Annual Pass vs no Expiration

[DCTooTall]

So I'm REALLY leaning towards making 2 one-week Orlando trips next year. Probably a week in Early march, and then Again in mid November.

I'll be staying off property both weeks (accommodations already arranged, just a matter of saying when I'll be there), So i've been thinking about budgets and how to best pull this off. One of the big things coming to mind is Disney Tickets.

Checking current pricing via the Disney website, I'm seeing that an annual pass is only about $16 more expensive than if I got a 7day park hopper w/ no expiration and paid for parking each day. But I don't know beyond the "special discounts at restaurants/merchandise" bullet on the website what other "perks" I'd have at the parks beyond the obvious direct comparison.

So figure (removing possible travel days), 12 days in Florida in the year, Probably at least a day or 2 at Universal during one of the trips, Would an Annual pass be worth it? Or would i be better off getting a no-expiration ticket? or maybe some other weird ticketing voodoo?

(FYI, I live in PA, so the obvious perk of being able to jump down for a quick weekend or spontaneous trip that an annual pass wold provide isn't entirely feasible.)

(The timing of the trips also means parks not as crowded... last year I went during mid November and was able to get to pretty much everything in Epcot during 1 day (including bar hopping around World Showcase), and still hit everything during Mickey's Xmas Party that evening...)

 

[mhsjax]

I would think the annual pass myself. With that you don't have to pay for parking and you can park hop. But then again park hopping may not be something that you do. We do all the time, but friends of ours don't.

Not much help was I?

I see now that you based it on the park hopper ticker. Sorry,not to with it today.

 

[DCTooTall]

I may not always park hop, But i'm someone who prefers the flexibility. you never know if you are gonna get thru a park early and may want to ride a couple rides in another park before closing.... or maybe make a reservation at a restaurant in a park you didn't plan on spending the whole day in..... or maybe just not being able to ride that 1 ride you wanted to hit up before leaving a park the day you were planning on it, so you decide to hit that ride up the next day before heading to the "main" park for the day.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

An AP actually costs less than a ten day NE Hopper. And it includes Free Parking. And there are discounts available for merchandise and some meals.

It also allows you to buy a Tables in Wonderland Card which gives a 20% discount at meals in just about every Park and Resort table service restaurant and lounges (including alcoholic bevedages) and some quick service lcoations for as many as ten people.

 

[DCTooTall]

It also allows you to buy a Tables in Wonderland Card which gives a 20% discount at meals in just about every Park and Resort table service restaurant and lounges (including alcoholic bevedages) and some quick service lcoations for as many as ten people.

I saw some stuff on that once I found the more detailed info on the AP benefits on the Disney website. It looks interesting, But I don't know if it would be worth it. Considering I'm only going to be down there for a 2 weeks out of the entire year, And it would likely only be me, how much would I have to eat/spend in order to break even?


Let's see..... Quick math here.... Think I saw the TiW card was $75 for AP holders.... 20% discount.... So that means I'd have to have spent $375 (full price) on food in order to have broken even.

So figure 14 days... remove 2 for travel. figure another 3 maybe for non-disney days.... that leaves 9 days to spend $375 on food at the parks.

Having been awhile since I've been there..... How hard is it to spend $43 a day, on a single person, on in-park food?


(I will actually be staying at the Wyndham Bonnett Creek, so I would have a kitchen available to me as an alternative)

 

[dislvr74]

I have been there a couple of times by myself this year for some of the running events. I didn't do any TS meals and only spent about $25/day on food. I'm sure that I could have spent closer to $40/day if I had included a TS meal. But, when I am by myself I don't really want to do the whole TS thing. Oh, keep in mind that I ran a half marathon on those trips and needed to eat quite a bit!

I live in IL and got an annual pass. I've ended up using it more than I thought I would because now it is "free" for me to get into the parks. Gotta love that Disney math!

 

[DCTooTall]

LOL. Know the feeling. I've already started considering the possibility of flying down for a "long weekend" when my brother is on his Vacation down there.... or maybe even splurging on an onsite hotel for a day or 2 before or after my already planned 2nd trip to get a couple extra days. After all... I could potentially save a lot on the hotel room with an AP room only discount, and wouldn't have to pay for any sort of park admission.


I'm thinking the REAL deciding factor on those extra "free" trips would be my ability to get away from work and creative use of paid sick days.

 

[shopn24seven]

I would go with the AP, yu can also get from 10 -20% off at WDW stores with your card.

 

[skhermsmeyer]

We ended up buying AP's just because it was more cost effective for us. We were already planning to go 2 times and DH said to just go for it. Now I've talked him into another trip, so we get to go 3 times in the next year! This way parking is taken care of as well as hoppers in case we want to do it, even if it's just for a day or two of each trip.


Can you buy the Tables in Wonderland card at the parks or does it have to be done before hand? We bought our AP's from AAA, but it's a voucher that you have to exchange at the gates for the actual AP. I've been thinking about getting a TiW card, but didn't know if I'd be able to. Thanks!