annual Pass discount ?

[raven0855]

If this is the wrong board- Mods please move!

Ok so we are going to be at WDW for at least 14 days within the next year. I am trying to figure out if getting annual passes would be worth it for discounts.

Are the room discounts really "worth" it?

Can I get the dining plan if I book with annual pass discounts??

TIA!!

 

[Mariep26]

Subbing because I am trying to figure out if AP works for me ( and I don't want to lose the thread if it moves). So far my research tells me that you can add the DP but no FD because you aras going to be getting a room discount (AP rate) and you can only have one discount. It does seem you get a discount on the TiW card which could also help offset OOP dining costs.

 

[Santa]

If this is the wrong board- Mods please move!

Ok so we are going to be at WDW for at least 14 days within the next year. I am trying to figure out if getting annual passes would be worth it for discounts.

Are the room discounts really "worth" it?

Can I get the dining plan if I book with annual pass discounts??

TIA!!

AP discounts are slightly better or equal to GP (general public) discount's. The advantage is with an AP you should hear of the discount before the GP is offered the discount.

You can purchase one of the 3 DDP's (Disney dining plans) with an AP. You WILL NOT get free dining with an AP discounted room. For free dining you have to book a package at rack rate.

In my opinion, The AP would be worth it even if just for the savings on park admission. Any savings above that are a bonus.

 

[Mamu]

If you staying for a week I think it's worth it. We gotten up to 42% off our rooms.

You also get a discount off purchases, some restaurants, rentals, mini golf and a few other things.

We've saved over $3000 on some of out trips. Thats enough to purchase our food and gifts too.

 

[CaptainEO71]

For a stay of 14+ days the savings on park tickets alone will make the AP worth it.

We've gotten anywhere from 20-40% off rooms with AP discount. But there's never any guarantee if & when the discounts will come out.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm curious about the discounts too, not that it is make-or-break - our plans for 2013/4 definitely require an AP. But I am hoping to see some room savings with it as well. Are the AP discounts usually more inclusive, date-wise, than GP offers or should I expect similar black-outs?

 

[Santa]

I'm curious about the discounts too, not that it is make-or-break - our plans for 2013/4 definitely require an AP. But I am hoping to see some room savings with it as well. Are the AP discounts usually more inclusive, date-wise, than GP offers or should I expect similar black-outs?

You should expect similar blackout dates.

 

[Colleen27]

You should expect similar blackout dates.

Bummer. All 4 of the trips I'm planning in my AP year fall within times that were blacked out on the bounceback offer... April, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and April again. I don't remember how each individual GP offer went, but that's certainly not encouraging.

 

[Santa]

Bummer. All 4 of the trips I'm planning in my AP year fall within times that were blacked out on the bounceback offer... April, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and April again. I don't remember how each individual GP offer went, but that's certainly not encouraging.

Yea!

Our April 2010 (spring break) trip was blacked out so we decided to change the dates to the next week & got 30% off. We had to pull the kids out of school but the teachers worked with us & gave extra homework the week before spring break.

 

[Colleen27]

Yea!

Our April 2010 (spring break) trip was blacked out so we decided to change the dates to the next week & got 30% off. We had to pull the kids out of school but the teachers worked with us & gave extra homework the week before spring break.

I'm hoping our April dates will be far enough from Easter to maybe find some sort of discount (2 weeks after in '13, 2 weeks before in '14), but on the bounceback that was available last month the entire month of April was excluded.

I could probably move the '14 trip around a bit to take advantage of whatever is offered because that one is just me & my girls and taking them out of school is never a problem. The one in '13 is for a meet with some online friends, so the dates are inflexible and I'll just have to hope I get lucky and catch a discount for that weekend.

 

[teacherjmc]

Subbing because I was about to ask the exact same question! Thank you for the answers provided so far. I was wondering specifically how many times a year the room discounts are offered and what percentage off you get. It sounds like there is no set answer!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Subbing because I was about to ask the exact same question! Thank you for the answers provided so far. I was wondering specifically how many times a year the room discounts are offered and what percentage off you get. It sounds like there is no set answer!

When we had AP's, the disounts were about the same as the GP discounts, they usually came out a little earlier, but we were always able to get a discount and we go throughout the year.

There are NO blackout dates for the Regular AP, only with the FL Seasonal Pass.

