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.

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!).

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?

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?

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.

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.

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…

…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.

Piston Peak, the Cars land area being built on Tom Sawyer Island, is also in the works…

…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.

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.

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.

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EVERY SINGLE DISNEY WORLD ANNUAL PASSHOLDER PERK … AND HOW TO USE THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE