Annual Pass Question

[Wills Mom]

Hi So we are pricing our tickets at the moment and I'm trying to work out whether it might be slightly more beneficial to buy one AP for my DH and 2 x Ultimates for DS1 and I. I've taken the fact that parking is free into account as we are off site for the first 12 nights of our trip and now I'm just working out if it might pay off if we bought the TIW card. If we book H&V as the FDP does the TIW discount still apply? We are planning on 7, possibly 8 if we book CRT, TS meals including Ohana, CP and BOG (hopefully!) If anyone has any tips with regards to buying APs for a single trip I'd be most grateful

 

[wilma-bride]

How many in your party? The way I look at it, the Tables in Wonderland card covers off the tip since you get a 20% discount and we normally tip at least 20%. If the tips (i.e. 20% of the bill) are likely to equal what the card costs, then the additional expense of an AP might be worth it. There are lots of factors to consider though - how many times you will be visiting the parks during your offsite stay, the initial outlay on the TIW card, whether you are big alcohol drinkers (as a cocktail drinker, the discount just on alcohol can make it worth it to me), whether you are likely to purchase many souvenirs (you will get a discount on purchases from WDW stores). Personally, I woulnd't expend the extra on an AP for a single trip as it wouldn't be worth it to me (we just don't eat onsite enough to make it worth our while) but I did buy one in 2013 as I knew I would get three trips out of it - that definitely made it worth the cost. It's all about the maths, you need to do the sums. Figure out how much more an AP would cost, factor in the TIW cost, work out what your definite expenditure would be (i.e. parking, TS meals, etc) and then add it all up.

 

[Elise79]

Joh is right you need to do the maths for your situation.

On the TIW card it doesn't cover any of the special dining packages so your H&V one you wouldn't get any discount on that.

We always have an AP and TIW card as we visit a couple if times a year however one thing worth noting is the TIW card will be valid until the end of the month after you purchase a year later. So if you bought in March 2015 it would be valid until the 30 April 2016 - so could you get a second trip out of it? Might make it more worthwhile

 

[chmurf]

Don't forget that ultimates include waterparks and minigolf
The AP does not, unless you buy the PAP which is significantly more expensive (or factor in the cost of admission on top of an AP)

Just in case you had planned waterparks ...

 

[Wills Mom]

Thanks a million for that. I went off this eve and wrote down our definite TS costs and did as Joh suggested and left the TIW discount as the top as we generally tip 20% also. We won't be big alcohol drinkers on this trip as the boys will still be so small (sob, it would have surely paid to know about APs and TIW the year we got married as we did two trips and cocktails were my best pal lol. I am so craving a Bahama Mama right now!!!) So the discount wouldn't really be worthwhile even taking into account the discount SIL would get at the handful of meals she will be eating with us. But it's definitely so so handy to know this info for future trips! Thanks again