If you’ve been a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Annual Passholder for a while then you should know that it pays for itself after just a few visits.
This is what motivated my family and I to become Universal Orlando Annual Passholders over a decade ago. Once we relocated to Orlando we became WDW Annual Passholders as well.
When we were considering a Walt Disney World Annual Pass we thought it would be a simple decision: choose the highest level Incredipass assuming it’s comparable to our Universal Orlando Premier Annual Pass.
We couldn’t have been more wrong. The differences between the WDW Incredipass and the Universal Orlando Premier Annual Pass may surprise you. If you’re deciding between one over the other, considering the following differences may help you decide which one is best for you and your family.
COST
Let’s start with the most obvious difference. There’s a whopping $839 difference between the before tax cost of the Incredipass and the Premier Pass. That’s basically a thousand dollars in my eyes. The price difference alone would be the deciding factor for many people.
At the same time some people don’t care about the price and are more than willing to pay it. Shout out to the Annual Passholders with an Incredipass – I see you!
Both passes offer pay in full or FlexPay options with a down payment and 0% APR. The difference between the two is the down payment and monthly payment amounts. I’m not sure which I love more, the FlexPay option or 0% APR because both make the Incredipass more affordable.
The deal is even sweeter over at Universal Orlando because you get a discount on the Premier Pass if you’re a FL resident. There’s no such discount for FL residents buying the Incredipass.
PARK ACCESS/BLOCKOUT DAYS
Both Incredipass and Premier Pass have no blockout days. You can enjoy all four WDW parks and the three Universal legacy parks (Epic Universe not included) any day of the year.
The biggest difference regarding park access is Incredipass Passholders are required to book a park reservation for entry to a WDW park before 2pm (except for Magic Kingdom on weekends where reservations are required all day). The Universal Orlando Premier Annual Pass has no reservation requirement for park entry.
Both Incredipass and Premier Pass grant park entry via a dedicated Passholder entrance. I love this feature because on peak days it can drastically cut down the wait time in the park entrance queue.
At WDW parks it’s usually located at the far left or far right of the entrance. Location is subject to change and may not be available depending on time of year and/or park crowds so check the MyDisney app for the most current updates.
Universal Islands of Adventure has a dedicated (but sometimes temporary) Passholder entrance at the park exit, available daily from Early Park Admission to 12 noon.
During select, high traffic times and Universal Orlando Passholder Appreciation Days you’ll find a dedicated, marked Passholder entrance at both legacy parks.
Keep in mind the dedicated Passholder entrance at WDW and Universal Orlando along with a few other perks mentioned are not exclusive to the Incredipass and the Premier pass. These shared perks are worth mentioning because they’re proof that you can save money with a lower tiered annual pass and still enjoy great perks and benefits.
PERKS & BENEFITS
Another perk where both passes differ greatly is the Annual Passholder Lounge. Universal Orlando has a dedicated lounge at a fixed location inside the Toon Lagoon section of Islands of Adventure. It’s accessible daily with regular operating hours and is fully equipped with comfortable lounge seating, AC, charging stations, beverage vending machines and a section to shop exclusive Annual Passholder merch.
Sometimes exclusive character meet & greets or a complimentary sample station is set up here for Passholders when new treats are introduced to the parks.
WDW has no dedicated Annual Passholder lounge. Instead they offer a limited time lounge, usually located in the EPCOT Morocco Pavilion. It’s set up in the former Marrakech Restaurant and is available from May – July.
Like the UOAP Passholder Lounge. the WDW Passholder Lounge offers lounge seating, AC and charging stations. The biggest difference is complimentary snacks are always offered, specifically chips, water and tea. No merch is available for purchase but there is usually a character meet & greet queue set up inside.
You could buy any of the lower tiered WDW passes and have the same access to the Passholder lounge. Considering this, does a limited time Annual Passholder lounge at only one of the four WDW parks justify the $1,629 before sales tax price for an Incredipass?
FREEBIES
Both WDW and Universal are known for their complimentary Annual Passholder magnets. These magnets are super popular and fun to collect.
I don’t pass up an opportunity to collect a theme park freebie, especially when they’re as nice as the items given to Annual Passholders by Disney and Universal.
Disney gets the upper hand over Universal for Passholder magnets because they release new ones more often than Universal. Disney also provides a last chance redistribution period of previously released magnets.
