Annual Passports - Is it worth it?

[cookie334]

I never considered these before as I was sure we wouldn't make use of them, but now we're booking in January (6 months after going) I thought it might be worth looking into.

I have a basic understanding of them from what I've read on here, but was just wondering if you guys could give me a little more info please.

What would be the best/cheapest way of getting them for a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children + an infant)? Would we be better getting an adult sponsor from here then them sponsoring the rest of the family (if that's allowed) or get all of us sponsored from here or is there another alternative?

Also, do you think it would be worth it for us? We will be going twice a year and maybe the odd 3rd trip if money will allow. We will always be staying onsite, more than likely at the Cheyenne and will spend on average £100-£150per day while there (including meals) and we will probably be there 5-7 days each time. What do you all think? Would the discounts and things really make it worthwhile?

 

[cap'njack.]

Also, do you think it would be worth it for us? We will be going twice a year and maybe the odd 3rd trip if money will allow. We will always be staying onsite, more than likely at the Cheyenne and will spend on average £100-£150per day while there (including meals) and we will probably be there 5-7 days each time. What do you all think? Would the discounts and things really make it worthwhile?

You would save between £15 and £30 depending on the type of pass you bought and if it was food or shopping that you were buying. So that would be about £100-180 for the whole holiday.

I'm staying off-site in October and buying AP's as they actually work out about the same as the park tickets. I think a 5 day hopper was about £95 and a Fantasy AP was £105. Now that's a no-brainer

Staying on-site I'm not so sure though.

 

[Winterfee]

After being 3 times last year without an AP, I decided to buy one.

For me - living in Switzerland - it's worth: you have to pay Euro 59 for an adult and Euro 51 for a child over 3. So if you only stay 3 days - it's worth it. Plus, you receive a discount of at least 10% for Resort Hotels, 20% in boutiques (great for shopaholics ), 10% in the restaurants, you can use EMH (so no really need to stay in "expensive" Resort hotels).

And with the still valid offer for a free AP for kids under 7 - you can't make anything wrong in my opinion.

As far as I know, you will also receive special invitations and discounts on events (e.g. Halloween Party).

 

[cookie334]

Thanks guys. I'm still not too sure.

I would not be able to take advantage of the free kids passport as it ends in November and we wont be back until January

Cap'nJack - Thanks for the info, could you tell me if you're basing these saving on me getting the free kids passports or on paying for 4 passports please?

Also does anyone know how much it is per night for room only at the Cheyenne? The other downside is I'd have to book by phone which would mean no cashback, so maybe in saving on some things, I will just pay more for others?

 

[DLPdaft]

Its all going to be about crunching the numbers for your particular party size.

You need to consider how much it would cost to book a package, twice a year, for your party. Get the prices for this for the Cheyenne if thats your hotel of choice.

Then look at how much the annual passes would cost for all the members of your party. You would only need one dream pass among you if you want the maximum discounts, and you are intending staying onsite each time (that way, you still all get EMH). Be aware though, that room only prices for onsite hotels are not always a great price, compared with package prices. It depends on so many things, season, occupancy rates at the hotels etc. (for example, for our party of 2, I could have booked a package including park tickets for £203, and the Dream AP room only rate plus DD's Fantasy pass (my pass is still valid, hers needs renewing) comes to £216.

If there are no free kids passes deals when you buy them (the current deal is only available up to 7th November 08) you should either consider getting sponsorship for each pass (as you can't sponsor on a new pass until you've had it for one month) or consider the family deal discount (I don't know enough about this to advise you I'm afraid).

Then, factor in how much you would save in a normal years worth of visits with restaurant/shopping discounts. 10% off all food bills, 20% off all shopping bills.

I think, if you tend to go to DLRP in low season, midweek, termtime, you may find its not cheaper getting APs and then booking onsite room only. As there are good package deals every year with Disney direct.

I got DD's pass free, and did get a very good Dream AP room only rate for the Cheyenne last November. But the prices for room only onsite do seem to have jumped by about 50% between then and June this year (again, low Disney season, midweek), and its a similar story now.

For us, the passes have definitely been the way to go, but mostly because DD's was free. We do 2 trips a year as well.

Elaine

 

[cookie334]

Thanks Elaine, a lot of good info there.

Are the emh being continued after the 15th anniversary though? Also I believe emh are only Fri-Mon out of season, is this the case with the ap aswell? Or do you get them everyday with that regardless of the time of year?

So do you get a discount for being sponsored? I take it you can't get a childs ap without an adult having one? ie if we decide just to get one, it would have to be the more expensive adult one?

 

[cap'njack.]

Cap'nJack - Thanks for the info, could you tell me if you're basing these saving on me getting the free kids passports or on paying for 4 passports please?

It was just based on savings you would make using the 10% off food and 10% (20% if Dream) off shopping.

