To Buy AP, Or Not To Buy

[Disney Anna]

Alright Mouseketeers! Put on your thinking caps and help me out.

I'm going to WDW this 9/17-22 (All-Stars)...was planning on buying a 4 day Park Hopper....I have a trip planned next year for May 5- 11 or 12 (5 or 6 nites: WL) and planning on buyinig a 4 or 5 day Park Hopper.

Do you think it would be better if I just bit the proverbial bullet now and bought an AP?

My hesitations are: a) paying more money now; b) I seem to just fall into great rates at hotels without AP (Mousesavers tips or postcard - the All-Stars is only $49 a nite); c) I'm not sure it will be worth it..

What do you think?

 

[Local_Girl]

In my opinion...if both trips are set, the AP would be your best bet. If the second trip in May is not definite prior to your Sept. trip, you might think twice, but if both trips are set and you can afford to purchase the AP prior to your Sept. visit, I think you should do that. I think it would save some $$ for you in the long run, especially if you plan to have 10-11 park days, not to mention some of the other AP perks you may be able to take advantage of. And perhaps you could even slip in a 3rd trip before they expire...

Good Luck whatever you decide!

 

[Disney Anna]

Frankly, I am a bit worried that buying the AP will make me slip into a 3d, 4th or even 5th trip in a year....I will have to exercise some mighty self control.

 

[nicknamy1996]

We are doing good staying away from an extra trip. Every once in a while I will find myself checking for cheap airfare to Orlando, but I usually snap out of it pretty quick.

To add a trip can cost alot even with an AP. However, a great thing about the AP is you can add a day or 2 or 3 real cheap. Or trips grew from 6 days to 8 days real fast once we decided on doing the AP thing. Transportation costs stay the same, tickets are covered. You just have to pay for the hotel and you know that can get rather inexpensive.

 

[punkin]

The worst thing I ever did was buy an AP. We went for 8 days in November. Then I wanted to go down in May (6 days). Then my DH had to do the Mission Space AP preview last week (4 days). Now I'm going the end of August (2 or 3 days). And I'm seriously considering one more in late October Early November before the APs run out. Now you tell me...did I save any money?

 

[tednvon]

Hi..just a thought or two...AP is our favorite because we can hit the parks for just a few hours (Epcot Dinner and Illuminations) and feel like we blew the day....Also parking if now free so that is 10 to 12 days times $7.00 which is a nice benefit...Also AP does have some perks for food, discounts, a fun newsletter and some real good deals at the moderates. $79 vs $129 for rooms last spring. And..you guessed it....we do sneak in a another trip cause disney feels like it is "free."!!!!.................Enjoy...Ted

 

[figgy4me]

Originally posted by punkin
The worst thing I ever did was buy an AP. We went for 8 days in November. Then I wanted to go down in May (6 days). Then my DH had to do the Mission Space AP preview last week (4 days). Now I'm going the end of August (2 or 3 days). And I'm seriously considering one more in late October Early November before the APs run out. Now you tell me...did I save any money?

Maybe not - but you had the year of a life time!!!!!!!!!! The year most of us just dream about.....

 

[Disney Anna]

I do have the Premium AP for Disneyland, but I only live 100 miles away. So, no hotel and I go once or twice a month.

I wonder how many people out there have APs for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World?

The best thing about getting the AP for WDW would be the ability to stretch out the trip with extra days. We typically do 6 nights, 1st nite, just dinner somewhere, then 2 days at the parks, a rest day, 2 more park days, and then a return day. We're beat. It would be nice to stretch it out...

 

[Kitster]

and we're about to renew the WDW AP in September and our DLR AP in January. Talk about a chunk of money But all things considered, we enjoy our time at both parks.

Living in Huntington Beach, we're only 30 minutes from DLR. That means we're at the park at least 2 - 3 times a week. Last year alone I had over 200 visits on my AP (I know this because they had to check my AP once and the CM's jaw nearly hit the counter......hehehe.)

So far, during the past 12 months, I've visited WDW in 09/02, 11/02, 12/02, 02/03, 06/03, 08/03 AND we have another 2 trips planned for this coming September and October (7 days and 9 days respectively). For my mind, I do believe I get every pennies worth out of my AP's to BOTH resorts.

Oh yeah, did I mention the trip to DLRP for the opening of the Studios in March 2002 ?

 

[YesDear]

DW, my resident WDW expert, says that if you are going over either 7 or 8 days the AP makes the most sense or cents, however you wish to look at it.

From a control sense, I learned I was not going to keep DW from WDW so I might as well enjoy it. I agree with the other posters basically that a bad time at WDW is far better than a good time somewhere else!!!!

I also agree that if your second trip is not set, then I would possibly hold off. If the second trip is a definite, I would take the DVC tour! Best thing we ever did!!!! Backhanded way to save money on those future AP's

 

[MinnieGi]

I agree if both trips are set go for the AP. It may be a large amount of money at the outset but it's a great feeling when the second trip comes around that there are no ticket purchases required!!!

 

[madge]

we have a 9 night trip planned in the fall....DH just found out this week that he has to go back to Orlando in June 2004 for recertification of some training he gets for work. I have credit from SWA in my pocket (tickets for this year already bought ).

with the almost certainty of the 2nd trip and the length of the first one, I am changing my ticket thoughts from 7 day PHP to AP. the only problem is that I have 2 boys that LOVE the waterparks. I only plan on using 5 of the park days on the trip in the fall, saving the other 2 days for next year....

what to do, what to do....

 

[Disney Anna]

I'm pretty sure I'll go for the WDW AP...with all the discounts, etc., it seems like the way to go...the great thing is squeezing in some extra short time in the parks on a normall off-touring day. It would be great to just pop in for an hour or so...

Kitster, that's awesome how many trips you have ... if I lived in Orange County, I would no doubt have that many too. I live near Sea World, have their AP and pop in whenver I wants, sometimes even on a lunch break.

In any event, even living in San Diego, I'm able to hit the DLR a minimum of once a month, plus I squeeze a 2 or 3 day trip w/hotel stay every few months or so.

People think I'm mad, but I just love going to all of the resorts. I too am seriously thinking about hitting Paris Disneyland. I think that would be wonderful.