Annual Passes or 1 day?

[randynmelissa1109]

So my family of 5 are staying in Orlando for a week and are planning at least 1 day at MK. Bummer is the FL resident tickets (3 &4 days) are blocked out in the summer so we would have to pay full price for 1 ticket. We figured out it would be the same amount as a deposit for a Gold Annual Pass. We only live an hour n a half away from Disney so we would prob go at least once a month. Wanted to hear some feedback on some annual pass holders to see how you have enjoyed it. It's also a big monthly commitment so I want to make sure it's something my family will get their money's worth from.

So should we just pay for the 1 day in June or get the annual gold pass(we wouldn't get the silver be my dh and I r both teachers and would want to go in the summer quite a bit)

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

A one day ticket for any park during Peak season does cost more than the $112 down payment for any annual pass on the Monthly Payment Plan. (A MK peak 1-day is $132 and an EC/DHS/DAK peak 1-day is $121.)

However, if you already have a 3 or 4 day FL Select ticket - I can't tell from your post - it can be upgraded to one of the annual passes and used as the down payment, which would exceed the required $112 and bring the monthly payments down a bit. That said, if the ticket was first used more than 14 days prior to the upgrade, you can't use the Monthly Payment Plan - the difference must be paid in full. The difference between a FL Select 3-day and a Gold pass is about $383. The difference between a FL Select 4-day and a Gold pass is about $362. (I didn't do my math with the change involved because I just got out of bed.)

Parking is included in Gold (and all other APs) and can be reimbursed to you for the day you actually upgrade/buy a pass. $20 a visit does add up over time.

I personally really like the Gold pass and it's what I'd have for myself if I didn't work at the parks.

(All prices mentioned are after tax.)

 

[CAS239]

AP is my vote. You said you live 1.5 hours away and would probably go once a month, it's definitely worth it.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I would upgrade also. I don't know about the Florida resident ticket you have but the Gold pass you get photopass with it. We thought mehhh never use it but you should see all the wonderful photos on and off the rides we have. Plus the magic shots!

Also do the math on just upgrading half your party. Kids are cheaper to enter the park?

 

[randynmelissa1109]

A one day ticket for any park during Peak season does cost more than the $112 down payment for any annual pass on the Monthly Payment Plan. (A MK peak 1-day is $132 and an EC/DHS/DAK peak 1-day is $121.)

However, if you already have a 3 or 4 day FL Select ticket - I can't tell from your post - it can be upgraded to one of the annual passes and used as the down payment, which would exceed the required $112 and bring the monthly payments down a bit. That said, if the ticket was first used more than 14 days prior to the upgrade, you can't use the Monthly Payment Plan - the difference must be paid in full. The difference between a FL Select 3-day and a Gold pass is about $383. The difference between a FL Select 4-day and a Gold pass is about $362. (I didn't do my math with the change involved because I just got out of bed.)

Parking is included in Gold (and all other APs) and can be reimbursed to you for the day you actually upgrade/buy a pass. $20 a visit does add up over time.

I personally really like the Gold pass and it's what I'd have for myself if I didn't work at the parks.

(All prices mentioned are after tax.)

Sorry if I wasn't clear but no I do not have the 3 or 4 day fl pass ( right now we have no passes). I was looking at purchasing it but it cannot be used in any summer months. Thanks for your help!

 

[Lynzer4]

I would take a look at your calendar and decide how many trips/days you actually plan to be at Disney. Add the cost of those single days (as it sounds like each would be a day trip and not a consecutive visit) based on what Disney will charge for that visit. If the single tickets exceed the AP price I would go with the AP as its the cheaper option. Remember to add cost of parking into your figures.

An AP is only worth how much you actually plan to go so figure out your break even point and then decided if you will go to Disney more than that... that's the best way to determine if its worth it or not!

 

[glassslippergirl]

DH and I are both teachers, too. We had AP's a few years ago and really loved it. We live about 3 hours away and went 40 days in one year. If you do decide to take the plunge, here are my suggestions:

Keep up with special events at WDW, the ones included with admission like F&W, F&G, Candlelight Processional, openings of new rides and attractions, etc. We often planned weekend trips around these so that we could do something different. We planned trips specifically to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Rick Springfield at the Eat to the Beat concerts and to see Edward James Olmos and Neil Patrick Harris narrate Candlelight Processional. When Michael Giacchino came to do a discussion at Epcot, we went to that. These are the trips that stand out in our memories. You will make different choices of events with kids, but the idea still holds true.

Make a point of doing something new on each trip-- new restaurant, new attraction, new experience like Behind the Seeds tour or renting a boat at the Contemporary. It doesn't have to be expensive.

