Locals - Which Annual Pass for 2021?

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

I am not a “local,” however I am living and working about ten miles from Disney for the next six months, possibly up to a year. I was devastated to learn that Disney is not selling annual passes, and I was wondering what are locals who do not have an annual pass to Disney doing this year? Did you go with a pass at another park? Which pass do you recommend for the year? We are a family of four Disney fanatics, two adults, two children 6 & 13. Everyone in the family loves big coasters, animals, and entertainment.

 

[lovethattink]

My family has Disney, Sea World and Busch Gardens. We use to have Legoland and Universal too. But went there the least often so didn’t renew.

 

[theFoof]

I'd go with Universal or Sea World but they both have pros and cons. I think the 13 year old would get kind of bored with Lego Land on repeat trips.

Sea World to me is more of a relaxing day, Mako is one of the best coasters around though. Typically if I go to Sea World it is just for a few hours. Their APs are also fairly cheap (I have the BG/SW silver pass) and there isn't a down payment with Florida res flex pay so you just pay whatever the monthly rate is to start. They often have sales though so the price varies. You can also add on Busch Gardens for not that much more money but it's just far enough that I don't make the drive very often.

Universal is going to be closer to Disney as far as level of entertainment, and the Velocicoaster is opening June 10. Main downside with Universal obviously is the cost, and if when Disney starts selling APs whether you'll regret spending the money on Universal instead (or in addition to) rather than going to Disney. I love both personally but I know my mom for example got a Universal AP a couple years ago because she lives out of state (barely over the border in GA) and the platinum Disney AP is just too expensive. She liked going to Universal but she doesn't do most thrill rides so it really just made her miss Disney more.

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

My family has Disney, Sea World and Busch Gardens. We use to have Legoland and Universal too. But went there the least often so didn’t renew.

Is there any reason you went to Universal less often? I am leaning towards a universal pass, because it seems like it will take us longer to see everything and ride everything there. I have never been to Seaworld. Do you get discounts on tickets to Discovery Cove as an annual pass holder?

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

I'd go with Universal or Sea World but they both have pros and cons. I think the 13 year old would get kind of bored with Lego Land on repeat trips.

Sea World to me is more of a relaxing day, Mako is one of the best coasters around though. Typically if I go to Sea World it is just for a few hours. Their APs are also fairly cheap (I have the BG/SW silver pass) and there isn't a down payment with Florida res flex pay so you just pay whatever the monthly rate is to start. They often have sales though so the price varies. You can also add on Busch Gardens for not that much more money but it's just far enough that I don't make the drive very often.

Universal is going to be closer to Disney as far as level of entertainment, and the Velocicoaster is opening June 10. Main downside with Universal obviously is the cost, and if when Disney starts selling APs whether you'll regret spending the money on Universal instead (or in addition to) rather than going to Disney. I love both personally but I know my mom for example got a Universal AP a couple years ago because she lives out of state (barely over the border in GA) and the platinum Disney AP is just too expensive. She liked going to Universal but she doesn't do most thrill rides so it really just made her miss Disney more.

Thank you so much for the detailed response! I am worried that I will regret buying a pass elsewhere if Disney does decide to start selling again. But, it seems no one really knows if/when that will ever happen. I am only here for a guaranteed six months contract, and I want to make the most of it! I truly wish I could get the Disney pass, because they would have a hard time keeping me out of there! Lol!
I have never been to Seaworld or Universal, so maybe I would have to experience both, then decide. I just really wanted a local’s perspective on the overall benefits of each pass.

 

[theFoof]

Thank you so much for the detailed response! I am worried that I will regret buying a pass elsewhere if Disney does decide to start selling again. But, it seems no one really knows if/when that will ever happen. I am only here for a guaranteed six months contract, and I want to make the most of it! I truly wish I could get the Disney pass, because they would have a hard time keeping me out of there! Lol!
I have never been to Seaworld or Universal, so maybe I would have to experience both, then decide. I just really wanted a local’s perspective on the overall benefits of each pass.

Yeah one thing with Sea World is most of the APs come with a certain amount of free guest tickets (and they run promos during certain times of the year for extras) so you can get a cheapish trip to try it out. Really if you're going to be in town for 6+ months and want to hit a park often Universal has more to do. The X-factor is really just what Disney does with their APs. Have fun!

 

[Erica Ladd]

I’m not local but we have universal seasonal AP’s. We had planned to upgrade our Disney tix to APs during our planned trip May 2030 but we all know how that went. So we bout the family universal ones and went once as a family in December then a couples trip in February and thus coming weekend. Ours have the extra 3 months so they expire at the beginning of March 2022 but I would have no problem purchasing disney APs for DH and I that overlapped, I’d just be happy they started selling again! Plus the 5 Universal APs cost a smidge over one Disney platinum AP, so it was a no brainer. Kids would join us for a trip to Disney but would definitely not want/need APs. They prefer universal by far.
Disclaimer - we’ve never been to sea world or legoland but fish and animals freak me out and we all outgrew legos a while back. I wouldn’t mind a visit but eh... we have owned Cedar Fair Platinum passes for the family and used them on a few road trips to different parts of the country. I bet my kids would like to get those again but everyone is getting older and life is just busier

 

[lovethattink]

Is there any reason you went to Universal less often? I am leaning towards a universal pass, because it seems like it will take us longer to see everything and ride everything there. I have never been to Seaworld. Do you get discounts on tickets to Discovery Cove as an annual pass holder?

My son isn’t really into thrill rides. And Disney’s rides are much more tame than Universal.

Sea World has different passes. Most pay for parking. The Fun pass doesn’t. I have a very old legacy pass that includes both Busch Gardens and Sea World at a phenomenal rate because we started the first year they had monthly payments and it has never gone up in price for us all these years!! And there are specials and freebies and discounts for friends.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

I think the answer depends on the age of your kids.
My ds14 loves the coasters at SeaWorld
(and my DH loves the all you can dine pass)
My DS 10 only rides one ride at seaworld because its thrill rides or baby rides.

Universal is good for everyone in the fam as far as rides go. Universal is hard for us to just stop by because we want to. Weekends are always busy/ full and that's when we go.

Legoland was fun once for my DH & DS14 but I dont think they would want to go all the time more of a young ones thing... my DS10 would go everyday if I let him.
So we decided on funspot America pass the family loves the go carts and they are only $100 each. I'm sticking to FL resident tickets as needed for the others. can't do much better than 199 for 4 days to Disney and you can break them up.