|
|
Post by MinnieMom on Jan 9, 2023 15:43:54 GMT -5
This is a "think out loud" thread.
My AP comes up for renewal in April. I am trying to decide if I want to renew it or not. I really like the AP approach, as it means slowing down to enjoy what I like about the parks rather than maximizing to get the value from a visit. But when I start doing a pro/con list, one of the most significant factors for keeping it is a fear that WDW will not allow future AP purchases, only renewals. While I'm glad I kept AP past couple years through the parks closing for the pandemic then the new restrictions and reservations after reopening, FOMO only goes so far as a reason. Plus, DD turns 13 this summer. She is probably at the point of enjoying Universal offerings more than Disney now.
But I am really reluctant to let go of the Disney World AP. It is not logical or sensible, but there it is.
Has anyone recently decided to renew or not to renew? If so, would you mind sharing your thinking?
|
|
|
|
Post by fuzzylogic on Jan 9, 2023 16:02:49 GMT -5
You've captured the decision points; there isn't much more to it than that. Good thing is you don't have to choose until later. If it were me (it will be me) I wouldn't lose sleep over it for now. Decide in April. Decide up to 30 days after. There's no point to making this decision now. If it came down to it and new APs weren't offered yet by summer, we'd probly renew. But, I would much rather take time off and if they are for sale new then we'll wait and buy new. We just have to give it time and see. I feel they're not going to not sell APs forever.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisvee on Jan 9, 2023 19:29:52 GMT -5
it’s a tough decision
it still makes financial sense for us due to number of trips/days in park
I would find it hard to let go unless I was pretty sure I was reducing my visits significantly
maybe go one more year and then revisit?
|
|
|
|
Post by Wiltony on Jan 9, 2023 20:26:19 GMT -5
We've continued to renew. It still makes fiscal sense as we're planning four trips this year, plus it "feels" more valuable to us because they're not offering new ones anymore, so we feel like we need to keep it. And yeah, we absolutely love the freedom to just dip into the parks, take our time, as well as park hop.
|
|
|
|
Post by helenabear on Jan 9, 2023 21:46:15 GMT -5
My question for you, does your DD actually show signs of wanting Universal more? My now 15yo is not a fan in the same way. Only wants to go every so often really. Don't assume age will mean the kids auto stop wanting Disney.
While we may not go next spring break due to our stupid schools moving our stupid spring break 2 weeks later the same year that stupid easter is early, we'll likely still renew to keep it going just in case. We'll still have our summer trip no matter what.
|
|
|
|
Post by hatfieldhlt on Jan 9, 2023 22:00:14 GMT -5
I’m wrestling with the same decision but I have until May. 2 trips a year make it worth the cost but we don’t have anything planned for 2023. I’m leaning towards letting it go thinking they must have something planned but recent DVC history says that’s a bad decision.
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabutterman on Jan 10, 2023 9:00:24 GMT -5
DH and I are keeping ours. In the past we would have waited and bought every other year, but we'll renew in April and May but don't have trips until August (DD's 21st birthday trip) and end of October (hopefully I'll be out the week of Halloween, fingers crossed).
|
|
|
|
Post by MinnieMom on Jan 10, 2023 11:52:06 GMT -5
New thought: let's test my theory. DD and I can do a split stay for Easter, which is her spring break this year. I'll book a few nights with DVC and get her tickets for a couple of days at Disney before my Disney AP expires. Plus I'll book us at a Homewood Suites close to Universal for a few nights & get a couple of day tickets from undercover tourist. That will give options to renew my Disney AP or upgrade our UO tickets to APs there.
Or if DD is done with theme parks for a year, this might be a fun trip to bookmark the end of APs for a while. Taking a year or two off would not be the worst thing ever given all the other stuff we have going on right now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Adelard of Bath on Jan 10, 2023 12:03:00 GMT -5
TBH in the past couple years we have not gone enough to justify the cost of AP...this last trip was our first one in many many years without AP, I had to buy daily tickets - which in September was like $550 for a ten-day non-hopper. Way less money than an AP. Now, the thing is, if we HAD an AP, we would have probably come up with a reason to go again during that year.
