Can you check my math?

[gracelrm]

My family of five has just decided to make a quick 3 day trip to Disney Dec. 19-22. We also have a 6 night trip with family scheduled for June 2016. So, we'll need tickets for 9 days over two different trips. We are DVC members so we can get the Premium AP for $649 plus tax. My math shows we could get the APs for $3455.95. Buying Magic My Way tickets through Disney for a 3 day trip (not park hoppers) and a 6 day trip (park hoppers) for 5 adults would cost $80 more than just getting the Annual passes. I looked at Undercover Tourist through Mousesavers and it would be $26.25 cheaper through them for the 3 day and 6 day passes for five, but I figure with the AP discount in shops and on food and parking if we stay off property for any trips, plus the ease of only having to stop at Guest Relations once to get passes (vs. twice with 2 separate vouchers from UT) is worth at least $26.25.

So, I guess my question is, is the Premium Annual Pass probably the best way to go for two trips totaling 9 days? I think I used to read that the break even point was after 11 days, (which is the whole purpose for me questioning my math).

TIA - I'm that kind of person that has to rationalize that I'm making the most economical decision possible!

 

[Judique]

My family of five has just decided to make a quick 3 day trip to Disney Dec. 19-22. We also have a 6 night trip with family scheduled for June 2016. So, we'll need tickets for 9 days over two different trips. We are DVC members so we can get the Premium AP for $649 plus tax. My math shows we could get the APs for $3455.95. Buying Magic My Way tickets through Disney for a 3 day trip (not park hoppers) and a 6 day trip (park hoppers) for 5 adults would cost $80 more than just getting the Annual passes. I looked at Undercover Tourist through Mousesavers and it would be $26.25 cheaper through them for the 3 day and 6 day passes for five, but I figure with the AP discount in shops and on food and parking if we stay off property for any trips, plus the ease of only having to stop at Guest Relations once to get passes (vs. twice with 2 separate vouchers from UT) is worth at least $26.25.

So, I guess my question is, is the Premium Annual Pass probably the best way to go for two trips totaling 9 days? I think I used to read that the break even point was after 11 days, (which is the whole purpose for me questioning my math).

TIA - I'm that kind of person that has to rationalize that I'm making the most economical decision possible!

Buy the '3 day park hopper plus extra day free' for $364.95 from Undercover Tourist.

Use it for 1 day and upgrade it to an annual pass for each family member.

They are a $28 per ticket savings so 5 times $28 at Undercover Tourist.

You also get actual tickets so no need to worry about a voucher and you can make your fast passes ahead of time.

You can upgrade in the park after you've used it for entry. Also, if you have an Amex and have or can get the Amex UCT offer, that's an extra $30 off. Hopefully the rules don't change!

 

[supersnoop]

In addition to the above recommendation, you might be able to use the regular tickets and then upgrade to the gold annual pass, saving even more money. Use the normal tickets during the blackout period, and upgrade on your last day.

 

[gracelrm]

So, we've never done the upgrade tickets to an annual pass thing. Can you explain that to me? I'm having trouble making sense of that.

 

[supersnoop]

You go to Guest Relations and tell them you want to exchange your current tickets for an annual pass. And they take your money.

If you buy discounted tickets and use them first, then they credit you full gate price for the exchange.

 

[Judique]

In addition to the above recommendation, you might be able to use the regular tickets and then upgrade to the gold annual pass, saving even more money. Use the normal tickets during the blackout period, and upgrade on your last day.

It seems that may work from what I've read elsewhere. Op's vacation is a perfect candidate for it! She really has nothing to lose.
I'm sure it won't be long before the upgrading gets kicked to the curb.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So, I guess my question is, is the Premium Annual Pass probably the best way to go for two trips totaling 9 days? I think I used to read that the break even point was after 11 days, (which is the whole purpose for me questioning my math).
!

Just an FYI - The Premium annual pass does not exist anymore. You would be buying either the Gold, Platinum or Platinum plus pass but I assume you have been talking about the Platinum.

As others suggested you could purchase tickets to use and then upgrade on the last day of your trip in Dec to a Gold AP that you could use in June.

Regarding the benefit of having the AP for shopping discounts etc that's generally a non-factor since DVC members get the same shopping discounts. The same is true for many of the food discounts. Parking would be a difference though if you were staying off site.

 

[suebeelin]

Make sure you register on Amex offers for the $30 off $150+ purchase at undercover tourist.

Hubby has an Amex. I have an Amex. We are both purchasing tix on UCT for the future

 

[gracelrm]

Thanks for all the information! Kat4disney- you are right, I was stuck on the old name, but was talking about the Platinum. However, it sounds like we can use the UT tickets then upgrade to a Gold and it will meet our needs. I've read about upgrades on here, but was never in the situation where it would work for us. So, I never really "studied up" on them. I appreciate all the help on these boards.

 

[Disneycouple99]

Step one: Buy the 4-day park hopper + water park fun and more ticket (380.95)

Step two: Use ticket for Dec trip and upgrade to gold pass at the end of the last day. Note do not use any of the water park fun and more options.

Step three is the math: Ticket current value is 395 dollars with out tax. Gold pass is 549 dollars. 549-395=154. 154 plus tax is 164.01 to upgrade. Price for ticket (380.95) plus upgrade (164.01) is 544.96 paid for a Gold Pass. Price you would have paid is 584.69 a savings of 39.73 per pass times 5 is 198.65 dollars saved. Your new passes will have an experation date of when ou first used the tickets. Always ask to see how much it cost first for the upgrade and make sure the prices are matching. Sometimes they will not give you the value of ticket and only what you paid. They need to bridge the ticket which is a manual process.

