Is AP the Best Bet?

[NYwdwfan]

Friends are going to WDW for a week in both June and August 2011 - they are Grandparents taking 2 different sets of kids/grandkids for the 2 trips. They are staying offsite and are renting a car. They plan to do WDW for 5 days and hit WWOHP for 2, both trips. They do not hop. We priced out a bunch of options and I think AP with TIW is the best bet - do you guys agree or am I missing something? We priced it as 2 separate 5 day tickets (need to pay parking), a 10 day with no expire option (need to pay parking) and an AP (includes parking and might as well throw in TIW). Is AP best bang for the buck? Thanks in advance!

 

[Phonedave]

Friends are going to WDW for a week in both June and August 2011 - they are Grandparents taking 2 different sets of kids/grandkids for the 2 trips. They are staying offsite and are renting a car. They plan to do WDW for 5 days and hit WWOHP for 2, both trips. They do not hop. We priced out a bunch of options and I think AP with TIW is the best bet - do you guys agree or am I missing something? We priced it as 2 separate 5 day tickets (need to pay parking), a 10 day with no expire option (need to pay parking) and an AP (includes parking and might as well throw in TIW). Is AP best bang for the buck? Thanks in advance!

Without pricing it out, I will say yes.

The down and dirty break even point for a AP is if you are going 10 or more days in 2 or more trips in a one year time frame.

-dave

 

[_Scar]

TiW is deceptively difficult to actually save with. Make sure you know they'll be spending well over a thousand on food or I'd suggest the basic dining plan.

 

[lilclerk]

TiW is deceptively difficult to actually save with. Make sure you know they'll be spending well over a thousand on food or I'd suggest the basic dining plan.

They're staying off site so no dining plan.

The nice thing about TiW is you're not stuck with their rules. If you want an appetizer and an alcoholic drink instead of dessert, go for it.

 

[gardenia]

You mention "2 different sets of kids/grandkids". Keep in mind that APs are not transferrable. For the Grandparents it makes sense, since they are going both trips, but probably not for the kids.

 

[Phonedave]

TiW is deceptively difficult to actually save with. Make sure you know they'll be spending well over a thousand on food or I'd suggest the basic dining plan.

How do you figure 'well over a thousand'

TIW is a 20% discount. To get your $75 back, you need to spend $327.50 on 'discountable' items, which is just about anything served in a sit down restaurant.

I earned my $75 back with one meal at Artist Point and one meal at California Grill. Me and my two kids.

The DDP is difficult to save with, unless it matches your normal eating habits.

If you normally eat sit down meals, the TIW card is very easy to show a savings with.


-dave

 

[Rob562]

Dave,

The actual break-even amount is $375 in discountable meals. (375x0.20=75)
Heck, a single dinner for a group of 10 at 'Ohana and you're pretty much there.

But the rest of your arguement is sound. If you have an AP, the only time the Dining Plan is (usually) a better bargain is if it's under Free Dining. (And, as you mention, if the way you'd eat under DDP is how you'd eat normally)

-Rob

 

[Monty]

Dave,

The actual break-even amount is $375 in discountable meals. (375x0.20=75)
Heck, a single dinner for a group of 10 at 'Ohana and you're pretty much there.

But the rest of your arguement is sound. If you have an AP, the only time the Dining Plan is (usually) a better bargain is if it's under Free Dining. (And, as you mention, if the way you'd eat under DDP is how you'd eat normally)

-Rob

That assumes you're not counting any other AP benefits.

If you have a room discount, then "free" dining isn't free at all if you stay at Mod/Deluxe, unless your party size is huge.

 

[NYwdwfan]

Thanks everyone! That's pretty much what I thought but was worried I was overlooking something. Although - I had forgotten about the room discount - I think it's time to put together a spreadsheet and start crunching the #s! (I love Disney-math!)

 

[Master Yoda]

From strictly a ticket stand point 10 day, no hopping, no expiration tickets will be less expensive than an AP by about $30 a piece. If they do elect to stay off property the AP's will pull ahead by $80 due to free parking. However, you only need 1 AP to get free parking so the best option would be for 1 AP and 1 10 day no hopping, no expiration ticket.

For the 2 sets of grand kids they really have no choice but to buy separate 5 day base tickets for each group.

TiWL will only be a value to them if they plan on eating at fair number of TS restaurants. If they plan on breakfast and dinner out of the parks and hitting a QS place for lunch then the savings will be minimal if at all. If they plan on hitting places like Ohana, CRT, Chef Mickey, etc on each trip then TiWL will pay off. The only way to know for sure is to run the numbers. There is also a mandatory 18% gratuity when using the TiWL. This is no big deal if they typically tip 15%-20% but if they are they typically do not tip at that rate the savings will begin to erode.

