Annual Passholder question

[Tarbi]

Hi all. I live in the Uk and each years in December me, and my family, visit WDW and buy an Annual Pass. However I keep hearing people talking about special benefits, pins etc relating to APs, just wondering what benefits are possible and how you get them. Thank you

 

[X2CommNavISTC]

Lemmie size this up.

You live in the UK. And you come in only december? and you buy an annual pass?

If this is correct, what in the world is wrong?

Um, benefits include discounts, special pins that you can only get when you present your AP pass. Nothing too big. Its really for people who are there frequently, like me.

 

[Tarbi]

We visit WDW for 21 days non-stop, and sometimes 21 days in April too, so it works out cheaper. So where abouts do you ge the special pins etc? Thanks for replying

 

[disneydata]

Actually, my family comes every other year for a few weeks and we get annual passes. It's cheaper to get an annual pass and use it for 3 weeks than to buy multiple hopper passes. There are two different types of annual passes. Here are the benefits:

Annual Pass:

*Park hopping for all four theme parks for one year after date of purchase

Premium Annual Pass:

*Park hopping for all four theme parks for one year after date of purchase
*Admission to Disney Quest, Wide World of Sports, Pleasure Island, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon

Both passes also include:

*10% discount on select merchandise at the World of Disney ONLY (until Jan 1st 2004 when the benefits get updated)
*Free parking on resort
*Special edition pins and merchandise
*Special events like attraction previews, etc
*Mickey Monitor, a newsletter for passholders

There's a bunch of other things, I just can't remember them off the top of my head. Here are the current prices (as of 11/02/2003):

Annual Pass Adult (10+): $369.00 + $23.99 tax =$392.99
Annual Pass Child (3-9): $314.00 + $20.41 tax =$334.41
Premium Annual (10+): $489.00 + $31.81 tax =$520.81
Premium Annual (3-9): $416.00 + $27.05 tax =$443.05

You also get discounts if you are renewing or if you are a Disney Club member. For the special pins and merchandise, I believe it tells you in the Mickey Monitor, but you can always ask at guest relations since they know everything anyway Hope this helps!

Nick

 

[X2CommNavISTC]

Originally posted by Tarbi
So where abouts do you get the special pins etc?

1. Magic Kingdom-Exposition Hall
2. EPCOT-Pin Trading Central (Right across from the Fountain of Nations)
3. The Studios-Under the Sorcerer's Hat
4. Animal Kingdom-Island Mercelanties or something like that (The main shop of the park thats to your right as you walk towards the Tree of Life from the main bridge).

And of course, on the most evil and sinister site: EBAY

 

[The Mom]

Originally posted by X2CommNavISTC
Lemmie size this up.

You live in the UK. And you come in only december? and you buy an annual pass?

If this is correct, what in the world is wrong?

Um, benefits include discounts, special pins that you can only get when you present your AP pass. Nothing too big. Its really for people who are there frequently, like me.

Please remember that many countries have more liberal vacation policies than the US, so employees routinely take 3-4 weeks at one time. Also, many US visitors save ALL of their vacation time (and spare change) for a year or two so they can spend a larger block of time on one trip every few years, rather than shorter yearly trips. I believe the "break even" point on the cost of an AP vs PH is 8-10 days. I think anyone spending more time than that at WDW would be foolish NOT to purchase an AP.

 

[EvilMortimer]

The break even point is one week right now for an AP.

 

[barnum42]

I'm another Briton who buys an Annual Pass. Whilst I can no longer afford a yearly trip, I'm there for two weeks, so the AP makes economic sense. Plus the parking is free - fiteen days at seven bucks a day adds up - $105.

 

[Marijil]

Originally posted by X2CommNavISTC
Lemmie size this up.

You live in the UK. And you come in only december? and you buy an annual pass?

If this is correct, what in the world is wrong?

Um, benefits include discounts, special pins that you can only get when you present your AP pass. Nothing too big. Its really for people who are there frequently, like me.

Actually you get 40% off hotel rooms, pretty big...

 

[Moustronaut]

Oh and lets not forget about the on again off again resort room discounts. This most recent set of discounts got our break even point down to 4 nites.

But who knows if they will be doing those next year or not.

