Break Even on APs/When Does It Make Sense to Invest In APs Question

[Little E]

I live in the midwest, and my family and I have gone to WDW yearly since 2011. We have taken trips in January, February, March, and May, so the spacing between trips, depending on the year, has been anywhere between 10 months and 16 months. 2016 was a little different, as DH and I took the kids (boys 12 & 15) for our yearly trip at the end of January/beginning of February, but then DH and I took a somewhat spur-of-the-moment, adults only, long weekend trip with friends at the beginning of November. Our next family trip is scheduled for June of 2017.

I'm wondering when, if ever, an AP purchase would make sense for us? To be honest, I'm not quite sure how they work, how much they cost, what the perks are, or what the break even point is on APs. Any thoughts or info AP vets have regarding when, if ever, an AP investment would make sense for me would be so amazing.

Thank you so much!!

 

[CAS239]

Believe it's about 10 park days in a year is when an AP becomes beneficial and saves money.

Then also remember with AP you get free parking and discounts

 

[David Brent]

I'd say go for it if you are able to drive to WDW. I only got them since we live 2 hrs away. I imagine breaking even won't be hard by going, but I assume flying vs driving is the factor.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I live in the midwest, and my family and I have gone to WDW yearly since 2011. We have taken trips in January, February, March, and May, so the spacing between trips, depending on the year, has been anywhere between 10 months and 16 months. 2016 was a little different, as DH and I took the kids (boys 12 & 15) for our yearly trip at the end of January/beginning of February, but then DH and I took a somewhat spur-of-the-moment, adults only, long weekend trip with friends at the beginning of November. Our next family trip is scheduled for June of 2017.

I'm wondering when, if ever, an AP purchase would make sense for us? To be honest, I'm not quite sure how they work, how much they cost, what the perks are, or what the break even point is on APs. Any thoughts or info AP vets have regarding when, if ever, an AP investment would make sense for me would be so amazing.

Thank you so much!!

Plan your trips to visit twice within twelve months, and you're likely ahead with AP's. If you visit in Feb, the following trip go in Jan. If you visit for a week each time you are ahead of the game.

MG

 

[bumbershoot]

I imagine breaking even won't be hard by going, but I assume flying vs driving is the factor.

I don't know of anyone who includes how they get there in the breaking even part of the AP. It has to do with admission costs.

Plan your trips to visit twice within twelve months, and you're likely ahead with AP's.

Ayep.

 

[Anal Annie]

We buy the DVC Gold APs which are less expensive but have some blackout dates. (These are only available to DVC members but are significantly cheaper bcuz of the blackout dates.) I think we start to break even at around 8 park days. We usually try to hit more like 21 days when we have them (3 trips). I'm sure it would be closer to about 10 days to break even for a regular non-discounted AP. As already mentioned you do get some discounts with them & free parking. They are good for 365 days. So as long as you plan your 2nd trip to end by 364 days you're good. Two week long trips would more than pay for them. A regular adult AP without water parks is currently $749 so it is a big chunk up front.

 

[Lesverts]

I live 3 hour flight away and I have an AP.

Trip One: 8 park days with hopper - 478.19
Trip Two: 6 park days with hopper - 451.56
Trip Three: 4 park days with hopper - 314.71
Trip 4: 10 park pays with hopper - 374.62
Merchandise discounts: ~100 dollars
Food discounts: ~100 dollars
Hotel discounts: ~ 300 dollars (only counting additional discount above standard)
Memory Marker (I thought it was stupid, but I use it) - 150

Fitting in 4 trips in a year: Priceless

So I 'saved' a lot of money by getting my AP. Plus it makes me feel special.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I don't know of anyone who includes how they get there in the breaking even part of the AP. It has to do with admission costs.

I think they OP meant more how often they might go may include if it's viable to make a second or third trip within the year they hold a AP. We are from Australia, we go for 5-6 weeks at a time so we buy a AP. Considering it's a 23-26 hour flight and $1500+ in flights, unless we were going there for a single trip lasting 10 days+, it isn't viable we would return within the same year for a second trip.

 

[pmaurer74]

I live in PA and we have an AP but not all the time. When we can get 2 trips in it makes sense plus you get discounts on room, food and merchandise too that helps.

 

[wisblue]

You should also consider whether you would usually get park hoppers or Memory Maker.

With the current AP price of $749, an AP costs less than two 4 day park hoppers at $394 each, and you get Memory Maker thrown in. There is also the AP discount on some purchases.

 

[duketennisgal]

I'm going for 4 days at the end of February and then going again the week after Thanksgiving for 4 or 5 days. A 4 day park hopper (we always get park hoppers) for me is $386.50 (Shades of Green). So, if I go for four days now and four days in November or December, that would be another $386.50, putting me at $773. The AP is $749 and you get other discounts, so it's a no brainer for this year, I break even between 7 and 8 days.

 

[loves to dive]

Yep, if you are going to be there for a total of 10 days and normally by PHs, you will do well. I have had them for over 5 years. The first time I bought them I was going on a 5 day trip but knew I was going to be back later that year for at least another 5 day trip. At the time, you could get a little discount from AAA and Disney happened to be running an AP discount on rooms so I made out really well. If you renew, you get a little discount and since I go twice a year, it makes sense for me. I always run the numbers every year though. I don't factor in the silly memory maker because we never bought it before and we don't use it now. I also don't factor in discounts since those are pretty fluid as to who offers them and how much they offer.

