Help whether to purchase AP and DE or pay AAA rate and get DDP??

[princessmomma]

Here are my particulars and I have been trying to crunch numbers all day.

2 adults 2 kids

March 1-5, 2007 4 nights

WL AP discount Standard room $870 ($194 per night without tax)

Annual Pass $462

DDE card $60


WL Standard room AAA $1316 taxes in ($329 per night without tax)


Package

WL Standard room with 1 day base ticket and dining plan $1982 (for 4 guests)
We still have 3 day park hoppers left from another trip.

Here is the thing, we are 50-50 on going back during free dining (assuming they have it. I will also be going back in January 2008 for the Disney Marathon, but I will only use maybe 1 park day that weekend.

Any thoughts?

 

[Samsma]

I'd go with the AP rate and DDE. We've saved a ton on food and discounts by buying both. We've been 3 times this year because I already had tickets though. Maybe we haven't saved that much

 

[princessmomma]

I was thinking about just buying an AP for me and let the rest of the family use their 3 day hoppers left over from another trip.

Then when it came to free dining, I would just put DH and the two kids (one of whom will be 10, is he an adult then??) I realize I wouldn't get free dining, but I don't mind since I will still have my DDE and I could easily share with DS10.

Also, can I upgrade my 3 day hopper to buy an AP?

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

Yes, you can upgrade your hopper to an AP. I believe the start day of the AP coincides with the first use date of your hopper.

With your free dining package, all familly members will need to be on the plan and purchase at least a 1 day ticket, you also pay rack rate for room.

herc.

 

[wdwishes1990]

AP and DDE - I did the calcualtions once with the dining plan and we saved money with the AP room discount and DDE card. The dining plan has so much food more than we would normally buy but just did it because we had the plan anyway. We saved money and were healthier without the dining plan! :

 

[UP Disney]

Another thing to consider when deciding is whether there are any AP discounts that you would use. We wanted to take a segway tour and rent a pontoon during our trip. The AP gives us 15% discounts on both of these.