Which is cheaper-free DP with AP or length of stay passes?

[frannn]

Seems like an easy answer, but not when I run the numbers. My thought when DH picked his vacation schedule for 2007 was to activate our APs this trip (9/7-9/17) and get free dining, then use them again mid August 2008 for more free dining. The rumored 2007 window for free DP is so short, that if it stays that way for 2008, we'll miss it in August, since we'd be going mid month. So, I'm now wondering if it makes more sense to use the APs, or buy 10 day MYW passes with the free dining pkg this year, then activate APs next Sept.

To use the APs for our 11 day trip (I added only 1/2 the cost of the APs, since we'd be using for two trips, and left out the one day pass cost, since we can upgrade those to APs on a future trip), it will cost a total of 1588. (including hotel, DP, tickets) in 2007. If we bought 10 day passes (no extras except hopping), total cost would be 1704.31. Bottom line difference is 116.17, plus one less day in the parks. Guess they don't have 11 day passes, huh? Is it worth incurring this added expense to ensure that we could go during free dining next year also?

 

[tinaluis]

It really isn't a very big difference in price between the AP and the 10 day, but counting on Free Dining in 2008 might not be a good idea. We've seen some pretty narrowed down dates this year and my guess is that it will be narrowed down even further or, perhaps, even eliminated altogether in 2008. Of course, they're predicting an active Atlantic Hurricane Season this year, so that might will change things.

 

[robinb]

Not counting the two one-day passes you'll have to buy for the rumored free dining in 2007 and 2008, the break-even point for an AP is 17 days at the 10-day Park Hopper price. Since you're planning for free dining, then you will not be able to use the APs for room rates. There are other discounts, but many of them are food related.

I guess that if you are sure you have two trips planned and that you will use the one-day tickets then I would go ahead and get the APs. You won't save a whole lot of $$, but if free dining is NOT offered for one or both trips, you will save $$ on your room rate.