HELP!! Annual pass questions/advice

[KristineN]

Hi...

I am looking for some input/advice as to if it makes good sense for me to purchase an annual pass. I appreciate the help!!

DETAILS

Trip planned May 18-21. My friend has used her AP already to make room reservations. If I purchase an AP now I would only be using it for park admissions.

Sept 28.-Oct.3 Booked POR to take advantage of the free dining. This is an iffy trip as to if we can swing it. My husband likes the dining plan. I understand that an AP holder has to purchase base tickets and then upgrade to be able to get the dining plan.

Dec.1-10 The BIG trip....I have a pkg booked, Poly garden view concierge.

Questions:

Are there ever any AP rates offered on a concierge level rooms? during the 1st part of december?

If I am unable to get an AP rate for Dec., is it still worth it to purchase an AP?

Thanks for the help!

Kristine

 

[LMC]

There were some discussions about this on the budget board a day or two ago. Check over there to see if you can get some answers but this is how I read it...
Some folks purchase a one day base ticket and don't use it (save it for a later trip) just to get the free dining. So if you purchase yourself the AP for your May and Dec trips then you can still use the AP in Sept but purchase the one day base tkt and get the dining plan for yourself. Save your tkt for another trip. Then upgrade it to an AP or longer stay ticket at that later date. I am not sure if this is exactly how it works. I always thought that your park tickets and hotel stay had to jive to get the free dining. You know, 6 nights hotel, 5 days parks, and 5 or 6 days dining. BUT, some people keep talking about getting the one day base tkt just for the dining options.

 

[SnackyStacky]

As far as I can guesstimate, you'll need 17 days of admission, spread out over 3 trips.

10 day, non-expiring ticket with hopping: $401.51
7 day ticket with hopping: $251.34
TOTAL: $652.85

Annual Pass: $441.98

Savings by purchasing an annual pass: $210.87
Cost of 1 day base ticket (to get the: $ 67.10
free dining)
TOTAL SAVINGS: $143.77

You'd still end up saving about $143 by purchasing an annual pass, by my calculations - and this does not include any room discounts for December. Whether or not they release discounts on the rooms, from an admission standpoint, you'd come out ahead.