AP vs. 10 day Non-Expiry

[Modog814]

My GF and I bought in the DVC Sept of this past year and we currently have a trip planned for AKV in Oct (Columbus Day weekend) for us and some, okay alot, family (19 of us - 15 adults 4 kids). We're hoping to take in the F&W Festival as well as MNSSHP, we'll be the for 3 days and probably on go MK and EPCOT.

We were planning on getting a 10-day non-expiry pass. We've never parked hopped before, my GF doesn't overly care for waterparks and although she doesn't like video games she has said she wouldn't mind trying DisneyQuest.

I'm trying to decide if maybe the AP is a better option, (assuming that we make it down again for a week-long trip before it expires), and I had some questions and wanted to make sure I've got all the benifits to be considered.

1) AP Discount for DVC members is $100, is it going to be a problem that my GF and I aren't living together yet and don't have the same address (she is on the membership and has her own card)?

2) For Renewals I read it says you need to renew within 30 days of expiry, is that renewal and activation or just renew to get another AP voucher? There's a good chance I'll propose to her in October while there I don't think we'd get good use out of a 2nd consectutive AP (we'd probably go to Hawaii for our HM), but if I could buy a voucher at the renewal rate and just not activate it until later it woudl be worth it.

3) DDE is available for $65, but it says an extra membership is $25, is this only applicable if for some reason we're not together? Is there a limit to the number of guests the 20% discount is applied to at a sitting? This seems worth it to me because we like eating out at sit down restaurants and usually get the DDP anyway, we've fallen in love with Narcoosee's and 20% there can be a lot. So this might offer us a bit more freedom.

4) We plan on renting a car in October (we're coming down no Friday night and staying off property). So the AP offers a discount on Alamo Car Rental, correct?

Am I missing anything else I should be taking into consideration? To me it seems like it comes down to how certain we are that we'll be going again before it expires, but but I'm basically trying to find out it, is it still worth is if we are only able to make it down for another weekend or maybe 4 days.

TIA.

 

[Chuck S]

1) As long as you are both listed as owners on the contract and have your own DVC Membership card, it shouldn't be a problem.

2) Renewal APs are backdated to begin the day the original expires. If you don't have another trip planned within a reasonable time after your original pass expires, you'll be better of simply paying for a new AP. The renewal discount isn't all that much anyway, though for our travel patterns it works for us.

3) A DDE card is good for up to 10 people as long as you all dine together and have one bill. As long sa you normally dine togather, there is really no need for the second card. Remember that this year, you get a 20% discount, but that an automatic gratuity of 18% will be added. For most folks it is a wash, as they tipped about that anyway, but some folks really are opposed to the auto-gratuity.

4) I don't have a 2008 passholder book, but there was a discount for Alamo in 2007, and I would assume there is a discount for 2008. There has been a discount relationship with National/Alamo for many years. But if you are eligible for other discounts (some credit card, corporations, employee benefits, etc) they may be better.

 

[Modog814]

Thanks alot Chuck. I appreciate it.

 

[Muushka]

We also use the 10 day non exp passes with the plusses, but we pay the extra ($40?) and get the park hopper feature. It is a rare day that we use a pass and not go into 2 parks.

Best wishes for a great vacation and possible engagement!

 

[dgaston]

I can comment on a few of your questions, and I'm sure others will also join in. Sometimes I have an AP and other family members have the 10 day non-expiring pass. We use the 10 day when our trips are more spaced out. With one AP we still get the free parking, 10% World of Disney discount, and the chance for discounted rooms on Friday and Saturdays when points are too dear for us. My DH still has 6 waterpark days and 1 park admission on his last 10 day ticket, so we are taking extra good care of that one. Most people seem to feel the AP is worth it if you plan on 9 or more days in the parks in a calendar year.

The DDE is good for a 20% discount for up to 10 people. If your GF is with you, she won't need her own card. And a newer quirk to the plan is an automatic 18% gratuity at TS and lounges.

As I understand it, the renewal of an AP does not involve a voucher.

HTH

 

[Modog814]

Are AP essentially Park Hoppers too?


Nevermind. I found the answer, thanks to everyone.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Are AP essentially Park Hoppers too?

Yes, they allow you to enter any of the four main parks (water parks too if you spring for the premium one) for 366 consecutive days. Don't ask me why the extra day in the year, but it expires at the END of the same date a year after the first use. We always get the regular AP, and if we wanted to do the extras like DQ or water parks, we would pay OOP for those. We don't usually do those things anyway.

