Best Month to Purchase Annual Pass?

[DisneySince1967]

What is the best month to purchase an AP? I'm going to get a Deluxe Pass, which is essentially a 6 month pass for those of us with a traditional workweek. I know that Disneyland sometimes offers AP-only special events, limiting attendance to "Annual Passholders whose passes expire in August," or a similar criteria. Any insight?

 

[figment_jii]

I'm not sure it really makes much of a difference when you purchase the pass. It's good for a year from when you first use the pass, so whether you buy it now or in the fall, you're still not going to be able to get into the parks on Saturdays in the summer/spring break/Christmas/etc.

In terms of the special events for APs with passes that are expiring soon...there really hasn't been any rhymne or reason to when the events are being held. It's going to be luck of the draw whether there will be one when your AP is due for renewal next year.

 

[superlarz]

I think every AP group has been included in the AP invite events for the expiring passes, but sometimes the even is no where near when your pass expires. The events dont have a set schedule. The were in DCA most of the time last year and have been in Disneyland this year. They usually have a different theme based off of a movie coming out or anniversary of an attraction.

 

[Disney Kidd]

It doesn't matter too much when you purchase the Annual Pass. Just remember, blackout dates don't apply on the day you buy your AP. My favorite time of the year at Disney is around Christmas so I like to buy mine around that time so I can experience Christmas at Disney twice.

 

[SMD]

I wouldn't buy an AP planning on there being events. When I first got an AP 10+ years ago, events were things like stop buy during these 4 hours, take a pic with Mickey and buy an AP pin. Then there was 7-8 years where there were no events before they started after hours events like WOC showings and in park events like Opera House screenings. I don't expect the renewal events to last forever.

 

[Girimama33]

Best time to buy an AP is before the price goes up...

 

[mommamonster]

I don't know about the best time but I plan on buying APs for myself and 2 kiddos this upcoming December for the first time - we already have a trip planned for the week prior to the Deluxe black out dates (the weeks around Christmas/New Years) so we'll use our AP's that week and have until Dec of 2016 to fit in some trips - and like Disney Kidd said I will be able to go back again for Christmastime in 2016 in case we can't afford to renew which is awesome to get 2 Christmas seasons in one AP year. I do think considering what time of year you are most likely to visit is a good idea so that you can get in 2 times before the pass expires, granted you are not going to be doing a lot of small visits but rather rely on planning bigger trips further apart (we live 500 miles away so that is what we have to do to get good use of our APs). I hope you enjoy your AP!

 

[calilou]

I concur. I think any special passholder events they do are random and unpredictable. Another passholder perk worth mentioning are the hotel discounts. My remembering is that they tend to do discounts in late winter (after NYE), spring (minus spring break), early summer (before June), late summer (mid to late August) and then much of fall minus the holidays.

 

[calilou]

PS We are premium passholders and find the discounts so advantageous. 20% at most shops and 15% at most restaurants. It really makes a difference when you're going several times a year. Plus free parking! Not at the hotels though. You may want to consider making one of your passes a premium just for the parking and discounts. If you're a math person add it up, it may make sense! If you stay offsite not within easy walking you may want to park in the Mickey lot and take the tram. That's what we find easiest when we're not at a resort hotel. It's free!

 

[DisneySince1967]

Thanks for your insight and strategies! I really like the Dec-Dec idea. This year, I currently have plans to visit in late September and early December, so I can fully enjoy all of the 60th celebration AND Christmas festivities. I have tentative plans for February 2016. However, after a dormant year, I think Dec-Dec could be the way to go. I heard about a Dixieland jazz event for APs recently and hope if something like that is offered in the future, I don't miss out.

For me, attending without children and flying in for weekends, makes visiting in the off season without a car more desirable than attending during the more popular time for families. The discounts and flexibility associated with the Premium pass are tempting, even if I still restricted attendance to the off season, but I think I'd have to attend more than 3 weekends (with Fri-Sun entrances), to make it worth it financially.

I'll look for hotel discounts! I think I'll buy the pass ASAP, before prices rise again.

 

[DisneySince1967]

OMGosh. I bought my Premium Annual Pass last weekend and now this (http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/tickets.htm#annual). I think this will be the Year O Disney for me and I'll just let my AP expire after that. Disneyland isn't the only way we enjoy Disney.

 

[KalamityJane]

OMGosh. I bought my Premium Annual Pass last weekend and now this (http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/tickets.htm#annual). I think this will be the Year O Disney for me and I'll just let my AP expire after that. Disneyland isn't the only way we enjoy Disney.

WOW. That is a heck of an increase. I think we paid 500? for our deluxe APs that expire in February. Even with a renewal discount, I can't justify that increase, especially since we are out of state and have to factor in flying in.

 

[DisneySince1967]

I have to fly in as well. Throwing in PhotoPass doesn't really take the sting out, especially since you can hand your own camera to Cast Member photographers to take your picture for free.

 

[taniahappy]

Doesn't matter

 

[Bud Ice]

Best time be liek now, before the price hike hits.

 

[Malcon10t]

Best time be liek now, before the price hike hits.

Check local grocery stores for vouchers.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Here is our strategy on when to buy an AP. Since we are from Northern California, it takes us 8 hours to get there. We buy APs in July. We go in July, then once during the year for a shorter trip. Then again in July just before they expire. We get two summer vacations out of one AP, plus a mid-year trip. We let them expire until the next summer. Now, with no discount incentive to renew, it makes even more sense to wait until our next trip.