Annual Pass Numbers Game

[TheYellowDart]

Hi Everyone-

First DVC Trip coming up and me being the tightwad that I am I want to get the best deal on park tickets. We go on one 10 day trip per year. I am thinking of staggering my trips so that we take one in Dec and one in Sept of the next year so we can double dip on annual passes. We have 4 people total, 2 adults and two kids 3-9.

10 day passes with park hopper:
1346.00
Annual passes:
(2x446.24 + 2x411.09 )/2 trips = 857.33

So it looks like I figured out yearly passes work for us since we can cover the upfront costs. Am I missing any other secrets that I might not know about as a DVC member? It would be great if I could hold off my renewal until the next year but it seems like you have to renew 30 days after and that wrecks the budget.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
TheYellowDart

 

[Disneypubgal]

get the tables in wonderland card if you like sit down dining, you will save a fortune!

 

[Rob S.]

You only need to renew within 30 days if you want the "renewal discount", which I beleive is around $30 per pass. If you purchase an annual pass for trips in December 2012 and September 2013, you can wait until 2014 to purhchase another set to cover your 2014 and 2015 trips.

The annual pass also provides a 10% discount off merchandise in most of the Disney run shops.

 

[bakenatj]

You only need to renew within 30 days if you want the "renewal discount", which I beleive is around $30 per pass. If you purchase an annual pass for trips in December 2012 and September 2013, you can wait until 2014 to purhchase another set to cover your 2014 and 2015 trips.

The annual pass also provides a 10% discount off merchandise in most of the Disney run shops.

Does the date for AP go from when you renew or from first date used? So if I used a pass say on July 1 2012 and then renewed July 31 2013 what day are the renewed passes good for? I've never been clear on this. Thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

Does the date for AP go from when you renew or from first date used? So if I used a pass say on July 1 2012 and then renewed July 31 2013 what day are the renewed passes good for? I've never been clear on this. Thanks

When you renew the pass, the benefit you get from the lower price is offset by it going from the date of expiration.

So if you got an AP 1/1/12, it will expire 1/1/13. Renew, and that pass will be good until 1/1/14.

If you don't need it that early in the year, you decide if the lower cost for the renewal is worth it to you. If your next planned trips fall in between 1/1/13 and 1/1/14 then it works. If your trips are planned for, say, 3/3/13 and then 2/2/14, it doesn't work, and you'll probably want to pay the new DVC AP price, and have that AP start when you NEED it to start, instead of renew.

 

[hellerjw]

So it looks like I figured out yearly passes work for us since we can cover the upfront costs. Am I missing any other secrets that I might not know about as a DVC member? It would be great if I could hold off my renewal until the next year but it seems like you have to renew 30 days after and that wrecks the budget.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
TheYellowDart

Since you have kids under 18 you should check out the Disney YES (Youth Education Series) Individual Enrollment program, http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/. They offer some great behind-the-scenes classes and you get heavily discounted park tickets to boot. You can get up to 8-day "premium" tickets which are the equivalent of Park Hoppers + Water Park Fun & More tickets for around $220/person. You could do a couple water park or DisneyQuest days to get your 10 days worth of excitement. They offer classes most weeks of the year and classes are by age group, with some starting at 5 years old and only 1 child has to participate to get discount tickets for the whole group. Children under 13 have to be accompanied by 1 adult, but the price of the first class is included in the ticket package price, additional classes are only $28/each. Its a great deal if you can make the schedule work. We did this last year and saved about $600 on tickets for the 4 of us!

 

[TheYellowDart]

Thanks for all the info! Looks like I am on the right track with splitting the two stays over one yearly membership, then waiting for the next year.

As for the tables card we think we will still get the ddp... The reasoning is we are big eaters while on vacation and I have a problem where I stress about money to the point it starts spoiling the vacation. I know it doesn't make much sense but I like to try to pay for the whole vacation months before hand so that while I am there I don't have to worry about menu prices (I will always order the cheapest) or try to make the kids split. It is one of the things that gets me to pay for those types of vacations.

As for YES, I had never heard of that. We stay for 10 days so we are always looking for fun side adventures and that sounds perfect! Maybe we will travel early and use the pass next year and use YES this year for our 5 year old.

