Tickets vs annual pass

[FrugalFashionista]

At what point does it become the better option to move from regular tickets to an annual pass? Also, I get a discount on tickets through my work and they have yet to increase their prices. Since tickets don't expire until after they have been used to enter a park...theoretically I could buy them through my work for our vacation in 2015?

The reason I'm asking is bc we are planning a two week trip in 2015. We will most likely be staying off property since there will be 6 of us and I can't fathom paying deluxe prices.

 

[denneg]

We got annual passes last year because we were taking two separate ten day trips (which then turned into even more trips, because why wouldn't we go if we had APs?). I am not sure about the price of the discounted pass compared to an AP, but we really utilized the discounts on meals and in stores, and the free parking. If the AP is a lot higher, it might still make sense to get it for one person if the math works out (parking plus 10% of whatever you typically spend on a trip) so that the AP either pays for itself or you could end up a little on the plus side.

 

[china mom]

I did this before the prices went up last week.

If you were planning on taking two week long trips within 12 months - buy an AP2 week long trips

7 day = $309
7 day = $309
Total $618

AP = $609

But, an even better comparison would be to compare 7 day Park Hoppers since all APs are Park Hoppers

7 day PH = $391 X2 = $782

AP = $609

Plus, you get room discounts, free parking and some merchandise discounts.

Also, factor in the intangible: FP+.

If you have an AP, once you stay one night on property, you can book FP+ for the rest of the year, 60 days in advance for 7 days worth of passes. So, you can save money by staying off property but still take advantage of the pre-reserved FP+.

On the negative side, you will end up spending more money because once you have APs, you will add on little trips you would have otherwise not taken.