Walt Disney World has finally announced details of their revamped Annual Passholder program, and it’s the day that many people have been impatiently waiting for. Wondering how this information applies to you? Well, it affects your search for the best Disney vacation packages

Planning a Disney vacation can be daunting, especially when it comes to sifting through information about what magic hours at Disney World are and understanding how the Disney Skyliner works. In this article, let’s look further into the Disney World Platinum Plus Pass and other annual passes that Disney has to offer to help you plan your perfect Disney trip. 

What Are Disney’s Annual Passes? 

The Walt Disney World Annual Pass can be a great way to save money and get the most out of your trip if you’re planning multiple visits to Disney within a 365-day period.

2015 was the year when Disney changed the Annual Passholder program structure to include four different pass options – Platinum, Platinum Plus, Gold, and Silver – each of which had its own price point and benefits. 

The Platinum and Platinum Plus tickets were the most expensive of the group (costing $749 and $829,respectively), but included the fewest blocked out dates and were available to any guest. The Gold annual pass was only available for Florida residents and DVC members, included select blockout dates, and cost around $549. The Silver annual pass was only available for Florida residents, and was a seasonal pass with blockout dates and cost $389. 

What Is Disney World’s New Annual Passholder Program? 

By 2020, the cost of the highest annual pass tiers was over $1000, but sales suddenly halted when the parks closed for the COVID-19 global pandemic. After roughly eighteen months of Disney’s annual pass sales being suspended, Disney World overhauled the program again in 2021, rolling out a new program that completely replaces the previous tiered system with a new one. Now, guests can select from four different tiers, including the Disney Incredi-Pass, the Disney Sorcerer Pass, the Disney Pirate Pass, and the Disney Pixie Dust Pass. Let’s look at the benefits that come with each of these passes in further detail.

Note that some passes are offered only to certain groups such as Florida residents or Disney Vacation Club Members. The only pass truly open to everyone is the top-tier Incredi-Pass.

Also note that a monthly payment plan is offered, but you must be a Florida resident to use it — everyone else must pay in full upfront.

Finally — and perhaps most importantly — you should know that sales of each pass type may be suspended at any given time; you’ll need to see what’s available when you’re ready to purchase. Check with your Disney Travel agent (see the end of this article) for more details.

Disney Pixie Dust Pass

Cost: $439 plus tax (Florida residents can pay $205 down + $22 per month for twelve months) 

Benefits: 

  • Visit one or more Walt Disney World Resort theme parks on most weekdays with an advance park reservation, subject to blockout dates including peak and holiday periods
  • Hold up to three park reservations 
  • Available only to Florida residents 

Disney Pirate Pass 

Cost: $799 plus tax (Florida residents can pay $205 down + $54 per month for twelve months) 

Benefits: 

  • Visit one or more Walt Disney World Resort theme parks on most days with an advance park reservation, subject to blockout dates including peak and holiday periods
  • Hold up to four park reservations 
  • Available only to Florida residents 

Disney Sorcerer Pass 

Cost: $999 plus tax (Florida residents can pay $205 down + $72 per month for twelve months) 

Benefits: 

  • Visit one or more Walt Disney World Resort theme parks on most weekdays with an advance park reservation, subject to blockout dates during select holiday periods
  • Hold up to five park reservations at a time
  • Available to Florida residents and Disney Vacation Club members only 

Disney Incredi-Pass 

Cost: $1,449 plus tax (Florida residents can pay $205 down + $112 per month for twelve months) 

Benefits: 

  • Visit one or more Walt Disney World Resort theme parks on the same day with an advance park reservation, no blockout dates apply
  • Hold up to five park reservations at a time 
  • Available to anyone

Need help sorting through the admittedly-complex options for annual passes at Disney World? Call in a specialist!

The friendly Disney Vacation Planners at The Vacationeer keep track of it all so you don’t have to! And best of all, their planning services are completely free to use!  So click here for free help with Disney tickets.

There’s never any obligation to book, and they’ll be happy to go over all of your options for tickets, dining, and hotels.