Annual Pass tickets? Please Help!!

[HeatherC]

Hi - I'm trying to figure out whether or not to purchase AP's for 4 of us (2 kids, 2 adults) or to get 7 day park hoppers since I'm not sure if we will go back before they expire next year. (Planning on doing 4 days this trip).

My question is how do the passes work? When you order them, do you have to activate them the first day at the park. Do you need a photo id? Are they passes with your pictures on them? If so, what about my kids...they have no picture ids!

Any info would be really appreciated.

Thanks so much!
Heather

 

[DebbieB]

Adults need photo ID, children don't. They do not have pictures but the name is printed on them. Adults have to use the biometric scanner each time they enter the park, see link below for info.

http://www.wdwig.com/apass.htm

If you are only going for 4 days and aren't sure if you will return within the year, I would just go with park hoppers. 7 day Park hoppers include 4 plus admissions (water park, PI), the regular AP does not.

 

[Michelemouse]

I would also go with the hoppers. Then, if you do go back again you can upgrade them to APs. They will give you a credit for the remaining park days (not the plusses though) and you can put that toward the price of an AP.

Have a great trip.

 

[SuzyQue]

Here is another link with some info for you. ~~

http://www.mousesavers.com/annualpass.html

 

[Geoff_M]

Dittos on the hoppers. The breakeven point for the APs is 8 days in the parks in 365 days. If you know for sure that you'll be back in less than 12 months, then maybe I'd do it.

 

[BluOrchid2]

Where are you located, and how much do you love WDW?

I'm going to go the other way and suggest you buy the AP's. We live in Missouri, and I never thought we would go to WDW three times in one year. But since we bought AP's in December last year, that's exactly what we have done. The first trip in December was for 11 days. Our March/April trip was only for 6 days. This trip coming up next week is for 11 days. It's a real incentive to go when you know you have "free" passes and will only have to pay for transportation and lodging. And when you're an AP holder, you get those nice discount deals that pop up throughout the year.

 

[phorsenuf]

I have to agree about buying AP's. I bought them in April and we are now planning our 3rd trip for February. I never thought I wold get so much use out of them. In fact on our July trip, about 4 days into it DH asked how much would lodging be in February??? When you think about it, Tickets really are the most expensive part. You can always do lodging and food inexpensivly. In fact I'll probably renew them.
Oh and also for the record, we don't live close by. We are in NH and drive everytime. It takes us 24 hours, stopping only for gas and food.

 

[HeatherC]

WOW!!! Thank you all so much for your input!! The reason I am now considering the AP is because we have wound up going 3x in the past year and a half. The tickets have always been our biggest expense. If I pay for the AP, I would try to get the best rates on lodging and food. Which I try to do anyway. Got a 2br at Orange Lake for Nov. for $268 for the week! But then again I was considering the 7 day PH because they now have the 4 plus options. That is in effect 11 days of Disney for 7. Guess I'll have to check my calendar and consider my options.

I am in Massachusetts and we have only flown so far. My kids are 2, 5 and 7. Not sure if I could handle a 24 hour drive straight with them yet. But now you have me thinking!!!! Maybe next summer?

Guess I'll have to process all this. Thanks again!!!

Heather C