Passeport Annuel: A Beginner's Guide

• There are three main types of tickets: Francilien, Fantasy and Dream. All four are available to all guests — which often needs clarification since a former Passeport Annuel Francilien was available only to locals.
• However, only the Dream passport offers year-round 365-day access. The other three, lower-priced tickets have several 'restriction days' (also known as blockout dates) each year when entry is not granted. Before buying, make sure the available dates match your plans.
• Prices are the same for both adults and children, with only children under the age of 3 except from any Disneyland Paris ticketing.
• Discounts: Families buying Fantasy or Dream passports together can get a quite substantial discount, a sponsorship (parrainnage) scheme can offer great discounts to those recommending friends and members of the Shareholders Club also enjoy a 15% saving.
• If you have buy a 1 Day 1 Park or 1 Day 2 Parks ticket to access the parks, the cost of this ticket in Euros can be deducted from the price of your Annual Passport if you purchase during your visit! Note: This is not possible for tickets of 2 Days or greater or those given through a hotel package (usually indicated with 'Forfait' on the reverse).
• On 29th March 2012, new "20ème Anniversaire" edition passes were introduced, bringing not only a new ticket design but slightly different benefits and blockout dates. A notable addition was Extra Magic Hours access for new Passeport Annuel Fantasy 20ème holders only.

Buying an Annual Pass

Though Disneyland Paris has begun experimenting with offers such as online subscription for French residents and still allows annual passports to be bought over the phone (+33 825 825 100), for most of us the easiest way of becoming an Annual Passholder is to buy the pass directly at the park.

Each ticket needs a photo of its holder and several personal details, so only two dedicated locations at the resort can hand over full annual passports — the main one being the Bureau Passeport Annuel near the Discoveryland entrance at Disneyland Park, the other close to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith in Backlot at Walt Disney Studios Park, open only infrequently.

The process may seem intimidating, especially being so solely geared towards a French-speaking audience, but it takes just a few steps to get your very own, authentic Disneyland Paris annual passport.

Allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for the full process, from paying at the park gates to holding the pass in your hands, including the time to walk from Main Street to the Bureau Passeport Annuel.

Step 1: Pay for your Passeport Annuel and enter the park

• You can pay for an annual passport from any of the normal ticket windows at the entrance to either Disney Park, they're listed up alongside the regular tickets. Do this and you'll get a Temporary Pass which allows access into Disneyland Park for that day only and can be converted to your full pass at the Bureau Passeport Annuel.
• Worth noting: On some weekends and bank holidays it is also possible to pay for and complete your annual passport subscription at the entrance to Disneyland Park, using the Donald's Desk location to the right of the main entrance (near the Guest Relations window). The desk here has cameras and computers set up to accept annual pass processing, so you can collect your ticket easily without having to go through the hassle of any "Temporary Pass". This is the only place you can buy an Annual Passport outside the gates.
• Remember to present any Sponsorship forms or Shareholders Club cards when you pay.

Step 2: Go to the Bureau Passeport Annuel

• Now you've got a Temporary Pass, head to this clearly signposted location just to the left of the Discoveryland entrance, behind the outdoor Royal Castle Stage (it's also marked on the park maps). A second Bureau Passeport Annuel is also currently operating on selected dates next to Disney Blockbuster Café in Backlot, Walt Disney Studios Park.
• Hand your temporary pass to the Cast Member waiting at the reception desk and confirm which annual pass you're signing up for. On busier days, you'll be given a waiting number and be free to relax on the comfy chairs until it's called out — this is usually done in French first, but if you've absolutely no knowledge of French numbers, just ask for help or wait until the Cast Member tries calling in English.

Step 3: Confirm your personal details and collect your pass

• Once called, you step up to the long row of desks beneath the beautiful Discoveryland visionnaires mural to be welcomed by your own assistant who'll take you through the rest of the process to purchase your pass.
• You'll need to provide some form of ID, likely your passport, so have it ready. The Cast Member will ask for your full name, address, email and telephone number. There can occasionally be some confusion with the many different international address styles here, so you could suggest quickly writing it down for them.
• If you've not yet paid, you'll need to do that now. Remember to present any 1 Day Park Tickets, Sponsorship forms or Shareholders Club cards.
• Finally, sign on the dotted line and smile for the webcam! Your pass will be printed and in your hands just a few seconds later.

Step 4: Let your year of magic fly by!

• That's it, have a magical year at Disneyland Paris! Your plastic Passeport Annuel card now serves as your entry ticket for both parks and can be used for collecting Fastpass tickets. Keep it safe!

If you already have park tickets

Maybe you've already bought 1 Day 1 Park or 1 Day 2 Parks tickets before reading about these great annual passport offers? Well, don't worry — you can enter Disneyland Park using those tickets and then trade them in against the value of your chosen Passeport Annuel ticket, meaning you won't lose any money.

• Enter the park using your tickets and follow the steps above from Step 2, upgrading your 1 Day Tickets for annual passes at the Bureau Passeport Annuel near Discoveryland.

This option is not available for tickets of 2 Days or more or for any tickets received as part of a hotel package (usually indicated by 'Forfait' and a zero Euro value on the reverse).

Sponsorship offer

Refer three friends to the Disneyland Paris Passeport Annuel and get a whole year extra on your ticket for free! The three friends buying their first annual passport even get a generous 10% discount from your sponsorship.

The 3 new members being introduced...

10% Off the price of their Annual Passport

• Must not have held an Annual Passport for at least two years prior.
• Must fill out their coupon with the sponsor's (your) name and Annual Passport number, and take it with them when you visit together to buy their pass at the park gates.
• Must buy their new passport with you, the sponsor, in attendance, with your own Passeport Annuel to hand. In addition, all three must buy their Annual Passport within the same ticketing season — these run from April to November, and November to April.
• The 10% discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

And you, the sponsor...

Receive an additional 12 months on the end of your current Annual Passport's validity, for free

• Must have already owned your Annual Passport for more than one month.
• Fill out the larger form with your details and, with each of the three new members introduced, fill out their name, pass number, pass type and pass expiration date.
• Then, either visit the Bureau Passeport Annuel in the final month of your Annual Passport's validity with the completed form and your existing pass to have it extended, or, if you can't get to the park, mail both your form and pass to: Disneyland Resort Paris, Bureau Passeport Annuel, 77 777, Marne-la-Vallée, Cedex 4, France. The postal option can be completed any time within your pass' original validity.

Download the PDF form from the official French Disneyland Paris website here. Each new AP holder tears off a 10% discount coupon and you save the main form for yourself, to claim the free year once you've collected three new passholders who've completed their purchase.

Remember: You MUST accompany the three new members when they buy their pass, but they do not need to accompany you when you then claim your free 12 months.