When Will Disney World Resume Annual Pass Sales?
“When will Walt Disney World Annual Pass sales resume?” is a common reader question. Many WDW fans are itching to purchase passes, especially new Floridians or those who planned on waiting to buy. We’ll share the company’s official position and speculate as to when APs might return. (Updated April 2, 2023.)
As a quick recap, Walt Disney World suspended sales of all Annual Passes during its closure. However, the Annual Pass program at Walt Disney World did not end when the parks reopened nor were outstanding APs terminated. Many APs proactively cancelled their passes and requested refunds. Upon reopening, sales of new Annual Passes were “paused” while renewals were allowed.
Walt Disney World then resumed Annual Pass sales in September 2021 with new names, higher prices, restrictions, and other details. In so doing, the company dropped the straightforward precious-metal tier names in favor of a nonsensical hierarchy of fictional characters and concepts. APs were available for about 3 months before sales started being suspended in late November 2021.
Back when the new Annual Passes were announced, Walt Disney World stated: “Please note as we continue to manage attendance to provide a great experience for everyone, at any time, Annual Passes may be unavailable for purchase.” It’s now been almost 18 months, and APs are still “temporarily unavailable,” at least for the most part.
Sales of Walt Disney World’s three most expensive Annual Passes are all currently paused. This means that the Disney Pirate Pass, Sorcerer Pass, and Incredi-Pass are all unavailable for purchase and have been for well over a year. Only the lowest-level Disney Pixie Dust Pass, which is available exclusively to Florida residents and valid only on weekdays, remains available for new sales as of right now.
Per Walt Disney World: “We are pausing new sales of select Annual Passes. All current Passholders can renew into any of our four pass types – at their renewal rate – and continue to visit using their pass. We will continue to evaluate the return of new sales for these passes. Please check back for the latest updates.”
By Disney’s own admission, the decision to suspend new AP sales occurred due to anticipated crowds at Walt Disney World during busier times of the year. For its part, Walt Disney World was correct in projecting heavy crowds and suspending AP sales to avoid running out of reservations on more dates. If organic demand were allowed to play out, attendance would’ve been even higher.
Crowds were incredibly heavy during the heart of last year’s holiday season, but have been more mixed since. The first three months of 2023 had highs and lows, with Spring Break arriving in full force a few weeks ago. To that point, the peak dates of Spring Break 2023 Crowds at Walt Disney World are right around the corner this month.
With that in mind, most dates have been green thus far in 2023 on the Disney Park Pass calendar as of right now. The only dates that are partially booked are the weeks bookending Easter. The only other two times that has happened this year were during Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras week and Orange County’s Spring Break. Most dates are not booking up, which is significant.
As we’ve noted before, Annual Passholders are advantageous to Walt Disney World, but not in a constrained capacity environment at the expense of tourists. Statistically speaking, per visit spending is significantly higher among resort guests and day ticket holders than APs. It thus makes sense that Walt Disney World would want to prioritize those demographics and not fill the parks with Annual Passholders at the expense of more lucrative vacationers during busier seasons.
For Walt Disney World, the downside of delaying the resumption of Annual Pass sales would be reduced revenue if or when the parks have surplus capacity. The potential upside would be not having to suspend regular ticket sales again when travel heats up again. With per visit spending being significantly higher among tourists, there’s a tremendous opportunity cost in allocating reservations to APs in a fully booked environment.
However, Walt Disney World continues to restore capacity by bringing back entertainment, dining options, and also filling positions in the parks that were previously short-staffed. All of this helps increase park capacity, which puts less stress on the reservation system by increasing the supply of Disney Park Passes. All of this plus normalizing demand and less ‘revenge travel’ means there is less of an opportunity cost in Annual Passholders taking up space in the parks.
Allocating capacity and balancing tourists versus locals or frequent visitors is really the whole ballgame. It’s not about lawsuits over the reservations system (Disneyland has resumed AP sales despite that and Walt Disney World still has one Annual Pass available) and it’s not about the perception of scarcity or artificial demand.
On a tangentially related note, the resumption of Magic Key Annual Pass sales at Disneyland could be a potential sneak peek of what Walt Disney World fans will have to endure when AP sales for the Florida parks resume. Back in November when Magic Keys were briefly sold, virtual queue wait times were 10-12 hours.
