Buying direct vs. Resale - How much is DVC annual pass discount?

[Theta]

How much is the AP discount for DVC blue card members? I am still thinking about buying 100 direct points at AKV before the increase. I am also thinking about putting my adult children on the contract so they have blue cards to get the AP discount moving forward. So there would be a total of 4 of us on the contract.

So how many APs would I have to buy to make buying direct pay off?

All of this is assuming you will sell the AP again and continue to offer the benefit.

 

[Sandisw]

The DVC Gold pass is $719 plus tax and the regular AP you would have to buy is $1195 plus tax.

So, about $485 savings per person. With 4 people, it is over $1900 each time toy buy them,

Its about $70/ more per point. So, $7k. Assuming you buy them yearly, new, it takes 4 years. Of course, if you buy and then always renew, you save another $400 per year as the renewal is currently $100 less than new.

Another thing to consider is that when your adult children have a family, they will also qualify.

For example, I put my 3 adult kids on with us but my DS is married with 2 kids. They are now all eligible too!

 

[astricklin]

Some other things to consider. 100 points will between 5 and 10 nights per year. If you are only going once per year, and for less than 7 days in the parks, then buying regular tickets will be cheaper. Currently you cannot purchase a new AP and I do not believe there has been a date set to resume sales. There is no guarantee that this perk will be in place going forward. Disney can change any perks going forward and has changed the terms of park ticket/AP perks and other perks in the past.

 

[masupo]

I know the waterparks are closed (and this thread is about AP discounts), but how much is the waterpark discount?

 

[astricklin]

I believe that water park tickets are $50 if your AP does not include admission

 

[E2ME2]

How much is the AP discount for DVC blue card members? I am still thinking about buying 100 direct points at AKV before the increase. I am also thinking about putting my adult children on the contract so they have blue cards to get the AP discount moving forward. So there would be a total of 4 of us on the contract.

So how many APs would I have to buy to make buying direct pay off?

All of this is assuming you will sell the AP again and continue to offer the benefit.

Some other things to consider. 100 points will between 5 and 10 nights per year. If you are only going once per year, and for less than 7 days in the parks, then buying regular tickets will be cheaper. Currently you cannot purchase a new AP and I do not believe there has been a date set to resume sales. There is no guarantee that this perk will be in place going forward. Disney can change any perks going forward and has changed the terms of park ticket/AP perks and other perks in the past.

Dependent upon how long this perk lasts, there's another way to reap the same benefit over a longer timeframe, if only vacationing a week per year.
We buy GOLD APs every 3rd year, traveling the last half of January in Year 1, when we activate the APs, and then the early half of January in Year 2, so we get 2 yearly trips with 1 AP.
Then, on the 3rd year, we do a non-park visit. This has been working well for us since 2010.
Just wanted to give Theta that option also.
ET

 

[masupo]

I believe that water park tickets are $50 if your AP does not include admission

Thanks!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

How much is the AP discount for DVC blue card members? I am still thinking about buying 100 direct points at AKV before the increase. I am also thinking about putting my adult children on the contract so they have blue cards to get the AP discount moving forward. So there would be a total of 4 of us on the contract.

So how many APs would I have to buy to make buying direct pay off?

All of this is assuming you will sell the AP again and continue to offer the benefit.

One thing I have not seen mentioned is that while the above savings are a great deal, they can only be realized if you do not travel during blackout dates.
Those savings are comparing a gold pass to a platinum pass.
If you do travel during blackout you can still get a discounted rate on platinum passes, though the price difference is much less.

 

[Valeria Pigozzo]

Are AP back for slae? LAst time we were there it was not possible to buy a new annual Pass...

 

[Sandisw]

Are AP back for slae? LAst time we were there it was not possible to buy a new annual Pass...

Disney has only started allowing those whose passes expired during shut down or people who canceled to purchase so far.

Remember, DVC has no input in this but I think it’s a good sign they have started with some. I’m hoping in the next month or so we see
More people eligible to buy

 

[Yacht Club Stitch]

Are AP back for slae? LAst time we were there it was not possible to buy a new annual Pass...

Not yet. I am able to renew but now that I'm DVC, I'm waiting until I can get a gold pass now. I have heard that people who had passes expire can get passes but its not open for everyone yet.

 

[Sandisw]

One thing I have not seen mentioned is that while the above savings are a great deal, they can only be realized if you do not travel during blackout dates.
Those savings are comparing a gold pass to a platinum pass.
If you do travel during blackout you can still get a discounted rate on platinum passes, though the price difference is much less.

That's a very good point. Though many members have realized that if it’s your first trip during a black out time, buy regular tickets and then upgrade last day to a Gold AP.

Disney allows it and its a work around black out. But if someone does travel during those times then the savings is closer to $200 per person.

Since Gold is only available to DVC and FL resident, if you are not a traveler of those times it’s a nice chunk of savings.

 

[Lorana]

Not yet. I am able to renew but now that I'm DVC, I'm waiting until I can get a gold pass now. I have heard that people who had passes expire can get passes but its not open for everyone yet.

If you are eligible to renew, you can downgrade at renewal to a Gold AP.

 

[Yacht Club Stitch]

If you are eligible to renew, you can downgrade at renewal to a Gold AP.

Oh awesome! When I tried online it would only give me the platinum option. Maybe I'll try calling them today, I want to have it in case I decide on a last minute trip in March before my planned on in May. Thank you!

 

[Lorana]

Oh awesome! When I tried online it would only give me the platinum option. Maybe I'll try calling them today, I want to have it in case I decide on a last minute trip in March before my planned on in May. Thank you!

You do have to call! But I was able to downgrade when I renewed.

 

[Yacht Club Stitch]

You do have to call! But I was able to downgrade when I renewed.

Thanks so much! I have my "Welcome Home" call any minute but will give them a call to downgrade afterward.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

That's a very good point. Though many members have realized that if it’s your first trip during a black out time, buy regular tickets and then upgrade last day to a Gold AP.

Disney allows it and its a work around black out. But if someone does travel during those times then the savings is closer to $200 per person.

Since Gold is only available to DVC and FL resident, if you are not a traveler of those times it’s a nice chunk of savings.

Agreed about upgrading if the blackout period is at the beginning of your AP cycle, but I’m blown away Disney has allowed that loophole. I would not be surprised to see that closed at some point.

 

[Sandisw]

Agreed about upgrading if the blackout period is at the beginning of your AP cycle, but I’m blown away Disney has allowed that loophole. I would not be surprised to see that closed at some point.

Me too but it seems many people have done it and encouraged by CMs at GS.

 

[Lorana]

Kungaloosh!

Okay, completely off topic here, but I can't ever see Kungaloosh! without thinking "too sooooooon!!" ;-) How I wish they'd bring back the Adventurer's Club. I kept hoping that if the Star Wars hotel hit it off, that maybe they'd do an Adventurer's Club resort. (Heck, I'll gladly say goodbye to Reflections if Reflections became an Adventurer's Club hotel!).

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Okay, completely off topic here, but I can't ever see Kungaloosh! without thinking "too sooooooon!!" ;-) How I wish they'd bring back the Adventurer's Club. I kept hoping that if the Star Wars hotel hit it off, that maybe they'd do an Adventurer's Club resort. (Heck, I'll gladly say goodbye to Reflections if Reflections because an Adventurer's Club hotel!).

Yup. One of my biggest, and saddest things about the Disney cutbacks.
Truly THEE best attraction on property, that happened to be a bar.

Kungaloosh!! My friend....