The Basics

New Walt Disney World Annual Passes are good for 366 days from the date of activation. In other words, if you activate your new pass on January 2, 2009, it will be good through January 2, 2010! (Yep, you get an extra day, except in a Leap Year.) Renewal Annual Passes, which are discounted, are good for 366 days starting with the renewal date, whether you use them right away or not.

In general, Walt Disney World Annual Passes are worth the money if you will be going into the theme parks for at least 10 days in a 366-day period. In some cases they are worth the money for shorter stays just because of the savings on resort hotel rooms (see below). You should carefully calculate your costs with and without Annual Passes before buying them. If you are considering buying a vacation package, take a look at this cost comparison chart that shows how a family on a 7-night vacation might save by purchasing one Annual Pass instead!

		Walt Disney World has an Annual Passholders section on its web site, where you can check for new offers -- but only if you already have a pass (or an exchange certificate for a pass). If you don't have your pass yet, you can click here to see a summary of the Disney World discounts.

Resort Hotel Discounts

Annual Passholder rates for the Walt Disney World resort hotels are often the best discounts available -- up to 45% off. For the past several years, Annual Passholder rates have been available for most of the year, but Annual Passholder rates are NOT always offered and frequently are not offered during peak holiday periods.

You may book one room per Annual Passholder at the special rates. The Annual Pass must be in the same name as the person whose name appears on the reservation, and the credit card used for the reservation must belong to the Passholder. You cannot use a child's Annual Pass to reserve discounted rooms.

You are not required to have the Annual Pass at the time of booking. However, if you have booked an Annual Passholder room discount, you should be asked to show your pass at check-in. If you only have an exchange certificate and haven't had time to get it validated before check-in, don't panic. Normally they will accept the exchange certificate as proof at check-in, or the front desk clerk may ask you to come back and show your validated pass at some point before you check out.

How to Buy an Annual Pass

If you buy a Walt Disney World Annual Pass in advance by phone at (407) W-DISNEY or online, you will receive a plastic card that is your "exchange certificate" for an actual Annual Pass. The exchange certificate must be "activated" (exchanged for the actual Annual Pass) at Guest Services outside of one of the Walt Disney World theme parks, or at the Guest Services Offices in Downtown Disney. To activate the exchange certificate, you'll have to show photo ID (for adults) and you'll get a finger scan that links your pass to you personally (which prevents sharing of the pass). Each time you enter the theme parks with the Annual Pass, you'll have to put your index finger in a scanner. If the scan fails, you'll be asked to show ID.

I don't see much point in buying the pass in advance, unless you're purchasing the Tables in Wonderland (aka Disney Dining Experience) card, which requires proof that you already have purchased an Annual Pass, or unless you plan to go to the Orlando Auto Club South office and buy the pass in advance (which will save AAA members some money).

		Walt Disney World Annual Passes can be purchased at the following locations in the Orlando area: Guest Services offices in Downtown Disney sell activated passes and activate pre-purchased vouchers Guest Services windows and park ticket booths at any of the Walt Disney World theme parks sell activated passes and activate pre-purchased vouchers Disney gift shops* at Orlando International Airport (MCO) Disney's Character Premiere* store in Orlando Orlando Auto Club South office sells discounted Annual and Seasonal passes for AAA members *These locations sell new, fully-activated passes only and cannot activate pre-purchased exchange certificates. They also do not offer the Florida resident discounted passes at these locations -- only full-price Annual Passes. You cannot buy an Annual Pass at the front desk of the Walt Disney World resort hotels.

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