This January, wait times were shorter–but still measured in the hours on the first day they resumed. Within about a week, some tiers of Magic Keys had already sold out again. The resumption of APs at Disneyland occurred right on the timeline that we previously expected both coasts to resume Annual Pass sales. Frankly, we’re a bit surprised that Walt Disney World didn’t follow suit–but that suggests AP sales aren’t too far away for Walt Disney World.
As intimated above, the straightforward explanation remains that AP sales are suspended due to internal concerns about Disney’s ability to meet demand for regular tickets once Annual Passes are available again. As long as the parks aren’t operating at full capacity and there’s the potential for unsatisfied demand among higher-spending tourists, this is the simplest and clearest explanation for the lack of Annual Passes.
With all of that said, we think there are two possible timeframes for the return of Annual Passes at Walt Disney World. The first is that Annual Pass sales resume on or after April 17, 2023. This is not necessarily the precise date that APs will return to Walt Disney World, it’s simply the earliest date we expect them at this point.
Previously, Walt Disney World resumed AP sales during the off-season, which gave the company a window to test and adjust the program and reservation availability during a window when crowds were low. When AP sales resume again in 2023, it will almost certainly occur during another such off-season window.
As for the significance of April 17, that’s after the height of spring break season and Easter 2023. And…just in time for Tax Day!
This is the next window of lower crowds, which will last following the conclusion of spring break until the start of summer season in mid-June 2023. Not every day or week within that timeframe will be slow–it’s more like ‘shoulder’ season–but it won’t be as bad as Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras, Easter, Summer, etc.
This is also after the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run and start of EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival. In short, the end of April or beginning of May 2023 is the perfect window of opportunity for Walt Disney World to resume AP sales.
Additionally, Walt Disney World has discounted Florida resident tickets that are currently on sale, and are valid through April 27, 2023. This is a pretty common special offer that’s typically available right around this time of year.
Walt Disney World crowds do not increase after April 27. To the contrary, the entire month of May 2023 will be shoulder season; it’s a slower time between the peaks of spring break and summer at Walt Disney World. Selling Annual Passes at the tail end of this discounted ticket deal, or shortly after it concludes would be a smart move–and a way to spike demand during what would otherwise be a relatively laid back month in the parks.
With that said, there are so many other variables at play that could cause Walt Disney World to continue waiting to bring back Annual Passes. Ongoing attendance, guest spending, forward-looking projections, and even the Florida Resident tickets selling well could impact the return date of APs.
If business continues booming even without Annual Passes, the company may decide that it’s advantageous to continue waiting to resume sales. In such a scenario, we view it as unlikely that APs would return in June or July 2023. Instead, Walt Disney World is more likely to wait for the busy summer tourist season to end, restarting sales in mid-August or September 2023. This is simply to say that anyone anxiously awaiting the return of Annual Passes might want to temper their expectations.
One unfortunate reality reinforced in the last 2 years is that demand for Walt Disney World is fairly insatiable right now. Attendance, hotel occupancy, and guest spending have not been impeded in the slightest by the range of unpopular decisions, cutbacks, or price increases.
Many fans–us included–keep waiting for some of Walt Disney World’s decisions to come around and “bite them” with consumers. At least in the short term, there are no signs of that happening. Long term is a potentially different story, but with all of this success and strong sales in spite of everything, we may be waiting a while. Then again, things can change in a hurry, and last year was a time of unprecedented consumer spending across the board that seems unsustainable.
In any case, it’s safe to say that Annual Passes will return at some point, and will not be retired entirely. Walt Disney World APs have never presented the same issues as at Disneyland, for relatively straightforward reasons. Beyond double the parks, there are significantly fewer Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World.
And many of them aren’t local, anyway. Disney Vacation Club members and New Yorkers who come down three times per year and book hotels every time are much more valuable to the company than Disneyland locals who drop-in for a few hours and don’t even eat dinner in the park.
With that said, I’d stop short of saying that Walt Disney World “needs” Annual Passholders. They’re an asset at times, helpful in guaranteeing attendance (and revenue) during slow stretches. However, that’s not always the case.
