Annual Passes - Would it be worth it for me?

zandalee

zandalee

Member
I was looking at some very generic annual pass information and am wondering what people here think. My husband and I are thinking about getting annual passes but want to know if they are worth it.

We live in a sub-burb of Atlanta so the drive is doable for a long weekend. No kids so we could go any time. The pass prices seem OK but what else is generally offered as a passholder? I know it includes parking, but can you park hop or are you stuck to one park per day. Then do you get any discounts on things like dining or mini-golf?

Are the passes good for 12 months from the date that you purchase them or do you have to buy them during a certain part of the year?

Does anyone know of a site where there is more detailed information?

Any info you may have would be greatly appreciated! :)
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Monty

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
zandalee said:
I was looking at some very generic annual pass information and am wondering what people here think. My husband and I are thinking about getting annual passes but want to know if they are worth it.

We live in a sub-burb of Atlanta so the drive is doable for a long weekend. No kids so we could go any time. The pass prices seem OK but what else is generally offered as a passholder? I know it includes parking, but can you park hop or are you stuck to one park per day. Then do you get any discounts on things like dining or mini-golf?

Are the passes good for 12 months from the date that you purchase them or do you have to buy them during a certain part of the year?

Does anyone know of a site where there is more detailed information?

Any info you may have would be greatly appreciated! :)
Click to expand...
Generally if you do more than one trip in a year it's worthwhile.

Look at what hopper tickets cost compared to an AP for the trips you're likely to do. Yes, there are discounts at restaurants and WoD [10%] and AP rates for resorts, but not always guaranteed. There are also AP poreviews for new rides or attractions. Ultimately, it's best to just start with the admission cost comparison and if it's good, go for it.

An AP is like a hopper, you can go to multiple parks on the same day. A PAP gets you into the water parks and DQ as well.
 
Upvote 0
disney4life2008

disney4life2008

Well-Known Member
I am single with no kids and purchased an AP in Janaury 09. It was the best decision I could have made. I travel to Disney twice a year (normally for no less than 7 days). Two 7 day tickets (without the hop option) nearly equates to the price of an AP. This year, because of my AP, I have been fortunante to take 3 trips to Disney (the 3rd being with a great 40% off pin code in November).

As far as the extras: free parking at the theme parks; free valet parking at resort hotels (if you are dining); discounts at several locations at DD (including 10% at WoD); if you get a Tables in Wonderland dining card (you get 20% off dining at the Value Food Courts and 20% off most table service resturants [automatic gratuity of 18% though].

For me, I have never been able to afford to take as many vacations as I have without an AP - because my ticket is in hand already. The ability to park hop and not worry about dates are wonderful. This past trip, I park hopped several times in one day.

You can purchase your AP passes whenever you are most comfortalbe. They are valid for exactly 12 months after the first day of use at a theme park. So if you purchase in July but will not go to a Disney park until September - your 12 month starts in September, not July.

The list goes on and on. I love it! I do not think I can ever reverte back to regular tickets.
 
Upvote 0
kirksheppard

kirksheppard

Well-Known Member
This is my third year being an annual passholder. I live near Cincinnati, Ohio and thanks to the AP have been able to make 4 trips this calendar year! The ability to park hop, the ability to get discounts on hotel rooms, free parking, and just not having to worry about how many days are left on my ticket, etc. make this the best purchase I make every year.

I've also been smart about how I renew . . . My pass just expired June 4th and I've booked a MYW Package with free dining for September with a 5 day PH . . .which I will upgrade to a new AP, costing me less money for my trip in December that I've already booked.

Its a great idea and if I lived within driving distance I shudder to think about how much more often I'd go.
 
Upvote 0
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
In addition, with an AP you don't worry about "wasting" a day.

On the last day of a trip, if we are leaving early, we will hit a park for an hour or two.

Same goes for the arrival day. Maybe we go to EPCOT just to eat and see Illuminations.

With a limited use pass, you feel like you are wasting a day if you are just going to the parks for a hour or so.

-dave
 
Upvote 0
Monty

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
CAPTAIN HOOK said:
2 x 1 day visits ??????? :rolleyes:

To break even on an AP you're generally looking at visiting WDW a minimum of 12-14 days per annum.
Click to expand...
An adult AP is $469.
Four 1-day hoppers are $532.52
Three 2-day hoppers are $635.82
Two 3-day hoppers are $559.88

Better? :rolleyes:

Why can you use "generally" to give a broad statement without specific detail, but I can't?
 
Upvote 0
foreverbelle

foreverbelle

Well-Known Member
disney4life2008 said:
I am single with no kids and purchased an AP in Janaury 09. It was the best decision I could have made. I travel to Disney twice a year (normally for no less than 7 days). Two 7 day tickets (without the hop option) nearly equates to the price of an AP. This year, because of my AP, I have been fortunante to take 3 trips to Disney (the 3rd being with a great 40% off pin code in November).

