Annual Passes or Two 5-day Passes?

[Minniekins]

Well, see? OP, you definitely need an AP then!!

 

[HopperFan]

Wow, thanks! You provided some great info. And your daughter is a CM? How fun! I had an offer to work in their summer program when I was in college but I turned it down to go to Europe for the summer. I have always wondered "What if...?" Now I am encouraging my daughter to work at Disney. She is only 8 now, but I thought it was best to work on her early. Nothing like living vicariously through your children.

I would love to be able to reassign our Bounce Back two-day tickets to my toddler and my husband next April. The little one does not need a ticket for the July trip because she will not yet be 3. If I could reassign my older daughter's bounce back tickets to her for our next trip in April and reassign mine to my husband (he is not going in July and could care less about the parks), they could have two days with us in the parks next April then spend the rest of their time at the resorts while my older daughter and I head to the parks.

I think I would use quite a few of those discounts, including event tickets, dining, and the tours. We also plan to use Club Disney in September for a few hours for the kids while enjoy Ohana.

Sounds like you have talked yourself into coming to the darkside!

And yes I began working my kids early on. It was actually my DS who inquired at his college about doing it but then he went in another direction. But he is a Disney fanatic (down there right now). A behind the scenes geek. He did Africa Trek, two times Dining with Imagineer and will book it every time it's open for him and the other night had a great time sitting at the new Boathouse talking a couple hours to one of the creation team. He's a walking Disney trivia book. DD goal was DCP after college and then possibly staying. She got in DCP and has been there since last summer. It has been an awesome experience, possibly the best of her life. But it helped her narrow her future choices and she decided to not stay at Disney = sad Momma. But what she has gotten from it is priceless both to her resume and personal life. Best decision and she's had SO MUCH FUN, especially constantly texting me photos to make me jealous. I love all the behind the scene stuff she has told me.

 

[supersnoop]

No. I consider September to be our "fall" trip. I always forget that September is still technically summer. We do MNSSHP and get what Disney usually calls it's "fall discounts." I actually have to report back to school on July 27th this year, so anything after that is fall in my mind.

I just booked 5 nights in mid July, which I am calling my "summer trip." I wasn't going to do it. I tried to resist. But last night at midnight I saw that I could get AKL standard for $205 and I took the plunge.

So, you have a trip in July, September, and April? Why are you asking about two trips instead of three? For three trips, the annual pass is the only way to go.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

So, you have a trip in July, September, and April? Why are you asking about two trips instead of three? For three trips, the annual pass is the only way to go.

We had to buy two day tickets already for the bounce back for all of us since it is a free dining offer. I was afraid I could not transfer those so I was not counting that as a trip where I would need additional tickets. If I can transfer them to other people, then a pass really does make sense.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm sorry if this was already mentioned (I didn't read through the whole thread). Keep in mind, you will also be eligible for AP resort discounts which are deeper than general public discounts. If you haven't already checked, you may want to re-price your booked trips to see if they qualify for an AP discount as you may save even more money. Quite honestly, you may save more with the AP discount than you would with the bounce back free dining. I would definitely check it out.

I just became an AP holder last week!! And I bought the TIW card. It is AWESOME! Took full advantage of my merchandise and food discounts. It was definitely a good decision for the way we now travel to WDW!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I'm sorry if this was already mentioned (I didn't read through the whole thread). Keep in mind, you will also be eligible for AP resort discounts which are deeper than general public discounts. If you haven't already checked, you may want to re-price your booked trips to see if they qualify for an AP discount as you may save even more money. Quite honestly, you may save more with the AP discount than you would with the bounce back free dining. I would definitely check it out.

I just became an AP holder last week!! And I bought the TIW card. It is AWESOME! Took full advantage of my merchandise and food discounts. It was definitely a good decision for the way we now travel to WDW!

Congrats on your new status! I am hoping to join you soon.

You make some excellent points. So now the question is: can I use the AP discount to book a resort after I buy the pass but before I activate it? Or does the pass have to be activated before I can compare room rates and book with the discount? I don't want to activate it before I use it because I would like it to last as long as possible. I understand that with recent changes, the pass expires one year after you activate it.

Because we have others in our group in September who will not have an AP I am thinking that FD will still be cheaper for the overall vacation cost, but I will have to run numbers to be sure of that.

It would be great if I could actually check on what the discounts would be, but I can't do that until I am officially an AP holder. Or can I?

 

[LaurenT]

I am 95% sure that you can transfer a ticket to anyone you want as long as it is unused...
I am an AP holder, discounts on merchandise is 10%, if you decided at any point to visit the parks while not staying on property, parking would still be free ($17/a day savings), room discounts vary and the dates aren't always convenient, but there are often offers for 35% off deluxe .... Maybe 25% for moderate and 15% or 20% for value? (I'm DVC so I don't watch that closely, but I know I saved a bunch on a solo trip in Nov that DH gave me for my birthday ... Didn't want to use our family DVC points for that)