Welcome, Michele, to the great gathering. I mean, planDisney! I'm so happy you're here.
Everyone on earth is part of the great symphony of us. And it's so exciting that you are considering becoming a part of the
Annual Passholder community, too! I'm in my second year as an Annual Passholder, and I just love the ability to visit more often, the
benefits, and the
discounts. Pretty soon, you'll be able to hear the sound of a world in motion...as often as you'd like (assuming you have
Theme Park Reservations, which are required for Annual Passholders at this time).
If you purchase an Annual Pass and would like to use an Annual Pass discount on a hotel before it's been activated, you can usually do so. However, if it is not activated when you arrive at the resort, you will be charged the regular, non-discounted price for your hotel room. So be sure to activate it at a
Guest Relations location outside of the theme parks or the
Disney Ticket Center at Disney Springs to show the
Front Desk.
Now, I know that I briefly mentioned Theme Park Reservations, which are needed to enter the theme parks with an Annual Pass. However, currently, if you want to stroll into one of the theme parks after 2 p.m., you can do so without a Theme Park Reservation (except for
Magic Kingdom Park on the weekends). So, you want to see
Happily Ever After on a weeknight but didn't make a Theme Park Reservation? You can do that, so go ahead and sing your song. Or maybe it's
Luminous The Symphony of Us at
EPCOT, which I've been quoting throughout this entire answer. Well, go for it...and all of the world will become a symphony. Plus, you can check the
Annual Passholder Admission Calendar to see if there are any
Good-to-Go Days when you're visiting, where Annual Passholders don't need reservations at all. Just note that blockout dates still apply for both Good-to-Go Days and visiting a theme park after 2 p.m.
One of the things I didn't really think about when I became an Annual Passholder was how much I would love park hopping. In the past, I typically wouldn't purchase the
Park Hopper Option because I liked to take my time and really explore each theme park. And while I still absolutely love doing that, I love having the option to hop over to other parks whenever I want to even more. It's a convenience I thought I didn't need, but now I can't imagine myself without it!
Michele, I hope you find your favorite part of being an Annual Passholder soon and enjoy a year of unforgettable magic. And I hope you feel it in the beat of your heart.
Reach out again with any other questions.
The rhythm of our hearts is all around,
Matt