Post by drwadadli on Feb 17, 2017 15:25:14 GMT
I figured this a great place to talk about AP (Annual Passholders) for those that are planning their next vacation and trying to figure out if it is worth getting an AP instead of tickets for parks. First, I will mention something about AP for non-FL residents, then AP for FL residents/DVC Members, and overall.
Most of the info comes from Walt Disney World's own website.
AP for Non-Florida residents:
There are two main options (Platinum and Platinum Plus) and two small options (Water Park Annual Pass and Premier Annual Passport).
Platinum:
$829.64 (includes tax)
This pass includes admission to all 4 WDW parks and hoppers, standard parking at the parks, PhotoPass downloads, Magic Bands, discounts on resort stays, dining, merchandise and more, and articles exclusively for AP.
There are no blackout dates and pass is valid for 365 days from date of activation.
Platinum Plus:
$925.49 (includes tax)
Includes everything mentioned above in Platinum and admissions to Oak Trail Golf Course, ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, and admission to the water parks.
In either case, the restaurants at Victoria & Albert's, Le Chefs de France, Monsieur Paul and Teppan Edo are NOT included in dining discounts.
There are no blackout dates and pass is valid for 365 days from date of activation.
Water Parks Annual Pass:
$133.13 (includes tax)
Allows for one year of admission to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks.
Premier Passport:
$1,532.54 (includes tax)
Includes admission to all 4 WDW parks plus the 2 DLR parks, standard parking for both CA and FL, admission to water parks at WDW, ESPN Wide World of Sports and Oak Trail Golf Course, and AP newletters.
There are no blackout dates and pass is valid for 365 days from date of activation.
AP for FL residents/DVC Members
There are much more options if you a FL resident or DVC member.
Gold Pass: (for both FL residents and DVC members)
$584.69 (includes tax)
Admission to all 4 WDW parks, park hopper included, complimentary Magic Bands and parking PhotoPass downloads, and discounts at Disney hotels, dining, merchandise, recreation and tours.
There are blackout dates with this pass.
Silver Pass: (FL residents only)
$414.29 (includes tax)
Admission to all 4 WDW parks during certain times of the year, park hopper included, complimentary Magic Bands and parking, and discounts at Disney hotels, dining, merchandise, recreation and tours.
There are blackout dates with this pass.
Platinum Pass: (for both FL residents and DVC members)
$691.19 (includes tax)
Same as AP for non-FL residents.
Platinum Plus Pass: (for both FL residents and DVC members)
$776.39 (includes tax)
Same as AP for non-FL residents.
Weekday Select Pass: (FL residents only)
$275.84 (includes tax)
Admission to all 4 WDW parks for one year Mondays through Fridays, park hopper included, complimentary Magic Bands and parking, and discounts at Disney hotels, dining, merchandise, recreation and tours.
There are some blackout dates that apply.
Epcot After 4 Pass: (FL residents only)
$265.19 (includes tax)
Admissions to Epcot for one year any day after 4:00 pm along with free standard parking and complimentary Magic Bands.
Water Parks After 2 Pass: (FL residents only)
$69.23 (includes tax)
Admission to the water parks for one year any day after 2:00 pm.
Now the questions is, is it better to get an AP versus buying multi-day tickets when you are vacationing to WDW (talking to NON-FL residents and NON-DVC members)? That is a tough answer as it depends on what you want to do ----park hop? water parks? memory maker?
So, here are some comparisons...
10-day ticket with Park Hopper Plus Option (all 4 WDW parks PLUS 2 water parks PLUS Oak Trail Golf Course) PLUS Memory Maker will run you about $713.45 (includes tax). An AP Platinum Plus Pass will cost you $925.49 (includes tax).
So, now you have to decide is the extra $169.44 is worth it to you in the form of discounts (typically 15 - 20% off food and merchandise). If you are staying on WDW grounds then you wouldn't be paying for parking if you went to the parks everyday. If you were staying off-ground and drove in to park all 10 days, then that would cost you additional $20/day or increase your total cost to $913.45 ($713.45 + $120.00). In that case, then the AP Platinum Plus Pass would be the way to go as you would save with the AP Pass (on the food and merchandise).
If you are planning on two vacations within the same 365-day period and staying for any length of time greater than 3 days each visit, an AP Platinum Pass would be the way to go especially if you do the water parks and Memory Marker.
Even for my wife and I, if we plan on more than one trip in a 365-day period and plan on going to the parks at least 5 days during our visit, then we will probably be getting the AP Platinum Pass from here on out. We don't do the water parks so for us to get the AP Platinum Plus Pass would not be worth it to us. Even if we went for 2 4-day vacations, we would probably get the AP Platinum Pass. We hadn't looked into the AP's as we lived further away and would go to WDW every other year or so but now that we are closer (within driving distance or 1-hour flight), then we might go to WDW more frequently even if it was for multiple extended weekends the AP's would work for us.
