cheapest way to buy annual pass (DVC)

[JWG]

Thanks for hanging in there with me...

IF I figured it out correctly, (and thats a BIG IF), this is what the savings would look like:

Buy a 6 day PH w/ no expire from UTC = 371.95
Turn it in for a credit of WDW cost = 390.86
Use that credit towards a DVC AP = 414.29

414.29 - 390.86 = 23.42 to pay balance for DVC
added to the original cost to UCT 23.42 + 371.95 = 395.38

Ultimate Savings - 414.29- 390.86 = 18.91

Is this correct?

I haven't looked, but just be sure you buy the UT ticket that offers the biggest discount off gate price that doesn't go over the cost of the AP with DVC discount. Remember, UT prices include tax - Disney's do not (when listed on their website).

You do not need to buy a No Expiration option as the ticket's clock (14 days) doesn't start until the ticket is actually used. They're all "no expiration" until used. UT makes it a little easier by giving you the discount off retail in parenthesis (or at least they did last year when I last purchased).

 

[PrincessMom4]

I was just wondering that million dollar question too. We are DVC members and want to make the most of our ticket. If I buy an annual pass September 2010 for an adult (10+) it was $388 and $344 for 3-9. What your saying is that I should buy a ticket lets say for a 10 day Park Hopper ticker for $285.40 for 10+ and $253.47 fr 3-9, what would I get or happen in this situation??? what would be the best choice??

 

[vicki_c]

I was just wondering that million dollar question too. We are DVC members and want to make the most of our ticket. If I buy an annual pass September 2010 for an adult (10+) it was $388 and $344 for 3-9. What your saying is that I should buy a ticket lets say for a 10 day Park Hopper ticker for $285.40 for 10+ and $253.47 fr 3-9, what would I get or happen in this situation??? what would be the best choice??

On the UT site - at least through the Mousesavers link - it is written right next to each ticket how much of a discount it is from Disney's price. So take all the Disney gate prices for tickets that are less than the AP price - maybe that will end up being 5 or 6 different ticket options. Then go to the UT site and see which of those tickets say they have the biggest discount from the Disney price. That is the way to get the biggest discount on your AP (provided you use the UT ticket once and then take it and upgrade it to your DVC AP).

 

[JWG]

I was just wondering that million dollar question too. We are DVC members and want to make the most of our ticket. If I buy an annual pass September 2010 for an adult (10+) it was $388 and $344 for 3-9. What your saying is that I should buy a ticket lets say for a 10 day Park Hopper ticker for $285.40 for 10+ and $253.47 fr 3-9, what would I get or happen in this situation??? what would be the best choice??

First you need to back tax out of the UT price (6.5%) to get to the actual base ticket price. Then, find the ticket that offers the best discount off retail/gate (in parenthesis) that does not go over the DVC AP price.

Then, use the purchased MYW ticket your first day in the parks. This will reset the ticket from what you actually paid to the current retail/gate price in value. Then, go to Guest Services at the parks or Downtown Disney and exchange the MYW ticket for an AP. You will pay the cost of the AP less the retail value of your MYW ticket plus tax.

If you're wanting the DVC discount, then you'll need your blue DVC membership card, picture ID's for all adults and the MYW passes for exchange.

 

[PrincessMom4]

Thank you so much.

 

[JWG]

Someone confirm that I'm right.

I believe the best ticket to purchase from UT, through the Mousesaver newsletter link, is the 6-Day Park Hopper No Expiration.

This pass is $23 off adult gate price and costs $344.56 (before tax, $366.95 after tax and on their website).

$344.56 + $23 (the gate price value the ticket will take) is $367.56 and less than the DVC price of $389 for an AP and the next ticket with more savings off gate (at $31) costs more than a DVC AP (7-day park hopper no expiration) after adding the $31 back in.

I'm not sure which is best on a child's ticket as the website doesn't do the comparison for you.

 

[vicki_c]

Someone confirm that I'm right.

I believe the best ticket to purchase from UT, through the Mousesaver newsletter link, is the 6-Day Park Hopper No Expiration.

This pass is $23 off adult gate price and costs $344.56 (before tax, $366.95 after tax and on their website).

$344.56 + $23 (the gate price value the ticket will take) is $367.56 and less than the DVC price of $389 for an AP and the next ticket with more savings off gate (at $31) costs more than a DVC AP (7-day park hopper no expiration) after adding the $31 back in.

I'm not sure which is best on a child's ticket as the website doesn't do the comparison for you.

Sounds like you did it right. You can find the regular ticket prices (adults & children) in the Ticket Sticky at the top of the Theme Parks board, or on Mousesavers.com (or a number of other places I'm sure).

 

[JWG]

Just purchased 2 6-Day Park Hopper No Expiration tickets at $23 off current gate price. This will save us $46 on two adult DVC AP's if no price increase prior to December visit.

