Got my AP...now what?

[Sergio S]

So, I just bought Prem APs for me and the family. But now I feel that the exclusiveness of going to DL or DCA is gone now. What use to take weeks if not months of planning a trip to DL (mostly because of finance reasons) and having that special feeling of spending all day and night at DL and DCA...is now gone. We can now go whenever we want at anytime we want for as short or as long as we want. And to me...that doesn't feel the same anymore.

Even tonight (our second visit in three days) as we had dinner at the park, the magical feeling isn't there anymore.

Am I wrong for thinking like this or is this natural? Does the feeling eventually change?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Hmmmmm... I don't know. I have had my AP since February and have been 11 times and each time was magical! I'm currently counting the days until I can get back to the parks (been blocked out for summer)!!! But then before I bought my annual pass I hadn't been to Disneyland in 7 or 8 years. Also I have a 2 year old and seeing everything through his eyes is extra magical!

 

[cruisehopeful]

I feel very differently. When something is closed or I just don't make it to something I wanted to do, I am happy in the thought that I'll be back soon or whenever I want to be back.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I was worried about that when we got AP's. What I found was that we spent more time finding and enjoying things other than attractions that we had previously skipped over or didn't notice at all. Things like the various bands, the eggstravagansa event at Easter, looking for hidden details and other things we had always ignored in order to get another ride in.

 

[Lesley Wake]

It is definitely a different feeling having an AP vs a 1-day ticket, not better or worse just different. With an AP you can do more wandering-go in and out of stores, check new merchandise, check out entertainment, stop for a snack, do some people watching, go on a ride you haven't tried in a while, go on your favorite ride, get there later in the afternoon and leave before fireworks, etc. With a 1-day (or multi day) ticket it feels like you need to optimize your time and hit every ride you could want. While the anticipation Magic may not be there, it gets replaced with a familiar Magic. I ended up befriending a CM once when I was sitting alone resting my feet and he was sitting, manning the caricature booth-now I always try to stop by and say hi.

But that being said, the year my mom had an AP, she started to feel the same way you mentioned-losing the Magic. She and my dad prefer to do once a year. But for me and my sister, we could go every day and it wouldn't be enough!

 

[Winnowill]

I loved our AP year, and I'm sad that it's over. We visited the parks six times, mostly for multiple days (except the one luxurious Friday we stopped by just to see the fireworks on our way to San Diego, something we'd NEVER have done without the APs). While I wouldn't call each visit "magical," it gave us a different thought about our touring - when we're on limited day tickets, we go commando - every moment counts. On the APs we were more leisurely about it. Our whole approach changed, because we knew we weren't limited. If we took a break and then decided not to go back to the parks, we didn't feel as though we were losing part of a valuable park day that we'd spent money for.

 

[AuntieMe3]

I've had my AP for years now and still can't wait until my next trip. You just need to start planning your visits differently. My daughter and I started picking something we had to do each visit, whether it's a ride, show, meal or just snacks. We live about 1 1/2 away and I'm a family caregiver so I usually can't be gone for more than a couple hours, so we definitely don't spend all day like we used to, but we still have the best time while there. One visit, we decided to do Fantasyland rides as those aren't usually a priority. Another visit, we went specifically for characters. Sometimes we stick to just one park and other times we will park hop. There are certain rides we always ride every time but if the line is long or broke down, we just plan on enjoying it on our next visit.

 

[AuntieMe3]

I was worried about that when we got AP's. What I found was that we spent more time finding and enjoying things other than attractions that we had previously skipped over or didn't notice at all. Things like the various bands, the eggstravagansa event at Easter, looking for hidden details and other things we had always ignored in order to get another ride in.

Yes, and this is how we found the flag ceremony. We make sure we don't miss it now.

