The benefit of an ANNUAL PASS...

[Firewolfe51]

What do you think about buying an annual pass? How beneficial are they if you only visit 2-3 times per year? We usually buy a six day pass, and then split the days during trips. Are the passes good for just the individual that buys them, or can they be used by someone else. Any info to help? :veryconfu

 

[mousermerf]

Any ticket you buy, annual pass or otherwise, is only good for the person who buys it. If you've been splitting days across different people in the past, you've been breaking the rules.

Biometrics now make it so that the person who first uses a ticket is the only person who can use the ticket.

If you only go for 6 days ina year, it's probably not worth it to buy the AP. It does not guarantee a room discount, though that sometimes happens. You can get a Disney Dining Experience card with an AP though - and that can save you tons of money on food.

 

[Pongo]

I've kind of been debating the same thing. I live an hour's drive away from the parks, and I know that if I have one that I'll go ALL THE TIME, it's just gas prices I'm worried about. So... that's my only problem. does anyone have any advice?

 

[goofyfan13]

I've kind of been debating the same thing. I live an hour's drive away from the parks, and I know that if I have one that I'll go ALL THE TIME, it's just gas prices I'm worried about. So... that's my only problem. does anyone have any advice?

If you live that close and don't plan on going during peak season, I would suggest a seasonal pass, I had that last year becuase I was always back home in Michigan during the black out dates. The Seasonal is only $200, so 4 visits "pays it off". It was nice last year too because gas was cheaper in Disney than over here in Daytona, so that was an additional excuse to go every other weekend. :lol:

To the OP, if you go to the parks 2-3 time per year, I wouldn't suggest getting an AP. As others have stated, of course the passes are only good for one person, no park anywhere allows you to use on ticket for more than one person, at least the parks I have gone to. If you want to get the best value and only visit the parks 2-3 times per year, get a 10-day with park hopper and never expire option, and if you want the add ons. That way you won't have to buy a new ticket until your 3rd or 4th trip. Hope this helps. :wave:

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

I've kind of been debating the same thing. I live an hour's drive away from the parks, and I know that if I have one that I'll go ALL THE TIME, it's just gas prices I'm worried about. So... that's my only problem. does anyone have any advice?

This is really the reason I'm not renewing mine this year. It's really expensive to drive out there from Volusia or any other place an hour away, then back. Plus I-4 is simply insane right now with construction near WDW... of which I've had to go past to see friends in Winter Haven.

I'm really considering a seasonal pass this time around. I've only been out to WDW once after May 5th and I'll probably be down there once more before my Annual Pass ironically expired on October 1st.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

The price of my AP is more than justified to get my room discount. I went for three weeks once and it was the most sensible way to do it. It just happened that having bought it for the coming summer visit I was able to geta deal and go for Halloween.

It always pays to do the maths but I find it worth the money

 

[DisneyWales]

Gas

You guys really dont know how well you have it with the price of gas. For me to get to Alton Towers or Thorpe Park (the UK's two biggest theme Parks) from where I live is approx 3 hours. So that will got me £35 pounds in petrol to get there and £35 to get back Give of take £10 depending on traffic. So if we put that at say £60, in USD thats $110 Approx.
:hammer:

 

[mpaul32001]

You might get into the soft openings of expedition everest.

 

[KilleriMac17]

with annual passes, it all depends how often you will go, and how long each stay is. Wife and I have APs and we are doing 3 trips with them, each 9-10 days, and we also got hotel discounts with them. the trip we are currently planning will cost us about $800-$900 total(with airfare) for 9 days because we have the aps

:king:

 

[mousermerf]

Don't use a room discount to figure out if the AP is worth it - we've seen several times here that what Disney giveth, Disney darn well can taketh away when it feels like it, on a thursday, because its cloudy, and someone at Team Disney is in a funk.

 

[KilleriMac17]

Don't use a room discount to figure out if the AP is worth it - we've seen several times here that what Disney giveth, Disney darn well can taketh away when it feels like it, on a thursday, because its cloudy, and someone at Team Disney is in a funk.

thats why you use the BRP. )

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

You guys really dont know how well you have it with the price of gas. For me to get to Alton Towers or Thorpe Park (the UK's two biggest theme Parks) from where I live is approx 3 hours. So that will got me £35 pounds in petrol to get there and £35 to get back Give of take £10 depending on traffic. So if we put that at say £60, in USD thats $110 Approx.
:hammer:

Not to start another discussion, but yes I think most do realize that gas prices are higher elsewhere. However our rate of change in the past few months has been very irregular, which has also caused fears of shortages. For most who try to budget everything out not knowing what the price of gas might be in a week (or let alone a day) is scary stuff.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

What do you think about buying an annual pass? How beneficial are they if you only visit 2-3 times per year?

I've read somewhere that the "Break Even" point for APs is after about 10 - 12 park visits. But this was BEFORE MYW tickets were introduced

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Dont forget that a renewal is even cheaper and that (for the time being at least) you can get Disney Dinning Experience card for $50.

 

[Thrawn]

I've read somewhere that the "Break Even" point for APs is after about 10 - 12 park visits. But this was BEFORE MYW tickets were introduced

That also doesn't include the other discounts, like the room discounts, and the DDE card.

 

[Moustronaut]

I've read somewhere that the "Break Even" point for APs is after about 10 - 12 park visits. But this was BEFORE MYW tickets were introduced

With the new MYW tickets, the break even point is around 13 days. If you are planning going close to that many days, it's worth it. Other discounts can lower that break even point to fewer days making it worth it for 10 days. You get discounts on tours, free parking if you're staying off site, discounts on some food, etc.

 

[goofyfan13]

You might get into the soft openings of expedition everest.

You can get into the passholder previews with a seasonal pass too.