Annual Pass Questions

[SerinaShelby]

We are trying to decide if purchasing annual passes make sense for our family of three and would appreciate any feedback. Here's our situation:

We are DVC members; go to either WDW or Disneyland approx. 2 -3 times a year and usually visit one park each time; currently we have the 5 day/one park passes that do not expire. Would love to hear your thoughts, especially those that have the annual passes. Thanks.

 

[Sandisw]

If you only spend one day at a park each trip then I don't think it's worth it. We go every summer and what we do is spread our trips out 51 weeks apart so I get two trips from one pass. But, we visit the parks every day of our 5 night trip so we get at least 10 days out of each pass.

And, we like to park hop so it makes sense for us.

 

[SerinaShelby]

Sandisw: Ahh...that makes sense. Getting two trips out of it by planning your vacations 51 weeks apart is a great idea. Thanks for your help.

 

[BillPA]

We are trying to decide if purchasing annual passes make sense for our family of three and would appreciate any feedback. Here's our situation:

We are DVC members; go to either WDW or Disneyland approx. 2 -3 times a year and usually visit one park each time; currently we have the 5 day/one park passes that do not expire. Would love to hear your thoughts, especially those that have the annual passes. Thanks.

The AP you buy for Disney World is only good at Disney World, it will NOT work at Disneyland.

 

[SerinaShelby]

BillPA: Good to know! Thanks.

 

[Strawberry's mom&dad]

The AP you buy for Disney World is only good at Disney World, it will NOT work at Disneyland.

You can buy an AP that is good at both sites but of course it's more expensive. The key is how many days do you plan to use the pass in a year. Compare the price of the pass to the price of the tickets you will use in a year and you will have your answer.

 

[BillPA]

You can buy an AP that is good at both sites but of course it's more expensive. The key is how many days do you plan to use the pass in a year. Compare the price of the pass to the price of the tickets you will use in a year and you will have your answer.

Here are the current prices, note adult and childs pass is the same cost now.


Disney Vacation Club Members
DVC Member Annual Pass
$425
$425

DVC Member Annual Pass (Renewal)
$385
$385

DVC Member Premium Annual
$559
$559

DVC Member Premium Annual (Renewal)
$509
$509

Disney Premier Annual Passport
(Walt Disney World and Disneyland)
$849
$849

 

[SerinaShelby]

Thanks for the current prices and advice.
Looks like we are better off without the annual passes at this time.

 

[BrerNashville]

I think the economics work out that if you make at least two trips of at least three or four days, the annual pass is the better deal -- especially if you want to park hop.

I will caution you that we were never park hoppers before we got the annual pass -- now I'm not sure I'd do without the park hopper feature if we find ourselves without an annual pass. But that is primarily because we stay at BLT and like to go over into MK for a couple of hours in the evening after naps, no matter what park we visited in the morning.

I note that the 5 day/no expiration ticket on undercover tourist is $411 -- pretty darn close to the cost of an annual pass (and more expensive than the renewal). Add to that the 10% discount you get on merchandise purchases, and the $25 discount for the Tables in Wonderland card, you should at least have one person in your party get an AP.

 

[SerinaShelby]

Great suggestion! I had not thought about just one of us getting the annual pass.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We find having the convenience of APs is even better than just the cost savings. I like that I don't have to think about what I will do in just one park at a time. I prefer to experience WDW as a whole instead of in pieces.

Often we will spend the morning in one park, go to another for dinner, and spend the evening in a third park. Sometimes we just go to a park for one attraction before moving elsewhere. I love that we can do that with the APs. Our usual is to head into DHS early for TSMM and then head over to Epcot in time for WS to open.

 

[disney junky]

What we find when we have annual passes is that if we go, and it's miserable (hot, crowded, raining), we don't feel like we need to stick it out. A day of a length of stay pass is gone, but annual passes have a different effect.

 

[Sandisw]

What we find when we have annual passes is that if we go, and it's miserable (hot, crowded, raining), we don't feel like we need to stick it out. A day of a length of stay pass is gone, but annual passes have a different effect.

Exactly...my cousins have the non-expiring passes and when we traveled last year, they didn't want to go into MK the last day to shop and do a last minute ride or two because they didn't want to waste a day.

For the rest of us, it was no issue for us because of the AP.

 

[SerinaShelby]

The annual passes would be great if you just wanted to go to a restaurant for lunch or dinner at Epcot.

 

[bwang123]

you might also find yourself planning trips you normally would not with an AP. we are going in December and are going to buy APs so we can go again in October. then, we found out a cousin is getting married in Antigua in May so we are going to stop for a day or two before in Orlando since we will have APs.

 

[Pirate Granny]

I will get 41 days out of my AP this year...GREAT VALUE...now, I can't say that with the rising airfare costs!

 

[DizBub]

We will get at least 4 maybe 5 week-long trips out of our APs this year.

We always used non-expiring park hoppers before the prices went crazy. The non-expiring part nearly doubles the price now. We finally pulled the trigger on the APs and as long as we can get at least 2 solid trips a year out of them we will renew. The sense of freedom is awesome!! On the day we bought our APs we went to MK just to get a Dole Whip and watch fireworks. No way would we waste a day on a ticket.

 

[erionm]

We're locals and have driven to Epcot just for lunch. With parking included with the AP and our TiW card, how can you resist.

 

[Pirate Granny]

DizBub...I agree I love not fretting about going into a park just to get a treat or grab something at a store...wonderful.

 

[papertraveller]

We're locals and have driven to Epcot just for lunch. With parking included with the AP and our TiW card, how can you resist.

I swear that this would be DH's dream.

We are on our third AP now. We make an annual Christmas trip, when we generally stay offsite. This year we're lucky enough to go for 10 days, although only half will be at WDW.

The free parking is a great bonus -- on one visit, we will just go to see the Osborne Lights at HS and buy a Mickey bar. Add in a few days at other parks, when we'll just pull out when the crowds are too much for our liking.

At March break, we'll get at least four days in at the parks when we're staying onsite before and after a cruise.

And during the summer, we'll get a good eight days of use. It certainly seems worthwhile to us.