Hello again Melissa and welcome back to planDisney!
Since I've answered one of your previous questions the last time you've come here to planDisney, it sounds like you and your mother have now made the decision to make the jump to becoming an
Annual Passholder in lieu of
purchasing tickets separately - which can definitely be worth it if you're especially keen on hopping between the theme parks and visiting at least 10 times during some of the most popular times of the year! There are also
heaps of Passholder perks that we love being able to take advantage of, and it's very convenient that the
Disney Incredi-Pass currently is not blocked out from any dates on the Annual Passholder Admission Calendar.
That said, as Annual Passholders we still
currently have to make theme park reservations, with a few notable exceptions:
- On select "good-to-go" dates when a reservation is not required to enter at any time that day.
- You will also not be required to have a reservation when entering a theme park after 2:00 P.M. except for Magic Kingdom Park on the weekends (Saturday & Sunday).
- It's important to note that changes and updates to these aforementioned policies may happen without prior notice (as we've seen this past year), so I always recommend staying up to date and confirming as you make your purchase in the event that this information no longer reflects a new change that may occur after I've responded to you.
Unfortunately at the current time an Annual Pass does not permit access to
Early Theme Park Entry (which is currently available to guests staying at Disney Resort Hotels and select neighbouring accommodations) nor
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours that are a benefit for those staying at
Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels and
Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts as you mentioned as well as others such as the
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels. If this changes in the future so that we'll have these particular perks and privileges as Passholders, I'll definitely be thrilled, but it's not looking like it'll be something to look forward to at the present time.
I reckon that it's always best to see whether your upcoming holiday plans in the coming year make sense with the investment, since I can definitely understand what it can be like with the exchange rate. However, I do hope that it works out for you both to have a relatively easy time getting in and around the theme parks here at Walt Disney World Resort!
Here's hoping we can welcome you back soon as a fellow Annual Passholder!
Prince