Walt Disney World Annual Passholders are dealing with another change to their benefits, and this one takes away a small money-saving trick that longtime visitors have been using for years.The timing is also difficult to ignore.Disney World has already increased Annual Pass prices, making it more expensive for its most frequent guests to maintain access to the theme parks. Now, Passholders are learning that a longstanding discount they could use on something as simple as bottled water and soda has disappeared.Credit: Paul Beattie, FlickrIt may not sound like the biggest Annual Pass benefit on paper. In fact, plenty of guests probably didn’t even realize it existed.But for Passholders who knew about it, the discount offered an easy way to save a little money throughout the day. Those savings could add up for people visiting Disney World regularly.As of October 6, however, Disney has put an end to it.Disney World Ends Bottled Beverage DiscountAnnual Passholders have traditionally received a merchandise discount at many Disney-owned retail locations around Walt Disney World.That benefit remains important for frequent visitors, especially those buying souvenirs, apparel, collectibles, and other merchandise during their trips.But there was another way some Passholders used that discount.When bottled water, soda, and other bottled beverages were purchased from participating Disney-owned merchandise locations, Annual Passholders could previously apply their 20% merchandise discount to the purchase.That meant Passholders who knew where to buy their drinks could save money rather than paying the full listed price.That option has now been discontinued.Beginning Tuesday, October 6, Annual Passholders can no longer apply the merchandise discount to bottled beverages at Disney-owned stores. Multiple Cast Members reportedly confirmed the change.Passholders purchasing those drinks will now have to pay the regular price.It closes what had essentially become a small Disney World money-saving trick passed between frequent visitors.A Longtime Disney World Money-Saving Trick DisappearsWhat makes this change particularly notable is how long the discount had reportedly been available.This wasn’t a temporary promotion Disney introduced over the last few years. Passholders had reportedly been able to take advantage of the bottled beverage discount for a very long time, dating back to around the same period as Disney’s merchandise discounts.It was also the type of benefit that didn’t necessarily receive a lot of attention.Long before Disney vacation tips spread rapidly through TikTok, Facebook groups, and other social media platforms, Passholders shared this particular trick through word of mouth.Credit: Scott Smith, FlickrThat makes the October 6 change something longtime Passholders may notice more than occasional visitors.Buying bottled water inside a theme park is a routine expense. One bottle isn’t likely to make or break a vacation budget, but Annual Passholders don’t necessarily visit Disney World once or twice a year.Some return regularly.A discount used repeatedly across multiple visits can become considerably more valuable than it initially appears.That’s especially true during the hotter months in Central Florida, when guests may purchase multiple drinks during a single park day. Passholders who had gotten into the habit of purchasing bottled beverages from Disney-owned merchandise locations will now need to account for the full price.The 20% Discount Made a Difference Over TimeThe amount saved on one bottle may have been relatively small, but that isn’t really what made this perk valuable.It was the repetition.Imagine a Passholder visiting Disney World several times throughout the year and regularly buying bottled drinks. Saving 20% on those purchases over and over again could eventually turn into a noticeable amount of money.Families with multiple Annual Passholders could potentially see an even bigger difference.That’s one reason seemingly minor changes to Annual Pass benefits can attract so much attention.Disney World Annual Passes are designed for guests who visit frequently, so benefits that might seem insignificant to a once-a-year visitor can become much more useful to someone spending dozens of days at the resort.A merchandise discount is one example.Saving 20% on one souvenir might not dramatically change the cost of a vacation. Apply that same discount to purchases throughout an entire year, however, and the value becomes much easier to see.The bottled beverage discount worked in much the same way.Passholders weren’t receiving free drinks. They were simply able to stretch an existing merchandise benefit a little further.Now, that particular opportunity is gone.The Timing Comes as Disney World Raises Annual Pass PricesThe change also arrives at an interesting moment for Disney World’s Annual Pass program.Disney has increased Annual Pass prices, meaning Passholders are being asked to pay more to purchase or renew their passes while this longstanding discount disappears.That context could make the loss of the discount more frustrating for some Passholders.Credit: DisneyDisney World regularly adjusts prices, policies, discounts, and benefits. Not every change carries the same financial impact, and losing 20% off a bottle of water certainly isn’t comparable to a major ticket or Annual Pass price increase.Still, the combination matters.Annual Passholders represent some of Disney World’s most frequent customers. Many visit multiple times each year, purchase food and merchandise, stay at Disney Resort hotels, and attend separately ticketed events.For those guests, the value of an Annual Pass extends beyond simply being able to enter the parks.Discounts and other perks help determine whether the overall package still feels worthwhile.Removing one relatively small discount isn’t likely to change that calculation for every Passholder, but it does remove another way to save money after the upfront price of being an Annual Passholder has already increased.Not Every Passholder Knew About This BenefitThere’s another unusual part of this story: some Annual Passholders may be finding out about the discount only because Disney has discontinued it.Unlike some of the more recognizable Annual Pass benefits, the ability to use a merchandise discount on bottled beverages wasn’t necessarily something every guest built into their vacation strategy.It functioned almost like an insider tip.Passholders who knew about it could intentionally purchase bottled drinks from eligible Disney-owned merchandise locations and use their discount. Someone who didn’t know might simply buy a drink elsewhere without ever realizing another option existed.That word-of-mouth nature helped the trick survive as one of those small pieces of Disney World knowledge frequent visitors shared with one another.Now there is one less reason for Passholders to seek out those locations when they need a bottled drink.Annual Passholders Will Now Pay Full PriceFor guests wondering what actually changes during their next visit, the answer is fairly straightforward.If an Annual Passholder purchases bottled water, soda, or another applicable bottled beverage from a Disney-owned merchandise location, the Annual Pass merchandise discount will no longer reduce the price.Guests should expect to pay the full listed amount for those beverages.Credit: DisneyThe broader merchandise discount isn’t what has been discontinued. The change specifically affects the ability to apply that discount to bottled beverages.That’s an important distinction because Annual Passholders still have other opportunities to save money around Walt Disney World through eligible discounts.But this particular money-saving trick has reached the end of the road.Another Small Change Passholders Will FeelDisney World constantly evolves, and Annual Pass benefits aren’t immune from those changes.Some updates add value. Others take something away.This one falls into the second category.The bottled beverage discount may never have been the most famous Annual Passholder perk, but its longevity made it useful for guests who knew about it. It was simple, easy to use, and offered frequent visitors another opportunity to trim a little money from increasingly expensive Disney days.Starting October 6, Passholders no longer have that option.And with Annual Pass prices rising at the same time, even a relatively small lost benefit may stand out more than it would have in years past.The post Confirmed: Disney World Discontinues Longtime Annual Pass Discount appeared first on Inside the Magic.