Any experience with Disney season passes?
 

New Villager from out of state. Have been to Disney parks a couple of times over the years. Being just an hour drive away, I was curious if anyone had experience, good or bad, with season passes to the parks. There seem to be several options or "tiers" and was just curious. Was thinking it would be fun to have to make random day trips to visit the parks throughout the year.

Just a well intentioned thought, you may want to go a time or two to see if you really want to get a year pass. Disney has really changed over the past few years, it may not be the magical place you remember from your youth.

We have annual passes and will be renewing for the foreseeable future. We have the Sorcerer's Pass (2nd tier overall, top Florida tier) which has a few blackout dates that we can live with.

We visit several times each year and have determined that we save money over the purchase of individual tickets. We don't ride the rides as much as we did but we enjoy the restaurants and the festivals very much.

I love and use mine repeatedly. It’s stress free knowing you don’t have experience all the rides etc as you do in a day pass. It’s great to go for a few hours to get my steps in, catch a concert, or meet friends.

I have the pixie dust pass. It’s only good for weekdays and they block out dates for holidays, which is perfect for me because I don’t like going during the busy times. Some days I drive over for only a few hours. To grab a drink and some lunch or just to walk around Epcot for some exercise. For the price, I’ll keep renewing. You also get free parking at the parks. I love mine.

Thanks for the responses. We have thought it would be likely we would use as some of you have mentioned....just to drive over for a few hours and walk around and look at things, grab some drinks and see a show and drive back. Blackout on holidays is fine for us (and weekends). I have been one Thanksgiving ONCE! I would anticipate the middle of the week on non holiday weeks would be our preference. Thanks again!

It is cheaper for a Florida resident to buy the cheapest annual pass than it is to visit each of the four Disney World theme parks just once. In addition to the savings on the entry fee, you get free parking. Also, when you pay for a day pass, it's tempting to try to do everything in the park in that one day. First, that's impossible - the parks (especially the Magic Kingdom) are too big and the lines are too long. Second, even if you could do it, you would be exhausted. It is SO much nicer to get there when the park opens (while you can still park pretty close to the entrance and the lines are a bit shorter), spend a few hours and head home when it gets too hot or crowded. Also, by leaving before you have to eat, you don't have to deal with the needed reservations at the ridiculously expensive restaurants. The first time you go and don't pay for parking, don't pay for entrance, don't buy any food and don't buy any souvenirs, you're going to walk out thinking that some employee is going to grab you and shake you by your ankles to get your money. But you get over the feeling.

You're absolutely right about the restrictions on entrance dates. Once you've gone on a weekday, you'll wonder why any sane person would go on a weekend, much less a holiday.

Generally, all this is true for the other theme parks as well. We've had annual passes for Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World and Busch Gardens (they had a bundle sale on those two), Gator Land, Zoo Tampa and the Kennedy Space Center. All were worth doing. The one one park we've NOT done annual passes for (and I'm not even sure they offer them) is Discovery Cove. If you get a Sea World annual pass, you get (or, at least, got) a break on this very expensive but very cool and very exclusive park.

I know folks who keep their annual passes going at Disney year after year after year. I enjoy the theme parks, but that seems excessive to me. We did Disney several years ago and again last year. The other parks we've done just once. We will probably do them again when they've added so many new rides or attractions that we haven't yet seen that it becomes worthwhile again.

We have the least expensive pass too, and like the prior poster says, it's cheaper than 4 single visits.
You also get a food and merchandise discount at many restaurants/shops, plus the free parking.

Do you have to be a "full time" resident, or does simply owning a home qualify you for the passes?

We have the weekday pass Mon-Fri. Black out dates are Christmas, Spring Break, June and July.
Works out well we can make dinner or lunch reservations days before our visit. Parking is included along with purchase discounts. No need to rush to any of the parks very relaxing.

“ As a property owner here in Florida, you may be eligible for the magical discounts and perks our friend Mickey offers residents.Jan 13, 2023”
You will need a Fl tax bill or utility bill to show proof.

You have to be able to show proof of residency not just proof of ownership. Search for "Florida Resident" on the Disney site to see the accepted documentation. (That was easier than I expected)

Thanks!

Last summer they opened the parks to pixie dust pass holders during the previously closed July and August. Went one. Way too hot.

Disney Passholder for years
 

We were annual passholders for many years (10+) but since covid, everything changed in negative ways. We no longer find it worth the money to go, as we were less and less entertained, extremely long wait lines, the loss of fast pass, the rising cost of food and other things.

However, everyone is different and you may find you still enjoy it. The passes have tiers as you mentioned; when choosing, make sure the available times, days and blackout dates work for you.