Annual Passes - Are they worth the money? - Updated Feb 09

[PaulB]

I have wondered for a long time whether or not an annual pass is worth the money. Looking simplistically at the cost I believe that if you visit a Disney park more than 7 times in one year then the Annual Pass starts to become a valid option.

In December 2008 Cindy and I visited Orlando again and decided to opt for annual passes. The cost of these passes including tax was $499 each.

For reference I will compare against the ticket I normally buy which reduces the ticket price as low as possible. The cost of a 10 day hopper pass with no expiry is $460 inc tax which makes a daily visit $46.

Annual Pass holders receive free parking, discounts to special events and to some shopping (generally at Downtown Disney) and some Dining.

I will keep tabs of number of visits and direct and indirect savings and I will update this post with the results. Please feel free to post comments or questions.

December 2008
Visits - 3 days ($84 standard daily price)
Parking Savings - 4 x $11 ($44)
Xmas Party Visit - 1 (standard gate price $59.59 - Savings with Annual pass 2 x $10.65)
Shopping Savings - approx $10

December 2008 Gate Price Ticket Savings - $504
December 2008 Non expiring 10 day hopper pass Ticker Savings - $138
December 2008 other savings - $75.30

January 2009
Visits - 2 days ($84 standard daily price)
Parking Savings - 4 x $12 ($48 - price has gone up again and my family traveled with us, taking 2 cars a day)

January 2009 Gate Price Ticket Savings - $336
January 2009 Non expiring 10 day hopper pass Ticket savings - $92

As of Feb 2009 - 3 months after Ticket purchase
Total Saving against Gate Price (inc Parking and Other Savings) - $923
Total Saving against 10 day hopper (inc Parking and Other Savings) - $349

Paul

[h63]

thanks for that info Paul its very useful - we have always bought the annual passes for the water parks but never the others because to be honest my kids will always pick a water park first. Last year we worked out the disney water park pass broke even once we had been for 2.5 days - anything after that we were making on and therefore saving money, so to us this is even beneficial if we go just once a year.
the pass we bought though only covers the disney water parks which has never been a problem to us as our kids are not really keen on wet and wild. As yet we haven't tried aquatica and we are only in Orlando for about 2 weeks this year as we are doing the east coast first so whether we bother with an annual water park pass this year I don't know.

Anyway thanks again for the useful info I will certainly bear it in mind for the future

[PaulB]

I have updated the Ticket Comparisons above. Next update will be May 09

Paul