Ultimate Hopper Pass vs Annual Pass (help)

[Crichton]

Alright, I'm a long time lurker that has finally decided to post. It seems that I've been converted over the last 12 months into an avid Disney FANATIC.

We have decided that in order to maintain our sanity, we will be visiting the beloved WDW twice annually. We are from Nebraska, so Florida discounts do not apply, but when we booked our last two vacations we opted for the Ultimate Hopper Pass that comes with the Resort Packages.

After having lurked this board for quite awhile, I see that the annual pass prices are more affordable AND, since we are going twice per year, we would basically get one trip's tickets for free (i.e. we have currently paid for Hopper Passes each time we've gone, whereas an Annual Pass would have only required one purchase).

So, my question is, am I assuming everything above correctly? And, if so, are there any downsides to doing what I am about to do (buy an Annual Pass instead of the Hopper Tickets).

Thanks in advance,

Patrick



WDW Sep 2002
CB Mar 2002
CB Aug 2001

 

[christianweecare]

Chricton-
My DH & I have been going to WDW for 27 years now. We, too, had bought park hoppers in the past when children were growing up and in tow. DH & I took our first visit sans kids last Dec. in 26 years. We had also done some investigative work and decided that AP's would be the most ecomonical pass for the two of us. We spent 7 days at WDW in Dec., spent 4 days over the MLK weekend with kids, girlfriend, and son-in-law, and are going back alone in Nov. 2002. So we will have gotten 3 trips out of our AP's. We did purchase Ultimate Park Hoppers for the kids in Jan., though. We are also thinking of making a trip next Jan. with my sister's family. We will probably just buy UPH for that trip since our AP's will have expired by then. Will wait until Dec. 2003 to purchase new AP's. I think the AP is the way to go if you will be making more than one trip within a year! Have fun!

 

[DebbieB]

Will you be going to the water parks, PI or Disney Quest? You get unlimited visits on those with the UPH. If you don't go there, you may be better off with a regular AP. If you make alot of visits to those parks, then you might want to look at a Premium AP. We go twice a year, but time our trips to get 3 trips out of each AP by scheduling the last one right before it expires (for example - 2nd week Dec this year, 2nd week May next year, 1st week Dec next year). We get at least 20 park days out of each one.

 

[fkj2]

If you visit WDW that often, perhaps you should check out the Disney Vacation Club. (DVC Forum)

 

[Crichton]

Excellent information - is there any difference between the way the tickets are used? The UHP is a nice credit card type ticket that slips right into the machine for enterance. Does the AP do the same thing? Does the AP allow for readmittance or multi-park admittance on the same day? How far ahead of the vacation should I buy the AP? Last but not least, how do the renewals work?

Thanks again for all the information - I'm SOLD on getting an AP (my initial calculations show that the money we will immediately save on tickets will be enough to possibly fund a third trip - or at the very least make for more Disney spending cash during the two trips )

Thanks again everyone,

Patrick

P.S. The Vacation Club looks interesting - and like it would pay off in the long run - but I'd have a hard time coming up with 12 - 20K to enjoy the same two trips (Moderate resort, length 8 days) initially, even if it would pay for itself after 5-10 years. How long do you get to spend your points BTW? Is it for 30 years? Could be a solid investment in fun ;-)

 

[GoldenOldie]

Patrick, check out http://wdwig.com/apass.htm - This should answer most of your questions about buying/using/renewing AP's and more.

 

[Crichton]

GREAT link. You're right GoldenOldie, it answered all my questions. The only thing I have the smallest hesitation with is the "finger biometric" scans. I've seen people ahead of us in line at WDW take forever fighting with the scan. Hopefully, it will go smoother for us.

Thanks again everyone for all your help - consider me another WDW Saver!

Patrick

 

[tink2dw]

The thing about the Scan is you need to put your fingers in and squeeze the posts,this is not so easy,especailly in some of the machines and depending which hand you use.

 

[Crichton]

Sounds good - is there a way for verification without the fingerprints? Just curious if they check photo id or something if the fingerprints fail. I'm worried about being denied entry if the machine were to misbehave

 

[nicknamy1996]

Another benefit of the AP is the discounts you may get on your room and some meals and shopping. (The room one can be rather large)

Also if you haven't already, you could join the Disney Club to save on your AP's (we paid $31 for our DC membership then turned around and saved $41 with it on our APs)

Another great thing about the AP is you can add a day to your vacation for very cheap. We were going to go for 5 days this year and "next", but upped that to 6 days each all you have to pay for is the room (and thats at a discounted rate).

