Annual Pass Question

[Hannah1284]

I am considering getting an annual pass. I am a PA resident so I wouldn't be go a weekend, here and there, I would need to actually plan trips. I am wondering if there is a calculator out there, or if someone has determined how many times you would need to go to make it "worth it?"

I know there are a lot of factors, but just some thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Monty]

Generally, two multi-day trips within a year...

But it really depends on a lot of factors, when you go, where you stay, how you eat, how often you go...

My best example: an 8 night stay at Beach Club for my son and I. We got a 42% AP room-only discount, the savings paid for the AP, a 9-day hopper for my son, a TiW card and with the savings from the TiW card everything we ate and drank during the trip. So, for less than rack rate for the hotel we stayed at, we basically got everything else free.

That doesn't work at all if you go during peak season when there are no room discounts offered.

 

[Master Yoda]

If I am not mistaken the current break even point for an AP is around 13 visits in a year. This will of course vary depending on which AP you get and if you are a Florida resident or DVC member.

The general rule I follow is only get an AP if you can at least break even on admission to the parks alone. While the perks of an AP such as room and merchandise discounts can sweeten the deal and increase the savings, they are not guaranteed and can be yanked at any time.

 

[Hannah1284]

Thanks!

We will be headed to WDW in January for the marathon. DH and I will be there Fri 1/10-Sun 1/19. Although we won't be in the parks each day, I am thinking we will be in a disney park at least 7 days (taking a rest day on 1/11 and a non-disney park day somewhere along the way). I am considering doing a solo trip or trip with a friend/family member sometime in the fall. What I am thinking is that I would need another week-long or two long-weekend trips to make it worthwhile? When I calculated ticket costs it looks like 12 park days would put me over the cost of the premium pass (comparing apples to apples and adding parkhopper and water park+) and 12 days with the regular annual pass (again, apples to apples, park hopper but no waterpark+). So...if 7 are used in January and I do two more weekend trips (3 days each) I'd be at 13 and at least make up for the cost...not including any discounts I'm able to scoop up as a AP?

 

[lunchbox1175]

DW and I are both AP holders, and we live in Texas. We have found that room and merchandise discounts have easily totaled up to or exceeded what our passes cost each year. We usually go twice a year for 5 or 6 days, sometimes more. Also, as a passholder, getting the TiW card is well worth it. It pays itself off after just $500 worth of food, which lets be honest, is easy to spend. We are also premium passholders, so we get access to the waterparks and DisneyQuest (which we use probably twice per trip) so there is additional savings right there in not having to pay the $40 per day entry fee. The true beauty of it is the Room Discounts, we were getting married in Tampa, and needed to drive out to get our Marriage License. I decided to look and see what kind of discount we could get just one week before our trip, and found All Star Sports for $84/night! We couldn't stay at a Holiday Inn for that Cheap, so we stayed there and got an extra trip in because we already had tickets. My advice is to always do the AP if you are going to go for more than 10 days because the discounts are well worth it.

 

[jl2081]

One day admission to MK is now $95 and an annual pass for all 4 parks is around $464 so by going 5 times in one year would more than pay for the pass. Not to mention the fact that you get free parking with that pass and that just adds to the savings! This simple math is just figuring using single day admission and not multi day options, 4 day pass goes for $199 but doesn't include parking unless you r staying on property. So which ever seems to work out better for you is based on how many trips you plan on taking. Also, this doesn't touch on the many discounts you get for being a passholder like room discounts and merchandise discounts as well as food.

 

[Chernaboggles]

jl2081 - is $464 the Florida resident price. Mr.Chernaboggles & I are also PA residents, we're going to be buying APs for our trip and it's looks like it will cost a bit over $600 per pass. Or am I missing an awesome discount somewhere?

 

[jl2081]

Chernaboggles- I'm sorry it is for FL residents. It's not letting me see it any other way. It automatically brings it up as FL resident no matter how I try. You can always move to Florida!!!!

 

[Chernaboggles]

jl2081: no worries, just making sure I wasn't missing out on something great!

 

[dreamfinder]

I am considering getting an annual pass. I am a PA resident so I wouldn't be go a weekend, here and there, I would need to actually plan trips. I am wondering if there is a calculator out there, or if someone has determined how many times you would need to go to make it "worth it?"

I know there are a lot of factors, but just some thoughts would be appreciated!

As mentioned, its usually somewhere in area of 11-13 days. $648 for AP, falls between 7-8 days worth of non expire PH. Or 2 6 day MYW base tickets. Or 3 3 day MYW base tickets. It really depends on what exactly you are planning. Determining the breakeven point on an AP is only slightly less complex then determining if DDP is a good deal for your party, or when you will breakeven on DVC points.

 

[Hannah1284]

As mentioned, its usually somewhere in area of 11-13 days. $648 for AP, falls between 7-8 days worth of non expire PH. Or 2 6 day MYW base tickets. Or 3 3 day MYW base tickets. It really depends on what exactly you are planning. Determining the breakeven point on an AP is only slightly less complex then determining if DDP is a good deal for your party, or when you will breakeven on DVC points.

DDP was a much easier calculation for me. The whole...depreciating price/day thing and then the discounts you get with AP, its all just giving me a headache. I am convinced I need one for myself, just need to convince DH. We probably will just buy his tickets and get me an AP so I can go back without him later in the year.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Thanks!