 

[MrPromey]

The pins tend to be released at certain times of the year. It isn’t like they just have a special shop with AP only pins. What I mean is that at the time you go there may be one available, two available or none at all. It all depends. They also hold pass holder events throughout the year – some during park hours, some before and some after… As someone else mentioned, the way you typically find out about these things is through the Mickey Monitor. I don’t think they mail them overseas though (I’m sure you would know the answer to that better than I would). One think you might consider it dropping a line to WDW via their website and suggesting an AP area that would grant you access to some sort of online version of the MM as well as perhaps a FAQ and a current list of running AP benefits. Just a thought, anyway.

 

[s25843]

Check out www.wdwpassholder.com for all the bennies

 

[surfsupdon]

Originally posted by Moustronaut
Oh and lets not forget about the on again off again resort room discounts. This most recent set of discounts got our break even point down to 4 nites.

But who knows if they will be doing those next year or not.

Totally right. We, too, go once per year and this year we wised up and bought APs (thanks to the intelligent helpers here) and during "Holiday Season" we are breaking even at the Yacht Club in 2 nights. Under 190 with the pass, but 550 rack!!

So you DONT have to spend weeks at a time for the benefits to work!!

 

[Dwarful]

We are getting AP's from my mother for Christmas this year. our family is going in June and hopefully we will be able to get next years trip in on this same AP. After alot of researching and debating we decided that AP's were the way to go for us and Grandma like the idea of not filling the house with toys the kids dont need! So we are thrilled! Now hopefully we can snag a room discount as well, but either way I am anxiously awaiting those two weeks. this will be the first trip to WDW that grandma has joined along.

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by Dwarful
We are getting AP's from my mother for Christmas this year. our family is going in June and hopefully we will be able to get next years trip in on this same AP. After alot of researching and debating we decided that AP's were the way to go for us and Grandma like the idea of not filling the house with toys the kids dont need! So we are thrilled! Now hopefully we can snag a room discount as well, but either way I am anxiously awaiting those two weeks. this will be the first trip to WDW that grandma has joined along.

I do not recal the small print, but make sure your Mother buys them so that they become active when you first use them in June and so will be good for 365 days from that date.

I'm sure it will be pretty straight forward, but it can't hurt just to make sure.

Enjoy them to the full

 

[Dwarful]

Thanks for the info. My mom was wondering on purchase dates being start dates but the CM's she has talked to over the phone have told her that the date of our arrival will be the start date. Most likely we will be driving down in two vehicles, there will either be 9 or 10 in this next trip. But we are planning on being able to go back the following year because we wont have the expense of tickets. Normally we are an every other year family. But that off year is getting pretty hard to deal with! lol

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by Dwarful
Thanks for the info. My mom was wondering on purchase dates being start dates but the CM's she has talked to over the phone have told her that the date of our arrival will be the start date. Most likely we will be driving down in two vehicles, there will either be 9 or 10 in this next trip. But we are planning on being able to go back the following year because we wont have the expense of tickets. Normally we are an every other year family. But that off year is getting pretty hard to deal with! lol

Good plan. In the days before mortgage commitments I had bought an annual pass then returned eleven months later!

 

[belleama]

Special passes for non us residents

I don't know what the prices for these passes are but they are supposed to be really cheap for non us residents. Check out the following link.

Hope this is helpful for someone.

Xavier

:wave:

http://www.mousesavers.com/specwdwtix.html#funinsun

 

[pepsistar]

We get Annual or Seasonal pass' for Florida residents. When we purchase them, if it is at home, by mail or at AAA you recieve a card that you exchange at Guest services at the parks, the first day you use it. This then becomes the first day of your year. Not the day you buy it, the day you exchage and get the "real" one. I am sure it would be the same for non Florida residents.

As far as the pins-- (passholder) Most of the time you have a certain time period when they are available. Right now the November Mickey Moniter said something about a free lanyard to be picked up at AK. the problem is-- it is free, but only for a few days in Dec/Jan About 5-6 days? So if you are not there then-- Also a lion King 1 1/2 pin you can buy.

These are limited addition and you can buy them as long as they have any left. All the pins places, the main ones, have limited edition passholder pins if you ask them. You just need to ask, as sometimes they are in a drawer. They have the Mickey's 75 year pin, the fourth in the series coming out soon. 7000 pin edition I think it said. Hope I can make it up there before they are gone. They made one for each park and this will be the last of the edition. (Passholder pins)


However, the Annual Pass' are still the way to go. Hopefully you can go 2 times at least to get your full use of them. Have fun!!:sohappy: :lol: :wave: