Having an AP has ruined me... and I love it.

[Zippa D Doodah]

We invested in APs for the family, activating them on our 7-day vacation in July. So far I have been back to WDW every month since, and twice in August. November trip starts tomorrow when DW and I head down for a few days. We live in NC and have about a 9 hour drive, which we don't love but is far from unmanageable.

Anyhow, being a Passholder has radically changed my park touring style after 16 years of Disney vacations. Formerly I would always shop for packages, staying on site and often springing for the dining plan if it wasn't being offered for free. We pretty much stuck with one park per day, often not even taking an afternoon break. I always used Disney transportation to get from resort to park. We drive to the parks now, and take breaks too. We stop for lots of Photopass opportunities now since that is included with the AP. We never used them before.

Over the last several months I have enjoyed staying at a couple of off site motels. Surprisingly decent accommodations for around $45 per night. I now hop to different parks pretty regularly, especially if I run into a big crowd and long queues somewhere. We take WDW as it comes to us, not caring if we miss out on an attraction. Not that I do a lot of ADRs, but so far I have been able to get everything I want, including BOG for Monday. I just found that one today. I notice that I am a whole lot less stressed while on Disney trips now, and feel as much a part of the magic as ever even though I'm staying off site.

Maybe best of all is that I can go to WDW cheaper than I can make a quick trip to the mountains or beach. $100-$120 in gas, plus ~$50 per night for a room, plus food. Yeah, having APs has ruined me... but in a good way.

I guess what am discovering is that there are a lot of great ways and "right" ways to tour the parks, and it is a delight to be living out a new way.

 

[lauracitawita]

I hear you! We have been ruined too and we couldn't be happier!

 

[AngiTN]

We have been similar since getting AP a couple years ago. It's really nice to tour without pressure
Also similar distance but in TN. But we fly, I just can't do that long in as car
We also only stay on site using the AP discount

 

[srwarden1928]

Like AngiTN, I am in Tennessee and stay on site. Like ZippaDDoodah, I drive. I activated my first AP October 1. I am leaving for my second WDW trip on the AP on Monday. I arrive on Tuesday, and am doing what I NEVER would have done without the AP. I am going on Tuesday to Epcot JUST for F&W. I am going to walk around WS and graze on the booths that strike my fancy. I have no ADR. I have no FP reserved. I don't plan on particularly doing ANY attractions. Just F&W booths. I MAY stay for Illuminations. I may not, as I can see it later in the trip. I would NEVER use a park day like this without the AP, but it feels like it isn't costing anything, except for what I spend on the food. Without the AP I would have either gone to Disney Springs or had an ADR at a resort restaurant on my arrival day. I am also considering a third trip in June of all times. Maybe Hall of Presidents or possibly Toy Story Land will be open by then. I am even thinking that if I get an invitation for an AP preview of Toy Story Land I might go down for that! I never would have considered a trip that far for such a short time without the AP.

 

[Mopedmom1]

Bought our pass March of this year after spending 10 days in the World the previous November, and THAT was our third trip in four years. So far since March we did a quick 5 day trip in June, have a 13 day trip starting Nov 21, a 7 day scheduled for Jan, and ending in March with 10 days. Our travel time from leaving the house till arriving on the Magical Express at our resort is usually 12 hours IF we have a direct flight. We live in Oregon and travel days can be BRUTAL!

It is so nice to stop and smell the roses while vacationing now. Our first trip was in 2000 with the kids and I don't know how we survived the Rope Drop Commando touring that we did back then!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We have been similar since getting AP a couple years ago. It's really nice to tour without pressure
Also similar distance but in TN. But we fly, I just can't do that long in as car
We also only stay on site using the AP discount

I’m thinking I’ll end up back on site some. It’s just so nice on site. I’m in this cycle of staying off site for now though.

Our daughter will be in the College Program starting in January. I bet we find lots of chances to visit in the spring

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Love your spirit and enthusiasm OP.

Keep having fun!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Love your spirit and enthusiasm OP.

