Annual Pass worth it???

[danissmart]

Going to DLR in august 2010 for 5 day honeymoon. It will be both of our first times. I was considering getting an annual pass for one of us. It is only $80 more then a 5 day hopper pass. Is it worth the $80 to upgrade? Will I get any significant discounts on rooms? Restaurants? Merchandise? Need help...

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Hotels: depends, at least 10% onsite and 20% at HOJOs but sometimes really good AP rates are available. But you have to have AP at check in.
food: 10%
merchandise: only with premium pass.
Tours: 20%

 

[glendalais]

food: 10%

Actually, Food is 10% with the SoCal Select, SoCal and Deluxe Annual Passports, and 15% with the Premium Annual Passport.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I think it would be worth it. Plus, it gives you an excuse to go back!

 

[LuLusApple]

It's worth it if you are going to visit again within 12 months if you are already planning on going back...but beware of the snowball effect. Lol
we planned on going 2 times over the summer and that snowballed into 6 more times since April! Lol Now we have October and December coming up.
A deluxe pass for my DD12 turned into a Premium when a couple blocked out Saturdays came up. But I sure think our passes have paid for themselves.
We have only used the AP hotel discount once but that was a huge discount.
So I say ya it's worth it!

 

[kerickson]

I agree with the snowball effect. We have AP's for the first time and now have 4 trips planned this year! We have premium APs and I loved the extra discounts we got just about everywere. Adds up if you eat in the parks/restaraunts nearby...

 

[shishigirl]

We also got AP's by upgrading our hoppers the last day of our trip and we have gone back 4 times! It has been so much fun! I would say do it if you are even considering going back!

 

[PinkBudgie]

The trick we like to do is buy APs for one summer, and then go again the next summer before it expires. That way you can get two summer trips out of it. If you had APs you could even decide to go to the park for just the evening you arrive, or just the morning on the day you leave if you have the time.

 

[grumpy's fan]

My DD and I bought AP's for our trip in Nov 08 knowing that we'd book another trip in June 09 - but it snowballed into Nov 08, Mar 09, Jun 09 and Nov 09 so we've gotten 4 trips out of it instead of 2! Yippee for us! Its toooo easy to rationalize another trip once the park entry is already paid for!

 

[PinkBudgie]

My DD and I bought AP's for our trip in Nov 08 knowing that we'd book another trip in June 09 - but it snowballed into Nov 08, Mar 09, Jun 09 and Nov 09 so we've gotten 4 trips out of it instead of 2! Yippee for us! Its toooo easy to rationalize another trip once the park entry is already paid for!

Or extend the current trip, which is the direction our snowball went!

 

[disneynerd420]

I want to invest in one so bad... but my future is so up in the air right now. This time next year I could be living and working in orange county, or I may still be here in Arizona. I may have a house with a mortgage under my belt or I may still be renting a crappy apartment. I really don't know if I could justify it right now.

 

[Flitterific]

It is definitely very easy to convince yourself that the AP is worth it. I convinced DBF to get us premium APs on our last trip in August and I'm planning our Dec trip right now And I definitely plan on going back at least once more after that. It's too easy not to give in to those discounts and the prospect of going again is too tempting!

 

[danissmart]

Thanks for all the responses, I think I need to be a little more clear on some things. Firstly, there is no way we will be going back. We live in NJ, and its just too far. Second we are DVC owners and have a trip planned for WDW in nov 2010.

The reason I would get one AP, is just for the discounts afforded to a pass holder. Since this is the first time I have even investigated a DLR trip I have no clue about the AP discounts there, and if it is worth the extra $80 to upgrade from a 5 day park hopper to an Annual Pass. The black out dates don't affect us at all, I already checked on that. So the only downside to buying an AP is the extra $80. What I am wondering is, if the room + food discounts will make up that money...

 

[PinkBudgie]

In that case, you have to do the math. Work out how if you save at least $80. If you did it would probably mostly come from staying at the hotel. Also, only one of you would need the AP to get the discounts as long as you stayed together. (And I'm assuming you would. ) If you are not staying on site, you won't get MM with an AP.

 

[danissmart]

In that case, you have to do the math. Work out how if you save at least $80. If you did it would probably mostly come from staying at the hotel. Also, only one of you would need the AP to get the discounts as long as you stayed together. (And I'm assuming you would. ) If you are not staying on site, you won't get MM with an AP.

We are definitely going to be staying on site and together Are the AP rates typically much better then rates you can find else where?

 

[PinkBudgie]

I've never stayed on site because off site was so much cheaper for a very nice hotel. Every once in awhile they come out with their special AP rates. This is different from the percentage off that you can always get. They seem to be during slower times and we just haven't been able to go then. Since I haven't stayed on site, I can't say too much more about it. I would start reading the Disneyland site for info and watching the rates. It may be awhile before they have rates for next August but you can get an idea. Also, check with travel companies like AAA or any others you might use and see if you can get a better deal on your own or in a package. My husband is a math teacher so for things like this, I get the info and then have him crunch the numbers. I'm sure there are other people here who know more about the Disney hotels.