 we purchased our first annual passes and had them for several years. Over the years as we were visiting the parks we noticed that there were a lot of renovations going on. At some point we started to think we were no longer getting our moneys worth because of all the things under construction.

Some time around 2015 or 2016 we decided not to renew the passes.

Around the end of 2019 we decided to get certificates for annual passes to be activated some time in the spring of 2020 and we all know what happened then.
We had several trips planned for 2020 for our anniversary and just about all were canceled, although we did stay at the Wilderness Lodge the first weekend the hotels were open even before the parks.

Eventually, because we never activated our Pass certificates we cashed them in for for Disney gift cards and used them toward a Disney cruise in November 2022.

So with all that said, since we have not had annual passes for the last 8 or 9 years I am starting to look again and am wondering are they worth it.
One of the things that still makes me hesitant is the fact they still have the park reservation system in place.

So my question is, based on your experiences, is it worth it to get annual passes.

By the way, the passes we would be looking at would be the Pirate passes that have black out dates but allow you to visit during the weekends.

 

[CarolynFH]

DH and I had APs during the years we were visiting WDW and specifically the parks often enough to make it financially reasonable. Our process was to calculate the cost of park hoppers for the trips we planned to make over the year, and if the AP cost was no more than $20 or so more, we’d renew the APs. When we got to a time when we didn’t envision enough park days to cover the cost of AP, we didn’t renew.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

I think worth it is simply a math problem when it comes to APs. This is our first year with APs and we love the savings because we're going more often than ever before...but it may slow down after this year so won't renew if that happens. The reservation thing is a slight hassle at worst. I've come up to the gate and had to make a reservation while I stand there and then tap into the park. Stinks but for the savings it was totally worth it.

 

[Sandisw]

I definitely think they are because for us, shorter trips are what we do. I do 6 to 8 a year myself!

Hubby finally gojng this year at least twice, and might even get in a third trip!! With the pass it makes that easy to do!!

 

[RuntheMouse]

For us it’s completely worth it. We go for a couple of weeks in January and 10-14 days in October as well as a few shorter trips throughout the year.

I think if you’re going for a few short trips it can really work as well with the 1 day ticket price where it is now.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

For us, absolutely. We have to do the Incredi-pass vs. Sorcerer because we travel during the December blackout period - that combined with our usual 10-day August trip and the math works. Past few years, we’ve added a 3rd trip, which sweetens the deal.

And this isn’t even counting the AP discounts. We traveled during June this year - which we never do - and the trip coincided with a significant dining discount for AP holders. Saved me at least $300 over 10 days.

So depending on how you use it, it’s a no brainer.

 

[Chuck S]

It is worth it for me, I usually go for two - 8 night trips per year. I'm just sorry that some one the friends I travel with to Disney can't get the Sorcerer pass, so use just regular tickets and only go once a year at the most because of it. At least I'm OK doing solo trips, but I prefer to have friends along.

 

[kanerf]

I do 3 10 day trips a year, so defiantly worth it for me. The discounts are nice to have as well.

 

[DisTravels]

I think worth it is simply a math problem when it comes to APs. This is our first year with APs and we love the savings because we're going more often than ever before...but it may slow down after this year so won't renew if that happens. The reservation thing is a slight hassle at worst. I've come up to the gate and had to make a reservation while I stand there and then tap into the park. Stinks but for the savings it was totally worth it.

Even if the math is borderline (not sure the # of trips you'll make) it can also help just with piece-of-mind that once it's paid it's a sunk cost and you don't have to worry about staying in the park each time long enough to make it worthwhile.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Even if the math is borderline (not sure the # of trips you'll make) it can also help just with piece-of-mind that once it's paid it's a sunk cost and you don't have to worry about staying in the park each time long enough to make it worthwhile.

I was sort of going to mention this. It, along with DVC, really changes the way you do parks. There's no more I have to rush and pack it all in. It really is very liberating lol

 

[Flynn's Gal]

Even if the math is borderline (not sure the # of trips you'll make) it can also help just with piece-of-mind that once it's paid it's a sunk cost and you don't have to worry about staying in the park each time long enough to make it worthwhile.

This is my feeling as well. The perception of the value is that I don't feel like we have to get everything in, every time, since the daily tix are so expensive. With our APs, my feeling is "we can always come back and do that next time." If we only go to a park for a few hours and leave then I don't feel like I'm wasting money that I spent on a daily ticket.

 

[Pens Fan]

We buy the Sorcerer's pass as the blackout days aren't days we'd visit anyway. It's very much worth it for us as we usually take 2 to 3 trips a year. Most of those are for at least a week. Our son joins us often but usually just for a long weekend. Even then the math usually works out for him - especially considering the discount for renewing a pass vs buying a new one. Those 3 and 4 night tickets are stupidly expensive. However his girlfriend who comes with us occasionally just buys date based tickets. She's not eligible for the Sorcerer's pass and that Incredipass is much harder to make the math work.

As for park reservations, while it's annoying that AP's still require them, it's honestly no big deal. We've never once been shut out of whenever we wanted to go and it takes just a few minutes to make them online. I can't imagine that even factoring into whether or not we wanted an AP.

