To AP or not to AP

[ericamanda01]

We will be going to WDW Sept. 15 thru 19 and I need ticket help.
We won't need tickets for the 19th as we are leaving on a 4 night cruise that morning. Now we may be returning to WDW within the next year, but that's not set in stone. Between room discounts, discounts on food and merchandise at world of disney is it something that we should consider? Last trip we had UPH and loved it, but now were on a serious budget and want to save where ever we can. Any help on this will be so greatly appreciated!

 

[BCV23]

We don't purchase APs unless we know we'll be at WDW for at least 8 days in a year....at which point the AP becomes cost effective for admission (we don't do PAPs). You just can't count on room discounts. Last September there were none.

The other discounts are nice but we look at them as bonuses...not enough to justify the cost of APs. Good luck on your decision.

 

[Stitch Inside]

I believe the value depends on how long you will be staying on your next visit. I read that you had to stay like 12 days to break even on the park tickets, but if you add in all the other discounts, like the AP resort rates and such, it might not be a bad idea. I've been contemplating the same thing for our next trip.

 

[kramer_clan]

If you are thinking about doing another disney trip within the year, then don't purchase UPH. Purchase a park hopper. If you decide before your September trip that an AP is right for you, you can always upgrade the pass in September.

Just be careful. If you get a regular park hopper, you can upgrade that to a regular annual pass.

If you purchase a park hopper plus pass, you need to upgrade that to a premium annual pass.

At least, this is the way it has been in the past. Who knows with all the changes Disney is making.

If resort discounts come out for September, you can call a get the AP rate and then upgrade your hopper when you get there. Or better yet, wait until September to make the decision about what type of pass to purchase.

To me, if I was going to stay at "X" resort in September and there were discounts on that resort using an AP, I would definitely go for the annual pass. Even if it is a value resort, that 40% that you can save per night can make up the difference in what you would pay for the annual passes. Then you have the luxury of the room discounts for a later trip and/or all those discounts.

We are DVCers so we always purchase annual passes. Just makes sense for us since we tend to do longer stays when we are with the kids. We also take a trip without kids at least once a year. This year, I needed a night at a value for 4 of us to sleep at the end of our stay. I got All Star Music for $66 using my AP discount.

JMO

Vicki

 

[Grumpy37]

Originally posted by Stitch Inside
I believe the value depends on how long you will be staying on your next visit. I read that you had to stay like 12 days to break even on the park tickets, but if you add in all the other discounts, like the AP resort rates and such, it might not be a bad idea. I've been contemplating the same thing for our next trip.

Adult/child APs are $379/$322 each (all figures plus tax).

5 day park hoppers bought in advance from Disney are $230/$184 each, $46.00/$36.80 per day.

That puts the breakeven point at about eight and a half days of park admissions (8.25 days for adults, 8.75 days for kids).