Thanks!

 

[gmi3804]

Thanks for all the info! Looks like I am on the right track with splitting the two stays over one yearly membership, then waiting for the next year.

As for the tables card we think we will still get the ddp... The reasoning is we are big eaters while on vacation and I have a problem where I stress about money to the point it starts spoiling the vacation. I know it doesn't make much sense but I like to try to pay for the whole vacation months before hand so that while I am there I don't have to worry about menu prices (I will always order the cheapest) or try to make the kids split. It is one of the things that gets me to pay for those types of vacations.

As for YES, I had never heard of that. We stay for 10 days so we are always looking for fun side adventures and that sounds perfect! Maybe we will travel early and use the pass next year and use YES this year for our 5 year old.

Thanks!

If you're big drinkers, you still may find value with the TiW card. We like cocktails and wine with dinner, and the wines we order tend to be in the $100 range. It doesn't take long for the card to start working in our favor, even if we just used it for the bar tab.

 

[DizDays]

I completely understand the "pay for everything in advance" strategy. It makes everything so much easier. However, the PP has wise advice regarding TiW and the discount on alcoholic beverages. The 20% makes a big difference.

Either way you choose to go, I have no doubt you'll have a great time!!

 

[Disneycouple99]

Thanks for all the info! Looks like I am on the right track with splitting the two stays over one yearly membership, then waiting for the next year.

As for the tables card we think we will still get the ddp... The reasoning is we are big eaters while on vacation and I have a problem where I stress about money to the point it starts spoiling the vacation. I know it doesn't make much sense but I like to try to pay for the whole vacation months before hand so that while I am there I don't have to worry about menu prices (I will always order the cheapest) or try to make the kids split. It is one of the things that gets me to pay for those types of vacations.

As for YES, I had never heard of that. We stay for 10 days so we are always looking for fun side adventures and that sounds perfect! Maybe we will travel early and use the pass next year and use YES this year for our 5 year old.

Thanks!

Or put the money for the DP onto a Disney gift card and use that to pay for food.

 

[ppoe65]

Or put the money for the DP onto a Disney gift card and use that to pay for food.

I've thought about doing this as well, but to me its like I am still spending money and may not get exactly what I want to try and make sure the money makes it for the entire trip.

 

[princesscinderella]

Did you price out the 10day tickets with the no expiration option, because that may be cheaper, if you are mot planning to go to the parks every day you are there. They could last you longer than an annual pass depending on your park habits.

 

[mazoo77]

I plan to purchase the annual pass this year as well, possibly the PAP since we want to do the waterparks a day or so. Also plan to use the AP twice within the year. Would it be worth while to purchase the 6 day Park Hopper from Undercover Tourist which saves you $23.00/ticket and than upgrade to an annual pass.

When the upgrade is done to the annual pass would I pay the difference between the actual price of the UT ticket ($311) or the Disney gate price($334). Trying to understand if this would actually save an additional few dollars.

Thanks,
Joanie

 

[disneydivermom]

We also considered AP vs purchasing a 10 day no expiry to split between 2 or even 3 trips. I was reading the boards and found out I could use my Air Miles points for a 7 day park pass. I ordered my first pass just over 1 month ago and I'm already 1/4 of the way to another free pass. Once we arrive I can pay the difference to have them upgrade to 10 day no expiry tickets.

Not sure if this is an option for you but even if it only gets you one free pass it's worth while.

 

[Missyrose]

I plan to purchase the annual pass this year as well, possibly the PAP since we want to do the waterparks a day or so. Also plan to use the AP twice within the year. Would it be worth while to purchase the 6 day Park Hopper from Undercover Tourist which saves you $23.00/ticket and than upgrade to an annual pass.

When the upgrade is done to the annual pass would I pay the difference between the actual price of the UT ticket ($311) or the Disney gate price($334). Trying to understand if this would actually save an additional few dollars.

Thanks,
Joanie

Yes, it is worth it to buy the UT ticket and upgrade at the parks. Just be sure to use the ticket at least once before doing the upgrade. This should bridge your ticket so you will then only pay the difference between the gate price and the AP price. Do the math yourself beforehand so you know if the CM has done everything correctly.

