Curious question for Non-Florida Residents with Annual Passes

[craedaisy12]

How many days do you try to use your annual pass to feel like it was worth the purchase?

I am a non-florida resident (MD!) that is an annual passholder and only chose to get an annual pass this year because I went in January and I have a trip planned for this September.

I used my pass 7 days in January and I'm planning at least 8 days in September the two weeks I'll be there.

I also enjoy the perks and getting the annual pass pins that are available also. In January I utilized the free parking twice. This September I was able to get the annual pass discount on some rooms that are part of my trip.

 

[OKW Lover]

It's been a long time since I retired and moved to FL but before that I lived in MA and held an AP for many, many years. At that point the breakeven was at about 10 days in a year. Not sure what it is now.

 

[baggs32]

We typically go 4-5 times a year, some longer stays some shorter, but generally two 5 day trips covers the cost for us and it's worth noting that we are paying renewal prices now. If you price the tickets our for the times you are going you can see if you are really getting your money's worth because ticket prices vary and if you go during two lower cost times it may take more days to add up for you.

The APs also allow us to do some spontaneous trips we normally would not have done before. For example, in February SW had $79 flights so we went down for 4 nights to take advantage of that. We booked that trip something like 45 days out which is way late for us.

The room discounts that you mentioned are huge too. We've found that we can stay almost anywhere we want for much less than the general public discounts.

 

[Disneylover99]

It was never so much the number of days for us.
It was more, the number of trips and the time of year we go that made it worth it for us.

So 3 trips per year typically. With a two week holiday trip over Christmas and New Years when ticket prices are at their highest. The AP becomes worth it if you are going during the most expensive times.

 

[CarolynFH]

I don’t use a certain number of days as the comparison measure. I check the WDW website for the cost of individual hopper tickets for the trips we plan during the relevant 12 month period, since the actual dates now make a difference. If the total cost of those tickets is within $50 or so of the cost of the AP, I’ll buy the AP. Sometimes I’ll pay more than $50 extra for the AP if there are additional perks or benefits with the AP.

 

[Simba's Mom]

How many days do you try to use your annual pass to feel like it was worth the purchase?

I am a non-florida resident (MD!) that is an annual passholder and only chose to get an annual pass this year because I went in January and I have a trip planned for this September.

I used my pass 7 days in January and I'm planning at least 8 days in September the two weeks I'll be there.

I also enjoy the perks and getting the annual pass pins that are available also. In January I utilized the free parking twice. This September I was able to get the annual pass discount on some rooms that are part of my trip.

That's almost exactly the same as me (both # of days and which months I'm going). I figure that for 15 days, an AP is less expensive, even if the tickets I'd be buying would be one park per day. And surprisingly, the ability to park hop is such a great advantage for me. When I first got an AP, it was just about the cost savings, but I've found that the ability to go to MK for a few hours, then Epcot for dinner, then Hollywood Studios for a couple hours, is terrific.

 

[tx911]

How many days do you try to use your annual pass to feel like it was worth the purchase?

I am a non-florida resident (MD!) that is an annual passholder and only chose to get an annual pass this year because I went in January and I have a trip planned for this September.

I used my pass 7 days in January and I'm planning at least 8 days in September the two weeks I'll be there.

I also enjoy the perks and getting the annual pass pins that are available also. In January I utilized the free parking twice. This September I was able to get the annual pass discount on some rooms that are part of my trip.

I’m happy if I get 6 or 7 park days with the Sorcerer’s pass

What I value immensely is the ability to to go to the parks on the partial days at arrival and departure. I would never pay for a full day ticket for that, and it’s fantastic.

 

[CarolynFH]

I’m happy if I get 6 or 7 park days with the Sorcerer’s pass

What I value immensely is the ability to to go to the parks on the partial days at arrival and departure. I would never pay for a full day ticket for that, and it’s fantastic.

Yes, that’s one of the AP benefits we consider too! Plus, like @Simba's Mom says, feeling that we don’t have to spend all day and night in the parks. If we’re there for only 2-3 hours, we’re fine.

 

[tx911]

Yes, that’s one of the AP benefits we consider too! Plus, like @Simba's Mom says, feeling that we don’t have to spend all day and night in the parks. If we’re there for only 2-3 hours, we’re fine.

That too. The freedom is amazing and definitely has a lot of value!

 

[lanejudy]

Since WDW went to the date-based tickets it has been less about the total number of days and more about the dates and length of each stay.

Back-to-back 10-day PH tickets in August (for a total of 20 days) is slightly less than the cost of an AP (within the $50 PP mentioned). However, two 5-day PHs in April and December (total 10 days) costs slightly more than an AP.

Since ticket prices are front-loaded I believe the general thought is that 3+ trips, but again it really depends on the time of year as well as number of days.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

A sorcerer pass is not much more than a 8 day park hopper during spring break. Which is what got us to buy direct points to buy the sorcerer pass. The math for incredi pass is much different tho. It breaks even only after 2 trips.

 

[RickNJane]

That too. The freedom is amazing and definitely has a lot of value!

We get the sorcerers pass with DVC points. Agreed that the freedom it affords is one of the best perks. Ok still have to make reservations, but that is easy and we have not been lock out yet. We usually go for 14 or so nights. It's a long flight and longer stays makes the 2 days lost in travel worth it. My DD and family when they travel with us usually get 10 day park hoppers and have to plan a lot more than we do. The freedom of going where you want when you want is priceless. I do miss the old days where you could get a Length Of Stay pass when you checked in to your WDW resort. Nowdays being able to get an AP with our DVC points is priceless. And Yes I know that it is not the most economical use of our points, but worth it for us!

 

[CarolynFH]

I do miss the old days where you could get a Length Of Stay pass when you checked in to your WDW resort.

Yes, that’s what spoiled us - several years of trips with LOS hopper passes. Now we “need” hoppers and tickets that cover arrival and departure days even when planning a parks-light trip, especially staying at BWV where a few hours at one park might end with dinner in Epcot.

 

[RedHead0186]

Well, I try to go as much as possible, lol. Early in the pandemic we could work remotely, so I'd go to my place in Kissimmee, work during the day, and then bop over to a park for dinner and fireworks. Having the flexibility to not have to do a full park day and feel I'm getting my money's worth for a ticket is really valuable for me.

 

[Miffy]

Out-of-state AP holder here.

I'm usually at WDW at least 15 or 20 days a year--many of them in December--and although I haven't done the ticket math in a while, I'm pretty sure this is well worth the cost of the AP, which is also good for restaurant, merchandise, and resort discounts.

I just looked on UT, so these are discounted ticket prices:

A 10-day PH for dates starting April 28th, when I'll next be at WDW, is $932.77. And a 9-day PH for dates starting December 7 is $995.13. Total: $1,927.90, which is far more than the cost of the AP I'll be renewing at the end of May (at a 15% discount, btw, for anyone who hasn't renewed an AP yet). The AP more than pays for itself.

And that doesn't even count the trip I'll be taking in July.

I regularly go to at least one park every day when I'm at WDW.

Edited

 

[craedaisy12]

It's been a long time since I retired and moved to FL but before that I lived in MA and held an AP for many, many years. At that point the breakeven was at about 10 days in a year. Not sure what it is now.

10 days was my families number before they changed how pricing is now.

My brother and SIL both are cast members and my family utilizes their guest passes when possible but our family is larger so some of us still need to buy tickets, especially when our kids aren't free, we always buy the kids tickets first cause they are cheaper and the guest passes are more worth it for the adults.