Can someone please explain the AP to me?

[thedude]

As a new DVC member, I want to get the most out of my membership. I understand that as a DVC member, I get a discount on AP's. I have heard a lot about planning trips on an 11 month cycle to get the most use out of them.

I am curious to hear from those who go this route as opposed to park hopper passes purchased by the trip.

Thanks.

 

[vicki_c]

You sound like you understand so I'm not sure what you want to know. Depending on the total length of your trips, it's strictly an economic decision as to whether 2 separate sets of tickets or an AP would be better.

Generally, if you are there for longer than 10 days within 1 year, getting an AP is the most economical approach. That is true even for full price APs, and DVC APs cost about $100 less than the general public one.

It also enables you to get some additional discounts on merchandise and dining, and allows you to purchase the Tables in Wonderland discount dining card (20% discount on lots of table service locations, mainly).

We just got APs (after not having one for over a year) last month when we realized that we could get in 2 Easter trips on one AP. So we had a week this year and will have at least a week next year unless we decided to squeeze in something else.

 

[ilikedvc]

I agree with previous response. It all depends on the number of days you are going to be there. We always get the AP is we are planning at least 2 trips in a 12 month period. In addition you can get the Tables of Wonderland card for dining when you have AP and then you don't have to get the meal plan. That is a benefit.

 

[thedude]

So, the 20% off is better than DDP? Also, how many days in the park does it become more economical to buy the AP?

Thanks for the responses.

 

[photobob]

Hi new member and Roll Tide!! We usually try to get at least two trips from an AP. Last year we purchased our AP's for our late June trip and will use them again for an early June trip this year. Uses this approach you only have to purchase the passes every other year. Others prefer to buy the 10 day MYW park hopper passes with waterparks and no expiration and can make the these passes last several trips. You really have to look at your traveling patterns to see what works best for you.

We like the AP's because we can just go to a park for a couple of hours on arrival or departure day without having to worry about burning a day's worth of passes like you would with regular park tickets.

With 10 day MYW park hopper passes with waterparks and no expiration you get ten days of theme parks and ten entrances to waterparks. If you go for say a five day stay and just want to do a couple theme park days, a resort day, a couple of water park days, these tickets would be ideal. You could really get several trips with them.

We tend to go to a theme park or two every day so the AP works for us.

 

[photobob]

We don't do the DDP because it is more food than we normally eat and it costs more than I normally spend on food. We make great use of the full kitchen so we just usually eat one meal out per day. Again you'd just have to check to see what works better for you. If you would normally eat a TS meal with dessert and a QS meal with dessert and have snacks in the park every day, then the DDP is an outstanding value, it just doesn't fit our normal eating and ordering habits but others swear by it.

 

[thedude]

Thanks for the very helpful responses. Oh, and Photobob, the RT was very unnecessary.

 

[Sammie]

So, the 20% off is better than DDP? Also, how many days in the park does it become more economical to buy the AP?

Thanks for the responses.

Not necessarily. Dining situations such at TIW, or the DDP depend on your individual use.

Size of family, adults and kids, whether you will be ordering drinks, appetizers, desserts all affect which is the best deal.

For us paying out of pocket is the best deal.

Also be sure you know that in using TIW you have a mandatory 18% tip included.

 

[Sandisw]

We only go once per year but are planning our summer trips 51 weeks apart so that we can take advantage of the AP.

It works out great as we like to go to the parks each day. Our normal trips are 5 or 6 nights so we visit the parks 6 or 7 days. With the AP, we think nothing of heading in to the park for just a meal or simply to shop.

And, it saves about $100 per person over the cost of buying a 7 day hopper each trip.

In addition, we are now hoping to get in a fall trip every other year--the year we have the AP.