What Are The Benefits Of An Annual Pass?

[yupikgal]

If you're staying offsite for the first part of your stay which day is your blackout day? Is it a day you will be at the DLR hotel or the offsite hotel? I ask because if you upgrade ON your blackout day you are allowed in the parks, you are allowed to hop, you are allowed all your discounts as well. So, if you're staying offsite from say.....Wed-Sat and checking into your DLR hotel on Sat you can go to the parks Sat. upgrade your hopper to the AP, go check into the DLR hotel (thus getting any AP rate they may have available) with your new AP and then head back to the parks. Does that make sense? If you upgrade on the blackout day you will not have to the blackout fee, which I think is up to $45 now.

pixiewings, I'm still trying to figure out if it's worth it, honestly...last year they had the 5 for 3 deal, which made the total tickets $744. We had some $$ on our disney rewards card through disney visa, making the overall total less than that. If I upgrade just my ticket to an AP (which is what I plan on doing, only mine) it would be $329 + 558 depending on whether they have the 5 for 3 deal again, it should be $you make a good point about upgrading on Sat, I was going to have us checking in Friday and staying 2 nights, because we were going to leave to the coast on Sunday the 5th. My original plan was to buy our park hoppers through Costco pkg, staying at an offsite property for maybe 4 nights. Then we'd already have our passes, so we would just buy 2 nights at PPH. Last year we got a pretty good discount without having an AP, maybe that was because it was May though? It's getting so confusing, I just wish they would hurry up and figure out their deals for the time period we are leaving! My problem is, I want to get everything booked now...I just need to breathe and realize everything will get done...

 

[Porturican]

A 4 Day hopper is $201, and that's what I'll be buying for September. Plus $101 for my ticket for this coming Saturday... So $302 for 5 days or $329 for a year. Which yes, I've checked and I will not be there on any of the blacked out days...

Ok Maybe i am confused but are you basically saying that when you go this Saturday that you are thinking of getting your AP then?
Because if you spend $100 now and then $201 in September and then upgrade you are going to be spending even more $ for the AP. Since in September they are not going to go back and credit you for your ticket you used in March.

Like i said maybe i just mis-interpreted what you are trying to say above

 

[pixiewings71]

pixiewings, I'm still trying to figure out if it's worth it, honestly...last year they had the 5 for 3 deal, which made the total tickets $744. We had some $$ on our disney rewards card through disney visa, making the overall total less than that. If I upgrade just my ticket to an AP (which is what I plan on doing, only mine) it would be $329 + 558 depending on whether they have the 5 for 3 deal again, it should be $you make a good point about upgrading on Sat, I was going to have us checking in Friday and staying 2 nights, because we were going to leave to the coast on Sunday the 5th. My original plan was to buy our park hoppers through Costco pkg, staying at an offsite property for maybe 4 nights. Then we'd already have our passes, so we would just buy 2 nights at PPH. Last year we got a pretty good discount without having an AP, maybe that was because it was May though? It's getting so confusing, I just wish they would hurry up and figure out their deals for the time period we are leaving! My problem is, I want to get everything booked now...I just need to breathe and realize everything will get done...

I know what you mean....I wish they would announce specials way before they do, it's crazy the way they make us wait. lol If you do decide to upgrade make sure you do it on the Saturday that's blocked, that's the cheapest option for you.....$50 for blackout passes! YIKES!

Ok Maybe i am confused but are you basically saying that when you go this Saturday that you are thinking of getting your AP then?
Because if you spend $100 now and then $201 in September and then upgrade you are going to be spending even more $ for the AP. Since in September they are not going to go back and credit you for your ticket you used in March.

Like i said maybe i just mis-interpreted what you are trying to say above

she's saying she would get the AP this Saturday when she goes, then she will have her admission already paid for her September trip. OP if you're going on more than 1 trip in a calender year I always say go for the AP!

 

[ORDisneyfans]

Our on site reservation next week 2 nights at GCH and 4 nights PPH concierge were reduced by 40% with my AP discount! I saved at least $50 per night from the lowest price I could find including expedia, hotels.com etc So a $300 total savings. I am buying the premium AP as it will save me another $15 per night on parking! So my savings this trip alone is up to $390 This more than justifies the pass, plus I will have a year of admission, 15% off food and 20% off purchases! I am also going to be in the parks in July for a CTMH convention so more parking savings!

