To purchase an Annual Pass or not?

[LostBoy79]

So, I have really been considering purchasing an Annual Pass to WDW but still on the fence about it.

I take an annual trip down to WDW in October with some friends and going again in about a month. Plus, I am already thinking about a trip early next Spring for the International Flower & Garden Festival.

I did a little price comparison and for the cost of tickets for the trip in April and the one in October, it would be only about $30 cheaper than the full cost of the Annual Pass. However, if I only use it for these 2 trips and never get back early next Spring, is it worth it? Please help! Thoughts?

 

[BrookieM2001]

My mom had this exact situation and she opted for the AP. Nevermind that you get free Memory Maker with the pass, but you also get some discounts for shopping and dining. It saved her a couple hundred on the tickets for the second trip. She had already bought tickets for her first trip but they applied that cost to the price of the AP and that opened up the option of getting in another trip if she chooses but she still saved money with the AP either way, so worth it.

 

[Dean1953]

An annual pass allows you to park hop, free parking at the Parks, dining and merchandise discounts, possible hotel room discounts and free memory maker. If you will already save $50, it's a very good deal.

 

[wendow]

My aunt decided to go for an AP. She'd never had one and typically only made one trip per year so she'd never really considered one. She had two trips 2017/2018 so she went for the AP and saved so much on the first trip between MM, souvenirs and dining that she had already recouped the difference before the second trip. For the second trip she got an AP discount on the room plus all those same discounts again. She said it was definitely worth it!

 

[kmc8826]

If you take an annual trip in October could you go a little earlier the next year? That way getting at least two trips out of the AP and anything else extra? I am biased though and think totally worth it. Despite the fact we live 4 hours away by plane I still think AP’s worth it. Also includes parking which gives option to stay off site if want too.

 

[zobow02]

If you're sure you'll use it at least twice, I'd purchase an AP. Plus, there are a lot of benefits to an AP like
discount on disney hotel rooms
discount on merchandise
and discount on dining

 

[a742246]

I would buy the annual pass, if you are planning to go at least twice.

 

[starry_solo]

Get it! And extend both trips out a bit

 

[Eeyore2142]

We have discovered with discounts, the pass pays for itself with 2 trips.

 

[loves to dive]

It's always a matter of simple math for me. If you know you are going to be there x days then do the math. Do you always buy park hoppers? If so compare the hoppers. Do you always purchase memory maker? If so, add that cost to the cost of the tickets you always buy. Do you drive and not stay on property so need to pay for parking? If so, add that to the ticket price. Go with the one that comes out less, even if it's just $10 less, less is less. I never take into account the discounts since they tend to be moving targets and not always the same and we don't always buy things while there and rarely eat anywhere the discounts are offered. We don't use memory maker so that is not factored in for us and we stay on site so parking is not an issue either. We always buy park hoppers so I just take the cost of a PH for the number of days I know I'm going that year and compare it to an AP. Since I go just about twice a year and almost always at least 5 nights 6 days, AP comes out better for me.

 

[Donaldswife]

Get the pass, you will come out ahead with all the dining and merchandise discounts. Upgrade the first day of your first trip at Guest Services, then ask for the AP Discount every time you pay for something. You will easily save $30 in a couple of days on property. Also remember, park ticket prices may very well increase before your next trip, with an AP you don't have to worry about that.

 

[Texans_loyal]

Go for it, the discounts are worth it!

 

[holden]

Having the AP has definitely influenced us to visit more. Our annual November trip has moved up to September (so we can use AP before it expires) and we planned a last minute trip to Flower & Garden. We will get 4 visits out of this AP - 9 days last summer, 3 days for Flower & Garden, 7 days this summer and 3 days for Food & Wine.

 

[Happy2BGoofy]

Having the AP has definitely influenced us to visit more. Our annual November trip has moved up to September (so we can use AP before it expires) and we planned a last minute trip to Flower & Garden. We will get 4 visits out of this AP - 9 days last summer, 3 days for Flower & Garden, 7 days this summer and 3 days for Food & Wine.

I know exactly what you mean. I bought the discounted DVC annual pass this pass January to use on our May trip (4 days before our DCL trip). I live in Canada so looking at the cost of a stay in November I only need to save $1000 US to travel back for an 8 day stay just in time for MM 90th BD. I booked. Now I'm already looking forward to going a second time in January/February of next year if the cost is the same.

Totally worth it!!!!!

 

[loveshak22]

I'm on the fence for an AP as well. The parking, memory maker, and souvenir discounts aren't a big draw for me but you can get pretty good room discounts with the AP right? And they come out well before the seasonal discounts (like Spring, Summer and Fall) announcements are made. Are they usually better than the room only discount offered to the public? If anyone could tell me a little more about the room discounts, when they are offered, if they are usually available for most resorts and room categories, that would be helpful! TIA!

Also, my next trip won't be until November. If I understand it right, if I buy my AP now, my year won't start until I actually use the AP to enter a park? Is that right? Again - TIA!

 

[JamesGarvey]

Staying off property, tending to only make 4-5 day trips, I hit a break even point on my AP at 8 days. Faster if you factor in food and merch discounts.

Also, my next trip won't be until November. If I understand it right, if I buy my AP now, my year won't start until I actually use the AP to enter a park? Is that right? Again - TIA!

yes, the AP is activated upon first use.