There is generally an established thought process that occurs whenever you tell someone you are going to Walt Disney World. First, you are congratulated on your upcoming trip. Next, people wish they could go on your vacation. Then, they think about how much money you are likely spending. Yes, especially for people who don’t live in Florida where there are big discounts for visiting Disney World, the costs can accumulate very quickly. Everything from flights to hotel rooms to park tickets to food (and don’t forget all the souvenirs you’ll want) will exhaust your funds. As such, purchasing an expensive annual pass on top of splurging on a great room at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the farthest thing from many peoples’ minds. But what if we told you that an annual pass can pay for itself if you visit Disney World in just a couple of visits?
At MouseHouseNews.net, we put it to the test and we’re ready to demonstrate how this can be done. For most people, the only annual pass available to purchase is the Incredi-Pass. That is because all Disney World fans that live outside of the state of Florida are prohibited from buying the other passes (Disney Vacation Club owners from any state have the option of purchasing one other pass, but since this is not most people, we purchased the Incredi-Pass). For reference, the Incredi-Pass currently runs $1,549 plus tax. This is precisely why most fans will not even think twice about making this big purchase unless they visit Mickey many times per year. We didn’t think it would be worth it either, but we took on the challenge… because, science! Our results definitely surprised us.
When you are a Disney World annual passholder, you get more than just “free” admission to the four theme parks. You also get discounts and other perks not available to the general public. Common discounts include a 20% passholder discount on merchandise at the parks and resorts, discounted meals at table service restaurants and Joffrey’s kiosks, free standard parking at the theme parks, and the occasional resort discount. You also get those cool passholder magnets that make everyone jealous! These perks really pay off and play an integral role in your savings, yet most people don’t think twice about the power within the perks.
For our recent test, the team planned a trip to Disney World… but only after purchasing an Incredi-Pass annual pass. There are two of us, but we did not buy two annual passes. Why? Because, remember, the key to savings is in the discounts. If you and a partner are taking an adults trip to the magic, why spend money on two passes that will get you the same discount as if you had one? Just buy one for the two of you. The pass will be for one person but, since you’re together, so the other person will benefit from the discounts all the same. The dinner you are having together? Make sure the passholder asks for the passholder discount. Buying that new Spirit Jersey? As long as the passholder is standing by you, you get a discount! If you want that resort discount, you get it… just as long as the passholder makes the reservation and is on the reservation! Instant money saver!
Within hours of getting our Incredi-Pass, we realized major savings in just one trip. We compared our savings not against regular rates, but against discounts available to the general public (because, there are actually discounts for everyone… they’re just not as good)! Below, you will find the results of our test. The savings you will see revolve around three things: lodging from March 30, 2025 – April 5, 2025 at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel (specifically the Woods View room at moderately priced Port Orleans – Riverside), theme park tickets, and PhotoPass/Memory Maker, so you’re not even seeing the discounts for things like souvenirs and table service dining yet. You can easily see how having an annual pass can pay for itself in as little as two visits!
| Rate Description | Cost without Pass | Rate Description | Cost with Pass | Passholder Savings |
| Room: Save up to 25% Rooms in Early 2025 | $1750.84 | Room: Passholder Save up to 35% | $1517.36 | $233.48 |
| 4-Day Park Tickets for Two Adults | $1348.88 | 4-Day Park Tickets for Non-Passholder | $674.44 | $674.44 |
| Memory Maker (Advance Purchase) | $185 | PhotoPass Downloads Add-On | Included | $185 |
| $1,092.92 |
As you can see, there is a savings of nearly $1,100 for just one visit by using the passholder discounts! The savings won’t stop here, as there will be more once the trip starts (merchandise and food, for instance). Some of these descriptions in our chart require further explanation. The cost for the park tickets are cut in half because the person with the annual pass would not need to pay for additional park tickets. They would, however, need to make park reservations in most cases. Also, since our Incredi-Pass was purchased with the PhotoPass Downloads Add-On, we receive all PhotoPass photo downloads for free.
The total cost of our Incredi-Pass with the PhotoPass Downloads added was $1,648 plus tax and it is good for one year from the date of your first admission to a theme park using the pass. To have nearly $1,100 in savings just after purchasing the annual pass proves this pass can actually pay for itself if you come stay at the resorts and visit the theme parks at least a couple times per year. This is just a hypothetical trip and, ultimately, how you vacation will determine whether or not a Disney World annual pass is worth it. Just remember that not everyone in your group needs the pass! That is a key money-saving tip that, if utilized with passholder discounts, will make this previously out-of-reach pass well within reach.
For more money-saving tips, stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net. We’re your source for Disney Vacation News and Reviews for Disney Adults!
