Worth it to buy annual pass for one person in family?

[jacksgirl]

We will be traveling to WDW in November for 9 days. We will go at least once next year at some point too. My question is this - are the pass holder benefits valuable enough that it would be worth buying a pass for one person in the party? We plan to attend MVMCP, Merry & Bright Dessert Party, HDDR (have DDP but will pay for this OOP), and a couple of F&FW demos/seminars. We will also do some shopping. Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[supersnoop]

Will everyone be visiting again within 366 days? Then it might be worthwhile to buy everyone an annual pass.
Will you be staying off-site? The free parking benefit can be valuable in that case.
Will you be dining at a lot of table-service restaurants? The ability to purchase a Table In Wonderland discount card can save you lots of money, too.

 

[jacksgirl]

My husband, son and I will be visiting again within 366 days. My parents won't. We will be staying at CBR this time. We always stay onsite. We have the DDP this trip, but would not pay OOP for it. So Tables in Wonderland would be great if we don't go during free dining.

 

[Accident]

My husband, son and I will be visiting again within 366 days. My parents won't. We will be staying at CBR this time. We always stay onsite. We have the DDP this trip, but would not pay OOP for it. So Tables in Wonderland would be great if we don't go during free dining.

I just did similar and I didn't save anything on my free DDP trip with my daughter. I upgraded both of us to AP because on the next trip that we knew was coming, we are going to save money. I would only use 10% of merchandise savings + cost of tickets of the 2 trips vs the cost of AP to figure out what to do. Room discounts are restrictive and lately match if not better discounts that don't require AP. Table in wonderland I would also hold off and figure out before your second trip if you would save anything. You do get 10% off at most DTD restaurants also if your planning to pay out of pocket for food and can target using the credits outside of DTD and paying for everything there. I'm assuming you didn't upgrade the free ddp so you have to pay for 1 meal out of pocket.

Basically, this trip you probably wouldn't. The next trip you would probably see it if you upgraded to AP now. just 1 person I doubt you'll really see it.

 

[jacksgirl]

Ok. I was trying to figure out if the discount on MVMCP, HDDR, and maybe the Dessert Party + the merchandise discounts would be enough, along with the next trip.

 

[Keels]

I know it probably goes without saying, but I'll just repeat it - if you do buy an AP just for one member of your party, make sure it's a "paying" member - especially if you're planning to buy a Tables in Wonderland card. ONLY the TiW cardholder can pay for the bill and get the discount. And the card used to pay for the dinner/drinks bill has to match the name on the TiW card.

Example: I have the annual pass of the group, but we ended up having my Mom buy the TiW card. Why? Well, because she's a BombMom.com, she usually picks up the tab at meals. This way, she can also get a dining discount when she goes without me and I can still get a small discount with my AP compared to the TiW.

 

[jacksgirl]

Yes I would be the annual pass holder, and I am also always the paying party.

 

[Accident]

Ok. I was trying to figure out if the discount on MVMCP, HDDR, and maybe the Dessert Party + the merchandise discounts would be enough, along with the next trip.

It's pretty easy to figure out. Take 10% off those things and that's the maximum you might save getting an AP right now (not sure what is or isn't a discounted item). Your second trip is going to be where the real savings are and the cost of both together will be lower getting an AP now, just not sure your saving money only getting 1 person an AP.

Yes I would be the annual pass holder, and I am also always the paying party.

Until the trip where you in your room not feeling well for a day or two. It's risky and happens.

 

[Accident]

I have the annual pass of the group, but we ended up having my Mom buy the TiW card. Why? Well, because she's a BombMom.com, she usually picks up the tab at meals. This way, she can also get a dining discount when she goes without me and I can still get a small discount with my AP compared to the TiW.

Not to hijaak but I have a father/daughter situation and we dont' stay together the entire time. I was hoping to be able to get her a family member duplicate or something of TIW next trip, I guess they don't do that?

 

[Keels]

Not to hijaak but I have a father/daughter situation and we dont' stay together the entire time. I was hoping to be able to get her a family member duplicate or something of TIW next trip, I guess they don't do that?

I *believe* it's another $50 to add a spouse/partner. I'm not sure if there is an age limit, but I would assume so since there is a discount on alcohol.

ETA: From the TiW website - Both members must live at the same address and be 21 years of age or older.

 

[karrit2000]

We will be traveling to WDW in November for 9 days. We will go at least once next year at some point too. My question is this - are the pass holder benefits valuable enough that it would be worth buying a pass for one person in the party? We plan to attend MVMCP, Merry & Bright Dessert Party, HDDR (have DDP but will pay for this OOP), and a couple of F&FW demos/seminars. We will also do some shopping. Anyone have thoughts on this?

There is no AP discount for the Merry & Bright Dessert Party. I don't think there is a discount on any of the Dessert Parties. The discounts on MVMCP are only available on certain dates. The dining discounts are also quite limited. It could be somewhat beneficial for at least one person in your party to get the AP. The AP discount on F & W seminars & demos is only offered Monday through Thursday. No discounts offered for any other F& W events.
The 10% merchandise discount is nice but if you are a Disney Visa card holder and you make a purchase of $50 or more in one transaction you also get that 10% discount. I'm a DVC member and I make a minimum of two visits per year so for me the AP is well with it. I normally get the one that is only good for admission to the 4 theme parks though since I don't do the water parks. Since they have done away with the non-expiring ticket option it would probably be beneficial for those in your party who will visit again within a year to get the APs. But if you don't parkhop that is another thing to figure into the equation. I like having the ability to park hop the AP allows at no additional cost.

