The Gold Annual Pass
Image: DisneyThis type of annual pass isn’t available to everyone. Unless you’re a Florida resident or a DVC member, you can skip this section and move on to the next one.
People who are eligible for the Gold Pass generally like it a lot. This is the cheapest annual pass, and it’s also the most limited one. The Gold Pass has several blackout dates each year. In 2018, the blackout dates are from March 24th through April 6th plus the 12 days of Christmas. So, Disney blacks out Spring Break for many parts of the country plus the end of the year’s holiday rush.
Image: DisneyOther popular dates such as July 4th and Thanksgiving aren’t blacked out, though. In total, less than one month out of the calendar year isn’t available to Gold Pass members. Anyone who wants to go on one of those days can always buy a regular ticket, though.
The second con of the Gold Pass is that you don’t receive access to the minor parks at Walt Disney World. Those are the water parks and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Disney does sell an annual pass for the water parks, though. Whether you see the loss of these privileges as a big deal depends on how much you enjoy water parks, although the ESPN campus does host a wealth of interesting sports events each year.
Image: DisneySometimes, you still have to pay admission for these events even if you have an annual pass. For example, you have to buy tickets to see a Spring Training game of the Atlanta Braves. As such, it’s difficult to assign a precise value to minor park access.
At a price of $559 plus tax, the Gold Pass is only $29 more than a 10-day Park Hopper Plus ticket. Anyone who plans to visit Disney for 10 days should go ahead and upgrade to an annual pass. In fact, I’d say that’s true for any tickets of seven days or more. Without discounts, a 7-day Park Hopper Plus is $500. That’s a negligible difference that you’ll make up via shopping and meal discounts plus you get the PhotoPass option, an invaluable addition.
The Disney Platinum Pass and Disney Platinum Plus Pass
Image: DisneyThe other two annual passes at Walt Disney World are better. They’re also more expensive. Only you can decide if you’re getting what you pay for. If you’re not a Florida resident or a DVC member, however, these are your only two options.
The basic Disney Platinum Pass is effectively the Gold Pass without blackout dates. It also doesn’t include admission to the water parks or ESPN complex. Otherwise, it’s identical. At a cost of $779 plus tax, you’re paying a steep premium for those four weeks of blackout dates. I only recommend this pass to people who love to spend the end of December and Spring Break at Walt Disney World. Even then, it’s not the greatest value.
Image: DisneyInstead, the Platinum Plus Pass is the top value. You’ll feel like a member of the Disney elite when you own this kind of annual pass. It basically gives you the run of Walt Disney World. You have permanent admission to all major and minor parks on campus. You can Park Hop as much as you want at the four theme park gates, and you can also visit the water parks and ESPN Complex whenever you want. You even get free greens fees at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, a beautiful 9-hole, par-36 course located by the 18-hold Disney Magnolia.
Having access to all things at Walt Disney World doesn’t come cheap. The Platinum Plus Pass is currently $869, although DVC members can currently buy it for $559. If you’re DVC, you should absolutely do that before the deal expires at the start of January. For everyone else, $869 is a stiff price. I’m a strong proponent of the benefits of this pass, but it’s going to be wasted on anyone who doesn’t visit Walt Disney World A LOT a lot.
Comments
Sorry but this is not the best write up. It just basically lists the prices and benefits and blackout dates. Also there is a correction in that only the Gold and above passes include photopass. Silver and below do not.
You also forgot to mention that there is an Epcot after 4 pass as well as a separate water park pass and even a water park after 2 pass.
I always advise my fellow Florida residents to get an annual pass. The days of being able to just spontaneously go to Disney for the day are gone. The tickets are too expensive and the crowds too thick to do that anymore. At least with an annual pass you won't feel the need to do everything in a day or two. It's a much better way to Disney now. Also another tip is that Disney will let you upgrade your pass at anytime for the additional cost of the price difference. So if you don't know if you're going to want to go in the heat of the Summer just get a Silver pass then upgrade if you want to go. A couple caveats are that in that particular example you'll lose out on photopass benefits for that time you aren't Gold and your expiration date will always be the same.
Annual Passes definitely make sense if you plan to visit WDW a couple times a year or more as a non-Florida resident.
You can get a 4-day Park Hopper for $425 or a 10-day Park Hopper for $515.
But you can go for over 300 days for $780 or $870. And that also includes Memory Maker (a $170 value) and parking (a $20 per day per park value)
Even if you only went for 4 days in the Spring and 4 days in the Fall... you'd still be better off getting an Annual Pass when you consider the extra perks like photos, parking and other discounts.
I know people balk at the idea of $800 theme park passes... but look at what you get!
Silver does not offer Photo Pass downloads and Gold does.
These AP posts should include information on the Premier Pass.