Moving to Orlando Nov. first - Disney annual pass & other tips?

[TangleWeb]

My wife & I & our 22 year old son are moving to Orlando around November first. We have an apartment not far from Downtown Disney. We're interested in getting annual passes to the Disney Parks & are considering the standard Florida Resident Annual Pass that permits access to all 4 parks, 365 days a year. We don't golf, so the Premium Pass would not be worth it for us, as the difference is $120 & you can get a Disney Water Parks Pass for $99.

Is there any way to reduce the price of the Annual Pass?

Both my wife & I will be applying for jobs with Disney, me part time & my wife full or part time. We will both be applying for non Disney positions in Orlando as well.

I'd be interested in any tips regarding Annual Passes & any tips in general about the Orlando area, job market & anything else anyone may feel is helpful

Thanks in advance.

~Dave

 

[MissM]

You can get the Seasonal AP as well which blocks out peak of summer, two weeks at xmas/new years and two weeks at Spring Break (aka the busiest times of year.) It's $100-something cheaper than a full AP but you don't get free parking.

Also, Florida residents can get the monthly payment plan now for their AP's.

Beyond that, Florida Resident AP's are already significantly cheaper versus non-FL resident so there are certainly no additional discounts on them.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

As CM's you will get admission for yourself to the parks with certain dates blacked out. If you are considering jobs with Disney you might want to hold off on purchasing a pass. As a bit of advice for your wife, full time professional positions with Disney are very hard to come by right now. I don't know what she might be looking to do (full time front line or professional), but she should be prepared.

 

[chama1]

Are there any positions for someone in the Medical field and how can a person find out. I am a nurse and would be interested in either a part or full time position.

 

[TangleWeb]

You can get the Seasonal AP as well which blocks out peak of summer, two weeks at xmas/new years and two weeks at Spring Break (aka the busiest times of year.) It's $100-something cheaper than a full AP but you don't get free parking.

Also, Florida residents can get the monthly payment plan now for their AP's.

Beyond that, Florida Resident AP's are already significantly cheaper versus non-FL resident so there are certainly no additional discounts on them.

I looked at the seasonal, but we really want to see Disney at Christmas, as we've never been during the Christmas season. Free parking is definitely a plus, but our apartment community is right on the bus & trolley lines & also has shuttles. We may not use private transportation to go to the parks.

I can't wait!

As CM's you will get admission for yourself to the parks with certain dates blacked out. If you are considering jobs with Disney you might want to hold off on purchasing a pass. As a bit of advice for your wife, full time professional positions with Disney are very hard to come by right now. I don't know what she might be looking to do (full time front line or professional), but she should be prepared.

My wife was an executive secretary for many years before she found that she really enjoyed being a server a lot more. She’s been doing it now for 15 years & is really good at it Initially she will be looking in & near Downtown Disney with an eye for a position at a Disney Restaurant eventually. I know those positions are highly sought after & are generally filled from inside, but she’ll be working on it.

I’m an IT Support Analyst & will be looking for a position in the Orlando area, with the goal to get a PT position with Disney. I had 15 years experience in Law Enforcement before going into IT, so that’s an option. I’m really good at picking up trash & cleaning bathrooms, so I’m pretty flexible when it comes to working for Mickey

 

[TangleWeb]

Are there any positions for someone in the Medical field and how can a person find out. I am a nurse and would be interested in either a part or full time position.

Hi chama1. You would be best to post in the Employment sub forum, rather than piggybacking on my thread. You'll get lots of help there

 

[minniemickeyfan]

Good luck with your move and enjoy the Florida weather year round. My daughter insists in 4 years at 18 she's moving there as well to become a CM as well... I may have to follow..now I know why I got the extra degree in Tourism :animwink:

 

[TangleWeb]

Good luck with your move and enjoy the Florida weather year round. My daughter insists in 4 years at 18 she's moving there as well to become a CM as well... I may have to follow..now I know why I got the extra degree in Tourism :animwink:

Thank you

We've talked about it for years, so when I was laid off from my job, the VERY NEXT DAY after my wife, son, daughter & grandkids returned from a 10-day Disney vacation we saw that as a sign

We currently live in South Carolina, so we already enjoy the nice weather, but still can't wait to live & work in Orlando. We love to cruise as well, so being an hour from 2 major cruise ports & less than 5 hours from a third (Miami) will be pretty nice as well.

