Annual Pass and Dining Plan

[PrincessMama22]

I am planning on going to WDW twice in 2011. That is just so big I can hardly comprehend. Anyway, once in March with my mom and dd for the princess 1/2 marathon and then in November for a week with my dh, ds, and dd. I was wondering about getting an annual pass, but have some questions.

If I get an annual pass can we still get the dining plan? When we went in 2006 we were told everyone had to have everything the same (tickets and dining plan). Does it pay to get the annual pass, I would be going to parks 12 to 14 days total next year between the two trips? Are there any perks(resort discounts or anything)?

 

[Faldred]

If anyone on the reservation is an annual passholder, you can order the dining plan for the reservation with a "ticketless package". It follows the normal package rules, except you don't need to buy MYW tickets. The annual pass will need to be displayed on check-in, I believe.

Note that "free dining" does require a MYW ticket purchase -- it can't be booked as an AP ticketless package.

As for discounts, there are often room rate discounts for AP holders (which can be used in conjunction with a dining plan), and certain shops and restaurants offer a % discount to AP holders.

Two 6-day tickets with park hopper would be $602 per adult ($492 without hoppers). An annual pass is $521, which does allow park hopping.

 

[vicki_c]

AP holders can purchase the DDP w/o buying any additional tickets.

However, I would suggest you look into the Tables in Wonderland card - only available to AP holders & FL residents, and offers a 20% discount on table service meals, as well as a few counter service places (mainly @ resorts that don't have a TS option, and some places in the Animal Kingdom). The majority of Disney restaurants accept it. It costs $75 for AP holders, so spending $375 is the break-even point - it's good for about a year (usually closer to 13 months). We like the flexibility of TiW vs. purchasing the dining plan.

You can usually get resort discounts with your AP (depending on when you're going) and there are various merchandise discounts, dining discounts (like being able to purchase TiW, but some restaurants offer discounted prices for AP holders anyway), etc.

And remember hopping is included with the AP which I like.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

perks........

AP perk ...free parking if u drive to the parks, (saves $15 a day!!)

Discounts at a few stores, always show your pass when u make a purchase (weather dining OR shopping) as some places give discounts to AP holders!!

DD and I have an AP this yr and enjoyed WDW for 10 days in parks last Oct and will be there 12 days in July, just got 40% off BC room!! I LOVE my AP!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Just a note - if you stay in the same resort room w/ someone who doesn't have an AP, you do have to have the same package. Meaning that the other person in your room has to have an AP or you have to buy a one day ticket so you can be on the same package as they are if you add dining.

I ran into this issue when I went w/ some friends last year. I just booked a separate room w/ my AP & linked their reservation to mine.

You can however get AP rates for additional rooms that you (the AP holder) are not staying in, so sometimes the discount is worth it. For example, you can book 2 rooms w/ AP and add dining and the other occupants can buy park tickets separate from you.

 

[Golf4food]

perks........

AP perk ...free parking if u drive to the parks, (saves $15 a day!!)

Discounts at a few stores, always show your pass when u make a purchase (weather dining OR shopping) as some places give discounts to AP holders!!

DD and I have an AP this yr and enjoyed WDW for 10 days in parks last Oct and will be there 12 days in July, just got 40% off BC room!! I LOVE my AP!

Free parking is also a perk of staying onsite, which is required to get the DP anyway, so from that perspective it is irrelevant.


I would also recommend the TIW card instead - we've done it both ways and you just have waaaay more flexibility with TIW and free valet parking at the resorts for meals, too, which is nice.

 

[PrincessMama22]

Thank you everyone. I don't know if I am more confused with the TiW. This is going to take a lot of thought. We like the restaurants offered through the dining plan. I just am not sure. I guess I will continue my research.

 

[TDC Nala]

Meaning that the other person in your room has to have an AP or you have to buy a one day ticket so you can be on the same package as they are if you add dining.

If you have one adult annual passholder in the room, no one in the room has to buy tickets, and they do not all have to have APs. All you need is to present one adult annual pass at check-in. If the other persons in the room do not have tickets, they can purchase the tickets separately. All do, however, have to purchase the same dining plan.

