What are benefits of annual passes

[june@imsarc.com]

What are some of the extra perks you get w/ the purchase of an annual pass? Any great discounts at restaurants? or for merchandise?

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Take a look at the AllEarsNet.com - AP Benefits 2005 page . There's an excellent summary there. In short, you get 10% off most purchases at the World of Disney store in DtD. You get $3 off the gate price at PI, DQ, BB and TL for yourself and 3 other people. You get 10% off at lunchtime at select restuarants. You can also join the Disney Dining Experience for $50 and get 20% off at select restaurants at any time with some blackout dates.

 

[EthansMom]

Here is a link to discounts:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

It seems like the resort discounts are pretty sparse so far this year -- the last batch pretty much sold out 1-2 days from release.

Annual Passholders can also buy a Disney Dining Experience card for $50 which entitles them to 20% off many of the sit-down and a few of the counter service restaurants: http://allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

It's possible that you can save money purchasing one adult AP for just one trip IF you get the AP discount on the resort and use DDE. We purchased the APs this year in order to do three trips in the year, but I ran the numbers and found that with the AP discount on our moderate resort and using DDE, we would save around $80 over the course of a 7 night stay (assuming purchasing one adult AP versus one adult MYW ticket).

 

[rt2dz]

I just wanted to add that you do get park hopper privaleges with an AP, without additional cost.

Something you might want to consider: I *think* an AP becomes cheaper than a regular (no add-ons) MYW ticket at 11 days. So, consider your WDW vacationing habits. We take one trip per calendar year at 8-9 nights each and make sure they fall under the same AP. Last Sept & this May will be under our last AP (a total of 19 park days, and under the old park hoppers pay off was at 8 days). Next trip is Dec. 2006, so we'll purchase new APs then and should be covered for 2007.

 

[LoveMickey]

And if you are lucky and plan right, you can get AP room only discounts at the resorts.

See Codes Thread on the main discussion page for "lots" of info on this aspect.

 

[Metro West]

The main reason to get an AP is for the admission into the parks and parking. You can come and go as much as you want w/o having to worry about paying or a hand stamp. Also, parking is free. The hotel discounts are nice too. Other than that, that's about it. The dining discounts are only on the pricey places that most people wouldn't eat lunch in anyway. You don't get discounts at the parks on food or merchandise.

If you are coming down more than once this year, definately get an AP. Just buy it for the park admission and not the discounts.

 

[swilphil]

The AP discount at the Contemporary resort made it worth it to buy just one for myself. The discount is usually $90 off the rack rate. The AP discount at a mod or value would not be worth it.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

If I remember correctly on the last round with the AP code the discount was $100 of the rack rate for deluxe resorts. Figure that also saves you the tax on that $100 you are effectively saving $111.50/night on the deluxe category. It doesn't take too many nights with a discount like this to make an AP cost effective for even one trip.

 

[tclowe]

Having the benefit of purchasing the DDE card is great. We saved $38 by booking the Spirit of Aloha Luau late seating for 3 adults and 1 child using the DDE. Plus, we have a Storybook Princess reservation so we should save at least $10 to $15 as well. Just two dining and we have $50 back. Then we have another 7 days in Disney to use the discount AND this is for one trip! We are planning two other trips within one year so our savings should be at least a couple of hundred by the time our AP runs out.

 

[june@imsarc.com]

Wow--everyone! Thanks so much for this information and link!

 

[iluvepcot]

I just wanted to add that you do get park hopper privaleges with an AP, without additional cost.


I have an AP purchased in OCT and did park hop every day. Is this new since Jan05?

Never mind. I need my eye glasses and did not read your original post correctly. Sorry.

 

[goofy4tink]

Besides the discount at the big DIsney store in DTD, and the discounts you get into the water parks, and the little discount you get on some meals, you can buy the DDE deal and save a ton of money on most meals....there is the fact that by this coming June's trip, I will be paying about $18 a day for park entry!! We will have used the AP for a total of 24 days for each of us. Now, that is either a good thing or a bad thing...we do try to fit in those extra trips since we already paid for our park passes!!