Any annual pass holders?

[Eeyoreloverforever]

What is the difference in price between an annual pass and a 7 day park hopper?

What are the benefits of an annual pass?

We live in NS and we do try to go down yearly and I am wondering if there are any benefits to have an annual pass?

We are going in October of 2003 to see Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I can hardly wait!!

We have decided to decorate the house in Disney stuff, so I can't wait to go shopping in Disney Marketplace.

 

[hockey mom]

I had an AP a couple of years ago because we were also going down twice in one year. I used it for room discounts, free parking(if you are staying off-site), a discount at the stores of DD, and of course entry into the parks. It worked out great that year and saved quite a bit of money but we have only gone once a year since then so I did not renew. Off hand I don't recall the price difference.

We are also going down for one of Mickey's halloween parties over Thanksgiving weekend, when is your trip scheduled for?

 

[Eeyoreloverforever]

is scheduled for October 18-29, 2003. How do you afford to go twice in one year? Our trip for 3 usually costs us about $6000.

 

[Susan--Ontario]

Good Wednesday Morning,

We are just in the midst of planning our third trip with this Annual Pass. We wouldn't go to WDW any other way. The main reason is the flexibility it gives us. We don't feel that we have to go to the parks from the moment it opens until the moment it closes. We often go over for a couple of hours in the morning or head over just before supper to see the fireworks.

The difference in price between an AP and the 7 day hopper pass isn't that much. Nancy do you still have the exact numbers?? If you are going for more than a week I think that the AP is your best bet. We usually go for two weeks and always plan two trips in one year. We're hoping to get a third trip in in a few weeks because the hotels aren't that bad a price. I call every morning to see if the AP rates are out yet.

The other advantages of an AP are free parking, discounts at restaurants (this will become more attractive once the Disney Club is discontinued), and of course discounted hotel rooms.

You have to decide how long you are going for, what other activities you're family will be doing (ie. Universal, Space Centre, Sea World etc.), and if the difference is worth it to you. My children are still young (1 and 7) and so we don't go to anything other than Disney and shopping. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing their faces the first time they see their favorite character.

I will always go with an AP. Hope this helps.

Have a super day!!

 

[MaMudduck]

did you buy AP's for this year? Or did you tell me in Jan. that you have left over tics (that's tickets- not the bug type )

 

[NancyK]

I have the prices to buy passes through the Canadian Disney Store. The seven day park hopper plus is $513 Cdn for adults and $413 for children 3 to 9 years old. Annual passes are $617 for adults and $529 for children. (If you have the Disney Club, the prices are approximately 5 percent less). The 5 day park hopper plus passes are $413 for adults and $330 for kids.
The 7 day park hopper plus also gives you 4 "pluses" which can be used at the water parks and Pleasure Island. The advantage to the park hoppers is that they never expire - if you don't use all of the days, you can use them sometime in the future.
If you're planning a trip of more than a week and plan to spend most of your time in the Disney parks, an annual pass is definitely the way to go. You can also buy Premium annual passes which allow entry into the waterparks, but I don't think it's as cost effective as getting a regular annual pass and paying for the waterparks separately.
We bought annual passes in 1999. Spent two weeks at Disney in March and it got us discounts on our room, discounts on a couple of restaurant meals, and a discount on miniature golf. Then - we turned around and drove back for another week in the summer. That time we stayed in an offsite hotel for $39 a night, we brought cereal and poptarts from home for breakfast, and usually ate one meal a day out at Taco Bell or something. Our parking was free because of the annual passes and we managed to do that second trip for less than $1500 Canadian. (Of course, the first trip was a lot more than that )
Once you figure out how many days you'll actually be in the parks, you'll be able to see if the park hoppers or the annual passes are your best bet. Happy planning!

 

[hockey mom]

Eyeoreloverforever, we went down twice in 2000 because we went over New years and froze and had a miserable time so we went back down in April. The first trip we drove, used priceline for a few nights and used AP discount for POR, the second time we flew out of Buffalo, used priceline for a few nights again and another AP discount at AK lodge. It is expensive but it is are only major vacation every year. This year we are driving down for Easter and flying down for 5 nights in October. I bought 7 day hoppers and CAA at par passes for this trip and they will also carry us through the next trip which is a huge savings.

MaMudduck I bought the regular 7 day passes(not the CDN special) this time so I could make them last for 2 trips. I used Paramount because even after shipping the prices are better and you get the free character breakfast.

 

[rcomputer]

Having grown kids makes travel easier and lots cheaper. Last year we used the WDW annual pass for 40 days. This year we have 31 days used or booked so far.

It is unusual for us to have so many trips booked so far ahead but the low airfares from Buffalo right into next year are too good to miss.

 

[madonna31]

Eeyore,

Basic rule of thumb is if you are planning on visiting more then 7 days in the parks, then get the AP.

Yes, they give room discounts, and other discounts but they vary month to month.

You can NOT beat the freedom of an AP - on our honeymoon, DH and I would just *drop in* to Epcot for dinner...that alone was worth the price difference (as Epcot has some of the best on-site restaurants)

How do I manage to go more then once per year? There are TONS of ways to save money...and not all of them start with *stay off site*...

Send me a PM and I can help you book you next trip with discounts (as I am a Disney Vacation Specialist)

$6000??? My DH and I have gone for 2 weeks for under $3,000