 

[wildernessDad]

Leap year, perhaps.

 

[Modog814]

I assume the DDE card is annual as well, does it take a effect the first time you use it (similar to the AP) or when you buy it?

So let's say I bought AP's in August for my October Trip, they don't get "activated" until the first time I use them to get into the park. When should I order the DDE card?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I assume the DDE card is annual as well, does it take a effect the first time you use it (similar to the AP) or when you buy it?

So let's say I bought AP's in August for my October Trip, they don't get "activated" until the first time I use them to get into the park. When should I order the DDE card?

The DDE card can't be purchased until after you get your AP voucher (or ticket if you buy it after you arrive). Once you get the AP voucher, you can order the DDE card, but with the new rules, you can also wait until you get down to WDW and get it at guest services. If you order it, do so after the 15th of the month ahead of the time you expect to have your first use of the AP. THat way it will be active the same length of time as teh AP. I'd probably just wait until you get there though.

 

[Inkmahm]

I can comment on a few of your questions, and I'm sure others will also join in. Sometimes I have an AP and other family members have the 10 day non-expiring pass. We use the 10 day when our trips are more spaced out. With one AP we still get the free parking, 10% World of Disney discount, and the chance for discounted rooms on Friday and Saturdays when points are too dear for us. My DH still has 6 waterpark days and 1 park admission on his last 10 day ticket, so we are taking extra good care of that one. Most people seem to feel the AP is worth it if you plan on 9 or more days in the parks in a calendar year.

The DDE is good for a 20% discount for up to 10 people. If your GF is with you, she won't need her own card. And a newer quirk to the plan is an automatic 18% gratuity at TS and lounges.

As I understand it, the renewal of an AP does not involve a voucher.

HTH

This is what my husband and I do. Sometimes I have the A/P so that we get the A/P benefits and can buy the DDE card but he uses the 10 day non expiring park hopper pass or the 10 day non expiring regular pass on the days when we don't plan to hop. We each have both since we know we'll be going to Disney for many many years and they don't expire. At some point the timing will probably be that DH has the A/P and I'm using 10 day tickets. We always plan ahead to know what our best option is.

the renewal of the A/P can involve a voucher, yes. I have a renewal voucher (a plastic card) that I bought last August right before the price increase and I plan to use it first in April when I need to renew my A/P.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

Yes, they allow you to enter any of the four main parks (water parks too if you spring for the premium one) for 366 consecutive days. Don't ask me why the extra day in the year, but it expires at the END of the same date a year after the first use. We always get the regular AP, and if we wanted to do the extras like DQ or water parks, we would pay OOP for those. We don't usually do those things anyway.

You answered your own question. Using Jan 1 as an example 365 days from Jan1 INCLUDING Jan 1 is Dec 31 (non-leap years) so to include Jan 1 of the following year is 366 days.

 

[tjcj]

So does anyone have an idea on the break even point (number of days in the parks) for an AP with the DVC discount?

For instance back in the day I used to say that after 7 days I was going to the parks for free

 

[Caskbill]

So does anyone have an idea on the break even point (number of days in the parks) for an AP with the DVC discount?

For instance back in the day I used to say that after 7 days I was going to the parks for free

Depends on if you make multiple trips or just one. (The difference being whether you need a standard MYW ticket or get one that is non-expiring)

For Adults, the regular AP with DVC discount is $335.48 taxes included.

A regular MYW w/o park hopping is $239.63 for 10 days.
A regular MYW with park hopping is $292.89 for 10 days.
A MYW non-expiring base ticket is $334.41 for 7-days, although I don't think that includes park hopping.

Basically if you're going for 10 days or less and all within a 14 day period (such as one vacation per year), then MYW tickets are best.

If going 7-days or more AND will be making multiple trips then the AP is better.

Hope this helps.

 

[starbox]

Pre-DVC, we did the 10 day plus no-expiration tickets and it was AWESOME because we got sooooooo many plus visits. It took us four years of trips to use up all the Waterpark/DQ/Pleasure Island visits as a supplement to whatever other tickets we had. We just used them up and I'm trying to decide if I want an AP or to reload with a PLUS ticket again. Only problem is we'll be at Disney 15 nights next year - and I think we've gotten spoiled about being able to just pop into a park for an hour or two and not worrying about burning admission days.

 

[BroganMc]

We're hoping to take in the F&W Festival as well as MNSSHP, we'll be the for 3 days and probably on go MK and EPCOT.

If I'm reading that as you intended, you're going to Disney for 3 days in October and you're not certain you'll return within the year?

