If you are fortunate enough to be a resident of Central Florida and want the very best way to see and experience all that Disney World has to offer, an Annual Pass is definitely the way to go. While Disney has many ticket packages to choose from for your particular needs the Annual pass provides the most versatility.

My wife and I used to purchase Disney three (3) or seven (7) day park-hopper ticket packages and planned all our visits, which were many. Each time we went, we left home or the Disney Resort hotel room early to be at the gate right at opening time to be able to spend every minute possible in the Disney parks, always thinking about getting the “most for our money,” especially on days when extra magic hours applied. Then my wife got smart evaluating all the times we went and all the times we wanted to but didn’t want to waste a ticket because so and so was coming or a special event we were saving a day’s ticket was planned.

For Florida residents, this year, a Disney single day, one park ticket costs $ 71.10 ($76.00 w/sales tax), which is okay if that’s all you plan to do. However if you are like us and like to visit Disneyworld often the $369.00 Annual pass ($394.00 w/sale tax) is by far the best choice of all the options available. For the cost of 5 days without the park-hopper option you can go and enjoy any of the Disney theme parks anytime you want without restrictions or limitations and parking cost is included.

The “anytime you want” is the biggest advantage. Living close enough to the Disney World resort to be able to drive down in an hour or so can make many a nice evening. My wife and I have occasionally hopped in the car just to go down and get a sundae at the Ice Cream Shoppe and watch the fireworks over Cinderella's Castle. There is just something about having a sundae in a waffle bowl that can be irresistible.

Other times we've made the same trip for a free concert or special show, Disney's Summer Concert Series and the Garden show in particular. No special or entry ticket to buy, just flash that Disney Annual Pass and your strolling around the World Showcase in Epcot sampling the different beers or wines of the world offered at a myraid of contrasting Disney World venues.

The best thing we have found in being Disney Passholders is once we realized we didn’t have to “plan” a trip or worry about spending every moment at the theme park, was just being able to pick up the phone at the spur of the moment and make Disney resort reservations for the night, and at some very discounted rates. Just the mention of being a Disney Passholder and the level of service gets kicked up a notch. Not that Disney doesn’t take good care of all their guests they do, and very well, but we have noticed an escalation since becoming Disney Passholders

For example once after my wife finished work for the day and the kids were all gone for the weekend, I picked up the phone and got a room for that evening at Disney's Coronado Springs resort for just a hundred bucks. If you know anything about Disney hotels, that’s a 66% savings, and for us it has happened more than once. We have also been fortunate enough to receive complimentary accommodation upgrades on preplanned visits to larger rooms, preferred floors, views and locations and been promoted to Concierge levels. I must say the experience of Disney Concierge service is an incredible delight to add to your vacation.

We have also discovered that Disney Passholders appear to get preferential treatment when it comes to Disney dining reservations. Many times a simple call will get us a table at any of the more popular restaurants on the Disney World complex, even in the theme parks, with which getting a table can be impossible.

The most memorable was a last minute decision to go down to Disney World one evening after work to the Yachtsman’s Steakhouse in Disney's Yacht Club Resort. Just wanting to be able to get a table for dinner I mentioned being a Disney Passholder and was very happily accommodated, we ended up being seated at a secluded table, in an area set aside from the main dining room and away from the rest of the other resort guests. We enjoyed one the most romantic and pleasurable evenings of our marriage. The meal and the service was the impeccable. As far as we are concerned the Disney's Yachtsman’s Steakhouse serves the best steak in the Orlando area.

Disney offers differing Passholder packages but we have determined for our use, which is primarily visits to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios this Annual pass is perfect. Each time we have a friends or relatives visiting Orlando or there is a special day for one of the kids, Disney is always involved somehow, with the Disney Annual Pass we can always participate and not worry about budget impacts from the trip.

Disney isn’t just about the rides and the shows the real magic is just being there. Strolling around with no special purpose or agenda, holding your wife’s hand, enjoying seeing the people, mostly the children, around you experiencing the Disney magic for the first time. That’s the really cool thing about Disney World; no matter how many times you visit there is always something new and the magic of the first time is always there.