Premier Passport...anybody find it worth the price??

[IBLarsen]

I was looking into the the new Premier Passport, since we are going to WDW in April for 7 days and then wanting to add on a trip to DLR around Thanksgiving for 4 days. Then we decided to **possibly** consider a cruise next March for Spring Break adding on a few days at WDW again. So with 3 trips being considered, you would think this Premier Passport would be a good idea. After doing the math...It's not, even with 3 trips. Pricing out how many days we would be at each park, I can still buy regular tix (no park hoppers for WDW) for each park and still spend less for those 3 trips over buying a passport.

So, in theory I think this is a good idea, but not at the current pricing. Has anybody found this to be a good value yet? I can't imagine many people making enough trips to BOTH parks within a one year timeframe to make it worth it. If they lowered the price, I would be ALL over it.

 

[CrazyDuck]

If you factor in the 20% discounts you can get then it may make more sense!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We upgraded to the Premier this year. We almost always have a DL AP since we make 4-5 weekend trips to DL each year. Then, as DVC members at BWV, we plan 2 10-day trips every other year. So for about 30 days in both parks, it is worth it to us even at the current price, but only every other year. -- Suzanne

 

[Karpkg]

I've considered it since we're already WDW AP'rs and now this upcoming DL trip but the expiration date won't change for us, and we're up in May. We'd also have to make multiple trips to DL to make the DL $$ part worth it, and it's too short a time.

I was considering it after our WDW expires for the future, but the plane trip costs are constantly climbing and that's holding us back as well. When we go to WDW (we're from Atlanta, GA) we drive so that transportation cost is not a huge factor.

Considering plane costs and staying enough time to make it worthwhile, I definitely consider the Premier Passport to be more a Luxury Passport.

If you travel a lot/frequent flier miles/ability to get away...

Go for it!

 

[LisaCat]

It was worth it for me. I live in Northern CA and spent 7 days at WDW this past Fall. I got the Premiere since the 7 day park hopper plus 2 three day hoppers here would have been the same price. I had a 2 day trip in January, a day trip in December (where we used the free parking) and have a 4 day trip coming in March. So even before the merchandise/food discounts, I'm already ahead! Plus we exchanged the free parking in WDW for a ride to the parks with another family at our timeshare in October. Win-win!

 

[bumbershoot]

I think you really have to have more than one DLR trip, along with either more than one trip to WDW, or one BIG trip with over 10 days in the parks, for it to become worth it.

I've been TRYING to make it worth it, especially since we upgraded to WDW APs on our December trip there (with a view to a September trip this year), but even if I assume we can do a one-day during a visit to my brother, and a few other days at another point before 12/6/11, I can't make it add up to *enough*.


If you had a second DLR trip, I bet you could make it work out, MAYBE...but I do know the frustration of not being able to make it a savings!

 

[DLR29]

Our family justified it with:

-a 10 day WDW trip (the discounts!!!! We saved a TON with an AP rate at AKL)
-Multiple scattered DLR trips throughout the year
-another possible WDW trip in June (up in the air)

The discounts really are wonderful, especially the free parking!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I got my money worth out of the premier pass. I have done 5 trips to DL plus a few more and 6 days at WDW, but the most I saved with my AP is the parking fee. If you stay off-site at WDW and have to pay full price for parking it would cost me $14 a day and I saved $84 in parking with the premier. The merchandise and food discount does save a lot, I also like the deals with the hotels where you can save some money.

 

[skiingfast]

The thing with the premier is it offers more for WDW AP holders than DLR AP holders.

A premier is only $170 more than the base WDW AP, and $30 more than thier premium. So these east coasters with AP just need a three day weekend in LA to make up the cost on tickets alone.

Compare that to the typical DLR AP holder who has only put in $184 to get there socal pass. They have to spend a lot more to equal the $700 Premier cost.

 

[brergnat]

It's easily worth it if you are a So. Cal local, currently holding a Premium AP and you plan at least a 5 day trip to WDW.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I was looking into the the new Premier Passport, since we are going to WDW in April for 7 days and then wanting to add on a trip to DLR around Thanksgiving for 4 days. Then we decided to **possibly** consider a cruise next March for Spring Break adding on a few days at WDW again. So with 3 trips being considered, you would think this Premier Passport would be a good idea. After doing the math...It's not, even with 3 trips. Pricing out how many days we would be at each park, I can still buy regular tix (no park hoppers for WDW) for each park and still spend less for those 3 trips over buying a passport.

So, in theory I think this is a good idea, but not at the current pricing. Has anybody found this to be a good value yet? I can't imagine many people making enough trips to BOTH parks within a one year timeframe to make it worth it. If they lowered the price, I would be ALL over it.

I think the value is if you already have/get an AP in one of the parks, and are wanting to visit the other park.

 

[Funball]

It's easily worth it if you are a So. Cal local, currently holding a Premium AP and you plan at least a 5 day trip to WDW.

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]As I heard that it is worth it cause you get all the disney parks in orlando even the water parks, not just the MK. [/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The link below tells a little more about what you get[/FONT]


http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/03/disney-premier-passport-unveiled/

 

[DLR29]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]As I heard that it is worth it cause you get all the disney parks in orlando even the water parks, not just the MK. [/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The link below tells a little more about what you get[/FONT]


http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/03/disney-premier-passport-unveiled/

Yes! The Premier Passport allowed us to go to both BB and TL, which we probably wouldn't have justified the cost without it. DBrother and I also checked out DisneyQuest for a little bit too without worrying about getting our "money's worth"...we were only there for a couple hours.

 

[Funball]

yes so in retrospect, the premier pass is worth the price if you are going to WDW and DL alot.

 

[figment_jii]

For my family, we figured that we could make the PAP worth the price if there was one long WDW trip and two shorter DL trips. We typically stayed in WDW for enough time to warrant purchasing the AP there ($530 or so). Then we only need to spend $190 or so on DL tickets to justify the Premier AP.

As others have said, if you have a DL AP then you need a long trip to WDW to justify the cost increase. If you're planning to go to the water parks or Disney Quest, then those are part of the PAP.

Adding to that, the 20% shopping discount and reduced cost of TIW (at WDW) helped with the cost.

 

[bbangel]

For me what made it worth it was the discounts that came with it. The 20% off merchandise and the food discounts at DL plus the room rate discount at WDW (almost $500 savings!) were what tipped the balance. The park admission would have come out about equal in cost prior to the room discount.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think the value is if you already have/get an AP in one of the parks, and are wanting to visit the other park.

And if the visit you're taking is long enough, or you are taking more than one. And if you didn't get a discounted AP.

I now have a WDW AP and it's a DVC one which means it was $100 less than the normal one, AND it's not a premium AP. So I have to add $100 per person to my calculations to make the pass worth it to visit DLR...sigh.

-Multiple scattered DLR trips throughout the year

That's the part we need. Not just one visit.

 

[reader]

Do the math. For me, I upgraded from a premium Disneyland pass (@$300) with multiple trips to DL planned on one 10-12 day trip to WDW. The upgrade cost was $40 less than a 10 day WDW park hopper at best available price. First savings. And than the annual pass room rate was $350 lower for the WDW trip (13 nights) than the lowest special offer available. Winner! That paid for my airfare to Orlando. (yeah Jet Blue)
Might not have made as much economical sense if I was upgrading from a less expensive annual pass---spent money to save money?
And if I can manage to squeeze in a 2nd WDW world trip at AP hotel rates, I'm really saving! But every case will be different.