 

[dreamfinder]

The only ways I know of to save more on an AP would possibly be to bridge a discounted ticket. Basically you buy a ticket from Undercover Tourist or another ticket reseller, that has the gate value closest to what you would be spending on your AP. Then you use it once, and then upgrade the ticket to your AP. Glancing at the current prices it looks like you might be able to save $20 or so that way.

I don't know for a fact if you can bridge into a FL AP, but you can for a regular AP.

 

[tizzo]

Aside from the FL resident discount, which is supposed to be pretty significant, AAA has a discount of maybe twelve bucks.

I don't know what limitations and whatever apply, but cast members (as someone else pointed out) get free admission at least some of the time and can bring guests. I have a niece whose boyfriend's mom was a server somewhere, and it seemed like my niece and her boyfriend used to go for free quite a bit.

I don't know any more than that. Don't know if you have to be full time, if you get to park for free like with the AP, or what limits, blackouts, etc. there might be. Lots of CMs here though so someone is sure to offer more details...

 

[devoy1701]

I looked at the seasonal, but we really want to see Disney at Christmas, as we've never been during the Christmas season. Free parking is definitely a plus, but our apartment community is right on the bus & trolley lines & also has shuttles. We may not use private transportation to go to the parks.

I can't wait!


My wife was an executive secretary for many years before she found that she really enjoyed being a server a lot more. She’s been doing it now for 15 years & is really good at it Initially she will be looking in & near Downtown Disney with an eye for a position at a Disney Restaurant eventually. I know those positions are highly sought after & are generally filled from inside, but she’ll be working on it.

I’m an IT Support Analyst & will be looking for a position in the Orlando area, with the goal to get a PT position with Disney. I had 15 years experience in Law Enforcement before going into IT, so that’s an option. I’m really good at picking up trash & cleaning bathrooms, so I’m pretty flexible when it comes to working for Mickey

Remember that the Christmas Season at Disney starts the first weekend of November, and the Seasonal Pass doesn't black out until usually 12/20, So you'll definitely be able to see all of the Christmas Festivities. We have had both Seasonal and APs, and we noticed that you really don't want to be in the park during the blacked out times anyway. They black out the hottest, busiest, most jam-packed days of the parks. :wave:

 

[MissM]

Remember that the Christmas Season at Disney starts the first weekend of November, and the Seasonal Pass doesn't black out until usually 12/20, So you'll definitely be able to see all of the Christmas Festivities. We have had both Seasonal and APs, and we noticed that you really don't want to be in the park during the blacked out times anyway. They black out the hottest, busiest, most jam-packed days of the parks. :wave:

Yup, agreed.

 

[TangleWeb]

Remember that the Christmas Season at Disney starts the first weekend of November, and the Seasonal Pass doesn't black out until usually 12/20, So you'll definitely be able to see all of the Christmas Festivities. We have had both Seasonal and APs, and we noticed that you really don't want to be in the park during the blacked out times anyway. They black out the hottest, busiest, most jam-packed days of the parks. :wave:

Interesting! We'll have to consider that, since we're going to be on a tight budget for a while after the move.

I see that the blackout dates for the Christmas season are Dec. 18th through Jan. 1st this year & the same for 2011, but still leaving plenty of time to visit the parks.

Did not see this one yet...



If you DO get an AP? STRONGLY consider getting a Tables in Wonderland card ($75 for a year for our last one). Straight 20% off food, 18% gratuity. Sandy and I LOVE ours, and typically see it pay itself off after 1.5 Signiture Dining meals

Great tip! My wife & I love to dine out, so the Tables in Wonderland card looks like a good deal for us.


Thanks to all who have posted tips & info! I'll continue to check this thread for more info

Any tips on Orlando in general would be welcome as well.

 

[tizzo]

Remember that the Christmas Season at Disney starts the first weekend of November, and the Seasonal Pass doesn't black out until usually 12/20, So you'll definitely be able to see all of the Christmas Festivities. We have had both Seasonal and APs, and we noticed that you really don't want to be in the park during the blacked out times anyway. They black out the hottest, busiest, most jam-packed days of the parks. :wave:

We've noticed the same thing, but we've always gotten the AP anyway. For one thing, it always seems like someone is visiting from out of state during blackout times. Fortunately, for as many times as we go in a year the savings on parking more than covers the cost difference of the AP over the seasonal.