What’s MISSING From Disney World’s New Annual Pass Program?

Happy Monday everyone!

Annual Pass at EPCOT

It’s been a big Disney news day already, with lots of information coming out about Disney World’s new Annual Pass program. We’ve looked at the pricing differences, blockout dates, and how this will affect current Annual Passholders, so now let’s see what’s missing from this new program. 

The biggest difference with the new Annual Pass program is that there are fewer options for Annual Passes exclusive to Florida residents. With the old AP program, Florida residents could choose from one of five options that were reserved only for them. Now, there are just three Florida resident exclusive options (with one also available to DVC members).

Annual Pass

With the old AP system, the passes that were available only for Florida residents were:

  • Disney Gold Pass (Florida Residents or DVC Member only): $719
  • Disney Silver Pass: $539
  • Disney Theme Park Select Pass: $439
  • Disney Weekday Select Pass: $369
  • Disney EPCOT After 4 Pass: $309

Spaceship Earth

Now, the Florida residents-only passes include:

  • Disney Sorcerer Pass (FL residents or DVC members only): $899
  • Disney Pirate Pass: $699
  • Disney Pixie Dust Pass: $399

Read MORE about the NEW pass options here! 

It’s Tink!

The Pixie Dust Pass is similar to the old Disney Weekday Select Pass, with most weekends and holidays blocked out. The Pirate Pass is similar to the old Silver Pass, and the Sorcerer Pass is like the old Gold Pass. That means we’re missing the Disney Theme Park Select Pass and the Disney EPCOT After 4 Pass. These options will not be available anymore once Disney switches to the new system on September 8th. Until the 8th, you can renew your pass with the old system.

EPCOT

With the old annual pass system, non-Florida residents (and non-DVC members) had two options: the Platinum or Platinum Plus Pass. The biggest difference between these two was that the Platinum Plus Pass came with admission to Disney’s two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon), Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, and ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex. 

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Under this new program, there is only one option for non-Florida residents (and non-DVC members): the Incredi-Pass. This pass is similar to the old Platinum Pass, with admission to all four theme parks, park hopping, no blockout dates, and other benefits. Instead of another Pass that includes the water parks, any Annual Passholder can add on the Water Park and Sports option for $99 plus tax. This includes admission to Disney’s Water Parks, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, Miniature Golf, and more, with no blockout dates.

Blizzard Beach Entrance

Another big thing missing from the new Annual Passes is PhotoPass, which used to be included in the Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus Passes. Now, PhotoPass will not be included in any pass. Instead, you can add it onto a pass for $99 plus tax.

Pluto and a PhotoPass Photographer

MagicBands will also not be included with Annual Passes. We heard about this change earlier this year, and it went into effect on Autust 16th, 2021. Instead, Annual Passholders (and all other Disney World guests) will need to either use the MagicMobile service on their smartphones, purchase a MagicBand separately, or use an old MagicBand that they’ve linked to their current tickets.

You can buy MagicBands online or in the parks

The blockout dates are a little different under the new system as well. For the Pixie Dust Pass and the Incredi-Pass, the blockout dates are fairly similar to the old system. There are no blockout dates for the Incredi-Pass and most weekends and holidays are blocked out for the Pixie Dust Pass. 

Hey there Santa!

Some of the blockout dates for the Pixie Dust Pass are different than the ones for Weekday Select Pass, with Thanksgiving week and a week in March 2022 being blocked out while they weren’t for the Weekday Select Pass. However, more summer days are available with the Pixie Dust Pass, as all of June and July 2022 were blocked out for the Weekday Select Pass, and these dates are available with the Pixie Dust Pass.

Hollywood Studios During the Holidays

The Disney Pirate Pass is most similar to the old Silver Pass, so we’ll be comparing the blockout dates between these two. With the old Silver Pass, some holidays and other select dates were blocked out, including a couple of weeks in December, some in April, and all of June and July 2022. The Pirate Pass has more holidays blocked out, like a week in November for Thanksgiving, a few more weekends in October 2021 and January and February 2022, and a week in March 2022. However, the Pirate Pass does not have June and July 2022 blocked out — these dates are open for guests who have the Pirate Pass.

Annual Pass

The Disney Sorcerer Pass is comparable to the old Gold Pass. With the Gold Pass, blockout dates included a couple of weeks over Christmas and two weeks in April 2022. The Sorcerer Pass has blockout dates over Thanksgiving (but not as many as the Pirate Pass) and a couple of weeks over Christmas break in December. Besides that, all dates are available with the Sorcerer pass.

You can see ALL the blockout dates for the new passes here! 

Animal Kingdom Christmas Tree

Wrapping up, the main differences are the two add-ons (the Disney Water Parks and Sports pass and PhotoPass for $99 each), fewer Florida residents-only options, only one option for out-of-state residents, and different blockout dates for most of the passes. Keep following DFB for more information about the new system!

Get ALL of the details on the NEW Annual Pass Program here. 

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The post What’s MISSING From Disney World’s New Annual Pass Program? first appeared on the disney food blog.