Hiya Julie!
Thank you for sending us your question, and welcome to planDisney, the most magical place on the internet! As an Annual Passholder myself, I am so excited that you have decided to join the club and get an Annual Pass yourself! There is no better feeling than being able to visit the parks whenever you want without having to purchase new tickets, and those discounts sure are magical. Thanks to the Disney Annual Passholder program, many Guests will even be able to experience
Guardians of the Galaxy - Cosmic Rewind before its formal opening on May 27th, 2022. Talk about awesome!
To answer your question, some discounts will require you to activate your Disney Annual Pass, while you might be able to use others before it is activated. Indeed, some Annual Pass perks
require you to show your physical card, which would require you to have your card activated. For example, this includes claiming your complimentary parking or using your Annual Passholder merchandise and dining discounts. If you plan to use any of these discounts, it would be essential to activate it at a Ticketing window at the main entrance of any of the four parks or at the Ticket Center at Disney Springs. However, you should be able to benefit from Annual Passholder discounts on Disney Resort hotel rooms before you activate your pass, for example, as those discounts only require having your pass linked to your
My Disney Experience account. Therefore, it depends on which perks you plan to use and which option would best fit your needs!
Now, Julie, there are so many excellent offerings that you can experience without even entering the theme parks! As a big foodie myself, one of my favourite Annual Passholder perks are the many
discounts on select dining locations. Besides, one of the best ways to get your dose of Disney magic without visiting the theme parks is visiting the Resorts and Disney Springs, which have so many incredible dining options! Over at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, I highly recommend eating at
Boma - Flavors of Africa. This restaurant is a favourite in my family, and both breakfast and dinner options are delicious. If you feel more adventurous, I suggest checking out
Sanaa over at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village. Their Indian bread service is famous around the Walt Disney World Resort, and their samosas add the best spice to your vacation! Lastly, one of my all-time favourites is the
Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. You must try their Buttermilk-fried Chicken and their Miso-glazed Salmon!
I hope this was helpful, Julie, and that you and your Ohana will have the best day ever on your upcoming Disney vacation. If you have any other questions in the time leading up to your visit, please don't hesitate to reach out. You and me, we're in a club now!
Have a magical day and bon appétit!
Ariane