whats everyone think????

[lennon333]

We are taking our first DVC trip next summer for 10 nights. As I was aware and found out this morning that the 10 day park hopper pass went up to $1464. So I was thinking maybe I should take a second trip and just buy the AP becuase for my family of 4 it would just cost an extra $136 for another 5 days which would be all I could do on my point allowance. So for $136 I could get another mini vaca (minus airfare too of course). The time I would be able to go is late October/early november which I thought was a quite time for disney. However I am finding there is not too much availability at DVC resorts. Now I can find the 5 nights at SS but really wanted to stay at either AK or somewhere close to either MK or Epcot. DOes anyone think I will have any luck on a waitlist at anyother resort???? Like I said I am very new to DVC. The other option is just buying the AP next summer and going twice next year. Although my hopes are sky high to go earlier this year. Hmmmm what to do........

 

[Missyrose]

We are taking our first DVC trip next summer for 10 nights. As I was aware and found out this morning that the 10 day park hopper pass went up to $1464. So I was thinking maybe I should take a second trip and just buy the AP becuase for my family of 4 it would just cost an extra $136 for another 5 days which would be all I could do on my point allowance. So for $136 I could get another mini vaca (minus airfare too of course). The time I would be able to go is late October/early november which I thought was a quite time for disney. However I am finding there is not too much availability at DVC resorts. Now I can find the 5 nights at SS but really wanted to stay at either AK or somewhere close to either MK or Epcot. DOes anyone think I will have any luck on a waitlist at anyother resort???? Like I said I am very new to DVC. The other option is just buying the AP next summer and going twice next year. Although my hopes are sky high to go earlier this year. Hmmmm what to do........

October/November is a very busy time for DVC. I would book SSR and wait list what you want at AKV.

It's a great time of year to go to Disney, lots of fun events going on.

 

[DizBub]

Go for it!! I agree that you have a good chance of getting a waitlist to come through. Even if you have to stay at SSR you will still be at WDW. We had a great time there last fall!! Bought APs then too and haven't looked back.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Or Undercover tourist still has 10 day tickets for the old price.

Of course that doesn't help with wanting a trip this fall!

 

[thepops]

If it is only points you are short on, you could always rent some points to make your fall vacation longer!

 

[DisneyDevil82]

Also, don't forget that with the AP you also get 10% off of your merchandise purchases. That in itself can make up most of the price difference between the 10 day passes and the AP depending on how much you buy.

We always try to structure our trips s othat 1 AP covers 2 trips. Like the year we buy the AP we'll go in Sept. and then go the following May.

 

[patsal]

We always try to structure our trips s othat 1 AP covers 2 trips. Like the year we buy the AP we'll go in Sept. and then go the following May.

This! I have bought PAP's ever since I have owned DVC, going on 11 years. I have only purchased 5 sets. We plan our vacations so that we get two years of vacations on one set. I will often sneek a third smallish trip in as well if I can get decent airfare and a AP room rate for a long weekend.
We go later one year and earlier the next. We will go the last week in July/first week of August this year, so next year we will leave the second week of July and stay through until the date our passes expire. Usually we get 35 to 40 days of use on the passes.

 

[davmill]

Diffidently go for the AP...for the extra 136...you have another trip...and you won't find that price anywhere else for a second trip.

 

[arthur06]

I would go with the AP as well.

Discount on merchandise.

2nd trip in the fall.

Could you possibly take another trip next just at 11.5 months apart?

We usually by AP's every other year. Do 3 trips on one AP. 2 bigger trips and one smaller trip. Then skip some time at WDW.

 

[TinkandGoofy'sMom]

I would most certainly get the AP. Actually, if you plan on going to the water parks at all, I would go for the Premium AP. You also get 20% off merchandise with the Premium Pass.

 

[Chellymouse]

We've also been PAP since we've been members. Best way to go and we normally spend 18-30 days a year at WDW (depending on DH's vacation schedule). We also enjoy 20% off of our shopping. AP really are the way to go!

 

[disney212]

Bought our first AP this year, we should get 3 trips out of it so it was well worth it to us. We actually figured out how to get 3 trips in to take advantage of the pass.

 

[RumpleMom]

We find TIW card is great. You can even use it at SSR Artist Palette.

 

[MinnieLee]

I would definitely go the route of an AP (shopping discounts, mini golf, tours) and invest $75 into a TIW card (AP price) for 20% off of dining and cocktails. With two trips you will come out ahead with a family of 4. TIW is a better discount at restaurants.

BCV and BWV in late Oct/Nov are really hard because of the F&W at EPCOT. I would take SS, wait list at AKL.

Good luck!

 

[zorro77]

I agree as other have said and do the annual pass. We have been getting two and three trips out of our pass for the past 6 or 8years. Saves a lot of money if your going anyway and gives you all the plus that others have mentioned. Just plan your vacations around the times that work to use passes multi times. We have gone is april/may and oct/nov. Booked our rooms at least 7 to 8 months out and just watch for flight deals. Have a good time.

 

[keishashadow]

OP- We'll be using APs for first time in years - soon. I bought one last year before that price increase since i had a disney gift card to use and it's still waiting for me at will-call. We bought lots of non expiring tix several years ago instead of APs and have been stretching them out.

We do tend to split any disney trip over 5 days to include either: onsite and Unversal (yes we do keep AP renewed there since it's worth it for hotel discounts), short DCL cruises or Sea World/Discovery Cove.

If the AP works for your pattern of activity on your vacation i'd go for it.

fyi October and even early December seem to get busier every time we visit, it's important to book something early then try to switch.

 

[mouseaider]

The older I get.... the cheaper I get.

When we bought into DVC (resale), we bought into save some money..... but if you are not careful you can get caught up in the whole Disney magic thing and the Mouse will get a lot more $$ than what you intended to give him.

We bought AP's using our DVC discount and then the TIW card and during our first seven night January trip as members. We figured the TIW card paid for itself on that trip because we had our DS, DDIL and DGD with us.

We still had plenty of points so we booked another seven night (October) trip.

Then we figured what the heck..... we have points enough for another seven night stay, AP's, two free flights, a TIW card, so we booked another seven night trip (again in January) at the end of our one year.

Use the discounts that DVC gives you to the fullest and you will enjoy your membership even more.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have always done APs since buying DVC. We used to plan them so we purchased APs on one trip and then planned another trip one week short of a year later. Then we would take a year off before purchasing a new AP. That gave us two years of trips on one AP.

Then DVC came along and gave us the discounted AP...That pushed us to buy APs more frequently without taking the year off between purchases. Now we tend to buy our APs about 18 months apart and take 2-3 trips in that 12 month period. Of course, that will change a bit this year. Our current APs started on Dec. 6 last year, and we had that trip in addition to our March trip. We have another trip planned for Nov. 29- Dec. 6 this year to finish out those APs. After December though, we wont be traveling to Disney World again until either Dec. of 2013 or March of 2014 depending on how many points we end up using for our Aulani trip next February.

I like that Disney actually gives you 366 days on each AP.

 

[MinnieGi]

We also do the AP thing and back our trips up to get max. use out of them. For instance we'll do a Dec. trip to start the AP and then a Nov. trip over T-day week to end the AP. Of course then we also snuck in a June trip b/c DD ended up dancing at Disney with her dance team.

We will take a year off and then start the cycle again. In the off year we always go to HHI and other places too.