Annual pass vs. no expiration [BEST VALUE??]

[Minnie*bell]

Hey everyone I'm trying to decide what the best way to go is when getting passes to the parks. Our idea is to get 2 vacations out of our passes. WE are looking at the annual pass & the 10 day no expiration pass. The only thing is that u have to use the annual pas in the same year at least 2x to get it's value. We know we want to go go 2x just not sure if it will be in the same year. The no expiration gives us 5 days in the parks out of our usual 10 day vacation but I know there is the water parks, downtown disney & the boardwalk for the extra days. [which seems nice& not as rushed] But the thing is they r about the same price. WE know for sure we'll go 1 time in 2011 but not real sure we'll have the means for 2 WDW trips in one year. What would YOU do? I'm a new mother & usually this budget thing has not been a problem. I used to go & spend whatever, lol!!! But now I'm trying to learn how to save a buck & plan for future trips!! Has anyone planned for this or ever done this? ANY tips would be awesome!! Thank you!!!! P.S. I'm still trying to do the disney dining, wdw hotels & so on.

 

[andrews_dad]

Are you renting a car and driving at all? AP gets you free parking which is now $14 a day.

 

[mad hatter fan]

You could get two trips out of an AP but schedule the 2nd one say two weeks less than a year after the first. That is how many people get almost two years worth of trips out of one AP.

 

[Lewisc]

AP gives you free parking. Historically AP holder were able to book discounted hotel rooms. Recently PIN code and general public discounts are almost as good.

It sounds like you really don't want to plan 2 trips in 12 months. I think the 10 day non-expiry makes more sense.

 

[wdwfan16]

The AP lets you do 10 days in a 10 day trip at no extra cost.

If you are not sure if you can get a second trip in 50 weeks later then it may not be the best choice.

 

[BrettS]

Like you said, the real deciding factor is if you can do two trips in the same year with the annual pass (Of course, they can be nearly a year a part).

However, I'd argue that the 10 day non expiration ticket might not be best for you. You said you like to do longer trips and going the 10 day non expiration route is really best for shorter trips. For example, 10 day expiring tickets are $258.80 each (including tax), so going with expiring tickets you could get two 10 day trips in for $517.60. The 10 day non expiration ticket is $481.38... so you'd get an extra 10 days, or an extra 5 days each trip for only $36.22 more with expiring tickets.

Now, of course, hotel costs, food costs, and a rental car (if you get one) will be more expensive if you stay for 10 days, so if you're trying to shorten the trip to save money overall then that's definitely worth considering. Note that the break even point for non expiring tickets vs expiring tickets happens between 5 and 6 days. If you go for 5 days or less it will be cheaper to get non expiration tickets (although only very slightly cheaper at 5 days). If you go for 6 days or more, expiring tickets are cheaper (again, though, only very slightly cheaper at 6 days).

You also have to consider the initial outlay of money and the inflexibility of the non expiration tickets. If you do go on two 5 day trips you could pay $481.38 for the 10 day non expiration ticket to cover both trips. Or you could pay $242.82 twice for two 5 day expiring tickets (or $485.64 total). As I said, it would be very slightly cheaper to go with the 10 day non expiration ticket, but you also have to pay an extra $240 now instead of whenever you take your next trip.

Plus you would be locked into 5 days for the second trip. If you wanted to add a few extra days on the second trip you could do that with the expiring ticket for only $3 per day. With the non expiration ticket you would be forced to buy a new 1 or 2 day ticket at a very high cost.

Non expiration tickets do make sense for some people, but typically people that only go for very short (two or three day) trips... in your case, I think you would be better off with an AP (if you can get two (or even three) longer trips in during the same year) or just expiring tickets for each trip.

 

[Minnie*bell]

AP gives you free parking. Historically AP holder were able to book discounted hotel rooms. Recently PIN code and general public discounts are almost as good.

It sounds like you really don't want to plan 2 trips in 12 months. I think the 10 day non-expiry makes more sense.

If they give discounts & free parking for pass holders it would maybe be worth it. Anyone know what kind of discounts?

 

[Minnie*bell]

Like you said, the real deciding factor is if you can do two trips in the same year with the annual pass (Of course, they can be nearly a year a part).

However, I'd argue that the 10 day non expiration ticket might not be best for you. You said you like to do longer trips and going the 10 day non expiration route is really best for shorter trips. For example, 10 day expiring tickets are $258.80 each (including tax), so going with expiring tickets you could get two 10 day trips in for $517.60. The 10 day non expiration ticket is $481.38... so you'd get an extra 10 days, or an extra 5 days each trip for only $36.22 more with expiring tickets.

Now, of course, hotel costs, food costs, and a rental car (if you get one) will be more expensive if you stay for 10 days, so if you're trying to shorten the trip to save money overall then that's definitely worth considering. Note that the break even point for non expiring tickets vs expiring tickets happens between 5 and 6 days. If you go for 5 days or less it will be cheaper to get non expiration tickets (although only very slightly cheaper at 5 days). If you go for 6 days or more, expiring tickets are cheaper (again, though, only very slightly cheaper at 6 days).

You also have to consider the initial outlay of money and the inflexibility of the non expiration tickets. If you do go on two 5 day trips you could pay $481.38 for the 10 day non expiration ticket to cover both trips. Or you could pay $242.82 twice for two 5 day expiring tickets (or $485.64 total). As I said, it would be very slightly cheaper to go with the 10 day non expiration ticket, but you also have to pay an extra $240 now instead of whenever you take your next trip.

Plus you would be locked into 5 days for the second trip. If you wanted to add a few extra days on the second trip you could do that with the expiring ticket for only $3 per day. With the non expiration ticket you would be forced to buy a new 1 or 2 day ticket at a very high cost.

