Disney’s Premier Passport is Disney’s ultimate annual pass. Available to all United States residents, this pass allows access to Walt Disney World Resort parks and Disneyland Resort parks for an entire year. Below, we’ve outlined the costs, discounts and benefits available when you purchase the Premier Passport.
When you’re done reading about the Premier Passport, we highly recommend that you take a look at our big guide to planning a Disney Vacation on a budget. It’s a totally comprehensive resource we built to help you get the most bang for your buck when you’re making decisions for your trip. You’ll find all of the info you need for resorts, tickets, dining, and more.
*As of April 2023, the Disney Premier Passport has been suspended and is not likely to return.*
Walt Disney World Perks with Disney’s Premier Pass
Now for the good stuff! Did you know your pass includes admission to all 6 parks on Walt Disney World Property? There are so many advantages to being an annual passholder.
Park Admission
Theme Parks
Walt Disney World has four theme parks on
The savings here are huge – daily admission for each park ranges from $109 to $124, or as low as $52 with a multi-day vacation package. With the Premier Passport, you could go to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland park for $5.50 a day for the year.
The best part about having free admission to these parks for the year is Park-Hopping. Most guests have to purchase a Park-Hopper option on top of their park admission to attend two parks in one day. Premier Passport holders can visit all four parks in one day for free.
Water Parks
Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon are world-class water parks located on Walt Disney World property. Both are child- and adult-friendly with multiple slides, pools and tasty quick-service stands.
Premier Passport holders save $65 per day for these parks, receive discounts for additional tickets and can take advantage of their exclusive passholder discounts on food and merchandise while there.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
The Complex hosts multiple sporting events throughout the year, including Atlanta Braves spring training and AAU Cheerleading Nationals. Premier Passport holders receive free admission, but should check events before attending, as some will require an additional admission charge.
Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course is a family-friendly 9-hole, par-36 walking course. The course also offers 9-hole FootGolf. Premier Passport holders only pay a greens fee for these Walt Disney World golf courses.
Resort Hotels
Walt Disney World has 34 different options for staying on property and will introduce one more, Disney’s Riviera Resort in fall of 2019. Premier Passport holders can get discounts throughout the year, especially during slow season.
Email updates on special offers are sent to passholders periodically. But the best bet is to check the website for the dates you plan to visit, as there may be additional offers available for your stay.
Dining
There are so many great dining options here that we end up at a Walt Disney World restaurant at least once a week – most times without even entering a park. Even adults without kids have no shortage of incredible restaurant options.
You can save up to 20% on dining as a Premier Passport holder, not only on table service restaurants, but also quick service stands and snacks inside or outside the parks.
Merchandise
Walt Disney World creates special passholder merchandise for events such as Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival and Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, among others.
This merchandise is exclusive to passholders, but for general merchandise aside from these events, you can save up to 20% on your purchase in store and online at shopDisney.
Sports, Recreation & Spa
Premier Passport holders can save up to 15% at select locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Take advantage of bike rentals, miniature golf, fitness centers, spa services, horse-drawn carriages and even fishing excursions during your stay using your exclusive discounts!
Special Events & Entertainment
Hidden perks are offered for various experiences on Walt Disney World property. For instance, you can save 10% on the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, save 15% on swimming with dolphins at Epcot, or save 10% on Ferrytale Fireworks (Magic Kingdom’s dessert cruise in Seven Seas Lagoon).
These opportunities may appear in emails you receive from Walt Disney World, but it’s best to check their website for more details before booking.
Guided Tours
Tours at Walt Disney World are a great way to learn the secrets behind the magic. Save up to 15% on select guided tours, such as Magic Kingdom’s Keys to the Kingdom, Epcot’s Aqua Tour or Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek.
Disneyland Perks with Disney’s Premier Pass
Disneyland may have fewer experiences to offer, but Walt Disney’s original park has many of it’s own unique benefits. If you’re a fan of nostalgia, you’re sure to get your fix in Anaheim!
Park Admission
Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park is most closely related to Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World, complete with classic rides like the Haunted Mansion, sections of the park like Tomorrowland, and Mainstreet parades.
Admission ranges from $104 to $149 for a 1-day ticket, with prices as low as $68 a day on multi-day packages. The Premier Passport allows you to get in free and Park-Hop over to California Adventure at no extra charge.
