Annual Passes question

[WeLoveAriel0505]

When does it become more cost efficient to buy the DVC annual pass instead of the multi-day park hoppers for Disney World. (i.e. is it better to by a 10 day park hopper and if we come again a 3 day park hopper or buy the annual pass)? I'm curious if you have experiences as to when you think it pays to buy the annual.

Thanks for the help.

 

[kristytru]

subscribing

 

[culli]

When does it become more cost efficient to buy the DVC annual pass instead of the multi-day park hoppers for Disney World. (i.e. is it better to by a 10 day park hopper and if we come again a 3 day park hopper or buy the annual pass)? I'm curious if you have experiences as to when you think it pays to buy the annual.

Thanks for the help.

The simplistic general rule of thumb is if you plan on spending more than 10 days at the park go with the AP.

However, the AP will cost you more money over the year in other costs.............like more trips to WDW!!! I get the pay at the door keg party or all you can eat buffet syndrome with our AP.....try to use them as often as possible. Unfortunately it gets $$$$ as we don't live anywhere near FL

 

[disneynutz]

When does it become more cost efficient to buy the DVC annual pass instead of the multi-day park hoppers for Disney World. (i.e. is it better to by a 10 day park hopper and if we come again a 3 day park hopper or buy the annual pass)? I'm curious if you have experiences as to when you think it pays to buy the annual.

Thanks for the help.

You really need to sit down and compare prices. Take into consideration your travel plans, that makes a huge impact on your calculations. 10 day non-expiration passes are usually a better buy.

 

[edk35]

I have posted about this very thing just recently. I agree that if you are going to be in the parks at least 10 days then go for the DVC discounted AP. BUT beware they can make you add more trips. We got the PAP and went 4 times on it. So those money saving DVC AP's can be counterproductive too. LOL I was going back and forth about buying them again because we are going in Jan. for 5 park days, then in July for about 8 or 9 but we have 2 days left on non. exp. MYW passes but we just decided to get the AP's.

 

[Fortywinks]

When does it become more cost efficient to buy the DVC annual pass instead of the multi-day park hoppers for Disney World. (i.e. is it better to by a 10 day park hopper and if we come again a 3 day park hopper or buy the annual pass)? I'm curious if you have experiences as to when you think it pays to buy the annual.

Thanks for the help.

There are several things that you will consider.

1. Are you planning more than one trip within 365 days?
2. How many days per trip?
3. What are your dining Plans?

Here are some examples

Question 1 and 2

(All assume non Fla resident and no other discounts)
Annual pass (parkhopper) $469 base price $369 with DVC discount



Questions 1 and 2

Two three day trips for example
2 three day passes with parkhopper option---2x$262=$524
6 day no expiration---------------------------------$355

Two five day trips for example
2 five day passes with parkhopper option---2x$272=$544
10 day no expiration-------------------------------$487

or for one 10 day trip
One Ten day pass----------------------------------$287

Also
With an annual pass you can purchase a "Tables in Wonderland" card at $60 which entitles you to a 20% for up to 10 people in your party at over 70 Disney Table Service Restaurants. This card does include a 18% tip. Assuming you would tip at least 15%, its still a 17% savings. Payback would be about 5 Table Service meals for 2 people.

 

[Fortywinks]

We buy annual passes every other year (family of 4). Fortunately we are only about a 6 hr drive away (Georgia). Since we like to spend Christmas at Disney we do this:

Beginning the cycle (6 days), check in and celebrate Christmas Day at resort and DTD. Purchase AP’s day after Christmas and have 6 use days.

Ending the cycle (6 days) checkout the day after Christmas with 6 use days. This still gives us 2 Christmas stays at Disney on one season pass even though we may not spend them at the parks.

During our AP year we may plan one or two 3-5 day trips using points at different DVC resorts. During those trips, we may not even go to parks, maybe a day trip to the beaches or some other non Disney activities.

During the off years, we might go to HHI or Vero Beach if we use our points.

 

[DVC Grammy]

You may have heard about the contagious DVC disease called "ADDONITIS", but rarely is there a discussion of the more prevalent, and even more contagious DVC-AP "ADDTRIPITIS".

I've searched these boards diligently for years, looking for mention of a cure, but so far, no luck!

 

[Inkmahm]

You may have heard about the contagious DVC disease called "ADDONITIS", but rarely is there a discussion of the more prevalent, and even more contagious DVC-AP "ADDTRIPITIS".

I've searched these boards diligently for years, looking for mention of a cure, but so far, no luck!

That's what got me into DVC in the first place! I got the bright idea earlier this decade that since airfare was so cheap, DH and I should had APs so that when there was a great fare, we could just hop down to WDW for a long weekend. Before that, I'd be there once each year in Spring. After getting an A/P, we started to go twice each year including a fall or Dec trip. Once we started to go more than once per year, we thought DVC would make sense to save all those $ we were spending at Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Once we bought DVC, we started to add MORE trips. Now we go 3 or 4 times per year (last year was 5).

And it all started with that first AP...

By the way, with the increase in costs for the 10 day non cancel parkhopper tickets last year relative to the AP's, I think I remember 8 days as being the breakeven point for us. 8 days or less in the parks and the parkhopper made more sense than the AP. Except we'll always have at least 1 AP becase we use the DDE (or whatever they call it) card and eat at Signature restaurants almost every night. We save the $60 or so that it costs in just a couple days.