Perks with preferred annual pass

[CyndiLooWho]

I'm getting pretty well into our planning, and have a couple of small questions about the preferred annual pass.

We have 4 day, park-to-park passes on order from UT for the 4 of us. If we go all 4 days, that's $60 for parking. Would it be worth it for one of us (me) to upgrade to the preferred annual pass so that we get free parking and the various discounts?

I already have AAA, which entitles us to 10% off at most of the restaurants and merchandise. Are the preferred pass discounts larger than that?

What is the price of tickets at the upgrade counter? I'm assuming it's higher than the online price of $225 and that they will deduct the UT price of $151 from that. At $225, it's only an extra $15 after ticket + 4 day parking, unless I have to pay for the first day (do they let you deduct your first day parking?).

Thanks for the insight!

 

[damo]

The biggest perk is the discount for staying onsite and parking. You will have to pay to park the first day unless you can drop someone off at the hotel to run in and pick up their annual pass at the kiosk (there is one in each hotel) while someone waits for them in the car. You can then head to the park.