Convert to an Annual Passport?

[Donald is #1]

I booked my October trip a couple of weeks ago with my AAA agent and purchased a MYW package with an 8 day park hopper ticket. However, as I was looking over the various websites, I noticed the price difference between an AP and the normal passes. And now of course, my mind starts whirling... Since the price difference between the AP and the MYW 8 day hopper is only about $200, I am wondering if I should change. If I change to the AP, then it will ensure (since I paid for it) that I go back to WDW sometime in the next year. What is driving this debate is that I love photography. Normally when I go to WDW, I take my point & shoot camera with me and leave my SLR at home since I don't want to carry it on the rides. (By the way, currently my point in shoot is an 8 Mpixel camera while my SLR is only a 6 MPixel camera.) However, I have been toying with doing a "photography" long weekend trip to Disney where I would bring my camera equipment including tripod and concentrate on photographing the parks. So, I am considering switching to an AP and then do this photography concentrated trip some time within the next year. So after all this, what are my questions??? Well, my questions are:
1) What are your opinions on switching to an AP?
2) When I get to WDW in October, can I convert my MYW pass to an AP or do I need to do it before my trip?
3) If I do decide to convert to an AP when I am at WDW, do a need to do it before I actually enter the parks for the first time on the MYW pass so that I get maximum $ credit?


Thanks everyone!

 

[thunderbird1]

1. We've had AP's several times and LOVED them. You can get some great AP discounts on hotels for your return trip that can easily make up the $200 (we've stayed at POP for ~$50, CBR for $95, and Poly for ~$225). You can also get discounts on meals (mostly TS, mostly only lunchtime) and on retail purchases, if you do much of that. We've also upgraded to AP's and not been able to go back. So I would say it depends on whether you REALLY think you'll go back within a year.

2. & 3. I've been told (though I've never tried it before) that you can convert your MYW pass to an AP anytime during the first 14 days after its first use. I don't think there's any advance purchase discount for AP's, or any other benefit to purchasing it ahead of time, but I'm not sure. It also doesn't matter whether you've used your MYW pass or not--they'll just backdate your AP to the first day you used your MYW pass.

Have fun!

 

[aubriee]

Well, my questions are:
1) What are your opinions on switching to an AP?
2) When I get to WDW in October, can I convert my MYW pass to an AP or do I need to do it before my trip?
3) If I do decide to convert to an AP when I am at WDW, do a need to do it before I actually enter the parks for the first time on the MYW pass so that I get maximum $ credit?
Thanks everyone!

I did this on my trip this past May.
1. With an AP you not only get unlimited access into the parks (plus hopping privileges), but you also get 10% off TS and some CS meals, (or you can buy the DDE card for 20% off TS meals) 10% off purchases at the DTD Store and at the Basin in DTD, as well as discounts for tours, Richard Petty Driving Experiences, free parking, etc. If available you can also get some pretty good room discounts for your next trip.

2. & 3. You can convert your MYW ticket anytime before the 14 days is up. The resorts can't do it though. You'll have to go to guest relations at a park or else to guest relations in DTD, which is where I went. It took less than five minutes to cancel the MYW ticket from my room key and give me an AP. The AP will be dated from the first day of your trip though, regardless of when you upgrade the MYW ticket. For example I upgraded mine on the 10th day of my trip, but my AP was backdated for the first day of the trip. The CM said she had no choice as the AP must start the same day your MYW ticket did.

 

[Donald is #1]

aubriee & thunderbird1,
Thanks for your input! Based upon your comments I think that I will convert my MYW pass into an annual passport. The benefits seem nice and once I pay for it, it will give me a lot of incentive to plan my next trip within a year of my October trip. It's nice to know that I can convert it anytime during my trip. Thanks again!