Annual Pass Upgrade Question

[jessicalynn88]

I currently have a trip planned for Feb 2016 with 5 day park hoppers. I am also hoping to do the W&D half in Nov 2106. My sister and BIL have started talking about taking a trip in November 2016 the week after the half and having the whole family go (my mom, dad, and my sister's two kids). I would get at least 4 day passes for this trip, probably park hoppers. I started looking into it last night and I think it might make sense to upgrade to an annual pass. Am I right in thinking this? What are the perks to upgrading? Also, when would be the best time to do this? Before my Feb trip or during?

 

[hakepb]

If you have the money and ability to upgrade now (a refundable ticket?) it's easiest to do it now.

If the November trip may be "free dining" you would still have to purchase the minimum ticket for that package.

If you upgrade during your trip, you will probably want to upgrade during your 1st day for any additional AP discounts or getting the TIW card.

Otherwise, the advantage of an AP is the continual reminders that your AP wants to be used for a 3rd, 4th... trip this year.

 

[Accident]

I found for my spending habits and where I like to eat, tours I like to take, 9 ticketed days in the parks is when the AP broke even. (I used previous trip costs + discounts available on them for passholders to figure that out). Since I upgraded, as PP mentioned it does burn a hole in your pocket to get back and use it! I've stayed longer and visited more frequently (even if for a quick weekend) since getting it.

Any discount available that requires tickets, usually has a non-ticket version for AP holders but you have to call to find out and it's very limited in how many there are or where you can stay. I recommend you figure out if it's worth it without a free dining option if that is important.

 

[jessicalynn88]

Thanks! Free dining isn't really a factor, it's never worked out before and I will most likely be spending some part of the Nov '16 trip off site (free hotel!). I also have the possibility now of a quick May/June trip with a cousin who works down there so that would be offsite again as well. I also thought I heard somewhere that AP get early access to race registration? Does anybody know if this is true? I think ticket cost wise for a 5 day park hopper and a separate 4 day park hopper for the two confirmed trips it would be about break even. I most likely will purchase the AP right before the Feb trip or the first day as pp suggested, in case my sister decides not to go.

 

[tehvalerie]

AP does get early access for RunDisney registration, at the same time as Disney Visa and DVC members, if I'm remembering correctly. In the past there's been a discount, as well. (I haven't done a race since late 2014 so don't quote me on that for 2016.)

It comes to a $1 difference in buying the AP vs. a 4-day and 5-day hopper for each of the trips, so I'd do it. We got APs for the first time when we were there in August, knowing we'd be back again in the spring. To help break up the cost a little, we bought the park hoppers we knew we'd need for August, then upgraded on the first day of our trip. Just make sure to double check the AP expiration date in MDE if you go this route—ours defaulted to the day we'd bought the hoppers, not the day we first used them/the AP. They were able to fix it at town hall.

 

[River Country]

The pro's will out weigh the cons....wait there are no cons to having an AP so just do it. I buy one every year regardless of how many trips I have planned.