Does anyone else feel it just isn't worth the hassle???

[NJDisneymom]

I just did the math, and I would save about $189 after the discounts if I buy an annual pass. Now, I know that $189 is nothing to sneeze at, I certainly wouldn't throw it away, but we will definately only get there for this one stay and my DH just feels like its not worth the craziness to buy the one pass separate from the rest, wait on hold for hours, etc.

Of course I don't even know if the codes are available for the dates/resort I booked but I'm on hold trying to find out. I never listen to him anyway, why start now, LOL!!!

But does anyone else feel that the savings just don't warrant the work involved??

 

[disneyjunkie]

I feel the same way. The AP rate isn't even $10.00 less than my AAA rate. If you book with the AP rate, I can't use the dining plan. Then I need a PAP to meet our needs which is way more than 8 day, fully loaded, MYW pass.

Unless a general code comes out that I can use the dining plan with, I'm sticking with AAA.

 

[EthansMom]

The Annual Pass doesn't usually make sense for us either. However, this year the only vacation that DH and I could agree on for the near future is WDW. (The kids are young and DH doesn't want to take them on a cruise and I'm not willing to go camping with them. Also, they aren't quite old enough to have their attention held for any length of time by an educational vacation -- like say, D.C.) So, the only age-appropriate vacation we could agree on was Disney.

Once we finally agreed that Disney was the only vacation we both wanted to take the kids on at this point, it was a short jump to going there for both of our vacations this year. And once I started looking at tickets, it made some sense to squish in a third trip before the passes expire. Two trips this year (April & Sept) and one trip next year (Jan. or Feb.). So, for three week-long trips, we'll definitely save some money just on the tix.

Then I read about the Disney Dining Experience card and since we prefer dining at sit-down restaurants AND the card is good at the sit-down restaurant at our resort, it made sense to purchase the DDE card also.

Plus, I was able to snag the AP rate for our resort stay this morning.

So, a quick rundown:

AP tix for 2 adults, 1 child cost $1202 -- spread over three trips that's ~$400/trip for tickets

DDE card cost $50 -- anticipate saving ~$15-$20/day for 6 days * 3 vacations

AP rate on resort -- saved $133 off AAA rate for 7 nights

Don't know if we'll renew the APs in a year, but it might make some sense for one vacation a year, if you can get the AP rate on the resort. I suppose that if you want to stay at a Delux for 7 nights, the $700 savings off rack rate would make it worthwhile.

EthansMom

 

[missypie]

With 10 nights in a deluxe...yes! We already had the AAA rate, so I saved $900 this morning.

 

[oogieboogie]

If you're getting an AP just to get the rate and not coming back for more than a year, I would say, no, it's not worth the hassle.

However, if you're like us or many people here who go multiple times a year, AP is worth it. For us, this will be our 2nd trip this year, and we know we're coming back in December, so makes sense to get the APs. And since we've got APs, it makes sense to use the codes. Since we don't do DQ and only do TL, it makes sense to use APs and not MYW. We'll also be using the DDE card which also makes a lot of sense to us. It's all in the dollars and cents when you calculate it.

 

[Buzz2001]

I only buy the pass when I'll be doing 2 trips within a years time. I save much more on the tickets than a room code. If I get a code for the room then that's just added bonus to me. I don't make my room ressies based on if I will get a code or not, I do it on the resort I want. This will be the first trip I've been where I won't have a code for the room. I could have switched to a resort with a code available but I have non AP friends coming with us so I want to stay at the same resort as them.

 

[Melrosgirl]

AP rates (and getting an AP pass just for the AP rate) tend to be worth it if you have a Deluxe resort ($100 off a night usually) and are staying more than 9 days or so in a year.

If you are DVC, it helps too ($100 off an AP pass).

 

[lclark0621]

If we were staying in the Moderate which is where we were booked, then NO the hassle was not worth it. For the AP rate + the room, my cost would have gone UP $30 overall. Not worth it.

But I got the WL for 7 nights! My total goes up $247, but I am now in my FAVORITE resort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Leota]

I only buy the pass when I'll be doing 2 trips within a years time. I save much more on the tickets than a room code. If I get a code for the room then that's just added bonus to me. I don't make my room ressies based on if I will get a code or not, I do it on the resort I want.

You summed up my thoughts perfectly.

I also believe AP rates should be used by people with valid AP's - that CRO should require a valid pass ID at booking, to make sure AP rooms are available for those who hold AP's, not for those buying one AP just to get a rate on one trip.....

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

The only reason why I went through the hassle to change my prior reservations was because this trip we will be staying for 10 days and we will be doing a second trip next summer - with a family of five I think this is more economical for us.

2005 - POR June/July
2003 - AS June/July

 

[debster812]

It only makes sense for us, if we will for sure be back for multiple trips. For example, this year, I am hoping to do a long weekend (5 days)with a girlfriend in October, I have a potential business meeting in Clearwater in November (3 days), and we plan to do 5 or 6 days in February. At the very least it warrants looking into an AP for me for those three trips. Then, if we are able to take advantage of any potential discounts, GREAT.

But if you are only buying an AP in the hopes of getting codes, and not planning a second trip, it may well NOT be worth it.

Debbie