Disney California Adventure Park
While Disneyland thrives on nostalgia, California Adventure brings the fun. This park is in a league of it’s own with favorite attractions like Cars Land, Pixar Pier, and Pacific Wharf, which gives off a boardwalk vibe.
General admission is the same as Disneyland Park for regular guests, but again, the Premier Passport holder has free admission.
Dining
Disneyland has many great restaurants to choose from in the parks and resorts, but discounts here are slightly lower than in Walt Disney World.
Premier Passport holders can save up to 15% off select restaurants, Disney Character Dining locations and some dining locations in the Downtown Disney District.
Merchandise
Experience the same savings at Disneyland as you do at Walt Disney World. Premier Passport holders save up to 20% off select merchandise everywhere on Disney property.
Special Events
Disneyland does not have quite as much to offer guests in the way of festivals and excursions like Walt Disney World, but there are several can’t-miss tours and events happening in the parks year-round.
Premier Passport holders can receive discounts on favorites like California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, Halloween and Holidays at Disneyland, Disneyland Resort VIP Tours and “Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps” Tour.
Resort Hotels
Premier Passport holders can receive special offers on staying in Disney property hotels when booking your vacation! You have the choice of staying in the Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
Perks on Both Coasts
Parking
Both resorts offer free standard parking to anyone with the Premier Passport, which ends up saving you $25 a day on either coast. Parking is also free for Disneyland hotel guests.
At Walt Disney World, resorts charge for overnight parking, but the fee is waived for Premier Passport holders. Free overnight parking will save you $13 a night for Value resorts, $19 per night at Moderate resorts and $24 per night at Deluxe resorts.
Photopass
At Walt Disney World, your Premier Passport will include both Photopass & Fastpass. If you are used to purchasing Memory Maker with your Walt Disney World vacation package, Photopass is essentially the same thing.
Photopass allows you to scan your pass or Magic Band at any photo station for free pictures automatically linked to your account. With Photopass, you can download your photos for a full year after they’re taken.
Memory Maker would cost guests with no annual pass $199 and you only get to download the photos up to 45 days after they’re taken.
Fastpass+
Booking Fastpasses up to 60 days in advance is the standard for all Walt Disney World hotel guests. But the perk for Premier Passport holders is that you can book your Fastpasses 30 days in advance of your trip even if you’re staying off property.
Maxpass
In Disneyland, they combine both the Photopass & Fastpass into one package called Maxpass. For most park guests Maxpass is purchased for $15 a day or an extra $100 for the year if you have a lower level annual passport.
Maxpass is included for free with the Premier Passport. Since Disneyland doesn’t use Magic Bands, you will simply scan your Photopass card or the code on your phone to link photos to your account for downloading.
Mickey Monitor & Emails
Annual Passholders, no matter what type of pass they purchase, have the privilege of receiving the Mickey Monitor, emails, and other forms of exclusive Passholder communication from Disney.
The Mickey Monitor is a quarterly print publication for passholders, detailing the upcoming events, highlights and new attractions for the season. Disney will also communicate via email to promote “Passholder Perks” you can take advantage of.
Is it worth it?
The cost of the Premier Passport is $1949 + tax. Below is a scenario in which you’d save money with this pass.
You are planning to be in a Disneyland park for 14 days and in a Walt Disney World park for 14 days this year, you are neither a Florida or California resident, you’re staying in a Moderate resort and you drive your own vehicle:
Walt Disney World estimated savings: $568.50
Since the Premier Passport includes free admission, park-hopping, Memory Maker, free overnight parking at your resort and free theme park parking, you could save $568.50. Not to mention all the discounts you’ll receive on your hotel booking, merchandise and dining.
Disneyland estimated savings: $537.50
The Premier Passport includes free admission, park-hopping, Maxpass and free theme park parking, which saves you about $537.50. Plus, you get all the discounts available on your hotel booking, merchandise and dining.
In conclusion, if you are a casual Disney fan who is planning to visit either Disneyland or Walt Disney World just once this year, you are better off getting a vacation package deal.
California residents will save more by getting a Disneyland Passport at any level and Florida residents will save more with a Walt Disney World Annual Pass.
However, this pass is perfect for people who travel often or are on both coasts regularly. You’ll get the most out of this pass if you plan to visit Disneyland for two or more weeks and Walt Disney World for two or more weeks within one year.
