DVC Annual Pass vs 10 day pass, Best Deal with DVC discount?

[Jeremy&Susan]

Obviously, you come out way ahead if you do multiple trips on the annual pass.
But even if you don't, the annual pass has more benefits. Here's a dollar to dollar comparison.

Only one Adult needs to have an AP for everyone to benefit(You're all traveling together).

Premium AP DVC Cost: $454

7 out of the 10 day pass (prorated) cost: 347

This is what I got for $107 more?

Free parking at the parks (I drive everywhere) $70
Disney Dining Experience 20% off most sit down meals $65 (20% of $660= $130 - 65 = 65)
10% of World of Disney (10% of $100) $10

So, I could have saved about $145 on my last trip in December. My next trip will include the same AP's and DDE so my savings will be even more.

You could save more through the 10 day tickets, it just depends on what you do and where you do it.

Fred,

Are we supposed to get a 10% off at World of Disnye if we are annual pass holders or only premium annual pass holders. Oh yeah and what is the difference???
Reason I ask is that last time down to World of Disney in December we were not given a discount for being DVC, having annual passes or having the Disney Visa.

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

You must be an annual pass holder or a Florida Resident to get the DDE Card. It is also good for one year.

I'm pretty sure anybody can buy the DDE card whether a DVC or annual pass holder or Florida Resident.
To qualify for the $65 DDE discounted cost, requires you to have the annual pass.

 

[Anal Annie]

We bought DVC last Dec. and bought Premium AP's in Aug. because we knew being there for 8 days in Aug. we'd want to do water parks and DS wanted to go to Disney Quest and we knew we wanted to go back again for about 3 n next July (pre-cruise). I crunched all the numbers 6 different ways and the Premium AP's seemed to work out in our favor by maybe $100 or $150 for what we wanted. And it took some of the expense off of what we'd need to spend next summer. Then as soon as we got back from our Aug. trip we thought "boy we should try to squeeze in one more trip sometime to use these things". Next thing you know, we're booked for MLK weekend. So as other posters have said, having the AP DOES lead to more trips (more airfare, more meals out etc.). In OUR case, it is also leading to higher expenses because we're out of points! So we're now booking on DVC cash ressies!

We also bought the DDE card. We are a family of 3 (DS is 10). I calculated all of our discounts after we got back in Aug. and we "saved" $55 - still $10 short of recovering all of our costs. However, since we're going in Jan. we will use it some and will get that last $10 back. Then next July we should start seeing a profit so to speak. I think the DDE card is great if you've got a large family or are with a large group since it covers your entire table (up to 10 ppl). For a family of 3 it's a stretch to break even. But I just wanted to try it out & see how it went. Boma was our biggest savings. We didn't do the DDP 'cuz they want to charge adult prices for DS and he still eats from the kids menus - so that wouldn't have been worth it for us.

Bottom line - until I can talk DH into adding on, I think the next time we have to purchase tickets we will probably go with the 10 day non-expiring tickets. Unless you live really close, the AP definitely will get you to spend more in more ways than one! But this was our first year and we were excited and got caught up in it. We are still learning....

 

[dbprimeaux]

Wow!! I am glad I am not the only person debating these options...
We are trying to decide if we should purchase 7 day park hopper passes or AP's. We are a family of 5 - 3 adult tickets & 2 - child tickets. We are going home (SSR) on Feb. 2nd-9th, 2008, and we are planning on going November 22-29, 2008 (if we can get rooms ). The difference in price is about $600.

 

[NCRedding]

I'm pretty sure anybody can buy the DDE card whether a DVC or annual pass holder or Florida Resident.
To qualify for the $65 DDE discounted cost, requires you to have the annual pass.

No the DDE is only open to AP holders or to Florida Residents. $65 is the regular price; it is slightly less for renewals.

 

[javamom]

I think that for our June trip, we will be buying 1 or 2 APs and the rest will be Hoppers of some sort. The APS are because we want to take another trip in September for just hubby and I. Haven't decided how many days that will be, so not sure if we will get an AP/s.

