DVC AP vs NonExp

[bandjbaine]

I am trying to decide which to buy for our upcoming two trips. We have GAD vouchers and hope to upgrade to either a AP or a Non Expiring 10 ticket on our trip in June. In June we will be there 3-4 days ( 4 if we go to a park on arrival day) and we will be going back in Dec for 5 days. I am trying to decide whether to do a annual pass or go ahead and buy a 10 day no exp w/ water park &more. Obviously there is a big cost difference but the 10 waterpark days non expiring seems like a great deal. What benefits are there to the annual pass- normal discounts, etc? I like the TIW perk but don't think we will get the use out of it for these two trips as we won't be doing as many sit down meals. If all goes well we will be expecting child #2 in Sept. This obviously casts some doubt on plans for December which makes the lesser of cost of the AP less appealing. However-
December will be a family( w/ mom and sisters family to help out- we all have done disney before as a family and vacations very well together) trip and have already decided if I don't have a colicy baby or complications- the trip is on! I'll have 2 mos to make the call We also have a 3 yr old, who will be 4 by then and want him to still be able to have a special big brother trip. So I'm basically weighing the security of having the 10 day nonexpiring vs the value and addl discounts of the AP. Thoughts?

 

[cvjw]

If you enjoy the waterparks, and are only planning visiting the parks for 9 days this year, I would buy a 10 day non expiring hopper with the water park option. You can keep these water park days forever, and use them on later trips - after you start buying the APs. We bought APs this year, but have almost used up all of our waterpark days from some old tickets, and it is tough giving up the renewal discount on the APs to buy the 10 day water park option tickets. When we finally take a year off from our APs to buy another set of 10 day non-expiring tickets, we will have to start over again with the regular price of DVC APs.

 

[dvc deernut]

WE BOUGHT APs FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST DEC. WE USED THEM FOR 5 Days then, we are going next week and will use 6 days then and will be going again in sept after member cruise will use 2 days theN and finally we will book disney for first week in dec just before our passes run out. WE USED TO ALWAYS BUY 10 DAY HOPPER NON EXPIRY PASSES THAT CAOST UST AROUND $900 FOR 2. WE PAID AROUND $830 FOR 2 AP PASSES. WE HAVE ALSO SAVED ABOUT $80 In PURCHASES USING OUR ap PASS. WE WOULDNT GT IT IF WE WERENT GOING TO BE THERE FOR LESS THAN 10 DAYS IN PASS YEAR.

 

[dmoore22]

If you plan on visiting the parks more than ten days within a year you are better off, economically, with the AP. With the addition of the AP discounts it becomes a much better deal.