Maximizing Rewards and Saving Big!

Is a Walt Disney World annual pass worth it?

Our family is gearing up for a magical year at Walt Disney World, making the most of our new Disney Incredi-Pass! With plans to visit four times between April 2025 and April 2026, we're committed to maximizing our experiences while employing smart strategies to save money. From utilizing reward points to booking budget-friendly accommodations, we're excited to share our planning process, starting with our first trip in April 2025—including a road trip from New York to Orlando with our two dogs!

Doing the Math on Becoming an Annual Passholder

The Disney Incredi-Pass is the highest-tier annual pass for Walt Disney World, offering a cost-effective way to visit multiple times. Currently, it's the only option available for most people, unless you're a Florida resident or Disney Vacation Club member. The Incredi-Pass is priced at $1,549 plus tax, totaling approximately $1,650.

For our family, this breaks down to about $412 per person per trip ($1,650 divided by our four planned trips). This calculation may vary for others, depending on the number of trips you have planned.

If you are a Florida resident or Disney Vacation Club member then there are several types of Walt Disney World Annual Passes you can pick from (Disney Pirate pass, Disney Sorcerer pass, and the Disney Pixie Dust Pass. The main different between the types of annual passes is blackout dates and the price. A big perk of the Incredi is there are no blockout dates, however you do need to make a theme park reservation. A theme park reservation is needed for annual passholders, for most days they intend to visit the parks.

Benefits of the Incredi-Pass

No Blockout Dates: Enjoy unrestricted access to the parks throughout the year.
Passholder Discounts: Benefit from dining and merchandise discounts, special events, and discounts on Disney World Resorts.
Free Standard Theme Park Parking: Save $30 per day on parking fees.
Park Hopper Option: Park Hopping allows you to visit more than one Disney park per day, allowing flexibility in your itinerary.
Add-Ons: Options like the Water Park and Sports add-on are available for an additional fee.

Having the option to visit more than one Disney park per day is not necessary, but it is a really nice perk. My kids love park hopping to Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot in the evening to watch the fireworks or Disney Hollywood Studios to watch the nighttime show after a day at Animal Kingdom or the water parks. There is something magical about Galaxy's Edge at Disney Hollywood Studios after dark. For us, park hopping is a big benefit of being a passholder.

Note, that we are also adding access to the water parks to our annual passes, as my kids love the Typhoon Lagoon.

Cost of Walt Disney World Park Ticket Prices Versus The Walt Disney World Annual Pass

To determine if the Disney World annual pass is a smart investment, compare it to regular ticket costs. For example, a 10-day ticket for Disney Parks during our April travel dates would be $1,014, not including access to the water parks or park hopping. Adding $30 per day for standard parking totals $1,314 for a 10-day trip. Considering the dining and merchandise discounts, an annual pass can save you hundreds of dollars on a second trip. The same concept applies to shorter trips as well.

Keep in mind, this math maybe different for everyone depending on theme park ticket prices for when you plan to visit Walt Disney World and ticket type. Ticket prices for Walt Disney World theme park tickets vary based on date, length of your visit, and ticket type. For example, 10-day tickets cost less per day than a 2-day ticket.

Another option is to purchase an annual pass for one family member and regular tickets for the rest. An annual pass purchase for one family member allows access to passholder discounts (dining discounts can add up quick) for the entire family while providing flexibility in ticket purchases. Take the merchandise discount and dining discounts into your calculation of if an annual pass purchase is right for you.

Another perk of the Walt Disney World Annual Pass is the option to add Disney PhotoPass downloads for an additional $99 plus tax per year. This service allows you to capture high-quality, memorable photos throughout your trip. Throughout the parks, cast members are available to take pictures in iconic locations, such as in front of Cinderella Castle, which you can then download via the My Disney Experience app. The Disney PhotoPass service also includes ride photos; to ensure these appear in your app, you may need to scan them after each ride. Only one person in your group needs to add Disney PhotoPass, as they can share the downloaded pictures with the rest of the group.

While we are not using points for our Walt Disney World tickets this time, there are several ways to save money on tickets using reward points. For instance, some credit card programs allow you to redeem points at a fixed rate or via a cash-back card to cover ticket purchases. Additionally, certain cards offer the ability to redeem points for travel purchases, which can include theme park tickets.

Driving to Orlando: A Road Trip to Walt Disney World with Dogs!

Instead of flying, we're driving from New York to Orlando with our two furry family members. This approach allows us to bring the dogs along, reduce travel expenses, and enjoy the journey at our own pace.

Road Trip Essentials:

Dog-Friendly Accommodations: While we plan to drive straight through without an overnight stop, it's essential to research pet-friendly hotels along the route in case of unexpected delays.
Pet-Friendly Rest Stops: Plan for regular exercise and bathroom breaks for the dogs.
Supplies: Pack snacks, water, and entertainment for both kids and dogs.
Car Rental: We're renting a minivan to ensure a comfortable journey. To stay true to using points for our trip, we're renting the car using Hotels.com gift cards earned through the Pepper app. Use our Code 622 198 to get $20 off!