Keep having fun!

It's fun knowing that any time you consider what to do over the next couple days, going to WDW is always an option.

 

[cindyfan]

It a whole different way of life!!!!!!!!

 

[iheartglaciers]

I feel the same way! This year was my first AP and I love the more leisurely trips and enjoying the resorts We also added an extra trip just because we had the AP. I’m not getting one again next year (will probably skip 1-2 years) but I will really miss it!!

 

[AngiTN]

It's fun knowing that any time you consider what to do over the next couple days, going to WDW is always an option.

I keep trying to talk DH in to popping down for the Star Wars celebration on the 16th of December. So far, I haven't had any luck but I'm not giving up. If we do it, it would probably be driving. That would be on me being up to sitting in a car that long. So I guess technically, both of us need to be talked in to it LOL

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I’m still not 100% sure I’m not going for Thanksgiving.

 

[randumb0]

I'm amazed at how many trips you guys are able to take. Are a lot of you retired?

 

[AngiTN]

I'm amazed at how many trips you guys are able to take. Are a lot of you retired?

No. But DH and I have been at our employers for a very long time and we both have 4 weeks of vacation time available

 

[Mopedmom1]

Not retired. Afer 30 years in his field my dh has a generous yearly vacation package and I have a very flexible job.

 

[srwarden1928]

Not retired, but I am a priest. As long as its not a season heavy on holy days and I don't miss more than one Sunday I can generally get away. Do you know you can have a 13 day trip and only miss one Sunday? lol

 

[JoieNsk]

I have very flexible job of right now (which will probably change in the nearest future). So for now I have two tips planned.

One with my husband only for 4 days: instead of buying presents for our wedding anniversary and birthdays which all happen to be in end of September - beginning of October, we just go somewhere for 4-5 days every year around that time. This time we are going to WDW in December as we wanted to see Christmas decorations without excessive crowds.

And we also have a Disney cruise in January which initially was planned for 4 people including 3 days in San Juan after the cruise. But my husband screwed his vacation and could not go with us. So I cancelled the after cruise stay in San Juan, and as we have to fly through Orlando anyways - I just thought why don't we stop at WDW instead It is going to be my daughter, my mom and me.

I got just one Annual Pass for me. It already more than payed for itself as I got the room discount for both trips. We also like to eat in nicer sit-down restaurants - I am looking forward to those discounts we can get with AP

I was debating with myself before I got the Pass - is it good idea or I just want it? )) And now I already am happy that I got the AP. It is going to save us money. And it does give you the feeling that you have more freedom in deciding what to do.

Though I don't think I am going to do something like this every year. But I am sure I am going to miss it ))

 

[kydisneyfans]

We did the AP for the first time last Nov and plan on renewing soon.

They covered a 6 day trip last Nov, some park time during Star Wars Run Disney weekend in April, and covered another 6 days in Oct.
It is a wash whether it would be worth it monetarily for 2018, but with the renew discount and our DVC it is worth breaking even in 2018 to hold the discount as we definitely visit multiple times in 2019. The food and merch discounts are a deciding factor also.

As for work, we can work from anywhere. We can stay in the resort and work 7-3 if we want, then spend the evening in the park and not use any PTO. We can work Sunday and take Friday off, or we can work Saturday and take Monday off. We can create 4 day weekends without taking a day off. I've also built up 51 days in the PTO bank heading into 2018.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I'm amazed at how many trips you guys are able to take. Are a lot of you retired?

Not retired. My wife and I both have very flexible schedules. We work jobs that are often high pressure, and when we’re in the midst of something we can get caught up in cycles of working crazy hours. The good part is we both have lots of freedom to set our own schedules.

Another thing that helps is our kids are now a junior in college and a senior in high school. Pretty low maintenance parenting at this point.

 

[mom22boys]

Not retired, but I am a priest. As long as its not a season heavy on holy days and I don't miss more than one Sunday I can generally get away. Do you know you can have a 13 day trip and only miss one Sunday? lol

I love that!