Is it usually an advantage to get an annual pass?

[tiggersgirl]

I'm getting an AP and activating it on the 5th of July, next year, I'd like to make a reservation for the 3 of July for 9 nights. Will I get the AP rate (if there is one) for the nights after the 5th of July expiration date?

 

[swilphil]

when comparing the current AP discounts for the peak season... I do not see a savings when compared to that of the AAA discount

7 night trip current Peak Season
AAA rate = $92.65 for Value resort
AP rate = $74 a night + extra $184.25 for AP ticket compared to 6 day hopper

AP total rate (1 person getting AP with room discount, 1 person getting 6 day hopper) = $1175.11

AAA total rate (both getting 6 day hopper pass) = $1121.41

I currently do not see an advantage to getting an annual pass for only one trip... especially if disney releases codes for the general public to use (non-annual pass required)

There is a big savings if you are staying at a deluxe resort vs. a value or even a moderate. We originally were booked on the winter code special for a split stay at the CR and POR. When we decide to get an AP, our rate for the CR went from $235/night to $199, but our rate for POR only went from $114 to $104. We decided to just stay at CR the whole time.

 

[goofy4tink]

We bought an AP for the first time this year. All three of us...myself, dd(11), and dh got them. We did get a good rate at the CR for the first two nights of our trip in August. We did use it once or twice for food discounts. By the time our APs expire in August '05, we will have used them a total of 24 days!!! That comes out to $17 a day, per person. We will most likely get a decent break on our room at AllStarMovies in June for our last two nights.
So, while I have used my AP to get a better rate, I have used it mainly for park admittence. THe only thing we would like to have that we don't is the ability to go to a water park. But since we wouldn't go more than once or twice it just didn't seem worth it to pay the extra for a PAP.

Usually, the AP saves you more money on the more expensive resorts. So, do the math...figure how much you'll pay with a general code (if there is one), add in park passes. Then figure how much you would spend for the same resort, using an AP to get that better rate. And add in the cost of the Ap. Some people actually only get one AP and buy regular passes for the rest of their party. Obviously this works only if you are getting the AP for a break in room costs.

 

[Stitch Inside]

With park hopping, the annual pass breaks even with MYW at 12 to 13 days.

Meanwhile you can buy two 10 day non-hopping expiring passes for less than the cost of one AP.

Sometimes, room rates with $20. of the AP rate for moderates and within $10. of the AP rates for value resorts are available to non-AP holders.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/dispass.htm

How much is a 12-13 day MYW park hopping Ticket? And is that non-expiring?

 

[lmhall2000]

We're a family of five and because two of my children have asthma and allergies we prefer to stay in an "enclosed" resort...where the rooms don't open to the outdoors...

I don't know the AAA discount but I've never seen it more than 5% on rooms in the deluxe category...

Using MWY getting tickets for the five of us, dining 2 meals plus snack, for 7 nights at the GF (oh and tickets aren't parkhoppers just regular)...the cost is $5217

Going the AP route...it's $3685...without food...But I can't see us spending $1600 on food...usually under $100 a day...so for us it means a savings of $400-$800 depending on how piggy we are...and with the 20% off DDE card we'll cut that even more.

Tara

 

[sandraB]

I booked my room at AKL before I bought the AP to make sure I would get the discount. We saved almost 1400$ on our room. Without the AP there is no way we would be able to afford a deluxe resort. We are only buying one AP, the rest of the family is buying MYW tickets.

You don't have to have your AP to book a room. So you can wait and see if you can get one before making the decision to buy an AP.