 

[PureTcrazy]

Does this information apply to Florida Resident Season passes also?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Yes. An AP is an AP.

 

[PrincessMama22]

I messaged a disney employee and asked on their booking sight about this and I called it a season pass and he rudely told me that season passes are not offered to non florida residents and I am asking about an annual pass. So, there must be some sort of a difference or the guy was having a bad day and wanted to make sure I knew I messed up my disney lingo. It is rare to have a negative encounter with a cast member, but it does happen. They are human too.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Correct, a FL Resident Seasonal AP is for FL residents. A seasonal pass is a FL Res AP.
For non FL residents there is the annual and premium APs, and now a premier passport. There is also a water parks + AP.

 

[PixieNorth]

One thing you should remember about the difference between TiW and DDP. If you have 4 people going, they all have to purchase the DDP for the length of their entire stay. With TiW, purchased with an AP, only one person needs to pay the $75 fee, but they get the 20% for everyone in the party, so long as they're present at the meal. You can include up to 10 people on the cheque for a TiW meal. If you're going with your family of 4 you'll have saved money in no time. The only way it wouldn't pay is if you're mostly eating at counter service, or if you're only staying for a short visit.

I've been doing a lot of research and I can't wait to buy mine for this next trip. The freedom to order appetizers or drinks still apply the discount gives us the chance to really explore the menus and eat what we want, rather than the prescribed 1 entree, 1 dessert, 1 non-alcoholic drink of the DDP. On TiW we can eat what we want and not feel like we're throwing money away.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

If you have one adult annual passholder in the room, no one in the room has to buy tickets, and they do not all have to have APs. All you need is to present one adult annual pass at check-in. If the other persons in the room do not have tickets, they can purchase the tickets separately. All do, however, have to purchase the same dining plan.

Nala - just to be clear, so if let's say I booked a room for me (the AP) and a friend (non AP) we could book dining into our reservation & she could just buy a regular MYW ticket later?

Thanks

 

[vicki_c]

Nala - just to be clear, so if let's say I booked a room for me (the AP) and a friend (non AP) we could book dining into our reservation & she could just buy a regular MYW ticket later?

Thanks

That is correct.

 

[suebedo]

Love all the tips in this thread.
We have a Dec 2010 bounceback trip booked. And we have decided to take a quick 5 day trip in August at Pop. I am going to buy annual passes and change the Dec bounceback reservation to room only. (Hopefully I will keep the same discount.) I was worried about the dining plan but I think TIW will work well. My 5 year old does not eat a lot and I hate paying for the dining plan for him. Having more freedom in the table service restaurants or him will so helpful.

 

[lam]

HELP!!!

I have an AP and want to return to WDW in October 2011. This is normally during a 'Free Dining' Promotion period, BUT the WDW USA prices/details are not yet available.

The Disney.co.uk site DOES SHOW AVAILABILITY but requires you buy accommodation and tickets for the FULL length of stay of the holiday.

I DONT need tickets as I'll have the AP. I hear the US promotion requires a minimum of a 1 DAY PASS?
Is that correct? If I wait for the US promotion, can I book a 7 day trip and accommodation and get Free Dining using a 1 day ticket?
I have bought MYW and UK Ultimate Tickets every year for the past 4/5 years, and this is the first time I bought an AP.
I'd dearly love to get the free dining as times are hard but its not worth my while if I have the AP unless I can do so on a 1 day ticket!!

Regards

lam

 

[vicki_c]

This year's free dining requires the minimum purchase of a 2 day ticket. (US version) And free dining for US packages has already been announced, but I don't know what date it runs through. Edited: I meant released for 2010, missed that the PP was asking about 2011.

 

[Luv2Roam]

The non-UK packages are not released near as early as the UK packages.

What you are wanting is an AP ticketless package for 2011.

Or, if you want a free dining package, as long as they are offered in 2011, you probably will not be able to book that until much closer to when you want to travel. You may be 10 months away from booking.
And if they offer free dine packages, and if they are like this year, you will need to buy a 2-day park ticket for each guest on your reservation.

 

[veraletta]

I have booked with AP and was able to get dining plan for everyone in my room, only one person has to have AP to get Dining plan.