Ticket question for future trip/Grad Mickey ears

[tammyroo]

Hi all
My DH and I are going to WDW this Fall and booked through Dreams for 5 days w/ 5 day PH tickets. I am going to be returning to WDW sometime next May with my DD for a friend's college grad trip. I know 10 days is the magic number for whether or not to upgrade to annual pass. So, my dilemma is this: if I upgrade to an AP will it make it more difficult to book a package next May? It seems like booking a room/ticket package ends up being cheaper than trying to piece it together on my own. I know we'll be staying at Pop (friend's choice) and we won't be doing the DDP. So, should I get the AP and, if I do, will I be able to get a package rate in May?
Also...does anyone know about the grad Mickey ears? Are they only available in the parks? on a certain date? etc....

 

[seashoreCM]

Packages are in general not cheaper than piecing things together, unless you got some big bonus sudch as free dining with the package. Packages are usually priced close to the most expensive choices permitted such as the fanciest restaurants or choosing horseback riding instead of a tee-shirt (if choices like that were offered).

Also packages have earlier deadlines beryond which there are penalties for cancelling or changing.

Discounts are available from time to time on room-only reservations too.

Booking a package is not harder with an annual pass. But most pakages require you buy some kind of ticket, the same kind for everyone in the room. Many foks buy a one day base ticket to save for future use or to do an AP upgrade from when the time comes.

After you get there, those without AP's can use their package tickts and upgrade them individually as needed.

Some folks will find out, after some math homework, that ten days is not the magic number for an AP for them. So it does not hurt to crunch some numbers.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/dispass.htm