 

[mommykub]

We have annual passes and the biggest benefit we have found is the elimination of that panicky, rushed feeling that you have to do everything in one day/trip. It is so nice to be able to tell the kids 'sorry the line for that ride is too long, we'll do that one next time.' And they know it's true so there's no fuss about it.

 

[Funball]

We have annual passes and the biggest benefit we have found is the elimination of that panicky, rushed feeling that you have to do everything in one day/trip. It is so nice to be able to tell the kids 'sorry the line for that ride is too long, we'll do that one next time.' And they know it's true so there's no fuss about it.

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]u know ur are so right, that is why I like having a pass too.. I don't feel like I have to do everything that minute! I got time to kill and time to spare to just sit and soak in the sights and sounds! I tend to also people watch a lot for hours at a time, it's something I like to do, my ffriend who just got a AP like in december can't do the sitting down watching people thing, she has to be up and going and all over the park every 5 min.,i told her whoa slow down you got a pass you don't have to be like that!![/FONT]

 

[ORDisneyfans]

We have annual passes and the biggest benefit we have found is the elimination of that panicky, rushed feeling that you have to do everything in one day/trip. It is so nice to be able to tell the kids 'sorry the line for that ride is too long, we'll do that one next time.' And they know it's true so there's no fuss about it.

This has been our feeling exactly! We love to just hang out and do whatever strikes our fancy at the moment. We know we have plenty of time and many more trips to come! Great perk!

 

[jimsocks]

Does AP discount work in ESPN Zone or Rainforest?

 

[sonnyjane]

Does AP discount work in ESPN Zone or Rainforest?

Yes, although it's 10% across the board for all AP types, even for the Premium AP's, which get 15% off in the parks.

 

[Funball]

Does AP discount work in ESPN Zone or Rainforest?

Wel.l my experience at RFC as not that great but after 4pm I think it was.. they do not take Ap discount for any type of pass...

 

[Funball]

Does AP discount work in ESPN Zone or Rainforest?

Yes, although it's 10% across the board for all AP types, even for the Premium AP's, which get 15% off in the parks.

Lol I had to log in to my Ap account to look ! I totally forgot the password too, but alas found the info....good thing you knew the info to that question!!

 

[yupikgal]

[FONT=Adobe Gothic Std B, sans-serif]$40 dollars is $40 dollars... you can save that by getting the premium and not spending it on a block out ticket! Premium pass will pay for it self in two visits minimum! But I think it be wise if you looked at the disneyland website for AP's! .

[/FONT]

Funball, my problem is, we only go out of state once a year, we live in Alaska. I'm just trying to figure out if it would still be worth it.. We will be eating a lot of our meals in the park though, not to mention the discount on hotels, etc. so I just thought it may pay off. I'm still trying to decide!

If you're staying offsite for the first part of your stay which day is your blackout day? Is it a day you will be at the DLR hotel or the offsite hotel? I ask because if you upgrade ON your blackout day you are allowed in the parks, you are allowed to hop, you are allowed all your discounts as well. So, if you're staying offsite from say.....Wed-Sat and checking into your DLR hotel on Sat you can go to the parks Sat. upgrade your hopper to the AP, go check into the DLR hotel (thus getting any AP rate they may have available) with your new AP and then head back to the parks. Does that make sense? If you upgrade on the blackout day you will not have to the blackout fee, which I think is up to $45 now.

Our blackout day would be Sat. 6/4, we would be in the area from 5/30-6/5. It would only be for my ticket, since everyone else would be on 6 day tkts. Haven't decided if we would do 4/2 (off/onsite) or 3/3, I guess it depends on what type of deal we would get onsite w/AP discount. The problem with waiting to upgrade on our blackout day is that 1/2 of the days spent in the park we wouldn't get the discounts on meals, etc. which is part of the reason I want the hopper, more so than being able to use the park ticket again in 2011, since we won't be going down there again this year...believe me, if the airfare/distance weren't so high, I would be there every weekend!

