Quick question on annual passports

[KCmike]

Do premium and deluxe annual passport holders get in early with magic mornings?

 

[starshine514]

Not unless they are staying onsite. Rumor is that there may be some early entry perks at DCA this summer for AP holders, but I don't think it's been officially announced yet.

 

[KCmike]

The plan was to be there this summer with 5 day hoppers but have an outside chance at going back this year for Christmas for a long weekend which would be another 3 days. If I knew for sure would it be better to do the annual passport?

 

[DebbieB]

You get food & merchandise discounts with the AP.

 

[KCmike]

I'm just wondering at how many days does it make sense to upgrade to an annual passport?

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm just wondering at how many days does it make sense to upgrade to an annual passport?

You'll have to do a dollar to dollar comparison. How much did your 5-day tickets cost you? How much will the additional 3-day tickets cost you (remember there will likely be a price increase between now and December)? If those are more than the price of an AP (and remember to keep in mind any blockout dates!!!) then get an AP.

 

[mad hatter fan]

If you decide to get an AP because of a 2nd trip you can start with a hopper ticket and then upgrade to the AP after using your early entry. That is what I would do.

 

[CamoMama]

With a premium AP there are no blackout dates, you get free parking at the parks and discounts at restaurants and on merchandise. For a 5 day visit the parking alone is worth about $100. I bought a premium because I'm going back multiple times this year and it's definitely worth it to me.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Hi KCmike,
If you know you will be going back for that 3 day trip, then it makes sense to get the AP. Current prices are as follows:
3 day hopper: $214, $198 (child)
5 day hopper: $246, $226 (child)
Deluxe: $379 (adult and child)
Premium: $499 (adult and child)

You know those prices will go up, probably before summer with the coming of Carsland. If you upgrade from tickets, you will only get credit for what you actually paid for the tickets, so buying ahead cheaper and choosing to upgrade to APs after a price increase will not save you money. You could buy AP vouchers ahead of the price increase (once you hear that the increase is coming) but then will not be able to take advantage of Magic Morning first. Is Magic Morning worth extra money to you?

So the things to consider are whether you want early entry and if either of your trips will include block out days. Many of our trips include Saturdays or holidays, so we always just buy premium these days. Since we at least live in California and are willing to tolerate the looong car ride multiple times a year, we go four to six times with each set of APs, so it is worth it to us.

As suggested, you can always start with your tickets, use your early entry, then upgrade. You will want to upgrade as early in the trip as possible in order to take advantage of the discounts. If Al Lutz is right about those AP early entry days at DCA, you then might be able to do one of those too after you upgrade. I'm hoping he's right about those because that would work really well for us if we make it down this summer.

Deluxe AP holders receive a 10% discount at most food locations, 10% discount at most merchandise locations (until 12/31/12, not yet known if this discount will be extended again but it has been repeatedly over the last couple of years), and 10% discount at many DtD locations.

Premium AP holders receive a 15% discount at most food locations, 20% discount at most merchandise locations (until 12/31/12, see above comment), and 10% discount at many DtD locations. Premiums also get free parking. We rarely use this benefit as we generally choose to stay within walking distance.

Passholders can also get 20% discounts off tours, but you already have access to this benefit with your Disney Visa. There are discounts off the resort hotels as well, but, frankly, the one recent time we stayed on property, the public deal was better than the AP deal anyway.

So it all comes down to numbers and how sure you are that you're going to get that second trip in within one year of the first trip. Hope some of this helped.

 

[KCmike]

Hi KCmike,
If you know you will be going back for that 3 day trip, then it makes sense to get the AP. Current prices are as follows:
3 day hopper: $214, $198 (child)
5 day hopper: $246, $226 (child)
Deluxe: $379 (adult and child)
Premium: $499 (adult and child)

You know those prices will go up, probably before summer with the coming of Carsland. If you upgrade from tickets, you will only get credit for what you actually paid for the tickets, so buying ahead cheaper and choosing to upgrade to APs after a price increase will not save you money. You could buy AP vouchers ahead of the price increase (once you hear that the increase is coming) but then will not be able to take advantage of Magic Morning first. Is Magic Morning worth extra money to you?

So the things to consider are whether you want early entry and if either of your trips will include block out days. Many of our trips include Saturdays or holidays, so we always just buy premium these days. Since we at least live in California and are willing to tolerate the looong car ride multiple times a year, we go four to six times with each set of APs, so it is worth it to us.

As suggested, you can always start with your tickets, use your early entry, then upgrade. You will want to upgrade as early in the trip as possible in order to take advantage of the discounts. If Al Lutz is right about those AP early entry days at DCA, you then might be able to do one of those too after you upgrade. I'm hoping he's right about those because that would work really well for us if we make it down this summer.

