Hey, howdy, hey partner, and welcome back to planDisney. Mary, I am so glad you parked your covered wagon from Texas here to get a question answered about your rootin' tootin' visit to the place "where dreams come true."
A neat fact about Walt Disney World Resort annual passes is that they begin the first time you enter the theme park. So if you purchase an annual pass on April 20, 2023, and do not enter a theme park until June 1, 2023, your use year will be from June 1, 2023, til May 31, 2024. You have an entire year to activate the pass.
In your situation, you may purchase the annual pass, and change your Disney Resort Hotel Package to a room-only reservation. The price difference should be adjusted and I recommend you do this over the phone and not through My Disney Experience just in case Stitch gets a little crazy with the website. You may have to first book a new room-only reservation and then cancel your current Disney Resort Hotel Package. Disney vacation packages that include a Disney Resort hotel and tickets have a cancellation policy so you want to get right to it after you purchase your annual pass. As a reminder, when canceling your vacation package reservation, it is important to also cancel any other reservations such as dining, tours, or recreation if you do not plan to be there during those events. One last point, if you used a travel agent to book your vacation package then you will need to make any modifications with them and not directly with Disney.
Here are the time points for canceling a Disney Resort Hotel Package:
- Cancelation 30 days or more before the check-in date is 100% refundable.
- Cancelation within 2 to 29 days of your check-in date requires a $200 penalty per room, plus any cancelation fees assessed by other suppliers.
- Cancelation of your reservation one day prior to your arrival and the vacation package is non-refundable. As a reminder, when canceling your vacation package reservation, it is important to also cancel any other reservations such as dining, tours, or recreation.
- All prices related to cancelation fees are subject to change.
planDisney Pro Tip: As an annual passholder you will have fantastic discounts on food and beverages, merchandise, special events, and Disney Resort hotels. Be sure to check the
Special Offers page when making reservations.
Mary, I hope this information helps you. Please
write me back directly with any follow-up questions.
Enjoy making many Magical Memories.
~Jason