Annual Pass Question

[DeeCee735]

I never bought an AP, and am considering doing so, have some questions.
DVC members still get the $100 off - correct?
How much would that cost?
An AP allows park hopping - correct?
It ends 1 year after first usage? Or after purchase?
Where do I buy it to get the DVC discount?
What other perks come with having an AP, and if I am the only one in the travel party with it, and I the only one to receive these perks, or can those with me benefit from them too?

I will be going to WDW in September and again in January and hopefully again next May or June. I travel there with my DH, and kids, but I also go separate with friends a couple of times a year so I think I should check out the AP for myself. (getting DH to take more than one vacation a year is almost impossible!)

TIA

 

[DVCisME]

Dvc members do still get $100 dollars off. I just bought one; an adult pass with tax is 355.71- that is for the annual pass that includes park hopping but not the water parcks, pleasure island, and such.
It ends one year after activated, not purchase.
I bought mine off of the DVC website but I think you can also call member services, or purchase upon arrival.
I am not sure as to all the perks, you might be able to find out at mousesavers.com but they do able to your party at a restraunt. I guess it depends upon the perk.

 

[rigsby25]

With the annual pass you can get the DDE card for 60.00 I think. That gives you 20% off the total bill at many restaurants, including alcohol. I activated my annual pass at an Epcot ticket window, and then walked over to their guest relations and purchased my DDE over the phone. My temporary card was at guest relations by 5:30. That way, the annual pass and DDE card expire on the same day.

 

[Inkmahm]

With the annual pass you can get the DDE card for 60.00 I think. That gives you 20% off the total bill at many restaurants, including alcohol. I activated my annual pass at an Epcot ticket window, and then walked over to their guest relations and purchased my DDE over the phone. My temporary card was at guest relations by 5:30. That way, the annual pass and DDE card expire on the same day.

Really? If you do the DDE card by mail, you usually get 12-13 months on it depending on when you order it, not exactly one year. I got mine in mid-April 2006 and it doesn't expire until end of May, 2007. I won't get another one until right before our December trip this year and then hope to use that one for Dec 2007, March 2008 and December 2008. It is better than the AP in that you DON'T have to renew and do exactly the same annual period year after year since there is no difference in price between renewing and buying a new card. Also that extra few weeks helps sneak in extra trips on one card that is good for just longer than a year.

 

[Chuck S]

DDE has gone up to $65. There are also, seasonally, some good AP room discounts, if you need an extra day or two but don't have points. We've been able to get POP Century for $59.

 

[DVCisME]

Once you get the vouchers is there anywhere to look at what all the benifits are with the annual pass? I have my vouchers but do not see a website or anything listed.

 

[Chuck S]

Once you get the vouchers is there anywhere to look at what all the benifits are with the annual pass? I have my vouchers but do not see a website or anything listed.

Once you have the voucher, you can go to the passholder website. You'll need the number from the voucher to log in.

 

[DVCisME]

Thank You!!

 

[SFLTIGGER]

..... It is better than the AP in that you DON'T have to renew and do exactly the same annual period year after year since there is no difference in price between renewing and buying a new card. Also that extra few weeks helps sneak in extra trips on one card that is good for just longer than a year.

I have heard of some people that don't worry about the renewal price break on AP. Just let it expire and wait until next trip to get new AP. That may in fact let you sneak in the extra trips.

 

[Shenandoah Mickey]

How much is the AP renewal discount?

 

[SFLTIGGER]

The difference btwn renewal and new AP is about $40.

Say hello to the valley for me. We used to live in Harrisonburg.

 

[ebenmax]

I am not sure of the way they do things now, but when we had ours for our wedding in 2005, we were given a booklet of all the AP perks when we turned in our voucher to obtain the actual pass. There are discounts on quite of few things, however, DVC gives you many of the same ones.

HTH

Ellen

 

[Ksp]

We've done AP's for at least two years now -- love them, simply love them.
Being able to get DDE is a wonderful perk - I can now order a drink with dinner w/out feeling that I am paying too much. (Yes, it's true -- I look for ways to spend less while still having fun.) We do park hop with the AP's - I don't know if anyone answered that question in the previous posts.

 

[DebbieB]

I have heard of some people that don't worry about the renewal price break on AP. Just let it expire and wait until next trip to get new AP. That may in fact let you sneak in the extra trips.

I've had AP's since 1998 and have never done a renewal. I usually go twice a year but only buy an AP around every 18 months. For example - I bought my last AP on 4/27/06, also went in October 06. I was there last week before my AP expired on 4/27/07. I will buy my next one on 12/1/07 when I arrive for my next trip, which will expire 12/1/08.

 

[DavidRoss]

While you can get discounts with Annual Passes, I think that one of the great things is the ability to stay at other resorts with substantial savings. Last year over Labor Day, my wife and I stayed in a Savannah View room for like $130 per night. That was over $100 off per night or close to it. So some of the big savings can come from staying in other resorts besides DVC to experience something a little different. Also, there were several Downtown Disney perks that DVC didn't have - reduced admission at AMC, etc.

 

[ccigliano]

I agree that the Annual pass is the only way to go for DVCers. You break even if you use it twice within a 365 day period which can almost work out to one a year if go back right before it expires. I buy mine the 2nd week of December go back somewhere in between (Mar, Apr or May) and then back again right after Thanksgiving so I get at least three weeks out week. I don't renew - I just buy when I go back again in December. Happy Vacationing.

 

[kimberh]

You can book up to 3 WDW rooms at one time with the AP discount. This pays for the AP if you are ever taking family. You have to be one of the rooms, of course. I think there are special ticket discounts for special events. There is a passholder site, once you have your AP, you access this site to stay current with what is going on month to month. We get one AP for the room discounts alone. I am using mine at WL in May for Courtyard view, I received $100.00 a night off of the room. We are using the DDE card for meals, we will have to forgo the DDP this trip for the room discount.