There are times when Annual Passholders can compound tourist-driven crowd problems, like during the popular Christmas season. In the past several years, we’ve seen Walt Disney World introduce more blockouts and raise prices on most Annual Passes–sometimes by hundreds of dollars at a time. There’s a reason for that.
There have been a lot of headlines recently about homebuyers “fleeing to Florida,” but this phenomenon is nothing new. Back when Annual Pass prices increased two years ago in February and the June before that, we mentioned the ongoing population explosion in Central Florida. Even then, several cities in the Orlando metro area were among the fastest growing in the United States. Many of these new Florida residents are (and were) people leaving the Northeast and Midwest.
Our commentary at the time was this: “If new home prices and construction around Walt Disney World are any indication, these transplants are also on the more affluent end of the spectrum. (Behind Magic Kingdom, there’s been a proliferation of subdivisions with no end in sight—most of these have homes starting at over $300,000 and ranging up to $800,000.)”
Those price points now seem quaint (add another couple hundred thousand dollars on), but the sentiment still rings true. And this was long before “Zoom Towns” had entered our collective vernacular. If you’ve seen any of those ‘fleeing to Florida’ stories in the news, you’re undoubtedly aware that this trend has only accelerated in the last two years. In fact, many of you who have been asking when Walt Disney World will resume AP sales are fresh transplants from the Midwest or Northeast.
Ultimately, our prediction is that Walt Disney World resumes Annual Pass sales at higher price points around late April or early May 2023. Failing that, the next most logical time for resuming AP sales is not until mid-August 2023, but we do not think Walt Disney World will wait that long. These are two prime windows of opportunity in the off-season that are the most likely, as it’s improbable that Walt Disney World will begin Annual Pass sales right before any prime tourist season.
At some point, things will normalize. Staffing shortages will be fully resolved, pent-up demand will fizzle out, and consumer spending will fall back to normal levels. All of that could happen abruptly in the coming months or it could last until mid-2023. For the better part of a year, we’ve been wondering when demand would slow…and it’s only grown stronger during that time.
Of course, that’s just our guess from the outside looking in. I never would have predicted this happening back when Annual Pass sales resumed, as it seemed the worst of the reservation availability problems were already in the rearview mirror at that point. Then again, it would seem that Walt Disney World also did not predict those problems, as if they did, they wouldn’t have resumed AP sales in the first place!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
When do you expect Walt Disney World to resume new Annual Pass sales? Think sometime in late April or early May 2023 is a safe bet, or will Walt Disney World be more cautious this time, waiting all the way until Fall 2023 to ensure there’s ample capacity for more lucrative tourists? Would you purchase a Walt Disney World AP right now? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Seems like Disney vacation club orlando is a big money grab dues up again this year 2022 perks being taken away not what I was promised in 2004 when I bought in can’t even imagine what it is going to look like the rest of my contract seems like they don’t care about dvc members they know we are locked in so they keep sucking us dry my advice is stay away
Hi Tom,
I enjoy your content and refer to your site so often – thanks so much for keeping us informed!
I have an AP question. I have a “Platinum Pass Exchange” in my account that I originally purchased to activate in June of 2020. Since then, I have been waiting to activate it at a time when I felt travel would be more back to normal. My current plan is to activate it for a trip planned in early March. Do you have any idea what pass they have been converting these exchanges for? Thanks, again, for all of the helpful advice over the years!
Any idea when the Disney 50th anniversary merchandise will return?
There are lots of us that visit multiple times a year that will just go to Universal if we can’t get AP’s soon.
Hi Tom, you mentioned: “Many fans-us included- keep waiting for Walt Disney World’s decisions to come around and “bite them” with consumers. At least in the short term there are no signs of that happening”. I rexall you saying that .any nights for the Christmas party were not sold out due to the high prices. Do you know if they eventually all sold out? It not, wouldn’t be a sign to Disney of consumers reaching a “breaking point with Disney pricing?
They eventually sold out.
With the border open now, they might start hiring internation program CM and move CM currently in Epcot to other positions, hence increasing capacity.
Anyway, I always wonder why they don’t create an AP valid only on days when you have an on site hotel reservation. The number of people who could use it at any one time is self-limiting and it would cater perfectly with the DVC or multi-trip per year crowd.
