Help me make up my mind!

M

mom_rules

New Member
The great debate continues-Do we buy PAP's for 2 of us- we are spending 9 days in WDW 4 days on the Wonder, we like PI, DQ and the waterparks-there is a chance we may return to WDW within the year for another vacation.

Which is more economical and smarter way to go-PAP's for two, or the new tickets, including hopping, no expiry, PI, DQ and waterparks?

Any help appreciated!
 
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Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
mom_rules said:
The great debate continues-Do we buy PAP's for 2 of us- we are spending 9 days in WDW 4 days on the Wonder, we like PI, DQ and the waterparks-there is a chance we may return to WDW within the year for another vacation.

Which is more economical and smarter way to go-PAP's for two, or the new tickets, including hopping, no expiry, PI, DQ and waterparks?

Any help appreciated!
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I would go for the PAP if you think you will use the premium features. We buy AP's and add on an annual for PI.
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
You kind of need to run the numbers based on the number of things you want to do outside the parks. Also another thing to consider you get a discount on those other attractions when you have an AP and purchase a ticket at the attraction (i.e. not at your hotel) so find out the difference in price between an AP and a PAP. Add up the discounted ticket prices of the other attractions you want to do. After that it is just a matter of which one costs less. Another option you might consider is a length of stay pass if you won’t be returning to use your AP. Also ticket price and options will be changing next year so one of the new options might suit you situation better.

P.S. The Disney cruise is awesome. Best vacation I have ever been on.
 
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M

mom_rules

New Member
Original Poster
I know-so many options and I can't figure them out.

I looked at the new ticket prices and tried to compare all the options to the $531 for a PAP, a length of stay won't work for us since it's for a 3 night minimum and we have our reservations broken up in several ressies for rate purposes.

BTW, care to share your cruise experience-we'd love to hear about it!
 
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crazygirley

crazygirley

New Member
I'd say go with the PAP... we've had them for years. The really good thing, aside from the recreational bonuses, you also save loads of money on hotel rooms!
 
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J

jordanyosh

Member
I think the PAPs are good motivation for you to take another trip to WDW. It would probably be the only way to get your money's worth from them.

We've been on 2 3-day cruises and 1 4-day cruise all on the Wonder. Yeah, the most relaxing vacations I have ever taken. We are doing a 7-day in either Dec of '05 or Early Feb '06. Nothing like going on a cruise and Castaway Cay is the best, especially the Adults only beach.

I don't know how old you kids are, but if you can swing a night at Palo, then do it.

Have a great time.
 
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M

mom_rules

New Member
Original Poster
Hey Gail! How's it goin'? Missed your post the first time through.

Here's the numbers I crunched for my situation:

Old 7 day Park Hopper Plus $364.23
10 day UPHP $503.74
New 10 day Ticket with Pluses, no expiry, park hopper option
in advance, delivered $417.30
Premium Annual Pass $531.46
Annual Pass with PI Pass only $462.16

So based on this info-what would you do?
 
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crazygirley

crazygirley

New Member
I'd say go with the PAP. I mean, you might not be thinking that you will take a trip in a year, but lets say that six months down the road, you decide you might like to. None of the other passes will work for you. A PAP will. And think of it this way. If you did decide to take another trip within the year, it's $531.46 that you already paid for (and that feels so good, knowing you can go on a trip down there and have tickets paid for!!!) If you spend $300 - $400 once on Hopper tickets, after this trip, it's gone, and if you decide to take another trip within the year, you'll spend another $300- $400... that's potentially $600 - $800 a person when you could have gotten it for $531.46!!!

Also, the other advantages I mentioned before make it worth it!!!
 
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Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
mom_rules said:
Hey Gail! How's it goin'? Missed your post the first time through.

Here's the numbers I crunched for my situation:

Old 7 day Park Hopper Plus $364.23
10 day UPHP $503.74
New 10 day Ticket with Pluses, no expiry, park hopper option
in advance, delivered $417.30
Premium Annual Pass $531.46
Annual Pass with PI Pass only $462.16

So based on this info-what would you do?
Click to expand...
Hi, It's going, that is about all. :(

Since I have no need to ever do water parks or DQ and I manage to usually get three visits out of my AP and they have extended the PI APs to 15 months IF you purchase them before 12/30/04. I would go with the AP and PI pass.

Take care!!!!! :)
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
mom_rules said:
I know-so many options and I can't figure them out.

I looked at the new ticket prices and tried to compare all the options to the $531 for a PAP, a length of stay won't work for us since it's for a 3 night minimum and we have our reservations broken up in several ressies for rate purposes.

BTW, care to share your cruise experience-we'd love to hear about it!
Click to expand...
If the confusion is too great then just go with the PAP. Unless you never go outside the 4 main parks you should do fine. Hit DQ, PI and the water parks a few times and you will get your moneys worth…at worst break even. Don’t forget to read the discount book the give you. Any AP gives you discounts out the wazoo thrououtt the parks. One trick I did find if you do any “Disney merchandise” shopping do it at World of Disney in the marketplace. The AP will give you 10% off. The discount doesn’t apply to stores in the park.
Now for the cruise info…….
If you are traveling with kids and they are about 7 or older you will probably never even see them. The oacaneer’s club has a plethora of stuff for them to do from about 8:00 am to 1:30 am. (We barely saw our 9 year old for 4 days.)
If the kids are old enough to have dinner by themselves eat at Palo’s. Reserve as early as possible. With the way the rotation dinning works the restaurant you eat at the first night will also be the restaurant you eat on the last night so if you can trade out one of those nights you will be able to eat at all four restaurants on the ship.
If you plan to do any snorkeling buy your own equipment before you leave. Sports Authority has a good mask, dry snorkel and fin package for about $100. Renting will cost you at least $30 and the equipment is Wal Mart quality.
My favorite shore excursion was the hiking, kayak trip at Freeport. We also did the Atlantis tour at Nassau. As far as the straw market skip it.
 
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CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
I've read that unless you use the PAP for a minimum of 13 days (AP = 8 days) then you don't break even - so with only 9 days I'd really look into the future and work out whether you'll return within 12 months
 
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crazygirley

crazygirley

New Member
CAPTAIN HOOK said:
I've read that unless you use the PAP for a minimum of 10 days then you don't break even - so with only 9 days I'd really look into the future and work out whether you'll return within 12 months
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Or depending on how many times you plan on visiting the water parks, PI, and DQ... as well as if you ar staying on property... if you are staying on property, in nine days, you can break even just on the savings from the resort.
 
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M

mom_rules

New Member
Original Poster
At the moment we have our room only reservations booked using the BDP (?) code. If and when March AP discounts come out-what have the rates generally been in the past? Would they be better than the general public codes?
 
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crazygirley

crazygirley

New Member
mom_rules said:
At the moment we have our room only reservations booked using the BDP (?) code. If and when March AP discounts come out-what have the rates generally been in the past? Would they be better than the general public codes?
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Well I know AP rates are very close to a 50% discount... we just booked and got about a 45% discount. The GP discounts are around 35% or so.
 
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Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
mom_rules said:
Think I will go with my PAP instinct-do you think there is a chance that SP rates will be available for March?
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I don't know about AP rates in March, but a GREAT newsletter to sign up for (free) is the Mousesavers newsletter. www.mousesavers.com

Another thing I might suggest is that you purchase your passes ASAP. You can save shipping by putting them on the "will call" option, which means you just go to any ticket window or guest services window and pick them up. No chance of losing them this way. We did this and it was wonderful. :) We just brought our receipt email with us and within 5 mins. had them in our happy little hands. :)
 
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