To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question...

zefyr · 09-02-2008

Hi all,

Just bought into DVC and am pondering the AP discount. At what point to you think it's worth it. I'm going for 4 nights in Sept (1-2 will be at MNSSHP), then probably again for 4 nights in Feb (hopefully a PPP on 1 night) and then again in August (if I can figure out when I actually get to use my AKL DVC points). I've heard it was about 10 days for the non DVC AP where you broke even but are the perks of having an AP and getting the DDE card worth it?

Thanks!

**WishUponAStar** · 09-02-2008

Hey! We've maintained our annual passes ever since joining DVC. It is SOOOO worth it. I figured in the past that it was worth it if you we're going at least 10-12 days per year, which it sounds like you are. There are some great benefits besides just "breaking even" moneywise after a certain amount of days. You get additional retail & dining discounts, actually at most DtD stores your annual pass gets you a better discount than your DVC card. There are also special pin releases and special limited edition pins for annual pass members only, you'll get the special magazine for annual pass holders only, party ticket discounts, etc.

ESPECIALLY with the DVC discount on annual passes it's SO worth it.

Can you believe I forgot to renew mine when I got home from my solo trip?

I got so busy with back to school and other stuff that I TOTALLY forgot. So mine has actually expired by a couple weeks now. I better call.

zefyr · 09-02-2008

Oh, I totally forgot about all the AP deals...particularly the pins and since I'll be going to MNSSHP, I can get the special ones there too (missed out on the PPP when I went). Good deal!

**MissDisney** · 09-02-2008

Zefyr, the DDE is really going to pay off for us, since you can order anything (doesn't have to be dessert like on the DDP) and you also get the discount on liquor.

**DisneyTeacher** · 09-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissDisney

Zefyr, the DDE is really going to pay off for us, since you can order anything (doesn't have to be dessert like on the DDP) and you also get the discount on liquor.

I agree, we save a lot with the DDE card. We had 8 people in our group so we got our $65 dollars back in a couple of days.

**MissDisney** · 09-02-2008

Oh zefyr, I just found out that if you have the DDE, it also applies to special order cakes! NICE!

Prezcatz · 09-02-2008

Well, for the sake of the comparison, I'll use each of your two 4-night trips as 4-days of tickets for the parks. 5-day tickets would be slightly higher.

If you bought two 4-day MYW base tickets, the adult cost would be about $233 each trip, for a total near $466 for each adult.

An 8-day MYW base ticket with no expiration would be $400.

The DVC member price for APs is $393. It would include park hopping, which the other numbers I used did not, but park hopping would raise those tickets even higher.

I would say, unless you qualify for one of the other discounts {FL resident, military}, that an AP would be the way to go. As already mentioned, you would get some dining/shopping discounts just for having the AP, and it would allow you to get the DDE card for $60. You would need to look at the DDE discounts to figure out if you would get $60 worth out of it.

We did APs this year for the first time since we had two trips planned with a total of 12 days of parks, and then decided to move another trip next year earlier so it would still fall under the time our APs were valid to help reduce costs!!!

brebre_51 · 09-02-2008

For us it would only be good is we went more then twice a year.

johnkimv · 09-02-2008

I say get both the AP and the DDE. I have both and I love the flexibility, especially knowing I can go to Disney tomorrow if I wanted to and I wouldn't have to buy a ticket!!!!

Goodegirl2007 · 09-02-2008

We opt for the annual passes if we have 2 trips planned for a year.
This year we will get 4 trips out of our passes - a huge savings....

Of course, we wouldn't be going so much if we didn't buy the AP's - so in the long run, maybe it costs more money...LOL!! At least we get lots of trips to Disney out of it!!!

rlcarmichael · 09-03-2008

Another thing to consider is like the first and last day on a trip. If you leave at 1PM you won't want to use a full day on a pass you pay for but with the AP heck yeah you're going.

On my last trip I did EMH morning at HS and we did Toy Story twice, and hit all of the biggies in half a day.

MickeyMcFizzle · 09-03-2008

I think we are going to get them on this upcoming trip. We know we're going to be there more than once a year, so it makes sense.

I think we are getting the premium passes, since we love the waterparks as much as the parks themselves.

