Seeking advice from Annual Passholders

[wannabeBelle]

I enjoy the more expensive restaurants, and I enjoy an evening of cool beverages at the Rose & Crown. And I try to get in 3 trips out of one AP/TiW. So yes, I still save.

I definitely save on the AP without a question, as I am on property at least a few times each year. TiW is the one I don't think is a savings for me any longer. Especially now that there is a savings with the AP anyhow. Marie

 

[danyoung56]

I definitely save on the AP without a question, as I am on property at least a few times each year. TiW is the one I don't think is a savings for me any longer. Especially now that there is a savings with the AP anyhow. Marie

Yeah, the calculation is a lot tougher. I'm still eating at enough restaurants that are NOT covered by the AP's discounts that the TiW card is still worth it for me. But I have to do some really extensive math to make sure I'm still saving money.

 

[Dave B]

Yes, get it.

If you're buying anything over a 7 day Park Hopper, it's almost a break even after all the discounts and Memory Maker is a pretty good perk. Unless you are 100% sure you won't return, it's cheap insurance for the next trip.

So this is very inaccurate, I had a 10 day park hopper and was there in November, I was going to upgrade to an AP and it was over $500 more, no where near the equivalent of close to breaking even, now if you had another trip planned in the next 365 days, its a whole different story

 

[wdwfan757]

I think a lot of people advising you to get an AP may be a bit out of touch with how much a NEW AP costs. Once you have one, it's a good value to keep it, because the renewal rates are not too terrible, and it's cheaper than to renew than go on two long trips, especially with the room discounts, etc. But I cringe at how much a new one costs. I'd bet WDW gets a large portion of their members to renew just out of fear of having to one day buy a brand new AP from scratch. I fall in that category.

My advice would be, if you think youre going to go once this year. Do not get an AP for any reason
If you think you're going to go twice this year and then not go next year. Do not get an AP
If you think you're going to go three times this year and not go next year, go ahead and get one.
If you think you're going to go at least twice this year and at least twice next year, go ahead and get one.

In the latter case, you will end up slightly overpaying this year, but you'll end up underpaying once you can get your AP at the renewal rate.

Prepare to get sucked in though.

 

[Disney Dad 3000]

I think a lot of people advising you to get an AP may be a bit out of touch with how much a NEW AP costs. Once you have one, it's a good value to keep it, because the renewal rates are not too terrible, and it's cheaper than to renew than go on two long trips, especially with the room discounts, etc. But I cringe at how much a new one costs. I'd bet WDW gets a large portion of their members to renew just out of fear of having to one day buy a brand new AP from scratch. I fall in that category.

My advice would be, if you think youre going to go once this year. Do not get an AP for any reason
If you think you're going to go twice this year and then not go next year. Do not get an AP
If you think you're going to go three times this year and not go next year, go ahead and get one.
If you think you're going to go at least twice this year and at least twice next year, go ahead and get one.

In the latter case, you will end up slightly overpaying this year, but you'll end up underpaying once you can get your AP at the renewal rate.

Prepare to get sucked in though.

This is where we aRe at. Ours expired last June after we finished up a lengthy trip. Didn't pull the plug on renewing even though it was tempting but I knew best case we wouldn't be back til this summer. Even if we go this summer, not sure we'll get one again due to the sticker price, and probably avoiding the parks until next summer/fall for some diedown from mmrr and sw.

The initial outlay for a pass sucks but that 2nd or 3rd trip it sure feels great to only think about paying travel/room/food

 

[Chef Mickey]

So this is very inaccurate, I had a 10 day park hopper and was there in November, I was going to upgrade to an AP and it was over $500 more, no where near the equivalent of close to breaking even, now if you had another trip planned in the next 365 days, its a whole different story

It was kind of inaccurate, granted...but it depends on how much you dine, how you value Memory Maker, and how many souvenirs you buy. The 10-20% discounts add up.

However, I was basing my calc on my AP discounted rate, memory maker, and saving around $150 on dining. Then it's basically break even for an 8 day Park Hopper.

 

[danyoung56]

I think a lot of people advising you to get an AP may be a bit out of touch with how much a NEW AP costs.

I don't really think it's that much difference. I mean, according to the website, you can save up to 15%. On a pass that costs $994, that's $150. Nice savings, but not a dealbreaker, IMO.

 

[Touchdown]

Do not count on discounts, those can change at anytime. Do the math, if you are within $100 of an AP do it, if not stick to the hoppers.

Also beware, if you get an AP you will likely do additional trips because a major cost barrier will be eliminated.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

The way I'm reading this is...about a $250 difference per person (7Day PH vs AP). Assuming you're not getting a FL resident rate and looking at Platinum. So it's about a $250 per person difference (About $750 Platinum vs about $490 7 Day PH).

It's going to be tough making up a $1250 shortfall (factoring in 5 people) on one 7 day trip unless you're eating like a king and looking to spend 10k on merchandising.