Step four: plan more trips to use the pass.

HTH

 

[magickingdomprincess]

I have a question related to the OP's question and my own situation also. We have a trip planned this Dec. 14th-18th, and are thinking about another trip in May, in which case it would make sense to get annual passes. I would prefer to get the Gold pass because it's unlikely we'll travel during the blackout periods next year (obviously not if we do the May trip, but even if the dates are moved I double it would be during a blackout period). However, the days that we're going to be in the parks will fall into the beginning of the black out period. Will we be able to purchase the gold, or will we have to buy the platinum? If they do allow us to, would we need to make sure to wait until we're leaving to do the upgrade because then the new pass wouldn't apply? Hopefully my question makes sense.

Also, here are the blackout periods to clarify:
The following blockout dates apply to the Disney Gold Pass: December 17, 2015 – January 1, 2016 and March 19, 2016 – April 1, 2016, December 19 – 31, 2016. January 1 – 2, 2017.

Thanks!

 

[jillmc40]

Don't forget that with your AP you will get the Photopass. So if you get the photopass every time you go, you are also saving 338.00 on photos!

 

[supersnoop]

I have a question related to the OP's question and my own situation also. We have a trip planned this Dec. 14th-18th, and are thinking about another trip in May, in which case it would make sense to get annual passes. I would prefer to get the Gold pass because it's unlikely we'll travel during the blackout periods next year (obviously not if we do the May trip, but even if the dates are moved I double it would be during a blackout period). However, the days that we're going to be in the parks will fall into the beginning of the black out period. Will we be able to purchase the gold, or will we have to buy the platinum? If they do allow us to, would we need to make sure to wait until we're leaving to do the upgrade because then the new pass wouldn't apply? Hopefully my question makes sense.

Also, here are the blackout periods to clarify:
The following blockout dates apply to the Disney Gold Pass: December 17, 2015 – January 1, 2016 and March 19, 2016 – April 1, 2016, December 19 – 31, 2016. January 1 – 2, 2017.

Thanks!

You have to have valid admission for the days you go to the park. If you're going to the parks on 12/17 and 12/18, then you either need a regular ticket or a platinum pass. If you use a regular ticket, you should be able to exchange (upgrade) to a gold pass once you're finished for the day on the 18th.

 

[BStew]

On the same train on thought... We are going for a quick trip in Feb. 2016 and have 2 park days planned under the SPD discount. We also have a trip planned for Nov 2016 where we are hoping for a BB FD for. we would have 5 park days then. Is it better to do AP's and bb with the room discount? We do a lot of character meals so that is why we like FD.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Don't forget that with your AP you will get the Photopass. So if you get the photopass every time you go, you are also saving 338.00 on photos!

I don't know how many DVC people use photopass, as most have been so many times, but last time I used it, it was $49.
Is it really up to $338 now???!!!! That is insane.

 

[supersnoop]

On the same train on thought... We are going for a quick trip in Feb. 2016 and have 2 park days planned under the SPD discount. We also have a trip planned for Nov 2016 where we are hoping for a BB FD for. we would have 5 park days then. Is it better to do AP's and bb with the room discount? We do a lot of character meals so that is why we like FD.

You're in the DVC section, so I doubt anyone will be able to help with your discount room rate questions here.

 

[BStew]

You're in the DVC section, so I doubt anyone will be able to help with your discount room rate questions here.

Oops! Sorry, using my mobile and I get "lost" quickly!

 

[DebbieB]

On the same train on thought... We are going for a quick trip in Feb. 2016 and have 2 park days planned under the SPD discount. We also have a trip planned for Nov 2016 where we are hoping for a BB FD for. we would have 5 park days then. Is it better to do AP's and bb with the room discount? We do a lot of character meals so that is why we like FD.

From what I read, the BB FD is over and it did not include November dates.

 

[jillmc40]

I don't know how many DVC people use photopass, as most have been so many times, but last time I used it, it was $49.
Is it really up to $338 now???!!!! That is insane.

I am DVC and I use it every time we go. I still have the little ones who love their characters, and I really love getting ride photos and not having to lug my camera out everytime we pose. It makes us stop and smell the roses a bit.

The Photopass is 169.00 if you pre-purchase it, but you could only use it for I think 30 days at a time. Now you can use it for a year, so that knocks out purchasing 3 for me if I had the AP. 49.00 - the good old days

 

[gracelrm]

We bought 3 day non- park hopper tickets through Undercover Tourist. We used them the 3 days of our trip (Dec. 19, 20, & 21st ). On the 21st, we went to Disney Studios during the day, then back again for Osbourne Lights & Symphony in the Sky. Once we went through the gate that evening, we went to Guest Relations and upgraded our 3 day tickets to Gold Passes. The wonderful CM did suggest we might want to wait until after the fireworks to upgrade, because technically we shouldn't be in the park because of being a blackout day once we upgraded, but two of us weren't staying for the 11:00 pm fireworks so she agreed to do it right then and just warned us if we left the park, we couldn't return. The next time I checked my MDE, the Gold passes were on there. This is the only time we've ever done this and it worked just as described by previous posters. Thanks for all your help and guidance!