Need some AP vs 10 day help

[alicia080979]

Hopefully this is posted in the right forum.

Can any of you math geniuses here help me decide if we should get an AP for our fall trip please?

This scenario is based on *if* they have the free dining promo bc that is where we get the most bang for our buck.

We are going Nov. 10-19. 3 adults at PORFQ. I was planning on getting 10 day hopper passes but I just realized we might be better off getting an Annual Pass bc we will come back either next Sept., Oct., or Nov.

What I'm not sure about is if it makes sense. Let's assume that we are returning next fall for another FD promotion, don't you have to buy park tickets in order to recieve that? Do they have to be just one day or would we have to buy for the duration of our trip? Is the price difference between 10 day hopper and AP enough to make it worthwhile?

Thank you!!!

 

[peabody58]

I would recommend the AP plus TIW card. We don't use DDP, and really enjoy the flexibility of TIW along with 20% off alcohol drinks.

AP's include park hopping, and you can get additional discounts at select stores and eateries.

 

[addiln]

you will need to buy at least a two day park pass for the fd. if you go back next year and they offer the free dining you could just buy a two day park pass for each person in your party. really it comes down to if you go back next year. if you are sure that your are going back next year then i would by the annual pass if you are not going back then it is not worth it.

 

[stargazertechie]

If you upgrade your tickets at the end of your trip this year, you would then be eligible for passholder rates on your resort room (up to 42% off) for your trip next fall. You could also purchase the Tables in Wonderland card to get 20% off your meals and alcohol purchases for your trip next year.

If FD came out next year, you would have to buy whatever ticket Disney was including with the package (this year it was a 2-day base ticket) for each person in your party, HOWEVER, those tickets could be used toward your renewal if you chose to renew the AP the following year.

 

[juliebug1997]

That must be for free dining only. I have an annual pass and, when I tell the agent that I want to book room and a dining plan, I just remind them that I have an annual pass.

 

[stargazertechie]

That must be for free dining only. I have an annual pass and, when I tell the agent that I want to book room and a dining plan, I just remind them that I have an annual pass.

Yeah, FD requires a minimum ticket purchase (this year it was 2 day base)

 

[tlh0726]

Did not do the math, trying to go from memory when we made this decision last year.
An annual pass is cheaper than buying 2 trips of 9 day passes with park hopper option.

To get in on the disney deals, they currently require you to buy 2 day tickets for each person on the reservation.

So by having the annual pass you can get room discounts, but would they be equal or better than what deal that is being offered at that time.

 

[alicia080979]

Thanks for replies. I guess we need to figure out if we are going to continue going once a year for it to be worth it. I wish I could commit to going 2X a year then it would definitely be a no brainer!!!

 

[Balt ravens fan]

If you are going to be there 10 days, do you need hoppers? That would save you money to by 10 day non-hoppers (instead of APs)

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Truly, none of us can say what 'deal' Disney will offer in the future. Likely there will be some discounts offered, but they DO change from year to year.

Dates change, and deals change. Often dramatically!

For the current week - three years ago they had a buy four days get three free deal. (About 42% off room and $20off week long tickets) You ALSO got a $200 gift card! Last year they shortened the dates and cut out the gift card. This year they did not offer that deal at all, just a 30% discount off the rooms.

WDW has been warning guests that they will be decreasing discounts in the future....but it depends on what happens with the economy.

When the economy is good, the discounts are minimal - and ALWAYS Disney can inflate room prices (These come out usually in August or so ofr the upcoming year) and food prices (they can change week to week). They also periodically raise park ticket prices.(Sometimes once or twice year). They also can dramatically change any programs they offer. A few years all ALL park tickets were non-expire-hoppers! Disney has recently announced that they are going to make MAJOR changes in the future to how they do things. Next year part of the new FAntasyland will open.

AP discounts can be good - up to 40% off - or not at all. Sometimes they come out VERY late. Like last minute late when airfare is sky high. Oh - yeah - keep in mind that airfare prices may go WAY up if oil prices keep going up.

So even if any of us can predict when WDW will offer free dining- we don't know if it will include the regular dining plan, or QS dining plan. (a twist they added in recent years at the value resorts) - or some NEW option!

When I am considering the options...I mostly look at what i KNOW right now to be the best deal. If I KNOW I will be going to WDW multiple times, then buying ONE annual pass (per room booked) sometimes makes sense - especially if there is a current room discount which makes it competitive with any other discounts I can get. ALmost always, you can time NEXT year's trip to be a week earlier than this year's trip - and you can get two trips that way. If hopping is important, then that also puts the favor towards an AP.