Annual Pass

[Mystic]

Is the annual pass worth it if you're only going to go once? I was just wondering if the hotel discounts would make up for the cost of the annual pass. My mom and I are planning on heading down Nov/Dec 2006 and I'll be in Florida for a week before that visiting a friend and we plan on hitting MK for a day while there. The annual pass is twice what I would be paying for a 7 day MYW ticket with Park Hopper option so would it discounts be worth the extra cost?

 

[Laura]

You really need to just do the math. It took me hours to do all the calculations. I had to compare the cost of buying a package with dining plan, to the cost of buying an annual pass and the dining experience card. That meant I had to add up the total cost of every single meal I'd be eating, and then take a guess at what the AP rates would be. I'm staying at Poly and Wilderness Lodge and my calculations came out to a few hundred less using the AP and the DDE card. Then I found out I was going again in November so that confirmed I should get an AP for sure.

But then I ended up getting really lucky and didn't have to use the AP discount. I scored a 40% off military discount on my rooms which saved me well over a thousand dollars.

 

[Huge Dreamer]

Anything that is advertised as an AP perk (printed in the AP booklet you get when you buy it) cannot be removed until you renew. Yes, room discounts are not included in the booklet, but just because room discounts aren't offered in no way means the only thing you are guaranteed is the park entry. That simply is not true.

The discounts and perks are only good untill January 1, 2005.

 

[brich]

You really need to just do the math. It took me hours to do all the calculations. I had to compare the cost of buying a package with dining plan, to the cost of buying an annual pass and the dining experience card. That meant I had to add up the total cost of every single meal I'd be eating, and then take a guess at what the AP rates would be. I'm staying at Poly and Wilderness Lodge and my calculations came out to a few hundred less using the AP and the DDE card. Then I found out I was going again in November so that confirmed I should get an AP for sure.

But then I ended up getting really lucky and didn't have to use the AP discount. I scored a 40% off military discount on my rooms which saved me well over a thousand dollars.

And that my friends is one of the best parts of a WDW vacation. The NASA caliber planning. :sohappy:

Laura, did I see you were staying at the Poly the end of October?

 

[JPVonDrake]

Anything that is advertised as an AP perk (printed in the AP booklet you get when you buy it) cannot be removed until you renew. Yes, room discounts are not included in the booklet, but just because room discounts aren't offered in no way means the only thing you are guaranteed is the park entry. That simply is not true.

From the inside cover of the Annual Passholder 2005 Booklet:

Offers are subject to change without notice and are subject to availability.

 

[AEfx]

Don't buy an AP for UNANNOUNCED discounts.

If an ANNOUNCED discount comes out, and you can secure a ressie, then yes, especially at higher priced resorts an AP can pay for itself.

As many people have learned lately, buying an AP for unannounced discounts is just a recipie for disapointment.

AEfx

 

[prberk]

From the inside cover of the Annual Passholder 2005 Booklet:

Offers are subject to change without notice and are subject to availability.

JP, I seem to remember you last year arguing hard that MouseSavers was being alarmist about the new AP Best Rates program. You were quick to point out that the regular AP discounts were still there (by phone, as available like usual), and that this program was not going to be eliminating them anytime soon....

It makes no sense not offer discounts to your AP holders for short notice. That is what would entice someone to do an "impulse buy" short trip, that they otherwise would just not do. And AP holders are the perfect candidates for short, unplanned trips that help fill empty rooms at the last minute....

Paul

 

[bgraham34]

I am only staying 4 nights this year but I have decided to go back 3-4 nights again next year with my pass. I saved 50 dollars a night so its worth it to me.