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

[bumbershoot]

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.

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

Like none of us who fly would ever get an AP because we have to fly. Which obviously isn't true.

YOu take very long trips, so you get it because it works for your trips. You aren't buying the AP and then figuring out how to use it.

I buy an AP to DLR or WDW when we *already have trips planned*. I don't just get it and then work it out. I mean, some extra trips have slipped in for us (because flying from Seattle to Orlando isn't always as expensive as people think it is, and some good deals for Anaheim can show up), but we always have the two inside of 366 (367 for a leap year) (and for those who don't know, yes it's a day beyond a year's worth of days because it's good from, say, Feb 7 through the following Feb 7) worked out before buying/upgrading to the AP.

Driving to WDW would be an expensive proposition, and then we'd have to sell the car to fly back because driving HOME would be the real problem!

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.

I got photopass CDs three times and have never once looked at them. Ride photos are a bore (though the last time we had photopass DH and DS started pretending to be asleep, but the photo on RnR actually looks like DH has died on the ride....not the best photo), stopping to have pix taken takes up fun time and we'll never look at them, etc.

Oh wait there is ONE picture that we like, and we didn't like it at the time! One photo. In all our proper DLR and WDW trips from 2007 on.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

They start when you activate them. If you buy them online ahead of time you activate them when you go to the parks the first time. If you buy them at the ticket counter they'll be activated then.

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?

YOu'll have to ask her. What does she do for you? I can't imagine handing over any of our planning to a TA, so apart from booking a room I can't imagine what you want her to do for you.

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?

Nope. And your kids are "disney adults" since they were 10 for dining and tickets, so even back when there was a difference for APs they are too old for it.

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?

Buy them ahead of time online through your MyDisneyExperience account, call them, or even upgrade your current (if you have them) tickets once you get to WDW. If you upgrade your expiration date will be the same date (just a year out) from when you first used those tickets on that initial trip.

 

[DVC4US]

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.

Don't want to hijack to OP post but I noticed in your post that you get your tickets from Shades of Green. Are you active duty or retired military? If so, are you aware that there is an Armed Forces Salute ticket option - 4 day park hopper for $209 and 5 day park hopper for $224? Besides maybe some FL resident options, this is the best deal Disney has.

 

[BigredNole]

Breakeven is when the cost meets your value requirements. My breakdown was that we are going to spread our use across 2 Summers and skip the year after that. We went with the Premium/Platinum, which ever was $850. Here is how I justified it: 1 week passes base pass is $394 ($400 for math), parking is ~$150. For 2 weeks for our family of 3, that comes out to $2,400 for passes, $300 for parking ($2,700). I paid $2,840 for the passes. Add in the discounts for dining/merchandise, the $1,000s I save staying offsite makes it completely worth it.

For the cost of 1 week at POFQ in a Standard room, the cost is $2,950 for my Summer trip. With the AP + offsite resort, I am at $3,500. Factor in Memory Maker at $150, I am only $400 more with a lot more benefit. Also, my accommodations will save me $400 on meals alone, almost triple the space, and have far more amenities.

For us, the value was built in.

 

[Mommy a Deux]

They start when you activate them. If you buy them online ahead of time you activate them when you go to the parks the first time. If you buy them at the ticket counter they'll be activated then.



YOu'll have to ask her. What does she do for you? I can't imagine handing over any of our planning to a TA, so apart from booking a room I can't imagine what you want her to do for you.



Nope. And your kids are "disney adults" since they were 10 for dining and tickets, so even back when there was a difference for APs they are too old for it.



Buy them ahead of time online through your MyDisneyExperience account, call them, or even upgrade your current (if you have them) tickets once you get to WDW. If you upgrade your expiration date will be the same date (just a year out) from when you first used those tickets on that initial trip.

And the best part is how many times you will say, "I'll just run over, it will amortize my AP."

 

[duketennisgal]

Don't want to hijack to OP post but I noticed in your post that you get your tickets from Shades of Green. Are you active duty or retired military? If so, are you aware that there is an Armed Forces Salute ticket option - 4 day park hopper for $209 and 5 day park hopper for $224? Besides maybe some FL resident options, this is the best deal Disney has.

