Annual Passes...are they worth it??

[Baloosgirl23]

We are fortunate to be going to Disney twice this year (September/November). We are going again next year (we do an annual trip every year with DH's family) and will hopefully go in the spring or fall again as well. We typically purchase the vacation packages with base tickets, no hoppers and QSDP. We've stayed at a range of the resorts and usually spend 5-7 days each vacation. We have our DD, but she won't need tickets until October 2012 so I'm wondering if it would be in our best interest to bit the bullet and buy annual passes for Sept. 2010 - Sept. 2011??? Who has had them in the past and why or why not did you renew them? TIA!!!

 

[beansmom]

we had APs last year. We found ourselves going to Disney fairly often---much more often than we would have had we not had them. We are buying them again in October because we plan to go for approximately 23 days over the next year.

With the room discounts, we think it's worth it.

 

[Baloosgirl23]

can you still get the dining plan if you want it??

 

[beansmom]

you CAN purchase the dining plan.

 

[erin.w]

You can also then purchase the Table in Wonderland card to save 20% off some table service restaurants.

We buy them, and work it out to get three trips out of one pass. I think we'll get 25 days out of the pass, it also helps that we get a DVC discount.

 

[klynn]

We always buy AP's. We get out money's worth because we usually spend 42-56+ days a year at Disney.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I got my first AP about 11 years before moving to Florida from DC. Between room and other discounts and number of days spent per year they were definitely worth it.

The major problem with Annual Passes concerns when they are in a drawer more than 100 miles from Disney World and they whine a lot and scream:

Use Me!

 

[Shmily1]

CheshireFigment, I totally agree!! I'm 4 hours away and they seem to scream my name!!

I got an AP for Christmas year before last and by the time my birthday trip in mid January was over, my first trip since I had gotten the AP, I had saved more than enough for it to be worth it. The rest of my trips that year were just gravy!! The TIW card was also a big saver for us. We used it alot! I love the room discounts and the other discounts that come with it. I didn't renew last year since DD who always goes with me was expecting the new DGS (who turned 8 months old Monday) but I will be getting another one very soon. DGS has been only once so far but we are going again in May and I'm looking forward to getting his AP when he turns 3

 

[Baloosgirl23]

what is the current AP room rate?? or what is a 'typical' room rate that you've been able to get in the past?

 

[puffkin]

Definitely worth it. We go twice a calendar year but 3 times on an AP. Example for us this year:
May 2009
December 2009
April 2010

We also bought the TiW card on our May 2009 trip so it was good for all three trips. We are DVC, but we also do stay at the resorts for a few nights here or there to save on weekend DVC points and the discounts are well worth it. There are usually merchandise discounts we take advantage of too.

The May 2009 trip was fairly expensive with buying the passes, but the December and upcoming April trip are pretty cheap! Some years we are even able to squeeze in a weekend trip too. Love our AP's!

 

[MELSMICE]

We've had annual passes for about 10 years now & enjoy having them. I think if you are going to use them for 10 days or more it's worth the cost.

We are DVC members also so we get a discount on the AP. We have used our AP's for room discounts & other discounts that they offer, including marina rentals & some food discounts. We don't get the PAP's any more because we don't go to the water parks & if we do we just use the AP discount to purchase the water park pass.

The best thing about an AP, though, is the flexibility it gives you with visiting the parks. I don't feel like I have to spend the entire day in the park to get the value out of my ticket. We can go to a park just to ride one attraction, get an ice cream, get cinnamon rolls for breakfast from the Main Street Bakery or to just go in for the parade. For my family, the flexibility is worth the price of the ticket!!!

I'm also loving their current promotion & the fact that I can renew them on our trip next month for 15 months instead of 12!!!!!

 

[Baloosgirl23]

does anyone know what the current AP room rate is at any of the resorts, value, mod or deluxe?? just trying to get all of the information I need before talking to DH about it. TIA!!!

