What would you do? PAP

[gracelrm]

I've put off ordering our PAP with the discount for various reasons, however, now there's no time left to put it off. We are a family of five, with our oldest DD in college and middle DS a junior in high school. We are thinking of getting the PAPs and not activating them until late December 2013 when we are planning our next trip. However, DH and I have just been talking about this and wonder since DS will be a senior in High School and DD still in college do we even bother to get the PAPs for them? I'm fairly certain they'd both go with us on the December 2013 trip, but any subsequent trips would be iffy.

So, we thought about just getting 3 PAPs for myself, DH & DS (youngest) and just buying tickets at the gate for whoever comes along for trips. But if we were to purchase a 5 day Park Hopper ticket for each of them in December - we'd be close to the price of the PAPs and most likely there will be a price increase by then anyway.

Then I read that you don't give names when you order them, so I'm thinking we get four passes and decide next December who gets the passes according to who is most likely to go with us for subsequent trips. Will that work?

I hate these decisions. Anyone have any advice? Wondering if anyone who has crunched numbers has any insight into our predicament.

 

[bumbershoot]

But if we were to purchase a 5 day Park Hopper ticket for each of them in December - we'd be close to the price of the PAPs and most likely there will be a price increase by then anyway.

That's where we ended up.

Have you asked them? Knowing their personalities, and having their answers to "how likely is it that you will go to WDW with us in 2014?" should help you. Any chance of a grad night trip (or does WDW do those anymore?), or a college road trip happening where APs would be useful for them?

And no, they don't ask for names while buying them. I just ordered our three last night online, and the only names they want are the name on the credit card and the name of the person picking them up.


Thinking with my former college student's mind...I would lean towards getting them. As you noticed, it's not that much more than the tickets, and if you did not get them and the kids did want to go, you would regret it. Probably more than you would regret the extra money spent.

 

[spiceycat]

would definitely get the tickets for everyone.

maybe your family is more reasonable than mind - but getting the PAP for you, spouse and youngest child - would make the other 2 feel left out.

now your family is probably more adjusted than mind.

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip).......Then I read that you don't give names when you order them, so I'm thinking we get four passes and decide next December who gets the passes according to who is most likely to go with us for subsequent trips. Will that work?.....

Remember that the last day to activate the DVC PAPs is 12/31/2013.

Your plan to get 4 PAPs plus a hopper seems the best one to me.

It's going to get harder to pick vacation dates that work for everyone. Between school, jobs and boyfriends/girlfriends, someone will not want to go or be able to go. It happens. Whatever you do, after you do it, don't second guess yourself. You make the best choice with what you know at the time.