 

[CarolMN]

As for park reservations, while it's annoying that AP's still require them, it's honestly no big deal. We've never once been shut out of whenever we wanted to go and it takes just a few minutes to make them online. I can't imagine that even factoring into whether or not we wanted an AP.

Agree. While it's annoying & a bit of a bother to have to make them, it's not ever been a problem to get them since we are staying at a DVC resort with our points. Disney seems to treat those of us with an AP staying at DVC resort the same as they treat the date based tickets of those staying at an on site resort.

My guess is that they just don't want to bother upgrading their software to eliminate the need for reservations if a passholder is staying at a DISNEY resort.

 

[kanerf]

I will have to go back and check, but I think I have been an AP holder for about 20 years. I was a passholder at Disneyland first as I was working out there, but for the last 20 or so it has been WDW.

 

[AnnaS]

Average two trips a year - 8/9 days each. Worth it. I have been tempted not renewing here and there since we don't spend much time in the parks. Start comparing base/hopper tickets a few days each trip and found still worth to have it.

 

[Miffy]

Agree. While it's annoying & a bit of a bother to have to make them, it's not ever been a problem to get them since we are staying at a DVC resort with our points. Disney seems to treat those of us with an AP staying at DVC resort the same as they treat the date based tickets of those staying at an on site resort.

My guess is that they just don't want to bother upgrading their software to eliminate the need for reservations if a passholder is staying at a DISNEY resort.

This is also my experience. Also, OP, you can go to any park without a reservation after I think it's 2 pm now. So if you wanted to go to dinner at Epcot, for example, that'd be easy and wouldn't require a reservation.

But I've had zero problem changing my park reservation the day of. I even did it once on the bus on the way to Epcot. I do, however, make them in advance.

We take at least 2 7- or 8-day trips a year, so the APs are totally worth it to us, and we're out of state and not DVC, so we're paying a lot for our Incredi-Passes.

 

[71 Truck]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Back in the day I used to tell people if you were going to visit the parks more than 10 days a year the annual passes were worth it.

This was back when, if my memory is correct, they only had one pass and it did not have any blackout dates although I could be wrong because it was a long time ago, at least 20 years or more.

Now with the different passes it can be a little confusing what might be the right pass.
For my wife and I, at the moment, it looks like the Pirate passes might work the best for us based on the cost vs the blackout dates and the time we would visit the parks.

We would not visit during the busier times of the year when most of the blackout dates are listed on the calendar, however not being able to get a reservation on a non blackout date is a little concerning.

Again thanks everyone.

 

[2010dvcfan]

We might be the unicorn here in all of this, we are DVC have been since 2010 we fly to Florida for Disney, Universal or Cruises every two months. Back in the day, I would switch each year, annual passes for Disney one year then Universal the next and we would soak it up 4 to 6 weeks a year all in that one destination switching each year to go back and see "what was new" at the other park. I do believe at that that time the price of AP was worth the freedom and flexibility it offers.

Since reopening we have not purchased AP's, main driver in that was the park reservation system in place. We have been booking more DCL and have spent a lot of time at the resorts relaxing and enjoying paid activities at the resorts trying new restaurants around property not inside the parks. I have found in the past couple of years, we have been purchasing more "after hour party tickets" then during the day tickets. We seem to enjoy the temperatures for sure, the crowds are less than day time attendance (usually) making the ride lines much shorter and we seem to be getting our Disney fix at the parks in a new manner other than we did as AP holders.

I admit we stumbled onto this new way of vacationing it wasn't planned to give up our AP's but it has been nice change of pace, and Disney hasn't been delivering on enough new stuff to draw us back into the park as AP holders yet.

I will get an AP again when we decide to do a park heavy year and probably book a lot of those private paid for tours. I do recommend those. But until then the price of the After Hours parties, MNSSHP, Jollywood Nights and MVMCP are working well for our trips without an AP.

Right now, I don't want to pay the inflated price of annual pass only to get inside the park to pay for Genie Plus, or Lightening Lanes or whatever they are calling it this week. I don't agree with the park reservation system or the paid ride features so to avoid both of those we may be the new visitor type that only pays for night time parties in an effort to avoid both of those things.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm with most of the posters here. We've had APs for probably 15+ years, and have always loved the financial break and the convenience. I'll admit the park reservations are still a minor hassle, but really not a big deal to make or change (if necessary) - so that's not a deciding factor for us. Eventually, I expect they'll take those away again, but that's just an opinion. We also love the peace of mind. If we're sitting at the pool at Beach Club and decide we want to walk into EPCOT for a crepe and a Voices Of Liberty show, we do it without hesitation - something we wouldn't do if we had day tickets.

 

[jo-jo]

If we're sitting at the pool at Beach Club and decide we want to walk into EPCOT for a crepe and a Voices Of Liberty show, we do it without hesitation - something we wouldn't do if we had day tickets.

We plan to do something like that, but with day tickets. We are going for 14 days , but really only do 5 park days. You can’t buy a 5 day ticket and use it over the course of 2 weeks. DH needs the rest days, but we may go into parks on “rest” days just for fantasmic or Christmas processional.