WDW Annual Pass - Package Price

[Richards070712]

My wife and I have been discussing getting WDW Annual Passes, and I'm not sure if this can be found somewhere else, but I thought I would ask here.

We've been twice this year, and we plan on going at least once a year, probably every October.
I know we're going in October 2014 with her family, and again in October 2015 with mine.

Is it worth it to get the Annual Pass? When we go, it's usually Sunday-Sunday.

Does anyone have a cost of room + dining plan with Annual Pass compared to the cost of room + dining plan + park tickets without the Annual Pass?

 

[G8rchamps]

Break even is considered about 10 days in a park. If you are able to schedule your 2 trips at 11 months and 2-3 weeks so you can use it twice it may be worth it to get 2 trips out of the pass. Careful though, you may try to go again sine the tickets are paid for and then you get the extra expense of room and board!

 

[dreamfinder]

As @G8rchamps said, it's usually around 10-11 days to break even. However your math may be more complex. Dining plan might end up being free with a package, vs a possible room discount using the AP. Personally I would never take discounts into consideration as they may change at any time. Look solely at the breakeven on your park admission. And remember, if you buy an AP you can buy TiW, which some people are able to use much more effectively than the DDP can ever be.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Agree with @dreamfinder, look at TiW, room discounts and free dining change all the time. If you plan to visit twice in 12 months it is a much better deal to go AP, you do get discounts on various theme park items throughout WDW, discounts on food a select locations and a $25 discount on TiW which buys you 20% off at most table service restaurants including a few that don't accept DDP.

 

[sxeensweet]

Really in your case if you are only going 8 days and only once a year the AP is not worth the extra cost. The only way it's worth it like mentioned above is if you go 10+ days in a year before your pass expires. Also if they have AP room discounts a lot of times now it's the same or not much more off the public room discounts. Last year we got 35% off instead of 30% the public got. Also it's not good for all room types just like regular discounts and in limited availability. TIW that you can get with AP for us is not worth it as we only go every other year now so we rather the regular dining plan. I have crunched the numbers and for us TIW and the dining plan cost us about the same. So we rather have our food for the most part be pre paid for. If you again are only going 8 days in a year it may not be worth paying for that if your considering that. Now the 10% discount you get for shopping is nice but we are now DVC members so we get the same discount with that.
So it's all on your personal situation and you crunching the numbers and figuring it out.

 

[Richards070712]

Really in your case if you are only going 8 days and only once a year the AP is not worth the extra cost. The only way it's worth it like mentioned above is if you go 10+ days in a year before your pass expires. Also if they have AP room discounts a lot of times now it's the same or not much more off the public room discounts. Last year we got 35% off instead of 30% the public got. Also it's not good for all room types just like regular discounts and in limited availability. TIW that you can get with AP for us is not worth it as we only go every other year now so we rather the regular dining plan. I have crunched the numbers and for us TIW and the dining plan cost us about the same. So we rather have our food for the most part be pre paid for. If you again are only going 8 days in a year it may not be worth paying for that if your considering that. Now the 10% discount you get for shopping is nice but we are now DVC members so we get the same discount with that.
So it's all on your personal situation and you crunching the numbers and figuring it out.

My wife is a teacher, so we have to work around her Fall Break.
So here is my scenario:
Our trip in 2014 will be October 19th through the 26th. There is talk that they are going to move their fall break up a week in 2015, so our trip would be October 11th through the 18th. So technically that's 16 days in one year, so I think we'll be ok.

But, if they keep it the same, our 2015 trip will be October 18th through the 25th. So, if that is the case, will our annual pass be good the entire week since our trip begins the day before it expires?

 

[Monty]

My wife is a teacher, so we have to work around her Fall Break.
So here is my scenario:
Our trip in 2014 will be October 19th through the 26th. There is talk that they are going to move their fall break up a week in 2015, so our trip would be October 11th through the 18th. So technically that's 16 days in one year, so I think we'll be ok.

But, if they keep it the same, our 2015 trip will be October 18th through the 25th. So, if that is the case, will our annual pass be good the entire week since our trip begins the day before it expires?

It expires the day it expires. The length of your trip has no bearing. Sorry.

 

[Richards070712]

It expires the day it expires. The length of your trip has no bearing. Sorry.

Ok, so my only hope is they move her fall break up one week. Thank you!

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

My wife is a teacher, so we have to work around her Fall Break.
So here is my scenario:
Our trip in 2014 will be October 19th through the 26th. There is talk that they are going to move their fall break up a week in 2015, so our trip would be October 11th through the 18th. So technically that's 16 days in one year, so I think we'll be ok.

But, if they keep it the same, our 2015 trip will be October 18th through the 25th. So, if that is the case, will our annual pass be good the entire week since our trip begins the day before it expires?

No. It will end the day it expires.

 

[sxeensweet]

My wife is a teacher, so we have to work around her Fall Break.
So here is my scenario:
Our trip in 2014 will be October 19th through the 26th. There is talk that they are going to move their fall break up a week in 2015, so our trip would be October 11th through the 18th. So technically that's 16 days in one year, so I think we'll be ok.

But, if they keep it the same, our 2015 trip will be October 18th through the 25th. So, if that is the case, will our annual pass be good the entire week since our trip begins the day before it expires?

In that case no b/c it will expire 1 year after it's activated so if you activate it on 10/19 in 2014 it will expire on 10/19 in 2015. 10/19 would be the last day you can use it In 2015. So in that case it would not work for you if they do not change the fall break to earlier. I don't know if I would waste the extra money and take that chance personally.

 

[Richards070712]

In that case no b/c it will expire 1 year after it's activated so if you activate it on 10/19 in 2014 it will expire on 10/19 in 2015. 10/19 would be the last day you can use it In 2015. So in that case it would not work for you if they do not change the fall break to earlier. I don't know if I would waste the extra money and take that chance personally.

