Would you get AP's for 2009?

[FreeTime]

Our AP's expire in March. This is our first year to have AP's in several years and I am considering renewing them at the lower rate. However, my kids on our 3rd trip this year said that they were bored (and we still have one more planned). My dilemma is that if we do not buy annual passes we may not have any vacations planned (I am a compulsive planner and would not think about going on an impulse trip). E/O/Y we have been going to Lake Tahoe but I am not sure that we will be able to swing the airfare, room, food, etc. for 2 weeks next year. I know that we can afford the AP's and will use DVC for the room. Also, I want to try and book at the BWV before the 7 month window opens up for everyone else. So should I tell the kids it is Disney or possibly nothing? Should we just get 10 day nonexp passes and go a couple of days each trip?

Thanks

 

[twinklebug]

There are so many things to do in Florida it's ridiculous - Have you seen Universal, Sea World ... etc? Maybe they just want a change of scenery? How about Vero Beach or Hilton Head?

Now if it were me, and the problem was the kids being 'bored' by the disney parks, I'd renew my and my spouse's passes and let the kids fend for themselves at home with grammie

 

[LIFERBABE]

My pass just expired a few days ago. My kids were already not thrilled with hitting the parks more than once or twice a trip (14 days) so I have an AP and they have a mix of 10 day hoppers and DQ and WP AP's.

I was at WDW last week and had them check my AP for usage and I only used 9 days. Some of those days were in and outs, so If I had gotten the 10 day No Exp with Fun and More I would have had days left.

So I am not renewing. I will use that money for a 10 day fun and more no exp and use it at will. I should still come out ahead, even if I "waste" days.

We find we can have great "resort" days and not miss the parks at all. I still love the parks, but 10 days will last me at least 3 Food and Wine festivals.

Also, now that I know I can use hopper days at DLR, that is further incentive to purchase the 10 day pass instead of the AP, which cannot be used at DLR.

 

[Muushka]

I'm with Liferbabe. We have not used APs since the increase a few years ago. We are very happy with our 10 day non-exp passes. We go for 5 to 8 days and maybe go into the parks 2 or 3 times. Plus with the hard ticket events (MNSSHP and MVMCP) we are more likely to do them, because they actually turn out to be a bargain, and tons of fun.

 

[Chuck S]

If your kids are really bored or simply want a change from the parks for a year, I would not renew the APs. Remember that there are two offsite DVC resorts where you can use your points for a relaxing non-Park stay. HHI or VB may be a good alternative to the parks. You could even easily split a trip between WDW and Vero.

 

[MinnieGi]

If your kids are already looking for a change of scenery and you still have another trip planned on your current AP's I would not renew! But you can still plan trips and use DVC! As others have mentioned HHI and VB are great and totally different types of vacations but with still the Disney hospitatlity. Central FL is loaded with lots of other types of parks and activities to take in from your home base DVC.

We personally are also not renewing our AP's this year. We have had them for several years running but we plan to only make on 10 day trip to WDW this coming year and one 7 day trip to HHI in June. Even for our 10 day trip in Nov. I am planning on only going in the parks for 5 days and hopefully we will have one day we can do a water park. Our other days are filled with resort time, DTD, mini-golf, marina boat rentals, resort touring and checking out some other Orlando attractions. We are planning on getting the 10 day non-expiring tickets and using 5 days this trip and 5 for next year.

 

[Melani]

I'm with Liferbabe. We have not used APs since the increase a few years ago. We are very happy with our 10 day non-exp passes. We go for 5 to 8 days and maybe go into the parks 2 or 3 times. Plus with the hard ticket events (MNSSHP and MVMCP) we are more likely to do them, because they actually turn out to be a bargain, and tons of fun.

I thought you had to use a day on your ticket to get into MK for MVMCP?

 

[Muushka]

I thought you had to use a day on your ticket to get into MK for MVMCP?

No, the Halloween and Christmas parties are hard-ticket events. It is a special ticket. Of course if you wanted to get into MK prior to 4 PM, yes, you would use one of your day's tickets. But they boot you out at 7 when the fun begins.

 

[LIFERBABE]

If your kids are really bored or simply want a change from the parks for a year, I would not renew the APs. Remember that there are two offsite DVC resorts where you can use your points for a relaxing non-Park stay. HHI or VB may be a good alternative to the parks. You could even easily split a trip between WDW and Vero.

We really enjoyed HHI last May and plan on returning for NYE. Have not visited VB yet but looking forward to it.

We love the waterpark days and find that AP to be a bargain at $100 a year. We more than get our money's worth from that and DisneyQuest.
We are also sitting on 7 day US/IOA tix that we have not used yet, so we have plenty to keep us entertained and interested for years to come.

I agree with Muushka, even with an AP you still pay for the MK parties and for our family they run around $300.

I budget for AP's and then use that money to purchase a mix of tix that fits us better.

DVC is like home for us. The parks are not a huge draw but it is really nice to be so close

 

[Muushka]

We love the waterpark days and find that AP to be a bargain at $100 a year. We more than get our money's worth from that and DisneyQuest.

Tell me more about these APs. I can't believe I am not aware of this price!!