OK. Here are some numbers.
5-day pass = $211
Deluxe AP = $329
Premium AP = $459

Difference between 5-day and deluxe = $118
Difference between 5-day and premium = $248

Blockout tickets are currently $50, not $40 or $45. So if you need to purchase a blockout ticket, the difference between 5-day and deluxe becomes: $168

Deluxe has 10% discount at most food places in the parks and Disney hotels (exceptions include the Mint Julep bar, ice cream places, and food carts). Deluxe also receives a 10% discount on most park merchandise through the end of this calendar year. This does include photopass pictures/CDs, candy shop purchases, ride photos, and places at most of the in-park stores and World of Disney and D-Street in DtD. It does not include the silhouettes done at the silhouette studio, the crystal shops, and a couple other places. Deluxe passholders also get various discounts in DtD, most often 10% off.

Premium has 15% discount at the food places in the parks and 20% discount on the merchandise with the same restrictions as noted above. The DtD discounts are the same regardless of pass type.

From what you were saying it sounds like the following may be true:
You will not be using this pass for more than one Disney trip.
You may not take advantage of AP hotel discounts.
You will not be using the parking benefit.

That means to break even on the purchase of a Deluxe pass, you need to spend $1680 in the parks and in downtown Disney on food and merchandise.

To break even on the purchase of a Premium pass, you need to spend between $1240 and $1653 on food and merchandise in the parks and/or the Disney stores in DtD (I've left the lesser discounted places in DtD out of this equation for simplicity). The $1240 represents merchandise spending only. The $1653 represents food spending only. You will spend on a combination of these items, hence the "break-even" range in this case since food and merchandise have different % off discounts.

If you decide to start with your hopper and upgrade to a pass on your blockout day, then that changes your spending breakeven point to $1180 after you get the AP.

Wow that's quite the amount to break even..now if we stay in onsite hotels and get the discount, wouldn't that factor in? So if we knew we would be spending approx. $500 on merchandise (using our gift cards + cash) that would leave $1180 for meals for 5 days (we will be getting back from San diego around 2p on the 30th, so I figure we would have eaten breakfast & lunch already, so not counting that day) $1180/5 days= $236/4 of us=$59 per person, per day, is this about right? Also, we are not always together for meals, our kids being teens, they are often on their own, so we don't always do sit down meals unless we plan it ahead of time. Example: last year we did Blue Bayou, Character Breakfast at Storytellers, mini meals & drinks at Food & Wine festival, a couple of us at Carnation Cafe, Riverbelle Terrace, Hungry Bear, and other than that, just meals/snacks here and there, mostly split up, Maybe I'm answering my own dilemma! Hmmm...we would like to do the photopass this time, which we have never done, so it would be nice to have the discount on that, but if it's only 10%, that would be like $10 off a $99 package? My daughter does love candy, so the discount there would be great...wasn't planning on buying a lot of merchandise this time, but I'm assuming we'll spend at least $100 worth each, (easily) but only because we all have $100 each in Disney gift cards from Christmas that would cover those purchases, does the discount still apply using those? I just thought of something else, if we stay offsite at a place that includes breakfast, even factoring in character breakfast at Goofy's, etc. and then onsite in concierge which does include a breakfast, it may not really be worth it...it seems so complicated to figure out, there are so many variables...Your calculations above are based on the regular park prices, right? If they have the same deal they had last year, it was $186 for 3 days in the park, get 2 free, which is another $25 off the 5 day pass that you mentioned of $211. I realize that this may not happen, but just in case it does...regarding starting with a hopper & upgrading to a pass on our blockout day, this would give us only 3 days to break even with the $1180, I really don't think this is feasible for us, honestly...I think I'm talking myself out of it as I type..

I know what you mean....I wish they would announce specials way before they do, it's crazy the way they make us wait. lol If you do decide to upgrade make sure you do it on the Saturday that's blocked, that's the cheapest option for you.....$50 for blackout passes! YIKES!

Me too pixiewings! It would make it so much easier to plan...

We have annual passes and the biggest benefit we have found is the elimination of that panicky, rushed feeling that you have to do everything in one day/trip. It is so nice to be able to tell the kids 'sorry the line for that ride is too long, we'll do that one next time.' And they know it's true so there's no fuss about it.

