The "No Codes" Rumor - and AP renewal

[PamNC]

I was wondering how many people are reluctant to renew their Annual Passes, given the rumors that Disney may not be offering codes as frequently as in past years? My AP ran out 2/9 and I'm not renewing for this very reason. And, with the MYW ticket price for a 7 day ticket with the park-hopper option, I think we might be better off not renewing for $420 a pop and just buying it the old fashioned way. Is anyone else using this strategy? I use to go under the assumption that the break even day for APs was 8 days...now it's more like 14!

I'd love to hear everyone else's take on this.

PamNC

 

[Stitch Inside]

We bought our APs for the first time this year assuming that since we'd get a great discount, we'd be able to make more than one trip. So if they don't offer AP discounts for the times we're going, we'll just have to stay off-site. We're easy. APs still have enough benefits for us; parking, discounted dining (more so with DDE), and not feeling like we have to go to a park every day we're there in order to get our money's worth. Plus there's always the off chance that I may come home from work one day and say, "Honey, pack up the kids, we're going to Disney World for a couple of days."

 

[Disney Fool]

Before everyone gets crazy, I picked up the new 2005 passholder sleeve and it says that there will be room discounts throughout the year. Here's the quote:

"Walt Disney World Resort Room Discounts:
Periodically a limited number of rooms may be made available at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and select Disney Vacation Club Resorts at discounted rates for Passholders. Visit disneyworld.com or see your Mickey Monitor newsletter for special offers."

It's basically the same blurb as last year.

 

[Stitch Inside]

Before everyone gets crazy, I picked up the new 2005 passholder sleeve and it says that there will be room discounts throughout the year. Here's the quote:

"Walt Disney World Resort Room Discounts:
Periodically a limited number of rooms may be made available at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and select Disney Vacation Club Resorts at discounted rates for Passholders. Visit disneyworld.com or see your Mickey Monitor newsletter for special offers."

It's basically the same blurb as last year.

Here's how rumors get started. Terms like "periodically" and "limited number". So Disney can give as many discounts as they want, whenever they want. Maybe they've already given their "limited number". What we need to know is whether "periodically" will include when we want to go, and will we be able to get one of the "limited number" of rooms.
But if history repeats, we should have no problem getting our May discount come March.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We did not renew our aps this time. But I wouldn't hesitate to buy ap's again if it proved to be the best deal for us.

 

[eeyore0062]

Here's how rumors get started. Terms like "periodically" and "limited number". So Disney can give as many discounts as they want, whenever they want. Maybe they've already given their "limited number". What we need to know is whether "periodically" will include when we want to go, and will we be able to get one of the "limited number" of rooms.
But if history repeats, we should have no problem getting our May discount come March.

Remember the May is the beginning of the 50th Aniversary celebration and may be very crowded, so codes may not be available.

Also, the "periodically" and "limited number" is the same wording they use every year. DH always gets the AP and keeps the sleeves, and they all say the same for 3 years running.

 

[picantel]

Ours just ended Feb7 and we are not renewing at this time. Should good codes come out for June we will considering getting APs and hitting disney again but cannot afford to go on rack rates.

 

[christinou]

We just got new AP, we skipped a year, I just called to get a room for 2 weeks from now, and actually got an AP rate I was thrilled......
And of course also ordered the DDE card.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

We have already renewed ours. Just the fact that we can get the DDE wonderful for us. We also spend around 20 days in WDW so it just makes sence for us.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

We bought our APs for the first time this year assuming that since we'd get a great discount, we'd be able to make more than one trip. So if they don't offer AP discounts for the times we're going, we'll just have to stay off-site. We're easy. APs still have enough benefits for us; parking, discounted dining (more so with DDE), and not feeling like we have to go to a park every day we're there in order to get our money's worth. Plus there's always the off chance that I may come home from work one day and say, "Honey, pack up the kids, we're going to Disney World for a couple of days."

You should do it! Just call the wife and say pack the kids we're going! That would be sooo fun! My DH would get MANY bonus points for that one!

 

[StrwLady]

I'm renewing. We considered looking into packages but we like the flexability of the AP. We don't have to think twice, if the day we get in, we only can spend a couple of hours at the park. Plus when we leave a park we never get our hand stamped. I would hate to have to start remembering to do that. I also like that they will now be more stores in Downtown Disney that will offer passholder discounts. Just wonder which stores and how much.

Take Care
Jamie

 

[mickaholic4077]

I'm looking at my sleeve right now. The DTD shops now taking the discount are as follows:Arribas Brothers,Basin,Ghiradelli,House of blues,lego,Planet Hollywood,Rainforest Cafe,Storabilias,Virgin MegaStore,and World of Disney

 

[Chuck S]

I will renew mine, the room discounts are never a factor for us, as we are DVC, and tend to spend 20 to 25 days per year in a park. PLus the DDE and new DVC AP discounts, it just can't be beat in our situation.

