Disney World to offer new Florida Resident Weekday Pass
Oct 172009 Filed under: Animal Kingdom, Disney, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks Author: Matt
Starting Monday, Florida residents will have a new option for annual passes to Walt Disney World. For $169, the Florida Resident Weekday Select Pass will allow access to all four of the Walt Disney World theme parks on weekdays, but with a few restrictions.
The new Weekday pass will have the same blockout dates as the current Florida Resident Seasonal Pass. So the weekday pass will allow access each weekday except between these dates:
Dec. 21, 2009 to Jan. 3, 2010
March 29, 2010 to April 11, 2010
June 14, 2010 to Aug. 19, 2010
Dec. 20, 2010 to Jan 2, 2011
The cost of parking, currently $14 per day, is also not included with the pass. A child’s pass is $149.
Here are all of the current annual pass options for Florida Residents:
Premium Annual Pass: $489 – No blockout dates – Free parking – includes DisneyQuest, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and Disney′s Oak Trail Golf Course.
Annual Pass: $369 – No blockout dates – Free parking
Seasonal Pass: $249 – Includes blockout dates – Parking not included
Weekday Select Pass: $169 – Weekdays only – Includes blockout dates – Parking not included
Epcot After 4 Pass: $139 – Valid for Epcot only – Valid only after 4 p.m. each day – No blockout dates – Parking not included
John Mayzum
October 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I don’t live in FL but don’t think this is a great deal. It is about 200 less but you have to pay for parking. Go 15 times and now you are paying more than 200 for parking. You can’t go during the summer! Just my honest opinion that you would not save much money getting this.
Amy
October 20th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Well, I do live in Fla., I have worked for Disney (at the Yacht & Beach Clubs and Swan & Dolphin hotels), and I will say that, on the contrary, I think this is a GREAT deal that I will take advantage of! In addition to my maingate pass when I worked for Disney, I have also had annual premiums, premiums, and seasonal passes. True, the premiums have no block-out dates, but when it’s the summer and it’s crowded at the parks, and it’s 110 degrees, going to Disney is NOT high on my list. Been there, done that! Besides, the block out dates do NOT prevent one from going to the Food & Wine festival or Flower & Garden, they do NOT prevent one from seeing the Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights, and they do NOT prevent one from catching a celeb recite the Christmas Story in the Candelight Processional.
For the weekday pass, us residents can go on the days when it is MUCH LESS busy, and for the majority of the dates the passes DO allow, the weather is GREAT!
Oh, and re: parking. There are ways around that. If you are a seasoned Disney pro, you can figure it out. I won’t divulge my secrets. And NO, I don’t consider it “stealing” from Disney b/c I have spent SO much money there over the years, and it is perfectly legit…you just don’t necessarily end up where you started. If you’re a Disney pro, you may know what I mean, if you’re not…oh well!
Amy
October 20th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
BTW, I live in Orlando.
Amy
October 20th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Ok, I’ll give you one hint.
To bypass parking at Hollywood Studios, park at the Boardwalk, take in a few sites there, and then there is a paved, well-traveled path that runs along the canal where the boats go in between the Swan hotel and the Boardwalk. Many resort guests take it. It leads you right to Hollywood Studios entrance. No parking fees. AND, you get a bit of exercise. OR, if you’re lazy, cough up the $14.
Marci
October 26th, 2009 at 8:54 am
My main question is..do they consider fridays weedays or weekend days?
also is there a Disney link to more info on this pass?
Amy
October 26th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I believe standard weekdays – M-F. Try this link. On the right-hand side you may have to either plug in your FL zip code or click on rates link for FL residents.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets-passes/
Marci
October 26th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Amy..we need a “hint” for Magic Kingdom..hehe
Amy
October 26th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Marci – well, AK and MK are the more difficult ones – patience is a virtue if ya want to save a buck!
NOW, I admit I haven’t been down there for about 1 mo., but I doubt things have changed.
I usually get to Disney pretty early and since I just love being on property, I don’t mind doing my little “roadtrip” to either.
The key is a pkg lot near the Boardwalk. It’s open to the public. It’s across from the BW service entrance. It’s “technically” for employees, but there’s no guard and no gate. I, along with other locals, have used it for years to park. From there, you can either take the short walk up to the BW, turn right (like past ESPN club) and enter Epcot thru the “back door” between France and UK. Even though World Showcase won’t be open at 9 a.m., you can still get in and walk through it. Not very many people will be there, so you can manuever pretty quick through Epcot. Get on the monorail. Take it to the TTC. Get on the RESORTS monorail (not the MK one – too long a wait!) and it’ll loop you around a few stops at the Contemporary, Poly, Grand Fla, but it’ll take you right to MK entrance. If you happen to say way late (like 11p.m.) at MK and obviously can’t retrace your route thru Epcot (’cause it closes at 9), then, from MK, take the RESORT BUS to the Boardwalk. You won’t be asked for any hotel keys / proof, or anything. It’ll take you right near where your car is in the pkg lot.
AK – park at same pkg lot, take BW resort bus to AK.
Yes, all these routes may take up to 1 hour to complete, but if you wanna save a buck and get a little “scenic tour,” – and just love being on property – that’s the way to go about it.
There’s a few other “secrets” to the pkg thing, but I don’t want to spill all the beans!
Matt
October 26th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Friday is considered a weekday.
dotcom
November 12th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
People who are worried about free parking and paying $15 each time for your information you can park at downtown disney or some other free parking lot and take the disney bus from the closest stopage. I never pay for disney parking.Matter of fact it takes the same time to get to the park if I had to park at the theme park parking sturcture. Because you still have to walk to the park or have to take shuttle from parking to the gate. Bus takes you close to the park entrace. Free parking is definitely a better deal than paid one.
