HELP... A.P. vs 10day Hopper No Exp.

[mickeymorse]

I'm trying to figure out whats the best way to go. First off, we are going for 7 days next Jan and 7 more in late Aug. Should we buy an A.P. or 10 day hopper with no expiry. Don't expect to hit a park every day but you never know. Also, we are DVC owners and get the discount on the A.P. How about the same with water park options? My brain is turning to mush trying to figure it all out. Thanks Dis'ers for any input.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Get the AP-- I think they are cheaper with the DVC discount than the 10 day hoppers with no expiration.

Since you will be there for 14 days, it really would be better to have the AP. We do it both ways. Last 3 trips we had a AP and it was great to wander into Epcot to watch Illuminations or get dessert from France. We own at the BW so having the AP was really nice even though we didn't go into the parks everyday either.

This time we used our 10 day hopper and we decided not to do a park day on Friday because we stayed out real late the night before. But I did miss not being able to go into Epcot if we wanted to- which wasn't an issue with the AP

 

[tinkerbell60]

I would go with the AP - even if you think you might not use them every day - it is nice to be able to change your mind at the last minute! I think it is much more cost effective too!

 

[Bobo912]

I've been struggling with the decision lately and I've come to the conclusion that the AP is the best value. I'm not a DVCer so I'm hoping for some room discounts, since I usually visit during the off season. But even without the potential room discount, once you crunch the numbers, the AP is a better deal.

 

[MouseyMin]

I'd get the AP. Another great thing about having an AP is that you can go to a park for part of a day (or just a meal) and not feel like you're "wasting" a day on a 10 day pass.

 

[wilde_oscar]

at 14 days, AP is better value

 

[mickeymorse]

Thanks everyone for your input. I knew I could count on the DIS'ers to come through. That was my thinking as well. Is it true that you can prepurchase the A.P.( say before rates go up) and activate it later, when you arrive? I thought I read that somewhere. Thanks again.

Rob

 

[HollyP]

Yes you can prepurchase the AP. You get a voucher that you trade in a guest services. I bought one last year that I will use for my trip next year. Be aware though that if you renew your pass when it expires (one year after 1st use) the clock starts ticking the day your old pass expired.

 

[goofy4tink]

As a DVC owner, I always have an AP, especially with the discounted price. But, my dh and dd no longer have them. Dd isn't able to go more than once a year due to school and dh plain doesn't want to go more than every 2 years or so. So.....dh is presently using a 10 non-exp. hopper and dd will be getting one for her next trip..her AP expires in August.
But I tend to go to WDW twice a year, so the AP works out great for me. And I can get the DDE card, which really helps with food costs.

 

[mickeymorse]

As a DVC owner, I always have an AP, especially with the discounted price. But, my dh and dd no longer have them. Dd isn't able to go more than once a year due to school and dh plain doesn't want to go more than every 2 years or so. So.....dh is presently using a 10 non-exp. hopper and dd will be getting one for her next trip..her AP expires in August.
But I tend to go to WDW twice a year, so the AP works out great for me. And I can get the DDE card, which really helps with food costs.

How much is it for the DDE card? Which restaurants is it good for?

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm trying to figure out whats the best way to go. First off, we are going for 7 days next Jan and 7 more in late Aug. Should we buy an A.P. or 10 day hopper with no expiry. Don't expect to hit a park every day but you never know. Also, we are DVC owners and get the discount on the A.P. How about the same with water park options? My brain is turning to mush trying to figure it all out. Thanks Dis'ers for any input.

In your case, it's not even close ... the AP is the way to go.

A DVC member's AP is about $370.
A 10-day non-expiring park hopper costs about $478.

So right there, the AP is about $100 cheaper.

But the thing that most people don't account for is the cost of a subsequent trip. Most people who will be going twice think that buying a 10-day no-expiration ticket is a no-brainer since they will be going for more than 10 days total. But what they don't realize is that unless the 10-day non-expiring ticket will totally cover the park needs of both trips, then the no-expiration feature is a horrible waste of money.

Let's say you were gonna take 2 separate trips over the course of like 2 years, so the AP wouldn't help you. And let's say you will go to parks 7 days each trip, a total of 14 park days. It is MUCH MUCH cheaper to buy 2 separate 7-day hoppers (the regular expiring kind) than it would be to buy a 10-day non-expiring hopper and then a 4-day hopper later.

10-day non-expiring hopper (buy now) = $478
4-day hopper (buy later) = $273
Total cost using the no-expiration feature = $751

7-day hopper (buy now) = $281
7-day hopper (buy later) = $281
Total cost buying separate (expiring) tickets = $562

So as you can see, in this scenario, using the no-expiration feature would actually cost you $189 MORE than buying separate tickets for each trip. OUCH!

No expiration is great if the days of the non-expiring ticket TOTALLY cover your park needs for two or more trips. But if you have to add extra days for a subsequent trip, the no-expiration option is often a horrible deal, as you can see above. Disney really counts on a lot of people NOT doing the math and just figuring that no-expiration is always a good idea.

