What would you do?

[fostrmom2mny]

I've been trying to budget and scrimp for this trip. It has taken me two years to save for this trip. DIS Con just happened to come along at THE BEST time for me. Now here is what I've been lead to consider.

We will be in WDW for 9 nights and will have 8 days to play. We are planning to see the Titanic Exhibit and Belz Mall our first full day at WDW. So that leaves 7 days to go to the parks. The last day I had planned on doing the so long breakfast, then stay at our resort till time for the PS @ Crystal Palace. Since our PS is for 5:20, it will take a pass to get in the park.

I can save some $$ and buy the 5 day convention pass $230 x 3 OR I'm wondering if I could squeeze the price of an AP $369.94 X 3 and hope that I could save up to make a trip back down before my pass would run out. I heard that if you buy an AP during the 100 year celebration that it is good for 365 days + 100 extra days. That might give me enough time to rely on my 2002 tax refund for $$$ to fly and resort. BUT, I don't have the extra $$ to throw away if I can't manage another trip.

What savings do YOU have when you get an AP?

Thanks to all who have something to say about this.
Gerri

 

[Towncrier]

I may be wrong, but I thought that the extra 100 days only applies to Florida resident AP's. Does anyone know for certain what the rules are?

We bought AP's in August 2000 when we were at WDW for only 4 nights. But we knew that we would be back in July/August 2001 for 12 nights (which I extended to 15 nights), so the AP's were a great deal for us. The only AP "discount" that we used was to purchase AP vouchers for some friends of ours during a special promotion near the end of 2000.

Perhaps you can find someone with a Disney Club card that can buy the vouchers for you at a DIScount. The AP's are $354.04 if you purchase them with a DC card.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

If it is only for FL residents, then that helps me make my mind up.

 

[disneycub]

Hi Gerri,

I used my annual passport that I got in 2000 to the max. But I knew when I bought it that I would definitely be traveling to the World at a minimum of 2 times. Turned out it was far more times than I thought.

One of the big benefits of having an annual pass is the discounts you can get for resort rooms, usually doing non-peak times. For example, my room at the AKL would have cost me around $295 per night. But because I had an annual pass, I got a reduced rate of $185 per night, a difference of $110 per night, or a total of $880, which I thought was significant. So the pass paid for itself twice over with the one transaction. I know this is an extreme example, but I just wanted to give you some idea.

Generally it is thought that if you are planning at least 8 days in one of the theme parks, an annual pass is the way to go.

If you have any other questions, let me know. A CM at Disney told me the 100 days extra was for Florida residents and new passport holders, but the majority on the boards have stated that CMs have told them it was for Florida residents only. So I'm just going to get a hopper for DISCON, because I don't know when I'll be back.

 

[Towncrier]

I just checked elsewhere on the DIS boards and the extra 100 days are for the Florida resident pass only. Sorry to disappoint you.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Guess that gives me my answer. Can't possibly come back in a year.

 

[luvdsny]

I found out that the extra 100 days were for Florida residents only. Boo-Hoo...so sad.

But I think I am going to get an AP because this will help me to get back to WDW next year.

Our 10 year anniversary is next year, and if nothing else, Ed and I can go alone for a few days to make sure it pays for itself.

Gerri, I don't know what to say...............I know how difficult this decision is................I've been agonizing over it myself.

 

[going2wdw]

Have you looked at the connections information on the budget board? A friend just used that to buy her passes and some of the meal vouchers. This might help to get a little cheaper pass but I don't think these include DisneyQuest like the convention pass would.

Added note: I've got a question on the budget board about an Annual Pass discount offered last year. They gave 10% off for passes purchased by AP holders. I got 2 vouchers and I'm hoping they do the same this year so I can activate one of the vouchers and use it to get the discount on 2 more. Last year people without active AP's just purchased one at regular price and used it to get the 10% off on the additional ones.

 

[dvc_bwv]

With the Disney Card the APs are $354.

Steve is right about the discounts on resort rooms, some up to 50% off. That discount would help you out on a return trip. BTW, you only need to have one AP to get the discounts, so if you only buy one AP and the other two convention passes or else do a couple hoppers (those days don't expire if they aren't used) and if you don't use all your days you can use them on the next trip. That way you still get the benefits of the AP discounts without having to put out the money for 3 of them.

My Dh and I both got APs, but we staggered them 6 months apart. That way we won't have to pay to renew both of them at the same time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Towncrier]

Don't know if this helps, but Linda mentioned that we can add days to our convention passes by paying an extra $39/day. I was leaning towards an AP, but now I may have to consider purchasing a 5-day convention pass for $230 and adding a day rather than paying for an AP that I might not use.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Yes, Towncrier. I think that's what I'm leaning towards. If they offered the AP +100 days for everyone, I might have went that way, but even with the flight cuts and rate reductions, our round trip price for airfare is $250 a person. There's no way that I could do a quick trip WDW for under $1000, even with an AP so I've decided to go the Convention Pass route.
Gerri