Hi Stacie,
I'm a number cruncher and love a good spreadsheet, so I completely understand your desire to consider all of the aspects of whether or not a Disney Platinum Pass makes sense for you. My family decided to purchase them this year, so I'm happy to answer your questions to help you decide.
First, yes, you're absolutely correct that you'll be able to enjoy 365 days of
perks and benefits with an Annual Pass, which will start when you activate your pass. Not only will you be able to enter the theme parks whenever you'd like, but you'll also receive great
discounts on dining, Resort hotel rooms, shopping, recreation, and more. While overnight
parking at Resort hotels is only complimentary for Guests staying at the Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort or Disney Vacation Club Members, Annual Passholders
do receive complimentary parking at the theme parks. Perhaps one of my favorite perks of being an Annual Passholder, though, is enjoying unlimited views, shares, and downloads of all of the Disney
PhotoPass photos taken during all of our visits during the year. That perk
alone saves quite a bit!
While only you can decide what works best for you, Stacie, I hope that this helps you as you consider all of your options. Thanks so much for visiting us at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and please let us know if we can help with anything else! I hope that you have a truly magical vacation, and if you do decide to join the Annual Passholder family, I hope that you enjoy an amazing year celebrating traditions and discovering new favorites!
Missy