 

[mrzrich]

Memory maker is a wonderful bonus.

 

[mrzrich]

I don't factor in the silly memory maker because we never bought it before and we don't use it now. I also don't factor in discounts since those are pretty fluid as to who offers them and how much they offer.

Now that you have it, you really should use it. The pictures are great, and everyone gets to be in them. Plus you get the ride photos.

 

[PSUGuy]

We hit Food&Wine yearly for 9 - 10 days each time so we buy APs, go later that year then go before expiration the next year. Last Oct was covered by the previous AP, this year we buy hoppers from UT so we can make FP+ choices then upgrade on arrival. I wouldn't have paid for PhotoPass but it's nice to have.

Bill From PA

 

[loves to dive]

Now that you have it, you really should use it. The pictures are great, and everyone gets to be in them. Plus you get the ride photos.

We've been going for over 30 years so have pictures of just about everything there. Both my son and I hate having our picture taken so if anyone pulls out a camera, we are usually running from the room. We used to get one taken every trip in front of the big hat at HS, he would even wear the same shirt, which as he grew had to have sleeves cut out and slits up the side and would be carried in a pocket just to change into for the picture. When they removed the hat we just couldn't figure out where else we would want that picture taken. Other than that, nope, not going to be in any pictures. We did get one taken last December at night in front of the castle and I did download it to my computer but it was mostly for the castle shot.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We're going for 15 nights in July. The max 10 day long tickets with PH are $499.49 after tax, before adding any days (I've heard it's ~$10 a day to add days once you get beyond about 5 days). It would also cost $273.71 after tax to go to the parks for two days before or after our cruise in September. $499.49 + $273.71 = $773.20, which is nominally cheaper than an AP ($797.69 after tax), but doesn't take into account AP discounts, parking, and memory maker (which we always purchase), or adding days to 10 day tickets. If we go for more than 2 days in September, we'd definitely be saving money on tickets, not to mention any other trips taken within the year.

Why not do something similar and play around with the ticket page? It automatically tells you how much tickets will cost for your party for X number of days with or without park hopper/water parks & more, and shows the after-tax price at the bottom of the page.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I live in the midwest, and my family and I have gone to WDW yearly since 2011. We have taken trips in January, February, March, and May, so the spacing between trips, depending on the year, has been anywhere between 10 months and 16 months. 2016 was a little different, as DH and I took the kids (boys 12 & 15) for our yearly trip at the end of January/beginning of February, but then DH and I took a somewhat spur-of-the-moment, adults only, long weekend trip with friends at the beginning of November. Our next family trip is scheduled for June of 2017.

I'm wondering when, if ever, an AP purchase would make sense for us? To be honest, I'm not quite sure how they work, how much they cost, what the perks are, or what the break even point is on APs. Any thoughts or info AP vets have regarding when, if ever, an AP investment would make sense for me would be so amazing.

Thank you so much!!

It's all a matter of how many 1) TOTAL DAYS and 2) SEPARATE TRIPS you go on in a 12-mo period, and 3) whether Memory Maker is something you would buy separately or not, and 4) whether you'd add Park Hoppers to your tix. Then there is whether you would use any of the discounts available to AP holders (and don't already have them from something else like DVC or Disney VISA).

if you want to shout out an example, I'm sure many of us could quickly calculate for you!

 

[linzbear]

We plan our trips to be roughly 4 trips with 2 AP purchases. So we'll do May this year, then April next year, then Nov or Dec, then Oct the following year. This usually spreads out to be 11 months between trips with an AP, and 18 months between APs (though I'd rather it be 6 months!). We also take advantage of many of the discounts.

We tried 1 year to do regular passes and separate trips by 18 months, but we couldn't justify the expense of delaying the second trip 6 months and paying $600 more.

 

[Little E]

Friends, thank you so much for your experience and insight. On our yearly trips we always get memory maker and park hoppers, so I didn't realize these should be factored in to the AP question. Thank you!

I now have a few more questions regarding AP logistics:

1. Is there a difference between when you purchase APs vs when you actually use them? I know that they are good for 365 days. Does the 365 days "start" from when you purchase them or from when you use them on a trip? I assume it's when you actually use them on a trip, but I want to be sure.
2. Does it matter if you have APs and use a TA to plan/book a trip? We have a great TA that we have started using over the last couple of trips we've taken. I would like to continue using her services in future booked trips. Are APs and TAs mutually exclusive, or can we use her to book at trip if we have purchased APs? How does this work?
3. Is there a different cost for APs for adults vs children? Our boys are 12 and 15...so would our cost be $749 x 4, or is there a lesser cost for children?
4. How would I actually go about purchasing APs? Can I do this through my TA or do I need to call WDW directly or can I purchase through the website?
5. Is there a place where I can view all of the discounts connected to APs? I hate for you all to have to spell this out for me...I'm glad to review a link or go to a place to check this out.

Again, I value fellow DISers' knowledge. Thank you so much for your help!