Anyone Gone Twice In One Year And Not Gotten AP's?

[Madi100]

We are going to Disney in January. We are taking along my mom and step-dad. My mom is going to babysit our kids, and my step-dad decided to take advantage of a free hotel room (we got my mom her own). We booked a package, and we are happy with the deal we got. Yes, we saved money. Our last two trips we've gotten park hoppers. I'm kinda looking forward to the UPH that come with the package. We might try out a water park (if it's warm enough). We definitely want to go to Pleasure Island, etc.

Well, now we are probably going back next October with my dad and step-mom. So, the smart thing to do is to get Annual Passes. That is fine, but I just looked at the price for the Annual Pass with the extras, and it is really expensive! Would it be really stupid to do the package for the first trip and to get tickets for the second trip too?

 

[hockey mom]

We do 2 trips in one year with a seven day hopper. One trip we will use 4 days and 2 water parks and the next trip 3 days and 2 water parks.

 

[castlegazer]

I don't think its stupid because its what we do. You didn't note the length of your stays which is the predominant factor in determining whether or not to get the AP. We only do short trips of 2-4 days because we stay out at the beach for most of our visits so its not economical for us to get APs. If you are doing two trips of five - seven days, then look pretty hard at the APs.

 

[Melora]

We went last Feb and stayed for 7 days. Now we have a big trip planned in a month for 9 days. I feel pretty dumb that we didn't have AP because of all the money we would have saved.. We are getting them this time around and plan to go back before they expire, but I was pretty upset when I realized that we should have thought ahead, but we did not know we were coming back so soon.

 

[crazywig]

like melora, we took a trip last january and hadn't planned on going again in a years time....BUT we decided in august to take an anniversary trip in november.

we did buy ap's this time.....we also bought DVC

 

[Madi100]

Sorry. We are going to be in the parks probably 5 days both times. We will be there for 7 days each time. Even with AP's, I don't think we'd have time to go to the parks on the first days.

 

[nluvwithdisney]

My wife did not have one for the trips we took in Nov. 2001 and Aug 2002. Our Nov. trip was our longest of 11 days. I debated if we should both get PAP's. I got one for me for the room discount. and we got the UPH for her since we figured we wouldn't be back soon. About a month after we returned, a friend wanted to take a cruise to the Bahamas and go to Disney World in Aug 2002. After I paid the additional money for a Park Hopper Pass boy did I wish I had just purchased 2 PAP's at the beginning.

 

[Micca]

I think the amount of days where the AP becomes cost effective is around day 7 or 8 in a one year period. One cool thing about having AP's is that sometimes it's fun to run in to a park for one or two attractions or some shopping/dining and not worry about burning off a day of your passes. It's a real stress reliever.

 

[jann1033]

since it's a uph you won't have any days left and since it's a package you can't upgrade...so how much are you saving on the pack? enough to cover the difference in buying how ever many days of tickets you'll use next time? and what will you use of the water parks or minor parks that would make up for the cost if you got an ap.? and how about an ap discount for your rooms? you might save enough to warrent the ap plus have enough to go to the extras you want to.

we are planning 2 trips but don't do water parks and got a good DQ price so we are going with APs but if you are going to use a lot of the "extras" of the uph it may be worth it to you.

I haven't done a dollar comparison but it does not seem like the Pap is worth it for 14 days total if that includes 4 partial days. I mean even if you can do something those days, how much time will you have to spend at water parks, dq and pleasure island. so you'd be spending almost $50 to do what ever you do on those partial days ( ap vs pap)

 

[drp4video]

We were ther endof AUgust this year, and now, as a spur of the moment thing, are going for New Years. Kinda wished i'd done AP-since we will probably go in August 2004 again. (can't be sure tho, so I am not gonna get them for New Years)

 

[JC Butterfly]

So is it safe to assume that you are staying on property with this package? Is it even possible to cancel your package and change it to a room only?

If you go back next October will you stay on property?

If you are staying on property, an annual pass will give you a discount of up to 50% on your room and that's a great deal of savings too!

Also you may want to figure out if you for sure want to do the water parks or for sure how many times you will go to Pleasure Island. You might be better off buying a regular annual pass and then paying seperate admission for those things if you only want to do those once or twice.

You also mention that you "don't think you'd have time to go to the parks in the first few days" of your 7 day trip. However if you have an annual pass, you can!

I mean if it's an hour before park closing you can go in and not worry about "burning" a day so you might end up with a bit more of overall park time.

I just got an annual pass for the first time this October. I am so glad! At the time I knew that I wanted to go again next October but I didn't realize that an opportunity would come my way to go this December already!!

Plus it gave me discounts on boat rental and mini golf. I think it just offers an entisement to go more often.

Brenda

 

[Madi100]

So is it safe to assume that you are staying on property with this package? Is it even possible to cancel your package and change it to a room only?

If you go back next October will you stay on property?


If you are staying on property, an annual pass will give you a discount of up to 50% on your room and that's a great deal of savings too!

Also you may want to figure out if you for sure want to do the water parks or for sure how many times you will go to Pleasure Island. You might be better off buying a regular annual pass and then paying seperate admission for those things if you only want to do those once or twice.

You also mention that you "don't think you'd have time to go to the parks in the first few days" of your 7 day trip. However if you have an annual pass, you can!

I mean if it's an hour before park closing you can go in and not worry about "burning" a day so you might end up with a bit more of overall park time.

I just got an annual pass for the first time this October. I am so glad! At the time I knew that I wanted to go again next October but I didn't realize that an opportunity would come my way to go this December already!!

Plus it gave me discounts on boat rental and mini golf. I think it just offers an entisement to go more often.

Why couldn't I cancel and switch to a room only?

Yes, I would stay on property both times. Is there any other way????

That is one of the things I'll have to do some numbers on. If we do go to a water park, it will be maybe once. We'll definitely go to Pleasure Island at least once each trip.

The things I think would be great for an annual pass are Cirque De Soleil, miniature golf, and the room discount. Do you get discounts on the Illumination Cruise with an AP?

I'll really have to do some figuring, but I don't want to put the effort into it until we know for sure if we are going next October.

 

[Leota]

Break even point for the PAP is 12-13 days.
Break even Point for the AP is 7-8 days.
That doesn't take into account any savings from the PAP/AP like room discounts etc...
If it were me, I would most likely buy the PAP if I were doing either of my trips in the summer & if my total days in WDW that year added up to 12.
I only found one package, once, back in 1998 - that actually saved me money. Usually you are better off booking room only with some sort of discount (if you're going to have a PAP/AP, you can plan your trip around the discounts those give & save a bundle!)