Most of the info comes from Walt Disney World's own website.
AP for Non-Florida residents:
There are two main options (Platinum and Platinum Plus) and two small options (Water Park Annual Pass and Premier Annual Passport).
Platinum:
$829.64 (includes tax)
This pass includes admission to all 4 WDW parks and hoppers, standard parking at the parks, PhotoPass downloads, Magic Bands, discounts on resort stays, dining, merchandise and more, and articles exclusively for AP.
There are no blackout dates and pass is valid for 365 days from date of activation.
Platinum Plus:
$925.49 (includes tax)
Includes everything mentioned above in Platinum and admissions to Oak Trail Golf Course, ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, and admission to the water parks.
In either case, the restaurants at Victoria & Albert's, Le Chefs de France, Monsieur Paul and Teppan Edo are NOT included in dining discounts.
There are no blackout dates and pass is valid for 365 days from date of activation.
Water Parks Annual Pass:
$133.13 (includes tax)
Allows for one year of admission to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks.
Premier Passport:
$1,532.54 (includes tax)
Includes admission to all 4 WDW parks plus the 2 DLR parks, standard parking for both CA and FL, admission to water parks at WDW, ESPN Wide World of Sports and Oak Trail Golf Course, and AP newletters.
There are no blackout dates and pass is valid for 365 days from date of activation.
AP for FL residents/DVC Members
There are much more options if you a FL resident or DVC member.
Gold Pass: (for both FL residents and DVC members)
$584.69 (includes tax)
Admission to all 4 WDW parks, park hopper included, complimentary Magic Bands and parking PhotoPass downloads, and discounts at Disney hotels, dining, merchandise, recreation and tours.
There are blackout dates with this pass.
Silver Pass: (FL residents only)
$414.29 (includes tax)
Admission to all 4 WDW parks during certain times of the year, park hopper included, complimentary Magic Bands and parking, and discounts at Disney hotels, dining, merchandise, recreation and tours.
There are blackout dates with this pass.
Platinum Pass: (for both FL residents and DVC members)
$691.19 (includes tax)
Same as AP for non-FL residents.
Platinum Plus Pass: (for both FL residents and DVC members)
$776.39 (includes tax)
Same as AP for non-FL residents.
Weekday Select Pass: (FL residents only)
$275.84 (includes tax)
Admission to all 4 WDW parks for one year Mondays through Fridays, park hopper included, complimentary Magic Bands and parking, and discounts at Disney hotels, dining, merchandise, recreation and tours.
There are some blackout dates that apply.
Epcot After 4 Pass: (FL residents only)
$265.19 (includes tax)
Admissions to Epcot for one year any day after 4:00 pm along with free standard parking and complimentary Magic Bands.
Water Parks After 2 Pass: (FL residents only)
$69.23 (includes tax)
Admission to the water parks for one year any day after 2:00 pm.
Now the questions is, is it better to get an AP versus buying multi-day tickets when you are vacationing to WDW (talking to NON-FL residents and NON-DVC members)? That is a tough answer as it depends on what you want to do ----park hop? water parks? memory maker?
So, here are some comparisons...
10-day ticket with Park Hopper Plus Option (all 4 WDW parks PLUS 2 water parks PLUS Oak Trail Golf Course) PLUS Memory Maker will run you about $713.45 (includes tax). An AP Platinum Plus Pass will cost you $925.49 (includes tax).
So, now you have to decide is the extra $169.44 is worth it to you in the form of discounts (typically 15 - 20% off food and merchandise). If you are staying on WDW grounds then you wouldn't be paying for parking if you went to the parks everyday. If you were staying off-ground and drove in to park all 10 days, then that would cost you additional $20/day or increase your total cost to $913.45 ($713.45 + $120.00). In that case, then the AP Platinum Plus Pass would be the way to go as you would save with the AP Pass (on the food and merchandise).
If you are planning on two vacations within the same 365-day period and staying for any length of time greater than 3 days each visit, an AP Platinum Pass would be the way to go especially if you do the water parks and Memory Marker.
Even for my wife and I, if we plan on more than one trip in a 365-day period and plan on going to the parks at least 5 days during our visit, then we will probably be getting the AP Platinum Pass from here on out. We don't do the water parks so for us to get the AP Platinum Plus Pass would not be worth it to us. Even if we went for 2 4-day vacations, we would probably get the AP Platinum Pass. We hadn't looked into the AP's as we lived further away and would go to WDW every other year or so but now that we are closer (within driving distance or 1-hour flight), then we might go to WDW more frequently even if it was for multiple extended weekends the AP's would work for us.
