[Jen]

Here's my question:

We're going in Feb as a family. Stu and I are planning a solo trip next Aug. We'll most likely go again as a family in January 09. There's always a possibility of a short trip somewhere in between all that ~ esp. if we have APs.

Should we get annual passes? We're staying 10 days in Feb and at least 4 in Aug. We'd do 10 again in January.

If we get APs, what's the deal with booking the dining plan? We love the DP, even with the changes. Can we still get the DP with APs?

[tiggerlover1971]

unfortunately you cannot book the dining plan if you have APs but if you are going that many days I would definately go for the Ap and then get the Disney dining experience card ( I believe its either 60 or 80 dollars to purchase it ) but its well worth it ...you get 20 percent off most table services and some of the food courts at the resort .. You also get it off the counter services at AK but not sure if that will change with Table services coming in at AK ...

[DisneyTeacher]

You could still get the dining plan with APs but you would have to buy a one day pass for everyone to make your reservation a package. That one day pass could be saved and used later as a single ticket or added toward the purchase new ticket later.

[WishUponAStar]

I wish I knew the answer to this myself Jen, about the DDP. We would have a hard time NOT getting the dining plan, I hope someone can give some suggestions about how to get it when you book a room and have an annual pass. I personally think it SHOULD be possible, especially since they extended the DDP to DVC owners to just add on to their rooms and MANY DVC members have annual passes. So obviously it's POSSIBLE to do.

As far as the annual passes being "worth" it or not. Well, here's an example...
In 2007 I will have spent 18 days in WDW parks. My annual pass cost me $380. (tax included) through DVC. If I bought an 18 day "park hopper" the cost would be approx. $460. (NOT including "water parks", and NOT including "no expiration") Not to mention, there are discounts in many WDW stores, restaurants, etc. I use my discount A LOT, especially in DtD. I MAKE SURE I know where I get %'s off and tell them I have one.

Otherwise, we DID have the "Disney Dining Experience" card the first year we became AP holders in NJ. It was helpful, we purposely made our dinner ADRs around which restaurants had the 20% discount and the list is pretty extensive. The discount is even applicable in the Pop food court and TONS of sit-down restaurants, etc... Here is a link to read about it, Disney Dining Experience.

Actually Jen, Daniel and I were thinking about getting the Disney Dining Experience card again because we'll have 2 table service meals OVER the dining plan when we go in November and for that possible AKL August trip. If we can get 20% off our lunches and dinners it just might add up to the DDP discount.


Anyway, I think having an annual pass is ALWAYS worth it if you are going for at least 10 days during one calendar year.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

You could still get the dining plan with APs but you would have to buy a one day pass for everyone to make your reservation a package. That one day pass could be saved and used later as a single ticket or added toward the purchase new ticket later.

I still say go with the Disney Dining Experience card and make ADRs around the 20% discount and use at counter service places with the discount as well.

[Jen]

One of the biggest perks of the DP for us is that our food budget (esp. with a family of 6) is already pre-paid. Last year, we kept tabs on all our food bills (around $2100) and we saved about $700...which is about 35%. Yes, it will be a little lower of a savings with the new DDP, but that is a significantly higher savings than the 20% we would get with the DDE card. And we will be staying longer in 08 than in 07.

What I need to do is figure out what it would cost for at least 20 days for hoppers and compare that with what we will be paying extra for the DDP. Or if it's even worth it if we'd have to purchase single day tickets ($72 X 6!!!) twice to get the DDP. (although if we were to purchase single day tickets and then purchased the AP while there, could we just that towards the purchase of the APs?)

Why is this such an issue for AP holders? Wouldn't you think they would make is easier for there regulars instead of harder?

And, should we rent DVC points from someone, would be be able to to then just add the DDP like DVC members?

[leslieh]

Jen- there's also another important consideration, which will complicate this even further. We use our AP to get significant room discounts. If you use a room discount, you can't get the DDP. You must pay full rack rate for the room. So, every trip (and we visit 3 times a year) I literally sit down with paper and pencil and make a chart with all possible combinations.

There have been some trips where using our AP room discount, along with the DD Experience (as Wish mentioned) was the better option.

For your situation, I think you really need to get APs. Remember that if you do choose the DDP, the cost of those one-day base tickets can be applied to your AP renewl, or saved for another trip, as they don't expire if they haven't been used.

