Another ? about passes PAP vs. Annual

[mouselike-harrier]

We do not use the water parks or golf courses, etc. Since WDW took away the 20% discount from the PAP, does it make sense for us to purchase the regular pass, or is there something I"m missing?

 

[vicki_c]

I don't really understand the question. You say you didn't use the water parks and they took away the 20% discount for the PAP*, so is it worth it to buy the regular AP? The question doesn't seem to be connected to what you wrote about the PAP. AP makes sense if you're going to be visiting enough to make it cheaper than park tickets. At $464 for the DVC AP, that's a much easier hurdle than for a non-DVC guest, but it still depends on how much you're visiting.

*I'm confused by this but I admit that I don't pay much attention to PAP pricing. The PAP is currently only $484 for DVC members (limited time offer), which is a very good deal I think if you want a PAP.

 

[mouselike-harrier]

I just meant is it worth me to spend $20 pp more on a PAP, instead of a regular pass? I'm not sure what I would be gaining from the PAP.

 

[rpk1951]

I agree with you. If you are not using any of the features, then $20 a pass is $20. Save it for something else. I am looking at the same thing and when you multiply $20 by the number of passes, it could buy you a few lunches.

 

[kneedeep]

I think that OP meant that the PAP used to carry the benefit of a 20% discount off merchandise purchased at most stores in the parks and DTD. Now the merchandise discount for all passholders, whether PAP or regular AP, is 10%. So whereas in the past the extra $20 cost for a PAP would probably be recouped by the additional merchandise discounts, there is no longer that additional benefit.

I agree that if you truly won't use the water parks, Disney Quest or golf courses, the $20pp is better spent elsewhere.

 

[tb1972]

I'm not sure if you go to Disney Quest? If so, the $20 extra PAP may be worth it. We have a 9 year old son who loves it. With the PAP we can stay for a bit and not waste money on admission.

 

[erionm]

I just meant is it worth me to spend $20 pp more on a PAP, instead of a regular pass? I'm not sure what I would be gaining from the PAP.

The PAP has all the same benefits of an AP, plus entry to two Water Parks, DisneyQuest, ESPN WWOS and Green Fees at Oak Trail. If you will use any of these additional options just once, it's worth the extra $20 plus tax.

 

[mouselike-harrier]

Thanks everyone! Just confirms what I was thinking. We are a theme park only kind of family, so $20 is $20, and the savings will definitely buy us lunch!

 

[DebbieB]

The last promo, the promo PAP price was less than a regular AP, about $25. Plus it had the 20% off merchandise. This time, the PAP is $20 more than a regular DVC AP and the merchandise discount is the same, so it's not worth it if you aren't going to use water parks or disney quest.

 

[vicki_c]

I was tempted by the PAP price as well, thinking "but it's only $20" and we've never done a water park or DQ. But you know what, that's because we don't really care about those things. If we bought it, I was already starting to see it as another thing to try and squeeze into our already tight plans, causing me more planning stress!

So we will save the $80 it would cost my family. That will almost pay for our TiW card.

 

[LisaS]

Re: the water parks, DH won't do any water slides and doesn't like the big waves in the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon. He loves the lazy rivers at both parks and enjoys the bobbing pool at Blizzard Beach. Given how little he is willing to do, I didn't feel it was worth paying full price to get into either water park so we stopped going to them a few years ago.

With last year's PAP promo, we went back to both water parks and had so much fun! We spent a few hours at each park (on different days) enjoying just those things he is willing to do and then relaxed on some lounge chairs for a while. It was great. We're planning to do it again on our next two trips and then, unfortunately, our PAP will run out.

We can't take advantage of this year's PAP promo, but even though it is $20 more than the AP this time around I would gladly pay that amount to spend a few hours each trip at one or both of the water parks. At full price the water parks aren't a good deal for us but at $20 for unlimited admission for a full year, absolutely. For those who have never been to one of the water parks, this is an opportunity to try one for half price. And if you find you enjoy it, you can go back again and again until your PAP expires. If you don't enjoy it, well at least you didn't pay full price for the chance to give it a try.

If you have tried the water parks and just didn't enjoy them and you won't be going to Disney Quest or any of the other options you get with a PAP, then save yourself $20 and get the regular AP.

 

[vicki_c]

LOL. Don't do that to me Lisa.

 

[LisaS]

LOL. Don't do that to me Lisa.

Sorry! (This is the closest thing I could find to a smiley floating in a lazy river on a giant tube! Just ignore the sail.)

 

[erionm]

We do not use the water parks or golf courses, etc. Since WDW took away the 20% discount from the PAP, does it make sense for us to purchase the regular pass, or is there something I"m missing?

With today's (2/23/2014) ticket price increase, yes it makes sense to purchase the PAP at the promo price over the AP.

Member Pricing effective 2/23/2014:
DVC AP:
New $485 plus tax ($21 increase)
Renewal $409 plus tax ($15 increase)

DVC PAP:
New $605 plus tax ($21 increase)
Renewal $509 plus tax ($15 increase)
PROMO until 4/30 $484 plus tax

 

[vicki_c]

Yes, I just popped over to post that it looks like my decision has been made for me. PAPs it is. Not the end of the world, I guess we will try out a water park!

I can't believe one of these deals is working out for me and we will be there at the right time and already with a plan to get new APs. The stars must have aligned for me.

 

[mouselike-harrier]

With today's (2/23/2014) ticket price increase, yes it makes sense to purchase the PAP at the promo price over the AP.

Member Pricing effective 2/23/2014:
DVC AP:
New $485 plus tax ($21 increase)
Renewal $409 plus tax ($15 increase)

DVC PAP:
New $605 plus tax ($21 increase)
Renewal $509 plus tax ($15 increase)
PROMO until 4/30 $484 plus tax

Looks like this is what I'm going to do. I thought my son was joking when he told me about it last night.

 

[DebbieB]

So with the price increase, the promo PAP is now $1 cheaper than a regular AP. So your decision may weigh on if you want to buy it by 4/30 and if you can activate it by 1/31/15.

 

[Sheri in CT]

I have never purchased an annual pass so I have some questions. We are going 12/2014 for 4 days and 5/2015 for 7/8 days. I want to get the PAP. Will it work for these trips? Can you park hop? Is the golf free? Do I have to call to get the special pricing? I looked online and the price is a lot more. Thanks!

 

[HookdonWDW]

Our current APs expire on 31DEC14. We are planning a trip in Jan15, but what would happen if we purchased PAPs under this deal, and then ended up having to cancel our January trip for some reason? Would they automatically activate our APs when the previous ones expired, would we be out the price of the PAPs if we didn't go in person to activate them in January, or would we be able to apply the amount we paid for the unactivated passes to new passes/tickets?