AP pass..is it really worth it?

[kelscross]

Since this area of the board seems to talk about the AP's the most I will ask it here.

After confirming with Stephanie at the Poly yesterday that if I were to have my mom's name only on the ressie with the kids I could also be in the room without messing up their package as I was thinking of getting the AP instead of UHP.

The AP rates will not help us this year unless they come out with codes for September. However, we are planning another trip in June or July next year and I was wondering is it really worth the cost of the AP? Are the savings that significant? Do you get the AP or the PAP?

Next year I will have to pay admission for my girls as they will be 3 so would it be more or less "prepaying" my admission for next year so to speak or are there more benefits for AP holders? I've looked at all the histories on mousesavers and I want to hear from the actual AP holders.

If I ask for myself to be taken off the reservation, WDW travel will refund the difference (trip paid in full already) and I can use that money plus an additional 90 or so dollars to buy the AP.

Please help me with some experiences..good, bad, glad you had the AP?

 

[weluvpluto]

We love having our APs!
If you are going within a year of the first date you use it (and will be spending more than 8 days in the parks) it is definately worth the money. Just the park admission alone is worth it and if you will only be spending $90 more to get I say go for it. It will be like prepaying for your next trip's admissions and usually there are awesome resort discounts

Here's a link about the breakeven point and more info about the differences between PAPs and APs
http://allearsnet.com/pl/breakeven.php

 

[REH]

There are some great benefits to being a AP holder. A plus point if staying off site is the free parking also 10% discount in the world of disney. Also a great excuse to go back!!
:thewave: :thewave:

 

[goofy4tink]

We are going for 9 days in August, 6 days in November and then probably 5 or 6 days in July 2005. That's a total of 20 days, so that breaks down to $20 a day. Much better than an UPH for me. I think that the break even day might be around day 8 or 9. If you are going to use it basically to get the good rates, then you can get by having only one. But, we need one for everyone. Still, it's a good deal for us. We are using it for the first two nights of our stay in August and then dd and I will be using it for AP rates on our room in July before we head out to Vero Beach.

 

[chell]

Yes, they are worth it. Depending on the time of year you can get wonderful savings on your room. The first year I had an AP I took 4 trips to WDW - 2 full weeks and 2 long weekends. By the first full week and long weekend the room savings alone had already paid for my pass.

You get a 10% lunch discount at certain Epcot and resort restaurants Mon-Fri. This discount is good for you and up to 3 guests.

Since I do not visit the water parks I just get the regular AP, not the PAP.

The only down side is when you have to sneak in another trip to WDW just because you've already got your admission covered.

 

[sherry8253]

We always get 2 nine or ten day trips out of each AP plus have always have been lucky and gotten discounts on our room too. The first year we go in mid Dec and the following year late Nov/early Dec. Occasionally we also take a mid year trip for about 4 or 5 days too. So, in our case AP's are well worth it.

 

[steveanddonna]

The APs are totally worth it for us. In addition to the plusses mentioned (and that World of Disney one can be tremendous - we do a lot of birthday/Christmas shopping that way) you get 50% off mini-golf, 30% off the day visitor rate at Disney golf courses, and lots of little perks thrown in throughout the year.

Of course, having the AP & hearing about an available room discount often is enough to make us book another trip we hadn't planned on - just look at my signature!

 

[mic_key_mouse]

I buy an AP if room rates for passholders are available. If not, I wait until they are available or use alternative park admission media- either stand alone park tickets or admission as part of a special package that may be available. The current Disney Visa offers are good, in the past it was something else, and in the future there will be other packages.

Break even only works for the major parks. If you use the waterparks, DisneyQuest, and/or Pleasure Island it isn't always the best choice for admission only (even with the minor discounts for food, etc)- unless you go more than once a year. Since you are it will probably wind up being a good deal- I am providing some other 'food for thought' for those reading that may be in a different situation.

As an example, we just got back from a two week trip. During the trip we went to TL four times and DQ three times. With the room discounts, a PAP made sense this time- but that doesn't mean it will the next time (assuming I don't use this one again before it expires ).

My advice is to use a calculator. Price out the costs and see what works best. Generally, when AP room rates are available it is worth the investment- but it isn't always the best option. As we all know, trips to WDW are BIG money. Price out your options and do what is best in your situation.

I never buy APs for my kids, but our trips average 10 days and we use the other parks/places- so other admission is a better deal. Mousesavers.com has the best breakdown I have seen for information on ALL available passes here:

http://www.mousesavers.com/tickets.html

Blessings

 

[jenelope]

When I started planning my first WDW trip as an adult, I read about the discounts that were available for AP holders and discovered that there was a substantial discount during my trip. I toted up the difference between a five-day hopper with no room discount, a UPH with no room discount, and an AP with discount. The room rate difference almost paid for the difference on the first trip. Of course, nine months later I was stressed at work and the AP was burning a hole in my pocket. I found another AP rate and in less than a month I was at WDW.

These days I have a rule: two trips in a 12 month period, then a year off. I'm in my year off right now, and I'm slowly going insane, but I still think it's a good rule.

 

[plutosmyfav]

I was hestitant to do APs last December and went ahead and took the plung. Then, due to a huge Nor'Easterner we were snowed out of Massachusetts two extra days! We spent those two days in the parks. In Feb I had an unexpected business trip to Orlando and did the parks alone since I had my AP. Then, I took my son in April on a really cheap trip (which I wouldn't have done without APs). For me, it has definitely been worth the money.

Plus the free parking for off-siters has saved big for us as well. I don't regret our APs one cent.

 

[BethC1952]

The only down side is when you have to sneak in another trip to WDW just because you're already got your admission covered.

That's so true! Our AP's have "forced" us to take at least three additional trips this year. They had paid for themselves by the time we left WDW the first time we used them. We just came back from a long Memorial Day weekend at All Star Music, I just paid my deposit for Caribbean Beach in October, we want to visit Pop Century in early November and Port Orleans Riverside the week after Thanksgiving. Our passes expire Dec. 12, but we will definitely be renewing them! We are already anticipating a trip in February, one in March (a day or two before a DCL cruise), a trip in May for my birthday (again), and whatever other trips we can squeeze into our schedule!

Beth

 

[candykisses]

APs are worth it for us. We're staying 15 days in Aug, then 15 days next July.

My husband and I don't go to the waterparks so we got APs. Our boys do the waterparks and Disney quest, so we bought them PAPs.

We snagged a good AP discount for our room in Aug, which was an added bonus of having an AP.

 

[wld]

Danger, danger, danger!!!
You will plan extra trips!!
Don't say we didn't warn you!!!!

 

[ciera321]

We bought our first AP's for our June 3 trip and they were more than worth it!! With all the discounts,especially rooms, and staying 9 days we came out ahead.

 

[n2mm]

ABSOLUTELY! My grandson gets 3 trips a year out of his, and I get 5 trips a year out of mine. We don't use it for resort rates (hubby is a CM), but one day we may and hope the rates are as good as they have been. A regular AP pays for itself if you use it more than 8 days.