Benefits of buying an annual pass when booking a resort?

[Disneypal]

We are thinking of planning a girls trip to Disney over Labor Day. One of the girls going is also planning a trip over Thanksgiving with her family. The question is should she buy an annual pass. If so what are the benefits for booking rooms, food and so on. We would all like to stay at a Deluxe resort when it is the girls trip and she hasn't decided where to stay for the family trip. Lastly can you get a discount by using your Disney Club Card on an annual pass?

 

[mkymouse4ever]

yes, you get a discount on the annual pass with the dc club card. But you can call and reserve a room, getting the annual passholder rates, before you even purchase the pass. That way if it (discount) is not available, or not worth it for your trip, you do not need to buy the pass. Also she may want to figure out the # of days she will use on a ticket, and the ap may be a more economical buy, any way.

 

[OKSTATE99]

This site lists all the benefits of the Annual Pass. We are going for 10 days on our next trip so we are buying APs

http://www.michaelsvips.com/waltdisneyworld/discounts/annualpass.htm

 

[Ricola]

If someone in your party is likely to visit WDW for 8 or more days in a year, the AP is a great idea.

If they are going to visit 7 or less days, I would explore the discounts options available and make the decision based on how much (if any) money the AP discount would save over the DC or other available discounts (Currently, according to Mousesavers, you would save 30% on the room with AP compared with 15-20% with DC; at a Moderate that would be about 18 bucks a day savings).

Last fall, with our AP, we saved enough in about 3 nights (AKL concierge) to pay for 1 of our APs. However, we bought them because we were planning at least 2 trips to WDW, and they saved us $$ on park admission alone.

As far as other benefits to the AP, free parking at the parks might be attractive to someone who stays offsite, and I think there are some dining discounts (small), a newsletter, and some other small bennies.

To me, the biggest benefit is that if we can find a cheap last minute airfare to WDW, the APs can let us squeeze in an additional cheap trip to WDW!

 

[Ityldu]

Last year we decided to upgrade from 7-day hopper to AP. The increase cost us an additional $40 and we saved over $150/night at GF. As you can see, the AP more than paid for itself even for just one night at a deluxe if you can get the discount.

 

[Humpbacks1962]

Don't forget the benefit of reserving a room and paying at check in, rather than weeks before you arrive.

I still like to pay if off beforehand but it gives more time to do so.

Wanda