 

[Random Ninja]

I have a FL Seasonal Pass and have noticed that AP discounts are the least during the blackout period. The blackout period is already out for 2013 passes. If you have specific dates you are wondering about, check out the seasonal pass dates. There may still be discounts but your best bet in March/April is to see when the seasonal is good for.

 

[Colleen27]

I have a FL Seasonal Pass and have noticed that AP discounts are the least during the blackout period. The blackout period is already out for 2013 passes. If you have specific dates you are wondering about, check out the seasonal pass dates. There may still be discounts but your best bet in March/April is to see when the seasonal is good for.

That's a little more optimistic... None of my 2013 trips are within seasonal pass blackouts, so hopefully the AP rates will come along in time.

 

[princessdi]

That's a little more optimistic... None of my 2013 trips are within seasonal pass blackouts, so hopefully the AP rates will come along in time.

My family and I ( DH, DW, DS10, DS3) usually go for 5 days 4 nights and get 5 daymyw base tickets. Using that it seemed if we went twice we would only break even on the price of AP vs just getting tickets for each stay. We would have to go more than twice a year to really see savings..... Can anyone tell if im looking at this right? Ive thought of this so manytimes but not sure. Also the regular AP comes with PH right? Oh geez i get lost in all this without a notebook to pro/con it in!

 

[Colleen27]

My family and I ( DH, DW, DS10, DS3) usually go for 5 days 4 nights and get 5 daymyw base tickets. Using that it seemed if we went twice we would only break even on the price of AP vs just getting tickets for each stay. We would have to go more than twice a year to really see savings..... Can anyone tell if im looking at this right? Ive thought of this so manytimes but not sure. Also the regular AP comes with PH right? Oh geez i get lost in all this without a notebook to pro/con it in!

I'm not an expert at this, but it seems like you are looking at it right.

5d MYW base tickets = 285.42 x 2 = 570.84
Annual pass = 611.31

Now, if park hopping is something important to you it tips the scales in favor of the AP, but if base tickets are enough you're better off getting the tickets separately for each trip.

Of course, that is based on tickets alone - if you're going at a time of year when AP discounts beat the general public offer, or if Tables in Wonderland would be a significant savings for your dining habits, or if you're a shopper that would get a lot of mileage out of the AP merchandise discount, or if you stay offsite with a rental car and would benefit from free parking, it might be worth getting an AP for just one of the adults in the family to have access to those benefits.

 

[princessdi]

I'm not an expert at this, but it seems like you are looking at it right.

5d MYW base tickets = 285.42 x 2 = 570.84
Annual pass = 611.31

Now, if park hopping is something important to you it tips the scales in favor of the AP, but if base tickets are enough you're better off getting the tickets separately for each trip.

Of course, that is based on tickets alone - if you're going at a time of year when AP discounts beat the general public offer, or if Tables in Wonderland would be a significant savings for your dining habits, or if you're a shopper that would get a lot of mileage out of the AP merchandise discount, or if you stay offsite with a rental car and would benefit from free parking, it might be worth getting an AP for just one of the adults in the family to have access to those benefits.

Wow- thanks!!! I never thought of getting it for just one of us!! What is the TiW discount? Are the ap discounts out for october '12 yet?

That idea opens a whole new possibility!!

 

[Colleen27]

Wow- thanks!!! I never thought of getting it for just one of us!! What is the TiW discount? Are the ap discounts out for october '12 yet?

That idea opens a whole new possibility!!

Tables in Wonderland is a dining discount card that is only available to AP holders and Florida residents. It costs $75 for an AP holder, and offers a 20% discount on food and drinks (including alcohol) at most Disney table service restaurants, as well as at counter service restaurants at the value resorts and a few at Animal Kingdom. More info and restaurant list: www.tablesinwonderland.com

AP discounts aren't out for fall yet, but I'm sure when they're released you'll see it here first.

 

[britfish]

You can purchase a dining plan if you have an AP?

 

[princessdi]

Tables in Wonderland is a dining discount card that is only available to AP holders and Florida residents. It costs $75 for an AP holder, and offers a 20% discount on food and drinks (including alcohol) at most Disney table service restaurants, as well as at counter service restaurants at the value resorts and a few at Animal Kingdom. More info and restaurant list: www.tablesinwonderland.com

AP discounts aren't out for fall yet, but I'm sure when they're released you'll see it here first.

Hate to sound chinchy but why the 75$ fee?

Sounds like it would save lots of money for the few sit downs and being from Louisiana... Our alcohol too! Thanks!!!