09-02-2008	#1 (permalink)
zefyr Mouse Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,005	To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... Hi all, Just bought into DVC and am pondering the AP discount. At what point to you think it's worth it. I'm going for 4 nights in Sept (1-2 will be at MNSSHP), then probably again for 4 nights in Feb (hopefully a PPP on 1 night) and then again in August (if I can figure out when I actually get to use my AKL DVC points). I've heard it was about 10 days for the non DVC AP where you broke even but are the perks of having an AP and getting the DDE card worth it? Thanks! __________________ Pre 1993: Offsite (lost count of how many times)~ 1993: GF ~2004: Poly~ New Years 2004-2005: Disney Dolphin~ 2006 GF~ 2007: Pop~ 2008: BEACH CLUB CONCIERGE (A dream!) and SSR~ 2009: SSR and AKV...'yay me!' My Disney Countdown Counting down to: August vacation in AK Jambo House Villas Onward to the next trip...

09-02-2008	#2 (permalink)
WishUponAStar Waiting for BLT! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: I'm right here! HI! Posts: 12,747	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... Hey! We've maintained our annual passes ever since joining DVC. It is SOOOO worth it. I figured in the past that it was worth it if you we're going at least 10-12 days per year, which it sounds like you are. There are some great benefits besides just "breaking even" moneywise after a certain amount of days. You get additional retail & dining discounts, actually at most DtD stores your annual pass gets you a better discount than your DVC card. There are also special pin releases and special limited edition pins for annual pass members only, you'll get the special magazine for annual pass holders only, party ticket discounts, etc. ESPECIALLY with the DVC discount on annual passes it's SO worth it. Can you believe I forgot to renew mine when I got home from my solo trip? I got so busy with back to school and other stuff that I TOTALLY forgot. So mine has actually expired by a couple weeks now. I better call. __________________ Disneyland & College Program Moderator Upcoming Trips Dec. 16th - 20th '09: Bay Lake Tower June 2010: Alaska Cruise Oct 2010: Spooky Halloween in Disneyland "Life without a vacation countdown is like a cupcake with no frosting." Banner by Mickeysgirlz, she's a rockstar! My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our first Bay Lake Tower stay 21 days 18 hours 56 minutes

09-02-2008	#3 (permalink)
zefyr Mouse Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,005	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... Oh, I totally forgot about all the AP deals...particularly the pins and since I'll be going to MNSSHP, I can get the special ones there too (missed out on the PPP when I went). Good deal! __________________ Pre 1993: Offsite (lost count of how many times)~ 1993: GF ~2004: Poly~ New Years 2004-2005: Disney Dolphin~ 2006 GF~ 2007: Pop~ 2008: BEACH CLUB CONCIERGE (A dream!) and SSR~ 2009: SSR and AKV...'yay me!' My Disney Countdown Counting down to: August vacation in AK Jambo House Villas Onward to the next trip...

09-02-2008	#4 (permalink)
MissDisney Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8,552	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... Zefyr, the DDE is really going to pay off for us, since you can order anything (doesn't have to be dessert like on the DDP) and you also get the discount on liquor. __________________ Disneyland Moderator Disneyland Hotel 1987; Dixie Landings 1993; Dixie Landings 1997; Caribbean Beach 1998; Boardwalk Villas 1999; Vistana Resort 2001; Dixie Landings 2002; Vistana Resort 2002; Marriott Royal Palm Villas 2004; Vistana Resort 2006; Marriott Cypress Harbour 2007; Boardwalk Villas 2008; AKV Kidani 2009; Saratoga Springs 2009

09-02-2008	#6 (permalink)
MissDisney Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8,552	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... Oh zefyr, I just found out that if you have the DDE, it also applies to special order cakes! NICE! __________________ Disneyland Moderator Disneyland Hotel 1987; Dixie Landings 1993; Dixie Landings 1997; Caribbean Beach 1998; Boardwalk Villas 1999; Vistana Resort 2001; Dixie Landings 2002; Vistana Resort 2002; Marriott Royal Palm Villas 2004; Vistana Resort 2006; Marriott Cypress Harbour 2007; Boardwalk Villas 2008; AKV Kidani 2009; Saratoga Springs 2009

		MouseBuzz.com > Disney Vacation Club > DVC Corner
To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question...

