AP question: are they "worth it"

[runner_princess]

DH and I will be going Home for 7 days in Janurary, and will probably make a second trip in the October/November time frame for 3 days. I read alot about people buying APs, but not sure what the draw is: how many days at WDW does it take for them to "worth their money"? What other perks do you get with them?

Thank you!

 

[henderkm]

In 2011, we got 10% off merchandise in the parks with our non-premium annual pass, but I'm not sure whether it will be a perk in 2012.

Since our family spends about $400. in merchandise on a trip, it was great for us.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would do the math and see the comparison for these two trips you're taking. Especially with the DVC AP pricing the AP is fairly attractive.

For us it was obviously going to be needed...our very first WDW trip was a total of 17 days (OK 4 of them were in Universal) and we spent 10 days at the parks. We now have another trip planned within the 366 day period the AP is good for, and we'll probably have 8 days in the parks. Definitely worth it just for admission.

AP gets you some discounts in some restaurants, it makes you eligible to buy the TAbles in Wonderland card (which gives you 20% discount in many table service restaurants and a few counter services (food courts at the Values, some of the CS in Animal Kingdom), though it's worth noting that you will be charged 18% tip at table services with the TIW card so if you don't already do that or more it reduces the value to you).

They've been giving a 10% discount on merchandise all over WDW, it's quite lovely. I can't remember the current end-date for that.

 

[Diegosmom]

7 day base tix is $267 plus tax a 3 day tix is $232 plus tax. Total $499 plus tax. A annual pass for DVC member is $446.24 (this includes tax). So cheaper to go that way...plus you have a hopper. There are other discounts too.

Other option is 10 day no expiration would be $516 (plus tax) little more then the 7day and 3 day but if you decided not to go to the park 1 or 2 days you could still use the tix later.

 

[drusba]

Go here and compare prices between a DVC AP and park hopper that does not expire which you would likely buy as the alternative http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm#ap

It looks like that even with the discount offered for the non-expiring park hopper, the AP is the choice for 9 park days or more. You also get some merchandise and food discounts with the AP which could thus make it the choice for 8 or 7 days or more. I usually estimate it as the choice for 8 park days a year or more.

Also you should consider probability of future trips. The DVC renewal cost of an AP is $45 less than buying it new and thus if you are going to be making similar trips every year it will be the better choice.

 

[sesame_123]

It really depends on your situation in your case a 7 day base ticket (no hopper) would be $267.00 and then a 3 day base ticket for your second trip would be $232.00. These are straight from Disney with the new prices. Taxes not added. Add $55 each trip to add park hopper. An annual pass cost 519.00 (park hopping inculded)

$267 (7day)+ $232(3 day) = $499 add in $110 for hopping = $609

So if you plan on hopping then yes the Annual Pass would save you about $90 a person, however if you are a DVC member then the annual pass is $419 which would save you $80 dollars and include the hopping for an additional value of $110. total savings $190 per person. Now if you are not planning on going to the park everyday or have other plans then you would need to check and see if it works better to do it a different way.

THe biggest "savings" would be to plan two big trips using the annual pass for example 7 days in march one year and then 7 days in February the next. (throw in a weekend or two and the savings get higher) Plan your vactions 51 weeks apart.

I believe the biggest expense to DVC members in regards to annuall passes is the desire to go back more and more causing the need for more points!!!

Whatever you decide you will have a great time!!!

 

[mecllap]

Generally, the guideline has kind of been -- if you'll get 10 days of use in a year, then an Annual Pass is the way to go. But, the danger is that once you have an AP, you start thinking, hmmmmmm, I have an AP already -- what about a longer trip, or another trip, etc. -- then you have all those additional costs of getting more days of use out of it. (I'm kind of falling into a pattern of maxing an AP one year (and my current one is actually a 15-month one, due to something that happened last year), and then skipping a year or two, til there're some changes at WDW and then going again 2-3 times in a year (that helps me not want more DVC points, since I can use banking/borrowing, with my lower number of points)). We do like to go other places as well -- so we do that in "off" years. Of course, where you live, and how often you want to go, are also factors, besides the cost of tix/APs.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

APs also allow you to get great discounts on non dvc rooms. This can be up to 40% off per night. Dh and I continue to consider a value trip. On our last trip, we made good time driving and called and made a same day reservation for All star movies for $74. It sure beat a room in Lake City.

 

[joksten2000]

We winter in Florida Jan thru April and go to WDW two or three times a week, with free parking it's the greatest. We're only 9 miles from the park.

 

[hollis]

My quick math is, if I go 2 separate trips within a 12-month period, the AP would be something to consider. The difference in cost for a 3-day pass and a 10-day pass is not that big. So I think the total number of trips matters more than the total number of days. Of course this is just the quick math without taking a lot of other things into consideration.