We only go once per year for a week.
We got APs for the first time this year, intending to play the "AP gambit", where next year we come one week earlier and so can use the AP for two yearly trips. Assuming this goes as planned, it will save money. The convenience factor is also very nice. (Go to theme parks whenever you want, leave when you feel like it.)
The trick is in hoping our DS's don't insist on going to a water park! If they do, I suppose we'll cough up the dough. We're hoping Stormalong Bay will be enough to keep them happy!
poolgirl, you can buy AP vouchers in advance, or you can buy APs at Epcot gate, but either way you're going to spend time at Epcot Guest Relations. There don't seem to be too many options for having activated APs in hand when you reach Epcot. The only reasonable choice would seem to be buying APs at the
Disney Store in Orlando airport, but it's far from clear that it would save any time to do that.
BTW. I believe the Charter Annual Pass rate is only available to those who have purchased an annual pass every year since WDW opened.