Anyone NOT Going To Renew AP

[DisneyBoundForever]

due to the lack of...or at least the 60 day out thing?
I wanted to do a last minute trip......I cannot afford to go otherwise. that is one reason why I bought my AP!

for me it is a waste of time now.

 

[Sammie]

due to the lack of...or at least the 60 day out thing?
I wanted to do a last minute trip......I cannot afford to go otherwise. that is one reason why I bought my AP!

for me it is a waste of time now.

We bought our Annual Passes always for unlimited park admission so we will continue to buy them for the same reasons.

 

[susancl]

I bought mine because I knew I was going on three trips last year (2 business/1 family). I'm not renewing since I have no trips planned in the next year.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We like to take spur-of-moment trips. While AP's allow us to visit as often as we want, we really miss the last minute discounts. Dh and I have discussed not renewing. However, we don't renew until the end of May; so we have plenty of time to decide. Also, there's no telling what the program will be like by then. We may be happier with it by then.

 

[ZippyDooDah]

OK, will someone break this down for me? I have been reading threads and catching bits and pieces over the last few days of big changes with the AP program. What are the details? I gather they are no longer doing room dscts for AP holders? Anything else? Our renewal date is 11/27, so I need to know details and decide pretty quick!

 

[Sammie]

OK, will someone break this down for me? I have been reading threads and catching bits and pieces over the last few days of big changes with the AP program. What are the details? I gather they are no longer doing room dscts for AP holders? Anything else? Our renewal date is 11/27, so I need to know details and decide pretty quick!

Discounts are still offered during certain time periods, however they have gone to online booking with a one night nonrefundable deposit due with the booking and you must book 60 days prior to arrival.

The new plan is called BRP or Best Rate Plan and you can get complete details on the Passholder section of the official Disney website. That is also where you can check for discounts and book them.

You will need a current Pass or voucher to book the AP discount. Many have decided that the package deals Disney is offering are better for them as some have included tickets and dining.

 

[PamNC]

We have been seriously considering it. However, we have some time because ours do not lapse until July 2006. I absolultely DESPISE the new BRP. We like taking last minute trips, and given our careers it's not always possible to plan in advance. Sometimes we can, but I need to have the security of knowing I have a 5 or 7 day cancellation policy. Now, second thing...the passholder site sucks. I don't have time to screw around with it...I'd rather call the old fashioned way. But I digress...

We talked about it and did the math. We go 2-3 times a year and although the AP's have gone up in price considerably, we still save about $68 each versus buying MYW tickets with the park hopper option. I must park hop! So, unless the AP's go up again to the point where it doesn't make sense, we will probably renew. We'll just see what happens between now and July. I'm beginning to feel like changes are on the way - I think Disney is starting to see that BRP is not the answer to all answers.

One tip for you. Stay at the Swan or Dolphin. They don't play the Best Rate game. We called 5 weeks ago and booked a trip for Thanksgiving and got an AP rate. No non-refundable deposit, no stress, no strain. That's the way it should be!!!!!

THANK YOU SWAN/DOLPHIN.

PamNC

 

[dzneelvr]

We go every other year, so let our AP lapse on the off year. I always do a quick analysis of the cost of AP vs non-AP for our situation. AP has always proven to be a savings to us because we go for 10 days, use the AP for our ASMo room discount, use AP for another discount on the DDE dining card (20% off), and the AP offers discounts on selected merchandise at DTD which we take huge advantage of. Each of those components allows us to save a nice chunk of change when added all together. I'll be checking out the AP rate on a couple tours we will do this trip (Sedgeway at EPCOT and KTTK in MK--so far my disney visa is coming in with the better %).

 

[andromedaslove]

Well our passes don't expire until April, so we have some time to think about it too. As of right now though, I think DH and I have decided to let our passes lapse. We don't usually get a chance to schedule a trip in advance. Usually it is one of those, "Hey honey, I wanna go to Disney, you think we can go next weekend" kind of things. With the new BRP that just isn't feasible anymore. We end up spending at least 30 days out of the year at WDW. I think for this next year we will invest in USF/IOA passes and stay offsite.

