My head is swimming....long post

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Okay, the trip is definitely happening...have the room reserved at PORS instead of WL after deciding to save some money in order to buy APs this trip...waiting patiently for a code to come out...booked the airfare (got a great rate on Air Tran)...and now I am struggling with the decision about whether or not to get APs or not. I would love some advice!
Here's the deal:

*It's me, DH, and two DDs (who will be 5 and 8 at the time of our next trip)
*We are going back next year for a week in February.
*I like the idea of all the AP benefits...especially the room discount, should they become available.
*Don't know that the PAPs are worth it considering that we will want to go to the water parks this year but might not next year considering it might be too cold for our comfort.
*We could save some money spent on this year's trip by getting the MYW tickets w/the no-expiration.

Is it worth it to spend the extra money up-front to have the tickets for our next trip paid for? I don't know if I am just rationalizing this whole thing...I keep telling myself that what money we don't spend on tickets next year we can use toward staying at a deluxe resort next year. Agh! I have just thought and thought and thought and my DH is about to check me into a mental hospital!

 

[swilshire]

I don't know how much different the economics are now with the new tickets, but we have LOVED using the annual passes. The big thing for us is being able to go to the parks for a few hours without feeling like we're "wasting" day passes. This is especially important on days with ugly weather (like last Christmas day) or the day we arrive or leave.

Also, my family just refuses to do the commando style touring that I would want if we were using day passes. They refuse to get up early to be there at opening and are ready for a break by early afternoon.

We've gone with the premium passes, though like you I'm not sure we really got our extra money's worth. A few years ago my older kids really liked Pleasure Island, but everyone seems to have lost interest in it. The whole year, we only went once to see the show at the comedy club and that was it. We hit water parks a couple of times for an hour or so and DisneyQuest about the same. I might go with the regular passes the next time.

Sheila

 

[canwegosoon]

How long are you planning to stay?. There is a great new benifit to the AP passes that you might be over looking , and that is DDE. You get a 20% discount at many sit down restaurants for up to 10 people(I believe you pay 50 to join DDE). I think getting one AP, to take advantage of codes(if they become available) and Dining, and then MYW passes to fill out trip. But alot will depend on how many days you will spend in the parks and if you want to do waterparks etc. I have a friend going 10 days with us, and she is buying the 10 noexpry, because she is only doing 5 days and 1-2 plusses tops...so buying the larger pass now, and paying the 100 is in her favor.

We had a great time at POR...you could always take that for now, and if an AP rate for WL opens up, then hop on that. Have fun.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

With all the new options it's making everyone's brain hurt trying to figure out the best deal.

First, the AP thing. If you're purchasing APs solely for the room discount --DON'T DO IT! There are no guarantees that Disney will offer room discounts for your stay or that they will have discounted rooms in the resort of your choice during your dates.

Since you have 2 trips planned within a year, APs might be a better deal for your family than the MYW passes. You would need to crunch the numbers. Adult APs are about $420. Child APs are about $358. Cost for your family = $1556. The AP will entitle you to free parking, restaurant discounts (limited), discounts at the World of Disney Store in DtD, discounts on passes for the waterparks, DQ and miniature golf. There are usually, but not always, AP room-only discounts.

If you were to purchase 10-day MYW Hoppers w/no expiry for your family, the cost would be $1290 when purchased from Ticketmania.com. You would not get any of the AP benefits but you would save $266 over the cost of the APs. This would give you 5 days of hopping for each of your 2 vacations.

A third option is to purchase one AP for an adult and 10-day MYW hoppers w/no expiry for everyone else. Cost = $1370. For just $80 over the cost of 4 MYW passes, you will get the benefits of an AP holder plus pay next year's visits.

A final option would be to get 5-day MYW Hoppers w/expiry for everyone from Ticketmania for the cost of $875. You would pay for this year's visits but would still need to purchase passes next year.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

With all the new options it's making everyone's brain hurt trying to figure out the best deal.QUOTE]

Whew! You really took a good look at my situation; thanks for taking the time to figure all of that out! It's maddening how many different scenarios there are!
I think I am going to get the APs because as swilshire said, I would rather not worry about how many days we have left...we got UPHs on one trip and I have to say while we probably could have saved some money by not getting a package, we really liked being able to come and go whenever we wanted w/o thinking about a day being gone from our tickets.
I am now unsure about whether to get PAPs or not...They would cost us the price of four days admission to the water parks or DQ to get them...and I just don't see us going more than four days to the water parks. If we find that we made a mistake, we can always get PAPs next time (hee hee...I am already working on my nefarious plan to get my DH to WDW for many years to come!)
Thanks to all of you who responded and if anyone thinks of anything else, pro or con, to getting the APs, let me know!

 

[mmeb144]

AP holders get a discount at the waterparks. (In case you didn't know that.) I just bought the regular AP because I figured that if I had a desire to go to a waterpark, I could use that discount and not have to pay for the equilavent of 4 visits when I only want to go once.

Marie

 

[samsid99]

I too am trying to sovle the which ticket question. I did not know ap holders got a discount at the water parks. When we there last July my girls loved swimming with the sharks, so I know they will def. want to go back this year. Do you know how much of a discount it is? Thanks.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

I believe you get $4 off adult admission and $3 off child admission.