 

[IvyandLace]

I am currently debating this very thing: AP vs. MYW ticket. What makes my choice more confusing is the fact that DH renewed his PAP this past October while I let mine lapse...just didn't have the money at the time. We will most likely go this summer for ~10+ days as we did last August (and loved it despite the heat)-plus we are debating going with my sis and BIL in October for the Food and Wine Festival (really, our favorite time of year). Though I could probably get away with the 10 day non-expiration premium ticket, I'm afraid since DH has his PAP, that I would resent having to *limit* my park/water park days!! Silly, huh?? Last August we must have gone to TL pretty much every day even if it was just for a couple of hours, and I'm sure DH will want to do the same thing this trip. It just worked for us to allow us to have a really relaxing vacation instead of our typical commando trips.

I just can't get over the price difference between a PAP and a 10 day MYW ticket!! I could *almost* limit my park days and water park entrances for a couple of hundred dollars!!

IVY

 

[Tron72]

So that is the Question that seems to be at hand. To renew the old AP or not to. Well, for me it is always cheeper to renew, that is because I am a Florida Resident. The FLA AP is cheeper then the Magic your Way. Plus now I like the fact you can renew your AP and now the pass does not begin to you use it again in the park instead of the day you renew it. I think the question is and each person is different, it comes down to cost and just how much you tend to us it or not use it.

Tron72

 

[pumpkinboy]

I will renew mine, the room discounts are never a factor for us, as we are DVC, and tend to spend 20 to 25 days per year in a park. PLus the DDE and new DVC AP discounts, it just can't be beat in our situation.

I won't be renewing our PAPs come November, since we won't be going at all until February after the expiry; and in my book, 4 months saved is a great discount. And the renewal discount is a measly 10%.

Nope, we're gonna get our 21 park days in on our current PAPs, then let them lapse for 4 months, and consider buying new ones in Feb 06. We had originally bought APs in Nov 04, but when the DVC discount came out ($100 off APs and $125 off PAPs) we were actually able to upgrade to PAPs and get money back!!

I figure with the DVC discount, breakeven comes at anything over 5 park days for the AP and anything over 7 for the PAP; this is simply comparing to the park-hopping ticket with no expiration since we always park-hop and we like to get more than one trip in per year. I don't think we'll be taking advantage of any AP discounts this year, since we have DVC lodgings during the week, and there was that great General Public code earlier in the year, (now expired) which we used for an awesome discount at AKL.

Now I love having an AP, but not so much that I have to renew immediately. Better to save the money until you go again and stretch the relevant period abit bit more...

 

[agnes!]

The FLA AP is cheeper then the Magic your Way. Plus now I like the fact you can renew your AP and now the pass does not begin to you use it again in the park instead of the day you renew it. I think the question is and each person is different, it comes down to cost and just how much you tend to us it or not use it.

Tron72

Woah...let me hold my horses (and wallet lol).
Are you saying that WDW has gone back to AP renewals starting when you first use the renewals? If true, this is a radical change from recent practice! For the past couple of years, the renewals start when your original AP expires - no more 'playing the float'.
Or is this maybe just for the FL/AP's... Anybody know for sure?

Thanks,
agnes! (waiting patiently for more/confirmed info)

 

[lesroi]

Woah...let me hold my horses (and wallet lol).
Are you saying that WDW has gone back to AP renewals starting when you first use the renewals? If true, this is a radical change from recent practice! For the past couple of years, the renewals start when your original AP expires - no more 'playing the float'.
Or is this maybe just for the FL/AP's... Anybody know for sure?

Thanks,
agnes! (waiting patiently for more/confirmed info)

We were told that when we go to renew, our new pass will be effective when the original expires. We just got ours in January, and I specifically asked as we got them a few days before I really wanted to. (I wanted to use them for our January trip next time too, but we will be too late.)

So unless what the OP is saying is only a FL/AP thing, it is incorrect.

Tracy

 

[StrwLady]

I'm looking at my sleeve right now. The DTD shops now taking the discount are as follows:Arribas Brothers,Basin,Ghiradelli,House of blues,lego,Planet Hollywood,Rainforest Cafe,Storabilias,Virgin MegaStore,and World of Disney

Discount at Ghiradelli...drool
Discount at Lego store....son drools

Thanks for the info.



Take Care
Jamie

 

[eeyore0062]

Your Annual Pass will expire on the same day each year (example: if you 1st purchased it on 2/7/03, it will expire 2/7/04 and when you renew that one, it will expire 2/7/05 and so on) unless you don't renew within the 30 day period after expiration, in which case you will need to purchase a new Ap, which will have a new expiration date (a year from the date of purchase).