 

[photobob]

I am struggling with deciding on AP's or 10 day non exp tickets with waterparks. We have generally been going sun-thurs. If we use arrival day as a resort and pool day we could in theory use 2 park days and 2 waterpark days and make the 10 day pass last 5 trips.

I do like the fact that with the AP I could go to a park for a short period of time without "wasting" a park day, but they also make me try to plan as many trips within that year window as I can.

I guess it really depends on our future vacationing patterns. We'll be empty nesters in a couple of years and we can vacation at different times of the year with school no longer being a deciding factor.

 

[Anal Annie]

I thought you had to buy the more expensive Premium AP to get into the water parks and DQ? That's what we bought last year for our first AP's....which we let expire BTW.... I think next time we would only buy the regular AP's and pay as we go for the water parks.

We like being able to go to the water parks...but we go early to the EMH openings, run through everything and then leave before it gets crowded. We are usually done with Blizzard Beach by around lunchtime...and with Typhoon Lagoon by 10:30 or 11:00!! Then we change and hit a regular park using the hopper feature. I cannot imagine spending an entire day at a water park! Once the lines get long, we're done! I don't like standing on line for an hour in the hot sun with my feet burning to ride an inner tube down a slide! DQ can be interesting in small doses...but it makes me claustrophopic...3 or 4 hours in that place is enough.

Because we would still park hop I think the 10 day non-expiring might not be the best choice for us. We only had time to go to use these extra parks on the PAP on our first trip...our other trips were in January (no water parks then) and in July...but only for 3 nights...so I think you really have to consider the way you "operate".

 

[Chuck S]

Tell me more about these APs. I can't believe I am not aware of this price!!

There is an annual pass just for the water parks for $100 (adult). And a water park/DQ annual pass for $130 (adult)


http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm#wpark

 

[Pennyguy23]

We tend to go to the parks everyday if only for an hour or two. Or at the least dinner. So we like the AP's

 

[Muushka]

There is an annual pass just for the water parks for $100 (adult). And a water park/DQ annual pass for $130 (adult)


http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm#wpark

Thanks Chuck! I don't know why I didn't just look it up myself. I am getting lazy in my old age!

 

[Muushka]

I am struggling with deciding on AP's or 10 day non exp tickets with waterparks. We have generally been going sun-thurs. If we use arrival day as a resort and pool day we could in theory use 2 park days and 2 waterpark days and make the 10 day pass last 5 trips.

I do like the fact that with the AP I could go to a park for a short period of time without "wasting" a park day, but they also make me try to plan as many trips within that year window as I can.

I guess it really depends on our future vacationing patterns. We'll be empty nesters in a couple of years and we can vacation at different times of the year with school no longer being a deciding factor.

Our problem with the APs is that they lure us into the parks, to 'just drop in'. But we rarely stay at BCV or BWV, so 'dropping in' involves an hour plus getting to and coming from (combined). When we don't have the AP, we relax a whole lot more.

 

[agamich]

I LIKE THE AP JUST FOR THE IDEA THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO FOR THE WHOLE DAY SO WE FEEL LIKE WE GOT OUR MONEY'S WORTH. I HATE TRYING TO CRAM TOO MUCH INTO ONE DAY.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thanks for the reminder about the water park APs...does anyone know if you can use a 1-day base ticket as credit towards it? If thats the case, I can get one for around $25 each.

 

[Muushka]

Thanks for the reminder about the water park APs...does anyone know if you can use a 1-day bases ticket as credit towards it? If thats the case, I can get one for around $25 each.

Oooooh, good idea. Can't wait to hear replies .

 

[LIFERBABE]

I thought you had to buy the more expensive Premium AP to get into the water parks and DQ? That's what we bought last year for our first AP's....which we let expire BTW.... I think next time we would only buy the regular AP's and pay as we go for the water parks.

We like being able to go to the water parks...but we go early to the EMH openings, run through everything and then leave before it gets crowded. We are usually done with Blizzard Beach by around lunchtime...and with Typhoon Lagoon by 10:30 or 11:00!! Then we change and hit a regular park using the hopper feature. I cannot imagine spending an entire day at a water park! Once the lines get long, we're done! I don't like standing on line for an hour in the hot sun with my feet burning to ride an inner tube down a slide! DQ can be interesting in small doses...but it makes me claustrophopic...3 or 4 hours in that place is enough.

Because we would still park hop I think the 10 day non-expiring might not be the best choice for us. We only had time to go to use these extra parks on the PAP on our first trip...our other trips were in January (no water parks then) and in July...but only for 3 nights...so I think you really have to consider the way you "operate".

I agree with you and pretty much that is the way we tour. I personally don't want to spend all day in any park or DQ. We are down to dropping in for a few hours and out.

I dont even have the DQ AP, because I dont like it, (especially now that cheesecake factory is gone) but DH and the boys like it to fill their evening walks to DTD. It is cheaper than buying the Arcade cards at the resorts and they have alot more games to play.
DQ is great on inclimate weather days too. They go a couple hours at a time and it stays open til midnight on weekends.

Once we purchase the 10 day ticket, we can use it for several years. We renew the DQ/WP pass every year, because if you go once to DQ and once to each waterpark, you have paid for the AP. It is much easier to break even on these passes than the theme park passes.