We're thinking of buying annual passes for my wife and I and our 12 year old daughter. We live just north of the ATL and can drive to DW in about 7 hours or so. We'd really only have to go twice to get our money's worth, and they're running a special if you purchase by 3 Jan you get 13 months for the price of 12 months. Question is, are annual passes worth the price?
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Annual Pass Question
- Thread starter jimmyjam1973
- Start date
Just depends on how many days you plan on visiting the parks during the year. If more than 10-12, then yes, it is worth it, especially with all of the new discounts this year.
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
The value is hard to determine, depending on how often you go, how long you stay and whether you ever park hop. There are also AP discounts on resorts and shopping to factor in. If you drive to/from the parks an AP gives you free parking, saving $20/day [you also get that if you stay at a resort with or without an AP].
In very basic terms, two three-day tickets using Park Hopper are slightly cheaper than an AP, if you don't count shopping, free parking and resort discounts.
In very basic terms, two three-day tickets using Park Hopper are slightly cheaper than an AP, if you don't count shopping, free parking and resort discounts.
I would answer YES. We too live near ATL, just west...so about 61/2-7 hr trip for us. We time our passes so we bought them in July (we upgraded from our package deal we bought), then we went on fall break in Sept, my hubby and I are going for wine and dine run, then we will all go at thanksgiving, and probably new years, again in Feb for winter break,end of may when kids get out of school and will plan our long summer one just before our passes expire in July. We usually get decent deals on rooms so its one tank of gas for us and then food.
lostpro9het
Well-Known Member
We are also just north of Atlanta and have been AP holders for a few years now. The 7ish hour trip makes 2-4 day weekend trips a few times a year fun and doable. We also own DVC so we save on AP and have a home waiting for us. But, yeah, do the math and decide how many nights you plan on going in a year to see if the value works for you.
networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
We're south of 285 (OTP) and travel to Wdw 3 or 4 times a year off season (well mostly we end up there for thanksgiving about every other year) for Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, MNSSHP, and stay at SoG because I'm retired military and it's not crazy. It's worth it for us even with a 6 hour drive.
Thanks everyone for the input. We are really thinking about getting the Annual Passes. We started looking at the calendar and could go for a couple of days in Feb when my daughter has a 5 day weekend. We're going on a cruise out of Port Canaveral for Spring Break and could get a day in before the cruise leaves. A couple of days in the summer, fall break, and maybe another quick trip, so it seems like it's almost a no-brainer. We have until Jan 3 to decide, so we'll see.
LSUxStitch
Well-Known Member
Bought one this year since we had two trips planned, worth it imo. We are planning two more trips before it expires and even though we are spending more money than usual for Disney trips, the tickets for next two are "free" haha
danyoung56
Well-Known Member
You start with basic math, like comparing the AP and tickets for the same number of days. Then add in the room discounts, which admittedly aren't as great as they've been in the past - perhaps 5% over the discounts that they offer the general public these days. Then figure in the dining discounts, which right now are around 20% for most table service restaurants. And to really top it off, calculate the Tables in Wonderland card, a discount card that now costs $150 but offers 20% discounts on even more restaurants, and includes alcohol.
And then you have to consider all the additional trips you'll take because your admission is paid for. It's pretty easy to come up with a model that has the AP providing a significant savings.
And then you have to consider all the additional trips you'll take because your admission is paid for. It's pretty easy to come up with a model that has the AP providing a significant savings.
AshaNeOmah
Well-Known Member
Right below Chattanooga here. We've had APs for 10 of the last 15 years. The sweet spot for me has traditionally been 8-9 nights on property before I break even. Any year with two 4-5 night trips is always an AP year.
cinderellafan6
Well-Known Member
They are the best. Have been an annual-pass holder now for 15 years. I just bought my daughter her first one also. Unless Disney does something stupid I will probably always be an annual pass-holder.