Annual Pass renewal question

[LuigiSpice]

So this year I took 2 trips down to WDW and bought the annual pass (before becoming a DVC member, and before the increase ) . Since then I have become a DVC member and the plan is to do trips the next two summers, but within the same calendar year so we can use the same AP for both, so here's the issue:

My current AP expires Aug 17th 2020, but our trip the next two years are planned for Aug 30th-Sept 6th 2020, then Aug 15th-Aug 26th 2021. I assume the renewal has to start right when the other expires, but figured I'd ask you all if it can be delayed in this case for a week and a half? Thanks.

 

[drusba]

If you do a renewal, the one-year period begins the same day as the expiration of the prior pass. A number of years back, it did not begin until the day after that expiration date, thus giving you a one-day gain per year, but that was changed. The only way to get a one week change is to not renew and buy a new AP.

 

[jerseyduke]

Depending on what you think the future might look like, you MAY want to consider just buying anew and paying for the premium to completely cover both trips.

I ran into a similar situation, but the bottom line is if you pay the premium to "reset" the renewal date, you do not ever realize a savings until the very last year when you no longer buy annual passes (assuming you are always going to have an active one) you have to renew every year anyway. Now that premium could mean a nice savings by saving you 1 AP renewal but it would also be 20 years down the road. So you pay the reset premium now to potentially not have to renew an AP 20 years from now.

 

[Sandisw]

I have to do this every year and just pay the new price because of a difference in my August trips. It is worth it to stretch it out and have the flexibility.

Id rather pay a little more, and Have the extended dates at the end. This year, since pass expired on the 7th of August and next year, we are going the 15th, I decided not to renew and then bought new when I was there in October, which meant iI got the August 2020 trip covered.

I will do the same thing next year too, My trip after August will be November so I won’t renew in October and buy new then so that it covers my October 2021 trip!

 

[jerseyduke]

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[jerseyduke]

I have to do this every year and just pay the new price because of a difference in my August trips. It is worth it to stretch it out and have the flexibility.

Id rather pay a little more, and Have the extended dates at the end. This year, since pass expired on the 7th of August and next year, we are going the 15th, I decided not to renew and then bought new when I was there in October, which meant iI got the August 2020 trip covered.

I will do the same thing next year too, My trip after August will be November so I won’t renew in October and buy new then so that it covers my October 2021 trip!

I am not sure I understand this from a money point of view.
Using a gold pass as an example, buying new in October would cost you 699 (plus tax) - covers your august trip in 2020
then you buy a new again in 2020 for November to cover your 2021 trip (699) Or do you stagger the 2022 trip from November to December?

If you do not stagger your trips, what you are doing will cost you more every year, wont it?

You are paying 699 a year for APs. Do you get a year when you don't have to buy one at all? That is where you would save money, otherwise it just seems like you are spending 699 a year every year anyway, as opposed to 594 a year.

 

[Sandisw]

I am not sure I understand this from a money point of view.
Using a gold pass as an example, buying new in October would cost you 699 (plus tax) - covers your august trip in 2020
then you buy a new again in 2020 for November to cover your 2021 trip (699) Or do you stagger the 2022 trip from November to December?

If you do not stagger your trips, what you are doing will cost you more every year, wont it?

You are paying 699 a year for APs. Do you get a year when you don't have to buy one at all? That is where you would save money, otherwise it just seems like you are spending 699 a year every year anyway, as opposed to 594 a year.

Yes the trips will stagger at this points. Typically it will be Aug, Oct, and Dec in the fall and then more during winter/spring.

But because I am doing a cruise in October 2020, moving trip to November in 2020. In 2021, I’ll go back in October.

Now, if I plan to do Dec 2021, I may renew in November. But if I don’t, and I’m not going until January, then I won’t.

i just don’t think having an AP for 2 months when I’m not going is worth the savings, especially when I can be flexible and adjust a trip a few day or week to make sure I maximize the trips.

Had I renewed in August, it would have saved me $150 in 2019, but it would not have covered the trip next August, which means would be buying a pass then vs. not until November of 2021.

So, yes, eventually there will be a year that I don’t have to buy one! Plus, because I’ve bought new, I buy tickets from Undercover Tourist, maximize the savings, and then it goes to gate price and lowers the costs. My new AP in October cost me $650 instead of $699 when they upgraded the ticket.

 

[jerseyduke]

So, yes, eventually there will be a year that I don’t have to buy one!

Ok, thats where you save money. Otherwise you are just paying more per year every year.

I dont stagger my trips, and my AP expires at the end of April. I dont need it again until september, but waiting and buying anew does nothing for me, cause I will still have to renew every year, so "resetting" to a better renewal date results in
2019 - 699
2020 - 594
2021 - 594
2022 - 594
on and on and on, so I never see a savings from the spending 100 $ more. It doesnt enable me to skip 2022 for example. All resetting would do in my sitatuon is make it so that my "used time": is on the back end of the ticket, not the front end. What trips get covered by which pass does not change things for me.

If you buy 6 new tickets every 7 years (6*700 = 4200 over that 7 year span) vs 7 renewals over those 7 years (7 * 600 = 4200). its a wash.