You also might want to inquire as to why they are staying off property. Many times you will find that when you add in rental cars, time, parking, et,c off property is equal to or more expensive than on property. But yet again every situation is a little different and you will need to run the numbers for their particular situation.

 

[NYwdwfan]

You also might want to inquire as to why they are staying off property. Many times you will find that when you add in rental cars, time, parking, et,c off property is equal to or more expensive than on property. But yet again every situation is a little different and you will need to run the numbers for their particular situation.

Yoda - as always - you rock. Thanks for all of the info - I will be seeing them later today and plan to print this thread for them.

As far as staying offsite - they have a timeshare they already pay for so they just pay the maintenance cost for the week (I think it's around $100) so that's why they opt for offsite. I am definitely an advocate of staying on property (parking, rental car, and the intangible wear and tear on your body driving yourself around all add up) - with the AP discount it may make the onsite option a bit more intriguing.

 

[Phonedave]

Dave,

The actual break-even amount is $375 in discountable meals. (375x0.20=75)
Heck, a single dinner for a group of 10 at 'Ohana and you're pretty much there.

But the rest of your arguement is sound. If you have an AP, the only time the Dining Plan is (usually) a better bargain is if it's under Free Dining. (And, as you mention, if the way you'd eat under DDP is how you'd eat normally)

-Rob

Doh !

There goes all those engineering degrees down the tube.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

From strictly a ticket stand point 10 day, no hopping, no expiration tickets will be less expensive than an AP by about $30 a piece. If they do elect to stay off property the AP's will pull ahead by $80 due to free parking. However, you only need 1 AP to get free parking so the best option would be for 1 AP and 1 10 day no hopping, no expiration ticket.

For the 2 sets of grand kids they really have no choice but to buy separate 5 day base tickets for each group.

TiWL will only be a value to them if they plan on eating at fair number of TS restaurants. If they plan on breakfast and dinner out of the parks and hitting a QS place for lunch then the savings will be minimal if at all. If they plan on hitting places like Ohana, CRT, Chef Mickey, etc on each trip then TiWL will pay off. The only way to know for sure is to run the numbers. There is also a mandatory 18% gratuity when using the TiWL. This is no big deal if they typically tip 15%-20% but if they are they typically do not tip at that rate the savings will begin to erode.

You also might want to inquire as to why they are staying off property. Many times you will find that when you add in rental cars, time, parking, et,c off property is equal to or more expensive than on property. But yet again every situation is a little different and you will need to run the numbers for their particular situation.

But, an AP is technicaly a hopper, so you have to add the hopping option onto that 10 Day MYW ticket. However, if you would not have bought hoppers in the first place, then that point is invalid.

Like so many of the choices in WDW, it is not cut and dry. You have to look at what you WOULD have done, not what you are getting.

-dave

 

[dizzney]

Tables in Wonderland is ALWAYS big for us, I would buy one AP only just to nget TIW. Saved so much 12/31 - 1/9 when we were there with 8 people, ate dinner at all our favorite restaurants, and DH and I were jsut there again in August for our annviersary, and saved again at Victoria and Alberts, Flying Fish, Bistro de Paris and Bluezoo. Much better in our book than the DDP plus we're DVC. DDP restrictions are what moved us to TIW.

As for the AP, they are still giving 10% off on purchases throguhout the world, so having the AP adds up all over. We wouldnt really benefit from the room discounts due to DVC but others do,

Buy the AP and the TIW (if you are eating table service meals in the evening)

 

[Master Yoda]

Yoda - as always - you rock. Thanks for all of the info - I will be seeing them later today and plan to print this thread for them.

As far as staying offsite - they have a timeshare they already pay for so they just pay the maintenance cost for the week (I think it's around $100) so that's why they opt for offsite. I am definitely an advocate of staying on property (parking, rental car, and the intangible wear and tear on your body driving yourself around all add up) - with the AP discount it may make the onsite option a bit more intriguing.

I figured it was something like that. Staying on property is great but when you already have accommodations paid for offsite it is a real hard sell.

But, an AP is technicaly a hopper, so you have to add the hopping option onto that 10 Day MYW ticket. However, if you would not have bought hoppers in the first place, then that point is invalid.

Like so many of the choices in WDW, it is not cut and dry. You have to look at what you WOULD have done, not what you are getting.

-dave

What you say is true.....from a certain point of view.

To have an apples to apples comparison park hopping would need to be included. In this particular case the park hopper option is an extra that they do not want so it can be removed from the equation for the purposes of calculating the least expensive ticket scenario that will meet their needs.

 

[_Scar]

If you have the option to do parks at any time and do them 24/7, you might get exhausted and ruin your experience. Keep that in mind. AP is great if you utilize it in an easy going manner.

 

[NYwdwfan]

Thanks again everyone!