Pepper App- use our code 622 198 to get $20 off

How We Used Points for Our Trip to Disney World for $412 Per Person

Free Car Rental Using Pepper Rewards

To align with our goal of utilizing points for our adventure, we've leveraged the Pepper Rewards app to earn gift cards that can be applied toward our car rental expenses.

The Pepper Rewards app allows users to earn points by purchasing gift cards from select retailers, such as Amazon and Home Depot. These points can then be redeemed for gift cards available within the app. The app often features bonus point promotions for certain stores or vendors. For instance, purchasing Amazon gift cards during these promotions can yield additional points. Recently, a promotion offered 20% back on Hulu gift cards, providing an opportunity to maximize rewards. Please support us and use our code at sign up 622198.

Another strategy to offset car rental costs is through Rakuten, a shopping platform that offers cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points on purchases. By linking your American Express Membership Rewards account to Rakuten, you can opt to earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash back. These points can then be redeemed for various travel expenses, including car rentals, through the American Express Travel Portal.

Marriott Bonvoy Points for Hotel Stays Near Walt Disney World

To optimize our accommodations near Walt Disney World Resort, we're using travel credit card rewards (Marriott Bonvoy points and free night awards) from my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Credit Card.

Marriott's extensive selection of properties in Orlando ensures we can find comfortable and convenient lodging without incurring additional expenses. Free night certificates are great to use in conjunction with Marriott Bonvoy's 5th night free benefit. Several Marriott travel rewards credit cards such as the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy credit card (after a minimum amount of eligible purchases annually) and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card offer annual free night certificates.

Credit cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy are a great way to earn large amounts of Marriott Bonvoy points relatively quickly by taking advantage of sign up bonuses. Take advantage of a travel partner or person 2, so you both can accumulate sign up bonuses. For example, if you and your Person 2 both sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit cards, you each will earn the sign up bonus and can later combine your points. Travel reward credit cards are the fastest way to free hotel stays.

Since we are traveling with dogs, our hotel selections are already fewer. Add to that, our desire for a hotel that offers a kitchen, free breakfast and some space to spread out... our choices of hotels quickly narrowed down to just a few choices. Many Marriott hotels also offer a shuttle, however, since we have a car and free parking we will be driving to the parks.

We also have a list of the 19 Top Rated Marriott Hotels Near Disney World, Best Marriott Hotels Near Disney World on Points, Disney Hotels - Pet Friendly, Free Breakfast, and a Kitchen on Reward Points, and Best Pet-Friendly Hotels Near Disney On Reward Points

If you are looking for a Disney Resort feel and perks such early purchase of lightning lanes, consider the Marriott Walt Disney World Swan, Marriott Walt Disney World Swan Reserve and Marriott Walt Disney WorldDolphin hotels. While not technically a Disney resort, they do have the perks of a Deluxe Disney Hotel. Early access to purchase lightning lanes can be a big time saver in the parks.

In addition to Marriott Bonvoy rewards, I leverage Rakuten to earn American Express Membership Rewards points. By linking my Rakuten account to my eligible American Express card, I accumulate Membership Rewards points on purchases made through Rakuten. These points can be redeemed to offset costs such as car rentals or hotel stays during our trips.

For those interested in maximizing travel rewards, the PointsToMagic.com blog offers a comprehensive guide on earning Amex Membership Rewards points using Rakuten. You can sign up for Rakuten using our link to start accumulating points. Amex membership rewards can be used to book travel through the American Express Travel Portal, transferred to Amex travel partners or used as statement credits toward park tickets. For more on how to use American Express membership rewards for Disney World tickets check out Step-by-Step: Redeem American Express Points for Magical Disney World Experiences.

To assist in selecting the ideal hotel, the PointsToMagic Pixie Dust Community provides a Disney World Hotel Database. This tool allows members to filter accommodations based on criteria such as pet-friendliness, pet size, associated fees, room dimensions, breakfast availability, and resort fees. Utilizing this resource simplifies the process of finding the best options that align with your needs while effectively using reward points.

Our Disney World Hotel Database filtered for Marriott, pet friendly, allows 2 pers per room, with a kitchen. You can easily filter through hotels based on your own desires

Final Tips

If you are considering an annual pass purchase, do the math and be sure to take into account passholder discounts. Each trip costs us $412 per person, making the Incredi-Pass a worthwhile investment given our planned visits. Considering we are driving, using points for our hotel stays, passholder discounts are helping us save even more money on our vacations.

Planning a Disney World trip can be a magical time that doesn’t have to break the bank! By leveraging reward points, free night awards, and gift cards, we’re reducing costs and making our dream vacations more affordable. Stay tuned as we continue planning our upcoming family vacations and sharing money-saving strategies along the way! Let us know about your magical time using travel points or the Incredi Pass.

Planning Our Walt Disney World Resort Adventures with the Incredi-Pass: