ap worth it?

[akvhricm]

My family and I have just sent in the paperwork and hope to close soon on AKV. As a perk ap is 25% off. We are so confused on the benefits of this...We know we will be there two times within one fiscal year (July and April) and will be in the parks both trips. In addition with AP you can add on DDE.? We usually eat one table service meal a day and over the counter for the rest. We think when with the kids we may often do cereal in the room. So we feel we could easily spend between 75 and 100 a day just on food during a week well I don't want to think about that total...I guess what I want to know is would this pay for itself?

 

[tomandrobin]

For us, getting the AP and the DDE makes alot of sense.

Go to mouse savers and price the park tickets. Price a couple of past table sevice meals and see it the savings equal the DDE cost. Remember the the DDE applies to the alcohol too.

If you are going to the parks over 10 days in a year, then absolutely the AP is the best deal.

 

[TisBit]

I think I came up with the same calculation as tomandrobin....about 10 days in a calender year, it equals the amount for a 10 day no expiration. Plus you get the option of DDE, etc. We will be there for a total of at least 15 days, so safe to say at least 10 will be in parks (on two different trips) so we are getting AP's this year. I also like the option of being able to go to a park for just a couple of hours without feeling that you are "wasting a day" from a normal non-expiring ticket.

 

[noname70]

Tha AP does give that felling of freedom to do short days in the park. DDE is also nice, but only if you will run up enough in meals $ to cover the fee. Remember, DVC members get discounts too on meals (lunches mostly), as do AP holders w/o the DDE card. Figure that into the cost of the card.

 

[javamom]

We bought one AP, so that we can buy the DDE. I am thinking of getting the 10-day non-expire, hoppers for the rest of the family except for my oldest DS (since we don't know whether he will be vacationing with us next trip). I will get him LOS hoppers.

Hubby and I hope to return this Fall. I will already have an AP, and he can eat the rest of the days on this hoppers.

We are not planning another family trip back until December 2009. I figure that the ticket prices will increase by then. We can just upgrade our DD's ticket from child to adult, as she will be over 10 by then.

That would mean that we would only have to purchase tickets for myself and hubby (unless we decide it is cheaper to renew my AP in June of 09, then that one would be a renewal instead), upgrade DD, and possibly add a few days depending upon how many days we decide to book for the 09 trip. Clear as mud?


If we had planned to return within the 12 months, I would have opted for the APs for everyone.

 

[CapeCodFam]

We buy APs every other year. We plan our yearly trips 11+ months apart. That way, we get 2 trips on them. We then let them expire and purchase again on the next trip.

 

[aclov]

I'm going through this same thinking process right now I think I've decided to do AP and purchase the DDE. I like that alcohol is included in the DDE and now with the changes on the DDP. This will be my first time so I'll see how it goes.

 

[WendyinNC]

My AP is costing me a fortune. I bought it knowing we would be taking two trips this year. Now I'm planning a 3rd trip before the AP expires since I found great airfare. Only problem is I don't quite have enought points so I'm adding on. Wow! purchasing the AP sure is costly! Maybe I should stick to the 10 day passes in the future.

 

[jade1]

Yes it would be worth it for you especially if you do one trip a week before the pass ends giving you 3 weeks/trips per year on it. Then let it expire until 6 moths later and start the process over again. In other words go the last week in July, a week in April, then the 3rd week in July etc. Its a great feeling to know you can go to a park the night you arrive or the morning you leave without feeling you are "wasting" a park day.

 

[DVCsince02]

Don't forget about the "perks" you can get with the annual pass. Discounts, etc......

 

[tink4ever]

The AP is wonderful. We used ours 4 times this year and then this past Thanksgiving we decided to take a quick trip to Universal and I packed our AP's so we were able to sneak one more trip to the parks just to see all of the XMAS decorations!! It was so much fun and cost us nothing! Also the DE has been the way we go instead of the DDP and on the 1st vacation it paid for itself.