Undecided on AP

[EverAngel]

Hey everyone...It looks this year will be my year to go to Disneyland a lot. My sister has a cheer compeition in March
My Birthday celebration Disney style is in April and
D23 Expo is in August
Park Hopper cost is $455 and the Premium AP is $459

Do you think it would be better for me to get an annual passport just based on that? Cause if I get the $329 AP with blackout dates, each of the times I want to go to disneyland has one day as a black out date. I don't plan on driving to the park, but never know if I will be able to get a hotel walking distance from the park on such short notice.

Any opinions would be appreciated? Especially since none of the trips at this time are official at this time other than my birthday. Oh and I do plan on going to Disneyland hopefully in October for Halloween and definitely hopefully after they have the park decked out for the holidays.

 

[Belle Ella]

Hey you!

Sounds like you're trying to talk yourself into it. I know we talked a little bit about it the other day. If you're sure you're going to do at least one more trip I say go for it. Especially with the Premium AP you get 20% merchandise discount for the remainder of 2011 and a discount on food as well (blanking on the % at the moment).

My suggestion? Buy your Park Hopper for April and wait until you are there to decide and just upgrade and pay the difference

 

[skiingfast]

Get a PH for April. If it's 3 days long or more use the MM credit.

Then you will have a better idea if you are going again. On the final day of the visit you can upgrade.

If you upgrade to a delux and want to come back and it's a blackout period then pay for the blackout pass, $50. If you are still thinking about coming to DL again you can uprgrade to the premium using that $50 balckout ticket as a credit to the upgrade cost.

 

[sonnyjane]

I did things kind of backwards I bought my Premium AP, and now I "force" myself to go at least once a month to get my money's worth - clearly NOT the fiscally responsible way to go

If the three trips that you mentioned were definite, and you were definitely going to spend that much on park-hoppers, then it is a no-brainer. If, however, you aren't sure, then I agree with what skiingfast suggested, which was just upgrading as you go.

I love my PAP. I love never having to worry about blocked dates, I love getting free parking, I love the current 20% off merchandise (10% normally), and I love the 15% off of food, which is all-the-time. The other AP's only offer 10% off food and currently 10% off merchandise (normally no discount at all). I went to the parks for just half a day yesterday and between my husband and I, my pass saved us $11 off of food. Now, that doesn't seem like much, but if I go at least once a month, that is more than $100 in savings.

Again, however, $459 is a big chunk of change, so if you're not sure you're really going to get the mileage out of it, I would take baby steps and upgrade as you go.

 

[Disneyland 1951]

Be sure to factor in parking at $15/day that is free with the Premium AP.

 

[Eeee-va]

Cause if I get the $329 AP with blackout dates, each of the times I want to go to disneyland has one day as a black out date. I don't plan on driving to the park, but never know if I will be able to get a hotel walking distance from the park on such short notice.

If by each time you mean 3 different trips with one blockout day each, and you KNOW you are going those other trips, then it sounds like upgrading to Premium the last day of your trip March (that's your first date, right?) may be the best option for you. Only bad thing is that you'll probably be tempted do at least one more trip (maybe February 2012, before your AP expires). But that's not necessarily a BAD thing, unless you absolutely positively don't want to and/or can't afford it (in which case you may want to just go with the hoppers, just to remove that temptation).

You COULD do Deluxe and then buy the blockout day tickets (I think they're $50 apiece now?). You wouldn't need to use one in March because you'd buy your hopper and then upgrade at the end of your trip, but you'd still need 2 for your other two trips, right? In which case you're spending $429+, instead of buying a Premium AP for $459. I believe you get better discounts with Premium too, plus free parking if you end up needing it, so it's probably worth it to just upgrade.

I do normally advocate getting the Deluxe for people who know they won't use Premium's parking and who won't be facing numerous blockout days. (We went on 3 trips and had to buy just ONE blockout day ticket, so we came out ahead using Deluxe versus Premium; we don't spend too much on food and merchandise.) But if you have more than one blockout day, I think Premium is a good choice.

Have a great trip! Well, great trips!

 

[Boo Bear]

I got an AP when I moved to Santa Barbara and upgraded to premium during my first visit. I got every penny's worth out of that pass and then some. Between the discounts on merchandise, hotel discount rates. Go for it. You won't regret it.

 

[bumbershoot]

H
Park Hopper cost is $455 and the Premium AP is $459

The park hoppers for all the trips you have planned come to a total of $4 less than the AP?

Do the AP. Free theme park parking, and discounts on food and merchandise. You'll hit the $4 mark with a meal or two, and if you can erase parking fees from your budget, if you were going to have a car parked at the themeparks.

AP all the way, if it's just a $4 difference!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Buy it silly....you will end up saving a ton....

You will end up going more!!!!