Annual Pass

[lush]

Hi guys,

A little question about annual passes versus the 14 day ticket.

We are going to WDW next May for 14 nights with family. We've booked a villa as not all of the party will be visiting Disney and we got a great deal for a fab villa in Windsor Hills.

Anyway, I've been looking at buying tickets and I'm thinking about buying one annual pass (say for myself) and then purchasing the 14 day tickets for my DH and DD. Am I right thinking you get free parking on site with the AP? Working it out it will save us money overall with that alone but especially when you add in the discounts I could get on dining and shopping.

Are there restrictions with what days I can use the passes (like there are with some of DLP APs). Also with regards to the dining discounts - can I use it for the whole table (as long as I pay off course) or would it just be my meal that is eligible?

Also I've seen the list of restaurants I can get the discount at but are the shops it's available at very limited in the parks too?

Thanks for your help, I've been lurking on here for ages taking in all the info!!

 

[Elise79]

Yes you can get free parking with one annual pass but you will need to be on the car and present ID at the booths.

The AP discount is off food only (no alcohol) and up to 4 people however as you have found the discount is at very limited restaurants and most are only for lunch.

With an AP you can buy a Tables in Wonderland card for $100 which gives 20% off a lot of TS restaurants. If you will spend over $500 on food and drink (it covers alcohol) then you will come out ahead. It covers up to 10 people.

Shopping discounts are now 10% in all Disney owned and operated shops.

 

[lush]

Well I'll definitely always in the car, I am the instigator of the whole trip.

Thanks so much for all the info, I had looked at the TIW card and am considering it. I need to work out where we're going to be eating and whether it'll be worth it to get it. I think it probably will. Can it be used for character meals too because I'm hoping to book a few of those?

Questions questions!!

 

[Elise79]

Yes, it is on most TS restaurants. Full details can be found on http://www.tablesinwonderland.com

 

[StarWarsJez]

I've looked at this several times and If your 100% sure you'll be going back within 12 months then it's worth it, but if you're not sure then IMO it's a risk since the 'benefits' over even a 3 week holiday are marginal at best since most of them( ie food and merch) are 10%

 

[lush]

Well the price of a 14 day ticket bought here is £299 (approx $508 at current exchange rate). The price of the standard annual pass is $650. 14 days parking at $17 per day is $238. Then added on top of that I would get 10% off my Disney merchandise (We're normally big shoppers at DLP so can only see that being worse at WDW!) and then possible discounts on dining. To be honest I think it's worth it to buy one of us the annual pass to get the free parking and discounts. We are literally only doing Disney this time with one possible visit to SeaWorld. We will be visiting Disney everyday at some point so for us I think it would be worth it.

 

[scoobydooby]

In your case the parking makes it a no brainier. Go for the AP

 

[lush]

The only downside is I won't get the water parks included but to be honest I don't think we'll be going into those anyway as none of us are particularly keen on them.

 

[chmurf]

The only downside is I won't get the water parks included but to be honest I don't think we'll be going into those anyway as none of us are particularly keen on them.

just in case :
you won't get water parks, disneyquest or minigolf included

as they're included in your 14 days ticket, if you go to any of those before upgrading to AP, you'll be required to upgrade to premium AP (including water parks) which is more expensive.

 

[lush]

Our girls will be 3 years and 22 months while we are there so we definitely won't be doing mini golf and Disney Quest isn't on our to do list. As I said the water parks aren't of any interest to us. The pool at our villa and a noodle will be enough water based fun for them I think.

 

[lush]

Double post

 

[Disney Frenhines]

I got an AP for last November's trip as I knew I was planning a trip for this October, as it happened it made a trip this May an extra bonus, so I'm getting three trips out of it, anyway, you get the 10% off shopping, as a big shopper I got my money's worth. I also got 10% off Earl of Sandwich and at Ghiradellis, both on eating and in the shop. From what you say I think you have a good plan.