How lucky to have that option, you must live close..that is our biggest obstacle, not being able to get there inexpensively and in a reasonable timeframe

 

[pigby]

With our DAP's we got 10% discount at Garden Walk restaurants as well - 20% off at California Pizza Kitchen (but with this one you can get a 20% coupon from the OC website anyway)

We also got 20% off Walking in Walts Footsteps tour (and any other tour)

 

[Funball]

Funball, my problem is, we only go out of state once a year, we live in Alaska. I'm just trying to figure out if it would still be worth it.. We will be eating a lot of our meals in the park though, not to mention the discount on hotels, etc. so I just thought it may pay off. I'm still trying to decide!

it will pay of to get an AP for your trip!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Wow that's quite the amount to break even..now if we stay in onsite hotels and get the discount, wouldn't that factor in? So if we knew we would be spending approx. $500 on merchandise (using our gift cards + cash) that would leave $1180 for meals for 5 days (we will be getting back from San diego around 2p on the 30th, so I figure we would have eaten breakfast & lunch already, so not counting that day) $1180/5 days= $236/4 of us=$59 per person, per day, is this about right? Also, we are not always together for meals, our kids being teens, they are often on their own, so we don't always do sit down meals unless we plan it ahead of time. Example: last year we did Blue Bayou, Character Breakfast at Storytellers, mini meals & drinks at Food & Wine festival, a couple of us at Carnation Cafe, Riverbelle Terrace, Hungry Bear, and other than that, just meals/snacks here and there, mostly split up, Maybe I'm answering my own dilemma! Hmmm...we would like to do the photopass this time, which we have never done, so it would be nice to have the discount on that, but if it's only 10%, that would be like $10 off a $99 package? My daughter does love candy, so the discount there would be great...wasn't planning on buying a lot of merchandise this time, but I'm assuming we'll spend at least $100 worth each, (easily) but only because we all have $100 each in Disney gift cards from Christmas that would cover those purchases, does the discount still apply using those? I just thought of something else, if we stay offsite at a place that includes breakfast, even factoring in character breakfast at Goofy's, etc. and then onsite in concierge which does include a breakfast, it may not really be worth it...it seems so complicated to figure out, there are so many variables...Your calculations above are based on the regular park prices, right? If they have the same deal they had last year, it was $186 for 3 days in the park, get 2 free, which is another $25 off the 5 day pass that you mentioned of $211. I realize that this may not happen, but just in case it does...regarding starting with a hopper & upgrading to a pass on our blockout day, this would give us only 3 days to break even with the $1180, I really don't think this is feasible for us, honestly...I think I'm talking myself out of it as I type..

I like math stuff, so I was trying to give you some practical help with the numbers. The price I used for the parkhopper was the advance purchase price on the Disney website for tickets purchased after the current spring promotion expires. So, yes, I worked my numbers with the assumption that you wouldn't be able to get a deal. If you can get a parkhopper deal, then the difference in price between a parkhopper and AP is even greater so your break even spending requirements would actually go up.

In order to reap the full benefit of the discount, you would have to make all the purchases using your AP, so meals for which the kids go off by themselves and pay by themselves won't be purchased at a discount and can't be factored in.

Yes, you can get an AP discount and use any form of payment, including gift cards.

My point I was making with my numbers was how much you would have to spend to get any "savings" benefit from the AP if you purchased the AP for food and merchandise discounts only.

Obviously, if you do get significant hotel savings that you can't otherwise get without an AP, that can change the financial analysis quickly. The real point is that you need to save whatever the difference is between a parkhopper and an AP, which in this analysis I assumed was $118 between 5-day and deluxe or $168 if you need to purchase a blockout ticket which it sounds like you would. If you find a hotel deal that saves you significant dollars per night, like $40, $50, or more, and you use that discount multiple nights, you may quickly make that AP worth it's increased cost. It could even pay for itself before you have to factor in other discounts, so then the rest is gravy. If it doesn't quite pay for itself, the discounts you get off your other spending may make up the difference. If you do not take advantage of a hotel deal or go on a tour or return to the parks within the year though, then the only benefits you will reap from that AP are dining and merchandise discounts, and that is a lot of additional spending before it pays off.