Annual Pass or Length of Stay???

[dwaldron]

First of all - I appologize if this is a topic that has been rehashed time and time again. When I tried to search it told me that the feature had been deactivated.

So...we are DVC members. We usually go to WDW once a year. We are planning a short 6 day trip to WDW this August. We are also planning a longer 10-12 day trip for June 2004.

Does it make more sense for us (2 adults, a 3-4 year old, and a 6-7 year old) to buy a length of stay park admission, or to buy annual passes?

How much do the annual passes cost? Are there any other "perks" associated with them? Are there any discounts available on them (ie: DVC)? Are there any disadvantages to annual passes? Are annual passes good for the other areas such as Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Mini-golf gourses etc...?

If I do decide to get annual passes, how would I go about doing it? Can I do it online, or does it have to be done in person for the first time?

Thanks alot,
Don

 

[Geoff_M]

The rule of thumb is that if you will use the APs for 8 or more days within the 12 months, then it's cheaper to use than the LOS passes.

The prices can be found on any of the info sites... Such as www.wdwinfo.com

The only "downside" is if you don't use them enough to reach the break-even point. But with your 10-12 day stay alone your in the black.

 

[Lora]

I would definitely do the annual passes. There are some perks...many are the same as the DVC perks. If you have a Disney Club membership, I would use it to purchase the passes at the Disney Store before you go. According to one of the DC flyers I received recently, you were supposed to be able to use that discount on site for the AP's, but not hoppers, etc. We got a CM at MK guest relations who wasn't going to let us do this...but I convinced her otherwise. As a passholder, you get the Mickey Monitor newsletter 4x a year which keeps you up to date on events and discounts for your passes.

When you have the AP's and use them for two trips within 12 months, you really feel the pinch on the first trip, but the 2nd trip is SO WONDERFUL when you don't have passes to purchase. We planned our trips so that we could get two trips in on each AP.

Sept '00 / May '01 (about 17 days total)
Oct '02 / Sept '03 (about 23 days total)

With the AP, you'll feel so relaxed about going to have breakfast on your last day in a park, or squeezing in just one or two rides on your first night! You also can relax and not feel like you're under pressure to be in the parks all day.

We don't bother with the premiums because we do not visit the water parks or PI enough to make up for the difference.

 

[B3LM]

One big difference to remember...

With a regular annual pass, you'll only have access to the four main theme parks. To get access to everything, you need to purchase the Premium Annual Pass.

With the ultimate park hopper, you have access to everything.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by dwaldron

Does it make more sense for us (2 adults, a 3-4 year old, and a 6-7 year old) to buy a length of stay park admission

Don't do it!!!!! I think this is how Disney really makes out. AP's look like the best choice for you unles you spend several days at the resort or water parks than a 7 day UHP with 4 plus features may be best.

I got burned a few years ago on LOS. One of the kids got sick and 2 of us didn't go into the park at all 1 day, the whole day is lost were as with AP's you certainly don't feel that hit or with UHP you can have the day later.

Just my loud but HO

Sandy

 

[seashoreCM]

If you make two trips to WDW within 365 days, the premium AP breaks even with LOS (unlmiited magic) at ten Disney days. And you get all the same privileges as the LOS. However if you were only able to spend exactly ten days in the parks, the AP too will burn you if an illness reduces that number.

For just one trip the PAP breaks even with LOS at about 14 days.

When comparing a regular AP with a PAP, a primary consideration is estimating how many times you will use Disney Quest, Pleasure Island, or water parks and if the overall price of separate tickets for these will be less due to few usages, go with the regular AP. Note that for most of the year, if you buy a single ticket to PI it is valid for six consecutive nights if you pay a five dollar surcharge.

On the other hand, the PAP and LOS gives you flexibility and peace of mind, in that you can freely make one to two hour impromptu visits to these minor parks that you would otherwise forego if you had to buy individual tickets.

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

In most cases it is better not to renew AP's but rather to buy a new one when needed.

 

[Chuck S]

APs - not only will you be there enough days throughout the year to make it worthwhile - there are a few extra discount perks we don't get with DVC.

 

[B'rer Karen]

With the AP you also get other occassional perks such as limited edition pins and other AP merchandise. And they sometimes have special events just for APers. In March they had two weekends where RnR and ToT were open an extra two hours after park closing just for APers. I was lucky in that my trip happened to coincide with one of those weekends. It was SO much fun.

 

[BrianD]

If you like to do more than just the 4 main theme parks, then I would recommend getting the PAPs. There's nothing like having an all access pass at WDW!