Annual Pass questions

[discott71]

We are new DVC members and took our first trip home in May. We bought the basic ticket and did not park hop. Everything worked out fine, but on our next trip I want that option to park hop. Our next trip will be the week after Thanksgiving 2010 so I want to have the flexiblitly for ADRs and special events. My questions are as follows:

1. I heard the price of the annual pass is increasing. Can I buy the passes now and not activate them untill we go next year?

2. Does the 1 year start from the date of activation?

3. Is the annual pass extended to 15 months for DVC members too?

4. Our next trip after the holiday one would be the following October. I figured it would be worth it for us to get the annual pass with 2 trips so close to eachother (although not close enough for me ). Am I thinking this out correctly?

5. What other benefits are there to holding the annual pass? I read something about a meal card you can purchase which gives discounts at restaurants? Is it worth it, better than ddp?

Thanks in advance for your help !

 

[DebbieB]

1. The price already increased 8/2. But buying in the near future would save you from a price increase next summer.

2. Yes

3. The 15 months is for renewals and applies to DVC AP's.

4. I always plan my trips to get at least 2 trips out of an AP. I used to go in May and December. If I bought an AP in May, I would plan the next May's trip the week before it expired.

 

[mgroshans]

5. TIW card- Tables in Wonderland discount card. It is $75 for the year. Gives you 20% off at most places to eat, including alcohol

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

1) The price of the annual pass already increased a week or two ago, so you missed the cut off. You can buy annual pass vouchers at any time for the current price. You can then exchange the vouchers for an annual pass.

2) The Annual pass expires 1 year from the date you exchange the voucher for an actual pass. If you buy the pass at the park gate, there will be no voucher and you will just get the pass, in which case your pass will expire one year from the date of purchase.

3) The 15 month annual pass only applies to renewals, and only if you are within 30 days (on either side) of your expiration of your existing pass. This does apply to DVC passes.

4) This is true. Annual passes make sense if you want to go to a park more than about 7 days in the span of a year. The 10 day non-expiring pass makes sense if you go less than 6 days in a year.

5) There are many passholder benefits. Many/most of them overlap with the DVC benefits. You get the same types of discounts in stores, etc. There are some passholder-only special events in the parks, It does make you eligible, and get a discount for the "tables in wonderland" (TiW) dining discount card. For $70 you get 20% off almost everything at almost every restaurant at WDW that is owned/operated by disney for you and like 9 other people you dine with. They do add an automatic 18% gratuity to your bill when you use the card.

TiW can be better than the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) for some people. For others it makes more sense to have DDP and TiW. One way to go about it: Plan your meals, and add up the costs ordering what you would want as if you didn't have DDP. Don't follow the DDP restrictions... if you would normally order an appetizing and one entree to split between two people, then have that be your "TiW" cost. If you don't normally order a soda or other beverage, then be sure to not add those to your TiW cost. Be sure to add the cost of the TiW card itself also. Once you've got your TiW cost, then add up the cost of the DDP. For many people, especially families who don't eat a lot of food, TiW makes more sense as they can split entrees, not order sodas, etc. to save money. For others, especially families whose normal eating patterns follow the DDP, the DDP usually makes sense.

Some people just also like the convenience of knowing that everything is taken care of already. They pay one price, and they don't have to worry about the check at the end of the meal.

 

[look1angel]

I'm a dvc memeber & AP holder. Great perks with both

TIW card Members receive a 20% discount on all food and beverage (including alcohol) for up to 10 people at participating table-service Disney restaurants. Effective January 1, 2008 a charge of 18% gratuity will be added to all Tables in Wonderland transactions, regardless of party size. Effective March 1, 2009, at Victoria & Albert's, a 20% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size.
-- Discount applies to member's check only.

-- One card per table. Two cards cannot be combined.

-- Member must be present to receive discount.

-- Card must be presented when ordering.

-- Complimentary parking:

Theme Park: after 5 p.m. daily, show membership card at Guest Relations. You'll have to pay parking at the toll booth, then after dining, present receipt and parking ticket at Guest Relations for a refund.

Walt Disney World Resorts - when dining at a Walt Disney World resort, valet parking is complimentary. After dining, present a dining receipt at the valet stand.

-- Exclusive invitations to special dining events.

I Did the DDP back in 2007 it was great when gratuity was included so it just depends on how much you plan to eat. They have a new DDP with just 2 counter service meals, 2 snacks & a refillable mug for $29.99pp No Table service. It worked for me during that trip because all was paid for up front & at the time gratuity was included

The 1 table service meal, 1 counter service meal & 1 snack is $39.99pp

If you know you're going to eat 2-3x a day DDP is a great plan.

I passed on the DDP because everyone in my party/room had to be on it. With the TIW card I still get the discount at the restaurants, tables service only, no discounts at the counters.