DVC Annual Pass Dilemma

[Mike&Kris]

We just purchased DVC points at SSR yesterday. We would like to purchase an Annual Pass using the DVC discount and DDE using the AP discount. We usually go to WDW twice a year and would really enjoty the flexibility of an AP and the dining discounts with DDE.

Our problem is we have 9 days each remaining on a park hopper from previous trips with a few options left and no expiration. Should we trade in the 9 day passes for APs in order to get the DDE and benefits? Is that even possible? Any thoughts?

TIA

 

[TAKitty]

I am saving our no expiration tickets for a time when we don't by the AP. I have heard from others that if you trade them in, they only give you the money on the time remaining. For me, I would rather save my tickets and use them later. We just bought a couple of weeks ago!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I agree with TAKitty. You'll probably do a spur of the moment trip one of these years and the 9 day hopper will come in handy.

I bought APs this year and the DDE too, as we will probably get 3 trips out of them. However, I also bought 10 day hoppers to use the years we go down and go to the other Orlando attractions or just don't do the parks every day.

 

[Dean]

I haven't been to Disney in 10 years where I didn't buy something when I had a valid ticket in my pocket that I didn't use and saved for later. Usually it was a seasonal pass or play 4 pass. ASAMOF, I have finally almost used up my tickets I had from 1995 & 1996 including my four single day park hopper passes that DVC gave me for the guide providing incorrect information on my initial tour.

 

[JFrey4240]

Put those park hoppers in your safe and wait until you will need them. I had a park hopper before AK was built and when my neice needed a ticket we traded it in. It was upgraded to a current price park hopper at no cost to us. Very cool. Save it for when you don't have an AP and want to take a trip. You'll be kicking yourselves later if you don't.

 

[Alexander]

I'm going to stick my nose on the other side. We had some park hoppers with a few days left on them. We traded them in for our AP's. You can still get the DVC discount. They will give you the current value of the tickets you have. We will purchase a new AP each year, and really had no use for the hoppers anymore. It also took the edge off buying those AP's (we had several hundred dollars worth of days left). We are soo much happier with our AP's since we pop in and out of the park for very short stays and don't have to feel like we've gotten our monies worth out of a hopper anymore.

This worked for us, but I can totally see the other side as well. Especially if you may not purchase AP's every year.

 

[Dean]

They will give you the current value of the tickets you have.

This is not accurate. They will give you what you paid way back when regardless of what the cost or value of that ticket type would be today. In this situation the OP has what I assume is 10 day MYW passes with 9 days left. They certainly could trade them in and lose little other than the option of losing those tickets for later use and the one day they've used already. If they can't afford to do both and an AP makes more sense for them, trading them might be best. But if they can afford to keep them and invest for a trip when an AP is not the best option, that will be a better option by far. But at least there are workable choices either way.

 

[fishermouse]

This is not accurate. They will give you what you paid way back when regardless of what the cost or value of that ticket type would be today. In this situation the OP has what I assume is 10 day MYW passes with 9 days left. They certainly could trade them in and lose little other than the option of losing those tickets for later use and the one day they've used already. If they can't afford to do both and an AP makes more sense for them, trading them might be best. But if they can afford to keep them and invest for a trip when an AP is not the best option, that will be a better option by far. But at least there are workable choices either way.

Gotta Love DVC when our biggest worry is what to do with old unused tickets. Life Is Good!! My opinion hold on to them for a year when you don't need an AP.

 

[hbg4]

We just purchased DVC points at SSR yesterday. We would like to purchase an Annual Pass using the DVC discount and DDE using the AP discount. We usually go to WDW twice a year and would really enjoty the flexibility of an AP and the dining discounts with DDE.

Our problem is we have 9 days each remaining on a park hopper from previous trips with a few options left and no expiration. Should we trade in the 9 day passes for APs in order to get the DDE and benefits? Is that even possible? Any thoughts?

TIA

I have old parkhopper passes without expiration dates which are still valid.
Our annual passes expired last October I have only one visit planned for Epcot/MGM studios in May with a water park on another day, it make sense to use those old passes instead and then cash in my vouchers for the new AP starting with our next DVC trip in October.
Also unlike with the AP and new passes you can also use them for your guests who don't have tickets when they accompany you to the parks.

Also if you have a child's parkhopper pass, and you child then grows old enough to be charged as an adult, guest services will allow you to still use that pass for your now adult child, giving you even more of a savings for that odd trip to Disney.

 

[ccw]

I have old parkhopper passes without expiration dates which are still valid.
Our annual passes expired last October I have only one visit planned for Epcot/MGM studios in May with a water park on another day, it make sense to use those old passes instead and then cash in my vouchers for the new AP starting with our next DVC trip in October.
Also unlike with the AP and new passes you can also use them for your guests who don't have tickets when they accompany you to the parks.

Also if you have a child's parkhopper pass, and you child then grows old enough to be charged as an adult, guest services will allow you to still use that pass for your now adult child, giving you even more of a savings for that odd trip to Disney.

As far as using old hoppers for "guests," be aware that once someone uses those old passes under the new system (even for a day), any remaining days can only be used by that person...so, unless you are treating them for a LONG trip, or unless you will be bringing those guests back for a future trip, you might want to buy new shorter passes for your guests and save your old ones for your own family.

 

[castleri]

Also if you have plus options left you will lose those when you trade them in for an AP so now you would be paying for water parks etc. You only need one AP to get the DDE card so you might consider using the ones you have left and buying just one AP for now that will get you the DDE card. The other option is to buy the APs and once you use up the options on the other passes trade them in at a later date for AP renewals. Now you have even more choices to consider. Good luck and many happy DVC trips.