Anyone else have AP commitment issues?

[clombardi]

Some people can't commit to a long term relationship, but I have a WAY bigger problem.....I can't commit to an AP!

What is wrong with me? I have never been so indecisive in my life!

Here is our recent Disney history to give you a sense of our travel habits since 2003.

July 2003 (6nights)
July 2005 (6 nights)
April 2006 (4 nights)
December 2006 (4 nights)
February 2007 (4 nights)Field Hockey Showcase
August 2007 (7 nights)
February 2008 (3 nights) Field Hockey Showcase


I think it seems crazy for me to try to deny that the addiction is getting worse. If I thought logically I would realize that getting an AP this month would make complete sense because we'd use it 7 days in August and at least 3 in February.

To take it a step further, any sane person can see from my escalating pattern of visits, that I will be going back before next August. That would make the AP completely worth it.

But the little voice in the back of my head keeps telling me that we won't be going back after February. I don't know who that voice belongs to, but it isn't me! I wish it would just give up, but it nags at me each time I look at the numbers to compare MYW tickets to an AP.

Help me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please say something to convince me either way. I am tired of the AP torment!

 

[Robo]

When we buy AP's we usually stay long enough in the first trip to make them worthwhile (plus, we get the discounts on TS lunches, resort room discounts, and DTD shopping discounts.)

THEN, we have a whole year where the AP's are tempting us to return for another "free admission" visit.

It doesn't take much "tempting" for us to give in!!

 

[dopeyfanatic]

Assuming you don't go back after Feb.... a 7 day MYW park hopper for your first trip, and a 3 day one for your second trip will cost $512. That's just park hopping. No water parks. If you got a 10 day non expiry hopper your first trip so you could use it your second trip it would be $450. An AP is $448. So basically it's better to do the AP. If you add in water parks you prices become $612 for seperate tickets for your trip, $500 for a 10 day non expiry, and $579 for an AP. If you plan on returning before August next year, get the AP. Otherwise get a 10 day non expiry to split between your stays.

 

[darlak]

I'm not the OP, but I'm so glad I found this thread. I'm struggling with the same decision. We do one 7-10 trip with the whole famdamily (6 of us) and at least one more 7-10 day trip just me and my 2 DD's. I'm thinking AP's for all 6 of us though. My though process on this is that while we prefer to fly and typically do, we do live close enough (central Alabama) that we could drive down for a long (3 or 4 day) weekend. So IF we had AP's, we would probably go more often. I'm going in circles on this, but at least I do have until the end of next month to make a decision.

OP, let me know what you decide to do.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Just remember that all APs are designed, when they are more than 100 miles from WDW to sit in a drawer and occasionally, very loudly, start yelling: USE ME!

 

[jennyl772003]

We always had the same problem too. Our family vacation is usually 10 days, and recently we've been throwing in an extra 5 day in there too.

I've been telling DH it would make sense. He could only see the initial dollar signs. I finally talked him into it this year by telling him that our trip NEXT summer would hardly cost us a penny since we would already have the park tickets. Since we just bought DVC, our hotel will be paid for. All we need to do is get there!

 

[wendydarling826]

Take the plunge! Once you have the AP you find ways to make it pay for itself. We take a 10 day vacation in August and a long weekend mini-vacation in the winter. When we work the dates of the August vacation right, we can get two August vacations and the winter long weekend all out of one AP. Even better, join DVC and you get $100. off the price of the AP. And lots of discounts too. As a DVC member and an AP holder, I'm going broke saving money!

 

[disneynutz]

We always had the same problem too. Our family vacation is usually 10 days, and recently we've been throwing in an extra 5 day in there too.

I've been telling DH it would make sense. He could only see the initial dollar signs. I finally talked him into it this year by telling him that our trip NEXT summer would hardly cost us a penny since we would already have the park tickets. Since we just bought DVC, our hotel will be paid for. All we need to do is get there!

Don't forget your $100 AP DVC discount.

 

[PrincessV]

Just remember that all APs are designed, when they are more than 100 miles from WDW to sit in a drawer and occasionally, very loudly, start yelling: USE ME!

Uh, yeah - they do that a whole lot closer to The World, too, much to the dismay of my budget!

 

[Lora]

I don't know if I would go for the AP unless I had plans to visit twice in the year's time. We go once/year but plan the 2nd trip about 11 mos. later. It's tough for the first trip because of the cost, but the 2nd trip is nice because you have no ticket cost. We've never made a "hey, we have AP's and some DVC points -let's just go to Disney next month" trip.

 

[darlak]

I don't know if I would go for the AP unless I had plans to visit twice in the year's time. We go once/year but plan the 2nd trip about 11 mos. later. It's tough for the first trip because of the cost, but the 2nd trip is nice because you have no ticket cost. We've never made a "hey, we have AP's and some DVC points -let's just go to Disney next month" trip.

But would you if you knew you could just hop in your car and be there in 9-10 hours?

 

[Lora]

But would you if you knew you could just hop in your car and be there in 9-10 hours?

Probably not. We spend almost two weeks at WDW when we go. The rest of DH's vacation is usually reserved for family visits, relaxing at home, or other destinations. I love WDW, but I have also other places to go and people to see. Last year we did The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion Nat'l parks. This year, we've been to Boston and to NY to visit relatives. Yellowstone is calling to us for next year.

 

[jennyl772003]

Don't forget your $100 AP DVC discount.

Except we did everything backwards and bought the APs and THEN DVC. We were trying to beat the price increase. So to save $30 cost us $300 more....

 

[hncg57c]

You probably also want to take into consideration whether or not you would purchase park hoppers if you bought MYW tickets. If you were to buy 10 day tickets with no expiration and no park hopping, I roughly calculated that you would have to go to the parks for 11 days on an AP to get your money's worth.

I did not take into consideration the benefits of an AP (free parking, hotel discounts, etc), but you can look at these benefits as well and decide whether an AP is right for you.

 

[bopper]

You probably also want to take into consideration whether or not you would purchase park hoppers if you bought MYW tickets. If you were to buy 10 day tickets with no expiration and no park hopping, I roughly calculated that you would have to go to the parks for 11 days on an AP to get your money's worth.

I would say if you cannot commit to an AP, at least buy the 10 day no-expire ticket as that will be the most cost effective of non-AP tickets and you can use it whenever.

We did two 1week trips doing that...you don't have to go to the parks every day.

 

[clombardi]

Thanks so much for all the opinions. You DISers are the best. I love ya 'cause you're as nuts as me!

 

[duckfan78]

get the annual pass..i needed it, i got it, i love it.

 

[ilovecoasters]

I've had an AP for 10 years. We finally upgraded to premiums on Saturday so we could go to Quest, PI, and the water parks. You get some awesome perks. There are great resort, AMC movie, food, and shopping discounts. It is also easier for me to talk DH into staying there more often when AP rates are low.

 

[clombardi]

I think that I may have possibly, sort of, kinda made a decision! YAAAAAHHH! I think I will buy the Regular AP. We currently have the water park option on our MYW tickets, but I talked to my daughters and they said they'd be fine with one trip to BB this time. So, I'll upgrade to the AP and pay out of pocket for one water park trip.

Or.....I could buy the AP for the water parks! Oh no...another decision!

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

And, you are able to purchase the Disney Dining Experience card which we have found more cost saving than the Dining Plan!!!