As Walt Disney World heads into its 50th year this October, Disney has been working diligently to get the park back up to speed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Entertainment, restaurants, resorts, and other services are either coming back online or have been but in a limited capacity up to this point.
This week, Disney announced the annual passholder program, which saw new sales placed on hold since last spring, will return in September. The new passholder program, which will go on sale on 8 September 2021, will have four levels: Disney Pixie Dust Pass, Disney Pirate Pass, Disney Sorcerer Pass, and Disney Incredi-Pass. Each of these passes has varying levels of park availability and a number of park reservations. Only the Disney Incredi-Pass is open to all guests, the Disney Pixie Dust Pass and Disney Pirate Pass are available to Florida residents only, and the Disney Sorcerer Pass is open to Florida residents and Disney Vacation Club members.
The Disney Pixie Dust Pass is $399.00 (plus tax) is the most restrictive with passholders only permitted to hold three park reservations at a time. Guests will have access to the parks on “most weekdays” with block-out dates over peak and holiday periods.
The Disney Pirate Pass ($699.00 plus tax) gives guests four park reservations at a time and includes park access on most days, with block-out dates during peak and holiday periods. Over the next year, there are block-out dates in every month except June and August 2022.
The Disney Sorcerer Pass gives Florida residents and Disney Vacation Club members the ability to hold five park reservations at one time. The pass, which costs $899.00 plus tax, gives guests broad access to the park with block-out dates on “select days during select holiday periods.” As of now, the Disney website indicates the block-out dates are around Thanksgiving and the last two weeks of 2021.
For guests wishing to have no block-out dates, the Disney Incredi-Pass provides that option. At $1,299.00 plus tax, the Incredi-Pass also gives guests five park reservations at one time.
Florida residents still have the capability of purchasing an annual pass and pay for it in monthly installments, after a $205.00 deposit.
As an incentive to have an annual passholder stay at a select Disney resort or other select hotels, they will be able to make park reservations for each of their resort stay without counting against the annual pass total.
The four new annual passes will include standard parking and select discounts on dining and shopping, however other perks, which were previously included are now add-ons. Fans were dismayed to learn that Disney PhotoPass downloads, water park, and sports options will now sell for an additional $99.00 each.
Park hopping is still included with each pass, but now follows the new system where guests can visit another park, as long as capacity has not been reached, on the same day, but after 2:00 p.m.
Disney also said, each of the passes will include the addition of bonus reservations that will be added from time to time. This will allow guests to make extra reservations on select days at select theme parks. Bonus reservations do not count as a reservation hold. Passholders will also receive invitations to Passholder events, specially crafted Passholder merchandise, original content created for Passholders, and dedicated support with V.I.PASSHOLDER Support.
According to Disney, current passholders can keep their existing plan until it expires and then renew to one of the new plans. Until guests transition to the new passes, their number of park reservations will now go up to four reservations at a time with Silver passes and five reservations with Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus passholders. The Orlando Sentinel reports that those with Theme Park Select passes, Weekday Select passes and the Epcot After 4 pass will be allowed three reservations at a time. These changes will go into effect on 8 September 2021.
For more information, visit the Walt Disney World Annual Passholder page.
