Annual Passholder..is it worth it?

[rabx5]

I think we will be going to WDW annually now. Is it worth it to purchase an AP from now on? Will I save a lot of money by using AP vs just buying parkhoppers for the length of each trip?

 

[ukwildcat]

Depends on how many times you visit the parks, etc. You may also like the flexibility of having APs and not worrying about visiting a park for a few hours (i.e. you won't feel like you have to get your moneys worth out of a park trip).

For us, we go a lot during the year because of proximity, but we also love the flexibility.

 

[n2mm]

You have to crunch the numbers and dates and see what works for you. I've been an AP holder for over 10 years and it works for us because we visit WDW 4-6 trips a year, depending on airfare prices. We total more than 40 days a year at WDW so we get our money's worth. The extra perks are just icing on the cake. There is the advantage of buying the DDE discount card. There are discounts (though small) on water park tickets, and hard ticket events (MNSSHP, MVMCP), there is a discount on mini-golf too which is pretty good. There is also the discount that is sometimes available on rooms too. A small discount on meals during the week at a select list of places if you don't want to get the DDE card.

 

[PamNC]

And with the cost of AP's rising each year, I don't know the numbers anymore. It use to be that you broke even on day 8, but I don't think that's the case anymore. I'll bet mousesavers has the formula or perhaps someone here knows it. That formula doesn't take into account the possible (and I do mean POSSIBLE) room discounts that you can receive. They are still around, but they aren't as deep as they use to be. I remember the day when we paid $179 for the YC/BC and $199 for the Poly. That rarely, if ever, happens anymore. However, if you plan on taking 2 trips within a year time frame, it is certainly going to be a little cheaper depending on how many nights you stay each trip. Also, the flexibility! You can hop in the parks for 2 hours and not feel that you have been cheated.

We have AP's that expired on 7/2 and if it weren't for current financial woes, we would be renewing. We just can't right now. But, I predcit we'll buy new ones next year. I'm sure of it.

PamNC

 

[cdrn1]

I bought my first AP this year because I had three trips planned in a short span of time. I would be spending a total of 11 days at the parks so I knew it would be worth it. (It kills me to think that I also spent 6 days there on a PH less than a year prior to my last trip!) I also got the DDE card, which saved me more than the cost of it the very first time we used it at Jiko. I then also got AP discounts for two of the trips, although the amounts saved were not that great because they were already booked at AAA rate, but it amounted to about $150 saved. Of course, I will be eating up all my savings by going more often than I would have otherwise.

 

[tmt martins]

We have them and will skip each year .

Like this year we went 8 day late June ,tring for 4 days in Oct, 5 days in DEC ,4 days in Spring ,and then 8 more days in Early June so thats 29 days we hope to hit .

Then next year we will do Just a fall spring trip for our left over points and do US/IOA and SW for that trip .

Then start the entire thing the following June.DD will be starting HS so we Know we will have to travel during peak times but with that many visits we can still get everything we want done and not feel rushed.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Jody, if you're planning on going to WDW annually, you can get double use out of your AP. If you typically go in May, plan a trip for later in the month and initiate your AP at that time. The next year go in early May. That way you get two uses out of your AP. The next year go in late May again, followed by an early May trip.

You'll also be able to take advantage of AP discounts on rooms as well as other AP discounts.

 

[ahutton]

We've always done the plan where our second big trip is before the annual expires, so we get two trips worth of admission for the price of one AP. That usually pays for itself. We've also found that we save money by spending nights on AP rates in hotels. A couple times we've been treated to special events, like a preview party for the Osborne Family Lights, because of our passes too!

We buy passes every 3 years, using one pass for two years worth of trips, taking any short "between" trips while that is valid. We then hold off on those little trips until the next big trip the 3rd year.

 

[rkujay]

Don't forget the discounts passholders enjoy. We just stayed at Yacht Club for $211 including tax. We paid $65 for the Dining card. Boy will that pay for itself! Merchandise discounts at Downtown Disney. Our grandchildren are dressed in style, due to that discount. Other dining discounts apply with the annual pass even if you don't purchase a dining card. Do the math for your personal edification. For us, who live here and go at LEAST once a month, it is a super deal.

 

[rabx5]

Thank you. I am still trying to decide though. Oh well, I have a while anyways