Understanding Walt Disney World Annual Passes

By Guest Contributor • December 30, 2015 • Attractions

© Disney / Matt Stroshane

There’s a good chance that once you get to Walt Disney World, your family will be wanting to know when they’ll get to go back. Some theme parks, like Sea World, don’t offer multi-day tickets – an annual pass is the same price as two 1-day tickets. This is not the case at Disney, where dreams come true and your wallet gets a little lighter.

We’re here to help you decide if a multi-day pass or an annual pass for your visit will be the most budget-friendly option.

This article was originally published March 10, 2015 and has been updated to reflect current ticket prices and annual pass packages as of December 30, 2015. Prices are subject to change.

Understanding Day Tickets

A 1-day ticket will cost you $105 for Magic Kingdom or $97 for EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios. The Park Hopper Option is an additional $50. The more days you purchase, the less they are per day. For instance, a 4-day ticket is $305 ($76.25 per day), but the Park Hopper option raises in price to add $64. After 4 days, each additional day is just $10, but you must use the tickets within 14 days of first use.

Currently, parking at Disney World is $17 per vehicle per day.

Annual Pass Pricing

Disney’s annual pass (known as the Platinum Pass) is $749 for all ages 3+ (kids under 3 get in free). If you’re more likely to do one long trip, then buying a multi-day ticket is probably the best value for you. The longest option, a 10 Day Ticket, comes to $365 ($429 with the Park Hopper option).

However, if you’re thinking of making multiple trips for a short amount of time, the Annual Pass could save in the long run. One annual pass is $76 less than three 3-day tickets – not including the price of parking and park-hopping. All Annual Passes allow Park Hopping.

Purchasing Your Tickets

For most Annual Passholders, you must pay in full to play for the following year. Florida Residents can opt for the monthly payment option on Annual Passes – put $112 down and have the rest spread over 12 months at around $49 per month. You can also opt for the Platinum Plus Pass for $829, which includes admission to the two water parks, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, and DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney. All Annual Passholders enjoy a 10% merchandise discount at Disney-owned stores on property and various dining discounts throughout the parks.

Florida Resident Rules

If you’re from the Sunshine State, you may have heard of the Florida Resident Discount. A Florida Platinum Pass is $629 and the Platinum Plus comes in at $729. You must be a Florida resident to get these – they require proof of residency. 3- and 4-day tickets and Park Hoppers have a Florida discount, but they also have a lot of blockout dates, so check those first.

There are a few other Annual Pass ticket options that Floridians can enjoy:

Epcot After 4 Annual Pass: $249, or $112 down and $13/month
- No blockout dates allow you to catch nighttime entertainment at Epcot, from 4 pm – closing. It’s a great pick if you’re a fan of the Food & Wine Festival and Flower & Garden Festival and have maybe outgrown the other parks.
Weekday Select Pass: $259, or $112 down and $14/month
- Visit the 4 parks Monday-Friday. Blockout dates for 2016 are plentiful, including June 6 – August 11 and December 19-January 2, 2017 apply. Does not include parking!
Silver Pass: $389, or $112 down and $25/month
- Visit the 4 parks 7 days a week with fewer blackout dates that the Weekday Select Pass and with parking included.
Gold Pass: $585, or $112 down and $40/month
- Essentially the same as the silver pass with even fewer blockout dates – the year is open aside from the last two weeks of March and December.
Water Parks After 2: $65
- Pretty straightforward – visit Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach after 2 PM any day that they’re open. There is no parking fee at the water parks.

Hopefully this helps you plan your magical vacation! Visiting Disney World on a budget can be tough, but it’s definitely possible with a bit of planning.

All prices do not include tax and are accurate at the time of publishing, but are subject to change. You can find current pricing and buy tickets here.