For those DVC folks that buy Park hoppers/no exp. vs AP.......

[edk35]

I am trying to figure out tickets. We have had AP's when we went 4 times on them but we are scaling back our trips. Any tips/advice would be appreciated. Our circumstances are changing with our daughter going off to college this fall. We can get the park hoppers at SOG too which is discounted and we would pay no tax on them.

 

[ldo]

no-expire are cost-effective ONLY if you limit park days. For a typical week, we go to parks 2 days, 1 day DQ and 1 day WP. The other days, we do pool and other activities (horseback riding, archery, character meal at a WDW hotel which does not require park admission). The down-side is you tend to do commando park touring on those 2 days---which is OK, as the next day is usually a down-time pool day.
We have a family of 5, so stretching 10 day tickets over 4-5 trips makes a WDW/DVC vacation very affordable. And my kids (7,7,10) love the DVC pools and Community Halls--it is the main reason we bought DVC. So, spending a day or two at the pool and CH is just fine for them.
But, if you like to go to the parks 4+ days on a trip, I would either get AP or tickets that expire. Elaine

 

[edk35]

We have always done the park hoppers with no exp. too. However since becoming DVC members....we did the AP for our first three DVC trips because we were there in Aug, Nov, and July. Now we have 4 days left on hoppers and trying to decide what to do for our 9 day trip coming up in July. We arrive on a Tuesday at Poly and plan on just enjoying the resort, then hitting MK on Wed, move to BCV on Thursday with another no park day, Friday we plan on hitting AK in the morning and EC that evening. That leaves us with 2 park days but we have water park options too....so I am sure those will get used a couple of times too. Plus we love spending time at the resorts so for us to have down days....it is no big deal. I think we might be fine on this trip with just 4 park days. We plan on NOT going to a park our last two nights when we are staying at Kidani Village.

We are just in a weird situation with the UNKNOWN for next summer so that is why I think we will put off AP's but they are tempting with the the 10% off deal right now. Our friends have the coupons.

 

[ldo]

In this economy, I am using the "bird in hand" mentality---no pre-buying tickets to save $, etc. Since you have tickets that will cover your trip this summer, I would just use those and then wait until next summer to decide about tickets--wouldn't you be really bummed if you got AP and then didn't go next summer?

 

[edk35]

In this economy, I am using the "bird in hand" mentality---no pre-buying tickets to save $, etc. Since you have tickets that will cover your trip this summer, I would just use those and then wait until next summer to decide about tickets--wouldn't you be really bummed if you got AP and then didn't go next summer?

You know what. I like that theory. That is kinda how I have been thinking the whole time with this trip anyway. We found out last summer that we were enjoying non park days anyway now. I don't have to go to a park now each day of a trip. However when I know ticket prices are going up on Aug. 1st as in previous years...it is tempted to buy now. I know some people buy AP vouchers from time to time even when they don't need them so to speak.

 

[photobob]

If you are scaling back the number of trips the the non-exp ticket may be the way to go. The non-exp vs discounted AP subject comes up with fair frequency and I tend to waffle back and forth on the subject.

If you are a waterpark visitor the 10 day plus water parks non-exp is pretty attractive, especially since they have 10 water park entrances. We tend to do Sun-Thurs trips and we could fit several trips in with those tickets if we did two theme park days, two waterpark days and one resort/DTD day. We have never done trips like that though, but we could.

I did the AP for our June 07, Feb 08 and June 08 trips plus my DW and DD went for one night in April of 08 on their way to DCL. We really enjoyed being able to just go to a park for a few hours and not feeling like we "wasted" a park day on a pass. We are going to Vero Beach in a couple of weeks and don't have to worry with tickets this time!

 

[edk35]

If you are scaling back the number of trips the the non-exp ticket may be the way to go. The non-exp vs discounted AP subject comes up with fair frequency and I tend to waffle back and forth on the subject.

If you are a waterpark visitor the 10 day plus water parks non-exp is pretty attractive, especially since they have 10 water park entrances. We tend to do Sun-Thurs trips and we could fit several trips in with those tickets if we did two theme park days, two waterpark days and one resort/DTD day. We have never done trips like that though, but we could.