 

[Mamu]

I would go with the AP.

Free Parking
$25.00 off Disney Dining Experience Card which gives you a 20% discount in most Disney Restaurants. This card is great.

15% off merchandise from Rainforest Cafe, 10% off merchandise from Virgin Megastore, World of Disney, Yak and Yeti Village.
15% off Disney Tours.
15% off boat rentals
50% off miniature golf.
Plus spa discounts, AMC movie discounts, Water Park discounts, Downtown Disney discounts, DisneyQuest discount.
Discounts on all Specially Ticketed Events.

AP are a better deal over all.

Disney Dining Card. $60 w/ AP and good at almost all Disney Park Restaurants, Hotel Restaurants and Downtown Disney Restaurants.

 

[kykatt2]

I would go with the AP.

Free Parking
$25.00 off Disney Dining Experience Card which gives you a 20% discount in most Disney Restaurants. This card is great.

15% off merchandise from Rainforest Cafe, 10% off merchandise from Virgin Megastore, World of Disney, Yak and Yeti Village.
15% off Disney Tours.
15% off boat rentals
50% off miniature golf.

AP are a better deal over all.

We have the AP and almost got the DDE this year, for the features you listed and the free Valet Parking.. however... Jan 1 of this however Disney decided that it would add an 18% gratuity to your meal total NO MATTER YOUR PARTY SIZE usually we do tip 15-18% but sometimes the server just has not earned it.. so I am glad I did not buy it.
I might save 20% on my meal total but if they add in 18% tip AUTOMATICALLY... then I save 2%. I might do it any way(leave a tip).. but I just want to to be MY IDEA.. not DISNEY"S !!!

Yes I would still get the OTHER discounts... but I never do those. I was getting it for the "Table Top" , "Signature" sit down and be waited on meals.It might be the perfect fit for a lot of people.
It is still a discount... just not enough for this gal.

However... AP members can now add the DDP to their room only reservation.
THAT.. if you like the $100.00 meals in the parks,(for a family of 4) is a Good Deal
I just made a reservation for June 17-25 No room discount... but I was able to add the DDP.

Had I gotten the DDE I'd be kicking myself right now

 

[tinkerbell60]

We have the DDE and I still say it saves money even if they add the tip. We usually tip 20% unless it is bad service, but even still, the DDE card saves because you are saving the cost of the tip.

If the meal costs $100, the discount makes is $80 - they add the 20 % back and then it is $100 again. Without the discount it would have been $100 plus tip which could be $15-20. So even though they add the tip back I do not see how it does not save money......

The Dining Plan is great but my kids are not big eaters - my son is happier with the kids menu even though he is 10......so to pay almost $40 per person per day is not worth it to us.....we do not spend $160 per day on food.

 

[mickeymorse]

Thanks again everyone. So its settled, get the AP and decide between DDP and DDE.

 

[hbehrman]

Sorry to latch on to the thread, but how about this comparison.

For example our first trip we got a 7 day park hopper, water parks and more and no expiration. Oh, and when we go to a waterpark that is the event for the day no theme parks are visited.

First trip (2006, free dining): Used 3 days for parks, no options used
Second trip (2007, free dining) Used 2 days for parks, 1 water park used
Balance on ticket: 2 hopping for parks, 6 water park visits

Balance on 2007 ticket: 1 unused base ticket (got this to make a package for free dining)

The reason this is because we have attended the MNSSHP for the last two year and that was our MK day.

However, we are going again for free dining in September (bounceback offer) and I am planning to get a 10 day ticket for each of us (my son just turned three and will need tickets for the first time) with waterparks and more and non-expiring options (no hopping, not worth it with kids our age, IMHO). Of which we will only be using 3 visits max, and one or two water park uses.

But the question is after we have used up the park tickets on the Non-expiring tickets we will have a ton of water park visits left. What should I do with the 1 base ticket ?? Upgrade it to an AP or just 10 day park hopping Non expiring tickets.

It seams we can get 3 trips to WDW out of our 10 day non expiring passes and it doesn't have to be consecutive years. Any opinions based upon our pattern of use?

Oh and we will never be DVC owners. Not that we wouldn't want to be, it just doesn't fit our lifestyle.

 

[goofy4tink]

How much is it for the DDE card? Which restaurants is it good for?

If I remember correctly, it's $65 for the first card and then $25 if you want a second card. It gives you a 20% discount at most of the table service restaurants. I wish it gave a discount on counter service, but it doesn't. Yes, the tip is included, at 18%. Not a big deal for us...we normally tip at 20% if the service is good. If I have an issue with a server and feel the 18% is out of line, then I will speak to a manager and get it taken down. Actually, I have had the reverse happen much more often....I have had such good service that I leave addtl tip monies on top of the 18%!!!

 

[tinkerbell60]

The DDE card does work at the food courts at the Value resorts too. We used it at Pop a lot!!