Should I get an Annual Pass?

[crzy4mk]

I've done WDW for years, and have even been to DL a couple of times in the past 2 years, so I consider myself pretty knowledgable when it comes to Disney. In fact (like a lot of you), everyone I know who plans a WDW trip comes to me for help. But now I am facing a decision I've never had to deal with before: should I buy an annual pass for 2006?

Here's the situation: I have 2 family trips I am planning for next year, one in February and one in September. My original plan was to buy 10-day passes w/hopper and non-expiration added, and divide it between the two trips. But now (I love "problems" like this!) I will be in Orlando the first week of January also. I would probably hit the parks 3 or 4 times while I'm there. I think I should get an AP, but don't know anything about them. So, here are my 2 questions:

What is included in a regular AP? I'm not interested in water parks or DQ. I'm assuming park hopping privileges and parking, but are there other perks?

Also, tell me about that first week in January. It seems like I recall people talking about that being a pretty good week since it's right after the holidays. Is this right?

Thanks!

 

[javaj]

With that many trips, sounds like you could use an AP!

Perks we've actually used with an AP:
* 10% discount on some restaurants for weekday lunch (used this before getting DDE)
* DDE card for $50 to get 20% off many meals
* 10% off at World of Disney at Downtown Disney
* Discounted tickets at water parks (10% or 20%, I can't remember)
* Photopass offer last month where we got 5X7s really cheap (sorry, cant remember the exact discount)

Others often use their APs to get AP rates at resorts. We actually haven't used that discount -- we've used Shades of Green overlow discounts the last 2 times, and a pin rate before that.

 

[mrslur]

I believe with the AP you can get into PI half price. Not sure about Disney Quest. You will also qualify for the DDE card at $50 which will give you 20% off most WDW restaurants - I think you can have up to 8 in your party on one AP.

 

[J and R's mom]

I, too, am trying to decide on whether or not to buy an AP. I'm interested in hearing what other folks have used their AP discounts on as well and if it is really worth it for us. We'll use our DVC points for accomodations so AP discounts on rooms won't really help us much and we won't go enough to make the expense of the DDE card equal out the potential savings. BUT, if we do go again in 2006 before they expire, it would be nice to have them.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We get a new annual pass every year. We always get 2 or 3 trips off of each pass. We went for 20 days on our last pass so that brought the per day cost of getting in the parks way down. I am also looking forward to the discounts on tickets for MVMCP party this year. You also recieve $25 offf the price of the Disney dining card with your AP.