advantages of Annual Pass

[mikewdw]

considering getting an AP for the first time. I have only read up a little on it. I seem to remember that 8 days if the break even point for most situations. we live in AL so can drive. what are the other advantages/perks of an AP and is 8 days still roughly the break even point. we are both teachers with 3 kids so we would have to stay in mod or deluxe (or suite). would it be worth it to try it for a year? any advice/info appreciated
mikewdw

 

[lunchbox1175]

Yes, it is roughly 8 days, depending on how you would split up your stays. If you did two 4 day trips, then the tickets would cost you $754.02 if you did the park hopper option. We live in Houston, and we have been AP holders for about 4 years now. We go multiple times per year, just the wife and I, and the amount of money that we save on discounted rooms, merchandise, and food, pretty much pays for the passes every year....actually, its usually more money that we save. So I am in the its worth it group.....only if you are going to go multiple times per year.

 

[disney4life2008]

If you have the funds to try it for a year - by all means do it. I can guarantee you though you would want to renew year after year. The renewal rate is great - a little more than the cost of a 5 day hopper class. The benefits is that you can go to disney whenever you feel like it and not be restricted to purchasing a ticket. My trips during the year I always feel good about because I am not having to pay for tickets - its already included and I can come and go as I please. The discounts are amazing - at Sports in January my room was $60 a night. My trip in August is $72. The merchandise is disappointing as its only 10% but I take what I can get. And some dining is 10%. If you add up the discounts over the course of the year - it likely totals the cost of the pass

 

[wannabeBelle]

Also depending on your dining preferences, you can access the Tables in Wonderland program for discounts on your sit down dining, which is a nice alternative to the Dining plans. Marie

 

[dreamfinder]

When considering an AP, one should really only compare it to the cost of buying tickets for your trips. Depending on how long they are you may break even around the 8 days, or it may be closer to the 10 day mark. (IE one longer & 1 short trip vs two longer trips) The other discounts are offered on a 6 month basis at this point, and subject to change at any time. As @wannabeBelle pointed out, TiW can be a great cost saver that is only available to AP, DVC and Fl Res, but even that perk is subject to change mid year. (Several locations just changed their terms recently/will be soon) You may or may not get room discounts. They don't offer them to AP holders year round, usually about 3-4 months out, and lately the discounts have been almost identical to those offered to Disney Visa holders, and even the general public. The merchandise and food discounts (outside of TiW) are close to those offered to Disney Visa, with the exception that Visa has a $50 minimum spend on merch, while AP doesn't. So while there are other other discounts, they can usually be matched by other offerings that don't cost if the ticket point doesn't add up.

All that said, you can still get the discounts if only one family member buys an AP. So you may find it cheaper to buy tix for the 3 kids and one adult, and then buy the AP for the other adult to get the discounts/TiW. Remember there is no price break on APs for 3-9 yo's while there still is on normal tickets.

You really need to simply run the numbers on the tickets and see which option makes more sense for you.

 

[Kate Alan]

I've been contemplating getting an AP as well. What are the advantages/disadvantages regarding AP's and the new MM+ system (if any)? Are FP+ options available only 30 days out for AP holders? Or 60 days as it is now when I just buy tickets regularly?

Also, if I have an existing ticket that has yet to be used, can I just upgrade that to an AP? My family is traveling to WDW at the end of December and have our tickets already secured.

Also, I know very little about TiW - is that included with the AP purchase, or is it a separate cost to utilize?

 

[kimbermouse]

My family are new AP holders this year. We may want to get the TIW card since we can't get free dining with AP's should it come out. Where do we buy the TIW card?

 

[lunchbox1175]

I've been contemplating getting an AP as well. What are the advantages/disadvantages regarding AP's and the new MM+ system (if any)? Are FP+ options available only 30 days out for AP holders? Or 60 days as it is now when I just buy tickets regularly?

Also, if I have an existing ticket that has yet to be used, can I just upgrade that to an AP? My family is traveling to WDW at the end of December and have our tickets already secured.

Also, I know very little about TiW - is that included with the AP purchase, or is it a separate cost to utilize?

I believe you can use any unused portion of your tickets to upgrade. TiW is not included in the purchase, it currently is discounted to $100 for AP holders, I have it, and it is fantastic, basically it pays for itself after you have spent $500 on food, which is very easy to do, then you get 20% off at most places, but they do add 18% gratuity. Seeing as how I usually tip 20% anyway, it actually ends up saving me 22% on each of our TS meals.

 

[lunchbox1175]

My family are new AP holders this year. We may want to get the TIW card since we can't get free dining with AP's should it come out. Where do we buy the TIW card?

I would recommend it, you can order it by calling them, or you can purchase at any Guest Relations window at the parks.

