Letting Go of AP?

[MakiraMarlena]

There's no genuine indication that guests who have registered their pet dogs at resorts as pets are passing them off as service animals to get them into the parks. There's just anecdotal evidence (if it can even be called that) that some guests think there has been an increase in dogs in the parks after the dog-friendly resorts went into effect. The two may have nothing whatsoever to do with one another.

There should be no increase in the presence of pets in the non-dog-friendly resorts. Pets are not allowed outside the pet-friendly resort areas.

In the state of Florida, passing your untrained pet off as a service animal is against the law.

 

[memo10]

We got our first passes in October of 2014, we decided not to renew in October 2015 and made it alllllll the way to January 2016 before we caved and became APs again. With the 13 month promotion our new renewal date is in February and we are planning on renewing again for at least the next couple of years for the Toy Story/Star Wars stuff. We live in Florida about an hour and a half from the parks and average 30+ visits a year. For our family of 4, it will cost us $130/month for 3 silver passes and 1 gold.

 

[china mom]

I did the math a while back and for non resident platinum passes, the benefit of renewing vs waiting and buying a new pass is either 6 or 8 weeks (I can't remember which)

My passes expire at the end of May and since I don't usually go in the summer, there is a greater cost saving if I don't renew and then just buy new in the Fall. But, then it will be valid over the following summer so I guess I am back at break even.

My dilemma is that DD's pass is valid for a few months after mine, I probably need to renew so I can take her (she is not old enough to enter the parks alone yet).

I do miss my AP when I let it expire. I am notorious for spur of the moment, short trips and it makes me sad when I can't just run down..

 

[bryanb]

I've been an AP holder on and off over the past few years. I live within a hour's drive from Disneyland, so I upgraded to a Premier Passport when it was around $750... which in retrospect seems cheap to have unlimited access to the parks on both coasts. Today, the Premier Passport costs more than double that amount.

I bit the bullet last year and bought one, since I knew I would be making 3 Orlando trips during the year. What fun it was. Sadly, it has just expired as of last week. There's something special about having an annual pass in your wallet, even beyond the logical "value" of it. It's like your membership card into a special club; it's like your secret power to just walk up to the gates and they'll let you in.

I don't regret letting it expire. I'll take some time to recharge my interest in Disney Parks and maybe take a break from AP. In about a month, Disney's AP department will send a postcard saying "we miss you!" and I'll think to the card, "thanks, I miss you too. Maybe in a year or two. See you real soon."

 

[River Country]

ive been an AP holder since 2011 between renewals and DVC promo's. Hard to say what I will do when my AP's expire in July but I do enjoy it I have already had 19 park days on my current AP cycle. I have to be honest if there was ever a spur of the moment trip its good to have because its one less thing I have to worry about buying...plus I keep my little yellow card in my wallet all the time makes me smile every time I see it...granted there would be more green paper in my wallet if that card wasn't in there but that's the decision each family has to make

 

[Magpie]

We've had APs three times now. Never renewed them!

After a year of Disney trips, we usually decide to go somewhere else for a year. Then, the urge to do Disney returns, and we purchase an AP for another year.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We currently have our first APs, but won't renew next year. When we decide we want to return we'll probably get them again and do a few trips like we plan to now.

 

[Robo]

When in doubt, don't "renew."

Just wait until such time as you know you want to make another trip, then buy whichever kind of ticket which suits your needs.

(You can always upgrade your ticket to an AP after you arrive at WDW, if you decide you want to do so.)

 

[lovethattink]

We downgraded when we renewed. I'm experiencing my first blockout dates now. It feels strange.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

The somewhat recent large jump in price, now with memory maker, has influenced us to take a year or so off. We may do an annual trip in December on the "off" year if we feel the need.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I have had an AP for about 10 years but I don't think I ever renew it. We go 3 times a year, at least, but some of those trips are planned only 1-2 months out. If my pass is expiring and we don't have a trip planned within 3 months I let it go and just buy when my next trip is booked.

 

[TheRealTeal]

We've had our AP's for two years now. We're FL residents (about an hour drive to the parks) with the Silver passes. Up until recently we've loved it, but the last few trips have been...not great. Nothing terrible has happened or anything, but we've found ourselves wishing we'd done something else that day instead. This past trip was a real let down, and we spent the whole drive home and then some talking about how we've been enjoying it less and less, and that we're starting to feel the value isn't there anymore. I think the last straw for me, silly as it sounds, was the price increase for photo downloads.

It sounds like we're pretty set on not renewing again (which isn't until September so we've got plenty of time to visit still), I'm just worried we'll be sad and/or regret it a few months in when we can't just up and go for the day. But I guess if that happens we'll know to get new ones and renew those, lol.

 

[PPFlight75]

Mine expired just a few days ago and I was kinda sad. We’ve had APs for a few years but since we won’t be back until summer 2018, it didn’t
make sense to renew. We may get new ones next summer but will see how we feel around that
time.

 

[IvyWinter]

I let it lapse in August as I live in NYC and i was at the end of planning my wedding (which was last month!) so going again wasn't likely. I didn't want to renew when I knew i wasn't going again until January. That's 4.5 months wasted. I did buy just a 5-day ticket for my upcoming trip but I am leaning to upgrading back to an AP when i go down.