Why I'm not renewing my Disney World annual pass
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In the last 12 months, I went to Disney World a healthy (or unhealthy?) number of times. From memory, I was there in September, November, March, July and August. Some was for work, some was for fun, some was an attempt to ride every single ride at Disney World in one day (we came close). About a year ago, when I realized how many times I would likely be in the parks in the coming year, I bought a Disney World annual pass as it would be cheaper than buying multiple one-, two- or three-day tickets to coincide with the often short nature of my visits.
There were other reasons for the pass, too. For example, it saved us real money on Disney Resort bookings, on dining at many Disney restaurants, on many purchases at Disney shops in the parks and was the key to attending a passholder preview opening to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. It also saved us money on ticketed events, such as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Having just one Disney annual pass in the family translated to savings for all of us.
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But -- with my Disney World annual pass renewal coming due this week, even though I love Disney, I'm not renewing. Here's why.
It's expensive
There are ways to save money at Disney World, but there's no way to make Disney a cheap getaway. The going rate of a Platinum Disney World annual pass, like the one I have, is $1,191.74 ... per person. Sure, if you went to the park every day for a year, that's only $3.26 per admission, but most folks won't do anything close to that. I live in Texas, so I'm surely not doing that.
Also, I have a family, so when we go, we usually need parks tickets for at least my two daughters, too, and they don't have passes. Then there's the cost of the plane tickets, hotel rooms, etc. It adds up quickly. To really get value out of the annual pass, you need to be using it, which means using more miles, points and dollars to head to the House of Mouse.
Related: How to save money at Disney World
There's a discount to renew, but ...
Disney makes it tempting to renew an expiring annual pass because they give you a 15% discount, which is a real amount of savings on something that expensive. If I renewed now, I'd owe $1,012.82 instead of $1,191.74 for a brand-new pass. We do have another short Disney trip planned about three months from now where we will meet up with some friends. That makes it tempting to keep the pass going, but the odds of me going to Disney before that next planned trip are low. If I saved 15% on the price to renew now, I'd still come out behind because the renewed pass would be almost three months (aka 25%) used up before I ever swiped it to enter the park.
If you take advantage of the renewal discount to save 15%, but then don't use the pass for two months or longer from the date or renewal, then the math says you would have been better off just buying a fresh annual pass for your next visit and then having a full 12 months of validity from that date.
Go big one year, go small the next
I'm not renewing my Disney World annual pass, but I still enjoy our trips to Disney. It was great having the pass and going big on Disney trips for the last 12 months. However, it's also great to shift our focus to other things for a while with just a little Disney sprinkled in. We'll be at Disney again in December, but likely just in the parks for one full day and then at the Mickey Christmas Party for one night (you don't need a park ticket if you enter Magic Kingdom for that party at 4 p.m. or later).
Because we usually have a good time, the odds are high we may go to Disney again before this time next year, but probably just a weekend trip or similar. With that travel pattern, a Disney annual pass wouldn't make financial sense. Save holding a Disney World annual pass for the years your family is truly going big on Disney, not for the years when you are just making a weekend trip or two.
I'll just use points for tickets
For my upcoming shorter Disney trips, it will make more sense to keep the $1,000+ cost for one annual pass firmly in my bank account and cash in some points for tickets instead. While we have seen some Disney tickets pop into the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, the deals aren't good. So, my go-to recently has been using Citi ThankYou points for Disney World tickets (here's how to use points for Disney tickets).
I've also been known to use the $300 annual travel credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Disney tickets. That works when purchasing tickets through Undercover Tourist, since that site codes as travel and tickets directly from Disney don't typically code as travel.
Bottom line
I'm a Disney fan and make trips to the House of Mouse more than most. It's been a great year having a Disney World annual pass, but sometimes knowing when to say goodbye to something in the travel world is even more important than knowing when to jump on an opportunity. For now, it's "see ya later" to my Disney World annual pass.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.