AP Recommendations

[MountainMouse]

I'm a new DVC owner and have planned 3 trips in a 12 month window, first trip sept 2015. I know there is no certain answer, but I'm looking to get feedback to see where most stand. I will be buying an AP, should I:

1. Buy an AP with the DVC discount now.
2. Watch for deals on unrestricted tickets, buy the tickets and upgrade an AP in sept.
3. Wait to buy an AP, hoping that a deal will come out between now and September.
4. Other

Lot's of variables like the AP discount could go away, a special deal could get offered, could change the policy on upgrades. Just looking to see what folks would do if in my shoes.

Thanks.

 

[disneynutz]

You can buy the AP's and tickets now and not activate them until you need them.

We have about 10 years of admissions saved up bought years ago at a much cheaper cost.

Bill

 

[MountainMouse]

You can buy the AP's and tickets now and not activate them until you need them. We have about 10 years of admissions saved up bought years ago at a much cheaper cost. Bill

Thanks for the clarification, I did realize that I could wait to activate which I would do in order to get the three trips in. What you did is what I'm looking at only on a much lower scale, 1 year instead of 10. Should I lock in the price now or gamble? By the way, what caused you to buy 10 years worth at once? Were there rumors or announcements of significant increases in price?

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for the clarification, I did realize that I could wait to activate which I would do in order to get the three trips in. What you did is what I'm looking at only on a much lower scale, 1 year instead of 10. Should I lock in the price now or gamble? By the way, what caused you to buy 10 years worth at once? Were there rumors or announcements of significant increases in price?

Prices for all media increases once or twice per year. In addition the 10 day non-expiration tickets were rumored to be discontinued. Disney did remove them from their website but since we buy from UCT that didn't cause us any issues.

The "special" DVC offered media seems to have restrictions attached. Buy a certain date for use by another date. Premium AP when you may not need the premium AP. 4 day tickets that forces you to go to each park.

I don't feel that the "specials" are that special if they force you to change your vacation to save a few bucks on admission.

Bill

 

[MountainMouse]

Prices for all media increases once or twice per year. In addition the 10 day non-expiration tickets were rumored to be discontinued. Disney did remove them from their website but since we buy from UCT that didn't cause us any issues. The "special" DVC offered media seems to have restrictions attached. Buy a certain date for use by another date. Premium AP when you may not need the premium AP. 4 day tickets that forces you to go to each park. I don't feel that the "specials" are that special if they force you to change your vacation to save a few bucks on admission. Bill

Prices usually increase yearly, though when during the year is questionable. One of the disney information sites has a great historical accounting of the ticket prices. Disney seems to be on a roll with price increases lately so it wouldn't shock me if the new year came with an increase and one later again in the summer.

 

[DebbieB]

The last price increase was last February. Most likely you will see another one early next year. I'm not planning a trip to WDW until next fall (doing DL in August) but I am planning on buying the DVC AP soon. Not just because of this rumor but also because there is a good chance prices will increase early next year. The DVC specials have been PAP's, which include water parks and Disney Quest and I don't do those so I'm not holding out for that.

 

[MountainMouse]

The last price increase was last February. Most likely you will see another one early next year. I'm not planning a trip to WDW until next fall (doing DL in August) but I am planning on buying the DVC AP soon. Not just because of this rumor but also because there is a good chance prices will increase early next year. The DVC specials have been PAP's, which include water parks and Disney Quest and I don't do those so I'm not holding out for that.

The price increase seems more likely than a special deal.

 

[RSWA2]

1. Buy an AP with the DVC discount now.
2. Watch for deals on unrestricted tickets, buy the tickets and upgrade an AP in sept.
3. Wait to buy an AP, hoping that a deal will come out between now and September.
4. Other

If someone could correct me if I'm wrong...but I think if you do #1 and #3 happens, you can apply the price from #1 to #3 and get a refund of the difference before you use the AP. I believe some people who got a regular DVC discounted AP, then when they had the $399 PAP deal, they got a refund of the price difference.

I would just do either #1 or #2 (purchasing through UCT though and not waiting for an unrestricted deal). For #2, you would save some money if there are no price increases to the AP before you use it in Sept 2015.

 

[drusba]

I believe some people who got a regular DVC discounted AP, then when they had the $399 PAP deal, they got a refund of the price difference.

When they did the $399 PAP, you could upgrade from an already purchased AP or AP renewal by paying the difference if your pass had cost less than $399 (and recently purchased AP renewals had cost less than $399), but you got no refund if your previously purchased pass cost more (and recently purchased new APs had cost in the $400s). In fact, I recall initially you could not even swap a previously purchased higher costing pass for the new PAP.

 

[hakepb]

With#2 you need a ticket with at least as many park days as you will use on that 1st trip so you can make FP+ reservations. (Ie if your discounted ticket is 5 days, but you take a 7 day trip, you would only be able to make 5 days of FP+ reservations until you upgrade at the park.)

Basically, #2 isn't as good of an option thanks to FP+.