Annual Pass is it worth it ?

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

Hi being in the DVC and visiting WDW twice a year i'm just wondering is it worth buying an Annual Pass ? we spend about 2weeks each time we visit.


Anyone have any thoughts ?

 

[CapeCodFam]

For 2 weeks, I'd say AP is better. Besides, you can possibly fit in 3 trips before they actually expire. I.e. schedule the next trip at 6 months and the last trip to be 51 weeks from date of purchase.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Absolutely!! We figure anything over 9-10 days in 366 is worth it. We usually get the AP and use it for 3 trips in that 366 days. Then we take a year off and get a new AP to start the process over again.

 

[cobbler]

With the DVC discount it is the same as a 7 or 8 day non-expire park hopper. Its 14 more than a 7 day and 33 less than an 8 day.

 

[bobbiwoz]

The Disney Dining Experience card that can be bought for $60 when you have the AP makes eating out more resonable. We have used that a lot! We intend to renew our APs this August.

Bobbi

PS. The DVC discount has been the "enabler" for us, and made the AP's affordable.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Absolutely.

 

[browniemtb]

We are doing the AP as well....we leave bright and early tommorrow. We have to pick up our AP at Guest services and once we have that I have to make a call to the DDE people. The CM at DDE were great...they said they will just call in a temp pass for this stay and a card should arrive by the next.
So from what I figure if you are staying two weeks and plan on going the the parks at least 8x the AP may be a better option.
Brownie

 

[CapeCodFam]

One huge benefit to APs that I don't see discussed much is how easily they can be replaced if they are lost. Just go to a park, show your ID and get a new one. If you lose your park hoppers, they're gone if you don't have your receipt. (At least that used to be the case).

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We bought our APs in November, 2004. We spent 6 days in the park on that trip.

We will be returning in April for 4-5 days in the parks for Spring Break.

August will see another 7 days in the park.

I would love to squeeze in an early November trip, but not sure that's in the cards. Even without, we will have 17-18 days on this AP.

Much cheaper than buying 2 10 day non expiring tickets.

 

[psu4glory]

my thoughts pretty much echo everyone else's...we basically looked at whether we'd be in the parks more than 8-10 times a year. if so, the AP looks to be the better option. this year we've already got 3 trips (19 days) planned, with the potential to squeeze in a 4th just before our AP's expire next JUN.

the DDE card is also a big plus that is only made possible by purchasing the AP. that savings should definitely be taken into consideration...

 

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

Cheers everyone !!

 

[BillPA]

Orig posted by CapeCodFam
One huge benefit to APs that I don't see discussed much is how easily they can be replaced if they are lost. Just go to a park, show your ID and get a new one. If you lose your park hoppers, they're gone if you don't have your receipt. (At least that used to be the case).

I have seen a tip to write down the ID number from you passes, better yet is make a copy of both sides. So if you do misplase the pass you can get it replaced.

 

[byoung]

Yes buy a AP, it will save you.

 

[CarolA]

Consider this your fair warning.

APs cost you money I am always squeezing in just ONE more trip "since I have free admission and with DVC free lodging"

The nice thing about APs is they can replace them no matter what. I have lost or forgotte a few in my day. Just go to Guest Services give them my DL and off I go with a new AP.

 

[patsal]

Consider this your fair warning.

APs cost you money I am always squeezing in just ONE more trip "since I have free admission and with DVC free lodging"

The nice thing about APs is they can replace them no matter what. I have lost or forgotte a few in my day. Just go to Guest Services give them my DL and off I go with a new AP.

Gosh, I have those same free admission tickets and free lodging as well--for something that is free it sure costs me a lot

Seriously though I really can't justify the cost of a regular ticket as compared with the AP especially when I know I will get at least 30 days out of it!

 

[Buckalew11]

We've done an AP for the last 3 years. One year I visited 5 times. As Diane said "they cost you money!!" LOL

It is so great to have an AP and come and go as you like whenever, wherever. I love my AP. It was wonderful during the marathon. So many people on the bus (DH ran, not me) couldn't go into Epcot to see their people run because it would use up on of their days. Not me...I could just pop into whatever park I wanted! I just LOVE my AP!!
(I've used this one 3 times already!)

 

[deerh]

We purchased AP's this past year, and we used them in June and November 2005, then we go in April 06, so we have already used 11 days, add 5 more in April, so 16 days for the price we paid ($315) was (is) a deal I think.

You have to use it at least 8-9 days to get value out of it..

DeerH

 

[jdvm]

We just like the freedom an annual pass gives you. You don't feel like you have to "use the ticket up" with an annual pass....you can come and go when you please and without the guilt feeling that you've "wasted" a ticket. We'll leave a water park after an hour or two at crowded times. If we'd bought a ticket, on the other hand, we'd feel obligated to hang in there to get our money's worth....hope this makes sense.

 

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

Thanks everyone !!

 

[Dizholic]

I totally agree, you took the words right out of my mouth. Its so nice let say to spend the day at the pool, then go into a park for dinner, and not have to worry about wasting a day.

We just like the freedom an annual pass gives you. You don't feel like you have to "use the ticket up" with an annual pass....you can come and go when you please and without the guilt feeling that you've "wasted" a ticket. We'll leave a water park after an hour or two at crowded times. If we'd bought a ticket, on the other hand, we'd feel obligated to hang in there to get our money's worth....hope this makes sense.