AP vs. UPH

[Pig Pen]

I have been an AP holder for several years now and found myself caught in the AP trap: buy an AP to get the room discounts, then end up going back to WDW multiple times to get my "money's worth" out of the AP. We get regular APs, no plus feature, but would like to try DQ and water parks at some point.

Now that I am a DVC member I don't really need an AP for discounts.

Plus, I am trying to cut back a little - just 2 DVC trips per year - one to WDW and one to either VB or HH. Maybe even branch out and use II.

We like to go to the parks every day, but only for a couple hours - sometimes we just go for Fantasmic or for dinner at Epcot. Lately we find ourselves hanging around the resorts more and utilizing the boat / bike rentals and other services.

So, if we drop the first and last day of the UPH, does this turn out to be a good deal for us?

Any thoughts?

 

[gritzel4]

The breakeven day is 9. If you plan on going into the parks more than 9 days in 12 months, it is cost effective to get the AP. Remember that you need admission to Epcot just to go to dinner. So the best advice I can offer is to figure out if you will be going 9+ days a year. Good luck

 

[Maistre Gracey]

My wife and I have a PAP. I never figured out what the best deal is from a financial standpoint, but I know it is not a PAP. Perhaps a AP plus a PI AP would be best for us. Bottom line for us is I would rather pay a few bucks more for the convenience of having one pass that does everything.
If the in-laws want to go to BB... No sweat, we're covered.

That being said, we are on track to visit three times a year.
Your situation may be different since you go to WDW once per year. You need to look at cost, then figure how much money the convenience of an AP is worth to you.
As you said, you must also figure out how many resort discounts you take advantage of, and factor that in as well.
Also keep in mind that it is possible (but not probable) that they will refuse to drop your first and/or last day.

Good luck...

MG

 

[dianeschlicht]

Even if you are only going once a year, if you schedule the trips just under 365 days apart, you are likely to have at least 5 days in the parks out of each trip of say a week in length. That makes the AP the most economical ticket. We usually get the AP, but we never renew it. Instead, we get a new voucher and hold it a year before using it. Then we use it at least twice in 12 months. Works great for us.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Everyone has given really helpful answers so far. Deb Wills site has a page that will make it even clearer:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/breakeven.php

 

[RweTHEREyet]

also keep in mind that with tye UPH that if you encounter bad weather and/or someone gets sick, you just lose those days on the UPH. If I were paying for a UPH, I would feel that I needed to go to the parks for the day, not just a meal, because I had paid for that day. An AP takes that pressure off for me. There arae very few instances where I feel that the UPH is a good value, usually only when the stay is a very short duration and Park Hopper tickets are not available for that short stay, less than 4 days.

 

[BillPA]

I have also been an AP holder and started thinking about getting hoppers or someother passes. But like you, we sometimes just go in a park for a few hours, to have dinner, see a show or whatever. I decided I would NOT do those short trips, if I had to PAY $100+ for DW and I everytime we did a 2 hour trip, That $50 dinner ends up costing $150. So I will stay with the AP. I may or may not save money, but my mental attitude is much better, and it feels more like a vacation when you don't have to pay everytime you turn around. JMHO

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by idratherbeinwdw
Everyone has given really helpful answers so far. Deb Wills site has a page that will make it even clearer:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/breakeven.php

Looks like idratherbeinwdw beat me to it and posted one of my favorite links. Yep, anything more than 8 days pays for it. Plus you get the 10% off for the renewal AP. The AP still gets you plenty of other useful discounts, like the ability to get lower-priced rooms for friends who are visiting you there. Just the convenience of having the AP is great, too; no worrying about "wasting" a day if you just hang at the pool; no problems if you only want to go to Epcot for dinner; as an AP holder, you own the place.

IMHO, the UPH (aka UMP, aka LOS) pass is rarely the better deal (with the exception perhaps of a 7 for 5 or 7 for 4 deal). Most times where an AP might not make sense, a PH or PHP would generally fit the billl better than the UPH.

 

[Pig Pen]

You've convinced me to keep with the APs. I will continue to be tempted to add just one more trip every year....but I guess that's not all bad?

WDW has ya coming and going.

 

[gracelrm]

We're thinking of getting AP's for our upcoming trip. We've never done this before. Do we get these at the resort when we check in or at the gate or was this something we needed to do in advance?

TIA

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by gracelrm
We're thinking of getting AP's for our upcoming trip. We've never done this before. Do we get these at the resort when we check in or at the gate or was this something we needed to do in advance?
TIA

The AllEarsNet.com link above will tell you all the places you can get them, and you can figure out which one makes the most sense for you.

 

[OKWKirt]

Ok, here's one for all of you. First I have always gotten park hoppers or AP and didn't think the UPH was a good deal but this time I'm leaning that direction. I'm going in October with my family of four and taking another family of six with us (two bdrm and studio). We will go Friday (10/15) and return Tuesday (10/19). The family of six will not be returning next year and we haven't planned out next year yet either. We will hit the parks four days and will have five young adults that I'm sure will hit PI once or twice. Probably no water parks but who knows. I'm thinking of the UPH and drop the last day with our discount it might be the best way, especially for the other family. We go twice a year, except this year, so I'm sure we will be back next year which would justify the AP. Your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[BriarRosie]

I am in favor of having the AP, since I don't use points on weekends. I had an AP rate at Pop Century for $66 on May 8.
Originally, the rate was $110 when I booked it.

I also get a PI AP in addition to the standard, as I don't visit waterparks or DisneyQuest to make a PAP worthwhile.