won't be renewing our annual passes

[halfmonkey]

So it's unfortunate but I'm here to report that we will not be renewing our annual passes to Disneyland. We got the premium that past year and as expensive as they were, we def made very good use of the tixs but sadly, we're not planning on renewing the passes for 2012.

We've def received a lot of help from this site and the members have def helped answer many questions such as where to stand for WOC and should we get the dessert package for F!. We wouldn't have been good viewing areas if I hadn't of found this site so a big THANK YOU to all that responded and helped me with my questions.

I think what we'll end up doing is next year, is getting the SoCal or deluxe passes but more likely the SoCal passes.

Part of the reason for not renewing is that it's just too costly. As you know, having the premium is costly enough for 2 adults and then once you need to start getting them for the kids, that can add up too. The second thing is we don't want to cheapen the experience of going to DLR. Having the passes made it really easy. We didn't feel pressure in staying til closing to make the most use of our money and with the passes, we could just leave whenever we felt like knowing that we have a pass and can come back anytime we want to.

So our plan is now to more than likely get the SoCal pass and go back every year and spend the Sunday through Tuesday or Wednesday after Thanksgiving. Those days work really well for us as we went to DLR this year on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Also, I assume that by that time next year, Carsland will be fully open and running.

So we won't be back at DLR anytime soon but I'll still pop onto here every now and then to see if I'm "missing" anything. Thanks again everybody for helping me plan our various trips to DLR.

 

[Huff]

AP prices have skyrocketed the past few years. We probably won't be able to renew and thus forced to limit our trips considerably.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We do passes every couple years. Our last ones expired 9/2010. We did WDW this year and will get passes again next time we head down to DLR some time late next year. It gets harder to get away as the kids get older, plus I'll be starting nursing school so that'll limit our ability to go even more.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Sadly, I think this is our last year for APs as well. We have to come a long way to make them worthwhile, but even if we only come twice a year we get our money's worth since we stay for 10-11 days.

But alas, I think my kids are outgrowing Disney. It's sad for me, but we are more of a thrill-seeking family I guess. We will still come back at least one more time next year. And DLR is way more expensive than other parks. Of course, there is good reason for it -- I will definitely miss all the magic and the over the top things that are true Disney style.

 

[marcemc]

We had SoCal passes when we lived in Cali (over 5 years ago) and we never felt as if we missed on anything. Sure, you can't go during summer or saturdays, but you certainly learn how to organize your visits better.

 

[pixiewings71]

We are letting ours go this year as well. It's getting harder for us to be able to use them the way we want to (we are 6 hours away) so I think we might start going back to a single yearly trip every couple of years. It is sad but we also know we can always go back.

 

[duckwife]

When we got our first annual passes this year we knew it was probably a one shot deal. We are from Vancouver, Canada and it is really not very practical but it was something we had talked about doing for a few years and we are making the most of it! It has been a blast so far, we have made 2 family trips and DH has gone once on his own to meet his sister and family there. We are planning one more trip before our DAP's expire in May. Our family and friends all think we are crazy but we have made some great family memories! DS is 16 and it's awesome that he still loves it as much as we do!
We will always have great memories of the year we had Disneyland passes

 

[MateasMom]

We had passes from 99 through 2010. This past year we went w/out. The cost is just insane. The SoCal Select is twice the price our first SoCal passes were, and have far fewer days. No thanks.

 

[halfmonkey]

We had passes from 99 through 2010. This past year we went w/out. The cost is just insane. The SoCal Select is twice the price our first SoCal passes were, and have far fewer days. No thanks.

Wow that is a long time to hold passes! One of the main reasons for us not renewing the AP is simply because of cost and when you renew, they only discount the cost like $20. We just can't swing that kind of money so we'll just do a few trips and spend a couple of days there and plan around the SoCal blackout dates. Also, like I said by doing it this way, I feel that it doesn't cheapen or lessen the experience for our kids.

 

[momto2nenas]

We have the Deluxe Passes for this year and we have really gotten good use out of them! We have been able to enjoy all the "seasons" and holdiays, it's been fantastic! We went into it though knowing we'd only be able to do it for the 1 year. But now we'll always be able to say "Remember that YEAR we had APs to Disneyland and went all the time?!" Great memories for our family. It's going to be hard going back to an annual trip.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We got APs for everyone for this year only. We knew we wanted to return for Carsland this summer. Plus we have never seen DCA without some sort of refurb going on. We got them in September. We will go again in Jan, maybe April, then a big trip this summer.

We won't be renewing, except for my pass for discounts.

