Annual Passes

[pooh2u]

:hammer: Sorry I am rather new to this and just trying to find out about the Annual Passes. What do they usually run for the Annual Pass compaired to the Premium Annual Pass and what is the difference? And what exactly are the things you save money on? Ex: hotels, shopping, meals?
Also, when should you buy them before you go or when you get there at checkin (if you can even buy them at checkin?) :brick:

Thanks if anyone can help. My husband and I would like to buy them for our trip in November 24th - Dec 5th.

 

[slappy magoo]

There's a pretty extensive list at www.allearsnet.com that describes the "perks" annual passholders get, including codes for discounted hotel rooms. If you plan on staying on-property, you might want to check those codes out first as it could save you a ton of dough.

Premium Annual Passes are about 530-540 dollars. Regular Annual Passes are about 120 dollars less than that (from memory). The difference between the two is that the Standard Annual Pass will get you into the 4 main theme parks and offer you discounts on the water parks, DisneyQuest, Pleasure Island & the Sports Complex. In the Premium Annual Passes, admission for all that stuff is included. Since you're going for 12 days, I'd say get the Premium, unless you're absolutely sure you won't want to hit any of the extra stuff.

 

[KevinPage]

Welcome. I'm a previous Long Islander myself (Sayville, wife is from Holbrook) & now living in Orlando.

Check Disney's website about the different prices for the AP program.

For Florida residents, the regular AP (only 4 main parks) is $300, the Premium AP (includes water parks, PI & Disneyquest) is $400. When you renew your pass, you save about $30.

AP's for non residents are more expensive though.

Usually an AP is the way to go if you planning more than 1 visit within a 12 month period (pass is good for 365 days when you purchase it, NOT just the calendar year). Just figure out the price of the AP compared to what the Park Hoppers or Length of Stay passes cost. Also if you have an AP they run specials with discounts that could save you more than the cost of the pass, depending on where and how long you stay.

The best place to check for updated discounts is www.mousesavers.com

Hope that helps

 

[pooh2u]

Thanks for the help. I am a Disney Vacation Club Member and since we have gone 1 to 2 times per year for the past 5 years or more this will really help.

Thanks again!

 

[Nicole]

One nice thing about APs too is that you can pre-purchase a voucher for them at any Disney Store. I paid $403 with tax for mine. Your 1-year clock doesn't start ticking until you get to WDW and trade in your voucher for the actual pass. I bought three of them, one in May, one in June and one in July (for me, hubby and 4 year old daughter, hers was about $345) This way I was able to space out the purchasing of our APs which helped the budget!!

 

[barnum42]

I was looking up Annual Pass details the other day for someone - here is a direct link to the All Ears Net page:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

 

[aimster]

I miss having an annual pass. But I found out that once I use my my Play 4 Days pass, I can use the $119 price I paid for that towards an annual pass. I got until December 30th to do it, so I'm hoping I find a better paying job before then or con a relative into a Christmas present suggestion.

 

[colliera]

Additional saving on an AP!

Just back today from the World and discovered a strategy for saving some on the cost of an Annual Pass.

At first I though all I'd need was a 4-day Park Hopper each for my wife and I so I purchased them online with disney.com. Which gives you a $17 discount over the front gate price of $219 or $202, (tax not included).

Now here's where the savings occurs. Without using the 4-day park hopper I traded it's value in on a straight Annual Pass. The cast member first swapped the online 4-day Park Hopper for a gate 4-day Park Hopper ticket, (same number of days but different in dollar value). Then the gate 4-day Park Hopper's higher dollar value was applied to the remaining cost of the Annual Pass, (there is no online discount for the AP - Internet and gate pricing is the same). In effect it applied an Internet discount to the AP.

 

[WDWRLD]

We try to visit the world each summer and stay about 10 days. What we do is plan our first trip in early July, Get our AP on the day we check in. Then we go in December for 7 or so days. Then next summer we visit in late june for another 10 days all within 365 days. Then we let our pass expire till the next summer. As far as the PAP, if you only plan on visiting a water park 1 or 2 times its cheaper to just buy single day passes as you go.

 

[MissM]

For Florida residents, I find the easiest way to get an AP or a Seasonal AP is to take advantage of the Play Four Days Pass. Once it's done, you can apply what you spent towards the upgrade. In effect, it's like a layaway where you still get four park-hopping days in the meantime. (I don't know about anyone else, but for us, it's easier to pay $240 - $119 x 2 - then pay the difference - last year we did seasonals and it was only another $70 each - to upgrade then come up with like $400 [seasonal] or $600 [annual] in one shot.)

Just a suggestion.
-m

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Also, when should you buy them before you go or when you get there at checkin (if you can even buy them at checkin?) :brick:

You can purchase vouchers at most US Disney stores, online at www.disney.com , or over the phone at 407-WDISNEY. These vouchers have to be exchanged (with a photo ID) at Guest Relations at any of the 4 main parks or DownTown Disney. You can't exchange them at WDW Resort Guest Services. The One Year doesn't start until the date of the voucher exchange and means that you can spread the cost of your purchase to help your budget.

You can purchase an Activated Pass at any of the ticket windows at the 4 main parks, Guest Relations at DownTown Disney, Disneys Earport (Orlando Int Airport), Ocala Disney Info Centre (I-75), and in Belz Factory Mall or Premium Outlet Mall at Lake Buena Vista.

 

[brkgnews]

You can purchase vouchers at most US Disney stores, online at www.disney.com , or over the phone at 407-WDISNEY. These vouchers have to be exchanged (with a photo ID) at Guest Relations at any of the 4 main parks or DownTown Disney. You can't exchange them at WDW Resort Guest Services.

They also let me exchange my voucher for a full pass at the Info Center in Ocala (exit 350 off I-75)

 

[fjm777]

They also let me exchange my voucher for a full pass at the Info Center in Ocala (exit 350 off I-75)

And how did that go? Any problems?