Hiya Abigail,
Welcome to planDisney! Congratulations on your admission to graduate school at the University of Central Florida! Once upon a time, I was actually going to work as a professor there, so the Knights have a special place in my heart.
I just recently moved back to the Sunshine State, Abigail, and my first official act was to take advantage of the
Florida Resident special offers. It is my favorite part of living in Florida (well, that and the warmer weather)! I did a little digging, Abigail, and it looks like UCF students, faculty, staff, and alumni can purchase specially priced theme park tickets through the school ticket center. Note that these cannot be purchased at Walt Disney World Resort, so you will need to purchase them at UCF. Now I’m sure this is subject to change, but when I took a peek at their website, I didn't see Annual Pass purchases as an option. If you plan to visit frequently, and who wouldn’t, being so close, then I think you should definitely consider purchasing an
Annual Pass. Let’s say that you think you will visit once a month. If you purchase a 1-day-1-park ticket for that visit for $200, that could leave you with $2,400 for the year, plus around $420 in
parking. With the Pirate Pass, you would save close to $2,000 (subject to change), and your parking is included (plus other discounts on dining, resort hotel stays, and merchandise)! As a graduate student, that amount of savings is a great deal! It gets even better when you plan to visit more than 12 times a year.
I hope this was helpful, Abigail! As you continue weighing your options, don’t forget to check out the
blockout dates for the Annual Passes before you purchase. If you have dates you definitely want to go, make sure your Annual Pass (if that is the option you want) permits admission for those dates. Oh, and don’t forget about the payment plan! When I was in graduate school, being on a budget was the way I survived and thrived, so having the monthly payment plan was a game-changer. Once you pay an initial deposit, the remaining balance is split evenly across the 12 months! If you need anything else, please come back and see us.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.