Disney recently released a new promotion to get a free Disney Gift Card when you purchase a new Annual Pass to Disney World. This might seem like a fun deal to add a little extra benefit to grabbing a new pass, but as a long-time Annual Passholder, let me tell you why this isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Disney World Annual Pass
Generally, deals are released when numbers are lower than expected. That’s why we see a lot of hotel deals; there are probably lots of open rooms that Disney needs to fill. But what does this mean for Annual Passes?
It’s not very often that we see deals or promotions on Annual Passes. I can’t recall the last time there was a deal to try to get you to buy one, but right now, Disney World is offering gift cards of up to $100 when you purchase a new pass (sorry, folks, no renewals!).
I do love my Annual Pass!
Gift card values range from $100 to $25:
- $100 Disney Gift Card eGift – included with a Disney Incredi-Pass
- $75 Disney Gift Card eGift – included with a Disney Sorcerer Pass (for Florida residents and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members only)
- $50 Disney Gift Card eGift – included with a Disney Pirate Pass (for Florida residents only)
- $25 Disney Gift Card eGift – included with a Disney Pixie Pass (for Florida residents only)
This makes me think that the number of Annual Pass holders is down. Many guests have talked about canceling their passes, but are people actually doing it?
2024 Festival of the Arts Wristlet Gift Card
With changes like the Disability Access Pass (DAS) becoming stricter and excluding long-time users, and with what feels like half the park under construction, are there fewer Passholders?
Construction for Tom Sawyer Island
When I attend passholder-exclusive experiences, such as the EPCOT lounge or previews for attractions, there are always incredibly long lines, and special passholder merchandise sells out quickly. It certainly doesn’t feel like there are fewer, but a promotion deal to buy an Annual Pass is not for no reason.
Passholder Lounge
Maybe some passholders are taking a break from Disney. With Epic Universe opening at Universal Orlando, it’s hard not to want to switch to the dark side and try out Universal for a bit. Epic Universe isn’t currently on their Annual Pass, but you can buy single-day tickets, and those costs can add up.
Anyone want to go to Epic Universe?
Other passholders might be pausing their visits to Disney and waiting till more construction projects are finished before paying the price. With new projects on the horizon, such as Pueblo Esperanza, the Tropical Americas-themed land taking over DinoLand, U.S.A…
A new attraction themed after the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Encanto” follows Antonio the day after he received his magical gift – the ability to communicate with animals and is situated in the new Tropical Americas land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
…and a Disney Villains land promised to arrive within the next few years, guests might be waiting to come back till these new projects are finished, especially while there are so many construction walls.
Villains Land ©Disney
Piston Peak, the Cars land area being built on Tom Sawyer Island, is also in the works…
Piston Peak ©Disney
…along with Monstropolis, where the friends from Monsters, Inc. evicted the Muppets. Is it even worth going to Disney World right now with all the walls? Even though entire areas are closed, the prices are not going down.
©Disney
Annual Pass prices continue to increase year after year, and passholders may be reaching their limit. The Incredi-Pass, the only one available to non-Florida residents outside of Disney Vacation Club Members, costs over $1,000 a year, which is a significant expense for a family of four.
Scanning into the theme park
I’m not sure why Disney is offering a new promotion for Annual Passes, but it makes me think there is something bigger happening behind the scenes. Make sure to keep following Disney Food Blog for all things Disney.
Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.
EVERY SINGLE DISNEY WORLD ANNUAL PASSHOLDER PERK … AND HOW TO USE THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
DON'T DO IT ALONE!
Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise.
Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!)
So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you 🙂
Are you an Annual Passholder? Tell us your thoughts on your pass in the comments.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Yep, we are but not renewing. we’re doing one last hurrah in september to maximize this years pass and then not renewing. as much as disney = home for us and we love being there (DVC, AP holders for years, travel agent, etc)….we need Disney to get the financial message that they need to slow down on the price increases and extra costs – it has become way too much to blindly support anymore 🙁
I am an out of state AP holder and it Expires November 1. I am thinking I may not renew this time around, but things that would encourage me to renew would be a giftcard deal and/or a payment plan option like FL residents have. It’s a big investment and while I can get cheap flights down (thank you Spirit), I’m not sure it’s worth it while all of this construction is going on…
DVC annual pass holders should be given the option to pay monthly like Florida residents, seeing how much the costs are now!!!!
first time in YEARS I have NOT renewed my AP. WDW is getting too expensive for me, plain and simple. Also the massive amounts of fall down drunks at Epcot and HS is taking all the magic away for me. ( I love drinking at WDW and have managed to do so for years w/o making a scene)
After giving many reasons (excuses) of why annual passholders are down you finally hit the nail on the head, the COST. This reoccurring theme seems to be the problem for everything at WDW and with the lack of service WDW is now less attractive. Managers at the different resorts have no way of dealing with customers problems other than to say I am sorry. That is not a satisfactory answer when services are way below par. Luxury resorts used to be luxurious now they are just expensive.
Thanks for calling this out. I was going to wait before buying a pass for our trip next year, but maybe I will check it out and buy early, if the policy is still that you have a year to activate and a year after that… Thanks DFB!
Quote: “The Incredi-Pass, the only one available to non-Florida residents outside of Disney Vacation Club Members, costs over $1,000 a year … ”
It’s wayyyy over a thousand a year. It’s now $1600. All up front.
A $100 gift card is an insulting drop in the bucket.
Photo Pass is still extra, but used to be included.
Tables in Wonderland hasn’t returned.
Passholders still have to make reservations.
Disney literally said that passholders are “less desirable” guests.
It’s no wonder AP sales and renewals are down.