 

[Angrose]

I'm not local, I live in Norcal, but I've had an AP for a little over two years now. This past year I took 7 different trips down there, phew! Each time I tried to do something different, or something I had not done before. Sometimes I go solo, or sometimes with family or a friend, so that changes the feel of the visit depending on who I'm with. I think if I were local and had easier access to the parks then I would try to perhaps go once a month or for special occasions so not to overdue it. I think having a very specific goal or plan for what you will do for each visit would be fun. I can say that each time I walk under the train tracks into Town Square, I still get a little giddy!

 

[mich311e]

I loved our AP year, and I'm sad that it's over.......... While I wouldn't call each visit "magical," it gave us a different thought about our touring - when we're on limited day tickets, we go commando - every moment counts. On the APs we were more leisurely about it. Our whole approach changed, because we knew we weren't limited. If we took a break and then decided not to go back to the parks, we didn't feel as though we were losing part of a valuable park day that we'd spent money for.

Yes! I agree with this. We had a year of APs and I'm so bummed it's over. Each visit wasn't pure magic but it was much more comfortable. It was nice to know that if a ride was down for refurb (Autopia & Jungle Cruise were over two trips) we could ride it next time. It was also sooo nice to not have to worry about cramming everything on a short visit. And to make half day visits too! My son and I drove over on a Friday from Phoenix. We went to the parks from noon to 11. And then back to the parks from open to noon. Then we headed over to Coachella for a concert. If we didn't have those APs we would have never visited for two half days.

Focus on the stuff you don't normally spend time on. We made a little list of things we never did like seeing Mickey & The Magical Map, go to Animation Academy, ride Big Thunder during fireworks. Go for the different holiday seasons. We also made a list of the food and snacks we'd never ate because you can't possibly eat all the food. Utilize your AP discount for the restaurants, too! I loved saving money lol

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I loved our AP year, and I'm sad that it's over. We visited the parks six times, mostly for multiple days (except the one luxurious Friday we stopped by just to see the fireworks on our way to San Diego, something we'd NEVER have done without the APs). While I wouldn't call each visit "magical," it gave us a different thought about our touring - when we're on limited day tickets, we go commando - every moment counts. On the APs we were more leisurely about it. Our whole approach changed, because we knew we weren't limited. If we took a break and then decided not to go back to the parks, we didn't feel as though we were losing part of a valuable park day that we'd spent money for.

We have found this to be true as well. When we were once a year guests we were constantly trying to make every minute in the parks count. Now that we have been going more often we have more time to stop and smell the roses and if we miss out on something we know we'll be back soon. Our AP year will come to an end in January and while I'm already dreading it, we have some exciting plans to visit other Disney parks and resorts as well as some non-Disney vacation plans.

 

[WonkaKid]

So, I just bought Prem APs for me and the family. But now I feel that the exclusiveness of going to DL or DCA is gone now. What use to take weeks if not months of planning a trip to DL (mostly because of finance reasons) and having that special feeling of spending all day and night at DL and DCA...is now gone...

Am I wrong for thinking like this or is this natural? Does the feeling eventually change?

I can relate to this. We used to visit once or twice a year from Chicago. Now I go once or twice a week (I'm in LA now). Yes, the feeling has changed but for me, it becomes special in a different way. I liken it to when you first start dating someone. At first, there's euphoria. In later months, that wears off and the feelings become deeper.

FWIW, I still love the park as much as I always have. It'll never stop being special.

 

[Abbey1]

We are Annual Passholders, but we live out of state. We still have that magical feeling every trip we take (we'll visit 5-6 times this year). Since we don't have the ability to visit any time we want, every trip still feels really special.

Even so, I'm guessing we would feel the same way if we visited once a week. We are just Disney people. I feel like every time we visit, there are so many new things to experience. I'd love to be able to visit 2-3 times a month and really savor the experiences without the checklist of must-do rides etc. Disney does such a good job of switching up their seasonal offerings, that there's always something new to check out.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

It's definitely different, but the best perk is that you don't have to stress if you don't get to go on what you want or see a show you had planned on seeing because you can always come back again. You get to appreciate the smaller things you might overlook if you only take 1 trip per year or something like that. I enjoy sitting and watching the bands, finding a quiet place to people watch, try new meals that don't usually fit with our plans, and just go with the flow. We tend to do 1-2 overnight trips in a year, too, just to make it feel like we're still going on vacation, but again, it's just not as stressful. We also do 1/2 day trips to take advantage of quiet mornings and leave when it gets nuts.

