When to buy Annual Pass?

[sagosto]

My annual pass expired 1/23/2026 but I have multiple visits scheduled for 2026 (June/Sept/Nov) and late March 2027. I was planning to buy the Annual Pass now so I could use it for the remaining trips in 2026 and 2027. What is the consensus with Josh taking over with regards to AP pricing? It is a gamble to wait as pricing could increase and/or I am unable to get a park reservation when I eventually get the AP. I don't need tickets for dining so that's not a concern.

 

[Steelers0854]

It seems that February and October and the most common months for AP price adjustments. Given we are almost done with February and you travel in June IMO it isn’t going to hurt you to wait to buy. With recent surveys that went out about big discounts to annual passes I think it’s likely a good idea to hold of. Ask me a few months ago and I would have said no way do they drop the price. But now I think it’s atleast feasible.

 

[aka Charles]

Annual Passes can be renewed up to 30 days after expiration and still get the renewal discount.
You only have a couple days left to get that discount.
After that you will have to pay full price, including any price changes that may take place.
The question is, even if they do adjust the price down, will it be by more than the current renewal discount?
Chances are very low, I would think.
.

 

[erionm]

If you renew now, the renewed pass will not cover your March 2027 dates so you would need to renew again to cover that trip.

If you purchase a new AP you will lose the renewal savings, but it would cover all your currently planned trips.

 

[J-Dog]

Annual Passes can be renewed up to 30 days after expiration and still get the renewal discount.
You only have a couple days left to get that discount.
After that you will have to pay full price, including any price changes that may take place.
The question is, even if they do adjust the price down, will it be by more than the current renewal discount?
Chances are very low, I would think.
.

Agree. I would buy a renewal ASAP.

 

[J-Dog]

If you renew now, the renewed pass will not cover your March 2027 dates so you would need to renew again to cover that trip.

If you purchase a new AP you will lose the renewal savings, but it would cover all your currently planned trips.

Makes sense. So, I guess the question to the OP would be - do you plan on going to WDW at all after March 2027?

 

[Sandisw]

Makes sense. So, I guess the question to the OP would be - do you plan on going to WDW at all after March 2027?

I don’t renew if I have at least two months of no trips…as I find the extra trips for having it last longer makes up for the renewal savings.

 

[juliebee]

I read this recently from Google-

The "56-Day" Rule of Thumb
The renewal discount for a Walt Disney World Annual Pass is approximately 15% off the new pass price. Because a renewed pass's expiration date is always one year from its original anniversary date—even if you don't visit for several months—you are essentially paying for those intervening months.

• Renew if: You plan to visit within approximately 55 to 56 days of your pass's expiration.
• Wait and Buy New if: You do not plan to visit for more than two months after your pass expires. Letting the pass lapse and buying a new one later resets your "activation clock," giving you a full 365 days of use starting from your first park entry.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I read this recently from Google-

The "56-Day" Rule of Thumb
The renewal discount for a Walt Disney World Annual Pass is approximately 15% off the new pass price. Because a renewed pass's expiration date is always one year from its original anniversary date—even if you don't visit for several months—you are essentially paying for those intervening months.

• Renew if: You plan to visit within approximately 55 to 56 days of your pass's expiration.
• Wait and Buy New if: You do not plan to visit for more than two months after your pass expires. Letting the pass lapse and buying a new one later resets your "activation clock," giving you a full 365 days of use starting from your first park entry.

Very helpful. I have been struggling with not renewing in April.

 

[eticketplease]

The other option is you can just buy a new pass now thus locking in today's pricing (I doubt it will go up by your trips in June but if it does you are covered)
You have one year to activate it so you can activate for your June trip and this will take care of your current trips as @erionm pointed out while providing more savings than the renewal based on @juliebee s research and what @Sandisw said.

 

[sagosto]

It seems that February and October and the most common months for AP price adjustments. Given we are almost done with February and you travel in June IMO it isn’t going to hurt you to wait to buy. With recent surveys that went out about big discounts to annual passes I think it’s likely a good idea to hold of. Ask me a few months ago and I would have said no way do they drop the price. But now I think it’s atleast feasible.

It is hard to believe that the AP will reduce in price. Assuming I am going to wait, the problem is 1) Price going up 2) I am unable to get park reservations for my June trip WHEN I buy AP

If you renew now, the renewed pass will not cover your March 2027 dates so you would need to renew again to cover that trip.

If you purchase a new AP you will lose the renewal savings, but it would cover all your currently planned trips.

Exactly. The March 2027 out of pocket will beat the renewal savings.

Makes sense. So, I guess the question to the OP would be - do you plan on going to WDW at all after March 2027?

Jersey Week (1st week of Nov) which depending on 2028 would make me debate another AP. We are doing a RCCL cruise April 2028 but I will want swing by WDW before/after.

The other option is you can just buy a new pass now thus locking in today's pricing (I doubt it will go up by your trips in June but if it does you are covered)
You have one year to activate it so you can activate for your June trip and this will take care of your current trips as @erionm pointed out while providing more savings than the renewal based on @juliebee s research and what @Sandisw said.

This is the 'safest' as it covers 2026 and March 2027. I just can't imagine AP going down and even if it does, when? How at risk am I for not getting a park reservation for June 28-July 3th? That's my internal debate.

 

[eticketplease]

This is the 'safest' as it covers 2026 and March 2027. I just can't imagine AP going down and even if it does, when? How at risk am I for not getting a park reservation for June 28-July 3th? That's my internal debate.

Are you staying on property? If so they have an additional bucket of reservations for on site guests.

 

[Genie+]

I would only renew now IF we were taking a break after that Nov trip.

With a cluster of 4 trips with in one year starting June, getting a new pass for that first trip is definitely the way to go.

 

[Sandisw]

It is hard to believe that the AP will reduce in price. Assuming I am going to wait, the problem is 1) Price going up 2) I am unable to get park reservations for my June trip WHEN I buy AP



Exactly. The March 2027 out of pocket will beat the renewal savings.



Jersey Week (1st week of Nov) which depending on 2028 would make me debate another AP. We are doing a RCCL cruise April 2028 but I will want swing by WDW before/after.



This is the 'safest' as it covers 2026 and March 2027. I just can't imagine AP going down and even if it does, when? How at risk am I for not getting a park reservation for June 28-July 3th? That's my internal debate.

If you buy a new AP instead of a renewal, you can use it for park reservations before you arrive.

You don’t hafe to wait until the trip.