Would you renew your AP for $34 with only one trip planned??

[kristenrice]

We're going to WDW again in June 2016 as a family. Right now, we all have AP's that expire on October 21, 2015. I am taking a F&W trip with my mother from October 15-20, 2015 at which time SHE is buying an AP to use in June 2016.

If I buy a 4-day PH/WFPM from UCT ($381.95), use it for one day and then use it towards an upgrade to a DVC AP renewal (is that even possible??), combined with discounted gift card purchases, the total cost would be $432.92. This would cover my trip in June 2016 and allow me to possibly go again for my birthday from October 13-18, 2016. If I didn't do the AP renewal, I would be purchasing a 6-day PH from UCT for the June 2016 trip. That ticket would cost me $398.95.

So, basically, it would cost me an extra $33.97 to renew my AP vs. buying a 6-day PH for next year. As of now, I do NOT have plans to travel in October. I would have to find a friend/relative to join me and if that didn't work, I wouldn't go. Would you spend the extra $34 on the chance that another trip might pop up?? FWIW, the AP discounts are almost the same as the DVC discounts. The only advantage would be that the hypothetical October trip would NOT be using DVC points and the AP might help me score a modest room discount.

 

[crisi]

I probably would. $35 is a reasonable amount of money to pay for "insurance" against another trip, allows you to renew at a discounted rate for the following year, AP holders get some discounts DVC members don't that might make up the difference, and it maximized your flexibility.

$100 and I probably wouldn't.

 

[Alesia]

Would you spend the extra $34 on the chance that another trip might pop up??

Yes. No. question.

 

[kristenrice]

Does anyone know if you can "bridge" a ticket towards an AP upgrade?? I am working on the assumption that I would buy the ticket and NOT link it to my DME and just use the actual ticket instead of my MB. Then after using it, take it to guest relations and renew the AP and have that linked to my DME. Is this how it would work??

 

[MommyMK]

So you would renew your AP with only the June trip on the horizon and no trips between Oct and June? And nothing definite in the works beyond June? No I wouldn't renew. I'd wait and get a new AP in June and pay the extra $80 for the new AP vs the renewal AP.

 

[Marionnette]

We're going to WDW again in June 2016 as a family. Right now, we all have AP's that expire on October 21, 2015. I am taking a F&W trip with my mother from October 15-20, 2015 at which time SHE is buying an AP to use in June 2016.

If I buy a 4-day PH/WFPM from UCT ($381.95), use it for one day and then use it towards an upgrade to a DVC AP renewal (is that even possible??), combined with discounted gift card purchases, the total cost would be $432.92. This would cover my trip in June 2016 and allow me to possibly go again for my birthday from October 13-18, 2016. If I didn't do the AP renewal, I would be purchasing a 6-day PH from UCT for the June 2016 trip. That ticket would cost me $398.95.

So, basically, it would cost me an extra $33.97 to renew my AP vs. buying a 6-day PH for next year. As of now, I do NOT have plans to travel in October. I would have to find a friend/relative to join me and if that didn't work, I wouldn't go. Would you spend the extra $34 on the chance that another trip might pop up?? FWIW, the AP discounts are almost the same as the DVC discounts. The only advantage would be that the hypothetical October trip would NOT be using DVC points and the AP might help me score a modest room discount.

DVC AP = $ 563.39
Annual Pass Renewal = $ 478.19
Difference = $85.20

Why not wait until June to purchase a brand new AP? Then it will be good for that visit, your birthday trip and then maybe a 3rd trip in the winter or spring. To me, it doesn't make sense to renew an AP that you won't use for 8 months (Oct. 2015 - Jun. 2016). Yes, you'll end up spending a little more OOP, but you'll also have an AP that you can use for more visits.

Unless, maybe you want an excuse to get a way a few times over the coming winter?

 

[Marionnette]

Does anyone know if you can "bridge" a ticket towards an AP upgrade?? I am working on the assumption that I would buy the ticket and NOT link it to my DME and just use the actual ticket instead of my MB. Then after using it, take it to guest relations and renew the AP and have that linked to my DME. Is this how it would work??

Yes, it is possible, from what I've read. However, as per my previous post, I think you're better off waiting until June to purchase another AP.