Annual Passes

[wilki32]

Hi
We have received our 5 day park hoppers for our trip in November which we didn't get direct from Disney. But now we are seriously considering going over next August as well.
My first question is can we exchange the park hopper for an AP?
Secondly is it worth it?
Hopefully hear from you all soon.
Anthony

 

[Goofyish]

You can upgrade you Hopper at Guest Relations/Ticket Windows in any park

A 5day HopperPlus adult pass is $300, two trips would cost $600

An Premium Annual Pass (includes water parks and Disney Quest) costs $531 or $403 for a normal Annual Pass.

So financially just on ticket cost you would save a little.

With an AP or PAP you do get other perks - discounts on meals a selected venues and discounts in shops and mini golf.
One of the biggest perks with an AP is the WDW resort discounts - upto 40% of the rack rate at WDW resorts! If you plan to stay on-site this can save you a small fortune

 

[Miffy2003]

You will also have so much more flexibility with an Annual Pass. Rather than being restricted to 5 days only you can go whenever. For example, on a non park day you may decide to pop into Epcot to see Illuminations - but you would not want to do this with a Hopper as you would be "wasting" a precious day of your 5 day pass, for just an hour or two entry into Epcot. You would not have this to worry about with an AP or a PAP.

Karen

 

[wilki32]

Thanks for the info Goofyish and Karen
So do you sign the passes before handing them over or do you leave them blank?
Very interested in the discounts on the resort hotels as we are hoping to stay at AK Lodge for 3 weeks from Aug 7th 2005, is there anywhere we can get more info on this. Staying on the hotel subject would 3 weeks at the same hotel be too much, not sure on this as we have always stayed in villas or condos.
Thanks again
Anthony

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Anthony,

Here is some info on Ap discounts - I've also sent you a PM about what discounts you might expect to get in August.

Don't know the answer to your signature question, sorry.

As to the same hotel for 3 weeks - well I know I would be very happy in a Disney hotel for 3 weeks but I almost certainly would split my stay between 2 or even 3 of them - purely to get a fantastically different experience at different hotels. Some people don't want the hassle of moving though so it's up to personal preference. Disney will move all your bags etc from one resort to the next. Click on the links of each hotel .here


For example, how about one week at AKL (proximity to AK and all the lovely animals and themeing). Deluxe hotel.
One week at Port Orleans, closer to DTD and nice themeing but very different to AKL. Slightly cheaper than AKL. Moderate hotel.
and one week at Wilderness Lodge - close to MK, same price approx as AKL and great themeing.

Check out the hotels page to see what appeals to you and your family
HTH

Karen

 

[Goofyish]

Moving between Disney Resorts is easy

Last August we did a 11 days at POR and then moved to AKL for 3 days. We just got Bell Services at POR to pick our cases from our room and transport them to AKL. We then went off and spent the day in the parks and returned to AKL about 3pm to check in. Our bags were waiting in Bell Services at AKL and as soon as we had our room sorted they brought the bags up

If you do stay at AKL make sure you get a Savannah View room.
Sitting on our balcony watching the giraffes feed below us was a wonderful exoperience

The AP discounts are usually released a few months in advance and the quantity of discounts rooms various depending on what time of year you are going and how busy Disney is - obviously if they can fill rooms at rack rate then they won't offer too many at a discount.

A great site to check for discounts is Mousesavers:

Mousesavers

Alternatively you can book though DreamsUnlimited (DIS site travel company). You will get your own assigned agent who will make your reservations and then will keep checking for any applicable discounts codes that can be applied to your booking - right up until the time you leave for your holiday!
You agent can also book PS reservations at WDW restaurants for you - saves those transatlanitc calls

DreamsUnlimited

 

[wilki32]

Thanks again
I think 3 weeks in the same room maybe too much, so we will definately be splitting the 3 weeks. Had thought about Port Orleans previously and maybe even near Universal or one of their hotels.
I have been in touch with Dreams Unlimited and think that if we do go with the AP then we will use them, seems a lot more convenient.
Thanks for the links and hopefully i a years time will have finished a trip report!!!
Anthony

 

[squitty]

Hi Anthony

What tickets do you need to sign? We have never had to sign a hopper ticket or AP's

Also when you are upgrading the hopper to a AP/PAP be aware you might not get what you paid for them, you will probably get what the person who you bought them from paid for them.

We went to DTD guest relations and enqiured on how much trade in they would offer us