Should I buy an extra set of APs with DC discount for future?

[frannn]

I already bought a set for our upcoming trip, and used my DC discount and got double points on my Disney Visa. So, I saved a total of about 40. on the two adult passes we needed. These won't expire till early Oct 2004. I am SURE there are going to be more trips after that. The money is in the bank. Should I go ahead and buy two more passes while the discount is still available, or is there a good enough reason not to? I need to decide today, because the double points expires 8/9/03. Thanks!

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

There was another thread going on this board within the past few days that discussed this very topic - it seems that if you use your DC discount and do not activate the AP until next year (when the DC no longer exists), you will be charged the difference between DC price and full price before you will be able to activate.

I also called TDS recently to ask about the DC discount on PAPs (didn't specifically get into the above topic), and the CM with whom I spoke was not able to verify any limit on how long one can wait before activating the AP vouchers.

In your shoes I think I'd buy a 1 year CD, if you have the money earmarked for next year's APs... but that's just MHO!

 

[nicknamy1996]

Not sure about the DC discount thing. But if you have the money you will most likely come out ahead buying tickets now for a trip later.

I would be willing to bet that if you bought a five year CD and bought WDW tickets at the same time that in 5 years the "value" of the tickets would have outperformed the CD. Interest rates go up and down and are really down. However WDW ticket prices will always (or at least have always) gone up.

From a recent All Ears Newsletter
"The time? 1994-1995...and an Annual Passport was $205!"

Now it is $393. I believe thats about an 8 1/2 % rate. Current CDs are paying around 2% I believe.

It could be a risky investment. They are nonrefundable, and could be lost, they could get outperformed by the economy, and worst of all you may not ever get a chance to use them... whereas you can alwasy use cash.

Thats a decision you have to make on your own.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

frannn, I looked through page 2 of this board and found the post to which I referred earlier - I was going to bump it up for you... lo and behold, you posted a couple of replies on that very thread. So I guess I'm just giving you old news. Good luck with your decision.

 

[GoldenOldie]

My $.02:

Never in their 48 year history of running theme park operations has Disney ever charged a guest more money for a prepurchased annual pass or ticket when the guest presented the voucher at the ticket booth or Guest Relations no matter where or how it was originally purchased. This has always been policy except when new theme parks were involved.

They didn't void MKC purchased AP vouchers when MKC went out. You could continue to present them for an AP after MKC had gone away. I know, I did it myself. I don't see them deviating from that policy now.

JMHO

 

[*Flower*]

So, if I were to renew my APs by mail- and received vouchers.....

I could tuck those away and renew my onhand passes at WDW when I get to the park within my 30 day renewal period?

If this is so, that means that I could get the DC discount for one last year!!!

Please tell me that this is true!!!

 

[*Flower*]

Or maybe this is only for new APs???

 

[frannn]

but you only get vouchers when you purchase new passes. When you renew, your AP starts again right after the old pass expires. I don't know if you can get a DC discount on a renewal. I don't think it makes sense to renew if there are going to be several months before you first use the renewed pass.

 

[*Flower*]

You're right, now that I've thought about it.

I can still get my DC discount for my renewal in December though, so that's the last discount for me.

Oh well......