That said, I'm hoping for APs to come back: we are planning a trip later in the year but another one might happen a few months after that, meaning the AP, while expensive, would probably be cheaper than the two trips.
|
|
|
|
Post by dmkedm on Jan 10, 2023 14:51:55 GMT -5
I renewed in October--on my first day of eligibility (60 days prior to my AP expiring), and "sweated out" the two weeks before I could renew for fear Disney would take away renewed APs as they did new APs....I do go often enough that the cost of the AP is less than the cost of park tickets--but I don't know that I'd buy park tickets every day if I didn't have an AP (don't know that I wouldn't, tho)....one of the features of the AP that I love best is that it just doesn't matter if we skip a day in the parks, or only go to a park (or two) for a meal or for an hour of "atmosphere" or to pick up an item at a specific gift shop or whatever....our days of commando park touring are long since over! I love the rides, but am not at all perturbed if I don't ride many (or any) on any given trip...it's the atmosphere (which most definitely includes the parks as well as the resorts) that makes me so happy to be at WDW.
I'm anxious about the potential for new AP sales, too....my DD, DS, DIL and DGS all go to WDW on my nickel (and it's my pleasure to provide our family Disney trips) and it would be MUCH less expensive for DD and me (we do multiple mother-daughter trips/year) if I could buy her an AP rather than having to buy multi-day park hoppers each trip. It likely will become at least cost-effective and possibly less expensive for DS and his family, too, as my 18-month-old DGS has reached the age where we want to take him, quite probably at least once/year but twice on one AP by using the trick of every 51 weeks....of course, we don't yet know if he's got the Disney gene--no reason to believe he doesn't, but his first trip is upcoming--next week; can't wait!
So for me and my family, APs are a no-brainer. Of course, at the moment I'm buying just one (mine)....if and when I want to buy 5 (mine, DD's, DS's, DIL's and DGS's) I might rethink this!
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian5581 on Jan 10, 2023 16:23:38 GMT -5
My question for you, does your DD actually show signs of wanting Universal more? My now 15yo is not a fan in the same way. Only wants to go every so often really. Don't assume age will mean the kids auto stop wanting Disney. Very good point. I've gone 41+ years without giving a shit about Universal... Now it's 35-45 minutes away and still eventually I'll get over there. Likely when third park opens. But doubtful even then it will ever be more than every once in a blue moon... |
|
|
|
Post by Adelard of Bath on Jan 10, 2023 16:43:28 GMT -5
Very good point. I've gone 41+ years without giving a shit about Universal... Now it's 35-45 minutes away and still eventually I'll get over there. Likely when third park opens. But doubtful even then it will ever be more than every once in a blue moon... I see pictures of Universal and really have no interest. So you aren't the only one. We used to go alot when I was a kid, back when it was "behind the scenes, making the movies" kind of stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by noreen99 on Jan 10, 2023 16:48:10 GMT -5
No idea if it matters or how it’s gonna work yet but according to Disney blog
Walt Disney World Annual Passholders: Park reservation requirements will be relaxed for visits after 2 p.m.*
Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today. While the theme park reservation system remains important to manage attendance in our parks, especially on busier days, we realize our Passholders enjoy more spontaneous visits – and this change will make that possible. Passholders will also receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience (age restrictions apply). Visit Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories and Disney PhotoPass Lenses for details, restrictions and other information.*
We’ll share a start date with Passholders soon for when these offerings will become available, as well as information about a new offering that is planned where you can create and share short Disney-themed video slideshows with favorite photos from your theme park visits.
|
|
|
|
Post by bubster on Jan 10, 2023 18:20:52 GMT -5
I renewed our APs at the 60 day mark. Did this right before the price hike so realized a substantial saving. Just booked an extra trip at the end of Feb into the first week of March because DH wants to maximize the expensive ass APs. So will get at least 3 trips on the new ones.
As for Universal we have never felt the need to visit. On our Thanksgiving trip DD took her kids. 8 year old was flat out miserable and 18 year old just wanted to leave and get back to SSR. 15 and 21 year olds were fine but bitchy. No one was feeling it. Unless your kid likes big thrill rides or Harry Potter there doesn’t appear to be much there for them. YMMV.
Sorry, this post end up in the wrong thread. Still navigating.
|
|
|
|
Post by disneyteach on Jan 10, 2023 21:42:59 GMT -5
We gave up our APs this year and had a lot of the same questions you did. For us, it boiled down to the fact that we knew we were not going anytime in 2023. Knowing that we may never get the AP back, I still couldn't justify the cost of keeping 4 APs when we wouldn't use them at all. Some do, but I don't have that kind of money laying around. I'm a teacher! If they don't come back by the time we're ready to go back to Disney (likely Feb 2024), then we'll likely just take one trip that year. Both of my kids (and DH & I) are huge Harry Potter fans, so we will happily spend our money there!
|
|
