When to purchase an Annual Pass

[Scarlet_J]

I have 2 1-day comp tickets for each family member that we got when Disney shut down last year. They are good for another 4 years. We plan to go back for a short trip in early November and were going to use the comp tickets and buy 1 day tickets for each of us. I will be going back in November by myself for the Destination D23. I don't know what the schedule will be like so I thought I'd wait on getting any tickets. I want to get the most out of the expo, so I'm okay if I don't have time for the parks and can fill in some down time with DS or resort hopping. There are also partial day tickets available for a discounted rate. I will be back in WDW for a conference in February. I will need tickets for the conference, but don't have the details yet. Since the November trip is short and with the hope that things will be more normal, we will likely go back as a family sometime in 2022.

Now I know that annual passes will be available before my next trip. So, I'm trying to decide on the best time to get the annual pass. The later I get the pass, the more time in 2022/early 2023 I can use it. But, if I get it for the first trip, I will be able to use the dining and merchandise discounts and save the cost of at least a 1-day ticket. And I can hold onto the comp ticket, and hope I can use it in the future, but would hate to waste it.

I might be over thinking this, but any thoughts?

 

[loves to dive]

Do the math. When they come out with pricing, compare it to the daily cost for the times you are planning on going. You will need to do apples to apples, if you usually buy a one park pass and not a hopper use that price (the APs are hoppers and in the past included memory maker). If you usually buy memory maker, factor in that cost to your ticket price. If you usually buy hoppers, use that cost but don't use it if it's not something you normally do or plan to do, it will inflate your per ticket cost. It's going to be a little harder since daily ticket prices change on certain days and times of the year but you can come close. I never factor in any discounts since those are not a given and I found I tend to shop in those shops that don't give a discount or eat in the restaurants that don't. Used to be you had to have at least 10 days in the parks to make it even out, but no one knows what the pricing and tiers are going to be when they actually come out.

 

[afan]

The date you buy the pass doesn't matter, it goes off the date you activate it at the parks for the 1st time.

 

[Robo]

The date you buy the pass doesn't matter, it goes off the date you activate it at the parks for the 1st time.

This.
But yes, deciding when to ACTIVE a new AP can hinge on your knowing your travel plans for the year following the activation date.

 

[Scarlet_J]

Yes, thank you. I definitely mean to activate my account. I should have been more clear. Also, good point on the memory maker, that does make a different.