 

[SSRFred]

Fred,

Are we supposed to get a 10% off at World of Disnye if we are annual pass holders or only premium annual pass holders. Oh yeah and what is the difference???
Reason I ask is that last time down to World of Disney in December we were not given a discount for being DVC, having annual passes or having the Disney Visa.

Thanks ahead of time.

Premium AP includes the water parks & some DTD attractions. I got the 10% off this past December (Doesn't have to be premium AP). It's good at several stores & restaurants in DTD.

 

[SSRFred]

Wow!! I am glad I am not the only person debating these options...
We are trying to decide if we should purchase 7 day park hopper passes or AP's. We are a family of 5 - 3 adult tickets & 2 - child tickets. We are going home (SSR) on Feb. 2nd-9th, 2008, and we are planning on going November 22-29, 2008 (if we can get rooms ). The difference in price is about $600.

For 14 Days, the AP is the best option.

2x 7 day PH Plus Water for Adult = $624
1 Premium AP (Regular Price) = $579

2x 7 day Regular PH = $540
1 Regular AP = $448

Plus you get all the extras with the AP. Imagine 20% off all those character meals with the DDE.

 

[SSRFred]

Oh yeah, I forgot DVC members get discounted AP's as well.

 

[lisareniff]

We do a no more then a large yearly trip that can not be offset with maybe a quick solo or 'with out kids' trip (really I'm dreaming on that one) every few years. For us the non expiring 10 day tickets are the best value.

If you are just looking just at park days, at 7.6 days of use during a year they are the same value. So it really takes 8 days of park use to make the AP a better choice.

With the 10 day non-expiring passes:
you have not prepaid - if someone is sick that day and it's associated money is not lost (has happen to us)
All those water park days that never expire - next time around you don't need to purchase that portion and save ~$50/ticket

With the AP:
Ability to buy the DDE - may or may not be a benefit
Some discounts on Disney Hotels, Restaurants and Stores
[there is free parking but you get that when you stay at a Disney resort]

But IF you were going to use 7 days on just one trip and didn't need the water parks then I would get the MYW expiring park hoppers for the length of your trip.

Looks like I've just talked myself out of AP's for a once per year trip. Now if you can adjust that yearly trip slightly, as others have mentioned, to actually get 2 trips in a years time, that would be the way to go.

 

[nunzia]

Can you get 10 day non expiring tickets without the water parks for a lower cost? We have no interest in the water parks, so would hate to 'pay' for them. Also, are 10 day Non expire park hoppers?
WDW is certainly more confusing than DLR

 

[castleri]

Wow!! I am glad I am not the only person debating these options...
We are trying to decide if we should purchase 7 day park hopper passes or AP's. We are a family of 5 - 3 adult tickets & 2 - child tickets. We are going home (SSR) on Feb. 2nd-9th, 2008, and we are planning on going November 22-29, 2008 (if we can get rooms ). The difference in price is about $600.

If you are considering the 7 day tickets and they are the non expiring which is the only way they will work for 2 trips I would go for the 10 day ones for the few dollars more each costs. You may end up getting three trips out of them if you are not planning on park days every day each trip. If you are planning on 7 park days each trip then the AP is probably the better value. Of course if you are talking about the expiring 7 day passes then that is a whole different column on the spread sheet. Good luck with your decision and hope your tiprs are wonderful.

 

[LSchrow]

We do a no more then a large yearly trip that can not be offset with maybe a quick solo or 'with out kids' trip (really I'm dreaming on that one) every few years. For us the non expiring 10 day tickets are the best value.

i'm curious ~ why get the more expensive non-expiring if it is one trip? do you go a lot more than 14 days? (that would be sooo nice )

btw, in answer to another poster: Disney Visa gives 10% off purchases of $25or more at WOD (btw, you do not actually have to use the Visa, just show it ), AP gives 10% off, no minimum (both with normal exclusions).

