Yearly vs Weekly passes

[alamode]

I just put in an offer for our first DVC at SSR. Our family will only be travelling once a year, but I had a quesion about park passes.

Would it be better for us to get weekly passes (ie per day passes) dated for whenever we go, or time our annual trips so that we could use an annual pass for two trips, buying them every two years.

 

[BoVance]

When we first bought I thought we would go once a year. Everytime we went I was already planning our next trip. we decided that instead of going every year we would go 2 times every 18 months. Our first trip is at least a week and Our second is usually about a week. We plan our trips to fall within the same year and get an annual pass. Remember, you can use your DVC membership to get a discount on the pass. Last year we found low promotional flights and went down for a long weekend.

 

[alamode]

Last year we found low promotional flights and went down for a long weekend.

Wish I had my DVC now, there's a flight from Toronto to Orlando for $19 + taxes.

So if I can use the annual pass for more than one trip, its best to buy that.

 

[BoVance]

Before you make that decision. Determine how much to tickets will cost and compare. I think I added it up and if you were staying for more than 10 days the annual pass is cheaper.

 

[bluenosemickey]

We originally planned to go every 9mos, so we bought 10d no exp. tickets and thought they would last us a few trips.

We ended up changing them for annual passes. We hated the idea of cramming in all of our park time into one day at a time. We like just popping in for fireworks or even travelling through Epcot to save time when we stayed at the boardwalk resorts.

We actually have 4 trips that will fit into our annual passes this time. Unlikely to happen again, but we had 2 family trips that we tagged along for because we already had the passes.

I think next time we will try to book our two trips to fit into one year. If we get any other trips squeezed in, all the better.

BEWARE if you have the passes, you will be tempted to visit more often!
Don't say you weren't warned.

 

[alamode]

I assume there's similar levels of annual passes. Ie. One park a day, park hopper and waterpark ones.

Trust me, having those annual passes will make m want to go more, especially in the cold snowy winter.

 

[dgaston]

Just two kinds of Annual Passes -- regular APs let you into the major parks (and you can visit more than one per day) and Premium Annual Passes which include admission to the water parks, Disney Quest, and Wide World of Sports as often as you'd like.

 

[5forDiz]

It is very helpful to read the thread by CheshireFigment on tickets, upgrading tickets to APs, etc. Worth taking the time to read Many purchase park-hoppers through UnderCover Tourist, use a day and then upgrade to AP using DVC discount to save additional $.

Best wishes

 

[CarolA]

BEWARE if you have the passes, you will be tempted to visit more often!
Don't say you weren't warned.

A combination of AP and DVC points is "Deadly"

You just find excuses to go!

I did the Undercover Tourist "trick" last time. I don't recommend it! It took THREE times to Guest Services to get the tickets right!

 

[klburns]

We did the annual passes with the DVC discount to go for a week in September of one year, and then went a week earlier the following September. We managed two long weekend trips during that year. It was so nice! Financially, I think it makes a lot of sense. Plus your trip is so much more relaxing because you don't feel like you have to do and see everything and be in the parks all day to get your money's worth.

 

[alamode]

Ok, another newbie question, but what is an Undercover Tourist?

 

[5forDiz]

Undercover Tourist sells discounted Disney passes ( they're legitimate - so don't worry about purchasing from them ). You can purchase by mail and they're shipped for free. You can read more about them at mousesavers.com and even get further discount by signing up for newsletter on mousesaver site.

 

[alamode]

So from the looks of things, my best bet would be I if I get the premium passes with the DVC discount and try and squeeze in 2 trips in 1 year.

Do they become active once I buy them, or can you buy the annual passes and have them start at a certain date, or the first time they are used. It would be nice to be able to staggar the purchase price over several months.

 

[DebbieB]

BEWARE if you have the passes, you will be tempted to visit more often!
Don't say you weren't warned.

That is very true. They call out from their storage box - take me, take me, you don't have to pay for passes!

 

[erionm]

So from the looks of things, my best bet would be I if I get the premium passes with the DVC discount and try and squeeze in 2 trips in 1 year.

Do they become active once I buy them, or can you buy the annual passes and have them start at a certain date, or the first time they are used. It would be nice to be able to staggar the purchase price over several months.

If you purchase your AP or PAP at WDW, they are active when purchased. If you pre-purchase on-line or by phone, you will get an exchange voucher. Your year would begin when you turn in that exchange voucher and get your actual pass.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We have decided for my DH and I the AP works for us. We take one family trip with our kids and then sneak away for a long Sun-Wed. just the two of us. I then try to squeeze in a similar trip with my sister. We like that we can park hop with them.

 

[alamode]

If you purchase your AP or PAP at WDW, they are active when purchased. If you pre-purchase on-line or by phone, you will get an exchange voucher. Your year would begin when you turn in that exchange voucher and get your actual pass.

So I can still get the DVC discount by buying online or by phone? That way I can spread the cost of the tickets over a few months, and they won't start until I visit.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I did the Undercover Tourist "trick" last time. I don't recommend it! It took THREE times to Guest Services to get the tickets right!

What happened? How much do you save anyway? Not enough apparently!

 

[CarolA]

What happened? How much do you save anyway? Not enough apparently!

I EVENTUALLY saved a little, but...

Step 1. Use tickets

Step 2. Go to DTD Guest Relations. (I did two transactions which may explain why I did not realize everything was wrong at ONCE!)

Step 3 "upgrade and pay"

Step 4 Walk away and look at ticket. It's backdated 2 months. I first used the ticket the day prior!

Step 5 BACK in line. "That's the day the ticket was printed and that's all we can do" Complain, get that fixed!

Step 6. Back in villa look at receipts and realize I was charged the difference between what Undercover paid (NOT what I paid) and gate price. My AP has now cost MORE then if I had just purchased the thing, so much for savings!

Step 7. Take the whole mess to ANOTHER Guest Relations window. Get told "that's what we sold the ticket for and you have to pay the difference" After I complain that (A) it's not MY fault they sold at a discount and (B) they should have TOLD me someone over hears this and tells the guy "bring it gate" It gets fixed after a LONG time of "messing with the computer"

NEVER AGAIN. My time is worth something!