 

[smiley_face2]

interesting this came up because we were just talking about it. even though we are up in Canada, we have had deluxe annual passes for several years, and tried to get down there twice a year. But with the price increases, if we can't make the second trip, it is not worth it. we still have ours till next mid august, but this trip we just bought the grand daughters 6 day park hoppers. it was not worth the extra $300. for the 2 of them to upgrade, if we don't get to take them again. Even with the discount you get. I think they may have hit the wall as far as price increases go. It will be interesting to see over the next 1-2 years how that goes.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

But... most posters here including the OP are Californians - doesn't the monthly payment option help? I think it made for many more non S CA AP holders, the parks were definitely busier this Thanksgiving, Fri & Sat then the same days last year, I figure it's cause they opened they the payment plan to all CA not just S CA.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

But... most posters here including the OP are Californians - doesn't the monthly payment option help? I think it made for many more non S CA AP holders, the parks were definitely busier this Thanksgiving, Fri & Sat then the same days last year, I figure it's cause they opened they the payment plan to all CA not just S CA.

I wonder about this. Do you really think the payment plan caused that significant an increase in premium AP holders? Only premium AP holders could use their passes on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. I suppose other AP holders may have chosen to buy blockout day tickets.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I wonder about this. Do you really think the payment plan caused that significant an increase in premium AP holders? Only premium AP holders could use their passes on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. I suppose other AP holders may have chosen to buy blockout day tickets.

The monthly payment difference between a deluxe and PAP is $10....less if you are getting parking anyways. I can see where people would just go for the higher pass with larger discounts. There are 6 of us so $60/month more probably isn't worth it, but we may do one PAP.

 

[aan1701]

Sad to hear that. It sounds like it is a tough thing for you to give up. I have had a premium pass for almost 15-17 years now. I can't remember when I first got it. If you can swing the monthly payments you may want to rethink. We did monthly payments the first year it was offered. Worked great. Unfortunatly, or fortunately I guess, is we go to WDW on our DVC points for about 3 weeks out of the year. So since it is just the Wife and myself we have Premeir Passes now and those you cannot do a monthly payment on. I hope it can work out for you.

 

[dsnydaddy]

I just got a new set of AP's. The cost is so high that I have to factor in at least three trips to make it worth our while. We'll see how our utilization goes this year. If we can't make it worth it, then this will be our last set too.

 

[pixiewings71]

But... most posters here including the OP are Californians - doesn't the monthly payment option help? I think it made for many more non S CA AP holders, the parks were definitely busier this Thanksgiving, Fri & Sat then the same days last year, I figure it's cause they opened they the payment plan to all CA not just S CA.

We've never been eligible for the monthly payment plan. We got our current APs in April and we did not have that option at that time. DBF and I had discussed it and decided that we would do APs this year but not renew them so the monthly payment plan won't help us at this point. Perhaps in a few years if/when we get them again......

I just got a new set of AP's. The cost is so high that I have to factor in at least three trips to make it worth our while. We'll see how our utilization goes this year. If we can't make it worth it, then this will be our last set too.

When we have APs we try to go at least 4 times to get our moneys worth, we've already been 5 times with this set and I want to get at least 1 more trip out of them, maybe 2.

The monthly payment plan for 6 Flags is less than $20 per month for our whole family. Granted the park isn't as nice, isn't open every day like DL and the people aren't as fun as DL CMs but 6 Flags is 15-30 min from our house (with traffic) so it's more "doable" on a daily basis. DL is 6 hours away.....

 

[marciemouse]

We let ours expire a couple months ago. I was sad, but we decided to try a Disney cruise this year while the Wonder is still sailing out of LA, and then we'll just go to DL once instead of a bunch of times!

 

[dsnydaddy]

We've never been eligible for the monthly payment plan. We got our current APs in April and we did not have that option at that time. DBF and I had discussed it and decided that we would do APs this year but not renew them so the monthly payment plan won't help us at this point. Perhaps in a few years if/when we get them again......



When we have APs we try to go at least 4 times to get our moneys worth, we've already been 5 times with this set and I want to get at least 1 more trip out of them, maybe 2.

The monthly payment plan for 6 Flags is less than $20 per month for our whole family. Granted the park isn't as nice, isn't open every day like DL and the people aren't as fun as DL CMs but 6 Flags is 15-30 min from our house (with traffic) so it's more "doable" on a daily basis. DL is 6 hours away.....

I'll have to consider that 6 Flags park. My kids are getting old enough might be a good option for summer fun.