 

[TisBit]

With the 10 day non-expiring passes:
you have not prepaid - if someone is sick that day and it's associated money is not lost (has happen to us)
All those water park days that never expire - next time around you don't need to purchase that portion and save ~$50/ticket

That's some very good points. I am fortunate enought to still have some water parks, etc on old MYW non-expiration passes. The flip side of being sick, is if you are planning on doing parks every day of your stay or not. Last May we were doing "Disney light" (a promise to my poor wife) and we were only going 3 days to the parks on our 6 day trip. Planned doing some resort restaurants and DTD on other days. If for some reason you get sick at a park or something you dont' feel guilty leaving early.

My suggestion is AP if it doesn't cost more money and just enjoy it....but if it is any significant amount more for you vacation then you just do the Non-expiring passes. Like me you can still do AP's another time and keep those precious non-expiring passes that will never go up in price!

 

[Stevegriswold]

Yeah I can see it now.

If I got annual passes for us they would be constantly burning a hole in my pocket. We are right at the point that we could do three - four day weekends if we had annual passes. We are a seven hour drive to WDW.

But then I would have to get more DVC points and be able to book last min four day weekend trips, and weekends cost more DVC points.

Or I could find a deal off property, hum

 

[TisBit]

Can you get 10 day non expiring tickets without the water parks for a lower cost? We have no interest in the water parks, so would hate to 'pay' for them. Also, are 10 day Non expire park hoppers?
WDW is certainly more confusing than DLR

yes, you can get them without the water park option and save some money. its like 40 or 50 bucks cheaper (I think)

 

[lisareniff]

i'm curious ~ why get the more expensive non-expiring if it is one trip? do you go a lot more than 14 days? (that would be sooo nice )

We get the non-expiring 10 day hoppers because we usually want to go to the parks about 4-5 days on our 'longer' trips. Our trips are about 8-9 nights long. We like to hang around the resort a couple days during our trip. With only going to the parks at most 5 days during the year non-expiring 10 day hoppers were the way to go over the AP and the expiring hoppers. We get the ones with out the water park because we have those on older tickets. And if we choose not to go to the parks for what ever reason we can save that 'day' for another trip.

 

[lisareniff]

Wow!! I am glad I am not the only person debating these options...
We are trying to decide if we should purchase 7 day park hopper passes or AP's. We are a family of 5 - 3 adult tickets & 2 - child tickets. We are going home (SSR) on Feb. 2nd-9th, 2008, and we are planning on going November 22-29, 2008 (if we can get rooms ). The difference in price is about $600.

I agree. It sounds like an AP is in your future. I would assume you would go to the parks at least 8 days in those two trips. The AP will allow you some flexibility/freedom to go into a park just for an hour to see the fire works without feeling guilty about using a 'day'.

 

[MikeyNS]

We bought our first, and last, PAPs back in Oct of 06. Being quite a bit away from WDW we decided to squeeze in 3 trips from Oct 06 - Oct 07 because they were burning a hole in our pockets, but boy did we get our value out of them, something like 20 park days, a few trips to Disney Quest and a couple of water park visits. We will never be able to do another 3 tripper in a year so we'll be going with the 10day non-expiry passes and keep banking the unused days for future use. We're won't be park commandos anymore either. With the APs we felt like we should go to "something" everyday to get our value out of them and almost wore ourselves out, but I feel that we'll be much more relaxed during future visits.
I'm waiting for a general park pass discount in our future.

 

[CarrianneB]

Obviously, you come out way ahead if you do multiple trips on the annual pass.
But even if you don't, the annual pass has more benefits. Here's a dollar to dollar comparison.

Only one Adult needs to have an AP for everyone to benefit(You're all traveling together).

Premium AP DVC Cost: $454

7 out of the 10 day pass (prorated) cost: 347

This is what I got for $107 more?

Free parking at the parks (I drive everywhere) $70
Disney Dining Experience 20% off most sit down meals $65 (20% of $660= $130 - 65 = 65)
10% of World of Disney (10% of $100) $10

So, I could have saved about $145 on my last trip in December. My next trip will include the same AP's and DDE so my savings will be even more.

You could save more through the 10 day tickets, it just depends on what you do and where you do it.

Ok - this seems like a good deal, but don't we get free parking when staying at DVC? Also - I believe that with a disney visa you get the 10% at the world of disney as well. So for me the disney dining experience would be the savings, and the "cool kid" aspect