Passholders May Want to Buy Extra Disney Park Tickets

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Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Renewal Hack

Annual Passholders, if you do not want to book a stay at a Disney Resort Hotel, Disney theme park days for the rest of the summer seem pretty scarce. No matter how many more Park Passes Disney provides, park days keep getting booked up incredibly fast, and blackout dates for many an Annual Passholder continue to come up.

But a call with Walt Disney World’s V.I.Passholder support line has confirmed that there is a way where you can get into Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or your park of choice at the Walt Disney World Resort while also making a contribution towards the renewal of your Annual Pass.

The answer is simple: purchase a regular single-day or multi-day theme park ticket.

Buy a Single or Multi-Day Theme Park Ticket

Disney Tickets Header
Credit: Disney

There is a surplus of Disney Park Pass availability for theme-park ticket holders and Disney’s V.I.Passholder support line confirmed that it is possible to have the cost of a theme park ticket go towards the cost of your annual pass. But there are some conditions.

  1. It only works if you purchase and use the theme park tickets within the 60-day renewal window of your Annual Pass.
  2. You can purchase multi-day tickets, but you can only do this trick once. You must renew your Annual Pass by essentially upgrading your theme park ticket on its last day of use for that ticket’s cost to count as a credit on your Pass.
  3. All of this must be done in person at the park on either the last day you use your ticket or the last day of your ticket’s validity. The renewal process cannot be done over the phone.

Hypothetical Example of How This Will Work

Disney's Hollywood Studios Booked

Here’s an example of how this process can work.

Let’s say that the 60-day renewal window for your Annual Pass begins on Saturday, August 1, 2020. According to the availability calendar on the Disney World website, Passholders have completely booked up Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the month. In fact, the only park reservation readily available appears to be for EPCOT.

Let’s also say, for the sake of this example, that you already know that you are going to renew your Annual Pass.

Well, on August 1, you will be able to buy a three-day theme park ticket for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and use it to secure Disney Park Passes for the next three Saturdays. This is a feat impossible for other Annual Passholders not looking to stay on-property.

You keep your Annual Pass in your pocket and use your new ticket to experience Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Rise of the Resistance, and more, far earlier than you originally expected.

Then, on the last day you use your ticket, you visit a ticket window and have a Cast Member begin the renewal process for another year of Disney Magic. The cost of your three extra days of fun is already added to the fee.

Valid for Pass Renewals Only

More Disney Park Passes for Annual Passholders

Related: How Easy is It for WDW APs to Get Disney Park Passes?

This act of upgrading your theme park ticket to an Annual Pass used to be offered for anybody. However, because Walt Disney World has put a pause on the sale of new Annual Passes, only current Passholders will be able to use this trick to renew their pass.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, and how it can enhance your overall Disney experience please reach out to the V.I.Passholder Support Line at (407)-560-7277.

Are you still planning to renew your Annual Pass? Do you think you will use this trick when your renewal window comes? Let us know in the comments!

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