What kind of park pass for DIS CON?

[Nancy]

What kind of park pass is recommended for DIS CON? My Mom mentioned maybe I shoul think about an annual pass if we plan on doing the parks all 8 or 9 days. What do you all think? I'm not sure about the cost of passes, I haven't done any research. Barb, can I do a length of stay pass if I'm staying in your room? AND what's the cost on that if I can?

 

[luvdsny]

Definitely an annual pass for more than a week! IMHO.

And this will give you an excuse to go back before the year is over.

 

[Nancy]

I was leaning towards the annual...but I doubt if I'll be able to swing another trip in that soon.I've got 4 yrs. of Catholic high school tuition starting in September!

 

[helenabear]

I should be there for 8 days myself and I checked prices for tickets. AP & LoS passes turn out to be the same price (give or take $10). If you plan to do 9 days in the park, whether or not you plan on going back within the year, the price for the AP is cheaper.

 

[Nancy]

Guess I'm going with the AP....maybe I'll win the lottery and can actually get back down there l fast LOL!!!!

 

[Towncrier]

Just to confuse the issue, convention goers are often offered a special pass that is slightly less expensive than a hopper and includes "flex" features that are active as long as the pass is valid. Unlike other Disney passes, these do expire once the convention is over, but are very handy if you plan to make a couple of trips over to Pleasure Island in the evening. I wrestled over what type of pass to buy during DIScon 2001 and ended up with the convention pass. If you are planning to stay at WDW for any additional days beyond DIScon, I would suggest that the convention pass is NOT a good idea. I found out that you cannot add days to this type of pass, so you will have to purchase additional "hoppers" if you plan to visit the parks on the days other than DIScon 2002. The break even point for an annual pass used to be 7.8 days. That is to say that if you are planning to use the pass for 8 or more days, the best deal is the AP.

I hope this helps with your decision.

 

[RaySharpton]

Thank you for the great information, John. It looks like an annual pass for me.

 

[Barb]

Yeah, what John said.

Nancy, I'm pretty sure you can get the LOS passes even if you're in a DVC room. I have the Premium AP, which gets me into everything-anytime, anyplace. The standard AP just gets you into the four parks. The water parks and Pleasure Island are not included in that pass. We did one night at the Adventurer's Club last year, which I'm sure we'll do again. That was so much fun! I'd like to take a night and go dancing, too. So that is possibly another night at PI.

 

[CDoobee]

I just bought my first-ever ANNUAL PASS!!! YIPPEE!!!

I plan on taking my son down for about a week in June. Then, DH and I are planning on DIS-Con, so it sure made sense for me to get one! I went 3 times in 2001 buying hoppers every time, only because I never knew I was going to keep going so often. An AP then sure would have saved me a lot of money!

 

[Nancy]

So what's the difference in price between a premium AP and a regular AP? I'm going to have to look into his a bit more. Now that my internet is working right again (after 3 weeks) I'll be able to do some research and start checking for cheap flights.

 

[Towncrier]

Premium AP's include DisneyQuest, Pleasure Island, and the water parks (at least).

 

[RaySharpton]

Annual Passports offer a way to save money if you plan to visit WDW often. There are Florida Resident Passports, Annual Passports, and Premium Annual Passports. More information on admission options for Florida residents can be found on the Florida Resident Ticket Information page.
The Annual Passport entitles you to unlimited admission with park hopping privileges to the 4 Main Parks for 12 months with no blackout dates*. You also get complimentary parking in the theme park lots as well as the passholder benefits listed below on this page. Complimentary use of WDW transportation system - monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches - is included. *Except activities/events separately priced.
The Premium Annual Passport entitles guests to unlimited admission* with park hopping privileges with no blackout dates to the Magic Kingdom® Park; Epcot®; the Disney-MGM Studios; Disney's Animal Kingdom"! Theme Park; Disney Quest, Pleasure Island; Disney's water parks: Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and River Country; plus Disney's Wide World of Sports"! complex, as well as complimentary parking in the theme park lots and all the passholder benefits listed below. Complimentary use of WDW transportation system - monorails, ferryboats, and motor coaches - is included.*Except activities/events separately priced.
There are Disney Club discounts available on both Passports.
In 2000, Walt Disney World changed the Annual Passholder renewal policy. The new policy states that your renewal Annual Passport becomes effective the day after your current Annual Passport Expires. Previously, if you renewed by mail, you received a voucher which was not activated until you were at the theme park and traded your voucher in for a new Annual Passport. Now your renewal voucher exchange will be back dated to the expiration date of the previous pass.
ANNUAL PASSPORT RATES WERE LAST INCREASED
January 2001
Prices including tax
 
Adult Annual Pass $369.94
Premium Annual Pass $497.17

 

[Barb]

Thank you, Ray. You are just so sweet to get all this information out for us. This should help those who are trying to decide what to do.

 

[Towncrier]

I went absolutely nutzo trying to decide on which pass to buy for DIScon 2001. In the end everything worked out well, but I almost ended up having to purchase a 1-day 1-park pass to get into Disney Studios for the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire taping. Turns out that I didn't need a pass to get into the parks that day since I had a ticket to the taping.

To add to the confusion of all the passes available through Disney, there are ticket brokers in the Orlando area (whom several DIS people have used with great success) that offer slightly different versions of the standard passes. You just have to work all the numbers and decide whether or not an AP (or Premium AP) will be best. I know that I'm going the "regular" AP route for DIScon 2002 because I intend to stay there at least 8 days.

 

[Nancy]

Thanks for all the help. I'm thinking if I arrive and the 2nd (early) and don't leave until the 9th..(later in the day) I'll probably have to go with the AP. I don't want to end up having to spend more money on extra days once I'm there. Plus the cost isn't too much more then the most expensive park hopper pass.

 

[NancyIL]

I bought my first AP last April 21st, and I will get my last 4 days' use out of it this April! I will have used it for 20 days (4 WDW trips), so it was definitely worth it for me. I probably won't renew it or buy another one for DIS-CON, though. I will have 2 days left on an old hopper pass, and I'll probably buy a 4 or 5-day convention pass that will include PI.