 

[MinnieM21]

I probably won't renew mine but not because of the limitations of the BRP. To me, 60 days out is a last minute trip since I normally plan way in advance. We bought APs for unlimited admission and were able to use the BRP for our January '06 trip(my mom is renewing hers, i'm letting mine expire). I would just rather travel somewhere else. I'm planning on taking a trip to Europe instead of going to WDW later next year.

 

[minijeanie]

We're not renewing. We bought this year because we scheduled two trips. I was able to utilize the AP the old way in June. This past week AP was of no advantage to me. Could not get a rate, didn't need free parking because we did not take a car and did not purchase anything in DD.

We actually went with AAA rate. Stupid me should of added on dining and I would of saved bundles.

 

[TnTsParty]

I didn't renew but I am getting another seasonal pass in December when I go - since mine expired in Oct I didn't want to renew for only a $20 savings and loss out on these months in between Oct and Dec.

 

[Disney Spaz]

Ours just expired and we won't be renewing. It is partially because of BRP. We got great air fare for last month through SW but it really hurt the wallet after we purchased the airfare when the new BRP came out because we had wanted to do a Deluxe for the trip. After that and purchasing a new home we couldn't justify the AP again without the discounts. I know people are supposed to say the old code and any discount is not why you buy the passes and are just an occasional extra but for my family it is factored into our decision to purchase AP's. Of course we will still go to WDW but just not as often and as a result WDW will see less of our money. IMHO it would serve WDW better to allow the discount right up until the day before check in because isn't it better to have someone in the room even at a discount rather then an empty room? Plus WDW could still limit the AP discounted rooms and if they are gone then they are gone. I would even be okay with the nonrefundable deposit it is just that darn 60 days out thing that bothers us.

 

[LvsTnk]

We won't renew in Dec.

We are getting one more trip in by the skin of our teeth and we used AAA for our room discount. Then I think for Easter we are going to DL so we at least won't purchase new AP's until July.

I would have renewed on the off chance for a last minute trip but not with the BRP. I will just take my chances or go for a package.

 

[ducklite]

We bought our Annual Passes always for unlimited park admission so we will continue to buy them for the same reasons.

That's the only reason we ever bought them as well.

DS just had to buy a new one, and decided to go with the FL Residents seasonal AP instead. We really don't want to be near the place when it's hot or crowded, so that will work out best for him. I'm still on the fence about mine, I might go with teh seasonal and upgrade if I find I need to.

Anne

 

[ktglads]

I will keep my APs until I decide that I will not be spending enough days in the park to make it economical. As for the 60 day period, I am okay with that as I generally book around that time period. Worse comes to worst, I will just start staying offsite for less than they are charging for the values.

 

[CharlesTD]

due to the lack of...or at least the 60 day out thing?
I wanted to do a last minute trip......I cannot afford to go otherwise. that is one reason why I bought my AP!

for me it is a waste of time now.

If you bought your AP for room discounts then you purchased it for the wrog reason it is a perk to the pass not a given and Disney can change it as they see fit. When buying an AP you buy it for the unlimited park admission not for the resort discounts.

 

[LvsTnk]

If you bought your AP for room discounts then you purchased it for the wrog reason it is a perk to the pass not a given and Disney can change it as they see fit. When buying an AP you buy it for the unlimited park admission not for the resort discounts.

I think everyone realizes that.

 

[CharlesTD]

I think everyone realizes that.

Oh I know but many people still feel the AP should offer them a room discount and that is truly not the case and those folks are kidding themselves if that is the main focus for buying an AP. We never buy them we are DVC members and don't use discounts for rooms. We just buy 10 MYW tickets and get the never expire option and hopping we go for 2 weeks and only do 5 park days a trip so our pass is good for 2 trips and we don't have to worry about moving a trip ahead by a couple weeks to accomodate the pass.

 

[boomhauer]

Guess I've been lucky so far then.

Since buying my AP, I'm 4 for 4 getting the discount on the room.