annual passes

[comconinc2]

Unless I missed it, I didn't see anyone post about how Annual passes helps disney goers save money big time in this forum. This only applies if you go to disney every year like we do.

For example, we buy annual passes in June (it is a little more expensive) for everyone. Then next year we vacation in May before the passes expire and have NO park expenses.

In addition, with the annual passes, you get excellent discounts on hotel rooms (annual passes are sometimes the best discounts) and dining at some places.

BTW, you only need 1 person in your group with an annual pass to get the room and dining discounts.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Thanks for the reminder!

The subject of AP discounts and benefits does come up from time to time. A lot of people do the 2 trips in a 365-day period to take advantage of their APs. My DBro owns DVC and he says that second trip makes it feel like it's free because he spends so little OOP when he goes. DVC owners also get a discount on their APs.

Disney recently changed their AP renewal policy to add 3 months to the expiration date. AP renewals are now good for 15 months!

You can read more about AP benefits here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm#Current

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

It works wonderfully ... unless you end up with a sick kid on the first trip with the passes and only use 4 days worth of admission, then end up having to cancel the second trip planned on the passes. Let's just say, those 4 days of parks were MIGHTY expensive!!! I'm still kicking myself over not going with the 10 day non-expiry passes.

I am still hopeful that we can try it again and actually get 2 solid trips out of a set of AP's - that is an awesome way to go if you visit every year.

 

[h0pe]

just out of curiosity, if a DVC member buys an AP for someone else do they get that at a discount? Or could they get a AP as a present for a FLORIDA Resident?

 

[Deb & Bill]

just out of curiosity, if a DVC member buys an AP for someone else do they get that at a discount?

Only if that someone else is a relative who lives at the same address and has a photo ID that can prove it. Must be a relative on the list of approved family members.

 

[BrettS]

just out of curiosity, if a DVC member buys an AP for someone else do they get that at a discount? Or could they get a AP as a present for a FLORIDA Resident?

DVC members can buy a limited number of annual passes for immediate family members that live in their household. Disney is very strict about who qualifies as an immediate family member, and it's pretty much limited to parents, children, and siblings. Also, like I said, they need to all live in the same household (and show ID with the same address).

However, FL resident annual passes are actually slightly cheaper (by only a few dollars) than DVC annual passes. If the AP is for a Florida resident then they're better off just getting a FL resident AP. FL resident AP's can be given as a gift. The person giving the gift would simply buy a FL resident AP voucher and then the person who's getting the AP will neeed to bring the voucher and their FL ID to Disney to activate it.

 

[h0pe]

Awesome! Thanks for the information!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

AP's can definitely save some money but they can also make you spend even MORE money when you try to squeeze in another trip 'cause, hey, I already have the pass...

 

[stitchlovestink]

DVC members can buy a limited number of annual passes for immediate family members that live in their household. Disney is very strict about who qualifies as an immediate family member, and it's pretty much limited to parents, children, and siblings. Also, like I said, they need to all live in the same household (and show ID with the same address).

However, FL resident annual passes are actually slightly cheaper (by only a few dollars) than DVC annual passes. If the AP is for a Florida resident then they're better off just getting a FL resident AP. FL resident AP's can be given as a gift. The person giving the gift would simply buy a FL resident AP voucher and then the person who's getting the AP will neeed to bring the voucher and their FL ID to Disney to activate it.

so by what you are saying, this would only work for a FL resident to gift a FL AP to another FL resident then, right? What about grandparents that are keeping grandkids for the summer, can they get FL APs for the grandkids? Do the kids have to have an ID too?

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

FL Resident APs and Seasonal APs are intended for use by Florida residents.

We'll leave it at that because that's Disney's rule and advocating anything else would be against DISboard guidelines.

 

[alyssa810]

AP's can definitely save some money but they can also make you spend even MORE money when you try to squeeze in another trip 'cause, hey, I already have the pass...

Ain't that the truth!!!

There are other discounts for having APs too though, there are sometimes resort discounts, and there are dining and shopping discounts select locations. They save us money but again:

AP's can definitely save some money but they can also make you spend even MORE money when you try to squeeze in another trip 'cause, hey, I already have the pass...

 

[BrettS]

so by what you are saying, this would only work for a FL resident to gift a FL AP to another FL resident then, right? What about grandparents that are keeping grandkids for the summer, can they get FL APs for the grandkids? Do the kids have to have an ID too?

Anyone (FL resident or not) can give a FL resident annual pass to a FL resident. A FL resident cannot give a FL resident annual pass to a non resident. If you give an annual pass as a gift you'll actually just be giving the person an annual pass voucher that can be exchanged for an annual pass. When the voucher is exchanged they will check the ID of the person who will be using the annual pass. If you gave a FL resident AP as a gift and the recepient doesn't have a FL ID then they can still use that voucher to obtain an annual pass, but they will need to pay the difference in price between a regular annual pass and what you paid for the voucher.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

These are the official rules:

Florida Resident tickets are only available to actual Florida Residents and cannot be purchased for out-of-state family or friends.

An adult Florida Resident may purchase Florida Resident media for more than one Florida Resident from any location that provides an exchange certificate and not an actual ticket.

Children under the age of 18 are not required to provide proof of Florida residency if they are accompanied by an adult with valid proof of Florida residency

If the Guest has an exchange certificate, a valid form of Florida ID will be required when the exchange certificate is redeemed for the actual pass

One ticket only per valid proof of Florida residence (a Florida resident may buy tickets for minors in the party)

Exchange Certificates may say:

"After sale..., may not be transferred except as a gift." This means that the certificate may be given as a gift, so long as the recipient meets the defined Florida residency criteria.

"Purchase and redemption of this exchange certificate requires proof of Florida Residency."

The following items are the only documents accepted as proof of Florida Residency:
* Valid Florida State Drivers License
* Valid Florida State issued ID Card with Florida Address
* Valid Florida Voter’s Registration Card with the Guest's name and address with corresponding photo ID
* Valid Florida University / College Student ID
* Valid Military ID stationed at one of the Florida Military Bases listed below:

(List of military bases deleted as unnecessary.)

 

[erin.w]

We actually get three trips out of our DVC annual passes. For example: 10 day trip in November of this year, 5 day trip in May of next year, and a 10 day trip in October of next year. Gives us 25 days on our passes. However, we are paying a bit more because we did not renew our passes last time, but the benefit of three trips outweighs what it would have saved us.

 

[roy of tallahassee]

The annual pass is the way to go. But I find it a bit strange that even as a DVC Member you can get a better price for the annual pass using a AAA discount. I think that is pretty sad. The cost should at least be the same. Last I checked it wasn't. Seems to me that Disney and DVC should gives the DVC member, who is their most supportive group, the best and biggest discount available for those passes. I never checked with other large groups like AAA but I guess it is possible places like AARP could get a bigger one too! I called this to Jim Lewis' attention in an e-mail and received a call from a very nice lady who went over my concerns and assured me they would look into that and that they loved to hear from us. But I don't believe they did anything. I also discussed with her in another response to an e-mail, all the perks like dining discounts and such afforded to non-members. There should be other incentives given to us they are bypassed. I suggested even a free dinner coupon to one of the fine dining places on property to encourage us. I guess they know we are a captive audience.

Oh well.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

But it is all Florida Resident APs that are less expensive than the DVC APs. Look at Post #18 of the Everything About WDW Tickets sticky in the TPA&S Forum (you can get directly to the sticky from the link in my signature).

The AAA Discounts from the Florida Resident Pass is obviously less than the DVC pass. However, an AAA discounted non-resident pass is much more than a DVC pass.