Amy
November 12th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Agreed dotcom. Dwtn Disney is also a good option, dependent upon time of day and time of year – and whether or not you can find a space! I do prefer the free lot near the Boardwalk that I mentioned b/c it’s hidden and I’ve never NOT gotten a spot – no matter what time of year. But, you’re Dwtn Disney strategy has its advantage as one may catch more frequent buses running through, dependent upon where one wants to head off to.
Amy
November 12th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Oops…meant YOUR, not you’re.
Debbie
November 12th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Can the weekday passes be used between parks, ie park hopper? Or, are you restricted to go to one park on any given weekday?
Amy
November 12th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I bought my pass last week and went between Epcot and Hollywood Studios – so, yes, it’s a park hopper. Also, the ticket INCLUDING TAX came to $179.99.
It’s valid 1 year from date of purchase and is NOT part of that deal they have with the +3 months. That’s only for FL Res Seasonal (the regular 7-day one), Annual, and Premium.
Stinks there, but oh well!
Lois
November 17th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Is there an expiration date as to how long the weekday pass for $169 will last?
Jerry
November 24th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Parking is simple…just drive to the resort’s parking guard gate and say you’re going to have either breakfast/lunch or dinner at that particular hotel (i.e. Polynesian, Beach Club, AK Lodge, park in the hotel parking, and hop on the monorail, walk to the back entrance of Epcot, or take the bus to AK – it’s FREE. For MGM, park at Beach Club and take the shuttle boat on the lake to the front of MGM. The guards NEVER question you or say no but you may have to show a driver’s license. All the hotels have a quick snack area so just say you’re meeting friends there if they ask what restaurant you’re going too. If you feel guilty about doing this, just buy a soft drink and then go to the parks.
Amy
November 24th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Yep, Jerry – that’s a plan I use too sometimes. I didn’t initially say it b/c some guards like to ask lots more questions, i.e. time of priority settings, confirm #, etc. in addition to DL…so I didn’t bring it up… But yes, it does work – especially at the Boardwalk.
Amy
November 24th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I meant priority seatings…oops.
Charlie
November 28th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Can a person drive a family to a particular park, i.e. animal kingdom, drop them off, go park at one of the above mentioned ‘free’ parking areas and then meet up with the family inside the park?
Jerry
November 29th, 2009 at 10:20 am
I believe you can just tell the parking attendant in the booth to the park lot you are entering that you’re just dropping off your family and they should let you by without a fee. Most parks have a drop-off zone but it’s not always that close to the entrance.
Ashley
January 13th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Nice! Just picked up these very same disney passes and am looking forward to using them again.
disneylover
January 27th, 2010 at 10:08 am
how do they know if you live in florida to purchase the resident ticket?
Amy
January 27th, 2010 at 11:33 am
You show your valid Florida ID (i.e. driver’s license).
liz
January 27th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
I live in FL and 4 of my family members are coming down from RI to visit me. I really want to bring them to the Disney parks but tickets are sooooo expensive. Can I buy resident tickets for them? If there a way to get around it or do they always ask for ID? 2 of them are minors…..
Matt
January 27th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
I don’t think the kids will need ID, but the adults probably will.
Amy
January 28th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
As a former Disney Guest Services cast member who sold park passes at 4 of the deluxe resorts (although, you cannot purchase FL resident passes at the resorts), I’d advise not to try to get too creative when “fudging” FL residency.
Since I’m not with the company anymore, whenever I’ve purchased FL resident passes (whether they were premium annuals, annuals, seasonals, after 4 Epcots, and now the weekday passes – yes, I’ve had them all) they’ve ALWAYS asked for DL / ID cards for EVERYONE who presented themselves at the ticket counter. They put in your name, address, etc. which matches your ticket and then you also receive passholder things in the mail, i.e. updates, advertising, etc. So, I really doubt you’ll be able to slide the adults by as “residents.”
They won’t let you purchase 2 resident passes under your 1 name either. The kids, on the other hand, are easier to slide by. However, if they’re 16+, a “thorough” ticket agent may ask to see ID.
Keep in mind that Disney is pretty strict about FL resident passes. If they allowed a huge loophole in buying them for out-of-state family members, from a business standpoint, they’d lose money and be taken advantage of. It’s just meant to be a perk for FL residents to encourage locals to frequent the parks.
Hope this helps!
jason
February 11th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
What is to stop an actual FL resident from purchasing their discounted tickets, picking them up at the will call w/their ID and them giving them to an out-of-state family member to enter a park with? (my grandparents want to buy us tickets but are too old to walk around all day so they want to give us their tickets) I heard Disney scans fingerprints at the beginning of the process and scans at the entrance of each park to see if the ticket holder matches the buyer, is this true?
Amy
February 11th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Well, first, you can’t have more than one seasonal, annual, or whatever you are terming “discounted” tickets in the same name. When someone purchases the FL resident ticket, they will ask for a FL ID and input your name, address, etc. because you will receive things in the mail (i.e. promos, newsletters). If you say, “I’d like 2 seasonal passes” they will say, “I need 2 FL IDs.”
Second, yes, they do use finger scanners and there are debates whether or not they “really” scan the user’s finger and store it to memory; however, if you tell the cast member you choose NOT to use the finger scanner, which you CAN do, you will have to show a picture ID and the name on the ID will have to match your ticket.
On more than one occasion when the finger scanner was acting up and it wasn’t “reading” my finger, I was asked for my ID and they checked it against my annual pass.
If your grandparents are going to buy your tickets for you with 2 separate IDs, that’s up to you if you want to risk possible embarrassment at the gate.