Annual Pass or buy as I go?

[smartmouse]

I am currently booked for a trip to WDW in June 2017 where I will buy a 5 day PH for myself, mom and daughter. We are planning to go back again in May 2018 for a larger family celebration where I would then need to buy 5 day PH for myself, daughter and husband (instead of mom).

I did some basic math and if I buy an AP for myself, mom, and daughter, but only buy the 5 day PH for my husband in May 2018 it is $300 more expensive than just buying individual tickets twice.

If I decide to hop down (I am in Chicago area so not exactly the shortest hop) for a weekend around Halloween or Christmas it pushes it into an obvious yes for AP. However, if not I end up losing a couple hundred dollars.

Are there any AP perks that would be valuable enough to off-set the loss if we only go twice?

Thank you in advance,
Cristin

 

[danyoung56]

Well, an AP usually gets you great discounts on lodging. And it will allow you to purchase the Tables in Wonderland card, which gives 20% off of all food INCLUDING ALCOHOL. So that can make a huge diff!

 

[grim-grinning_toast]

It also gives you discounts on merchandise! And a small discount on tickets for MNSSHP and MVMCP. But the discounts on resort hotels is the best perk for me, personally.

 

[slappy magoo]

There's never a guarantee of room discounts for annual passholders, but if they exist on your dates (and they PROBABLY will), what you'll save will more than make up for the difference in ticket prices.

If, on the other hand, you're planning on going to WDW both times using some kind of package deal, like a free dining deal, you're probably better off paying as you go.

You could also "hedge your bets" by only buying an annual pass for yourself, not your daughter. Then you wouldn't be out as much.

 

[Master Yoda]

Never buy an AP based on what you "might" save in the future. If you can break even on ticket medium over the course of a year and room discounts you can get at the time of purchase then get an AP. If not, paying as you go can be better.

Discounts on rooms are not always available and merchandise discounts can be changed to outright removed without notice.

 

[danyoung56]

Never buy an AP based on what you "might" save in the future.

Sorry, but I just don't agree with this. Many times I'll buy an AP when I'll pretty much break even, and the AP pushes me to take yet another trip, thus really getting my money's worth out of it.

 

[Master Yoda]

Sorry, but I just don't agree with this. Many times I'll buy an AP when I'll pretty much break even, and the AP pushes me to take yet another trip, thus really getting my money's worth out of it.

If an AP makes you take a trip you would not normally make it is most assuredly not saving you money. Sure you admission to the park might be taken care of or at a reduced cost but your travel, food and accommodations are coming out of your bank account.

 

[danyoung56]

If you'll read what I posted, I never said or even hinted that doing this would save you money. But it is an incentive to plan yet another trip, which I have to admit isn't really a hard thing to do. Having an AP just pushes the decision over the top - the fact that you don't have to purchase admission just makes the planning easier.

 

[dreamfinder]

I agree with @Master Yoda any AP breakeven should really come down to park admissions. Yes, you may be eligible for dining, merchandise and resort discounts, but those can be changed at any time. However, resort discounts are usually marginally better than those for the general public (maybe 5% recently). Dining discounts are included with the base AP, but are deeply concentrated on a subset of restaurants (heavy on resorts/Epcot/DS) and many are lunch only. Some of the dining discounts are also available to Disney Visa members, and ditto on merchandise (with the caveat Disney Visa is 10% off $50 vs 10% off anything). So if you have Disney Visa, then you may be eligible for alot of the same benefits at no extra cost. The biggest thing that you can get as an AP holder than you cannot as an out of state Disney Visa card holder is TiW. Depending on your dining habits, that may end up saving you alot of money.

If you are only doing 10 days in park, then you would really need to run the numbers. You might benefit from buying a single AP if the TiW works to your benefit. But that potential 3rd trip could put it over the edge, deciding on that will really swing things one way or the other.

 

[Master Yoda]

If you'll read what I posted, I never said or even hinted that doing this would save you money. But it is an incentive to plan yet another trip, which I have to admit isn't really a hard thing to do. Having an AP just pushes the decision over the top - the fact that you don't have to purchase admission just makes the planning easier.