As a side note, Undercover Tourist is currently offering an additional $1.99 discount for any order over $500. So, I guess we'll save $48 on two adult DVC AP's.

I still need to buy one child ticket to upgrade, but since the price increase wasn't confirmed, I thought I'd wait and not take that cost all at once.

 

[PrincessMom4]

So saving about $28 for per adult and $25 per child is fair????

 

[JWG]

So saving about $28 for per adult and $25 per child is fair????

Not sure what you mean? The ticket that currently gets the best discount and stays under the DVC AP price is the 6 day park hopper, no expiration. This saves you $23 off gate price per adult. $28 seems high. I haven't researched child prices yet.

You may be right if you want the Premium AP, I didn't look into that.

If you mean fair as in ok to do, then yes it is. If DVC is Disney's best kept secret rotfl, this process is the worst. It's very common and accepted.

 

[vicki_c]

So saving about $28 for per adult and $25 per child is fair????

What does this mean? What is there to be fair about? A reseller offers a discount on tickets and it allows you to save some money on your AP. How can how much the discount is be fair or unfair?

 

[PrincessMom4]

fair....I should have said does that sound like a great deal...sorry for the confusion.

 

[PrincessMom4]

sorry meant to type $23....sorry for mistype.

 

[goterps1986]

Can someone please provide the "secret" link from mousesavers to get the discount prices from Undercover Tourist? I went on mousesavers to look for the prices and it says you have to get the newsletter to get the best prices. The newsletter doesn't come out until the 15th and we wanted to buy tickets today. Or is this not true and the prices are always the same? Any help would be appreciated. We want to get at least 7 days and prices are going up tomorrow, right? Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

Can someone please provide the "secret" link from mousesavers to get the discount prices from Undercover Tourist? I went on mousesavers to look for the prices and it says you have to get the newsletter to get the best prices. The newsletter doesn't come out until the 15th and we wanted to buy tickets today. Or is this not true and the prices are always the same? Any help would be appreciated. We want to get at least 7 days and prices are going up tomorrow, right? Thanks!

You will have to have someone forward you the newsletter - I don't have it. The link itself is not allowed to be shared, but Mousesavers is okay with people forwarding the entire newsletter to others.

I don't know if prices are going up tomorrow though - usually people on the boards know on a Friday, and no one knows that yet, last I read. It might not be this weekend unless I have missed some posts.

 

[vicki_c]

fair....I should have said does that sound like a great deal...sorry for the confusion.

Thanks! I thought you were complaining about the discount!

 

[JWG]

Can someone please provide the "secret" link from mousesavers to get the discount prices from Undercover Tourist? I went on mousesavers to look for the prices and it says you have to get the newsletter to get the best prices. The newsletter doesn't come out until the 15th and we wanted to buy tickets today. Or is this not true and the prices are always the same? Any help would be appreciated. We want to get at least 7 days and prices are going up tomorrow, right? Thanks!

If you PM me your e-mail address I can forward you the most recent newsletter. I keep the most recent until the next comes - just in case I need that link.

Though, I doubt tickets will go up tomorrow with no leak to broker's. Not that they won't still go up soon, but likely not tomorrow.

 

[goterps1986]

I sent you a PM JWG. Thanks!

 

[lam]

WOW!!!

I just read this whole thread.
Came across it by chance and really really wish I'd seen it a few weeks ago.

I am a DVC member. I have also bought tickets through UCT AND I did it via Mousesavers link (i get their newsletter).
I recently bought AP's online direct from WDW using my DVC membership, to use for my trip next year when i'll activate them.

I had NO IDEA I couldv'e bought MYW discounted tickets, used them once and lock in new gate price to credit towards an upgrade to AP.

I wondered why the UCT website displayed the difference in gate prices etc.-doh!

Anyway I only bought the AP BECAUSE Easter here in Ireland falls mid to late April 2011 AND early to mid APril 2012. I take my hols then and thought if I bought the AP BEFORE 1st August 2010,i'd avoid any price increases AND if I didn't ACTIVATE tix until mid April 2011, it means I can hopefully get 2 holidays out of 1 ticket as AP will EXPIRE on the very last day of my trip in 2012!! IF I activate it on the very 1st day of my trip in 2011!

Hope that makes sense and i'm right!!

Just an afterthought?
Can I renew my AP on my last day on 2012 trip? How long do I have to do it? Is there a cheaper/better way of renewing bearing in mind I am DVC member and get a special rate??

OR
should I just book a free DDP for 2013 year with MYW tix?

Would be interesting to hear your views!!!

Regards and Many Thanks

lam

 

[PrincessMom4]

I called and I was told you could not upgrade to an annual pass but they give you something else with no expiration instead. Let me know if there is any truth to this.