Renew Seasonal Passes, or not to renew...help me decide!!

[Clover9990]

I don't know what we should do. We have gotten so much use (and enjoyment!) out of our seasonal passes that I'm tempted to renew. We only have a few weeks to decide, though, in order to get the discount for renewing before our passes expire. The money we'd use to renew our passes would come from our tax returns for next year (family member will loan us the money & we'll pay back in February, so we don't have to pay interest on a CC- we did this last year and it worked out beautifully- there are no strings attached). Here are the cons of renewing:

~Will need to buy an extra pass this time around, as DD will be 3.
~We are going to try and buy our first home sometime soon, so I worry about our house needing repairs, etc. and needing that $700 for something house-related
~We could always use that $700 in the bank as a cushion, for emergencies

So what do we do?!?! This is DS's last year before he starts school, so it's highly unlikely we'd get SPs for 2004-2005, as we like to go during the week when the parks are less crowded. I feel so torn! My responsible side tells me not to do it, but then there's that other half that's saying, "Do it...your kids are only young once...everyone needs a vacation!" (We don't ever go on vacation except for these little mini-trips to Disney.) My husband thinks we should just get the passes, but I am still hesitant.

Have you ever been in this position before and then regretted your choice? Any advice?

 

[tinaluis]

Considering that you have a little one who will begin school in 2004 and, therefore, will be less likely to return to WDW as often, I'd renew this year for one last hurrah. We're trying to stretch our upcoming trip to 3 weeks instead of 2 and I'm anticipating that may be a problem with my DD's school. For that reason alone, I'd do it. Good luck!

 

[Cindy B]

Personally I would hold off. If you are two hours from Disney, it will always be there.

I personally would not borrow from family members and friends for entertainment, but if it works.. ok.

The practical side of me (and I 'm always practical in money matters), says $700 could be a good hunk of closing costs for your home... no matter what the real estate person says, you always come to settlement with more money! There is alwasy something that they don't calculate!

$700 is also for me, a used car
$700 for me is glasses for all four of us with about $300 left over
$700 is about 6 months of groceries
$700 for me is a new couch and endtables
$700 is about how much it would take to redo our bathroom.
$700 iw a nice start on a college fund
$700 is about three -four YEARS of clothing for my family

So for me, especially since you live so close, I would personally not do it. Especially since you are saving for a house.

 

[Shannon D]

Hey there!

I used to be in your shoes: proud military wife (still proud, he's just no longer in the service!) with 2 little kids.

Here's what I would suggest...

get yourselves the 4 day park hopper (discounted at base of course) and use that for 2 trips over the next year.

You have to consider that once you shell out for those seasonal passes, you tend to make more trips (many!) and therefore spend more on hotels and expensive park food. At least, that is exactly what I do now.

But if you limit yourselves to one 4 day park hopper (or whatever your base or even SOG sells) then you can stretch that into 2 long weekends. You'll have time to save up for those visits, as well as saving up for your new house, and really look forward to those jaunts to WDW.

Some of my happiest WDW trips were the simplest ones...when the boys were toddlers/preschool and it was a thrill for them just to wander around the all stars sports (where we would stay just for the night) before our big day in the MK!

I know it is a tough decision.
On the one hand, life is short, live it up; but on the other, I know I have more fun on those mini trips when I feel like I'm not 'overspending'

Good luck and make the most out of whatever decision you come to.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

But since you are so close and would get the option of going more, wouldn't it be best to get the passes?
Why not take the cost of the passes and divide it by the amount of visits and see if it's worth it. Even if you get a 4 day hopper, you'd still be spending money! And then what happens if you end up doing more than 4 days? You're going to pay more money!

 

[disneychrista]

If you think you will use the passes them go for it. We are getting 4 different trips out of our Disneyland AP's. If you think you will be too busy with your new house (lucky you, wish I was buying a house) then I would pass this time and wait until you get your tax return and purchase it then.

It is a personal choice and one that only you can make.

 

[Clover9990]

Thanks for all of your advice so far! I'm now leaning towards not renewing, but possibly buying seasonal passes again in February or so, so we can see where we are financially and if the house (if we're in one by then) will need repairs, etc. We will still get a military discount, so we won't be losing too much money by not renewing. Or, we could always get the Play 4 Days passes again when they come out. We'll see!! Keep the advice coming, though!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I wouldn't borrow money to renew... I live 2 1/2-3 hrs from Disney. I have 3 kids all of them are in school ( this yr will be 6th, 10th & 12th grades). I have the seasonal and go more than what my kids want to. There are many, many long weekends off of school, there is also our spring break week (no black out dates during our srping break) as well as about a week and a half at the end of the school year (where there are no blk out dates again) that we take full advantage of. My pass has paid for itself over & over again. I wouldn't say not to get a pass because your child will be in school soon.... I would say not to because you have to borrow the money. Wait until you get your tax return & then buy them...... Now my delemia is....do I renew mine LOL.... Mine expire in Oct. My youngest want to keep them. The older 2 prefer Universal (which we have that pass too). The older of the 2 of them will be going to collage next year..... he maynot even be living at home (or in the state of Fl) after May I am leaning on renewing for me & 2 of the kids....not the oldest.... Oh well, I can give advise, but can't make up my own mind LOL!!!!

 

[Kay1]

I would wait and make a special savings account with money made through little extra jobs like babysitting, eBay, garage sales, etc. We live an hour and a half away from Disney and it's not hard to get away for little trips as there are always teacher workdays, three-day weekends, etc., and you can always take your child out for one extra day if you want to. Good luck to you.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I hate to thow water on what would be future fun but when you buy a house and have kids may seem like a lot of money but it goes real fast on a home repair or new clothes and doctor bills. The fact that you do not have a cushion in the bank and you would need to borrow for a luxury and then not have a resource for emergencies when they pop up is a little scary to me. I agree with those who say wait. I know it is hard but you are lucky in that you live close, have access to the resident passes and do not need to ever consider air fair. Also, your kids have been there a number of times. Sometimes it is good to stay away or they take it for granted and get bored. Here is an idea I used to use. I would try to use as many coupons and rebates as I could. I would take the cost I would have paid for the item and sock it away. Where I live the stores tell you at the bottom of your receipt how much you hve saved. Put it in the bank or save up and buy a CD that has penalties and make it really hard to take it out.
Here is another idea if you are good with charges. I use my charges like AmEx Costo, and Discover for items when I know I have the money to pay them off. I pay them off each month and then the rebate adds up with no effort on my part. Between Costo and Discover last year I had almost 250 in rebate money with no muss or fuss.