No, I'm a DoD Civilian, so that's the best rate for me.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Memory maker is a wonderful bonus.

I agree! I enjoy having all the pictures of our group or family that gave everyone in them! The cute extras and videos from rides are a bonus!

 

[Cinderella94]

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.

Does the DVC AP also include Memory Maker?

 

[jpeden]

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.

Just as an FYI - you cannot add more than 10 days to a domestic ticket. If you need more than 10 days of park admission you'll have to buy an AP or a separate ticket to cover the extra days.

 

[supersnoop]

Does the DVC AP also include Memory Maker?

Yes. Well, actually, no AP includes "Memory Maker." They include "unlimited Photopass downloads. "Memory Maker" is a very specific product.

 

[DG25]

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.

See if there is a discount on military AP's, there use to be and I think the price is about the same as the gold pass for DVC members. I get the DVC only because when you renew you get another discount on top of the first discount and it is only like $489. I went last June and spent 15 days, I am going in May this year for 16 days, it figures out to be like $17.50 a day for my pass, the first pass cost $559 or so, the black out is only like Christmas which we would never go then. When you add the AP room discounts, you save even more, I am saving $132 a night on my deluxe room at WL, which would cost me the same because I would be at a moderate POFQ for the same price if I did not have the discount, but I like deluxe admenities better. You also get the free parking and the memory maker, plus this year 20% off several places to eat, and 10% at a lot of places to eat, and 20% of merchandise. All in all, it bays for itself at least twice in the two vacations.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Just as an FYI - you cannot add more than 10 days to a domestic ticket. If you need more than 10 days of park admission you'll have to buy an AP or a separate ticket to cover the extra days.

I've read several posts that you can add days so the total ticket length is up to 14 days, it just has to be done at wdw.

 

[supersnoop]

it just has to be done at wdw

"Just" is a bit of an understatement. The only way you're getting extra days added beyond 10 is for "guest recovery" purposes. Something has to have gone terribly wrong before they can offer that option.

 

[jpeden]

I've read several posts that you can add days so the total ticket length is up to 14 days, it just has to be done at wdw.

"Just" is a bit of an understatement. The only way you're getting extra days added beyond 10 is for "guest recovery" purposes. Something has to have gone terribly wrong before they can offer that option.

I think the confusion here is that the ticket expires 14 days after the first use. So, you can use a 10 day ticket within a 14 day period for 10 park admittance days, but you under normal circumstances cannot add days past 10. I didn't even know what @supersnoop mentioned was possible (but it does make sense).

 

[River Country]

Lets see if I can help

10 day park hopper NO Memory Maker $499.49 with taxes
10 Day Park Hopper with Water Park NO MM $527.18
10 Day Park Hopper with Water Park and MM $676.18
Platinum Annual Pass no discount $797.69
Platinum Annual Pass w/ DVC $691.19
DVC/FL Resident Gold Pass $584.69

So if you are not a DVC member or Florida Resident in the above scenario I would say your break even would be on day 12 with out Water Parks and Memory maker because the additional 2 days would cost you $273.71 plus the $499.49 you spent for the first 10 days = $773.20 and you could have had the rack rate of $797.69 and had all the other benefits and discounts that come along with an AP with no blackout dates

 

[duketennisgal]

See if there is a discount on military AP's, there use to be and I think the price is about the same as the gold pass for DVC members. I get the DVC only because when you renew you get another discount on top of the first discount and it is only like $489. I went last June and spent 15 days, I am going in May this year for 16 days, it figures out to be like $17.50 a day for my pass, the first pass cost $559 or so, the black out is only like Christmas which we would never go then. When you add the AP room discounts, you save even more, I am saving $132 a night on my deluxe room at WL, which would cost me the same because I would be at a moderate POFQ for the same price if I did not have the discount, but I like deluxe admenities better. You also get the free parking and the memory maker, plus this year 20% off several places to eat, and 10% at a lot of places to eat, and 20% of merchandise. All in all, it bays for itself at least twice in the two vacations.