I'll just have to wait and hopefully they'll announce the '15-'16 calendar before our 2014 trip! Thanks!

 

[sxeensweet]

I'll just have to wait and hopefully they'll announce the '15-'16 calendar before our 2014 trip! Thanks!

Yeah that would be good to wait and see what her sched will be. Hopefully they will have it before you book and if not you can always change what you booked (package or room only) if available if you get that info prior to your trip. .

 

[luv]

If you're eating all your meals at WDW, it will be probably be cheaper to do an AP discount and a TiW discount.

 

[PJean710]

do annual pass folks get to book packages like the non-AP people? I am going in march with my wife and family for a week. Then in april my wife is returning for a dance competition and then again in july. So it makes since for us to get her an AP. The questions comes in with, if we decide to book a december trip. Are we able to take advantage of free dining or any other packages?

 

[disney4life2008]

do annual pass folks get to book packages like the non-AP people? I am going in march with my wife and family for a week. Then in april my wife is returning for a dance competition and then again in july. So it makes since for us to get her an AP. The questions comes in with, if we decide to book a december trip. Are we able to take advantage of free dining or any other packages?

I am not sure. Typically with an AP discount - it is room only with the option of adding the dining plan. But if it is already free you just may. But they may consider that two promotional discounts and not allow it.

 

[PJean710]

Thanks. Im more concerned with whether I can book a dining plan if i so choose.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Thanks. Im more concerned with whether I can book a dining plan if i so choose.

AP holders can usually buy a dining plan. We bought the TIW this time and if you have a large group--up to 10-- if will really pay for itself quickly. Also, if you eat at the QS's like Land of Flavors in AOA you really save because there's no gratuity. We saved 4.00 every morning we ate there on a 20.00 bill for two of us. That does add up. At the table service, you save the tip plus 2%. With a party of 8, that will save us 40.00+ at Crystal Palace. We saved 16.00 at Sci Fi for four of us. In just one short trip, we have almost gotten our money back. We will actually come out way ahead on our next trip in May.

 

[Master Yoda]

do annual pass folks get to book packages like the non-AP people? I am going in march with my wife and family for a week. Then in april my wife is returning for a dance competition and then again in july. So it makes since for us to get her an AP. The questions comes in with, if we decide to book a december trip. Are we able to take advantage of free dining or any other packages?

You can book a package but your wife would still need to make the minimum ticket purchase (typically 2 days) to qualify for the free dining promotion. What typically happens is you will book the package with the minimum tickets. Your wife can then hold onto this ticket and either use it at a later date or apply the value to her AP renewal. Everyone else will then upgrade their tickets to the number of days they need.

but...

Free dining is not always the best promotion. Depending on the number of people in the party and where you say an AP room discount can often be better with less hassle. You will need to run the numbers when the time comes.

You can also book what is called an AP dining package as well, but there is a catch. Your room must be booked with an AP discount or what is called the AP annual rate (full price) to add the dining plan. You can't book a room only at a general public, AAA or any other promotional rate and add the dining plan without tickets.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

You can book a package but your wife would still need to make the minimum ticket purchase (typically 2 days) to qualify for the free dining promotion. What typically happens is you will book the package with the minimum tickets. Your wife can then hold onto this ticket and either use it at a later date or apply the value to her AP renewal. Everyone else will then upgrade their tickets to the number of days they need.

but...

Free dining is not always the best promotion. Depending on the number of people in the party and where you say an AP room discount can often be better with less hassle. You will need to run the numbers when the time comes.

You can also book what is called an AP dining package as well, but there is a catch. Your room must be booked with an AP discount or what is called the AP annual rate (full price) to add the dining plan. You can't book a room only at a general public, AAA or any other promotional rate and add the dining plan without tickets.

This! We booked free dining last year but we already had APs and TIW. So we bought just the minimun 2 day base ticket and saved it for when we renewed our APs in May. We had to do lots of number crunching to make sure it would be worth it with the free dining and purchasing the 2 day base ticket and it was. It wasn't a ton of savings but it was a little. We figured this would be the best chance to see if the dining plan is really for us without spending too much (it wasn't. It was just too much food for us)

 

[lunchbox1175]

Really in your case if you are only going 8 days and only once a year the AP is not worth the extra cost. The only way it's worth it like mentioned above is if you go 10+ days in a year before your pass expires. Also if they have AP room discounts a lot of times now it's the same or not much more off the public room discounts. Last year we got 35% off instead of 30% the public got. Also it's not good for all room types just like regular discounts and in limited availability. TIW that you can get with AP for us is not worth it as we only go every other year now so we rather the regular dining plan. I have crunched the numbers and for us TIW and the dining plan cost us about the same. So we rather have our food for the most part be pre paid for. If you again are only going 8 days in a year it may not be worth paying for that if your considering that. Now the 10% discount you get for shopping is nice but we are now DVC members so we get the same discount with that.
So it's all on your personal situation and you crunching the numbers and figuring it out.

I agree here, its totally about how much you are going to go in a particular year, we usually go at least twice a year, for a total of about 12 days, and in the past, we have totaled all of our discounts that equated to more than the costs of our passes, essentially making them free. However, I will say with the increase in the passes this past year, the decrease in the merchandise discounts from 20% to 10% and the fact that typically anymore the room discount is only about 2% more than the discount that is offered, I am not sure we will be renewing them. Although I have found that we save a lot of money with the TIW card, but that's because we eat a lot, more than what the dining plan covers. The advantage that we do also find, is that if we want to book a last minute trip for a special event or we are going to be in the area for some reason, it is nice to be able to just walk on in to the parks.