 

[specsnomin]

The free parking benefit can be valuable in that case.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Honestly, I think the merch, dining and recreation discounts are pretty negligible unless you go a lot. And, if you are on the dining plan this trip, the TIW card makes no sense and probably makes no sense if you will only use it for one trip during the year. I think you really need to do the math on ticket pricing. How many days are you going this year? How many days will you go next year? Add up what your costs will be if you do two sets of tickets and compare it to your costs for APs. That's the decision maker for me. My DS and I have APs and have done three trips this year for a total of 15 days in the parks. We are going again in December, so the AP is a no brainer. Plus AP room discounts are typically less than general public room discounts, so you can think about that for your next trip. But an AP for just one person just to get the merch and dining discounts? I don't think it's worth it.

 

[Happy_2_B]

An AP isn't worth it for the discounts that come with it- other than the ability to buy a TiW card and AP room discounts. My MVMCP discount was only 7 dollars I think- and a lot of dates are blacked out, but you should be OK in November. Your F&W discounts will be minimal since you are only doing a couple of special events. That said, they all add up...so keep reading

IMHO here is what you need to do. Since you are going a second time within 366 days, you should go to the resort boards and see what the Bounce Back offer is going to be when you get there this year. In December it will be room only- but I didn't check for November. Just use the search tool over there and type in bounce back November, should bring up the info you need. Since you will probably use the BB offer- which is oftentimes as good or better than the AP discount- we can eliminate the AP room discount from the equation. A PP said GP rates are always better than AP rates- that is wrong, and was probably a typo since the PP is an AP holder. AP rates are almost always the best room only discounts offered by Disney- other than a bounce back offer. My AP rate for 9 days at AKL this December saved us almost $500.00 over the GP fall savings rate- and paid for my most of my AP. The reason I mention this is because (assuming you get an AP) as you get close to your next trip you will want to compare available AP discounts to your BB offer- as it might be worth rebooking depending on where you are staying. Your BB will probably be as good or better, but it is always worth checking.

The TiW will start paying for itself this time with additional non-alcoholic drinks- and also includes alcoholic drinks at their included restaurants. However, if your BB offer includes dining- the TiW wouldn't be worth it unless you drink a LOT of alcohol, so now you are down to park days since free parking is included in your resort stay. The 20% off alcoholic drinks adds up fast- but wouldn't get you anywhere near the $100.00 TiW buy in price unless you have several adults in your party.

After you go to the resort boards, you will need to sit down and get an idea of how long the next trip is going to be- with how many days in the park- then do the math. Pretty much anytime you do multiple trips in a one year period it will be worth buying an AP for everyone making the two trips unless they are really short trips- but you will need to do the math, especially if dining is included in your BB offer. If dining isn't included- then it's a no brainer for at least one person- and make sure you get your TiW card this year as well to start paying for it with the better discount offers and alcoholic drinks.

 

[katallo]

I agree the discounts have quite a few restrictions. Does anyone know the "break even" point for the number of days attended. I thought I heard if you went 10 days or more its a considerable savings. I think offsite guests really benefit from the free parking.

 

[richmo]

I've obtained an AP for myself several times, while my DW/family gets park hoppers. The benefits I've found to cover the difference most:

- I tend to get three trips out of an AP. I often go for a solo 5 nights or so in March, so I'll start an AP one year in March, have another trip between with the family, then make sure I finish the next March trip before the AP runs out. I don't renew the AP, but wait until the following March to start a new one.
- Parking. The solo trips are always offsite, so I'll save $17 x 12 or so in parking. That justifies a lot, but certainly not all, of the AP cost difference.
- Tables in Wonderland. If we're doing a family trip during the AP period, I may purchase TiW when we do the family trip. With four of us, it only takes a few meals to justify that. The other nice thing about TiW is it is good about 13 months from date of purchase (not the date the AP was purchased), so it could be good well into a time where I don't have an active AP.
- Merchandise discounts. Many park shops give AP discounts (I think 10%). You just have to ask...you can even get the discount buying water/soda bottles if you buy them in a shop as opposed to a cart.

 

[loves to dive]

First time I got mine I didn't factor in any discounts at all, I knew I would be taking two trips that year and knew I would be buying park hoppers both trips. I just sat down and did the math and it was less for me to buy the AP. Then the first trip AAA was still getting discounts at Disney so I got a small AAA discount on room and an AP discount was in effect at the time as well. That basically paid for that first AP. The renewal is about $100 less than the first AP, again I knew I would be taking at least two trips in the AP period, turns out this next trip the regular room discount is greater than my AP discount so I went with that but I do have the TIW card, last trip DS, DIL and I hit the $500 mark about 3 days into the trip so anywhere that gives a discount on that I get. I have AAA and you get discounts for that in some stores so the merch discount is neither here no there for me but I always ask at every restaurant and store if I get a discount for either one.

 

[klmall]

It was worthwhile on several trips for us. Since we never use the Free Dining option having the TIW discount (as it worked back in 2006, 2007 and 2011) did save money on our sit-down meals. We also managed to snag some very good CL level room discounts in 2006, 2011 and 2012 and souvenirs from the World of Disney store. It practically paid for my solo 2012 trip between leftover days and room discount. I was the only one in our party of 3 adults who had one and I loved just knowing it was available those years.

All that aside, I don't think it's worthwhile for us now especially since we don't go often and TIW just isn't a real discount anymore. I can use my Disney Visa for discounts and get other benefits from the card.

 

[bc7ate9]

I agree the discounts have quite a few restrictions. Does anyone know the "break even" point for the number of days attended. I thought I heard if you went 10 days or more its a considerable savings. I think offsite guests really benefit from the free parking.

Disney Tourist Blog says 11 days is the break even point.