Annual Passes (AP or APs)
An AP is valid for one person and it is, in most cases, valid for one year from date of
activation. Good, in most cases, 366 days.
If you activate your Annual Pass, for example, on October 1 of this year, the last day of valid use would be through the end of the day, Oct 1 of the following year.
There is no price difference between an Age 3-9 and an Age 10+ Annual Pass.
Virtually all APs purchased, in-person, at any WDW park ticket window or Guest Relations (including at DS) are activated and are "live" APs.
However, a guest CAN purchase an AP "certificate" at a WDW booth
if the guest specifically asks to do so.
All APs purchased by phone, by mail or on-line are "certificates" and, therefore, NOT activated.
An AP certificate is by nature NOT activated, and will remain fresh and ready to activate up through the end of the year 2030.
However, the purchase price of the unused AP voucher is not "lost" upon expiration.
The "expired" unused voucher can be turned in and its original purchase price can be applied to the purchase of a current AP voucher, live AP or other WDW ticket.
> Florida Resident APs are discussed in THIS thread on the Ticket Sticky.
AP Activation:
Guests must first go to any WDW ticket booth or Guest Relations (along with a legal photo ID) to purchase an AP, or get their pre-ordered AP certificate
activated before that AP can be used at a park.
However, there is new ACTIVATION PROCEDURE for APs that allows guests to go to a ticket booth or Guest Relations to get the AP certificate activation completed on an earlier day than on the date that they first enter a park.
After the new AP is activated, the AP will NOT actually start its year of counting down UNTIL the guest actually goes through a park gate using that new AP.
The date that the AP holder goes into a park with the AP for the first time will then become the AP's Anniversary Date and the new AP will then be valid until the end of the day on that same date, one year later.
The AP anniversary date will be found in the guest's MDX account.
If the guest wants the AP anniversary date to be ON the AP card itself, the guest must manually write the date.
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A
Disney Platinum Pass is valid for unlimited entries during regular park hours for the four primary theme parks.
There are no block-out dates.
An AP is automatically considered to be a Park Hopper.
It includes
free parking at the four primary theme parks.
It includes
PhotoPass downloads.
The
Disney Platinum Plus Pass is similar to the Platinum AP.
It is automatically considered to be a Park Hopper.
It includes
free parking at the four primary theme parks.
It includes
PhotoPass downloads.
The Platinum Plus AP includes not only the four primary theme parks, but also includes some of the secondary parks.
It offers
Blizzard Beach and/or
TyphoonLagoon water parks.
It offers the
Oak Trail Golf Course entry.
It offers
ESPN Wide World of Sports admission, but
It does not include the 30 minutes per day at the WWS PlayStation pavilion.
It does not provide access to either Fantasia Gardens or Winter-SummerLand miniature golf, although you can receive a discount there by showing the PAP.
Tables in Wonderland Dining Discount Card (TiW) is available for purchase to owners of either AP.
TiW offers a 20% discount on many WDW restaurant meals, including beverages.
TiW card holders are allowed free valet parking at WDW resorts if they
show their TiW card and that day's dining receipt from that resort.
More TiW details
HERE.
AP holders also benefit from various other discounts on food, merchandise, lodging, and certain additional ticket purchases.
AP information directly from Disney can be found
HERE.
The
Disney Premier Pass (DPP) is a combination of a Walt Disney World Platinum Plus Pass and a
Disneyland Resort Premium Annual Pass.
There is no differentiation between child or adult.
There is no reduced price for renewal.
There is no reduced price for DVC Members, Florida Residents, or Southern California Residents.
At WDW, DPP can only be purchased at a Guest Relations Window just outside of the four theme parks or at Disney Springs (DS.)
The DPP cannot be purchased at the International Gateway at Epcot.
At Disneyland the DPP can only be purchased at a Park Guest Relations Office or the Annual Pass Office.
AP vouchers (also called exchange certificates) may be purchased from Disney online, from Disney by telephone, from the
Disney Store, and from some
AAA Offices.
Once purchased, an AP voucher can be exchanged for a live AP any time up to the end of the year 2030.
AP vouchers must be exchanged for an actual AP (or activated for MagicBand use) at any ticket booth or Guest Relations at WDW.
Each person 18 yrs. or older must present a legal photo ID when purchasing any type of AP, or converting a voucher to an activated AP.
An AP can be "renewed" (including any upgrades or downgrades) within 60 days BEFORE and up to 30 days AFTER AP expiration.
There is a renewal price discount and the original AP's Anniversary calendar date will not change.
A discount on the price of a new AP is available at some "AAA South" Offices.
There can be some WDW discounts on some restaurants, merchandise, and special tickets for guests who have APs or are DVC members.
At Blizzard Beach there is a special one day ticket which includes entry to BB and a round of miniature golf at Winter-Summer Land.
If a person is planning to have more than one visit to secondary parks it generally makes economic sense to add WPF&M option to a base ticket rather than purchasing two tickets.
Other kinds of APs at WDW.
The Water Park Hopper Annual Pass.
These do not provide the benefits such as discounts and are very limited.
There is a is renewal rate discount for the Water Park Annual Pass.
Note:
A Water Park AP costs less than two days entry to the water parks.
Disney Resort Front Desks and Lobby Concierges cannot handle any kind of sales or upgrades related to any level of Annual Pass.
DVC Members and Florida Residents have special AP rates which are
priced at a lower cost than the those available to the general public.
Ticket purchases are
generally considered to be "non-refundable."
What is the "break-even point" to consider buying an AP over a conventional ticket?
It is a common misconception that there is one ticket price or trip length that,
once reached, is a "break-even point" for jumping up to an AP.
Since the longest ticket that WDW sells for USA guests is a 10-day Hopper PLUS (which includes 10 admissions to Water Parks and other WDW venues,)
many would say that anything needed longer/larger than that for a single trip would rate an AP.
BUT, there are many other considerations for AP value.
The AP is good for multiple trips for 366 days, straight.
The AP includes Memory Maker photos & videos (which costs extra for non-AP holders.
The AP includes free parking at the theme parks.
The AP includes many discounts on certain meals and some hard-ticket events.
The AP includes shopping discounts at some stores.
The AP includes (often times) special invitations for the pre-opening of new attractions.
The AP includes (many times) special pricing for WDW resort rooms at certain times of year.
The AP includes the right to purchase "Tables in Wonderland" which offers a percentage off on certain WDW dining.
And, there are a few other benefits, too.
So, if a guest wants or needs any of the above extras, that can heavily influence
the "break-even point" at which an AP looks advantageous.