I'll definitely check, I purchased the 4 day park hopper through shades of green, I was told on the phone that I could upgrade to the Annual Pass at the shades ticket counter when I check in. It would be great if they had discounted APs, I couldn't find anything about that on the shades web page.

 

[DG25]

I'll definitely check, I purchased the 4 day park hopper through shades of green, I was told on the phone that I could upgrade to the Annual Pass at the shades ticket counter when I check in. It would be great if they had discounted APs, I couldn't find anything about that on the shades web page.

I found the answer for you, I guess I should have looked last year. You do get a discount as military on all annual passes, BUT, it is not really a discount from Disney, it is that if you buy your annual pass at SOG, you pay no taxes which is normal for military. So basically I would have saved about $30 with my gold pass, for me not worth it, we were not staying at shades of green and would have cost us a taxi ride, and also, since we bought them early so we could get our FP's. but since you already have your tickets, than you can upgrade when you get there. Also, I can only find that you get them at SOG, and I'm not sure, but you maybe able to get them in park, but that may take anydiscount away, but if that is important maybe someone else can tell you. Good luck.

 

[HopperFan]

- Add the numbers of days up that you will be there
- On property - I've paid for a good part of my pass just with hotel discounts
- Dining Discounts whether you use AP or buy the Tables in Wonderland card
- Shopping Discounts now 20% and I even use at kiosks on food
- Find a great deal offsite? Parking is free.
- Special Perks like reserved seating for Arts Concerts, Flower and Garden Prints, Food & Wine Glasses,
AP Only entrance line at front of parks .........
- Free Photopass photographs

It all adds up pretty quickly and I will say I pay for my AP each year with the discounts I take advantage of. You need to calculate what you predict for your travels and what discounts you will be able to utilize.

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.

Everybody is different and there is no reason for you to take advantage if you don't want BUT it is a major perk to many of us. I used to buy MM for 10 day trips once a year but not on other trips. Often there were great pictures but I just wasn't going to pay for them. Now I LOVE that we get all these photos for free and we get photos of any of our Friends and Family for free even if they don't have an AP.

Not a perk for you - BIG perk for many.

 

[loves to dive]

- Add the numbers of days up that you will be there
- On property - I've paid for a good part of my pass just with hotel discounts
- Dining Discounts whether you use AP or buy the Tables in Wonderland card
- Shopping Discounts now 20% and I even use at kiosks on food
- Find a great deal offsite? Parking is free.
- Special Perks like reserved seating for Arts Concerts, Flower and Garden Prints, Food & Wine Glasses,
AP Only entrance line at front of parks .........
- Free Photopass photographs

It all adds up pretty quickly and I will say I pay for my AP each year with the discounts I take advantage of. You need to calculate what you predict for your travels and what discounts you will be able to utilize.




Everybody is different and there is no reason for you to take advantage if you don't want BUT it is a major perk to many of us. I used to buy MM for 10 day trips once a year but not on other trips. Often there were great pictures but I just wasn't going to pay for them. Now I LOVE that we get all these photos for free and we get photos of any of our Friends and Family for free even if they don't have an AP.

Not a perk for you - BIG perk for many.

I agree for some it is a perk, no arguing that. My original point was I, personally, don't factor it in when running numbers because it is not something I would ever buy so if I'm comparing the cost of park hopper tickets against an AP, I only use the cost of x amount of days of park hoppers and don't add memory maker to that. If it is something one is interested in or might buy, it should be factored in when running numbers. I might even go so far as to say not to factor it in if you are on the fence about it since you can still buy a single photo or two and it might (I don't know the cost) be doing that comes out less than an AP.

 

[wrlippert]

Beware, having an AP can cause you to make trips that you might not otherwise have spontaneously decided to make. I found myself constantly checking airfares and hotel rates because I had an AP and wanted to squeeze the maximum value from it. One year I made five trips for a total of 30 park days. Once you have the AP, you may feel compelled to stay at a Disney resort because you get a discount, but you may do better to stay off property at a nicer hotel for a fee lower than the discounted rate at a Disney resort. Another thing to consider is to get only on AP for one member your travel party. You get all the perks and it hedges the risk that something will happen and your entire party or family will be unable to return within the 12 month period. Since the question was only about money, that is what I have addressed.