To renew or not renew our Annual Pass?

[KCervasio]

We purchased an AP for the first time last August and are up for renewal. We bought them for our family of four at the time because we knew we were going to be going to Disney twice within the year and it was financially smarter. Do I now renew at the discounted rate although only planning one ten day trip next year? Should I have ONE of us renew so we can take advantage of certain perks? I'm so reluctant to lose the AP discounted renewal rate but don't want to fork over a ton of money or lose out on a possible free dining promotion next year when we travel? We will want the photopass and will most likely be staying in property. Opinions? TIA!!

 

[csgsu]

thats a tough one what was the discounted rate?

 

[fla4fun]

You really have to do the math. Consider the fact that there may not be any AP room discounts you can use, or that free dining may not be offered at a time you can use it. Also, are you eligible for the extra month when you renew (I know my sister, who bought her AP at the beginning of September is eligible for the 13 month renewal, so thinking you may be also) and would that extra month make a difference?

If you are sincerely only going to go for one ten day trip, having just one AP for merchandise and dining discounts might work, so long as your family doesn't split to do separate things. You would be close the break even point between regular tickets and the AP at ten days, and there are no guarantees that Disney will continue to offer the discount perks anyway. There isn't really a right or wrong answer to your question - you just have to look at the situation from both sides and see what the best solution is for your family.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

How much to renew the AP? If you will be going one trip for 10 days it may not pay to purchase a AP. Just checked and a 10 park hop ticket is $515. If you are splitting the days up in multiple trips it would probably pay to get the AP. There will be a price increase for the 10 day ticket before next August, happens every year. So if the ticket is increased around 5% to $540, 10% to $566 and if 15% the 10 day ticket could be close to $600. I don't remember the increase rate from previous years but some people on here are very good with that info.

 

[cvjw]

Depends on when your next trip is whether it makes more sense to renew or just buy a new annual pass. Our AP's expired in July. Our next big family trip is in May, so we let them expire and will just buy new passes in May. It made no financial sense to renew passes to save the $100 and have them expire 2 months after our trip.

Some years we renew if we have a trip coming up right after the renewal date. Some years we let them expire and just buy new passes. You have to figure out what is right for your family.

 

[KCervasio]

Thank you all so much for weighing in. I knew I came to the right place

 

[Princess_Lisa]

I assume you're not a Florida Resident or DVC Member?

 

[karrit2000]

I always consider whether or not I have a trip coming up within a month or two of the renewal. If I don't I just wait it out & purchase a new pass when I do end up visiting. I'd rather not spend the money for a pass that will not be used for several months. Renewing one may be a good plan just for the possible discounts.

 

[Nstigator]

If my math is correct, it looks like it will be about $800 more to renew your pass than it would be to buy a 10 day park hopper. Maybe closer to $700 at the renewal rate. Photo pass would make up $200 of the difference. If you can get a good AP room rate discount, for a 10 day trip that might make up the rest. Those can be pretty significant. Plus the dining and merch discounts. And as was stated above, you get 13 months for the price of 12 right now. So it might be worth taking a chance on it.

Renewing one is a good compromise. Photo pass pretty much makes up for the difference in cost. Then you get all the benefits of the discounts.

 

[Princess_Lisa]

If you stay off-site, renewing for 1 person will almost certainly save you money between 10 days of free parking ($200) and PhotoPass ($169). If you stay on site, it may still save you money if you can get a Passholder Discount on the room.

 

[AngiTN]

One thing to toss out, no idea if it would appeal to you or if it would even be something you can do or not
But when Pandora was opening they offered AP holders sneak preview passes. They should do that for Toy Story Land, which will open next year.
If that appeals to you and if you could attend, that may be an incentive to keep the AP too