WDW Annual Pass Questions

[Capo]

Hi All,

I'm considering buying annual passes this year for the family and have a few questions:

1) As a non FL resident, are there options to get APs discounted? We will need 2 adult and 2 child passes.

2) beyond access to the four parks and free parking, there other perks such as discounted food or merchandise?

3) Do AP members have access to FP+? How does that work if so? Is it only if you stay on site?

Anything else I should know?

Thanks!

 

[jimandami]

1) The only discount that I am aware of is if you buy discount tickets from Undercover Tourist and then "price bridge" them to upgrade to APs. Read the ticket sticky at the top of this forum for more info but as an example, if you buy a non-expiring 6 day PH with WP&M and then upgrade to AP after first use, you save about $62 on an adult AP.

2) You get a 10% discount at most merchandise locations, and also a discount on some of the extra things like tours, water sports, etc...You can also purchase discount tickets to hard ticket events such as MNSSHP. For me, the best discount is the ability to purchase a TiW card for $100, which is good for a year and saves you 20% on most TS restaurants including alcohol and some CS restaurants. There is also usually an AP discount for RO reservations that is generally just a tiny bit better than the general public discount.

3) For now, AP holders only have access to FP+ if they are staying or have stayed on site. Ex: we stayed on site in December. I can now go in and make FP+ for up to 7 days at a time, 60 days out. In the future, I would expect AP holders to have access without an onsite stay but don't know when this will occur.

 

[kmb584]

I purchased TiW when I got my first AP and it's truly been wonderful. That 20% savings more than pays for the cost of the card by the time we're at the halfway point of one trip. The AP itself is good for a 10% discount at select CS and TS restaurants throughout the World (list here) as well.

 

[Capo]

Thanks for the info! Two follow up questions:

1) If I'm doing the undercover tourist upgrade approach, is buying the 6 day ticket for each of us the best ticket to buy to maximize the discount? Or is another better?

Do I have to use the ticket one time before I can upgrade?

2) I'm not familiar with tiw... Can you summarize all of the benefits and where I can buy this at? Must my annual pass be activated before I can buy it at a discount?

Thanks!

 

[jimandami]

Thanks for the info! Two follow up questions: 1) If I'm doing the undercover tourist upgrade approach, is buying the 6 day ticket for each of us the best ticket to buy to maximize the discount? Or is another better? Do I have to use the ticket one time before I can upgrade? 2) I'm not familiar with tiw... Can you summarize all of the benefits and where I can buy this at? Must my annual pass be activated before I can buy it at a discount? Thanks!

1). The ticket you purchase from UT must be cheaper than the AP for the price bridging to work so from what I have seen, the 6 day PH with no expiration and WPF&M is the ticket with the biggest discount that is less than an AP. Yes, the ticket MUST be used at least once for price bridging to work. Also, you must NOT use the water parks and more feature unless you want to upgrade to a Premium AP.

2) The TiW card is only available to AP holders, DVC members, and FL residents. It is $100 and can be purchased at guest relations. What I do is go to a park and use my ticket/MB for entry. I then immediately go to a ticket booth and upgrade to the AP. I then purchase my TiW card. With TiW, you and 9 others are entitled to a 20% discount on most TS restaurants on property, including alcohol. A few restaurants do not accept (TRex, Teppan Edo, and the dinner packages such as Fantasmic are a couple I can think of) it but most do. Also, the CS places at AK and some of the resorts (value food courts, SSR) also take the TiW. Be aware that gratuity of 18% is automatically added. So, it's basically like free tips plus 2% if you would normally tip 20%. It is also good at several bars and lounges at the resorts. Hope that helps!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Helpful links.

http://allears.net/pl/apass.htm

 

[Capo]

Thanks all!

 

[purple figment]

There are some dining discounts available with the AP, but the TiW card is valid at more restaurants and has a better discount. Here's a link to the TiW website:
http://tablesinwonderland.com/

 

[Capo]

Appreciate it!

One follow-up question for you all... can I book a hotel room with the AP discount while still doing the UT --> AP upgrade route? If so, how would that work? Go to the park on day 1, upgrade, and then check in?

We typically don't do a park on day 1... is there anyway around this or another option if we plan to get the AP while during the stay?

Thanks!

 

[jimandami]

I do think you have to show your AP upon check-in with the AP discount, so yes, you would have to go to a park, enter, and then upgrade. Where are you staying? We always found it easy to go into the International Gateway at Epcot, turn right around and go back out to the guest relations window just outside of Epcot and upgrade there. Especially in the morning, it's a very uncrowded area so you usually don't have to wait long. I waited at least 30 minutes to buy my TiW card at DHS in early December.

 

[TDC Nala]

1) The only straight discount on an annual pass (available without buying a regular ticket and upgrading) is offered to DVC members.
2) Yes. They are added to, subtracted from or changed relatively often. Check the Disney website for a list (hope they keep it updated).
3) Right now, you are only entered into the system to book Fastpass Plus ahead of time after you have booked an onsite stay, no matter what kind of ticket you have. This may change in time, but we don't know when or even if it will happen.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Right now on Disney's website, it says that AP holders can prebook FP+ 60 days out. But folks on here have said they haven't seen this in real life yet, other than if you had a resort stay. Might be worth calling and asking about!

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/passholders/reserving-attractions-with-fast-pass-plus/

Q.
I have a valid Walt Disney World Annual Pass. How do I make FastPass+ selections for attractions and entertainment?
A.
It’s easy! All you have to do is link your Annual Pass to your Disney account and you are ready to select FastPass+ attractions and entertainment up to 60 days in advance of your visit.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't book anything ahead of time yet unless you have booked a resort stay. Even for AP holders.

At AK you can book FP+ same day using kiosks if you are not staying or have not stayed on site. But not ahead of time. Yet. And it's only AK right now.

 

[Missyrose]

One thing to keep in mind during this "testing" phase of FP+, the system will only allow onsite guests to book FP+ advance reservations for the number of days they have on their tickets.

So if you have an eight-day trip planned and you buy a six-day UT ticket with the intention of upgrading to an AP, MDE will only let you make six days' worth of FP+ reservations.

 

[TDC Nala]

Also remember that there's no child AP price. The AP is the same price for adults and children.

 

[ArwenMarie]

You can't book anything ahead of time yet unless you have booked a resort stay. Even for AP holders.

At AK you can book FP+ same day using kiosks if you are not staying or have not stayed on site. But not ahead of time. Yet. And it's only AK right now.

That seems to be the case right now, as I wrote, but I am wondering why Disney updated their FAQs to say otherwise. Perhaps some changes are coming soon. Which is why anyone looking to buy an AP right now should call and see what Disney says about it. Not that there any guarantees there of course

 

[capecodgoofy]

Also remember that there's no child AP price. The AP is the same price for adults and children.

I have a follow up question regarding this and using the UT ticket and price bridge for the AP... Do I buy an extra adult UT ticket for my son or do I get a child rate UT ticket? Or does it not matter as I'll just end up paying more with I turn in to upgrade?

Thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Age 9 and under, you need to buy a child ticket.