Annual Pass Discounts?

[Native NYer]

We're going to Disney in a few weeks and getting 7 day base tickets. We already are beginning to plan our August 2010 trip. Does it make sense to upgrade our 7 day base tickets next month to an annual pass and hope for a room discount for August 2010? Or would it be better to wait to see if Free Dining is offered again? We're thinking of either staying at the Poly or GF.

 

[sjms71]

Are you going durng this years FD? If so you may be able to book for next year through the Bounceback offer. You will still need to buy a one day/park ticket to get the FD package.

 

[Native NYer]

Are you going durng this years FD? If so you may be able to book for next year through the Bounceback offer. You will still need to buy a one day/park ticket to get the FD package.

Not getting FD this year. Trying to figure out how I would be able to save the most money. Not sure if an AP makes sense since I'll still need to get a one day ticket with my MYW package.

 

[Sandisw]

Will you go to Disney next year with or without a discount? I think that is important in deciding whether or not to upgrade to AP's.

And, depending on when you go this year, you would be locked in to going next year before the AP expires. If Free Dining (or any discount for that matter) comes out but doesn't start until after the passes expire, you might find that you won't be able to take advantage of the discounts without giving up the AP--which means you spent the money for nothing.

If your vacation dates are flexible and you try to book based on specials, then IMHO, I think I would forgo the AP's.

 

[sjms71]

We bought AP's for the first time this year. Not sure if we will renew. However, we have gotten our money's worth. We went in March with 4/3 deal upgraded to AP's. We squeezed in a 4 day trip during star wars weekends in June. Going for 10 days in Sept. FD and going for 10 days in Nov/Dec. We did have to buy a 1 day pass for Sept but we will just hang on to this for a future trip. I guess you just have make sure you will get the full benefit of it.

 

[Native NYer]

Will you go to Disney next year with or without a discount? I think that is important in deciding whether or not to upgrade to AP's.

And, depending on when you go this year, you would be locked in to going next year before the AP expires. If Free Dining (or any discount for that matter) comes out but doesn't start until after the passes expire, you might find that you won't be able to take advantage of the discounts without giving up the AP--which means you spent the money for nothing.

If your vacation dates are flexible and you try to book based on specials, then IMHO, I think I would forgo the AP's.

We are thinking of doing two trips, if we can swing it. Not entirely sure of the dates for the second trip, but the first definitely in August.

I'm hesitant to get APs just for the discount. We have the Disney Visa and are offered discounts with that. I worry that I'll pay the money this year to upgrade and won't be able to use them next year.

We bought AP's for the first time this year. Not sure if we will renew. However, we have gotten our money's worth. We went in March with 4/3 deal upgraded to AP's. We squeezed in a 4 day trip during star wars weekends in June. Going for 10 days in Sept. FD and going for 10 days in Nov/Dec. We did have to buy a 1 day pass for Sept but we will just hang on to this for a future trip. I guess you just have make sure you will get the full benefit of it.

That's great. I'm not sure if I'll be able to go as often as I like. I teach so I'm limited to when I can go away. I usually take my nephew and pulling him out of school is not an option.

Were the discounts offered to you the same as those offered to people who don't have APs?

 

[sjms71]

We are thinking of doing two trips, if we can swing it. Not entirely sure of the dates for the second trip, but the first definitely in August.

I'm hesitant to get APs just for the discount. We have the Disney Visa and are offered discounts with that. I worry that I'll pay the money this year to upgrade and won't be able to use them next year.



That's great. I'm not sure if I'll be able to go as often as I like. I teach so I'm limited to when I can go away. I usually take my nephew and pulling him out of school is not an option.

Were the discounts offered to you the same as those offered to people who don't have APs?

That's why I love NC year round schools. We get a 3 or more week break every 9 weeks. Awesome for traveling. As for discounts I haven't received any pins ever even before AP's. I booked BB for free dining last year before we left and then after we bought AP's we reduced our pkg to 1 day tickets. June we got AP room rate which was pretty good I thought.

 

[snykymom]

We're going to Disney in a few weeks and getting 7 day base tickets. We already are beginning to plan our August 2010 trip. Does it make sense to upgrade our 7 day base tickets next month to an annual pass and hope for a room discount for August 2010? Or would it be better to wait to see if Free Dining is offered again? We're thinking of either staying at the Poly or GF.

Not getting FD this year. Trying to figure out how I would be able to save the most money. Not sure if an AP makes sense since I'll still need to get a one day ticket with my MYW package.

If you are not getting free dining, then you can book a MYW package with the AP without buying a one day ticket. The AP is sufficient. And you can book an AP package without already having an AP.

Depending on your family, you may find that the AP rates make more sense than FD. For us, it did. I pay less for an AP package including dining that I would for a room at rack rate plus free dining. (Remember that since you have to pay rack rate and a ticket that you may not need, "free dining" isn't really free.)

 

[Native NYer]

That's why I love NC year round schools. We get a 3 or more week break every 9 weeks. Awesome for traveling. As for discounts I haven't received any pins ever even before AP's. I booked BB for free dining last year before we left and then after we bought AP's we reduced our pkg to 1 day tickets. June we got AP room rate which was pretty good I thought.

That works perfectly for vacations. NYC schools will never switch that.

 

[mommycrawford]

I'm right here with you NativeNYer!...(born at St. Vincent's!)

I'm wondering too since DDs Bday is ALWAYS over February school break and she longs to be privy to those free cupcakes.

I figure I'll see if they have a BB offer, and IF the dates are earlier in August than we arrive this year than the AP's will overlap the time, then if we can do a February trip it will definately be cost effective!

We usually go once a year since I do not know how to drive: (NYC...no driver's ed!)

We're going to Disney in a few weeks and getting 7 day base tickets. We already are beginning to plan our August 2010 trip. Does it make sense to upgrade our 7 day base tickets next month to an annual pass and hope for a room discount for August 2010? Or would it be better to wait to see if Free Dining is offered again? We're thinking of either staying at the Poly or GF.

 

[Native NYer]

I'm right here with you NativeNYer!...(born at St. Vincent's!)

I'm wondering too since DDs Bday is ALWAYS over February school break and she longs to be privy to those free cupcakes.

I figure I'll see if they have a BB offer, and IF the dates are earlier in August than we arrive this year than the AP's will overlap the time, then if we can do a February trip it will definately be cost effective!

We usually go once a year since I do not know how to drive: (NYC...no driver's ed!)

I was born at Lenox Hill

You'll definitely get your money's worth out of the APs with two trips. We're trying to figure out if we are going once or twice next year. Plus, if free dining is offered, we'd like to arrange our August dates to fit in. Not sure what we're going to do yet!

Where do you usually stay?

I took driver's ed at my HS (which was in Brooklyn), have had my license since 16, and never find the need to drive in NYC

 

[dawg6924]

I plan to be in Disney the first week of December. I used to be a PAP but it ran out in late 2007. I realize I will have to buy a totally new one but my question is, if I buy a voucher from The Disney Store and make my reservation, can I still get a passholders discount? If someone has a better way to do this I would appreciate the advice

 

[snykymom]

You can book a passholder's rate without actually having the pass or voucher in hand. If you have the AP or the voucher when you get to the hotel, that should be sufficient for any CM. It may also be OK if you don't, but upgrade after you check in. If they ask for the AP, they'll usually give you 24 hours to return to the front desk with it before they change the rate back to rack.