Universal Orlando released three magnets in 2025 along with a series of themed buttons and even a ticket for a free screening of the Live Action How To Train Your Dragon.
For clarity, Disney and Universal Orlando Annual Passholder magnets, buttons and other freebies aren’t exclusive to Incredipass and Premier Annual Passholders. The magnets are distributed to all Passholder levels. Why pay $1,629 for an Incredipass when you get the same freebies for less money?
Universal Orlando Premier Annual Passholders are allotted one free general admission ticket to Halloween Horror Nights on select nights. This is a major perk, considering HHN is Universal Orlando’s biggest ticketed event. Tickets are pricey and go up almost every year so to be able to attend one night of HHN for free is a serious flex.
Disney on the other hand doesn’t offer any free tickets to Incredipass Passholders for any of their ticketed events. This includes Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey & Minnie’s Very Merry Christmas, Jollywood Nights and Disney After Hours.
Let’s look at the ticket cost comparison of Walt Disney World’s & Universal Orlando’s major ticketed events:
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party @ Magic Kingdom: $119 – $229
Mickey & Minnie’s Very Merry Christmas Party @ Magic Kingdom: $169 – $229
Jollywood Nights @ Hollywood Studios: $159 – $199
Disney After Hours: $159 – $199
Halloween Horror Nights @ Universal Orlando: $78 – $159
Price ranges do not include sales tax and also vary by date.
I have zero doubt that a free ticket to just one of these Disney events would justify the price of the Incredipass. This could be a huge opportunity for Disney to win over those considering an upgrade to the Incredipass, or those choosing between Incredipass and the Universal Premier Pass. I’m sure Disney doesn’t see it that way.
As Disney’s top tier annual pass, the Incredipass should match at least one free big ticket offering comparable to what the Premier Pass offers. More quality perks would make the Incredipass significantly more attractive to prospective buyers and therefore worth the price. You’d think Disney would take a lesson from Pooh and realize that you can catch more bees with honey.
Universal Orlando Premier Annual Passholders get free Valet Parking, but with exceptions. No free valet is available during HHN and special events.
There is no valet parking at WDW parks so Incredipass Passholders only get free general parking, the same as all other Annual Pass tiers. Valet parking is only available at the WDW deluxe resorts, deluxe villas, Coronado Springs and the Gran Destino Tower. Incredipass Passholders don’t even get free parking at any of those WDW resorts so is the Incredipass really worth $1,629?
Universal Orlando Premier Annual Passholders can sign up to ride a float in the Universal Mardi Gras parade. There’s also an option to ride the float then have dinner at Mel’s Diner.
This benefit has become quite popular with Premier Passholders over the years. There is a cost for the dinner at Mel’s Diner option but it comes with a Passholder discount of course. No comparable benefit exists for Incredipass Passholders.
The most significant advantage of the Premier Pass over the Incredipass is that it works as a Universal Express Pass after 4pm. It’s good for one ride per participating attraction via the Universal Express lane at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
The Incredipass offers nothing comparable at Walt Disney World Parks. Think about it, you’re paying $1,629 a year for an Incredipass, and the only way to bypass the standby queue is to purchase a Lightning Lane. So you’re spending more money. Meanwhile Universal Orlando allows one free Express Lane ride for Premier Passholders after 4pm. You do the math.
Theme park tickets aren’t cheap, especially Disney and Universal tickets. I always say if you wanna play, you gotta pay. Despite the high cost, enthusiasts like myself find a way to enjoy their happy place as often as possible, and most importantly, by the most affordable means as possible. For me an annual pass is the way.
Both Disney and Universal give multiple options to choose an Annual Pass that works for you. Ultimately the Universal Orlando Premier Annual Pass wins the battle for overall best value over the WDW Incredipass.
Many would agree that Disney needs to offer at least equal the perks, discounts and benefits with the Incredipass that the Universal Orlando Premier Pass offers to be competitive.
For this reason I happily enjoy my Disney Pirate level Annual Pass every time I visit WDW with no complaints. It’s the best value for my money. Even though I can’t visit the parks anytime I want due to year-round blockout days, it’s an inconvenience I’m willing to accept.
The Universal Orlando Premier Annual Pass offers perks and benefits that far exceed those offered with an Incredipass and value for the money is more important to me than park access.
Which Annual Pass(es) do you have and which do you feel offer the best value for your money?
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