The advantages of an Annual Pass??

[JenH1969]

I have read that only one person in your room needs to have one to take advantage of the discounts- but the discounts seem vague to me- can you give me details (especially of the rooms) of the bonuses of having an AP? Thanks, Jen

 

[applechips]

in the past we've gotten an AP discount on rooms in December that were about 30-40% off rack room rates. You get 10% off at some Downtown Disney stores... for us we got them because we live within 7 hours of Disney and were going for more than 10 days (two separate trips) in a year. I doubt we'd have them if we didn't live within driving distance.

 

[marivaid]

Mostly, the bonus of having an AP is a year of admission for about the price of a 10day-Hopper-no expiration.

AP rates aren't guaranteed and sometimes they don't have AP rates available for all levels of resorts. The rates vary too.
These are just examples of the AP rates we've gotten :

BWI $218+tax (Value season) regular price $330
AKL $185+tax (Regular season) - the general public code was better, $149/night regular price $265
POP $79+tax (Regular Season) - again the GP code was a better deal, but didn't work for our dates. regular price $99
ASMU $59+tax (Value Season) regular price $82
WL $185+tax (Pre-Christmas season) regular price around $350
BC $279+tax (just before Christmas) regular price around $500

Personally I wouldn't buy an Annual Pass SOLELY because of room discounts. Lately the general public offers, although limited, have been just as good if not BETTER than the AP rates.

But if you're going to get an AP anyway, and if you're flexible about the resorts you want to stay at, then go for it. We sure are enjoying ours.

 

[JenH1969]

We are going to be staying nine nights - are there any other advantages to having it other than the possibility of better room rates?

Thanks for your responses

Jen

 

[marivaid]

We are going to be staying nine nights - are there any other advantages to having it other than the possibility of better room rates?

Thanks for your responses

Jen

With an AP, you can buy the DDE card which gives you 20% off TS meals and drinks. As an AP holder you also get discounts on lunches mostly at Epcot.

Tons of AP info here :
http://allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

 

[tkldisney]

For people that are local or those that choose to stay off property don't have to pay for parking.

 

[disnut8]

For us, we live 8 hours north of Disney World outside of Atlanta. If we sat down and did a cost comparision, an Annual Pass might not be the best option for us. But a big reason for having them is that we don't have to think when we're at Disney World. We don't have to know how many more days are left on a pass. If we go for a long weekend and just want to spend an hour or so at a park and then do something else non Disney, we don't feel guilty about wasting a day on a pass. If it rains and we're caught unaware, we can just go back to the room and if we don't feel like going out again, we don't have to. If we're there on a Sunday and decide that the NASCAR race is on and we're tired and we want to watch the race in the room, we can.

So our number one reason for getting an Annual Pass can be summed up by a Mel Gibson quote - "FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[Got Quattro?]

we usually travel in off season. A $440 AP pass usually lasts me 2 trips.

It saves $400 for the room each trip + park passes for me on the 2nd trip.

I can usually save almost $1,000 over 2 trips.

This topic has been coved at lengty numerous times...do a search. But the general rule of thumb is 1 trip, an AP wont realley save you anything, but if you can book a 2nd trip in 12 months...you can save big.

 

[buzznina]

We are looking at saving $ and getting seasonal passes, since we rarely go during the summer months and over holidays. Other then parking, does the seasonal passes get the same benefits as the annual passes?

 

[nitsirk]

I am a seasonal passholder, and accept for the parking, the benefits are the same. The only difference is the blackout dates, which I see as a benefit rather than a hinderance, because it takes the guess work out of determining the busy times.

 

[nitsirk]

Some additional benefits of the annual pass not previously mention is the 10percent discount you receive at the World of Disney at Downtown Disney. You also receive discounts on special hard ticket events such as the MNSSHP or the MVMCP. These discounts are usually greater than the advance purchase price but they are only available for specific dates.

 

[mom2of2]

someone correct me if I'm wrong but.......seasonal doesn't get free parking

 

[buzznina]

The seasonal pass does not get you free parking. I did not know it did not give you the 10% at DTD store or a discount on special events.

 

[Taja]

I purchase an AP every 3 or 4 years, when I know I can make two trips to WDW within the 12-month period.

My prior AP more than paid for itself in room discounts (2003 - 2004).

My current one will just barely pay for itself in room discounts. However, over two trips I will have been at the parks for 17 days, so it was still worth while, even without the room discounts.

At this point in time, you can make a room reservation at rack rate, then apply the AP rate to it if it becomes available. However, you will need to have your AP when you check in or you will be charged rack rate. I had my voucher, but not my AP, and they gave me 24 hours during my past visit to present it at the front desk. Prior visits they didn't ask for it.

The reason I said "at this point in time" regarding having an AP when you make your room reservation is they changed the rules a few years ago. I didn't like their booking requirements and refused to visit WDW during that period, much less purchase an AP! Obviously, others felt the same, as they changed the rules back.

Lesson: Disney will change the rules as they see fit. They are in business to make money.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I bought APs for my daughter and I in April because I knew I'd be visting WDW that month, August and December of this year. I won't renew next year because I'm only making one trip for December '08 (we're moving house).

I only get an AP if I know I'll be making more than 1 trip in a year.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

If you are a AAA member, check with you local AAA office, I got my AP's for 425.75 + tax. 3 Adult AP's were $1366.66 almost $100 savings over purchasing them directly from WDW. It has already saved me $300 on a room for 2 nights and will save me more once we actually make this trip, plus I have 2 more trips planned on it, since I only live about 6 hours away. It just made more sense, we were spending a fortune on seperate tickets, now we have the added benefit of other discounts as well.

Suzanne

 

[Charleyann]

If you are a AAA member, check with you local AAA office, I got my AP's for 425.75 + tax. 3 Adult AP's were $1366.66 almost $100 savings over purchasing them directly from WDW. It has already saved me $300 on a room for 2 nights and will save me more once we actually make this trip, plus I have 2 more trips planned on it, since I only live about 6 hours away. It just made more sense, we were spending a fortune on seperate tickets, now we have the added benefit of other discounts as well.

Suzanne

You can buy those through AAA?


Charleyann

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

You can buy those through AAA?


Charleyann

Sure can, but not all of them sell them, just check with your local office.


Suzanne

 

[CPer'sMom]

The best reason for an AP? A great excuse to plan another trip to *get my money's worth*!

 

[buzznina]

Thanks for the replies, after looking at both types of passes, we decided to try the seasonal and save about $250 for 2 adult passes. What we save will be more then a child seasonal pass will cost when our DD turns 3 and we can always upgrade if needed. Heading back to WDW in 11 days for work and fun.