Use the time to be spontaneous. If you are in MK and someone wants to go to Epcot, nothing is stopping you. You'll be back in a few weeks to do whatever you were going to miss at MK, so you can live in the moment.

Enjoy!

 

[randynmelissa1109]

DH and I are both teachers, too. We had AP's a few years ago and really loved it. We live about 3 hours away and went 40 days in one year. If you do decide to take the plunge, here are my suggestions:

Keep up with special events at WDW, the ones included with admission like F&W, F&G, Candlelight Processional, openings of new rides and attractions, etc. We often planned weekend trips around these so that we could do something different. We planned trips specifically to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Rick Springfield at the Eat to the Beat concerts and to see Edward James Olmos and Neil Patrick Harris narrate Candlelight Processional. When Michael Giacchino came to do a discussion at Epcot, we went to that. These are the trips that stand out in our memories. You will make different choices of events with kids, but the idea still holds true.

Make a point of doing something new on each trip-- new restaurant, new attraction, new experience like Behind the Seeds tour or renting a boat at the Contemporary. It doesn't have to be expensive.

Use the time to be spontaneous. If you are in MK and someone wants to go to Epcot, nothing is stopping you. You'll be back in a few weeks to do whatever you were going to miss at MK, so you can live in the moment.

Enjoy!

Great tips! Thank you! Do u know where I can find a list of all their special events included without purchasing a special ticket?

 

[glassslippergirl]

Great tips! Thank you! Do u know where I can find a list of all their special events included without purchasing a special ticket?

The WDW website has a special events section, but you really have to stay on top of it yourself. Mouseplanet has a weekly WDW update that is helpful, and there's a Disney Parks Blog that's straight from the source. These boards are also very informational if at least scan the current threads in the Theme Parks Attractions forum every day or so. Others can suggest other sources.

Here's what I've learned:

Some events are regular-- F&W, F&G, Candlelight Processional. You need to keep checking for the F&W and F&G concert series, F&W and F&G demonstrations and tours (some are free), Candlelight narrators. We used to wait in a vigil to know all the SWW celebrities and their respective weekends, but, alas, no more.

Some events come without much warning. We only knew about the Pixar 20th anniversary celebration a few weeks in advance. DVC members found out a few days before that they could get in free agency o after-hours event recently. In your year, keep a close eye for the opening of Pandora at AK; Soarin and Frozen openings are already announced. The dedications are pretty cool, even though you will be a thousand rows back from the action. Go a few days before the opening and you may be able to preview the ride on soft opening. That's why you have to stay on top of offerings.

There's lots of holiday offerings in the parks. We never paid for a party and never felt like we were lacking for holiday fun. We spent whole afternoons visiting the storytellers in WS. Follow the included holiday offerings at a source like allears.net and plan lots of trips between Thanksgiving and the Christmas blackout.

Finally, use basic resources like the my Disney experience app or even a park map to identify new things to do. One day we had a ton of fun looking at a park map and doing everything we had never done before at animal Kingdom.

 

[randynmelissa1109]

The WDW website has a special events section, but you really have to stay on top of it yourself. Mouseplanet has a weekly WDW update that is helpful, and there's a Disney Parks Blog that's straight from the source. These boards are also very informational if at least scan the current threads in the Theme Parks Attractions forum every day or so. Others can suggest other sources.

Here's what I've learned:

Some events are regular-- F&W, F&G, Candlelight Processional. You need to keep checking for the F&W and F&G concert series, F&W and F&G demonstrations and tours (some are free), Candlelight narrators. We used to wait in a vigil to know all the SWW celebrities and their respective weekends, but, alas, no more.

Some events come without much warning. We only knew about the Pixar 20th anniversary celebration a few weeks in advance. DVC members found out a few days before that they could get in free agency o after-hours event recently. In your year, keep a close eye for the opening of Pandora at AK; Soarin and Frozen openings are already announced. The dedications are pretty cool, even though you will be a thousand rows back from the action. Go a few days before the opening and you may be able to preview the ride on soft opening. That's why you have to stay on top of offerings.

There's lots of holiday offerings in the parks. We never paid for a party and never felt like we were lacking for holiday fun. We spent whole afternoons visiting the storytellers in WS. Follow the included holiday offerings at a source like allears.net and plan lots of trips between Thanksgiving and the Christmas blackout.

Finally, use basic resources like the my Disney experience app or even a park map to identify new things to do. One day we had a ton of fun looking at a park map and doing everything we had never done before at animal Kingdom.

Awesome! Thank you so much! I'm pretty familiar with most of those sites from our big Disney trip 2 years ago.