[rlcarmichael]

The AP is the way to go for that many days.

The dining plan is tied to your hotel reservations not your pass. Plus the AP may even save you on your reservations.

The DDE card although you buy it (imagine that) does give you decent discounts on your sit down dining. I know it's available cheaper to DVC members and I think AP members can get it at a discount also.

[Jen]

Thanks for the information.

Does anyone know about how much the room discount is with the AP? It would cost about $2600 for our family for AP. 2 10 day hoppers for each of us plus 4 day hoppers for me and Stu for Aug will cost $3500. So it's pretty much a no brainer, hugh? Now I just have to see how to change our reservations....I guess change it to one day tickets for Feb, and purchase the APs when we get there. Then skip the DDP next year. I really want to do it this year since we'll be going with my brother and sister, first timers.

Does anyone know if the single day tickets on a package are transferrable?

[DisneyTeacher]

I believe teh one day tickets can be just that, one day tickets so anyone can use them. I would see if the passes can be left off your room key so you can keep them for later use or give them to someone.

I can't remember what the AP discounts have been in the past, a couple of years ago I saved almost $800 on two rooms at WL (6 or 7 nights/400 saved per room).

[Jen]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

I believe teh one day tickets can be just that, one day tickets so anyone can use them. I would see if the passes can be left off your room key so you can keep them for later use or give them to someone.

I can't remember what the AP discounts have been in the past, a couple of years ago I saved almost $800 on two rooms at WL (6 or 7 nights/400 saved per room).

Wow ~ that's a huge savings.

I ask about the single tickets 'cause my aunt said she'd buy them off me if she could since she'll be going for 3 days in April.

I'm still not sure what we're going to do. It does add about $1000 to the amount we need to save but it will save us $$$ in the long run.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by Jen

One of the biggest perks of the DP for us is that our food budget (esp. with a family of 6) is already pre-paid. Last year, we kept tabs on all our food bills (around $2100) and we saved about $700...which is about 35%. Yes, it will be a little lower of a savings with the new DDP, but that is a significantly higher savings than the 20% we would get with the DDE card. And we will be staying longer in 08 than in 07.

But does that include food you wouldn't normally order? We are big eaters but rarely order the extras, we get an entree and drink and that's usually it. Honeslty, we broke even whan I did that math--what we would normally order vs what that DDP costs.

[cinderbella]

The year I had an AP we forwent the dinning plan and got the DDE card. Big plus..this includes alcohol. Granted our little family of 2 is nowhere near the size of yours but we saved a lot of money! We got great deals on rooms every time we went, I think $49 a night for 10 nights at POP in June we saved almost $500. We also stayed for 4 nights at POR for $79 and, so we parked for a total of 14 days and ended up saving hundreds of dollars. If I could afford the $400 up front for the park hopper I would totally do it again in a heartbeat.

[lovemysons]

Jen, we saved about $40/night on our room ressies w/ the annual pass. We also use the DDE card, and we used it everywhere, including the food court at POFQ.

I would make out a spread sheet figuring out what it would cost you so you could see a side by side comparison. I do know that the magic your way tickets are awfully expensive, and you would probably have to add the no expiration option in order to save them for another trip.

[Soundgod]

We have had APs going into our third year. We also are members of DDE. Last year and again this year, for our main trip, because free dining was offered, booked as an MYW package with one day base tickets which we used for credit towards renewal. For all other trips, we booked room only and often got Florida resident, AAA, or AP discounts, but not always. Keep in mind that discounts are not always available and that discounts are not always automatically applied to existing reservations as Disney Travel has to first cancel your current reservation and then create a new one and you might not be able to recover the room category you had or the resort you had. Keep in mind that there is only a limited pool of discounted rooms available at any time and they are first come, first served.
Like everything else, it's a crap shoot and your choice to make. I would suggest getting the AP no mater what, if you are planning on spending anything over 10 days in the parks in any 12 month period, and would actually recommend the premium pass which includes Pleasure Island, Disney Quest and the water parks, even if you only step in DQ and a water park just once. It does pay for itself, and the AP gives 10% dining discounts in many places as well, even restaurants that aren't on the Dining Plan or DDE, and 10% discounts on merchandise from World of Disney.