Downside to purchasing an AP?

[MouseFaninQueue]

Basically is there one?

Here's the scoop. We don't come to WDW very often as I mentioned in my other thread "in a quandry over a hotel". We WON'T be able to come more than once per year - unless I win the lottery.

However, after looking at Mousesavers.com we were thinking it might be an idea to get the Annual Pass plus the DDE for at least one of our adults (my wife is eagerly jumping up and down with her hand raised "pick me pick me"!) in order to save some $$ on the hotel cost. The other 2 adults and 1 child (infant is free) would just get MYW tickets plus Water Park and Park Hopper options and the Dining option. (My travel agent says the AP can also get the Dining option on top of the DDE - but this seems contrary to what I have read elsewhere).

Looking at the historical data on Mousesavers.com it seems as tho every year since 2003 WDW has had an AP special rate for the period we are looking at being down there (Oct 28-Nov 5, 2006).

As we also want to do Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween, we were thinking the early purchase option of AP's for this is another bonus for one in our party (yes my wife is still eagerly waving her hand in the air volunteering to be the one with the AP) to purchase the AP.

Granted there is a price difference between our 8 day MYW tickets and the AP, but from what I have been able to see it could very easily be picked up in other areas.

I was wondering if there are any downsides to my plan that I have not picked up on ...

[crrees]

Book your reservation ASAP because those AP rates are limited. And I mean LIMITED, specially for those dates. I went a week before that and got AP rates but could not find any for that week because they were all sold out. I stayed at the pop for 77 +tax/night

I booked those reservations three months in advance. So be careful.

c.r.

[Drince88]

Well, there are two, that I can see.

One, unless they change things, you can't get the dinign plan with an AP - and ALL parties have to be on the same ticket type to get it. We did consider (4 adults, 1 with an AP) getting 1 day tickets for the 'package' with dining plan (since dining is based on number of nights) and separate tickets for the rest of the days for the others - but the $ didn't work out for us (we had multiple reservations due to the 'seasons', and you can't do a package and get the AP discount, which they didn't end up having for us). But the DDE can't be combined with the dining plan 'free' meals (except for the alcohol that's not included in the plan).

Also, I don't know if 'getting the party tickets early' is a bonus. Last year for the Christmas party they had some nights that were a little cheaper with the AP, though.

But the 2nd big problem with your plan is that your DW will want to do a quick weekend trip by herself to check out other things during the year. THAT'S where the AP gets really expensive!:fez:

[Kira]

Keep in mind that it might be worth it to get the annual pass for others in the group if you will definitely be back before it expires.

My family did this a few years ago. In 2003 we went for a few days in mid-July. We came back in early July 2004 and by our calculations we each only had to use it one day for park admissions to have made the annual passed "worth it"....so we felt like every admission of our one week stay after that was "free".

You can do something similar going at end of October 2006 and returning in mid October 2007. Then you can skip the renewal process and just buy new passports again for 2008.

Whatever you decide I KNOW you will have a great time!

[wishiwasthere]

We bought PAP for everyone in our party for August 2004. Then half of us went on a trip in December, and the other half went in January. Then we decided to go again in July 2005 to use them again right before they expired. Well worth it.

For the DDE card: I once went to get something to eat while my mom was in the room and it was under her name. I ended up not getting the discount because she wasn't with me. We brought it up to a manager and he gave us a discount. It's not like we weren't related!!

And...I'm performing (I'm kind of too old to still be performing with a studio but it's a long story) with my dance studio while you are there! November 4th at the MK so if you are there on that day come stop by!

[Cheshire Figment]

The Pass lies in a drawer and screams USE ME!

[LeslieM]

There is the knowledge that ya have that Pass, so after all...
I should use it - it would be irresponsible not to!
The trip will be soo cheap.
I always wanted to go see the Flower and Garden Festival (or Star Wars Weekend or Food and Wine or MNSSHP or...)
Gee, look at that great AP resort rate.
I am saving money by going.

That Annual Pass gets ya in BIG trouble...and what a way to go!

(I actually don't know of any serious down side to having an Annual Pass.)

[Klutch]

Well, there are two, that I can see.

One, unless they change things, you can't get the dinign plan with an AP - and ALL parties have to be on the same ticket type to get it.

I recall reading recently that Disney now offers the Dining Plan to AP holders.

[Mark Goldhaber]

I recall reading recently that Disney now offers the Dining Plan to AP holders.
Nope. DVC members, but no AP holders. Dining discounts for AP holders is strictly through the Disney Dining Experience card. ($60 for AP holders, $85 for Florida residents)

[Klutch]

Nope. DVC members, but no AP holders. Dining discounts for AP holders is strictly through the Disney Dining Experience card. ($60 for AP holders, $85 for Florida residents)

Thank, Mark. I must have confused DVC with AP. It was probably one of your articles where I read it.

[Drince88]

There is the knowledge that ya have that Pass, so after all...
I should use it - it would be irresponsible not to!
The trip will be soo cheap.
I always wanted to go see the Flower and Garden Festival
Yea - Mother's Day Weekend (hint hint) would be a great time to come for the weekend to not be irresponsible! :fez:

[LeslieM]

Yea - Mother's Day Weekend (hint hint) would be a great time to come for the weekend to not be irresponsible! :fez:
Sooo subtle! Ya know how much trouble I get into when I start thinking this way!

[Mickeymac]

The Pass lies in a drawer and screams USE ME!


OMG, that's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Sad thing is, it's true. :D

[MouseFaninQueue]

Unless the AP can also get us HUGE discounts on airfare to get there it lying in a drawer screaming USE ME isn't a big deal (we are looking at almost $2500 in airfare alone to get there - joys of living in rural BC - closest International airport is an 8 hour drive away).

So, basically we are looking at this as a one-time expense and wondering if increased expense is worth it with the discounts over a regular MYW with dining and Park Hopper with Water Park option. And let's not forget my DW is a disney nut and wouldn't mind getting "extra" mailings from Disney if there were any from being an AP.

Does anyone know if an AP at WDW gets any special perks at DL?

[Drince88]

Unless the AP can also get us HUGE discounts on airfare to get there it lying in a drawer screaming USE ME isn't a big deal (we are looking at almost $2500 in airfare alone to get there - joys of living in rural BC - closest International airport is an 8 hour drive away).

Does anyone know if an AP at WDW gets any special perks at DL?
No benefits - totally different business units.

And i just looked up where you live - no kidding you're in 'Rural' BC! But I recognized one city when I zoomed out a little on Mapquest - Kamloops - they have a Hockey team, don't they? (Oh, I'm talking about Canada - everyplace has a hockey team, right?:fez: )

[MouseFaninQueue]

No benefits - totally different business units.

And i just looked up where you live - no kidding you're in 'Rural' BC! But I recognized one city when I zoomed out a little on Mapquest - Kamloops - they have a Hockey team, don't they? (Oh, I'm talking about Canada - everyplace has a hockey team, right?:fez: )

Kamloops is home to the Western Hockey League's Kamloops Blazers which is part of the Canadian Hockey League. This is the 'Juniors' league where the NHL tends to draft most of their players from.

About 1.5 hours north of me is Prince George, home of the Prince George Cougars in the same league and division as the Kamloops Blazers.

My little city has about 20,000 people in it (it includes what we call 'rural' housing too) and yes we have a hockey team as well - the Quesnel Millionaires which place in the BC Junior Hockey League which is where the WHL (CHL) tends to pull it's players from. About an hour's drive north west from Quesnel is the Heritage site Barkerville. Barkerville was actually the centre of the BC Gold Rush and at one time it was actually the largest city north of San Francisco.