I did the AP for our June 07, Feb 08 and June 08 trips plus my DW and DD went for one night in April of 08 on their way to DCL. We really enjoyed being able to just go to a park for a few hours and not feeling like we "wasted" a park day on a pass. We are going to Vero Beach in a couple of weeks and don't have to worry with tickets this time!

I still want to try VERO and my boys really want to try Vero. I see that trip in our near future. I guess Vero worries me a bit because it is the UNKNOWN. Where as going to WDW we know what we get. LOL I don't think I could JUST go to Vero. I would see us doing a few days at Vero followed by a few at WDW. IT would just be a lot easier if the tickets were CHEAPER at WDW.

 

[SLM]

I'm so glad you posted this-I've been sitting here with pen and paper scratching numbers out for the last half hour! Still not not sure what we're going to do-this is the first year we will have two WDW trips within a year.
As a side note, Denise, I see you live in MD-We loved Vero, but loved HHI even more and it would be a days drive for you-and I think it might appeal to older children and teens a little more than Vero Beach.

 

[cj9200]

I am so confused with what ticket media to buy and feel your pain. On the last trip we only used three days of a 4 day park hopper. As part of a Florida resident deal I have 6 months before they expire. We were not going over the summer but I was holding two park hoppers about to go bad. What to do? Why not a quick trip (that expanded to 5 nights with a 6th waitlisted)? Now what? Plus DD is bringing a friend with no tickets. Throw in that they want to go to a water park. I have a headache behind my eye.

That was no help at all but I can talk about Vero. It is a much different experience. Be prepared to relax and sit back and listen to the waves lap on the shore. The beach is nice but I prefer the pool. DD could live in the water forever so while she swims around, I read a book and sip a cocktail. Never ate off site but the two restaurants at the resort are pretty good. Lots of planned activities for the kids but many are more geared to the younger ones. The campfire was Disney corny but fun. For adults, there is a lounge and they have entertainment on some nights.

Right about this time of year the turtle walks are beginning. Over the summer, you can go on guided tours at night and see the lady turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Availability is very limited so if you have a chance to sign up, don’t hesitate. Have not done it but will some time.

Combining Vero for a couple of days with a WDW trip is a good option.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I am trying to figure out tickets. We have had AP's when we went 4 times on them but we are scaling back our trips. Any tips/advice would be appreciated. Our circumstances are changing with our daughter going off to college this fall. We can get the park hoppers at SOG too which is discounted and we would pay no tax on them.

The No EXP have a bigger expense outlay than the APs do... by about $100. If you are going to be back within a year, the AP is better. if you can get two trips off one no exp but past a year's time, that's better.

 

[yitbos96bb]

We have always done the park hoppers with no exp. too. However since becoming DVC members....we did the AP for our first three DVC trips because we were there in Aug, Nov, and July. Now we have 4 days left on hoppers and trying to decide what to do for our 9 day trip coming up in July. We arrive on a Tuesday at Poly and plan on just enjoying the resort, then hitting MK on Wed, move to BCV on Thursday with another no park day, Friday we plan on hitting AK in the morning and EC that evening. That leaves us with 2 park days but we have water park options too....so I am sure those will get used a couple of times too. Plus we love spending time at the resorts so for us to have down days....it is no big deal. I think we might be fine on this trip with just 4 park days. We plan on NOT going to a park our last two nights when we are staying at Kidani Village.

We are just in a weird situation with the UNKNOWN for next summer so that is why I think we will put off AP's but they are tempting with the the 10% off deal right now. Our friends have the coupons.

I may be wrong, but I think you can convert the unused tickets into a credit toward an AP. It would be worth a call. If you are going twice within a year, converting those tickets into DVC discounted APs might be the best bet. Plus then TIW!

 

[edk35]

I may be wrong, but I think you can convert the unused tickets into a credit toward an AP. It would be worth a call. If you are going twice within a year, converting those tickets into DVC discounted APs might be the best bet. Plus then TIW!

You have to convert partially used tickets within like 2 weeks of first use if you to upgrade them. The current military special ticket....that one can be upgraded but it goes back to the first day it was used which was in late Jan. So.....that means the AP would run Jan. to Jan.

