Any North Carolinians have APs?

[grumpy28]

Hi! I am about 9- 10 hours from Disney (about 11 with stops). Thinking of upgrading my 5 day PH into APs. Then taking a long weekend in Sept and Nov, and hopefully some next year before APs expire.

Just curious if other NC folk, have APs. It is a long drive (we always drive), and I want to make sure it'd be worth it. We are a family of 4.5 (baby is 2), so staying on property can be expensive (we will always stay on property).

Anyone else an AP holder living in NC? How often do you make it down?

 

[kmb584]

We aren't in NC, but we do live in PA and have AP. We make it down twice a year for 8-10 day trips.

 

[Accident]

I moved locally last year but had an AP when I was in NYC because it was cheaper than tickets.. Worth it is relative. If you are going to be coming down and AP is cheaper than tickets, then it'll save you money. Quick math if you did the 5 day + 2 day + 2day is $1 less than an AP. you'll get that dollar in discounts on food or merch (or both) so sure, if your going to be making those 3 trips anyway, you'll save money.

Now if your reason to come down more is because your getting an AP? well that's going to happen when you get an ap anyway so are you ok with all the other costs as room and food is still needed.. It also looks like your thinking of MK party time so you'll need those tickets as well and it's not that big of an ap discount on them.. It might be a good time to look at offsite rooms and start to venture out into the area more.. lots of great ways to save money by not eating at disney and getting a similar to value priced suite just outside of property with a kitchen.

 

[sharonabe]

Not an AP holder, but also a NCarolinian. I think you'll have to be very intentional, and actually put some trips on the calendar. Are kids in school? Can you take them out of school without too much hassle? We're a road trip, driving type family and our kids are used to being in the car for 10-12 hrs/day when we travel. How are your kids when traveling? It's one thing when you're on your way and everyone's excited, but another when you're just driving home.

I think it's doable, but for us, it would mean Disney takes up all our vacation time for the next year. No weekend trips to the beach or the mountains or anywhere else. We wouldn't have the time or the money to do anything else. If my kids were still little, I might be tempted to do it for one year.

 

[RebelHawk]

My wife and I live in upstate South Carolina and it is 7.5 hours from our door to the Boardwalk Hotel. We have been driving down for 1 - 3 long weekend trips per year for the last 18 years now. We use to get the 10 day park hopping non expiring passes and then used those for two or three trips. When Disney stopped selling those we bought 4 of them to "hold us over" (we can't wait to use some of those non expiring tickets in another 20 years or so) and then started getting AP. Since we are DVC members and we know we'll be going multiple times per year so it makes sense for us to get the AP. Also with the varying DVC AP discounts we can save even more money there.

 

[Jennasis]

We are in NC and had AP's. We are about 45 minutes north of Charlotte and it takes about 9 hours door to door. We did 4 trips last year and it was ALL because of the AP's. We went in early December for a week, a long weekend in May, a week in September, and then I booked a last minute "hey-our-AP's-are-gonna-expire-soon" long weekend about 6 weeks prior to actually going in early December again.

It was because we had AP's that we could do that last minute trip. We booked a cheapish offsite hotel for that one and it was great! For our other trips we used our DVC membership.

 

[Rash]

Raleigh area here - We bought APs this year because next years' spring break is one week earlier than this years' so we get two trips out of them. Once you have them, though, you find reasons to take more trips - I just booked a 4 day trip in August right before school starts back up. We will fly for that one, but we drive for the spring break trips since fligts are $$$$ at that time.

 

[alliecat523]

We live in IN and have AP's. It's not a weekend driveable trip for us but we still make it there (flying) a few times a year.

 

[DG25]

I assume you are talking DL not WDW. I live in Washington, we have had APs many times over the years. We drive or fly. We always make at least two trips 5 to 8 days long, but try to put in a third trip. The biggest savings is going to come with resort stays, you can save $100 to $300 a night on rooms. Over the years it has shrunk what you can save but DL resorts are a lot more expensive for what you get compared to WDW. You will find great savings early nov, and in Jan, maybe sept. We have stayed all three resorts, PPH has the biggest AP saving prices, two years ago I was able to get a concierge room for $302, which was only $12 more than a theme park regular room. When we got there we were on 12 floor over looking theme park, so sweet, we saved by only eating one meal a day in the park because there was so much food. Anyway, to answer your question, yes it is worth it, if you go at least twice. Since you are thinking about it, unless you are into a package, I would call and tell them your plan and you can save on your hotel this trip.

 

[grumpy28]

Thank you everyone for posting your experiences! I love reading them. I have been set on getting the APs, but woke up this morning thinking maybe I should just try for FD in Nov and call it a day. We always go twice a year (May and Nov), but I thought this year since I already have 5 day PH, I would upgrade to APs and squeeze in a Sept trip and MNSSHP and then have the APs for next Jan-May for maybe a long weekend or two. Adding up all those "little trips", makes it $$$ though!

 

[compshu]

We live in Eastern NC, right on the coast. It takes us 10-11 hours to get to WDW. One day we plan to get APs, especially since that would allow us to go into the parks on arrival day for the evening and departure day for the morning without worrying about wasting a ticket. And I'm sure we would wind up traveling down more often to get more uses out of it. We have friends in the area, so it would also be good to see them more often. Right now, the only thing keeping us from getting APs is the budget.

 

[cleophus12]

Don't have an AP currently but I've had one several times. I only do it when I know I will be going down more than once a year. If you think you will be going more than once, do it. I was never sorry I bought it. The drive from NC is not bad and is certainly doable more than one time a year.

