Talk to me about Annual Passes...

[karsen11]

Good afternoon...
So my husband and I usually go twice a year, once on a 8-10 trip and once on a 4-5 day trip. We are looking to go this coming sept for 10 days and then the following May for 5 days. We usually get a park ticket for everyday and we add the Park Hopper with the water parks and more option. We also like to be on the dining plan because we feel like it allows us to order with complete freedom. So I'm having trouble deciding if APs will save us money or not. What are the perks of having APs? Discounts? what is tables in wonderland all about? will it save us money and be worth it? thank you so much for all of your help

 

[Proud Cheapskate]

Honestly, if you're anything like me it costs you more money. You keep finding ways to extend your trips or adding a long weekend here or there because the passes are paid for, why not? APs are pure evil.

AP holder since 2002.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, an AP will save you money over purchasing a 10-day ticket and a 5-day ticket, plus it offers you discounts on merchandise, rooms, etc.

Here is a link that will explain everything:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm

 

[Dis703]

We did APs last year with the intention of doing 2 trips about a year apart. I believe they say once you do 10 park days within a year it pays for itself and then after that it's saving you money. It was well worth it for us.

We used the AP discount for resort which was about 5% above the public discount. We bought the TiW card for $100 and used it for 3 trips so we saved money there. We don't do the dining plan because it doesn't save us money but TiW definitely did. And you can use it on alcohol and appetizers which aren't included in the plan.

We got 10% off store purchases and there are discounts on things like tours and minigolf.

It saved us enough money we even snuck in a third trip for just me and my 5 year old. It was so much fun. I'm really sad we can't keep doing it every year.

 

[Laketravis]

The tangible reasons: Add up what you currently spend on park tickets (and parking if you drive) in a year and compare that to the cost of an AP. The AP is probably less.

The intangible reasons: Try dining without the dining plan, just once. Enjoy the same freedom of choice that you do now and just keep in mind that you are coming out ahead unless you order the most expensive combination of every item on every menu or snack cart.

We end up picking AP's every time. If free dining comes along, we buy the required tickets and apply them towards our AP renewal.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Here is Tables in Wonderland

www.tablesinwonderland.com

It will not give you the "freedom" that you feel with DDP. It's just a blanket 20% off your bill at participating restaurants (mostly TS, very few CS participate). It's good if you go to a lot of TS restaurants and you like to order alcoholic beverages (they are included in the discount). Personally I am unable to consider anything about the dining plan to be "freedom" because it makes me feel restricted to eat where it's accepted and to order a certain way (yes there are lots of places at WDW I enjoy that can't be done on DDP. and I like me some appetizers but not accompanied by both entrees and dessert so deluxe doesn't work for me) Make sure you check the blackout dates. You shouldn't have issues in Sept. or May except Mother's Day is a blackout (it's May 10 this year I think)

However if you really must have DDP, you can book a ticketless package (room plus dining only).

 

[karsen11]

The tangible reasons: Add up what you currently spend on park tickets (and parking if you drive) in a year and compare that to the cost of an AP. The AP is probably less.

The intangible reasons: Try dining without the dining plan, just once. Enjoy the same freedom of choice that you do now and just keep in mind that you are coming out ahead unless you order the most expensive combination of every item on every menu or snack cart.

We end up picking AP's every time. If free dining comes along, we buy the required tickets and apply them towards our AP renewal.

Please explain the Free dining thing to me...that could seal the deal for me!!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Free dining is a seasonal promotion offered by WDW where if you purchase a package reservation at full rack rate (no discount on the room) between 3 and 14 nights, including at least 2 day park tickets, they will throw in a dining plan for no extra cost (quick service at value resorts, regular dining above that).

There's a minimum ticket purchase required, so if you had an AP you'd still have to buy 2 day tickets. But you could save those, and use them later, or put them toward an AP renewal.

 

[karsen11]

Free dining is a seasonal promotion offered by WDW where if you purchase a package reservation at full rack rate (no discount on the room) between 3 and 14 nights, including at least 2 day park tickets, they will throw in a dining plan for no extra cost (quick service at value resorts, regular dining above that).

There's a minimum ticket purchase required, so if you had an AP you'd still have to buy 2 day tickets. But you could save those, and use them later, or put them toward an AP renewal.

so even though you only purchased 2 days worth of park tickets, you will still have the dining plan for your entire stay, correct?

 

[HopperFan]

Honestly, if you're anything like me it costs you more money. You keep finding ways to extend your trips or adding a long weekend here or there because the passes are paid for, why not? APs are pure evil.

AP holder since 2002.

That is exactly what my DH would say. DS, DS and I have them (DD is a CM) and my mantra to him is "The room is discounted and the tickets are free." I told him last night I'm going next week for five days .... "but the tickets are free" (using hotel points this time).

