If your price is for 5 day base tickets with No Hopper then the AP price is already a gain.
As a fellow Atlantan and AP holder I would say yes. You really have nothing to lose
since the price is so close. If you don't use it other than the two trips then all is good. If you decide to go back again you need no tickets. For the ones in the family who don't have APs the ticket is the big issue when it comes to extra trips.
If you have two trips PLUS a Bounceback then this is a resounding YES! You don't use the Bounceback tickets. You can (1) Save them to put towards your AP renewal, which we have done many times. (2) Re-assign the ticket to someone else, which we have done many times for DH to come on some trips.
A big plus for us .... we leave in am from ATL and check in, get settled and then head to MK for just 4-5 hours to kick off the magic. Checkout day we get packed in the car, drive to DHS go on a few attractions, have a good lunch then leave around 1-2 pm. Drive straight home. Yes it's 9 pm, but we unload and go to bed. We've added two more park days to our trip but not worried that we spend extra on tickets.
I do go 5-6 weeks a year but my numbers have my PAP more than paid for each year, maybe even most of DS as well. Other DS bought his own AP. Here are examples of my savings:
- Free Parking $17 a day, one year that was worth about $300 to us.
- If you think, I'll be onsite ..... once you have an AP you start following deals on hotels. Like DS just went down Thursday with a friend to hang with DD (a CM). Found a great deal at B hotel DTD, buy two nights get one free and they got the expensive Sat night free. Total $350 to be at new B for 3 nights, walking distance to B (they were going to some bars). And he was splitting the hotel with friend. And they got a room with a private patio and two sofas that open up to the pool. I'm going in May for last minute to do SWW and 24 Hour Party - one week in 2 bedroom condo at Sheraton Vistana - $67 a night. Kitchen means I can bring food stuff. Have been to Bonnet Creek in condos for $45 night one bedroom, $88 night two bedroom. When you have AP and can drive in 7 hours your obsession will be finding cheap places to stay. Ticket covered, and money saved can buy nice eats!
- Onsite AP discounts on room can be nice. I don't know how or why, I don't question, but very often I will book an AP room and the discount advertised is say 25% but rate came out 28%, but even at the advertised discount you can get a good rate.
- With AP we can do lots of runs for Halloween Party or 24 Hour Party or SWW or even the grand opening for a ride, yup we headed down to be one of first to ride 7DMT.
- We add to our value with the Tables in Wonderland and in a year more than get our monies worth. Have an AP, not paying for tickets each time, put many of the Disney restaurants back in the budget, take 20% off food and alcohol, big plus.
- DISCOUNT BOOKLET examples: 10% at some restaurants if you don't buy TIW - 10-15% off some purchases and experiences including recreation, tours, spas, salons, bowling, ranch, marinas, water sports - discounted tickets to theaters, fishing, DisneyQuest, Waterparks, Golf, Putt Putt - golf as high as 30% off AP holder and guests - discounted tickets to Parties - special deals like right now $50 off some summer Africa Wild Trek tours - discount at kennel and child centers, and Alamo - invites to AP holder only special events - just bought 24 Hour Party TeeShirts in advance, offered to AP holders only. It all adds up over time.
Nothing like living vicariously through your children.
