We Bought Disney Annual Passes on a Weekend Trip — Was the Sorcerer Pass Worth It?
A couple of summers ago, we took a short 36-hour trip to Disney for a stay at The Riviera Resort. Now, if you’ve ever visited central Florida in the dead of summer, you already know it can be insanely hot. But as far as summers go, we lucked out. It was a beautiful weekend—perfect sunny days, very little rain… even during the ever-so-common afternoon showers.
Since it was such a quick trip, we planned to spend the morning at Riviera’s main pool, then wing it for the afternoon. We landed on our go-to no-park activity and headed over to Magic Kingdom for a Monorail hotel crawl to visit Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
View of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa from Seven Seas Lagoon.
Excluding the lounges and bars, we genuinely love visiting the Monorail resorts. For one, the kids feel like they’re riding an attraction—even though we’re not technically going to a park. Secondly, the hotels are gorgeous and packed with amenities, including some truly great shopping.
For more on our go-to Monorail crawl, check out our blog post, “Adults-Only Disney Weekend Getaway: Monorail Crawl & Lounges.”
Around 2PM, while moseying around the Polynesian lobby, Jessica mentioned that it would’ve been nice to visit a park during this trip. While I agreed, I felt park admission wasn’t worth the cost at that point in the day. Now, I’m convinced what happened next was a combination of subliminal messaging and strategic resort signage, because Jessica and I looked at each other - clearly having the exact same thought.
“What if we got annual passes?”
Who Can Buy the Disney Sorcerer Pass?
Okay. Let’s get the disclaimer out of the way. The Bare Necessities is a travel blog. We are not here to sell you on purchasing an annual pass. For one, while annual passes can save you money, the upfront cost is still a financial commitment. And two - we qualify for a pass tier that many out-of-state residents don’t have access to.
As Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members, our family is eligible to purchase the Disney Sorcerer Pass. Please note, at the time of writing this blog, you need to own a minimum of 150 points purchased directly from Disney. There are other situations (like grandfathered resale members), but that’s an entirely different conversation.
You might be asking: Why does the Sorcerer Pass tier matter so much? Aren’t there other options?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that most tiers are restricted to Florida residents. The highest tier, the Disney Incredi-Pass, is available to out-of-state non-DVC guests, but it comes with a higher price tag and a steeper break-even point.
At the time we were standing in the Polynesian lobby discussing the merits of annual passes, we were unable to figure out if we were grandfathered DVC resale members, thus eligible to qualify for the Disney Sorcerer Pass.
We figured we would head over to the ticketing booth at Magic Kingdom to inquire with a Cast Member. Worst case, they confirm we’d need a different pass tier—and we’d make our decision from there.
The Walt Disney World Monorail leaving Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Pixie-Dusting For The Win
On to the Monorail and off to Magic Kingdom we went.
We spoke with a Cast Member who helped us with ticketing and determining our eligibility. Pixie dust rained from the sky. Annual Passes purchased. And just like that—we were in the park for the evening.
Later, when our renewal window came up, we were disappointed to learn that our DVC resale purchase year didn’t actually meet Disney’s current requirements. So, as we do—while sipping cocktails and lounging poolside at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge—our family debated if we really need more points and flexibility? In the end, we bought 150 points directly from Disney, which locked in our ability to purchase the Disney Sorcerer Pass moving forward.
Important note: Annual Pass eligibility rules can change, and Disney may enforce them differently over time. Avoid trying to work around eligibility requirements—always confirm eligibility directly with Disney before purchasing. For official Disney Annual Pass eligibility guidelines, click here.
So… is it worth it for us? Absolutely. Let’s talk cost.
Walt Disney World Annual Pass Card.
The Sorcerer Pass Cost vs Tickets?
When our family visits Disney over spring break, park hopper tickets cost roughly $3,944. Do you have to park hop to get the most out of Disney? Of course not. But we love the flexibility.
At the time of this trip, the initial cost of the Sorcerer Pass for our family was $4,396—slightly more than spring break alone. But since we were able to go into the parks that same weekend, we quickly made up the cost difference.
Where it really becomes easier to compare pricing is during annual pass renewal. Current passholders receive a small discount, and this year our renewal cost $3,958 - which is basically a wash compared to spring break ticket pricing.
Once our other trips are factored in, we save nearly $7,800 on additional Walt Disney World tickets.
“And while I don’t consider a Disney Annual Pass a “financial investment,” I do see it as an investment in our family—and the time we get to spend together.”
Now, it’s completely fair to say: “Well… if you didn’t have annual passes, you wouldn’t have gone - so you’re not really saving money on tickets you never would’ve bought.”
Absolutely. However… we did buy the annual passes. And we did go. And we will save roughly $7,800 in additional park tickets.
As my mother used to say to me while shopping at DSW, “It’s not how much you spend…it’s how much you save.” Perhaps not the most responsible life lesson, but it works for us when it comes to Disney.
Other perks Annual Passholders receive include passholder magnets, special events throughout the year, and discounts - often 10% to 20% off - at select dining and retail locations.
Going back to that summer weekend, we spent the remainder of Saturday night at Magic Kingdom enjoying rides, snacks, and fireworks. The following morning, since our flight home wasn’t until early evening, we packed up, left our suitcases with the Riviera’s bell services, and boarded the Skyliner for EPCOT.
I had confidently convinced Jessica that we could grab Mickey waffles at Seasons, the quick service location inside The Land pavilion. I was wrong, having confused Seasons with The Garden Grill Restaurant, a character dining experience in the same building. And just like that, my little waffle plan turned into an expensive breakfast.
To be fair, The Garden Grill breakfast was delicious, especially the potatoes and steak. Both of our kids are steak eaters, but especially Thing 1, who absolutely devoured the meal. She was thrilled with the food and still asks to go back from time to time.
The Monorail passing in front of Imagination! Pavilion at Epcot.
The Sorcerer Annual Pass—outside of a few blackout dates mentioned in “No Park Tickets? A Park-Free New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World” - has given our family a level of flexibility that we truly appreciate. Honestly, because we visit so often as DVC members, we’d probably quickly hit the break-even point even with the Disney Incredi-Pass.
Of course, every family’s financial situation is different, and we strongly discourage anyone from taking on debt they can’t afford. If you’re still on the fence about an annual pass, our best advice is simple: ask yourself, “Will we visit Disney World enough times to make this worth it?” If the answer is yes, I’d say take the leap—you’ll also unlock discounts and perks you didn’t have before. And if it doesn’t feel like the right fit the following year, there’s never any pressure to renew.
For us, though, these past few years have brought some truly wonderful memories with our kids. And while I don’t consider a Disney Annual Pass a “financial investment,” I do see it as an investment in our family—and the time we get to spend together.
