Annual Pass

[Figment071]

My Wife and I decided at the last minute to go to Disney World for our Anniversary. We will be in the "World" from May 23-28, 2010. We are thinking of buying an Annual Pass since we are going back in January for the Half-Marathon. Does the AP include extra magic hours? Also, do they still offer the free Ride-Along at the Richard Petty Driving Experience? Any other tips/tricks anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[doconeill]

Extra Magic Hours is only for on-site guests. If you are not staying on-site, your AP will not help there. It will, however, get you free parking at the parks.

I believe the free ride-a-long ended March 31st. I don't see it currently offered on the passholder site.

As a passholder, you can also get the Tables In Wonderland card for $75, which gets you 20% off most (not all) table service meals (including alcoholic beverages), and a just few counter services (mainly at AK and the value resort food courts). You would need to spend more than $375 (pre-discount) in qualifying meals to make it worth it. The AP itself gets a few meal discounts as well (not as many and only 10% usually), so be sure to do the math to see if it matters.

If you like to stay on site, AP holders also can get room-only discounts, and you can also now book a room-only-with-dining package if you like the dining plans.

There are also the various other discounts on shopping, etc.

[Jaxum]

If you are planning on being there for 6 days on this trip, and lets say, 3 more days in January, it would be worth it. Like it was said in the previous post, you can also get a room only discount, which I get every time, and save some more money. Well worth it. And who knows, it may just make you want to go more often!

[zippitydoodah]

I'm thinking of getting one too...

I'm doing 6 days in August, and then one or two days in March, but then my friend wants me to come with her in December. I wouldn't be able to afford that extra trip unless I have an AP and I think that makes it for SURE worth it. Either way, when you add in the free parking (we use off-site timeshares) I'm thinking its a good idea.

[doconeill]

I'm thinking of getting one too...

I'm doing 6 days in August, and then one or two days in March, but then my friend wants me to come with her in December. I wouldn't be able to afford that extra trip unless I have an AP and I think that makes it for SURE worth it. Either way, when you add in the free parking (we use off-site timeshares) I'm thinking its a good idea.

At 3+ trips, it is almost certainly worth it over three separate tickets, and probably over NE tickets covering at least two of them...but more specifics would be needed.

The straight-up break even point (not including the discounts) varies from 10-14 days depending on if you typically include park hopper (APs include it), you are a DVC member, etc.

[zippitydoodah]

I wouldn't be doing any park hopping and I'm not a DVC member... and like I said, Im off site so I would be paying for parking every single day if I don't have the AP. I think it's for SURE worth it with the 3 trips (the "bonus" trip would be at least 4 or 5 park days).

The only thing is if that trip doesn't end up happening, if it's still worth it? By 6 days in August I meant 6 PARK days (its a 2 week vacation) which could increase to more days, and then the addition 2 days in March. Plus 7 days worth of parking...

[doconeill]

Well, the math is pretty easy - not including tax or price increases between now and then (you can purchase tickets now to protect against that anyways):

6-day base ticket: $231
2-day base ticket: $156
7 days of parking at $14/day: $98
Total: $485

Tourist AP: $489

10% off at World Of Disney would easily take care of that $5...

[zippitydoodah]

Or that $5 will be the insurance I take "in case" I go on that extra trip... I would be VERY mad at myself if I didn't get the pass and then the trip ended up happening... $5 for an extra weeks worth of park tickets is for SURE worth it (and not a huge amount of money if we don't go)

Thanks for helping!

[Jaxum]

When I got mine, (I was there for 9 days that first trip), I knew I would be going for one more trip that year. That one more trip, is turning into 1 more trip + 3! So, five trips total. As I said, it will justify more trips to the parks! And help with the costs of any D23 events you want to go to.

[tiggerguy]

Well, the math is pretty easy - not including tax or price increases between now and then (you can purchase tickets now to protect against that anyways):

6-day base ticket: $231
2-day base ticket: $156
7 days of parking at $14/day: $98
Total: $485

Tourist AP: $489

10% off at World Of Disney would easily take care of that $5...

but if you're stating on property you get "free" parking

[tiggerguy]

allearsnet has a section where it says when it makes sense to get an AP