Deluxe AP holders receive a 10% discount at most food locations, 10% discount at most merchandise locations (until 12/31/12, not yet known if this discount will be extended again but it has been repeatedly over the last couple of years), and 10% discount at many DtD locations.

Premium AP holders receive a 15% discount at most food locations, 20% discount at most merchandise locations (until 12/31/12, see above comment), and 10% discount at many DtD locations. Premiums also get free parking. We rarely use this benefit as we generally choose to stay within walking distance.

Passholders can also get 20% discounts off tours, but you already have access to this benefit with your Disney Visa. There are discounts off the resort hotels as well, but, frankly, the one recent time we stayed on property, the public deal was better than the AP deal anyway.

So it all comes down to numbers and how sure you are that you're going to get that second trip in within one year of the first trip. Hope some of this helped.

Thanks so much. That took some time of your own and really appreciate it. Do we know when the prices will raise yet? Our trip is late June into the first few days of July. The second possible trip is all about the price of the airfare and I'm waiting on Southwest to release those prices on May 21st. The deluxe doesn't block out the Saturdays in November that we would like to go.

 

[Eeee-va]

An AP can end up costing you MORE money, because you may take 3 Disney trips in a 365-day period instead of two! At least, that's how it worked with us. That wasn't at all a BAD thing, but it happened, and it did not exactly save us money. (Cheaper than the 3 trips would've been otherwise, yes, but much more expensive than 2 trips, even if you figure in the discounts.)

Of course, if you were thinking of taking an early-summer trip next year anyway, the APs WOULD save money (probably even if you had to buy a single blockout day ticket like we did, though the price of those tickets keeps going up too ).

But if APs will tempt you to spend more time in Disneyland, then they're FUN, but not technically a money-saver.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Thanks so much. That took some time of your own and really appreciate it. Do we know when the prices will raise yet? Our trip is late June into the first few days of July. The second possible trip is all about the price of the airfare and I'm waiting on Southwest to release those prices on May 21st. The deluxe doesn't block out the Saturdays in November that we would like to go.

There has been no official word on price increases; it's all just speculation so far. To my thinking, it just makes sense that it will happen with the expectations of Carsland and the DCA revamp being popular and successful. Last year the price increase came in June. Disney did announce it a couple of days before it kicked in, so people who were paying attention still had opportunity to purchase right away and lock in the old prices. Pure guess...I'd look for an early June price increase in advance of the June 15th grand re-opening.

Oh yeah, I totally agree with Eeee-va...APs don't save us money. In fact, I use the fact that we have an AP as justification to slip in just one more Disney trip in order to get our full money's worth out of those APs of course.

 

[mmlover74]

I am thinking about upgrading our tix to AP, but why wait until after using the early entry?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I am thinking about upgrading our tix to AP, but why wait until after using the early entry?

AP holders do not get early entry, but 3 day or longer tickets come with one early entry admission. If early entry is important to you, then you should use the early entry before you upgrade to AP. If you don't care about using early entry and aren't facing a block out day with whichever AP you are getting, then there is no reason to wait to upgrade. The sooner you have an AP in hand, the sooner you can take advantage of food and merchandise discounts.

 

[mmlover74]

thx longtime lurker...I do receive some discount with Disney visa, but I am sure AP gets more deeper of a discount. I LOVE EE days...no sleeping in for me and my family.

 

[KCmike]

Your probably right about not saving money. I would be pushing for a spring getaway next year

That won't be able to happen though as I promised the Misses that we would devote all extra income to my oldest daughters upcoming first year of college as she will be a senior this fall. Oh how the years roll by.

I really want the kids to experience Christmas at DL this year. A good way to go out I think.

 

[poohbear83]

hello everyone,

In 9 day's i going for the first time to disneyland, now i'm thinking of taking a Anuall passpoort because we thinking of going back for a couple of day in december.
I looked for the delux pass but we are there may 12th en that a block day.
for the december trip there are no block days.

So i was thinking to take a 4 day's hopper tickets and then on may 13th to take a delux pass.

Would do you all think about it.

greetz

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

hello everyone,

In 9 day's i going for the first time to disneyland, now i'm thinking of taking a Anuall passpoort because we thinking of going back for a couple of day in december.
I looked for the delux pass but we are there may 12th en that a block day.
for the december trip there are no block days.

So i was thinking to take a 4 day's hopper tickets and then on may 13th to take a delux pass.

Would do you all think about it.

greetz

You can actually upgrade on May 12th. Even though its a block out day, they will let you use your pass that day if you are upgrading on that day.

 

[elaw]

You get food & merchandise discounts with the AP.

And depending on level of AP ... Free parking too