 

[RachaelA]

As for the tables card we think we will still get the ddp... The reasoning is we are big eaters while on vacation and I have a problem where I stress about money to the point it starts spoiling the vacation. I know it doesn't make much sense but I like to try to pay for the whole vacation months before hand so that while I am there I don't have to worry about menu prices (I will always order the cheapest) or try to make the kids split. It is one of the things that gets me to pay for those types of vacations.

I totally understand just wanting the ease of the dining plan. We are doing the DDP (as we always have) for our first DVC trip in October. DH said he has no desire to eat anything other than breakfast in our room this trip and we would end up eating a lot of Counter Service meals for lunch (TS for dinner) which are not covered under Tables in Wonderland (except value resorts which doesn't help us). Plus I'd make DH feel guilty for getting something expensive if we were paying OOP.

So yeah the whole point of my post is that I get what you are saying

 

[sweetdana]

Thanks for all the info! Looks like I am on the right track with splitting the two stays over one yearly membership, then waiting for the next year.

As for the tables card we think we will still get the ddp... The reasoning is we are big eaters while on vacation and I have a problem where I stress about money to the point it starts spoiling the vacation. I know it doesn't make much sense but I like to try to pay for the whole vacation months before hand so that while I am there I don't have to worry about menu prices (I will always order the cheapest) or try to make the kids split. It is one of the things that gets me to pay for those types of vacations.

yup, makes no sense.. I DO THE SAME illogical thing too! Somehow paying up front is okay, but 64$ on the spot for 1 person's dinner cannot justify.

As a side note, if you stay in 2 different resorts (or room types) you can get DP or DDP for only part of the trip. Next trip I am staying at US resort for 2-3 nights, followed by 4 nights in a studio, followed by 4 nights in a 1-br. This will get me DDP for 5 days, and I can use snacks for the next morning with muffins/bagles ect. This to me, helps not spend 71$ a day PP, but gets all the TS/Sign/dining shows, and then the last 2-3 nights, we will order pizza from Pizza Hut, and eat more QS.

 

[MrToad1345]

I plan to purchase the annual pass this year as well, possibly the PAP since we want to do the waterparks a day or so. Also plan to use the AP twice within the year. Would it be worth while to purchase the 6 day Park Hopper from Undercover Tourist which saves you $23.00/ticket and than upgrade to an annual pass.

When the upgrade is done to the annual pass would I pay the difference between the actual price of the UT ticket ($311) or the Disney gate price($334). Trying to understand if this would actually save an additional few dollars.

Thanks,
Joanie

Can anyone cite any experiance with doing this with the UT route? We are brandy new DVC members and have our first trip booked in August and are planning our 2nd for April next year. We were looking at the AP pass route to get the most bang for our buck.
Thanks!!

 

[Brandis]

You can find detailed explanations on how the UT ticket to AP upgrade works in the ticket sticky here on the forum.

Short version: Try to find the ticket, which has the bigges difference in price between the UT price and Disney gate price, because that difference will be your savings. At the same time, you have to make sure that the Disney gate price is below the price of the AP you want (including DVC discount, if applicable), because they won't upgrade from tickets that cost more than the AP would.

It has been said before, you'll have to use your ticket at least once in order to update the price in the system from the UT price to the official Disney price, but only use the ticket at one of the 4 main parks, not a water park or Disney quest, as this will make the ticket invalid for upgrade.

The way I do it is to stop by Epcot on my first day, walk over to the entrance, go through the turnstiles and leave again right away. Then I go over to the Guest Relations counter on the outside of the park and upgrade the ticket to the AP.

 

[Missyrose]

Can anyone cite any experiance with doing this with the UT route? We are brandy new DVC members and have our first trip booked in August and are planning our 2nd for April next year. We were looking at the AP pass route to get the most bang for our buck.
Thanks!!

The PP had all the steps right for the upgrade. One piece of advice I would give is to know exactly how much your UT is worth at gate price and exactly how much the AP you want is. That way, you'll know if the CM is doing everything the way it's supposed to be done. I did the UT to AP upgrade last October with no problems (I did the upgrade at Epcot guest relations).