Most of you have APs?

[lenshanem]

Just curious. I think we'll probbaly keep buying 7 day plus hoppers to get thsoe plus options. Last trip on the days we went to the water parks that was it. We eneded up going back to our room, cleaning up and then went to dinner, both times at a resort restaurant even though we had the FTP with the UPH. Seems kiem you cna make a full day of an option thsi way and not use up one of the park days. The plain APs don't cover the water parsk and my kids enjoyed these last trip. Thoughts on best ticket options? Surely not rh DVc discount on UPH?!?

 

[JimC]

We buy APs, we rarely go to the water parks. After 8 days APs are cheapest ticket. If you go once a year, plan the second trip to end on the day before your prior trip began. That way you get two trips on the one AP. There are other discounts on AP that are better than or separate from DVC. We have even used the resort codes for non-DVC visits.

If you like the water parks, consider the PAP, which includes them. They breakeven on park admission at about 11 days.

 

[lenshanem]

I've heard of the trick about planning your next year's vacation earlier to max the AP, but thsi woudln't work for us as we have to work with a school calender.

 

[JimC]

Hmmm. That means you need to do plan a bit more carefully, say one trip in summer and next year during Spring break. It still might work to get you two trips on one year's pass.

 

[TCPluto]

Originally posted by lenshanem
I've heard of the trick about planning your next year's vacation earlier to max the AP, but thsi woudln't work for us as we have to work with a school calender.

Why couldn't you go early August the first year and late July the next?

 

[jade1]

1) Try the summer sometime. Its really not that bad-we like it almost the best, and you can do the 2 trips in less than one year thing-and work in a 3rd at spring break or Christmas-then take a year off.
2) In MN we have app 2 weeks off at Christmas. We may take the week after this year-we are on the wait list (buy the AP), then the week before next year.
3) Most years we usually do the UPH though and just do a few days each trip. That works well also.

Good Luck.

 

[timC]

Let's see... We go twice a year, for a total of 12 nights. Somehow we make our passes last the year, and the ++++ keep us in the swim of things for 2 years!

We really enjoy our FREE non-park days!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

If you want to do the water parks without having to pay the $$ for the PAP instead of an AP, do what we did - buy the water-park AP in addition to the Regular AP.

I know it sounds a little crazy, but it does work out. It only takes about three trips to the water park at normal admission rates to make the WP AP worthwhile. Anyone who will be able to visit enough to make a regular AP financially worthwhile would also be there enough to make a WP AP worthile also.

Another point : you do not have to purchase your WP AP at the same time as your regular park admission. I will use my own plans as an example :
Between now and Christmas I will buy 3 regular APs, as our first upcoming trip is planned for over New Years. We will be back after school lets out for a two-week trip (on those same APs). At that time I will purchase 3 WP APs. The only thing I give up by doing this versus buying a PAP is no Pleasure Island or DisneyQuest - but we don't do those anyway.

And my last point : you cannot "hop" with one of your plusses. From Deb Wills ticket FAQ -

Using a Plus Visit does not use up a major park day from your pass. But unlike the major park admissions on these tickets, you can only visit one place per Plus Visit. No hopping is allowed on these visits. If you go to more than one Plus Visit location on the same day, you will use up a Plus Visit for each place.

You CAN "hop" with the WP AP. I know, as I've done Shark Reef in the morning and Summit Plummet in the afternoon.

Hope this helps ..... Scott

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We buy PAPs every year. I think if I took the time to figure it out, we might be better off buying APs plus a PI annual pass.
To be honest, it's just not worth the hassle for the sake of a few bucks. I am happy just having one pass that covers everything.

Have fun...