annual pass for So.Cal ??

[dreamin_disney]

I live here in So. Cal. We've been to DL a few times. I didnt became a DL addict until our 1st trip to wdw in 2008.

My family and I did the Disney give a day program and got our 3 free vouchers which i think are a $72 value each - i think. total $216

Well I've been thinking it would be cool to get
deluxe annual passes $239*3=$717

can I use the vouchers from Disney give a day toward the ap? if so then I'm gonna try and convince hubby. In the past he said it wouldnt be worth the ap because we dont go as often. I think if we get the ap we might go more especially when we are low on money. I told him we can walk the boardwalk and window shop. We can go to DL and hang out for a few hours, or have dinner.

So those of you that live in so. calif and have an ap do you noticed that you go to DL more often?

I also have $155 in disney visa rewards that i was hoping to save for a future trip to wdw in a few years but dh doesnt think we will go back again to much $$ so i can also use the $155 toward the ap.

WOuld like to hear what others think.

BTW -I like the Deluxe ap because we can go Friday evenings and Sundays. All sat. are blocked out but this one would be best. The one above this would be to much $$

 

[amamax2]

We upgraded our Give a Day vouchers to APs with no problem earlier this year.

We get APs every other year and we use the heck out of them - we definitely get our money's worth. We usually go for two day trips, but money is a lot tighter this year, so will make some one day trips too.

If we lived closer, I think we would do what you are suggesting and just drop in - my brother and his family live only about an hours from DL and when they get passes they definitely do this quite frequently.

I vote get them!!

 

[dreamin_disney]

We upgraded our Give a Day vouchers to APs with no problem earlier this year.

We get APs every other year and we use the heck out of them - we definitely get our money's worth. We usually go for two day trips, but money is a lot tighter this year, so will make some one day trips too.

If we lived closer, I think we would do what you are suggesting and just drop in - my brother and his family live only about an hours from DL and when they get passes they definitely do this quite frequently.

I vote get them!!

we live about 45min-1hr away and I think it would be great. Dh on the other hand isnt to excited like I am-lol! Now he's more of a movie guy so if it was a movie annual pass he'd jump on it. I even reminded him about the movie place on the walk oh wait I hopw i'm not confusing the movie theater with city walk-lol!

Is there free parking anywhere? I'll have to look up parking cost. About 1-2 years ago on one of our visits there was a parking lot that was free parking for DL. Not sure if it was a one day thing or what.

on our trip to wdw we had dipped chocolate, carmal pretzels from goofy's kitchen yum!!!!!! I'm craving some now-lol!

 

[cats mom]

we live about 45min-1hr away and I think it would be great. Dh on the other hand isnt to excited like I am-lol! Now he's more of a movie guy so if it was a movie annual pass he'd jump on it. I even reminded him about the movie place on the walk oh wait I hopw i'm not confusing the movie theater with city walk-lol!

Is there free parking anywhere? I'll have to look up parking cost. About 1-2 years ago on one of our visits there was a parking lot that was free parking for DL. Not sure if it was a one day thing or what.

on our trip to wdw we had dipped chocolate, carmal pretzels from goofy's kitchen yum!!!!!! I'm craving some now-lol!

The Downtown Disney lot is free for the 1st 3 hours, and you can get an additional 2 hours "free" w/validation from AMC or some table service restaurants. But I wouldn't use that lot if there's any chance you'll go over the free limit because it gets pricey in a hurry otherwise.

Parking in any of the DL lots is $15 per day.

I believe the current cost to add parking to an AP is $99, so if you know you'll be using your passes at least 7x, that might be your best bet. Just be sure to add parking to the pass of someone who will be going every time.

I'm not aware of any lots near Disneyland where you can park free for the day.

 

[dreamin_disney]

if i do get the AP's how does renewal work? Is it the same price if DL doesnt raise prices or it it more $$? Any benefits to having AP?

 

[mrsxsparrow]

if i do get the AP's how does renewal work? Is it the same price if DL doesnt raise prices or it it more $$? Any benefits to having AP?

Usually they give you a discount if you renew without letting your pass expire. This year they also gave us a discount for renewing online so with the two combined we saved $30-$40 per pass.

We live about an hour away. Six or seven years ago we upgraded our three day tickets to the cheapest annual pass and have since made our way up to the Premium and now the Premier (which happened last weekend so I'm still really excited! ). We go to DL a LOT more often now.

