APs or Hoppers

[hawkie1]

We will be arriving at BCV on June 1st for 5 nights, and then switching to VWL for 7 more nights. There will be 3 adults and 1 child in our party. I am trying to decide whether to get APs. We may be visiting again before the end of the year, but we are uncertain about that. If I do decide on APs, can I buy them before I go, considering how close to our departure we now are? Any ideas, or suggestions?

 

[Minnie's Mate]

The break even point for AP's vs. PH's is just under 8 days. If you plan to visit the park more than 7 days during your extended stay, you will save money. You also have the added luxuary of entering a park just to have dinner. And there is the lure of Disney with admission already covered so you will probably go back within the year to maximize your investment in the AP's. Our first year with AP's we went 5 times within the 365 day window. This year we have 3 trips planned. We are also getting a discount at Vero Beach this summer.

I don't count on AP discounts at Disney resorts because we are limited to Christmas and Spring breaks because my wife is a teacher and AP discounts aren't usually available during the times we can visit. But if you have the flexibility you might be able to get discounts for your stay. You don't have to have the AP's to book a hotel with the discount, but you do have to have at least one adult AP before you check out of the hotel. However, don't let that be the only factor in your decision since AP discounts aren't always available and because of the lean travel period we are in, there have been other discounts available besides the AP.

We usually visit WDW twice per year (Xmas & Spring breaks) so for us the reason is multiple trips not hotel discounts; like I said before, they usually aren't available when we can go. We usually stay at a Disney Deluxe and just figure that the lack of discounts is part of the timing of our trips and the cost of a deluxe. I assume you must be DVC members because of your accomodations so AP discounts may not be a factor in your decision.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[eeyore0062]

Not only will the AP's be more beneficial, you will be able to get discounts at select restaurants, select stores in DTD, as well as discounts on resort stays in the future.

Rule of thumb... if you are going to be at WDW for more than 7 days in one calender year, it is more economical to get the AP's. We did, and I sure don't regret it! We have used 11 days so far, and we are moving to Florida and they don't expire until mid August at which time we can renew for the Florida Renewal Rate...WooHoo!!!

 

[MinnieGi]

I too would go with the AP's for your trip. You are already over the break even point in days so it makes financial sense. Plus if you can get another trip in before your AP expires, they are a big bonus!! We got AP's for the first time on our trip this past Nov. We stayed 8 days but knew we'd also be planning another trip the next fall that we could use them for. Well we also were able to add in a last minute Feb. trip on them!!! So we'll have 24 days on our AP's, very cool!

We actually bought our AP's at the airport Disney Store. The DS is in the main terminal. It didn't take long to buy them, besides everyone else was just standing around waiting for their luggage and we were buying passes. When we got to baggage claim our luggage had just come out. We were also able to apply our DC discount there and they were activitated right away so as soon as we settled in we went over to "break" them in.