DDE or OOP

[MikMin6554]

Ok here goes. I will try to keep this short. My AP and DDE expire in April. I am not going back until July. I am pretty sure I wont renew since I know I wont be back before summer 09 (moving to the Orlando area) . Do I get a new AP and DDE just before July or just get a Park Hoper for the 6 days. We will be staying at SSR in April or May of 09 but that time will be for finding a High School for our son and a house for us to buy. I am not too sure our schedule will allow to much park visiting. But If I got an AP and DDE we could at least visit a park to eat dinner. I am having a terrible time trying to decide what would make the most sense for us.
Thanks for any help or opinions you might have.

 

[Donald is #1]

I think that I would do the park hopper. Then during the April/May trip, I would either buy a new AP since you will be living in the area or eat at DTD.

 

[happymommy]

I just checked and the price for the no expiration Park Hopper is now the SAME (okay, almost) as an AP! For the 10 day. But without no expiration, it's $180 cheaper. It has changed a bit since DH bought his PH (the kids and I always have gotten AP's but they are quite high now).

I agree that if you aren't going to WDW for a whole year, or just using the AP for this one visit, just get the tickets and pay OOP for your meals. We found out that we could have saved a bit if we had bought the DDE last visit (one meal at Bistro De Paris was $400 for the 4 of us) but oh well, we can't stress about that. I don't want to try to plan everything around saving money on VACATION! Just enjoy it and I envy you moving near WDW! How wonderful! Then when you've moved you'll get the Florida Resident discounts anyway!

 

[Chuck S]

An adult 10 day hopper, no exp. is $450 + $29.25 tax = $479.25

Annual pass $448 -$100 DVC disc. = $348 + $22.65 tax = $370.62

The AP is $108.63 less than a 10 day non exp. Hopper

A 10 day hopper that expires is $270 + 17.55 tax = $287.55

 

[JimMIA]

An adult 10 day hopper, no exp. is $450 + $29.25 tax = $479.25

Annual pass $448 -$100 DVC disc. = $348 + $22.65 tax = $370.62

The AP is $108.63 less than a 10 day non exp. Hopper

A 10 day hopper that expires is $270 + 17.55 tax = $287.55

If (or when) you are a Florida resident, there are even more options to confuse you. A few of them are...

7 day Hopper - $245.48/14 day expire, $351.98/no expire
FL AP $372.75 (DVC will save you $2!)
FL Seasonal AP $244.95 (our choice, but check the blackout dates to see if it's good for you)
Epcot after 4 PM Annual $135.26

 

[MikMin6554]

Thanks for the responses so far. I may do the AP thinking that if we do have a couple days to hit the parks in May 09 it would be quite a bit cheaper than buying either the 10day with no exire, or a 6day for this July and then a 3 or 4 day hopper in May 09. Plus the DDE would still be valid. I suppose we could always not visit the parks and eat at either DTD or a resort.
Please keep the opinions coming as I still have plenty of time to get whichever ticket I decide on.