 

[yitbos96bb]

You have to convert partially used tickets within like 2 weeks of first use if you to upgrade them. The current military special ticket....that one can be upgraded but it goes back to the first day it was used which was in late Jan. So.....that means the AP would run Jan. to Jan.

Well then I guess that won't work :-(

 

[christa112]

I am definately struggling with tickets as well. The AP won't work for us, we are planning on going every other year. I have been tinkering with the idea of a 10 day not expiring tix but they cost almost a $1,000 more and I really can't see justifying spending that much more for us to have maybe 3 days left on our tix.

We are planning a 9 day trip in Jan and have been thinking of hitting Sea World 2 days and then Disney Parks and a few days enjoying the resort. My thing is my kids like to hit MK twice and DHS twice so that is 6 days right there between MK, DHS & Sea World which leaves one day for Epcot & AK. I need a longer vacation!!!

 

[yitbos96bb]

I am definately struggling with tickets as well. The AP won't work for us, we are planning on going every other year. I have been tinkering with the idea of a 10 day not expiring tix but they cost almost a $1,000 more and I really can't see justifying spending that much more for us to have maybe 3 days left on our tix.

We are planning a 9 day trip in Jan and have been thinking of hitting Sea World 2 days and then Disney Parks and a few days enjoying the resort. My thing is my kids like to hit MK twice and DHS twice so that is 6 days right there between MK, DHS & Sea World which leaves one day for Epcot & AK. I need a longer vacation!!!

I'm in the same boat. We are going in October. We were going to do APs and go back next year in Dec. Now we are going to do the Podcast cruise, and spend some time in the parks in Dec... so we won't go in Sept. Trying to figure out the best way for us... I'm thinking of just a MYW PH ticket now and then doing the AP next year and head back in Dec 2011. We like the parks in early Dec anyway.

 

[MKCP84]

We have done APs the last couple of years but are going to purchase the park hopper/nonexpiring with waterparks for our next trip so we have some waterpark admissions built up for future years when we go back to APs. We paid almost $160 in March for 4 to go to the waterpark which we don't want to pay every year with APs. The downside, we won't have the TIW card with the park hoppers.

 

[circhead]

I know some people buy AP vouchers from time to time even when they don't need them so to speak.

I'm a person that does this. I spread out the cost of my tickets over a few months before the trip.(I can't stand seeing that bill for park tickets for 5, 6 or 7 people in one month spreading out the purchase makes me feel better. It's almost like I can fool myself into thinking that the admission media isn't that expensive. )
If I have several trips planned in the year I get APs; if not I get the 10 day non- expiring wp and ph this gives me 20 admissions to the various parks to use over the the next 2 or 3 trips. If I have an AP I have always had water park days left from the 10 day tickets I already have.

 

[edk35]

I'm a person that does this. I spread out the cost of my tickets over a few months before the trip.(I can't stand seeing that bill for park tickets for 5, 6 or 7 people in one month spreading out the purchase makes me feel better. It's almost like I can fool myself into thinking that the admission media isn't that expensive. )
If I have several trips planned in the year I get APs; if not I get the 10 day non- expiring wp and ph this gives me 20 admissions to the various parks to use over the the next 2 or 3 trips. If I have an AP I have always had water park days left from the 10 day tickets I already have.

That is true and a good idea. I know someone posted on here a long time ago that they buy an AP voucher or two each year so they always have vouchers. They of course always use AP's but that way she says you buy them cheaper than what they would cost when you actually need to activate them.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We will be buying non-expiring 7 day passes this year and making two trips with them. They will save us $400 over two trips. We are also limiting how many park days we do to 3 or 4 each trip to save money. We took a pay cut this year with my DH and we have to make cuts everywhere. We don't do park hoppers to save money.

 

[edk35]

We will be buying non-expiring 7 day passes this year and making two trips with them. They will save us $400 over two trips. We are also limiting how many park days we do to 3 or 4 each trip to save money. We took a pay cut this year with my DH and we have to make cuts everywhere. We don't do park hoppers to save money.

Isn't it so tempting though to get 10 days because there is not much price difference in the days between 7 and 10.