Love my APs but I do go 5-6 weeks per year. I do use Tables in Wonderland and for me it is worth it. My DD has my Tables in Wonderland Partner Card and she uses it. I do use the AP Room Only Discounts. I do use the AP Parking when I stay off property. I do use the AP Discount when shopping. It more than pays for itself - I did math last year and with all the money I saved it made the AP cost negligible.

Have had AP for many years and I live 8 hours away.

 

[karsen11]

so even though you only purchased 2 days worth of park tickets, you will still have the dining plan for your entire stay, correct?

also, how do you "save the 2 days" or put them towards your AP renewal? Sorry, I'm just getting lost here!

 

[karsen11]

That is exactly what my DH would say. DS, DS and I have them (DD is a CM) and my mantra to him is "The room is discounted and the tickets are free." I told him last night I'm going next week for five days .... "but the tickets are free" (using hotel points this time).

Love my APs but I do go 5-6 weeks per year. I do use Tables in Wonderland and for me it is worth it. My DD has my Tables in Wonderland Partner Card and she uses it. I do use the AP Room Only Discounts. I do use the AP Parking when I stay off property. I do use the AP Discount when shopping. It more than pays for itself - I did math last year and with all the money I saved it made the AP cost negligible.

Have had AP for many years and I live 8 hours away.

If I can get more trips in for the price we currently pay or even a little more, I'm game!

 

[HopperFan]

also, how do you "save the 2 days" or put them towards your AP renewal? Sorry, I'm just getting lost here!

When I book Free Dining, I have the 2 day tickets included. When I get to the park the first day I go to Guest Relations: Have them make my AP the Priority Ticket that is used when I go in the gate. Each day I check MDE to make sure the 2 days was not touched and if it is go to GR to fix it. Then when I need to renew my AP I tell them I want them to use the 2 day ticket sitting in my account towards the cost of the AP.

I have heard some ask that the 2 Day Ticket be removed from their account and placed on a hard ticket. When renewing use that hard ticket to renew. One thing you should always do is look at your time between trips and the savings for the renewal. A few years it may have saved me XXX to renew but it cost me XXXX all the months I didn't use it until my next trip. On those years I let my AP expire and then just purchased a new full price at the time of my next trip.

 

[tobikaye]

so even though you only purchased 2 days worth of park tickets, you will still have the dining plan for your entire stay, correct?

The dining plans are per hotel night stay, not number of park days so you would have still have the dining plan for however number of nights you stay.

 

[HopperFan]

If I can get more trips in for the price we currently pay or even a little more, I'm game!

I would rather stay Value or offsite somewhere (so many great sales and discounts) and go more often. When that good AP room discount pops up I grab it but being able to go more often is more important than where I sleep. I stay mostly at Hiltons and Downtown Disney, always up for a great hotel with a great rate (and breakfast ) I just stayed a week at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 2 Bedroom for $600 for the week. With no tickets to buy, no parking to pay, some discounted eats (TIW) and some condo cooking - couldn't be beat for a family of 5 to spend a festive week at Disney (week before xmas). The savings allowed us to all do a day at Discovery Cove - also on a great discount, $99 each.

Yes, I'm a Disney enabler....

 

[karsen11]

I would rather stay Value or offsite somewhere (so many great sales and discounts) and go more often. When that good AP room discount pops up I grab it but being able to go more often is more important than where I sleep. I stay mostly at Hiltons and Downtown Disney, always up for a great hotel with a great rate (and breakfast ) I just stayed a week at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 2 Bedroom for $600 for the week. With no tickets to buy, no parking to pay, some discounted eats (TIW) and some condo cooking - couldn't be beat for a family of 5 to spend a festive week at Disney (week before xmas). The savings allowed us to all do a day at Discovery Cove - also on a great discount, $99 each.

Yes, I'm a Disney enabler....

We mostly do Values for our stays too, so we can go more often!!! We do rope drop and stay until just about park close if not later...we literally use our room to sleep and shower, no need for anything fancy!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Values only get quick service dining free on the promotions...but you can pay the difference between the quick service and either the regular plan or the deluxe.

 

[PSUGuy]

Honestly, if you're anything like me it costs you more money. You keep finding ways to extend your trips or adding a long weekend here or there because the passes are paid for, why not?

You say that as though this is a bad thing.

Bill From PA

 

[lustergirl]

The tangible reasons: Add up what you currently spend on park tickets (and parking if you drive) in a year and compare that to the cost of an AP. The AP is probably less.

The intangible reasons: Try dining without the dining plan, just once. Enjoy the same freedom of choice that you do now and just keep in mind that you are coming out ahead unless you order the most expensive combination of every item on every menu or snack cart.

We end up picking AP's every time. If free dining comes along, we buy the required tickets and apply them towards our AP renewal.

Question? So if you buy the tickets that are required for the free dining promo can you save them until it is time to renew your AP?

 

[Laketravis]

Question? So if you buy the tickets that are required for the free dining promo can you save them until it is time to renew your AP?

Absolutely - just don't use them. When it comes time to renew your AP, you can apply the full value of those tickets against your renewal charge.