As far as the extras: free parking at the theme parks; free valet parking at resort hotels (if you are dining); discounts at several locations at DD (including 10% at WoD); if you get a Tables in Wonderland dining card (you get 20% off dining at the Value Food Courts and 20% off most table service resturants [automatic gratuity of 18% though].

For me, I have never been able to afford to take as many vacations as I have without an AP - because my ticket is in hand already. The ability to park hop and not worry about dates are wonderful. This past trip, I park hopped several times in one day.

You can purchase your AP passes whenever you are most comfortalbe. They are valid for exactly 12 months after the first day of use at a theme park. So if you purchase in July but will not go to a Disney park until September - your 12 month starts in September, not July.

The list goes on and on. I love it! I do not think I can ever reverte back to regular tickets.
Click to expand...


thanks for the insight. we decided to get them this year. waiting on our vouchers. because we go about two/three times a year and figure it may be worth it. your info just helped me feel a lot better in the decision.
 
Upvote 0
AGentlRose

AGentlRose

New Member
Even though we don't live close (Las Vegas), we opted for the AP's, thinking that we'll go twice during the year. Even if we only used them for 2 trips, between the discounts we got on our room at Poly in Feb. ($250), the discounts we got at World of Disney (20% special in Feb. for AP holders), it made the AP's absolutely worthwhile for us. Not to mention having the APs gives us an excuse to return to WDW when something special is offered. We hadn't planned on going in August, but when the 35% off Club Level rooms was offered, it made it easy for us to make the decision to go.
 
Upvote 0
S

Susan Savia

Well-Known Member
We've always had an annual pass. We go in either January or February each year and for 8 days each time and although technically we go once a year, we plan it so that the following year is inside of the one year frame and so we are getting a second use from the passes. We like it for several reasons. The day we arrive it is usually about 1:00 and we like to unload the car and zip right on over to Epcot. It saves us on parking as we always stay offsite and the discounts in some restaurants and stores.
 
Upvote 0
CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
MontyMon said:
Why can you use "generally" to give a broad statement without specific detail, but I can't?
Click to expand...

Because you didn't quantify your statement :rolleyes:

You said "Generally if you do more than one trip in a year it's worthwhile". Hypothetically, a trip could be a day trip, and therefore 2 x 1 day trips do not make any sense when applied to the purchase of an Annual Pass.

My reply was very tongue-in-cheek but just highlighting the vagueness in your response.

Don't get so worked up about it :wave:
 
Upvote 0
durangojim

durangojim

Well-Known Member
CAPTAIN HOOK said:
2 x 1 day visits ??????? :rolleyes:

To break even on an AP you're generally looking at visiting WDW a minimum of 12-14 days per annum.
Click to expand...


Not quite true, a lot of it depends on where you are staying. I know that it isn't guaranteed but about 40% (sometimes a savings of around $150/night) off at a deluxe will often make the break even point about 7 days out of the year. If you always stay at a value then there is very little being saved and it would take longer to recoup you expenses.

Also if you add in the Tables in Wonderland 20% discount for dining the savings increase.
 
Upvote 0
scottnj1966

scottnj1966

Well-Known Member
zandalee said:
I was looking at some very generic annual pass information and am wondering what people here think. My husband and I are thinking about getting annual passes but want to know if they are worth it.

We live in a sub-burb of Atlanta so the drive is doable for a long weekend. No kids so we could go any time. The pass prices seem OK but what else is generally offered as a passholder? I know it includes parking, but can you park hop or are you stuck to one park per day. Then do you get any discounts on things like dining or mini-golf?

Are the passes good for 12 months from the date that you purchase them or do you have to buy them during a certain part of the year?

Does anyone know of a site where there is more detailed information?

Any info you may have would be greatly appreciated! :)
Click to expand...

I am sure you got all the answers you needed. But if you do still have more questions email me. I live in Florida and visit Disney a lot but some of my family also lives up North and they have annual passes. So I have a good understanding if it is worth it.

Thanks

Scott

bigfloridacountry@cfl.rr.com
 
Upvote 0
Monty

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
CAPTAIN HOOK said:
I know that - but my point was on the minimum number of visits into a WDW Park you'd have to make in order to maximise the cost of the ticket - nothing at all to do with extra perks
Click to expand...
An adult AP is $469.
Four 1-day hoppers are $532.52
Three 2-day hoppers are $635.82
Two 3-day hoppers are $559.88
One 10-Day hopper is $305.66 plus one 2-day hopper at $211.94 is $517.60.

How does that work with your "To break even on an AP you're generally looking at visiting WDW a minimum of 12-14 days per annum? The only condition that meets your "maximize the cost of the ticket" premise is a 12-day single visit. Given that the OP was asking about multiple trips on the AP, you didn't answer the question at all. :shrug:
 
Upvote 0

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom