new DVC member ????

[bray]

Usually we purchase packages for our trips to WDW (when not DVC members). This year we used the Silver Magic Wishes and ate and ate and ate at very nice restaurants. Needless to say these packages included park hopper passes and we did not worry about going from park to park to park on any given day.

Since DVC members need to purchase park passes, does anyone have good hints on doing this at a reduced cost. Passes are so expensive.

We usually go for one week per year. It is possible that we might spend one week in late June 2004 and early June 2005.

Thanks so much.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

we might spend one week in late June 2004 and early June 2005

Buy an annnual pass, take at least two trips on it (one at the beginning of the pass and one at the end) and then delay buying another annual pass for another year. That is the best possible hint and I think you have already figured it out. We always try to squeeze this year's and next year's trip into an annual pass. The nice thing about DVC is that you can also squeeze a third in there too.

HBC

 

[Pa@okw95]

We took 3 trips to WDW in one year on the same annual pass. I only go on 2 or 3 attractions per day so this what I do. The other options is to buy hopper passes and don't go to the parks every day so that you can use the hopper pass on another vacation. One thing I am going to consider is not buying any passes at all. I don't like WDW that much anymore so that would not be a big problem for me. This is one of those expenses that I talk about when becoming a DVC member, that is going to WDW more than you did before.

 

[lsutigger2]

We bought AP's last Oct. 02. It was the best investment. I usually have to do a wee bit of talking DH into going to WDW often. But this year, we've taken two trips and have a third planned. He wants to make sure we get a lot of days use on our AP's! An added bonus for me!!
Even two one-week trips makes it a good deal.

 

[JimC]

Ditto - go the AP route. Besides you get great discounts with the APs on miniature golf, restaurants, boating, merchandise in DD and hotels at various times of the year if you want to do a non-points trip (we just did that at Poly - 45% off).

Our current AP was a fabulous deal. We bought them last fall the day before they raised prices and used our Disney Club discount to lower the price more. By the time they expire our average cost per day for the parks will be under $10.

 

[skelooch]

Bray,
I to think the Park Hopper Plus passes are the best deal for members because they never expire so it does'nt matter how often you go. I'm planning 4 trips next year so I'm thinking seriously about the AP, I'm debating about the regular or the Premium.
The best place to buy on-line that I have found is Florida Orlando Tickets.com, I bought 7 day Park Hopper Plus tickets from them for $298.00 incl tax, I beleive there $305.00 now because of the recent ticket increase. They will mail them or deliver them to your resort for a fee, or you can pick them up at their office at no charge. They're located about 10 min from BCV or you can stop and pick them up on the way in from the airport if your renting a car. It's just a couple of mins out of the way, I did that last trip and it was no big deal.

 

[bray]

Some people have mentioned annual passes, some have mentioned 7 day park hopper passes, and some have mentioned Park Hopper Plus passes. Can anyone explain the differences?

Thanks

 

[skelooch]

Annual passes are good for 365 days for unlimited access to the 4 Theme Parks,
Premium Annual Passes are good for 365 days for unlimited access to Theme Parks plus Water Parks, Pleasure Island, Disney Quest etc.
Park Hopper Passes are good for how ever many days you purchase, 4,5,6,or 7 and get you into the Theme Parks only.
Park Hopper Plus passes are the same as above but add a certain number of days access to Water Parks, Disney Quest, Pleasure Island. Number of pluses depend on number of day passes you buy, you get 2 pluses with a 4 day pass and 4 pluses with a 7 day pass

 

[bray]

Thanks for the clarification. Obviously during the warmer months, we would use the water park passes. My 7 year old (and mom/dad) loved Blizzard Beach this year. It was our first experience at a Disney Water Park. She rode every ride except for the 2 most extreme rides.

I had first thought purchasing passes with our Disney Club membership would be a good idea. However, it seems that everytime I try to utilize that card for the discounts, they have either diminished significantly or disappeared. I guess those of us who purchased this last year of membership really may not get as much benefit as in year's past. Is that just me or have others noticed the same.

 

[paults]

bray

we bought the AP for our April 30, 2003 ( 10 day trip) and are going in Oct 2003 for another 7 days and already booked a 2 bedroom standard at BWV for April 2004 (7 days). With 24 days total for park use AP's well worth it.

This past May we didn't worry about going to a park and wasting a hopper day if we wanted to leave early and not come back. Plus we could go to dinner and then just leave the parks, no loss of day.