Considering AP or PAP for the first time - advice?

[miamimama]

Now that we are members, we're considering an annual pass since we already have two trips planned within the next year. Running the numbers though, I'm not sure the premium annual pass is worth it - DD does love the water parks and DQ (if it will still be open) - we've never been to Pleasure Island. Does anyone have the PAP - have you found it worthwhile? Are there there any special perks with the PAP that I might not know about? Thanks !

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Let me start by saying we have AP's not PAP's but had the same dilemma.

For us, the decision came down to the fact that we would have to visit the water parks about 3x to justify the PAP over the AP. Based on when we vacation & past history, we just haven't gone/don't plan on going that often. Now, as our boys get older I'm sure this will change but for now we enjoy pool hopping with maybe 1 or 2 visits to TL/BB per year.

I think it just depends on how you like to spend your time in WDW.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

For us, we are going with the PAP. We decided that only because we will be going to DQ and TL and trying to make it to the Adventurer's Club (if it's still opened).

 

[mjmcca]

I am a new memeber but I have had APs ( currently) and PAPs ( last year). When we renewed the Cm actually would not "let " me get PAPs cause we didnt use any of the features( only 1 WP visit). If you go to the secondary parks a lot then the PAP is for you. If not then just go with the APs.

 

[missymagic]

For me the AP was better don't really use the water parks and PI. Still have smaller children single mom so dont go to PI. We tend to go in DEC so water parks are a little cool for us.

Ended up saving me about $150 between three mini trips

 

[corinnak]

When we renewed the Cm actually would not "let " me get PAPs cause we didnt use any of the features( only 1 WP visit).

This is so interesting - do they have a record of your AP or PAP usage to advise you with or did the CM just ask you, "How many times did you go to a Water Park, PI or DQ last year?"

I have PAP and plan to go to a water park 3 times through the year (already have one visit down - two to go!) and DQ....well, as much as we can fit in, I guess, since my DS is in love with it, and hopefully a visit to the Adventurer's Club as well.

 

[pumpkinboy]

OK, so when I read MiamiMama's original post, I interpreted the question as "Buy PAPs or MYW tix", while all the posts so far here are answering the "buy PAP or AP" question. If the question was that OP was planning to buy an AP and wanted to figure out if a PAP would be worth it, I guess that has been answered: 3 or more waterpark or DQuest visits makes the PAP upgrade worth it. In our case, we bought APs in February, since we weren;t planning any waterpark visits during the February trip. When we arrive in November, we are going to upgrade the APs of those of us interested in going to the waterparks (DD and either me or DW); this way we don't spend quite as much up front, and we don't buy PAPs for family members who aren't going to be using these features.

As for the question as I interpreted it, the non-expiring 10 day MYW Premium tix run $444.11 for adults and $408.97 for kids under 10, advance purchase, which is still more than the DVC discounted PAPs at $440.91 and $387.66. Still the advantage of the MYW tix is that if you are going to the parks fewer than 10 days during the year and hitting the plusses fewer than 6 times, you will have park days/plusses left over after the 12 month period is up. If however, you are doing the full 10 park days or more, and hitting the plusses at least 3 times each, then the PAP is definately the way to go. This is not to mention the AP holder discounts on all sorts of things (DDE being foremost in my mind).

Good luck with your calculations and decision process.

 

[miamimama]

Thanks for the detailed response. I had not even thought about the fact that the MYW tickets w/ no expire would have the advantage of not expiring after the 12 month period. Also, I wonder, if those close Disney Quest, will they substitute something else as a plus.. maybe that's been answered on another board..

Thanks again.

 

[mjmcca]

This is so interesting - do they have a record of your AP or PAP usage to advise you with or did the CM just ask you, "How many times did you go to a Water Park, PI or DQ last year?"

I have PAP and plan to go to a water park 3 times through the year (already have one visit down - two to go!) and DQ....well, as much as we can fit in, I guess, since my DS is in love with it, and hopefully a visit to the Adventurer's Club as well.

She could see in the computer each entry on the pass. She said that if I bought tickets to the seconday attractions that it would take about 5 entries to equal the amount extra that a PAP costs and that I should save the tickets if I do go to those WP/DQ that often and try to get them to upgrade the pass at that time.

 

[pickles]

If you buy AP and want to visit the water parks/DQ..do they have some prices or things for those tickets? So, your AP would be a base and then you can buy the other tickets as needed?

 

[DrTomorrow]

This is so interesting - do they have a record of your AP or PAP usage to advise you with [...]

They're Disney - they know everything about you....

 

[byoung]

We have the AP only, we donn't do the water parks.

 

[miamimama]

Yes, you can get individual tickets - prices are on the Disney site - I'm thinking they're in the $30 range

 

[Lora]

We've gotten AP's since 2000. Last fall we exchanged the ones we bought in 2004 for the PAP since we had bought full price before the DVC discount. With the new discount this year, our PAP's actually cost less than the original AP's. We went to two water parks and DQ (twice) during our last visit. It was great to have the extra flexibility to try things we had never done before. We will probably get the PAP's again and visit both water parks and DQ each visit. We can only handle the WP's and DQ in small doses, so this seems to work out for us.

 

[VLee]

I use both AP and the non-expiring tickets.

I have a current AP, but 3 or 4 days left from the old tickets that can be used for water parks, PI, etc.

Also, I recently bought a 10-day non-expiring ticket (before prices went up in January) and am hanging on to it for future use. It has the multi-park, waterpark/PI features on it.

It might come in handy if my AP expires and I don't want to renew right away. Or in case, my husband decides to come along with us, he will have a ticket that he can use and then hang on to for future trips, without the worry of expiration or having to get an AP. I think this would suit him better. I make many more trips than he can.