AP Advice Please

[joandegennaro]

We will be going to the World in March'11 for 8 days with only plans to use 2 of my 8 remaining days from my MYW 10day PHNE tickets. This is more of a relax type trip with the kids going over to Universal alone while Mom and Dad relax. We also plan a 12 day visit in Oct'11 of which we might take a few days off the end and go to Vero to check out the resort so this trip might only be 8 days in the World. Would you suggest I purchase and AP for these trips giving me the flexiblilty to go into the parks any time during these visits or should I just rely on my remaining days on my current tickets?

What does the DVC AP equal to cost wise when trying to compare $$ value?

TIA

 

[disneynutz]

The last that I read was that 10 days of park admission was the break even point. You also need to consider any other benefits that a AP may offer.

Like many members, we find ourselves spending less time in the parks and more time enjoying the resorts and DTD.

Bill

 

[Granny]

Unless you plan another trip before March 2012, I'd probably just go with the existing tickets. An Annual Pass is $425 for an adult including tax.

The only other reason you might consider buying an Annual Pass is if you want to purchase the TIW card. If you are planning a number of meals at qualifying restaurants with a large group (4 or more people), the savings from that should also be thrown into the "break even" decision.

On the other hand, if you think there's a chance at all that you will cancel your October trip, then an AP would never break even with just one short trip.

 

[DebbieB]

There is now a merchandise discount with the AP, you get 10% off for a regular AP, 20% for a premium. I used it several times on my trip last week. There is an expiration date to the offer but they have been extending it for about a year.

 

[joandegennaro]

We've done 3 commando style trips before we bought DVC. Last March we went into the parks 3 days out of 5 with our GAD tickets plus 2 days from our 10 day PHNE tickets. Since we are more interested in a relaxing vacation with some Disney mixed in I think we will just use the NE tickets. I was just wondering since we planned to go twice in 1 year to get us away from the Spring Break track onto the Fall (I couldn't go 18 months without) that the AP might have been a good deal for us this year. Not sure if we will go into the parks 10 days worth over the 2 trips though. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

We bought Ap for our adult DD and her Dh when we were there last week and we figured out it was way better then paying for 3 day park hoppers for them . Now they are on board for 3 trips before their passes expire next Oct because they wanted to us to get " bang for our buck" LOL

We also added up how much all of us saved shopping and it was about $200.00

 

[Granny]

We've done 3 commando style trips before we bought DVC. Last March we went into the parks 3 days out of 5 with our GAD tickets plus 2 days from our 10 day PHNE tickets. Since we are more interested in a relaxing vacation with some Disney mixed in I think we will just use the NE tickets. I was just wondering since we planned to go twice in 1 year to get us away from the Spring Break track onto the Fall (I couldn't go 18 months without) that the AP might have been a good deal for us this year. Not sure if we will go into the parks 10 days worth over the 2 trips though. Thanks for the advice!

Sounds like you made a good decision for you. One comment I would add is that one of the great benefits of AP's is the ability to go into a park for only an hour or so and not feel like you "used up" a valuable PH day. Very nice for dinners or just to pop in for a little while. We found this especially useful when we stayed at BWV or BCV since they are within walking distance to a couple of parks.

Just something to think about for future planning.

 

[joandegennaro]

Sounds like you made a good decision for you. One comment I would add is that one of the great benefits of AP's is the ability to go into a park for only an hour or so and not feel like you "used up" a valuable PH day. Very nice for dinners or just to pop in for a little while. We found this especially useful when we stayed at BWV or BCV since they are within walking distance to a couple of parks.

Just something to think about for future planning.

This was exactly why I asked for advice about my 2 planned trips in 1 year. Would we with the AP just go in for an hour or two? Would we feel we have to go in everyday to make it worth while? I think I would love the availablity to go in as I pleased but DH thinks we will be going Commando again if we do it like we did when we had 10 day expiring tickets. Dinners aren't much of an issue as we plan to cook and eat off site more than in the parks so I could plan our days around ADR's but do I really want to? Still torn...oh well have till March to make the decision.