 

[iluvMainStMagic]

considering getting an AP for the first time. I have only read up a little on it. I seem to remember that 8 days if the break even point for most situations. we live in AL so can drive. what are the other advantages/perks of an AP and is 8 days still roughly the break even point. we are both teachers with 3 kids so we would have to stay in mod or deluxe (or suite). would it be worth it to try it for a year? any advice/info appreciated
mikewdw

Sorry if you already know all this.......
the only Mod resort that accommodates 5 is POR, and the fold-down bed (they tell me) is acutually kid-sized (i.e. not a full twin size), so if your kids are older/taller, they might be able to sleep comfortably on it. Another option that comes under the Mod category are the Ft Wilderness cabins (can sleep up to 6). Or - if you are open to a Value, 2 regular rooms would cost less than a Family Suite, plus give you 4 "real" beds & 2 bathrooms....though no mini-kitchen area, if that is important to you. Just some thoughts...

Good luck on deciding which type of tickets will help you the most, we also find that calculating out all the options helps us the most.... Hope you have a Wonderful time!!!

 

[wannabeBelle]

I would recommend it, you can order it by calling them, or you can purchase at any Guest Relations window at the parks.

Exactly so!!! I would recommend buying it at the Guest Relations as it becomes active on the day you purchase it. Also keep in mind that Valet parking is free with TiW if you are dining at the resort you are parking at. As this is now up to $20.00 per us, that can add up quick. They will require a receipt from one of the resort's restaurants showing you dined there to validate your parking.
Here is the official website for that: http://tablesinwonderland.com/

 

[LAKid53]

We purchased the TiW card last year and no longer purchase the DDP. Found it to be more cost effective.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I'm assuming you plan to make more than one trip to WDW? A single 8-day park hopper (even with no expiration) is still less than an AP. If you plan to spend at least 9 days in the parks during a calendar year, spread out across visits more than 14 days apart, it is worth the AP.

 

[Rob562]

I've been contemplating getting an AP as well. What are the advantages/disadvantages regarding AP's and the new MM+ system (if any)? Are FP+ options available only 30 days out for AP holders? Or 60 days as it is now when I just buy tickets regularly?

Also, if I have an existing ticket that has yet to be used, can I just upgrade that to an AP? My family is traveling to WDW at the end of December and have our tickets already secured.

Also, I know very little about TiW - is that included with the AP purchase, or is it a separate cost to utilize?

Since others have covered the TiW portion, I'll chime in on your first two questions:

-If an AP-holder is staying on-site with a hotel reservation linked to their MDE profile, the FP+ booking window is 60-days, just like other on-site guests. You should also be able to book FP+ for all days of your trip.
But if you're an AP holder staying off-site, you have the same 30-day window as other off-site Guests. You're also limited to a total of 7 *active* days of FP+. (So after booking the first 7 days of your trip, you'd have to wait until you used one of your days' of FP+ reservations before you could make them for the 8th day of your vacation)

-Unused tickets can be upgraded to an AP at a Guest Relations window. If you bought the tickets at a discount from an authorized reseller, or if bought directly from Disney and the tickets have gone up in price since you booked/bought them, you'll want to *use* them to enter a theme park *before* you upgrade. You'll then be charged the price difference between the current gate price of your ticket and the AP.


-Rob

 

[dreamfinder]

-Unused tickets can be upgraded to an AP at a Guest Relations window. If you bought the tickets at a discount from an authorized reseller, or if bought directly from Disney and the tickets have gone up in price since you booked/bought them, you'll want to *use* them to enter a theme park *before* you upgrade. You'll then be charged the price difference between the current gate price of your ticket and the AP.


-Rob

And just to toss on top of this, if your original ticket included WP&M, and you used one of the WP&M entitlements, you would need to upgrade to a PAP instead of a regular AP. So even though you may get more bang for your buck by upgrading a ticket that has WP&M (look at the cost savings over gate buying from a reseller), you need to be careful about what you use.

 

[Rob562]

And just to toss on top of this, if your original ticket included WP&M, and you used one of the WP&M entitlements, you would need to upgrade to a PAP instead of a regular AP. So even though you may get more bang for your buck by upgrading a ticket that has WP&M (look at the cost savings over gate buying from a reseller), you need to be careful about what you use.

Yup. And to throw even more cost-savings tips out there to the universe...

If you're looking to buy a discounted ticket specifically for the purpose of upgrading, you need to look for a ticket that has the highest savings over its own gate price while still having a gate price *under* the price of an AP.
So two years ago I bought an 8-day No-Expiration Park Hopper from Undercover Tourist. The savings at the time was about $45 off the gate price of that 8-day ticket. When I went to upgrade, I just had to pay $4 and change, the price difference between that 8-day ticket and the AP.

-Rob