AP every year or every other?

[DetroitDisney]

Tried to search for this. No luck.

I have a question about annual passes. I bought an annual pass in December 2014 for my trip then, and I am using the same pass for my trip this year in December 2015 (going a week earlier to fall under the year).

I know that you save about $105 to renew the pass vs getting a new one. But if I keep renewing and going every December, I will only be getting one trip per annual pass.

Do other people buy a pass only every other year to get two trips on each pass? Or is there any real reason to have the pass renewed every year?

 

[lizard1]

I wouldn't renew it every year unless it makes financial sense to do so. If you are only going in Decembers, then renewing it to only take one trip doesn't make sense unless it is a long trip (where the AP would be cheaper than a normal ticket).

 

[scrappinginontario]

We had them once and did what you did, went on our second trip just inside the expiry date of our passes. Unless you go for a lot of days each trip or more than once each year, it probably does not make financial sense to renew each year.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I go down twice a year. I just got one for Universal. I am going down July 11-19. I will use it again in December and then next July, go down a week earlier so that will be 3 trips.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I had Disney ones a multiple times. I say buy them only when it makes $$ sense. Keep in mind, there's nothing that says you have to buy them for the whole family. The first time, it only made sense to buy one AP, just to get the room discount and TiW, that's how I covered (rationalized?) the extra cost difference.

We did not renew the WDW AP's. I DID renew the Universal AP's!

Universal AP's cost a fraction of WDW's. We had multi-day park hoppers, converting to AP's was a total bargain. I wasn't even sure we'd return, but converting our tickets to AP was SO inexpensive, it was worth the gamble. Plus, US gives AP discounts. It was also hassle-free (unlike my attempt to convert a WDW ticket to an AP - so aggravating!)

PLUS- renewing a US AP costs less than a regular ticket. Kind of a no brainer, IMO.

Truly, it is just one more way I feel US appreciates us as customers and WDW does not.

WDW AP's discounts are so limited, they are useless.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

we never 'renew' but instead plan our trips and purchase APs at the 'right' time for us.

Example first year we got an AP - we went in late September and upgraded some free dining tickets to an AP - then went a few more times with the last trip in early Sept the following year. AP expired.

Then we went in late Jan (maybe early Feb) the following year - purchased APs and then had our 'last' trip on that AP in early January the next year. APs expired and we purchased new ones in late Sept of that year - make sense?

 

[DebbieB]

When my mom was alive, we had a regular schedule for tips: May & December. We would schedule the next year trip a week earlier than the year before, right before the AP expired so we got 3 trips out of one. And then buy another new one on the next trip. So about every 18 months.

 

[elgerber]

Tried to search for this. No luck.

I have a question about annual passes. I bought an annual pass in December 2014 for my trip then, and I am using the same pass for my trip this year in December 2015 (going a week earlier to fall under the year).

I know that you save about $105 to renew the pass vs getting a new one. But if I keep renewing and going every December, I will only be getting one trip per annual pass.

Do other people buy a pass only every other year to get two trips on each pass? Or is there any real reason to have the pass renewed every year?

We used to do this, when we could go in the fall. We bought a new one a year after the 2nd trip, so we could get two years out of that pass. You are correct in your thinking that renewing isn't the right idea.

 

[edk35]

Also remember that when you have AP's we tend to BOOK MORE TRIPS. Which means we SPEND more money. LOL

 

[jsmla]

We did this for years when our kids were in school. The first trip would be in early June and the second in late May. It worked really well. We went for 9-10 days each trip and saved a ton by doing it this way.

 

[Hopefully]

We too use our AP's so we get at least 2 trips out of them and then let them lapse. For example, last year we went late Oct/early Nov and this year we are going in mid Oct. We will not renew this year. Makes the most sense for us.

 

[North of Mouse]

Tried to search for this. No luck.

I have a question about annual passes. I bought an annual pass in December 2014 for my trip then, and I am using the same pass for my trip this year in December 2015 (going a week earlier to fall under the year).

I know that you save about $105 to renew the pass vs getting a new one. But if I keep renewing and going every December, I will only be getting one trip per annual pass.

Do other people buy a pass only every other year to get two trips on each pass? Or is there any real reason to have the pass renewed every year?

We 'never' ever, renew even though it is a small discount. We usually go 2-3 times of 10 days in our AP year, then we like to skip at least a year, sometimes a little longer, then buy another AP. We have one more trip on this AP, then who knows when we'll go back. We are pretty disgusted with all the changes the last several years that have been costly and frustrating to us - we have lots of other trips planned now.

One day, we 'may' go back - still love it, but------------------------

 

[Disney71]

We also go every year, but buy an AP every other year... Works nicely and saves some money

 

[Accident]

I do whatever saves me money.

 

[scrapquitler]

Also remember that when you have AP's we tend to BOOK MORE TRIPS. Which means we SPEND more money. LOL

yeah. We upgraded to APs during our trip last April thinking, "we can go twice in one year!" Today I just booked another trip that will end the day before our APs expire....trip #5 for this year. We had what we thought would be a fun money saving plan. LOL LOL we spent so much money on 5 trips that I don't want to think about it. But we had a lot of fun.

We aren't renewing our APs this year. We are going to wait about 2 1/2 or 3 years, and then we are going to take lots of trips that year again.

 

[katallo]

I don't think we will renew this year. We will be there in March and with the park renovations and closing (many of our favorites) throughout 2016 we will more than likely purchase Universal passes for 2016 trips. There would have to be a really good price incentive with Disney to renew and I know that won't happen But, it's really a personal preference and you have to do what is financially right for you.

 

[cvjw]

PLUS- renewing a US AP costs less than a regular ticket. Kind of a no brainer, IMO.

Truly, it is just one more way I feel US appreciates us as customers and WDW does not.

WDW AP's discounts are so limited, they are useless.

We have had Universal AP's for years and years. Until this year. Universal has raised the renewal price of their regular annual pass from $160 to $260 per year. More than the price of a 3 day ticket. Just not worth it for our family of 4 anymore.

OP, we have had Disney AP's since 2008. We visit multiple times per year, so AP's work better for us. We are also DVC, so we can renew our passes for just about the same price as regular 7 day hoppers.

It just depends on how your family travels, how AP's fit into your budget and if you will get your money's worth out of them. We do - we usually visit for 3 to 4 weeks per year

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We have had Universal AP's for years and years. Until this year. Universal has raised the renewal price of their regular annual pass from $160 to $260 per year.

Thanks for the update. When last I renewed my US AP, I was warned prices would go up. Bummer.