09-02-2008	#7 (permalink)
Prezcatz Big Cheese Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abilene, Texas Posts: 776	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... Well, for the sake of the comparison, I'll use each of your two 4-night trips as 4-days of tickets for the parks. 5-day tickets would be slightly higher. If you bought two 4-day MYW base tickets, the adult cost would be about $233 each trip, for a total near $466 for each adult. An 8-day MYW base ticket with no expiration would be $400. The DVC member price for APs is $393. It would include park hopping, which the other numbers I used did not, but park hopping would raise those tickets even higher. I would say, unless you qualify for one of the other discounts {FL resident, military}, that an AP would be the way to go. As already mentioned, you would get some dining/shopping discounts just for having the AP, and it would allow you to get the DDE card for $60. You would need to look at the DDE discounts to figure out if you would get $60 worth out of it. We did APs this year for the first time since we had two trips planned with a total of 12 days of parks, and then decided to move another trip next year earlier so it would still fall under the time our APs were valid to help reduce costs!!! __________________ PREZCATZ PAUL ~ THE THREAD-KILLER!! 2000 - DISNEYLAND in October * 2005 - WDW ALL STAR MUSIC in April 2006 - WDW SHADES OF GREEN, MVMCP, and MOUSEFEST in December * 2008 - WDW CARRIBEAN BEACH in August 2008 - WDW OLD KEY WEST and MNSSHP in October 2009 - WDW BOARDWALK VILLAS/SARATOGA SPRINGS TREEHOUSE VILLAS in June DVC Member since 04/08

09-02-2008	#8 (permalink)
brebre_51 Big Cheese Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 739	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... For us it would only be good is we went more then twice a year. __________________ Disneyland March 1963 Off property in summer of: 1978; 1980; 1983; 1985; 1988 Caribbean Resort-March 2002 All Star Movies-July 2004 Pop Century-May 2005 All Star Movies-Sept. 2007 Fort Wilderness Campground-January 2008 & October 2008 All Star Movies Dec 2008 New Orleans Riverside March 2009 *for my birthday!* October 2009 Ft. Wilderness Campground for DH birthday! My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Hubby's WDW Birthday Trip One down with many more to go!

09-02-2008	#9 (permalink)
johnkimv Big Cheese Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 966	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... I say get both the AP and the DDE. I have both and I love the flexibility, especially knowing I can go to Disney tomorrow if I wanted to and I wouldn't have to buy a ticket!!!! __________________ Upcoming Trips: Fort Wilderness 12/10-12/13/2009 My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Yeah!! Finally got a site at FW!! 15 days 19 hours 57 minutes

09-02-2008	#10 (permalink)
Goodegirl2007 Big Cheese Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey AND BWV Posts: 554	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... We opt for the annual passes if we have 2 trips planned for a year. This year we will get 4 trips out of our passes - a huge savings.... Of course, we wouldn't be going so much if we didn't buy the AP's - so in the long run, maybe it costs more money...LOL!! At least we get lots of trips to Disney out of it!!! __________________ Christina - DVC Member since October 2000 Next trip: Bay Lake Towers!!!!- May 13 - May 23 - 2010 (and a side trip to see Harry Potter)!! *Avatar:* My DS at Tusker House May 2008!!! My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Sping trip to WDW - Bay Lake Towers!!!! 170 days 11 hours 56 minutes

09-03-2008	#11 (permalink)
rlcarmichael Too many DVC points? NST Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chesapeake VA Posts: 1,996	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... Another thing to consider is like the first and last day on a trip. If you leave at 1PM you won't want to use a full day on a pass you pay for but with the AP heck yeah you're going. On my last trip I did EMH morning at HS and we did Toy Story twice, and hit all of the biggies in half a day. __________________ Richard Carmichael, Chesapeake VA DVC Member BLT, VGC & SSR 2009 SSR(x2), AKV, BWV, BLT(x2), VB, DCL Magic; 2008-SSR, WLV, OKW YC; 2007-YC, GF: DCL Wonder; 2006-SSR, SoG, Poly; 2005- Poly (x2), Orange Lake; 1999-Courtyard LB; Disney Inn (RIP - now SoG) '90, '88, '86 Make-A-Wish Volunteer www.wish.org My Wish - no Wish Kids to send to see THE* Mouse.* 2nd Fav Org - Give Kids The World Village www.gktw.org My Disney Countdown Counting down to: BLT Mk Christmas Trip 16 days 13 hours 41 minutes

09-03-2008	#12 (permalink)
MickeyMcFizzle Almost a mommy! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,618	Re: To buy AP or not to buy AP...that is my question... I think we are going to get them on this upcoming trip. We know we're going to be there more than once a year, so it makes sense. I think we are getting the premium passes, since we love the waterparks as much as the parks themselves.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A question for everyone!	mickey	The Mouse Trap	11	05-06-2009 03:36 PM
Logistical question about Jiko	emperisse	WDW Restaurants	20	08-24-2008 09:50 PM
Cost of souveniers and where to buy them?	aubriee	WDW Theme Parks	13	11-24-2004 02:58 PM
Question about a question	Dopey	WDW Resorts	8	10-06-2004 07:08 PM
Yet Another Question	iamagrump	The Mouse Trap	13	03-25-2002 04:36 PM

User Name		Remember Me?
Password