pass question

[Bronte]

My husband and I LOVE Disney world and have been a few times in the last few years (fall 2001, 2002, 2003 and spring 2004.) We are planning yet another trip for Halloween this fall. Once again I am trying to understand and determine if an annual pass would benefit my family. Right now we have a package … 5 nights with 2 nights free and two room only reservations. That is 9 nights, 10 days with 8 days of UHP. We plan to hang out at the pool during the day of our Halloween Party (last year the kids were really tiered and had to retire early.) Then we were going to buy water park tickets for the one additional day we need. Well, the package is costing us $2386.22 right now and then we have to buy the water tickets … grand total over 2500 (not including the Halloween tickets that I already bought for the trip.)
I would like to know if buying the PAP would be a good idea (I realize that the AP would be but I can not see us not visiting the water parks, DQ or PI (big fans of the adventures club.)
Our children are ages 11 and 8 … there is a possibly that my husband and I might go back again early next October by ourselves. I realize that the passes would have been GREAT if I would have bought them for our spring 2004 trip and this one but I just could not commit last January.
Any help or advice would be GREAT … I would hate to make another mistake. Thanks and I love this site.
Lisa

 

[cobbler]

If you would use them again before they expire next year I would say go for it!!

It will save you some money and you could possibly get a better deal with resort discounts than the 5+2 deal or whatever it is called.

Also you could get resort discounts next year if they hand them out. Plus there are lots of other places to get discounts, mini golf, lunches at some restaurants and other things.

Now I don't know if PAP would be better than AP regarding the water parks so I can't help you there but I am sure someone else could.

I know that this year we are buying the whole family AP's so our trip this year is a little more but we plan on going again next year before they expire and I have already done some of the planning and golly, next year our trip will be dirt cheap since we basically will have our admission already paid for this year

 

[DNBois]

It will mainly depend on where you are staying and if WDW will release AP rates for the rooms which I believe that they will.

For instance, the tickets would cost $1965 (w/o tax) and a room at a value would be $993 or at a moderate for $1595 (both w/o AP rate discounts that may be forthcoming). So, all in all, you would spend about $500 more if you plan to stay at a value; in addition, you could use the passes the following year, perhaps coming down a little earlier before the passes expires saving you beaucoup bucks!

In my opinion, if you are planning to go to WDW again then purchasing APs or PAPs seem like your best bet.

Also, check out this webpage for additional info: http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/breakeven.php

Good luck!!

 

[Bronte]

We really like staying at the Caribbean Beach and that is where we have reservations right now ...
When might the new AP resort rates come out ... how can I find out besides calling down there each day (we are in Indiana.) It would help doing the math to know if there would be a significant room discount for that time (Oct. 23 through Nov. 1 ... love to go in the fall.)
Lisa