Should I renew annual passes

[Donald Duck888]

I have a dilemma with deciding on renewing Annual Passes. My daughter and I both currently hold platinum passes that expire early in May. We live out of state and she is in High school now so opportunities to get to Disney are not as plentiful as they once were. So my dilemma is do i renew one pass, two or neither. At first I was going to renew one to keep the discounts and possible offers. But, with the renew early in May it makes getting value more difficult. We are planning to go in July for 6 days and then perhaps in Dec for another trip but after that it is hard to see when else we might go before it would expire as we live in the northeastern US so it is not like quick weekend trips will be a things especially with air travel being what it is right now. Might be able to squeeze in 1 more trip but not sure.

So I am wondering if just going with tickets might be better or offer more flexibility. On the flip side though with passes not being sold right now I am hesitant to close the door on them as not renewing would be doing.

Any thoughts or opinions?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

It probably depends on how set you are on trips in both July and December, and how many days you'll be doing the parks. It might be worth a renewal at this point. And like you said, with APs not selling new these days, renewing might be the best option for now. But it's certainly not an inexpensive decision! I'd likely do both or neither - not worth it for just a few minor discounts.

 

[Meglen]

I think my break even was 12 days and than with the discounts it was worth it.

 

[Mango7100]

We were not going to renew ours (family of 3 who live out of state) at the end of May, but I think we are going to after thinking about it. Since they aren’t selling them now and have no idea when they will start again or what the cost would be, I would rather have it than risk not being able to buy one or it be more stupid expensive than what it is now. We got about 20 park days on these last ones, and would probably do a trip around New Years and then Spring Break next year

 

[HopperFan]

If you do both trips at about 6 days each you've broken even without any discounts with the two APs. Nothing to lose by renewing. Discounts to gain.

If there is any chance your DD won't be returning for the December trip then I'd renew just yours, you break even and also have your discounts.

If your December might not happen for you either, and you don't see returning again in the year then I would not renew. I guess my ultimate decision would be if I am sure I would be doing 2 trips.

 

[Kingoglow]

If you enjoy your AP and find value in having them, I would renew both until you have more information about what future AP sales look like.

 

[Ariel1014]

I am an out of state AP and mine expires Mid May. I am highly considering not renewing. I believe I would need 14 days to break even. I know they might not sell new AP's for awhile.

 

[RoseGold]

This is a tough one, and it depends on Disney actually allowing in APs for peak time in December. The November 2021 California AP lawsuit may have been why APs had availability in 2021, but I don't see how you can depend on that for 2022, so far away. It would be pretty disappointing to plan the December trip, and then have to buy day tickets anyway.

You could renew and end up head on against no peak availability, like Disney did to the CA AP holders. Disney has shown they can black out APs with the bucket system, and that they are willing to change terms on the APs, like blacking out Thanksgiving on the Gold Pass.

I have been unimpressed at how Disney has treated APs. For me to renew these, I would have to be absolutely certain I'm going on both trips, and I would need to believe that Disney will allow AP access for those trips. Both of those might be big assumptions. Maybe it's time to let it go.

 

[Donald Duck888]

I guess my ultimate decision would be if I am sure I would be doing 2 trips.

This is the tough part. If the last couple years have taught me one thing its that not too much is a sure thing especially with travel. I almost wonder if letting the passes go might result in more flexibility. At least that way if I do not use them their value carries forward as a credit toward a ticket purchase in the future.

Does anyone know if that has a limit on it as well?

 

[Donald Duck888]

This is a tough one, and it depends on Disney actually allowing in APs for peak time in December. The November 2021 California AP lawsuit may have been why APs had availability in 2021, but I don't see how you can depend on that for 2022, so far away. It would be pretty disappointing to plan the December trip, and then have to buy day tickets anyway.

That is something i had not thought of. Add to that the fact that if i renew only one I would be drawing out of 2 different pots, one for the annual pass and one for the regular ticket for my daughter. Unless I stay on property and then i think I could pick out of that pot?

At first the reservation thing did not bother me a ton and I could see the need for it when parks were so limited and distancing was in effect. But now i am really starting to see how it just adds another layer of possible issues and not for the public health reasons it was said to have been originated for.