 

[DebbieB]

The key to using the biometric reader is to put your hand in the same way everytime. I've never had a problem and I've had AP's since 1998. It does not read fingerprints, there are 2 posts inside the box that you squeeze with your pointer & middle fingers, it measures bone density. My Mom has problems occasionally, I think with her arthritis she doesn't squeeze the posts as hard sometimes. They usually waive her through but sometimes they ask for photo ID. They will not deny you admittance as long as you have your ID.

 

[JillU-DVC]

Keep in mind that if you want to go to PI, TL or BB, you'll need to PAP (Premium Annual Pass); it's a little more, but the last time I calculated it, the break even point was 10 days in the parks.

Living in MA, the best we've ever done with our PAP was 34 days in 1 year in the parks.

Break even point for regular Annual passes is usually said to be 7 days in the parks.

 

[mle]

Jill - 34 days on your PAPs - WOW! So far I have 24 confirmed days at WDW (both accomodations and airfare booked) plus 3 days already used and another 3 days with the accomodations but no airfare, yet. I don't know if I will actually utilize my PAP for every day at WDW or just relax at the resort.

But that's the greatest thing about the annual passes (besides the Disney issued benefits). You could go to any park at anytime and go on just one ride, or eat at a restaurant, or pickup a park specific snack/souvenir, or do some pin trading and then leave without feeling like you wasted money on park admission. Sure it costs me a lot of money upfront, but if I attain my personal goal of 40 days of use, it would work out to less than $12 for each day! (now, if only airfare were cheaper...)

So Patrick, if you will be at the parks for the 8-10 days break even point as the analysis' have concluded, the only downside to purchasing an annual pass is that you may find yourself obessed with trying to fit more trips within your 365 day use period! BTW, you should go over to the DVC boards for more info. Lurking there definitely "tipped the scales" in my decision to buy. If you do end up buying sometime down the road, you will join the majority of members whose only regret is that they didn't buy sooner!

enjoy!

-emily

FYI, as DebbieB stated, the finger scan does not read your fingerprints. From what a CM told me, it essentially takes an image of your two fingers (the index and middle) to measure finger length and width and the shape of your knuckles. This would explain some problems experienced by those with arthritis and why they don't finger scan children.

 

[Beka'sMom]

two years ago we stayed at disney for 9 days and bought APs which came out to less $$ than the UPH. Then we returned the next summer and admission was free!

This year we are planning a trip in august- even with the discount codes available, it is about $100 cheaper to buy APs and then we can return again for free admission!

The reason I don't like Length of stay passes is because the days expire at the end of your stay...

You are definetely better off w/AP if you plan to stay at least 7 days!!!!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says.............................We got Ap's on our last trip, Nov. 10 - Nov. 20, 2001. Guess where we will be from Nov.2 - Nov.10, 2002 !!!
Just a hint, I would not renew your annual passes, let them expire. Then when you are ready for your next trip in a year buy new AP's, and get two trips out of them. If you renew, the clock is ticking and you aren't there so you only get one trip. Plus by starting over everyother year you can jiggle the start of the pass to when you want it to start.

 

[MELSMICE]

Go for the AP's, just decide what's best for you. Premium or not. We had premium last time & they were great, however, this time we are going with regular because we have water park days left on old tickets that we will use. We don't do Pleasure Island because our kids are still too young. We did Disney Quest & that was fun but can't say I'd miss it if I didn't do it again.

Disnee Dad is correct with the renewal. Even though the renewal rate is less expensive, they are good from the minute you renew, so keep that in mind.

AP's are awesome, they give you so much flexibility that it makes the vacation about 100X more enjoyable.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have used APs since joining DVC 5 years ago. Because we tend to travel to WDW 1-2 times a year and for more days at a time, it makes great sense. The most we have gotten on an AP is 29 days, which isn't bad considereing we have to fly from Minnesota!!

Don't worry about the biometric reader. Just be sure to put your fingers in the same way every time, and you will be fine. My DH usually has trouble with his, but he has a low frustration level!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I forgot to mention that we do NOT do the renewal thing since they changed to policy of having the date remain the same. We buy our APs and use them for a year. We then buy vouchers at that current price and take 12 months off from visiting, using the new vouchers on the next trip. It seems like a waste if we let the renewals sit unused for a few months.