Annual Pass information and questions

[Ember]

With the annual pass you get from Disney - it's just the basic pass, right? Can it be upgraded to a premium pass to include the water parks etc.? Can the dining plan be added to it for the length of our trip??

Thanks all!

 

[mhcueball2]

If you get an annual pass from Disney, it is just the 'regular' annual pass. You can pay the difference to upgrade to the premium if you wish.

 

[twojo21]

you can pay for the upgrade on the annual pass to add the water parks. the dining plan is not available on the annual pass though. the disney dining plan is only available on magic your way packages & to dvc owners.

one option with the annual pass is the dde (disney dining experience) card which saves you 20% at most wdw restaurants. my husband & i bought that & it saved us tons between our planning trip & wedding trip.

 

[princessbride6205]

I highly recommend getting the DDE card - 20% off ALL food and beverages (even adult ones). This is good at all table service restaurants and a few DTD quick service ones, too, I think. The card costs $75 I think now, but it's good for a year, and will save lots of money.

 

[Ember]

That sounds like a great idea - where do you buy the DDE? Thanks for the help, all!

 

[pixie08]

hmmm...how would you go about upgrading it? Do you do it when you exchange the vouchers or before? TIA!

 

[Kismetdreams]

You can upgrade the passes when you go to cash them in, but the price difference is pretty big...over $150 each for us, and that was over 2 years ago. The value they give the passes is lower than if you had purchased a standard AP yourself, because they were a gift. Just ask how much it would cost when you go to redeem them (you can redeem the vouchers at any ticket booth on property).

 

[timandlesley]

No to hijack this thread but I have lots of questions and for some reason the board won't let me start a new thread, only reply to others today (tempermental board : )
We are going in July (DH, myself, DD 3 and DS 6) for 8 nights, we currently are booked through AAA. I want to return in January for 5 nights and then DH and myself for our 10 year anniversary mid July next year. 3 trips- 1 year, so I'm thinking annual pass. We are HOOKED on the dining plan though. How much would we save on these trips getting the annual passes for the two of us, is it worth it?? Do I loose my AAA discount on rooms?
Lesley

 

[Maggimus]

You might be better off posting on a different board. I think this thread was mainly talking about the annual passes that Disney gives away as gift with their Custom Wedding package.

Hopefully this bump will help you get the answer to your question here though. Regaurdless- Im sure if you call AAA they can answer that for you-- seeing that you can get annual passes from them as well.

 

[timandlesley]

You might be better off posting on a different board. I think this thread was mainly talking about the annual passes that Disney gives away as gift with their Custom Wedding package.

Hopefully this bump will help you get the answer to your question here though. Regaurdless- Im sure if you call AAA they can answer that for you-- seeing that you can get annual passes from them as well.

I wish, unfortunately I keep getting an error message when I post new threads today saying the message is too short but it lets me reply to other threads. I called AAA and they said they can't sell annual passes, is that not true?
Lesley

 

[Maggimus]

Well I want certain that they could... but I really can't see a reason why they wouldnt. AAA has a partnership to some extent with Disney- and you can buy just about any other annual pass from AAA... and even if you cant buy it through them- they can get the rates and have it shipped to them, and then to you. So im not sure if its discounted... but as a travel agent... I personally dont see why cant get the tickets for you-- even if they arent discounted. Hmm? I dont know... but if i was wrong, im sorry for the innaccurate information. I would try speaking with someone else.. and ask them if you cant purchase the tickets through them- then what? They wont like seeing you take your business straight to Disney (that might mean skipping out on using them for other things as well)
GL!
Again, maybe someone on here will know.
Sorry about your problems posting today... this new version has everyone messed up lately.

 

[dannirose]

I don't know how much this will help you but this is what I just looked up for my mom - if you are going to use more than 10 days worth of park tickets in a 1 year period the annual pass is cheaper than the MYW tickets sold by Disney. Since she is coming to our planning session and that trip will be a week and then she will be in Disney for the wedding more than a week I want her to get the AP - it just seems to make sense to me. Also, AP holders are eligible for room discounts - my brother has been one for a few years and depending on when he goes he has gotten anywhere between 20 - 30% off on his rooms with his AP.

That said I don't use the AAA discount so I don't know how it compares pricewise. HTH!

 

[purplegirl247]

If what you're asking is if getting an annual pass prevents you from getting the AAA room discount, I'm almost positive the answer is no. When you book a room through AAA, they won't know (or care, honestly!) whether you have an annual pass or not. I know the annual pass entitles you to some discounts (on the DDE, like someone mentioned earlier, and I think some merchandise) but it doesn't disqualify you for other discounts.

As for whether the annual pass would save you money over buying just regular tickets, you'd have to check the price of current annual passes versus current (or discounted, depending on how you usually buy them) park-hoppers or day tickets or whatever.

If I've misunderstood you or confused you further, I'm so sorry!

 

[timandlesley]

So for us would the best option be, buying an AP, staying DVC and then buying the dining plan that way???
Lesley

 

[Maggimus]

Im so glad people are helping you guys out!! I dont know- but the DDP is a must!! You can get the annual pass and still book the DDP through AAA. If its possibly to book DVC through AAA- than you can still do all of that through them. AAA will save you money regaurdless- so if its possibly to do any of that through them.. i recommend it. And just tell them you wont need tickets because you are getting an annual pass..