 

[alicat130]

Raleigh area here too. My sister and I both upgraded to APs last month. We are both single, I work for the state (generous vacation time) and she is working to go back to a doctorate program, so can take off whenever. We drive down overnight to save a day of travel and plan on doing Thurs-Sun trips a few times this year. Having the APs makes us want to get away all the time now. We were very close to hopping in the car for this weekend earlier this week.
I would say a big advantage of the APs is free parking for coming from offsite, especially when you already have a car. We've been able to find 3 1/2 star hotels and better for around $50 a night that makes it a lot cheaper to travel down.

 

[raytheyounger]

We are in upstate SC. It takes us about 8-9 hours depending on stops and traffic. I asked a similar question (https://www.disboards.com/threads/seeking-opinions-from-ap-holders.3566139/). We decided to get APs this year. So far, we have taken one shorter trip (4 days) and are getting ready for a longer trip (8 days). We have one other long trip and two other short trips planned.

I know that you say that you always stay on property (we do too), but if you are looking to save some money, offsite may be something you should consider. Both of our long trips will be offsite. By staying offsite, we are staying 2 weeks (Wyndham Bonnet Creek and Sheraton Vistana) for less than we could stay at a value resort. And that's getting 2 bedrooms with a full kitchen.

 

[JPKnapp]

I live in Charlotte and we got APs this year. We bought in time for the extra month which put us over the edge - 2 Christmas seasons. Here is my thread on it (https://www.disboards.com/threads/a...ht-distance-away.3549552/page-4#post-56553425) And another one started by another poster with same scenarios (https://www.disboards.com/threads/seeking-opinions-from-ap-holders.3566139/#post-56873142)

The only thing I didn't truly understand was how busy the family is in the summer and that's putting a damper on my "un-planned" trips.

 

[TCRAIG]

My wife and I live in upstate South Carolina and it is 7.5 hours from our door to the Boardwalk Hotel. We have been driving down for 1 - 3 long weekend trips per year for the last 18 years now. We use to get the 10 day park hopping non expiring passes and then used those for two or three trips. When Disney stopped selling those we bought 4 of them to "hold us over" (we can't wait to use some of those non expiring tickets in another 20 years or so) and then started getting AP. Since we are DVC members and we know we'll be going multiple times per year so it makes sense for us to get the AP. Also with the varying DVC AP discounts we can save even more money there.

We also live upstate SC on the NC/SC border just south west of Charlotte...DVC with APs. We go 3X a year for 6-7 nights and drive. The AP really does give you an incentive to visit more often. However - We are empty nesters so we don't have to worry about kids schedules.

 

[NuJoy]

Husband and I live north of Raleigh, are DVC owners, and purchase AP's every other year, staggering our annual September trip so that 2 trips fall within the same AP year. As an example of how we use AP's, we bought them for our September 2016's trip; went for a long weekend in November to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy perform at F&W Festival; are leaving for a 9-day trip tomorrow after work; and will finish up with our regular vacation this September again. The year we have the AP's, I'm in heaven; but it's a long, terrible Disney drought the year we don't (sigh).

 

[wfjny]

Former Long Islanders, living in South Charlotte for the past 6 years. We are DVC members, which allows us to get a discount on the APs.

We are Disney fanatics, and we go quite often. My children grew up making trips between NY and NC, so 10 hours in a car is just something they grew up with, and are quite used to. Therefore, the 8 hour trip between us and Disney they can do standing on their heads. Plus, electronics makes the trip very different than laying in the back of my father's station wagon back in the 70s and 80s.

Having said that, our normal routine (lets say for a 3 day weekend):

After work, we depart and drive to Jacksonville. You can normally get a room cheaper there (dollars or frequent traveler points), and for us, it is about a 5 1/2 hour trip.

The next morning (say Saturday), we get up, grab our included breakfast, and head out by 6:30 or so. That puts us in one of the Disney parking lots by 9:00 AM. We spend the next two days in the parks (Sat & Sun). On the last day (Mon), we get up, pack up, and hit a park for a couple of hours. By noon (often a little sooner) we are on the road. Eight hours later, we are in our driveway.

For longer trips, I have been known to do the Jacksonville stop on the way home. Think of a week long trip, and spending the entire day in the parks on Saturday. Leaving the parks, grabbing a late dinner, and driving a couple of hours to Jacksonville. Again, the Saturday night room rate for a room in Jacksonville may be much cheaper than a Disney hotel, and Sunday morning, we are now less than six hours from home.

Owning at DVC has given us the advantage to get the discounted AP. Having an AP includes parking, meaning we can stay off-site for these little weekend getaways. Having traveled a bit for work, I have also built up a few Hilton points, which I will sometimes use for those Jacksonville stays, which can be half as many points for the same night as a hotel in Lake Buena Vista.

We leave for Jacksonville tomorrow night for one of those three day weekends...

 

[Branflakes]

We live just outside Raleigh and we are AP holders. We go twice per year usually April or May and then early fall like late sept early oct. We always fly, typically Southwest. However, two trips a year is worth having the AP. Room discounts and food/merch discounts are also a consideration.
We are going in less than two weeks, and the rate we got for YC club level was outstanding! A big savings. So, imo if you're going twice at least, I'd upgrade to AP.
As an aside, we got airfare on SW for $275 total nonstop round trip for BOTH my husband and myself. But I understand travelling with a few young ones can make flying a challenge.
If AT any point we were to drive, I'd be stopping along the way somewhere. Maybe Savannah or Jacksonville perhaps.

 

[compshu]

Since we wanted to maximize our time in the parks, we are leaving the day prior to our check-in date after work/school. We're going to drive down to King's Bay Naval Base in GA for the night, which is about 7 hours away. Then get up and drive the rest of the way in the morning. That'll put us at the resort by 10am, and in Epcot by noon. Only 26 days until we leave.