Need help figuring out the best deal

[case88]

Taking 2 trips to WDW this year. First trip will be 9 days @ POP in May w/ wife, 2 sons (5 & 1) & M-in-L - (package includes 8 day PH w/ WP&M - no dining plan.) Second trip (not yet booked) will be 3-4 nights in mid Sept. w/ wife (our 10th anniversary) at a deluxe during free dining.

Would it be better to go ahead and get Premium AP's for my wife and myself (doing BB & TL in May) and hope they are offering around 40% off the deluxe in mid september for AP's instead of buying the package w/ tix and getting the free dining plan? It seems like they have offered it for the past couple of years, so is it likely they will be offering those discounts again this year? Not sure we will make it back to use the AP's again after September trip, so this is all assuming we only use them for the 2 trips.

Also, if we do get the AP's, is TiWL worth the cost? For our May trip we have 4 ADR's - CRT, O'hana, Tusker Bfast, & CP Bfast. I'm sure the wife and I will have at least 2 nice sitdowns during the anniversary trip.

Appreciate the help trying to figure out the best deal. Thanks!!!

 

[flynnibus]

for smaller groups at deluxes.. free dining isn't nearly as valuable as room discounts.

Your best thing to do is simply run the numbers. You know what they will be, and you can run the same numbers with your hopeful discount.

If your choice of properties is set.. that's half the battle. It gets complicated when you start mixing in more variables.. but yours are very managable. Just run the numbers with and without AP.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I tend to think the AP will be your better offer but I agree with Flynn you have to run the numbers to see honestly.
The Tables in Wonderland card for AP holders is $75.00. What does your typical food bill look like? If you are looking at $400 or more total you are at a break even point and should probably invest in assuming you get the AP of course.
Marie

 

[SMS55]

When you are going, the seasonal passes are also valid. I don't know if you are a Florida Resident, but it's an option. If you are going for 9 days on one trip, the annual(if you can't get the seasonal) already pays for itself.

 

[SJFPKT]

Staying at the Contemporary for four nights in Sept with a 40% off deal will save you $524.00 plus tax (assuming that two of your nights are weekend nights and this is a standard garden room. The more your room, of course the more you save like with a Tower MK View would be a savings of $796.00)

The savings on the annual pass versus buying tickets for the two trips will be approx. $208.74 (depending on how you did it. This is buying an 8 day park hopper for the first trip and a 4 day park hopper for the second.) for a total savings of $732.74

Getting the free dining for 4 days will save you $412.32

So you would most likely come out ahead by doing the Annual Pass and Discount.

Edit: And the idea of getting a 10 day pass with no expiration and then just buying a 2 day pass might come up, however the savings of an annual pass over that idea is $585.76.

EDIT2: This is all based off the price for two people by the way

 

[case88]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking AP's would be the best but wanted to hear from those with more experience using them. I am not a FL resident so seasonal passes won't help.

While nothing is 100% until Disney post it, how likely is it that they offer 40% off deluxe rooms during September?

 

[wannabeBelle]

I might expect a percentage off, as they definitely did that last year. I don't know if I would go that high though. Marie

 

[wdwcandice]

I agree that the AP discount will be more valuable than the free dining....also your vacation won't be held hostage by dining reservations...you'll be way more flexible. Also, know that the TiW discount card will save you 20percent on many counter services, not all of them, but many of them, including the meals at POP...so for 13 days total, at least six sit down meals between the two trip and the counter services, I'd think you'd be saving at least 75.00, the cost of the TiW card. Also, know that when you use the TiW card at sit down restaurants, they automatically add 18% gratuity...so, you'll be saving in tips, basically.

Also, when they release the AP discounts....make sure you are able to call immediately, as soon as you can, to book your room as they only have a handful at each resort...some more than others. And have a plan B resort in the catagory you prefer. I learned that the hard way trying to get an AP rate at Wilderness Lodge one year.

Whenever I get an AP, my strategy is....If I don't feel as if I've "stuck it to the mouse" and got ahead....I plan a third trip that year. :ROFLOL: Try that. :ROFLOL:

 

[Cotton178]

I decide it over in my mind!

 

[dreamfinder]

Definitely look into the AP, along with the TiW. Since the break even on TiW is normally around $375, if you do that much your first trip, anything beyond that is just gravy. And helps to make the AP an even better deal. Not knowing your dining habits, on your deluxe trip do the credits fit your habits? If you end up having to cram in extra meals, or not using credits you lose any possible savings if the AP discounts is only 30-35%.

 

[case88]

We have decided on the AP's and TiW card - I'm sure it will pay for itself on the first trip (w/ at least 4 sit-downs and bfast most mornings at POP - gotta have some MM waffles!). Going to go ahead and get an AP for my DS and squeeze another trip down during the holidays.

I want to wait until closer to our May trip to purchase the AP's just in case we can squeeze a spring '13 trip in. If I purchase them online are they effective from the date of purchase or the first use? Should I wait until I am on site to buy them? Also, can I purchase a TiW card on site, or does that have to be purchased in advance?