But that is not what the OP is asking..."will the perks of an AP offset the extra cost?". In her case it will most likely not.

I also stated "if you break even...then get an AP" which is exactly what you inferred as sound advice in your disagreement with my advice.

Based on the information she has given us, The OP is pretty far from break even and an AP will not be the wisest purchase.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

Why would you buy an AP for your mom if she is only going on the first trip? I'm going in October and next year in March I have an AP. My husband is only going in October so we got him a 6 day PH. Some other things to consider when figuring out the cost. Are you staying on site? If you are staying off site parking is free with the AP. Currently the PhotoPass is included with the AP. And I admit it I'm one of those people who spend too much on souvenirs, usually some kind of jewelry. A couple of charms and pair of earrings adds p quickly so the 10% discount helps.

 

[danyoung56]

Based on the information she has given us, The OP is pretty far from break even and an AP will not be the wisest purchase.

If I'm reading correctly, the OP is only talking about potentially losing a couple hundred dollars. I think that she could easily make that up in discounts. And if she decides to do that third trip, then the savings really kick in (or rather, the per day cost of the park comes down with the AP).

 

[Courtney6682]

If I already have a package booked, including 5 day hoppers, am I able to get an AP in place of them if I decide to? We are booked for February 1-8 2017 possibly staying until the 9 th ,if we would decide to add another day we would then add a 6th day to our hoppers. I will be booking a bounce back for Dec of 2017 for between 5-7 days. Makes sense to get the AP correct? We are 3 adults and one child.

 

[dreamfinder]

If I already have a package booked, including 5 day hoppers, am I able to get an AP in place of them if I decide to? We are booked for February 1-8 2017 possibly staying until the 9 th ,if we would decide to add another day we would then add a 6th day to our hoppers. I will be booking a bounce back for Dec of 2017 for between 5-7 days. Makes sense to get the AP correct? We are 3 adults and one child.

Maybe. Yes, you should be able to upgrade your tickets from Feb to an AP, just make sure to do it while they are still valid for admission. If you have a sports package, or some other sort of package with heavily discounted tickets then maybe not, but a normal package should be fine to upgrade. The bounce back offer may or may not require a ticket purchase, so that would obviously complicate things. Two 5 day trips, may not be worth it. A 5 and a 7, then it may be worth it. You may want to wait and see what bounce back (if any) is available for Dec and then decide if you will upgrade or not.

 

[21stamps]

Never buy an AP based on what you "might" save in the future. If you can break even on ticket medium over the course of a year and room discounts you can get at the time of purchase then get an AP. If not, paying as you go can be better.

Discounts on rooms are not always available and merchandise discounts can be changed to outright removed without notice.

I've been going back and forth about this for months. Completely agree with your post.

If I bought an AP for myself..and IF discounts would have been released for my dates, I would have saved several hundred dollars between a room discount and memory maker.

Well, good thing I didn't buy the AP..my resort is not available with a discount.

 

[AndrewsJ]

Never buy an AP based on what you "might" save in the future. If you can break even on ticket medium over the course of a year and room discounts you can get at the time of purchase then get an AP. If not, paying as you go can be better.

Discounts on rooms are not always available and merchandise discounts can be changed to outright removed without notice.

This is how I always answer when asked this question.

 

[Courtney6682]

Does anyone know if FQ is typically EXCLUDED for AP discounts? I know it's usually left out of ''free'' dining promos

 

[Master Yoda]

Does anyone know if FQ is typically EXCLUDED for AP discounts? I know it's usually left out of ''free'' dining promos

It is not uncommon.

Promotions, AP or otherwise, are done based on booking rates. If the booking rates fall below a predicted number they will essentially put the rooms "on sale". Since POFR is a small and popular resort, it makes its booking numbers more than most.

 

[wdwfan22]

Also something to think about, the room discount for AP's is normally only 5% more then the general public discount, so nothing really spectacular. There are several travel agents (just shop around) that offer exclusive rates at Disney resorts just for booking with them that beat any general public/AP offer.

 

[Courtney6682]

I guess all I'm really interested in is if it makes sense to buy an AP over hoppers...at the VERY LEAST, I plan on spending 10 days in the parks in 2017...possibly up to 12-13