If you can buy 5 tickets every 6 years, buying a new will save. If you instead buy 7 every 8 years, you would be better off with continuous renewals.

Based on Current gold pass prices and renewal prices, that's the magic number - save yourself 1 ticket every 6 years to constantly buy new.
7 is a wash
If you think you will go 8 calendar years where you have to buy a gold AP every year, renew.

 

[Sandisw]

Ok, thats where you save money. Otherwise you are just paying more per year every year.

I dont stagger my trips, and my AP expires at the end of April. I dont need it again until september, but waiting and buying anew does nothing for me, cause I will still have to renew every year, so "resetting" to a better renewal date results in
2019 - 699
2020 - 594
2021 - 594
2022 - 594
on and on and on, so I never see a savings from the spending 100 $ more. It doesnt enable me to skip 2022 for example. All resetting would do in my sitatuon is make it so that my "used time": is on the back end of the ticket, not the front end. What trips get covered by which pass does not change things for me.

If you buy 6 new tickets every 7 years (6*700 = 4200 over that 7 year span) vs 7 renewals over those 7 years (7 * 600 = 4200). its a wash.

If you can buy 5 tickets every 6 years, buying a new will save. If you instead buy 7 every 8 years, you would be better off with continuous renewals.

Based on Current gold pass prices and renewal prices, that's the magic number - save yourself 1 ticket every 6 years to constantly buy new.
7 is a wash
If you think you will go 8 calendar years where you have to buy a gold AP every year, renew.

So far, it’s worked out. in the past 5 years, and the UTsavings, I am ahead of the game having only needed to buy 3 APs to cover all the trips. Plus, in your example, you are using full price, and i don’t pay that, so where you state saving $105 a year, I would only be saving $60 as I get the discount from UT.

Having said that, now that I am retired and planning probably 8 trips a year, it might not still make sense. But, with the travel times thus far, I’ve made it work better not renewing!

 

[jerseyduke]

So far, it’s worked out. in the past 5 years, and the UTsavings, I am ahead of the game having only needed to buy 3 APs to cover all the trips.

Having said that, now that I am retired and planning probably 8 trips a year, it might not still make sense. But, with the travel times thus far, I’ve made it work better not renewing!

Exactly, you are (or at least currently are) below that magic number so buying anew makes sense. (3 in 5 years - even 3 in 4 years is a savings)

No matter what I do, over 5 years I would need 5 APs. (I do go 5-8 times a year)

And 8 trips a year, you will renew Its hard to stagger that many trips!

 

[Sandisw]

Sounds like I could be where you are very soon!

Obviously, each is a unique situation but there are ways, depending on how one can flex travel to make buying new, especially using UT savings, to make it work!

 

[LuigiSpice]

Yea, I'm at the point where its one trip a year at best, but probably 4 out of 5 years unless we add on. If I stagger the trips (end of Aug first year, beginning or middle Aug the next) I should be able to get 4 trips with 2 APs, so it'd be worth it this time to let the current AP expire.

 

[jerseyduke]

Yea, I'm at the point where its one trip a year at best, but probably 4 out of 5 years unless we add on. If I stagger the trips (end of Aug first year, beginning or middle Aug the next) I should be able to get 4 trips with 2 APs, so it'd be worth it this time to let the current AP expire.

Yes. If you can skip a year every so often its worth the buying new. If you are going to buy a new one every single year then you are better off renewing. And 2 trips in 51 weeks is a great way to maximize.

 

[LuigiSpice]

On another note, when should I buy them? I figure prices go up all the time so it makes sense to buy them now right? I got luckythis year and bought mine 1 day before the increase.

 

[DaveNan]

On another note, when should I buy them? I figure prices go up all the time so it makes sense to buy them now right? I got luckythis year and bought mine 1 day before the increase.

You never know when prices are going up. I would take advantage of several of the Gift card offers before you purchase. If you can get the DGC at a 5-15% discount, it is just savings on your AP. If you have the cash now, watch the Disney Gift Card thread on the budget board and once you have enough DGC buy your AP. You will need to be clear you want a new AP, not a renewal. The CM may not get your order right. I had one try to "save me money" by doing a renewal versus a new AP.

 

[Sandisw]

On another note, when should I buy them? I figure prices go up all the time so it makes sense to buy them now right? I got luckythis year and bought mine 1 day before the increase.

Another way to to maximize savings if you want an AP is to buy a discountEd ticket from someone like UT, and then upgrade to the AP when there. You just want to be sure that what you buy isn’t more, when brought to gate price, then the AP. I usually get a 5 or 7 day park hopper that says it’s about a $50 savings.

 

[DebbieB]

It does make you plan far in advance.

I activated an AP 4th week of April this year, next year my April trip will be third week. I also have a trip next month, so 3 trips worth.

I'm planning October next year, planning on last week or possibly first week of November. I will need a new AP. I don't want to go in 2021 earlier than third week (so hot), so that is part of my consideration for the 2020 trip. Also considering that the 50th anniversary will likely start 10/1/2021.