Ruh-roh, Rastro, AP prices have disappeared from the Disney site, just in time for a February price hike, the new DVC GF wing to go on sale, and another Easter/spring push for sales.
End of January is my prediction. Between Omicron, no festival at Epcot, and the return of “bonus reservations” for APs already (Animal Kingdom and Epcot were bonus reservations mid-week the first week of January.) showing up I think they will want to court the locals. Omicron may be less severe but who wants to quarantine their whole trip if they test positive? Seems like a terrible vacation.
Time to get the day guests back.
I’m interested in the Florida Resident multi day tickets. There used to be an option to use tickets over a 6 month period now it’s really only length of stay. Any thoughts on when and whether that ticket option will return? Thanks! Happy New Year!
Enjoy your content
Tom -I see what you did there. The hint in the paragraph right below the photo of a certain character. Should be very interesting!
No worries Tom! Thanks for all the work you do
Tom – hearing any whispers out there about new AP sales?
Yeah, the August 16 prediction is wrong. The announcement likely won’t be until the following week–not sure yet when APs will go on sale, but probably not the same day.
As I was an AP I asked questions when I needed help for a woman whose dying wish was to see the castle light up she has MS do you have any idea how difficult the routine was just for me to get her to the restroom….. Disney’s reply was we only honor the make a wish for children… I did pay myself to get her there, that day she had a fever… we took her to the infirmary after the lighting… she was taken to Celebration hospital and passed 2 days later…. I never received a call!! Thanks Disney
I have a couple of questions. We bought a condo in Florida 2 years ago as a 2nd home and now spend half of our time there & half in another State. We’ve been wanting to purchase and AP since we bought in FL but COVID hit right after we started going there.
I read the rules about what we need to qualify for a “Florida Resident AP” but a couple of things weren’t that clear so I was wondering what phone number I should call to talk to someone that could give me answers. And my other question is about who to call & what time to call when they become available. And will the “resident” AP and the “non-resident” AP’s be available at the same time? Thank you
We have purchased an annual pass several times over the last 20 years. We manage it to at least get two Christmas trips and a February trip out of it, We eat all of our meals on the property. As out of staters I feel that we should get get some perks if we are staying at a Disney resort. We are really annoyed at the parking fee. Are you kidding me we are paying over $300 a night and Disney then charges us $20 to park. If they are so concerned with our safety they should be happy that we are in our own car instead of being crammed into a bus riding with strangers!
As an out of state passholder, I am quite annoyed by how we’ve been treated by Disney.
We are the lucrative guest. We come and stay for a week or more, sometimes in a Disney resort, sometimes not. We’re not like locals, who pop in for a few hours, maybe buy a snack and drink, and then leave. We’re eating in the restaurants, buying souvenirs, and spending big money – with a pass that costs up to 40% more than what Florida residents pay, with no choice to buy a lower tier pass, or make monthly payments. Then to top it off, we only get to reserve three park days at a time.
If the renewal of AP sales comes with another significant price increase, we are likely not going to renew again, and of course, we won’t be coming down four or five times a year either. Disney needs us far more than we need Disney. They need to figure that one out.
“There are also new pass purchases for ex-Annual Passholders who cancelled during the closure (not before or after reopening)“
-Nope, called today, they said those are no longer available since they’ve announced the restart of APs. Was very bummed since I just heard that we could do that at all 🙁
Based on the latest vernacular of the Passholder previews of Remy’s, I doubt WDW will bring back the sale of annual passes before September…at the very least, I think it’ll be towards the end of August, rather than the middle. The info that came out recently about Remy previews specifically said “for existing passholders.” This makes me think that Disney will need to get the sign ups for passholder previews out of the way before they begin offering sales of APs again. Bums me out though, as I’ve wanted to purchase an AP ahead of our September trip for a while now.
I’m doubting 8/16. The tone of Disney’s announcement – in time for the 50th – suggests to me a September date. If they are really going to open sales in 12 days, why not announce it specifically? Just like they announced the start date for Magic Key sales.
Perhaps.
But if I’m Disney, I’m doing this like a discount drop day, and just resuming sales early one morning and making an announcement several hours later. I guess we’ll see.