In that case, the MYW no-expiration pass is a better deal for you. The DDE is a good benefit but like with the AP it really only shows its benefits if your at Disney more than 7 days a year. At least 10 days a calendar year becomes the break even point for most people.

Having the AP is great in that it breaks you away from the feeling of having to spent 8-10 hours at a park to get your money's worth. The discounts you get reflect that sampling lifestyle (free parking, reduced room rates, extra discounts on things like miniature golf - 50% off for AP holders).

But you won't get admissions to the water parks or DisneyQuest unless you pay an extra $100 for the Premium AP.

We use the plus options on old 7 day hoppers (been doing that for 4 years now) and get APs. We will have wrung out 4 trips for our existing AP this year (May '07, Oct, NYE and April '08) but we'll let it expire in May. We'll be back in October for a couple weeks. Saving $35 on the renewal doesn't make sense with 6 months non-use.

 

[lisaviolet]

I think we've gotten spoiled about being able to just pop into a park for an hour or two and not worrying about burning admission days.

Oh the joy of an AP. Absolutely. I've only bought it one year so far. But boy did I love that freedom.

 

[Muushka]

and I think we've gotten spoiled about being able to just pop into a park for an hour or two and not worrying about burning admission days.

And we are on the other side of the coin for this. With the AP, we usually did just this. When we use our 10 day passes, we either have a park-day or a no-park day. Those no-park days are getting better and better!

Disclaimer: When we stayed at BCV, there was nothing sweeter than running over to Epcot to catch Off Kilter!

 

[Modog814]

If I'm reading that as you intended, you're going to Disney for 3 days in October and you're not certain you'll return within the year?

In that case, the MYW no-expiration pass is a better deal for you. The DDE is a good benefit but like with the AP it really only shows its benefits if your at Disney more than 7 days a year. At least 10 days a calendar year becomes the break even point for most people.

Having the AP is great in that it breaks you away from the feeling of having to spent 8-10 hours at a park to get your money's worth. The discounts you get reflect that sampling lifestyle (free parking, reduced room rates, extra discounts on things like miniature golf - 50% off for AP holders).

But you won't get admissions to the water parks or DisneyQuest unless you pay an extra $100 for the Premium AP.

We use the plus options on old 7 day hoppers (been doing that for 4 years now) and get APs. We will have wrung out 4 trips for our existing AP this year (May '07, Oct, NYE and April '08) but we'll let it expire in May. We'll be back in October for a couple weeks. Saving $35 on the renewal doesn't make sense with 6 months non-use.

Well, he have 104 pts that have to be used between June 08 and End of August 08 because they'll expire and GF is a teacher and can't take off during school year. So the way I see it is, that if we got an AP we'd be committing to a Disney Vacation which would most likely mean August 2009.

The way I've worked out the numbers it seems that the AP is worth it if we're certain (or willing to commit) to going to Disney for a week in August. Otherwise, the non-expiry is better because we're planning hawaii in 2010 and probably wont' be back to disney till 2011.


These are the numbers I came up with, please let me know if any seem a little unrealistic:

Our Choices are AP (not premium but adding DDE) vs. 10 Day Non Exp (MYW)

Without any additional discounts my numbers show the breakeven point at 9 park visits for the two of us

Cost per day at 9 visits: AP = $82.36 10-Day: $84.19 (@10 visits)

Car Rental Discount: 20% (listed on website): Break even becomes about 8 park visits:

Cost per day at 8 Visits: AP = $84.23 10-Day: $84.19 (@10 visits)

DDE: 20% off (assuming average savings of $30 per day*) Break even becomes 7 park visits

Cost per day at 7 Visits: AP = $75.55 10-Day: $84.19(@10 visits)

*The $30 a day I'm a little uncertain about, but it incorporates the fact that we'll be traveling with a large group (in Oct) and we generally just take turns picking up the tab instead of breaking it up (I'm an actuary so they usually turn to me to do the math and I just tell them I'm on vacation) and any money someone else saves because of me being there gets evened out someway in the end. It also incoporates that my family loves to drink, and most likely if we went down for a week in August at least on other family (of 4 or 5) will be joining us.

All the other discounts I figure would be small enough to ignore for the time being.

The only part I'm finding it hard is to place a value on the event that 7 park visits leaves 3 future visits on the 10-day non expiry.

 

[kgc07]

We plan on buying MYW non epire park hoppers with plus options. We figure we will get at least two trips worth of park tickets and probably have enough plus days for four trips. For us, this is a better deal than the AP.