Non expiration tickets do make sense for some people, but typically people that only go for very short (two or three day) trips... in your case, I think you would be better off with an AP (if you can get two (or even three) longer trips in during the same year) or just expiring tickets for each trip.

LOL!!!!It took me a min to follow you, but that was very informative & makes a lot of sense!! Very good points u have that I might have missed. Thank you!

 

[funcinderella]

But, do not forget about those 10 water park options, should you choose to add those. I alternate bewteen aps and 10 day loaded non-exp tkts. Long after the 10 park days are gone, I will stay have plenty of wp entrances, that can later be used to supplement my plain APs in subsequent trips.... adding that option is what makes that 10 day non-exp ticket valuable to me.

 

[Lewisc]

Guests staying at a WDW resort (currently) get free parking at their resort and free parking in the theme parks. Guests staying offsite, who have an AP get free parking in the parks. One advantage to getting an AP.


AP holders can sometimes get hotel discounts 30-45%. The higher discouts are for the deluxe hotels.

Bookings are currently soft. General public discounts are almost as good.

AP holders sometimes schedule an extra "bonus" trip. An airfare deal that's too good to pass up. A tax refund that's greater then expected. A friend or family members are planning a trip and you want to join them. It's easier to justify an extra trip if you don't have to buy new tickets or use days off a ticket you already own.

PP is correct. Adding water parks to a non-expiry ticket is (almost) always the right thing to do.

Suggestion. If you go the AP route book your first trip late summer. As late as your schedule permits. Crowds are traditionally lighter the last 2 weeks of August. That gives you almost the entire next summer to book your second trip.

 

[iwrbnd]

This exactly my question so I'm subbing in. I haven't bought our tickets for our July trip yet because I can't decide what type to get!

 

[swilshire]

I've done it both ways. I prefer the annual pass because you don't feel obligated to stay long days in the parks. If you go for two hours and want to do something else, no big deal with the annual pass.

We are using the GAD vouchers to buy 10 day no expiry. After going multiple times last year to get the advantage out of the AP, we will do three or four days a year for the next couple of years. We're also going to add on the water parks for some leisurely days there.

I WILL miss the APs.

Sheila

P.S. Another issue is changes in plans. My oldest son, who PROMISED me he would at least go twice with us, wound up only using his AP for four days. I was not a happy Mama.

 

[JennyT2]

Just jumping into this post ..... Stupid Question ... but can you get an annual pass when you are not a Florida Resident. When I look at the website, that looked like the only way to get one????

 

[wdwfan16]

Just jumping into this post ..... Stupid Question ... but can you get an annual pass when you are not a Florida Resident. When I look at the website, that looked like the only way to get one????

There are two different APs. One for FL residents only and the other for non-FL residents.

 

[BrettS]

Just jumping into this post ..... Stupid Question ... but can you get an annual pass when you are not a Florida Resident. When I look at the website, that looked like the only way to get one????

Yes you can. It's cheaper for Florida residents, but anyone can get an annual pass.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We love having an AP, it just seems more of an advantage to us then non-expiring tickets.

Room discounts, they have been better for us than any other discount

Free parking if you stay offsite (but who would want to)

Hopping priviledges without the extra expense. This is huge for us, because we love hopping.

Merchandise/food/recreation discounts-so worth it.

You can still get one of the Dining plans even with the discount and you don't have to buy any tickets.

Gives me an excuse to plan a quick, long weekend getaway, because a room only and food can be had relatively cheap. Tickets are a huge expense at Disney.

We are going on our 4th trip this May (the only reason we were able to go as much is because we had AP's) with our AP's before they expire, so it was a great value for us. I would hate to add up what regular tickets, hopping, shopping, dining, and recreation would have cost without the AP.

Now, with that being said, if you can't come back with in the year, it might not make sense.

Suzanne

 

[Minnie*bell]

I've done it both ways. I prefer the annual pass because you don't feel obligated to stay long days in the parks. If you go for two hours and want to do something else, no big deal with the annual pass.

We are using the GAD vouchers to buy 10 day no expiry. After going multiple times last year to get the advantage out of the AP, we will do three or four days a year for the next couple of years. We're also going to add on the water parks for some leisurely days there.

I WILL miss the APs.

Sheila

P.S. Another issue is changes in plans. My oldest son, who PROMISED me he would at least go twice with us, wound up only using his AP for four days. I was not a happy Mama.

Eww ya Sheila, I'd be a little upset 2. W/ our situation we r from Pittsburgh PA so..... Our choice is buy 2 APs and drive clear to Orlando aprox. 20 hours. 2 or 3 trips. OR just do a regular package w/ air fare & only go on 1 wdw vacation in that year. Now my thing is, I ALWAYS take @ least 2 weeks vacation b/c I get 2 paid in a year. W/ the AP I'd like to go 3 times to get the value of it. But thats 3x I pay for hotel & food as well,so we'd have to sacrifice our air fare to save some $. Make sense? What to do??

 

[bopper]

With the 10 day non-expiring, you can do the two trips whenever you want. They don't have to be within that same year. Also you don't have to do 5 and 5, you could do 4 and 3 and 3 for example, using the "extras" for pool days and such.

 

[BBGraph]

dont forget the deal with buting ap AVAILABLE I BELIVE TILL END OF JULY GET 18 MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF 12MONT ap

 

[BrettS]

dont forget the deal with buting ap AVAILABLE I BELIVE TILL END OF JULY GET 18 MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF 12MONT ap

There was a deal for FL residents buying new annual passes that would give them 15 months instead of 12, but that deal ended at the end of 09.

There is a current deal for anyone renewing an annual pass that will give them 15 months instead of 12 that's good until the end of August, but that's only for AP renewals and not new AP's