annual pass help....PLEASE

[macmahony]

Hello, I am looking at purchasing an annual pass for my husband and I, and kids. We are planning our trip for nov 28 through dec 9. We were going to do a 8 day hoppper, with no experation. Is it cheaper to get the annual pass in the long run, then we could go back later in the year. I am a little confused, do we do the ap or not? What are the benefits, I know about all the discounts, and things like that, but what are the real life discounts, is it worth it, I need real life stories. We live in New Jersey, so to go back, is sort of a stretch, but we might do a shorter trip just to catch the halloween party. We also have 3 kids, one being 4, and the other two under 3, so they are free. One will have turned 3 by the second trip, so we would just purchase the hopper passes we needed for her. Would we be saving money in the long run, or not? Thoughts?

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Under last year's pass options, the 8th day was the break even point on the annual passes.

We bought AP's for our 9 day November 2004 trip. We are going back for 7 days this October. I saved $12 per person off the gate price for our MNSSHP tickets with my AP discount and will also save $$ using the AP holder room-only discounts. You can also use the AP to save on food purchases and merchandise. IMO, it's worth it especially if you plan on two trips within one year.

The next thing you know you'll be planning your next trip!

 

[Bugdozer]

Hi,
They were worth it for us!
We went in Nov/Dec for 8 nights and are going in Oct for 10 nights and then spur of the moment we were able to do a SURPRISE trip leaving in the morning for 7 nights.
We bought our passes at the disney store as we had the money. It hurts to dish out that kind of money but each trip after the first is like heaven as we do not have to buy passes!
Discounts are great also!
Cheryl

 

[chanty]

How much are the annual passes?? And are they good for a year from the day you purchase them? I.e. Purchase July 1st 2005 - valid until July 1st 2006??

Chantal

 

[SnackyStacky]

How much are the annual passes?? And are they good for a year from the day you purchase them? I.e. Purchase July 1st 2005 - valid until July 1st 2006??

Chantal

An annual pass will get you into the 4 main theme parks for a year and the cost is about $420. A premium annual pass will get you into everything at Disney World for a year, and the cost is about $550.

The year starts from activation. If you purchase them in advance, you'll get a voucher that will need to be exchanged at Guest Relations. The year will start from when you exchange them.

If you purchase them on property - the year will begin from the day you purchase them.

 

[EthansMom]

Macmahony,

Here is a link to information on the Annual Pass: http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

And a link to a breakeven analysis for the Annual Pass: http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/breakeven.php

All-in-all, I saved roughly $202 with the AP on one trip, which is a good justification for buying one AP (if you can get the room rate), but IMO doesn't justify spending $1202 for two adult and one child's APs because you might go back later in the year. The REAL savings for us is that we'll be able to go to WDW parks for three weeks at roughly the same cost of two weeks of MYW tickets.

In the situation you describe, I would recommend looking at the 10 day non-expiring MYW tickets -- it's the less expensive option for two trips and you could take the second trip at any time in the future. Note, that if you were definitely planning two long trips or three trips in one year, my answer would probably be that you would be better off getting APs.

My savings on our last trip:

As an Annual Passholder, I was permitted to call up and try to get an AP discount on our room. The AP room-only discounts can run about 40% off full price, but with WDW being so popular lately, there haven't been many rooms being made available at the AP rate and they are pretty difficult to get -- mostly gone on the first day they are released. Oh, and there generally isn't much, if any, announcement of when AP rates are going to be released, so if you snooze, you might not get one.

At any rate (no pun intended), I was able to snag the AP discount on our room for our trip this April, which saved us another $175/7 nights in a Moderate over and above the AAA discount. I had originally booked the room at the AAA rate in case I was unable to procure the AP rate. When AP rates were released, I called and had the rate changed.

Also, as an Annual Passholder, I was permitted to spend $50 to purchase a Disney Dining Experience card, which gives a 20% off most sit-down restaurants, most resort food courts, and a few counter service restaurants. On our last trip, I saved $75 in 6 days at the parks with the DDE card. Note, many of these places offer a 10% to AP holders, already.

And I was able to save 10% off the purchase of a stuffed Eyeore for my daughter at the World of Disney store in DTD.

So a total savings of $202 in one trip. I'm hoping to get the AP room discount again in Dec. and Feb. (fingers crossed) and will also use the DDE card and probably try to buy the souvenirs at World of Disney. There are also discounts for boat rentals and other recreation, for tickets to the water parks, Pleasure Island, etc.

I hope this helps.

 

[mjmcca]

I live in NY so I am close to you geographically. I bought APs last August for my slef and DS 3 at the time. I also had my husbands cousin who lives with us and only bought her a PHP. ( My DD was with me too but she was 2 at the time.) We were there for 8 days in the summer ( I used one day from an old PHP for cousin). I didnt use AP room discount because I was able to get a CM rate through freinds.



I went back in October hubbys cousin went with us again so i had to buy her more tickets. This time I only bought PH for her I used the AP for a room discount because i didnt want to bother the woman who got me the room rate she was expecting a baby any day . We were in the park 7 days that trip cosuin got in with a CM pass one day. ( we took my freinds kids with us while she was inthe hospital having the baby her hubby got them in).



We went back In Feb for a week but only spent 3 days in the parks. This time i bought cousin a !0 MYW premium with no exp. She got in 2 times with CM passes. so i only used one day on her pass.



We are going back in June with out cousin. This time however DD is over 3 so i will need a pass for her. Hubby is talking about going to Florida for the whole summer ( we bought a house there) since he is a teacher he can pretty much do what he wants with the summer. I think i am going to get an AP for DD so i can go to the parks as i please and not have to worry about how many days are left on my pass.

 

[seashoreCM]

Generally an AP is the best buy for 13 or more days including hopping.

Avoid 8 and 9 day non-expirations. 10's and 7's are a much better buy. (10 day non-expiration costs eight dollars more than 8 day non-expiration)

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/dispass.htm

 

[cranbiz]

If you can get back to use them, then by all means get the AP. If you can't use them more than 10 days, then some of the other savings really won't matter and you are better off with the 10 day MYM tickets.

DW and I have AP's and use them frequently. I now have a house in FL so we will go to check on the house and then visit Disney. The convenience of being able to go when the mood moves and if only for a couple of hours (if you wish) without burning up a precious day on a regular ticket.

In June , we are staying at the house and then 2 days at CBR with the AP discount. DW bought xmas presents from World of Disney and sav ed 10% on her purchases. I also use the DDE card and figure that I have saved probably close to $600 so far by having the AP with the discounts and park time.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Our AP's just expired but we used them for about 24 days within the year.

We got the PAP's so that was about $1,100 for the two of us. We made 3 trips- one in May '04, a quick on in Dec. '04 and one trip in May '05.

But with the discounts on the hotels we saved approx. $2,000! So the AP's paid for themselves and then some.

But- hotel discounts aren't guaranteed. -Stephanie