Hiya, Cathy!
Welcome to planDisney. If you ask me, one of the best parts of being a Disney Vacation Club Member (other than creating years of Disney magic with our families, of course!) is all the
Member Benefits that come along with Membership –– from dining and merchandise discounts, to Member-exclusive events and spaces, to specially-priced tickets, there are so many ways to sprinkle a little
extra pixie dust on each and every visit. And if you really want to take your Walt Disney World vacation game to the next level? There's no better way to enjoy your Membership the whole year than by becoming a
Walt Disney World Annual Passholder. I'm happy to share a few details about the current status of the Annual Passholder program, as well as what you can expect as a DVC Member, to help you plan for your upcoming visit.
In Fall 2021, Walt Disney World launched its newly-reimagined Annual Passholder program, complete with four new pass tiers and updated offerings. The great news is that this included a
special pass tier and rate exclusively for Disney Vacation Club Members and Florida residents –– the Disney Sorcerer Pass. The not-so-great-news? Sales of most new Annual Passes, including the Disney Sorcerer Pass, are currently paused. While I was able to purchase a new Pass for myself last year, I didn't purchase one for my husband at the time, so just like you, I'm anxiously awaiting for sales to resume. So far, there hasn't been any announcement about a timeline for new sales to restart, but Disney has indicated that this is a temporary hiatus, so I'm crossing my fingers that new Annual Passes will be available again soon. For all the latest Annual Passholder updates, including any breaking sales news, be sure to keep an eye on Disney Parks Blog as your arrival date approaches.
While this might be the news you were hoping to hear, there is a bright spot when it comes to Walt Disney World theme park admission for your upcoming stay. If sales of new Annual Passes resume after you've already purchased tickets, you should have the option to apply the cost of those tickets to an Annual Pass upgrade. To do this, you'll simply need to stop by any theme park ticketing window or
Guest Relations location and a Cast Member will be happy to assist you. In fact, this is exactly what I did when I purchased my Annual Pass last year and it was a quick and easy process. If you're planning to visit EPCOT, my favorite Guest Relations spot is right by the International Gateway entrance between the United Kingdom and France pavilions –– since this area is tucked away, I've always had great luck getting in and out with shorter wait times. Also, keep in mind you can upgrade to an Annual Pass at any point during your visit, so you don't have to do this before using your ticket the first time. You'll just need to complete your upgrade
before tapping into a Walt Disney World theme park on your last day –– once your ticket has been used for the last time, it will no longer be eligible to upgrade.
Thanks so much for stopping by planDisney, Cathy. I hope this helped to answer your Annual Pass questions and I'm wishing you lots of Membership magic during your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort visit!
Happy Planning,
Amy