Annual Pass + DDE Card VS Magic Your Way+ Free Dining

[__disneygirl]

Hi everyone. For awhile I have been considering getting an Annual Pass. However, I am not sure we will be going to Disney World again within one year after our trip. I still think that it would be worth it. We plan to go during the free dining promotion this year. Can anyone tell me when AP rates will be out during that time? I know that no one knows for sure, but an estimate? Can you also estimate how much will be saved once the rates come out? I think it would be more beneficial to NOT do free dining, and just buy a DDE card with an annual pass. We love eating at Disney and will be having a lot of table service meals. It just seems silly to me to not buy an AP with all the benefits you get, however my DF is not completely sold on this idea. If anyone can offer any advice I really would appreciate it. I'm not sure if i'm posting this in the right place, but since my request stems from wanting to stay on property for the cheapest price possible, I thought this would be the right place. Thanks and have a magical day!

 

[Irishhockey]

Hmm... I guess it depends...

Here's a great link that compares the two...
http://www.mousesavers.com/packagevsap.html

For us it's free dinning... because we're looking forward to going to PI, DQ, and the water parks.. which is more easily added and affordable with the MYW tickets. Free Dinning is nice because it includes table service meals AND counter service as well as snacks. We're still planning on spending money on an extra meal or two (ESPN club for instance) but used are table service credits for the more "worth it" meals like Le Cellier and Coral Reef.

Over all it's your choice. I would love to have an AP for the felixibility but our pocket wouldn't allow it and we didn't want to "risk" a room only discount not becoming available. It's rumored that with the 40% off, free dinning, bounce back, and UK promotion, Disney may not offer AP room discounts. They did release them last year though.

It was a "better deal" for us (Family of 2) to go with the Free Dinning (plenty of food in our opinion). Good Luck in your decision!

 

[fAnnF]

last year they were 59 a night, I'm an AP holder and a DDE holder. I booked free dining. My AP was up for renewal and my dad buys a regular ticket. We priced it out as I have to buy a DDE spouse card, as SO won't be on the trip. I was still saving some, but it was almost equal. I'd price everything out and then decide.

 

[NHWX]

It depends on a lot of things - would you be staying at a deluxe or a value resort? When we went this winter we had 4 nights of moderate (~$40/night discount) and 2 nights at a deluxe (~$130/night discount). Our next trip is soon and we'll be using our APs for $101/night discount for 6 nights. Plus we don't have to pay for the tickets the second time. For four adults, the extra ticket money saved is just under $1000. So... the savings adds up quickly. Since we plan on another trip next winter with the year window, we're guaranteed at least the ticket savings again.

When we've had the DDE card with two trips per year, we've saved enough money on the first trip to cover the cost of the trip. We typically want to eat at Artist's Point, Jiko's, etc. which count as two table service credits.

It is pretty confusing - it varies based on your expected travel, the type of restaurants you'll be visiting, the room type you'd want and the ages of the people in your party.

Good luck! At least it's a fun puzzle 'cause no matter what you come up with, the net result is still a trip to Disney!

NHWX

 

[clkelley]

We have an AP and the DDE, AND we are doing the free dining this September. We are staying at Pop and with free dining, it is a great value. We'll use the one-day tickets later to upgrade on future APs.

We just got back from a trip over the weekend and we will also be returning in October, so for us it is a no brainer.

 

[Colleen27]

I think the best way to decide is just to do the math, and see what kind of discount would have to come out to make it worth it. We aren't going during free dining, and decided that an AP and DDE card make sense even without a room discount. During free dining, especially with room discounts being uncertain, I'm not sure it would be as easy a decision. It would depend on your party size and ages and your resort preference (for us - 2 adults, 2 kids staying deluxe, an AP rate would be about the same savings as free dining, but with more adults, free dining ends up being the better discount).

I'd probably take a wait and see approach - book with free dining, and not buy the AP until AP rates come out and you can decide which will be the better deal. It looks like, from the Mousesavers chart, that the AP rates usually come out in June or July, so you'd have time to make the change before the pay-in-full date for your trip.