The biggest change that happened once we got passes was the way we tour the park. Before it was always nonstop, trying to fit everything into one day. Now we can leave late in the morning and just enjoy the parks without the pressure and the rush because we know we'll be able to come back soon. It is a great feeling.

 

[amamax2]

How often do you think you would go in the next year if you didn't get passes?

If you think you will go even one more time for more than a day, then the cost of even a one park one day ticket for the three of you is almost what you would pay in addition to the GAD vouchers and the VISA reward money. If you were to go for more than that - say a park hopper ticket or for two days, you would be spending more than the cost to upgrade.

So that might figure in your thinking....

 

[dreamin_disney]

Usually they give you a discount if you renew without letting your pass expire. This year they also gave us a discount for renewing online so with the two combined we saved $30-$40 per pass.

We live about an hour away. Six or seven years ago we upgraded our three day tickets to the cheapest annual pass and have since made our way up to the Premium and now the Premier (which happened last weekend so I'm still really excited! ). We go to DL a LOT more often now.

The biggest change that happened once we got passes was the way we tour the park. Before it was always nonstop, trying to fit everything into one day. Now we can leave late in the morning and just enjoy the parks without the pressure and the rush because we know we'll be able to come back soon. It is a great feeling.

Great to know theres a discount. Can someone tell me how much of a discount for renewing on so cailf resident deluxe pass or none because its already discounted?

How often do you think you would go in the next year if you didn't get passes?

If you think you will go even one more time for more than a day, then the cost of even a one park one day ticket for the three of you is almost what you would pay in addition to the GAD vouchers and the VISA reward money. If you were to go for more than that - say a park hopper ticket or for two days, you would be spending more than the cost to upgrade.

So that might figure in your thinking....

We were only planning going in Dec because of the free tickets we got but if i get a pass then......
I want to go for Fall decorations in Oct or Nov. then again in Dec for xmas.

Plus any other time we want to get outta the house-lol!

 

[sunshine1259]

My DH was given annual passes this year and so far we have gone 3 times and a 4th is planned next week for our anniversary. We live about an 1 hour or 2 away. And yes, since we received the passes, we find ourselves going more to ge our money's worth.

 

[iheartdisney]

we live about 45min-1hr away and I think it would be great. Dh on the other hand isnt to excited like I am-lol! Now he's more of a movie guy so if it was a movie annual pass he'd jump on it. I even reminded him about the movie place on the walk oh wait I hopw i'm not confusing the movie theater with city walk-lol!

Is there free parking anywhere? I'll have to look up parking cost. About 1-2 years ago on one of our visits there was a parking lot that was free parking for DL. Not sure if it was a one day thing or what.

on our trip to wdw we had dipped chocolate, carmal pretzels from goofy's kitchen yum!!!!!! I'm craving some now-lol!

Regarding parking- If you are considering adding parking onto one of the passes, I would go for a premium, and then you will also get the premium AP discount on food and merchendise. I have a premium pass, the kids and husband all have deluxes.

I live about 1.5-2 hours away, and we make it down once a month. I will say, we go way more often now that they started the payment plan! Seeing that withdrawl every month reminds me I have to get my money's worth!

 

[dreamin_disney]

Regarding parking- If you are considering adding parking onto one of the passes, I would go for a premium, and then you will also get the premium AP discount on food and merchendise. I have a premium pass, the kids and husband all have deluxes.

I live about 1.5-2 hours away, and we make it down once a month. I will say, we go way more often now that they started the payment plan! Seeing that withdrawl every month reminds me I have to get my money's worth!

I think I'm leaning more towards the so. calif Ap (215 days). The premium will cost $121 more.

 

[jtown]

Regarding parking- If you are considering adding parking onto one of the passes, I would go for a premium, and then you will also get the premium AP discount on food and merchendise. I have a premium pass, the kids and husband all have deluxes.

I live about 1.5-2 hours away, and we make it down once a month. I will say, we go way more often now that they started the payment plan! Seeing that withdrawl every month reminds me I have to get my money's worth!

Seconded. By the time you add parking to a deluxe, you're really close to the price of premium. Not only do you get the parking and discount, you have no blocked days. Want to go Saturday? No problem. Want to go on a holiday weekend? No problem. Christmas break? Go for it. (Disney should have a referral program for us shills.)