 

[HopperFan]

This is the tough part. If the last couple years have taught me one thing its that not too much is a sure thing especially with travel. I almost wonder if letting the passes go might result in more flexibility. At least that way if I do not use them their value carries forward as a credit toward a ticket purchase in the future.

Does anyone know if that has a limit on it as well?

Do not use what? What is "them"?

You purchasing regular tickets for a trip then it not happening so you save the tickets for a future trip?

 

[RoseGold]

Add to that the fact that if i renew only one I would be drawing out of 2 different pots, one for the annual pass and one for the regular ticket for my daughter. Unless I stay on property and then i think I could pick out of that pot?

Yes, for Spring Break there were dates where APs showed availability and other buckets didn't -- possibly tied to the lawsuit. Who knows what bucket will be in fashion then.

 

[kanerf]

For me I have a 10 day trip in May and an 11 day trip in Oct. 21 days total, definitely renewed my AP.

 

[Donald Duck888]

Do not use what? What is "them"?

You purchasing regular tickets for a trip then it not happening so you save the tickets for a future trip?

Yes, to the second question.

and "them" is regular tickets.

I apologize, I guess I should have explained it more, I can see looking at it now that I was somewhat vague.

My though is, I have always heard that at least lately if you purchase tickets and you don't end up using them that they can be moved to new dates for a certain amount of time and then they become a credit on your account which you can use toward a new purchase. Hopefully I am correct in this thought?

So say I went in July for 6 days and then planned to go in Dec but then ended up having to move that second trip to say June 23 I would be able to move the monies paid toward that 2nd ticket as a credit toward the June 23 trip whereas if I had an AP that would expire in May so I would end up only getting one use (6 days in July 22) out of it and end up having to purchase tickets for Jun 23.

So in typing this I just came to the realization that both ways of doing it are a risk. If I renew the AP I am betting we will go at least twice from May 22 to May 23 and if I don't then I am really hedging that bet and sort of betting that we wont.

I may just do the one and that way I am really hedging my bet,

We actually saved a lot with the discounts on food and all the merchandise my daughter bought on our trip this past March

 

[bakerworld]

Depends on park days for both trips. How much do you PH? No definitive trip in 2023? IMO it sounds like an AP is not needed.

I don't like to vacation longer than 6 days so every trip is more like a long weekend which means we vacation 3 to 4 times annually. We like to pop into Epcot for an EotD wander around the WS. For us the AP is a convenience to visit the parks as we like where the MYW is a focused park day.

 

[RoseGold]

We actually saved a lot with the discounts on food and all the merchandise my daughter bought on our trip this past March

So get the Disney Visa and get most of that. You don't need to buy a four figure pass to save a few hundred bucks on merch.

 

[Donald Duck888]

So get the Disney Visa and get most of that. You don't need to buy a four figure pass to save a few hundred bucks on merch.

This is true, very good point.

 

[Donald Duck888]

I so wish it was like it was when I bought the pass that is expiring. I bought that one pre covid and held on to it before activating it and it worked out great. If I could only renew and not have it activate until the July trip that would give so much more leeway to have it (the AP) be worth it.

 

[Donald Duck888]

Depends on park days for both trips. How much do you PH? No definitive trip in 2023? IMO it sounds like an AP is not needed.

The plan right now is a 6 park day trip in July ( the most sure one) and then possibly another similar one in early Dec (less firm). Perhaps one in early 23 but that is tough as my daughter is in HS now so it is really hard for her to miss school time. I work in Higher Ed so it is hard for me to match the College off time with her HS off time. Thats why if it was going to go until July 23 vs May 23 it would be so much better.

Also, we always park hop to EPCOT at night for the food.

 

[bakerworld]

Using the renewal price of the Incredible Pass (which I'm guessing = platinum) the purchase of 5DPH's would be about $100 more expensive than a renewal. A 5DPH in July is $580 and December 5DPH $680. How iffy is December? Certainly 2023 summer trip would be plannable for you both. If you renew would the renewal date be early or late July because with HS - especially if she's in extra circulars - you might run into a planning problem in June.