Annual pass vs. 10-day pass?

[Brandis]

New DVC members since end of october. :-)

Before DVC, we usually stayed about 5 days at a WDW resort and got the length of stay tickets with it.

For next year, I was thinking on staying at WDW for 7 days, but probably still only visit the park a couple of days, doing some other sightseeing in the area or waterparks the other days.

Don't think I would need PAP, since the only added value for me would be the water park admission, but during our stay, we would probably not visit the water parks more than once or twice, so it still would be cheaper to pay separate admission there with the DVC discount.

So my ticket options would probably be:

a) Annual Pass with DVC discount: $389

b) 10 Day Magic Your Way-Pass with Parkhopper, Waterparks and No Expiration: $556


This leaves me with either a) or b).

While at a glance, a) looks cheaper, if I only use it for 5 days on my next year's visit and not sure if I can make my next visit after that within the validity of the AP, this leaves me with a daily cost of $77.80.

With b), I can use as many days I like on my first visit and use the remaining on any future visit, so the daily cost here would only be $55.60.

Is my calculation right or did I forget something?

Marc

[mom22gls]

There is another consideration, which is any benefit you might get from the additional discounts available to AP holders. With an AP, you can get purchase a Tables in Wonderland card, which is good for a year, and you get 20% off almost all table service meals. There are some other shopping and attraction discounts, you may be using, and even a DVC owner, sometimes ends up staying in an on-site hotel for a day or two (often on Friday and Sat nights), and you could get an AP rate. On the face of it, it appears that the non-expiring pass would work better for you, at least, initially, but if you would be benefit from other discounts, it still might be worth it to get the AP.

[Brandis]

Thanks!

The Tables in Wonderland benefit might be useful, if we don't just use the dining plan.

Marc

[jerseygirl407]

Aside from the Tables in Wonderland, the dining discounts offerd thru the AP are pretty limited.....as in we are at the parks about 3-5 times/month and we've never been able to use one. I think most of the World Showcase restaurants offer a discount but it only during lunch during the week. I really wouldn't count that into your calculations.....you're probably better w/the no expiration pass.

[mom22gls]

The AP dining discounts are not significant, but the discounts are nice for "extras" during the trip. For example, you can get 15% off most tours, and you can also get discounts on spa services. The best perk is, probably, the AP hotel rate discount. Many DVC owners conserve points by staying in a hotel on Friday and Saturday nights, which are high-point nights. Last year, we spent a couple of nights at Pop Century, during a holiday weekend. There was no availability at the AP discount rate, when we made the reservation, but my husband showed his AP anyway, and they knocked off about 10%. If you officially get the AP rate, the discount is significantly more.