I have no idea about buying for children etc as my son is only going to be 18months old and we won't need a ticket for him.

As Elaine said, the best thing to do is to sit down and work it all out based on your own circumstances. I've been planning for about three weeks now and I still haven't decided weather or not to get 2 Fantasy AP's or 1 Fantasy and 1 Dream (EMH doesn't bother us as we are taking it slowly this time, pregnant wife and small child = no fast rides and no rushing around )

 

[DLPdaft]

EMH is a great perk and advantage for buying an onsite package/room, so I think it might be continued (but there is nothing definite about this yet as far as I know). EMH is only as available, so yes, possibly not every day in low season.

APs cost the same regardless if they are a child or adults.
You can be sponsored by an existing AP holder for each pass that you want to buy, and this gives you 10% off the price of each pass.

Once you have your annual passes for one month, you can start sponsoring other people for their new annual pass purchases. If you get 3 new passes bought with your sponsor details within a year of you buying yours, you can extend your existing annual pass for free for another 12 months (so in effect, you pay for one years pass, get another year free). You can sponsor on each purchased pass, and so if you get enough sponsors, you could get each of your passes extended for a year for free.

Elaine

 

[Rachie B]

for us its def worth it

we will get youngest sons free when we go this week,make use of EMH as staying offsite,all the discounts ( we eat out and shop a lot lol) and free parking in HNY

we plan to go at least twice again, in the 12 months too ( xmas 2 days , and 3/4 day trip @ easter or may half term ish)

2 day hopper tickets ( for this coming trip) would cost us approx £278 for the 4 of us, APs are costing approx £397 ,with sponsor discount on 2 of them

with our APs we are going to do half a day when we arrive on fri, and possibly mon morn too ,which we wouldnt do with having to buy day tickets!

£397 divided by the 4 of us = £99.25
divided by 3 ( trips) = £33 per trip per person!

 

[Jukeboxs]

I returned from our first DLP trip last month and certainly found the APs a big money-saver. We visited the Parcs on 4 days, which covered the AP costs alone. On top of this, we saved a minimum of £150 on food and gifts, and occassional parking costs. And we will make even more savings on our return trips (Sept and early next year). So, the APs are well worth the initial outlay in my opinion.

If you become a ED shareholder (minimum holding of 5 shares, which costs ~£35 for 5 shares plus ~$24 fee every 2 years, or ~£140 for 20 shares with no ongoing fee), you will benefit from an automatic 15% discount on your AP costs (as well as other discounts).
http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/shareholders/shareholders-club/index.xhtml

Good luck making your decision!

 

[Jukeboxs]

Ooops - £24 ongoing fee, not Euros.

 

[cookie334]

Thanks a lot! Ooooh decisions decisions. It's gonna take me till my next visit to decide.

 

[kevankiki]

It was definitely worth it for us! We went for Dream passes in the end, as there are blackout days with the Fantasy pass, also it meant we got the EMH though that is no longer so important to us. We found a sponsor on here, which gave us a 10% discount, after the first trip we had broke even with the money saved on food and in the shops. We then sponsored 3 people each, which got us the second year free.

I recently sat down and worked out that entrance cost is now down to £5 each per day, including our two forthcoming trips, that's aside from the money saved on food, souvenirs, luggage storage, half price Halloween Party tickets, etc!

The downside is, you feel obliged to return to DLP, just to get as much use out of them as possible

 

[cookie334]

I could quite believe that Annette. I feel obliged to return to DLP anyway, I don't need any more of a reason

Thanks for your help everyone, I've talked it through with oh and I think we're going to go for the shares rather than the AP, you've all been fab though, thanks

 

[kevankiki]

I could quite believe that Annette. I feel obliged to return to DLP anyway, I don't need any more of a reason

I'm sure there is something in the air there, or the water, that causes you to need to return for more!

 

[cap'njack.]

I'm sure there is something in the air there, or the water, that causes you to need to return for more!

It's the same that turns you from an Adult into a 6 year old as soon as you see the parks

 

[kevankiki]

Ah, of course!

 

[cookie334]

I'm sure there is something in the air there, or the water, that causes you to need to return for more!

I'm sure you're right. June was our first visit and DD actually cried when we were leaving, I mean really sobbed her heart out saying how much she was going to miss the place

 

[kevankiki]

I'm sure you're right. June was our first visit and DD actually cried when we were leaving, I mean really sobbed her heart out saying how much she was going to miss the place

I'm not quite sure how old your DD is, but if it's any consolation my DD is 16, and we always cry when we have to leave DLP!

I still recall her sobbing as we left DL California back in 1998 too!

 

[A Small World]

We bought annual passes last July which have just run out but they were definitely worth it - we had 5 days last July, 3 days at Christmas, 6 days at Easter and have just had 7 days this July meaning it cost us approx £5 everytime we went in to the park. Thats before money saved on shopping. food etc.