 

[funcinderella]

We've had annual passes for about 10 years now & enjoy having them. I think if you are going to use them for 10 days or more it's worth the cost.

We are DVC members also so we get a discount on the AP. We have used our AP's for room discounts & other discounts that they offer, including marina rentals & some food discounts. We don't get the PAP's any more because we don't go to the water parks & if we do we just use the AP discount to purchase the water park pass.

The best thing about an AP, though, is the flexibility it gives you with visiting the parks. I don't feel like I have to spend the entire day in the park to get the value out of my ticket. We can go to a park just to ride one attraction, get an ice cream, get cinnamon rolls for breakfast from the Main Street Bakery or to just go in for the parade. For my family, the flexibility is worth the price of the ticket!!!

I'm also loving their current promotion & the fact that I can renew them on our trip next month for 15 months instead of 12!!!!!

My ears just perked up! Do tell, what is this promotion and how did you find out about it?

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Just curious if anyone knows when AP room discounts come out for December? We haven't got an AP yet but are planning on purchasing one when we go down in September.

 

[MELSMICE]

does anyone know what the current AP room rate is at any of the resorts, value, mod or deluxe?? just trying to get all of the information I need before talking to DH about it. TIA!!!

Check on Mousesavers - it will tell you what the current promotion is & for how long.

My ears just perked up! Do tell, what is this promotion and how did you find out about it?

Right now if you renew your AP it is renewed for 15 months instead of 12!!!!!! You can renew up to 30 days past your renewal date, but the 15 months starts from the first date of purchase.

 

[alyssa810]

We have been getting APs since 2002. We've never actually renewed because the timing hasn't worked out. We actually don't have active passes right now because we're going to DLP in June, DL in September, and don't have an exact date for our next WDW trip. The Premier AP was very tempting for us for this year, but since we only get the standard APs at WDW, the cost difference in getting an AP to DL and and AP for WDW was only about $7 (we're DVC members, so we get that discount).

We love having an AP for WDW! It's been great for planning last minute trips-we don't have to worry about getting tickets- and the discounts are great too, be they dining or shopping!

We try to get 3-4 trips per pass, we did an unprecedented record (for us anyway) 5 trips on one pass from December 2007- November 2008!

 

[funcinderella]

Check on Mousesavers - it will tell you what the current promotion is & for how long.


Right now if you renew your AP it is renewed for 15 months instead of 12!!!!!! You can renew up to 30 days past your renewal date, but the 15 months starts from the first date of purchase.

Thanks, good to know!

 

[Telcogirl]

The best thing about an AP, though, is the flexibility it gives you with visiting the parks. I don't feel like I have to spend the entire day in the park to get the value out of my ticket. We can go to a park just to ride one attraction, get an ice cream, get cinnamon rolls for breakfast from the Main Street Bakery or to just go in for the parade.

I could not agree with you more! The AP totally changes the way we visit. It is much more relaxing.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

APs meant that we were able to do AKL again this trip... 45% off of Deluxe right now!

 

[mountdew1]

does anyone know what the current AP room rate is at any of the resorts, value, mod or deluxe?? just trying to get all of the information I need before talking to DH about it. TIA!!!

The room discounts for AP's are typically somewhere in the 30-45% stage. Historically, the Visa discounts came out, then AP's and Florida Residents, and then General Public. So you have a slightly better chance to take advantage of that discount than the general public. However lately they have been doing strange things with discounts. Sending out PIN codes to AP's, releasing discounts much later than they used to, etc. There is currently a GP discount that lasts longer than the AP one. Just be warned that it is usually only some resorts, and in some room categories. So if you are dead set on a particular room, there is a chance you won't get it.

Usually 10 days plus lodging discount is a break even for my math per AP. You don't need AP's for everyone just to do the lodging discount, so that may help to swing the math. Also consider the Tables In Wonderland. Paid for itself after 4 meals last trip, so the other 2 trips we have planned this year are just icing on the cake.