by Disney has raised the prices once again, but is a Disneyland annual pass worth the cost? Here’s what to consider before you upgrade.
We were strolling through Disney California Adventure last week and overheard multiple guests asking about Disneyland Annual Passports. Many purchased a day ticket, but they had such a great time that they were considering an upgrade.
If you didn’t know, Disneyland allows you to use the cost of your day ticket toward your total annual passport purchase. In fact, you can upgrade through the app before midnight on the same day. Of course, this feature can always change, even last minute, but for now it’s an option.
The ability to quickly upgrade and make monthly payments has many families curious. How often would they go? Which pass would they need? If you’ve never had a Disneyland Annual Passport before (or it’s been a while), here’s what you should consider before buying:
The Blockout Dates
The most affordable passes are for Southern California residents. They save nearly half on their APs. However, the least expensive, the Southern California Select, only works on weekdays. It also excludes nearly all of summer, all weekends, holidays, and most Fridays. So, if you can make it to Disneyland on weekdays September through May, this pass if for you. Otherwise, you should consider a Disney Flex Pass which allows for weekend visitations, as long as you reserve the date.
The Price of a Disneyland Annual Pass Worth It?
Usually the first thing that people do before purchasing a pass is the simple math: how many times will they need to visit to get their money’s worth. Of course, this math is a little harder now that Disneyland has 5 ticket price tiers, but it’s still pretty easy to measure.
With that said, Disneyland annual passes also come with discounted merchandise, dining, and some have free parking. So, those are other factors to calculate before purchasing. If you plan on visiting once a month or less, the passes with included parking probably don’t make much sense for you.
The Crowds
Disneyland becomes incredibly busy on the weekends, most holidays, and other times when school is not in session. So even if you can afford a pass to visit during the holidays, will you want to? If the lines for the most popular rides are over 100 minutes long, FastPasses run out by 1pm, and finding a table to eat is impossible, would you go? Or can you avoid those dates and visit off-season?
Ticket Deals and Special Events
Every January, Disneyland releases tickets deals for Southern California residents. These deals sort of work like a season pass for locals, allowing for 3 visits usually for the cost of 2. Guests can visit from January through May, any 3 days.
For many locals, this is an option they look forward to every year.
There are also special events like Oogie Boogie Bash for Halloween and the Disneyland After Dark Nites with limited tickets. For many visitors, these parties are worth the low cost, short wait times, and thinner crowds. Sometimes getting a ticket deal at the beginning of the year and purchasing a Halloween Party ticket in the fall is a better value for locals.
Disneyland reportedly has over 1 million annual passholders. That’s A LOT of people. We don’t know the breakdown as Disney doesn’t release those numbers, but we do know that most visitors are locals. In fact, Disneyland is considered the most popular “local” tourist destination in the world.
If you’re still on the fence, we recommend buying a day ticket and visiting. If you’ve had a great time, think of which friends and/or family members you’d visit with. Could they go when your pass worked? Otherwise, you can always wait until your next visit to make the jump to AP status.
We write Disneyland Resort guidebooks that are packed with tips for visiting the parks. We offer the best food, places to stay, how to save money, and tricks that only the craziest fans know. You can check out our guidebooks here.
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