 

[SteveMP]

RIP op...

We like the flexibility And not feeling stressed about seeing "everything". We also are pickier now. Standby over 20 minutes? Skip it. We've seen stuff we would normally otherwise not see, like Moments with Mr Lincoln. Looking at the old penny arcade machines etc.

 

[l4dyj8]

I loved that our visits lack a schedule. I hate the stress of having to get my money's worth within the day. We can easily enjoy all the seasonal offerings. I'm not as bothered by the crowds or ride closures. I can actually take it all in and enjoy. I keep an eye out on the Disney Parks Blog to see what's new or coming up. I grew up in SoCal and used to go at least once a year as a child. It was always special. I certainly don't take it for granted. I have young kids and so it's still a special visit dispute going often. Leisurely visits with young kids is the way to go. A visit to WDW stresses me out with the need to plan out every minute.

 

[IntoDeNile]

I've gone solo multiple times since I got my AP and since I live in SoCal I can visit often. I understand it's not as magical as the first time, but I actually found it more fun going alone than going with a group. I go with the flow for the day that I'm going and take my time to enjoy everything. Since I can ride the rides multiple times I like to look around and notice new details every time that I never noticed before on the rides. I also made it a personal goal to try out every single lemonade that Disneyland has to offer so every time I go I try a different lemonade. (I swear by the time I check off one lemonade drink Disney comes out with 2 more).
I bought the cheapest pass (SoCal Select) thinking I'll only go a handful of times and only for a year, but now I'm already planning on upgrading to Deluxe when I renew next year.

 

[LegoMom3]

......
Even so, I'm guessing we would feel the same way if we visited once a week. We are just Disney people. I feel like every time we visit, there are so many new things to experience. I'd love to be able to visit 2-3 times a month and really savor the experiences without the checklist of must-do rides etc. Disney does such a good job of switching up their seasonal offerings, that there's always something new to check out.

Pretty much this.

I am a brand-new AP holder; I got to use my pass once - very unexpectedly! - when I happened to be in town last month and went to the ticket booth to get the actual pass (had ordered it online). I'm still blocked out for another couple of weeks but I cannot wait to go back!! I'm a 2-hr drive away so I expect I will go a couple times per month. I will no longer feel the push to see/do it all because I'm on that hard-earned vacation. Those have a very special magic, of course, but having an AP just gives a different magic, as so many others have already said. I am an amateur photographer and one thing I am really looking forward to is spending some of my visits really just taking photos!! (without my family in tow, complaining that I keep falling behind.... ). If I want to go up and spend my day doing a select few rides and otherwise spending lots of time just on a bench and taking in the atmosphere, I can do that without guilt, too. I think having the privilege of being able to go more frequently, allows one to to fully experience the parks without just focusing on rides/attractions. There's SO much you miss when you just "connect the dots" so to speak, going from ride to ride, etc.. For me, so much of the magic is in just being there....

As they say, take the time to slow down and smell the roses!

.

 

[Rabb it]

Well that's the point of getting the pass though right? So you can go whenever you want?

Lots of people don't have that ability or can't afford an annual pass, or they don't live close enough to visit often. We consider ourselves very lucky that we have our passes, and live a couple exits away from the park.

We always try to remember how lucky we are, and not take it for granted that we have our passes, this makes it special for us. Also we get to pace ourselves now, we don't have to run around vying for time like before we moved to southern California. You get to appreciate all the little things the parks have to offer that people might not always experience

 

[Sergio S]

Thanks for sharinf eveyone! Kinda over thought the situation. But I do have a question:
Has any AP holders been denied entry when the park(s) are at capacity? I kmow this happens from time to time during Christmas, but never experienced it as a AP holder.