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Cheaper options

Image: Disney

What are your options if you don't want to spend $560 or more on an annual pass but do want regular admission to Walt Disney World? Well, you may have other options, depending on where you live. Florida residents have a backup choice if the Gold Annual Pass is too pricey. You can purchase the Silver Annual Pass instead.

The Silver Pass currently costs $419. That's obviously a lot less expensive. What do you get for that amount? Well, the features are similar. You still gain admittance to all four Disney theme parks, and this plan also throws in free parking and PhotoPass privileges. The drawback is that you face a lot more blackout dates. With the Silver Pass, you cannot visit Walt Disney World from December 18 - 31 2017, January 1 - 2 2018, March 24 - 31 2018, and April 1 - 6 2018. You also lose admission for most of June and July, although Disney hasn't confirmed summer 2018 blackout dates yet. In other words, this pass is best for Florida residents who prefer to visit Walt Disney World during the offseason. 

The Disney Weekday Select Pass at Walt Disney World is even cheaper. You can tell by the lexicon that there's a catch, though. This pass doesn't entitle you to park admission on Saturdays and Sundays. Otherwise, it's exactly the same as the Silver Pass in terms of benefits. Again, this option is only available to Florida residents. If you live in the area and work on weekends, however, it's a pretty strong value at $269.

For what it's worth, I currently have the Platinum Plus Pass, but that’s because Disney priced me in as a DVC member. We had a Gold Pass up until 2017, and it worked very well for us as people who spend about 20 days a year at Walt Disney World. So, I recommend both of those passes but not the regular Platinum Pass, which feels like a bad compromise solution to me. As always, you should do what you feel is best, though.

One final note: once you own an annual pass, Disney incentivizes you to remain a pass holder. Renewals are cheaper than first-time purchases. For example, the $779 price for a Platinum Pass drops to $662 for renewals. There is one catch to this, though. The start of the new pass begins the day after the old pass expires. As such, it’s not a great deal if you won’t visit Walt Disney World for several months after your pass expires. You’re paying for months when you won’t need membership. Keep that in mind as you contemplate renewal.

 
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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.

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