We will be headed to WDW in January for the marathon. DH and I will be there Fri 1/10-Sun 1/19. Although we won't be in the parks each day, I am thinking we will be in a disney park at least 7 days (taking a rest day on 1/11 and a non-disney park day somewhere along the way). I am considering doing a solo trip or trip with a friend/family member sometime in the fall. What I am thinking is that I would need another week-long or two long-weekend trips to make it worthwhile? When I calculated ticket costs it looks like 12 park days would put me over the cost of the premium pass (comparing apples to apples and adding parkhopper and water park+) and 12 days with the regular annual pass (again, apples to apples, park hopper but no waterpark+). So...if 7 are used in January and I do two more weekend trips (3 days each) I'd be at 13 and at least make up for the cost...not including any discounts I'm able to scoop up as a AP?

Last time we had AP's, I felt we broke even, but this time, we've already saved 64.00 extra on our room--general public discount was 15-AP was 20%, and got a discount on MVMCP tickets. We've already gotten right at 100.00 back on the price of the AP. Hopefully, we'll remember to use the card for merch and dining. We almost always forgot last time.

 

[ugotzme]

AP all the way not only all the parks but free parking, Disney quest and the water parks also half price putt-putt golf and the ability to buy pass holder pins and the merchandise discounts its a no brainer.

 

[navallint]

When looking at the annual pass option, first we decide if we are going to have at least two trips within a rotating year (ex. may - may, april - april) and then decide on how long each trip could be. So let's say trip 1 is 10 days and trip 2 is 12 days. Then, based on the cost of the annual pass, calculate your "per day" cost. So, if your annual pass is going to cost $500 (not sure what the cost is right now), then your per day cost would be $22.72 (500/22days). Now, go out and see what the multi-day tickets will cost you and don't forget to include the park hopping option since this is part of an annual pass too. This comparison will work unless you're planning to take a bunch of 1 or 2 day trips, in which you should compare AP cost to either a single day ticket or the cost of a multi-day ticket with the non-expiration feature. I would never consider any other perks of an AP because you never know when they will be pulled.

 

[Hannah1284]

Actually? You can do all the math you need right on the WDW website.

Just go thru the process of buying BOTH Park Hoppers & APs for your anticipated trips in a 365 day time frame. BAIL before you pay. Compare numbers, buy the cheaper one.

Even one LONG trip can make an AP better than a Park Hopper. Estimates of about 11 days are pretty accurate.

but that doesn't account for discounts and other benefits... which are a big factor to me.

 

[Hannah1284]

When looking at the annual pass option, first we decide if we are going to have at least two trips within a rotating year (ex. may - may, april - april) and then decide on how long each trip could be. So let's say trip 1 is 10 days and trip 2 is 12 days. Then, based on the cost of the annual pass, calculate your "per day" cost. So, if your annual pass is going to cost $500 (not sure what the cost is right now), then your per day cost would be $22.72 (500/22days). Now, go out and see what the multi-day tickets will cost you and don't forget to include the park hopping option since this is part of an annual pass too. This comparison will work unless you're planning to take a bunch of 1 or 2 day trips, in which you should compare AP cost to either a single day ticket or the cost of a multi-day ticket with the non-expiration feature. I would never consider any other perks of an AP because you never know when they will be pulled.

not even the merch discount??

We've got a 7 day trip already in the works (but with runDisney discount)... And then I'm looking at either another long trip for me or two long weekends.

I would be getting AP only for me. DH would be at normal ticket pricing.

 

[MickeyPeace]

After two 4 day trips the pass pays for itself. In addition it gets you discounts, peace of mind and incentive to travel more.

 

[dreamfinder]

not even the merch discount??

Nope. For instance, last January, WDW knocked the merchandise discounts for premium and premier APs down to the 10% from 20% last January. I think they only gave something like 2 weeks notice. I remember checking out at the Marathon merch area, and some guy next to me was irate that the CM wasn't giving him 20% off with his premier pass. I piped up explaining that it wasn't the CM, but that the benefits had changed, but boy was he making a scene. And heck, what 4 years prior to that WDW didn't use to give merchandise discounts. I suspect one of the reasons why they switched to a 6 month listing of discounts instead of a year is so they can change things mid year if needed.

 

[Master Yoda]

but that doesn't account for discounts and other benefits... which are a big factor to me.

The discounts can be great but they can and have been yanked at a moments notice. Right now the room discounts have either been in line or just slightly more than the general public discount.

If you can make an AP a value by ticket price alone then get one. If you need one of the other perks to make it a value you could end up disappointed.

 

[Phonedave]

One thing that I found with an AP is that I go to the parks more. Not more trips, but more when I am on a trip - those short days at the beginning an and.

When I have normal park admissions, we may not go to a park on the day we arrive, and we never go on the day we leave. On arrival day we can get 6 hours out of the part if we go to an EMH park, but still you end up tired. On most days when we leave, we have to be out of the park by 11 AM or Noon. If we are on passes it is a waste of a day. But if you have Ap's, who cares? Go to the park for 2 hours if you want on a given day- it's not costing you any extra.

The OP mentioned that they were looking to do a day at UNI. Well, you could do UNI, and if you wanted, come back and hit a park in the night - if you have an AP. If not, then it is a waste of a ticket.

Just something else to think about.

I used to get AP's every year, but haven't the last two year (we have not been going as much) but we have a Nov and a June trip planned, so we will be getting APs again (of course the DVC rate makes things pay off a lot sooner)


-dave