Wait on purchasing AP?

[MagicRat]

So I think this may be an obvious question to answer, but I'll ask it anyway- we are planning a trip in late January and will be purchasing an annual pass using the DVC discount. We had purchased them a couple of years ago, and the current cost is killing me but we're going to do it. I'm just wondering if I should just wait until we're ready to go (i.e., late January) to purchase them, or if I should do it now? I'm hoping (praying) that they will offer some type of DVC sale- when I bought them a few years ago, it was during a great sale. The only downsides I see are the (remote) possibility of a price increase and that we can't choose fastpasses until 30 days out (we're staying on property). Does anyone else see any other downside to just waiting to see if there is some kind of further discount offered between now and late January? Thanks!

 

[supersnoop]

You have to purchase the pass before you can make fastpasses. You can't do anything at 30 days without some form of admission.

 

[caracarn]

As well as Disney is doing in the last few years, there is very little incentive for them to discount. On the contrary, even though they have been subjected to negative press about their continued raising of ticket prices it does not appear to have impacted their business at all. In the end they have a tremendous product and we all want to visit.

With that all setting the stage, if I am you, I just go ahead and purchase the tickets. The downside is far likelier than any upside. I would just get the tickets, know that you have them and move on and start making your FP+ reservations going.

 

[erionm]

The only downsides I see are the (remote) possibility of a price increase and that we can't choose fastpasses until 30 days out (we're staying on property).

They just changed pass levels and pricing on 10/4/2015, so a price adjustment before January is highly unlikely.

Since you are staying on-property, you can start to make FP+ selections at 60 days from check-in if you have park admission (and room reservation) linked to MDE. If you pre-purchase annual passes (and link the confirmation to MDE), that's considered valid admission for making advance FP+ selections.

 

[disfanforlife]

If you don't care about making FP it probably won't hurt you to wait. But, I am doubtful of a discount before then or a price increase. If it was me, I would just buy them now, but I am a planner. I am going in January too and I already renewed my sons ap and have all of our tickets linked.

 

[CMNJ]

The only "risk" I see is that you may not get certain fast passes you want if you wait until right before you trip to purchase (i.e. 7DMT, A&E, TSMM, Test track-since Soarin will be down, etc). However I think late Jan is supposed to be a slower time so maybe it isn't as hard to get the popular FP then anyway.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

we went this past January - first week of Feb. during our 10 day trip we really only needed fast passes for 7 dwarfs, splash mountain, anna and elsa, cinderella, toy story mania, while it was more crowded than i expected we were able to ride everything we wanted with no more than 30 min wait. so if you are okay with getting your fast passes a day or so before you will be fine to wait i think. good luck and here's hoping they do offer an AP deal