Now, if you plan a return 7 day visit within the following 11 months.....then its a no brainer.

 

[BASS]

Have you determined what the saving will be at the hotel if you're a passholder?

Also, like others have mentioned, you'll save 10% on dining and merchandise. If you and your family intend to dine cheap, the discount likely isn't as valuable if you intend to dine at some of the nicer restaurants.

 

[LAKid53]

There is also a thing called the Tables In Wonderland card, which an AP holder can buy for around 75 bucks. It gives 20% off at a much wider selection of restaurants, including a few QS locations. And if you're a drinker, you can get 20% off of alcohol at most locations, which can really add up.

I'm planning a trip now, and I looked closely at the list of discounts that you can get with just an AP as opposed to adding on the TiW card. For me it was a no-brainer - the card was going to save me money at many more locations than the AP alone.

Tables in Wonderland is now $150 for AP/DVC, $175 for Florida restaurants. Not all restaurants honor it and the discount isn't allowed on certain holidays - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, etc. 18% gratuity is automatically added to the check. And whoever has the card has to be the person who pays, if paying by CC.

 

[LAKid53]

Note that many QS spots don't offer the AP discount in food and beverages.

 

[SirWillow]

We were there for 4 days in October and knew that we would be back in July for several days, and staying off property on the second trip. Looking at the prices of combined tickets for the two trips vs. AP they came out pretty close, and once figuring in the discounts, memory maker, and the free parking for the second trip it became a no brainer to get the AP. Plus it then gave us justification for using airline miles and discounts to add on an extra week long trip next month that's only going to cost a little over $1000 dollars to come in from MO. So in that case, more than worth it.

But one trip for 7-10 days? I can't see that it would come close to balancing out. Even when you factor in Memory Maker, parking and discounts I think you're still going to end up a couple of hundred short of the break even point. Unless you use it like we did to plan a second trip to get the extra use out of the pass.

 

[UncleMike101]

I took a nine day solo trip last year in August and upgraded to the Platinum AP.
My Daughter was talking about all of us taking a trip to The World in June 2019 and the additional seven days makes the AP a good buy.
The savings on food, and merchandise, was an additional perk in August and will be a fairly substantial amount when the Family is with me in June.
My plan is to pay for all of our meals and merchandise with my Passholder Discount and they can repay me when we get back home.
The Passholder Discount for our rooms at CSR this year is about $25.00 per night more than I got with my PIN last August for the same room.
Also the free Photo pass saves me the $169.00 that I would have spent on Memory Maker.
Whether or not buying an AP renewal will be a good financial move for next year remains to be seen.

 

[thomas998]

At current prices, the going rate for a 7 Day Park Hopper in September is $498 Per Adult. A comparable Platinum AP is $894 3+

Your total for 5 Adults would be $2490 versus $4470. (Plus Tax)

The break even point is at or around the 12-14 day mark. (Depending on how many discounts you take advantage of, but then you're getting into the nitty gritty.) As @Master Yoda said, the discounts are nice, but only if you make multiple trips. Generally speaking for a 7 day trip, you won't come out ahead.

Also remember only DVC or Florida residents can get the lower level passes with blackout dates. Which means you're probably looking at the Platinum or Platinum Plus Pass.

We've found in the past that if you are staying 10 days with a family of 4 you it can make sense for one person in the family to get the AP. Is probably close to break even with a 7 day stay but will really depend on exactly what discounts you are going to take advantage of. Remember that for alot of the discounts you don't all need to have the AP. A room discount only requires the person making the reservation to have the AP. When we were doing two long trips a year it made sense for everyone in the family to have the AP but when it cut back to one long one per year it only made sense for me to get the AP and not the whole family. The reality is the OP needs to do some calculation to see how much they will really get out of it.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Tables In Wonderland is the biggest bargain in the world. As I'm often paying for 5-6 people, I'm saving money by day 3 usually. The comped valet is a lifesaver too.

 

[Trackmaster]

At current prices, the going rate for a 7 Day Park Hopper in September is $498 Per Adult. A comparable Platinum AP is $894 3+

Your total for 5 Adults would be $2490 versus $4470. (Plus Tax)

The break even point is at or around the 12-14 day mark. (Depending on how many discounts you take advantage of, but then you're getting into the nitty gritty.) As @Master Yoda said, the discounts are nice, but only if you make multiple trips. Generally speaking for a 7 day trip, you won't come out ahead.

Also remember only DVC or Florida residents can get the lower level passes with blackout dates. Which means you're probably looking at the Platinum or Platinum Plus Pass.

I think its funny how they make blackout dates sound like such a terrible thing. Like I would want to go on the most crowded days of the year anyway. You'd have to pay me to do that.

Another benefit of being an AP holder if you're a local: if the park is more crowded then expected, you can do a FP+ or two and just head home. One time I got to MK, had already missed my good FP+, took one look at the massive crowds, and just went home immediately without even riding anything.