Annual Pass questions - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.

So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.

Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.

We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm​. You made it all happen.

There are other changes as well.

Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:

We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.

So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.

That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > PassPorter's Disneyland Resort California > DL: Planning Your Disneyland Adventure
Register


Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.

To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.

If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-12-2008, 11:00 AM   #1
Meggera
Community Rank: Scout
 
Meggera's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Songtan, South Korea
Posts: 4,681

Post Thanks / Like
Annual Pass questions

I want to plan a huge trip to DLR in 2010 for when my DH gets back from being deployed. I'm looking at either October or the week after Thanksgiving. I was considering getting annual passes. For those who have done this, how much of a discount can be expected to stay at one of the DL resorts? Does it vary year-to-year? Is it worth getting the annual pass in order to get the discount at a resort as well as restaurants and shops? I want this trip to be extra special since this is the place my DH said he wanted to go after his deployment. But, I need it to be as budget-friendly as possible. Thanks for any advice or help you can offer. (I know it is a long way off, but I need to know how much money to set aside each month, especially since I'm planning a mommie/daughter trip to WDW while he is deployed.)
__________________
Laura


I've completed this TR: The Surviving Deployment TR

Read about our unexpected trip. We met my DH in Orlando for his R&R from Iraq! The Holi-Canoli Whirlwind Trip That Wasn't Supposed to Be!

Our new and improved family! William (17), Victoria (20), Jamie (18), Michael and me in Songtan, South Korea!
My Previous TripsWDW 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, September 14 - 22, 2009, October 25 - November 8, 2009 DLR 2006
Meggera is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2008, 12:44 PM   #2
HeatherD
When you wish upon a star
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

Community Rank: Globetrotter
 
HeatherD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Las Vegas
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 3,604

Post Thanks / Like
Take a look at what the annual pass costs. First, compare it to what the cost of tickets for your stay would be. Then, usually, the hotels, restaurants and gift shops (most) are 10 - 15% off. There is a list on the Disney website.

Purely with tickets prices, you'd have to visit more than about 12 days in the year to cover the cost. But, if you add in meals and hotel, etc, it might work out. However, we always stay off property, since we can get a close room for maybe $115/night and even 15% off Paradise Pier isn't going to equal that!
__________________

Disneyland - Dec 2011

Heather
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsDLR 1976, DLR 1981, DLR 1985, WDW 1988, DLR 1992, DLR 1993, WDW 1995 All-Star Music, WDW 1998 (Honeymoon) All-Star Sports, DLR 2000-2010 annually, WDW 2007 Animal Kingdom Lodge, DCL Wonder 2007, WDW 2009 Pop Century, DCL Magic 2009, WDW 2010 Port Orleans French Quarter, WDW 2012 Pop Century, RCI Alaskan Cruise 2014, WDW/USO 2016 Pop Century and Portofino Bay
HeatherD is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 04:04 AM   #3
hapyg0luky
Community Rank: Day-Tripper
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 11

Post Thanks / Like
We stayed at Grand Californian last year with the AP6 rate. We stayed there the 2nd week of Nov for $239 a night. I would have never been able to stay at GC at regular price. This year these really good rates for APs came out 7/23 & the rates are through Dec18 (about the same time as last years discount) So I would assume those kinds of rates would be avail in 2010, but who knows?
For a stay at Grand CA this year for the same week I went last year is $249. Without an AP it would cost about $360. To me that is a great discount.
Disneyland hotel list AP7 rates for most of Nov 2008 at $159. W/out discount $260.
Paridise Pier AP7 $149. W/out discount $240.

Really only one person needs to get an annual pass to get the discounts. As long as the AP holder makes all the purchases. So the savings may be worth it. W/ a premium AP $389 you get 15% of retaurants, 10% off merchandise, 20% off tours, No blackout dates & parking. The Deluxe $269 you get 10% off restaurants, no disc on merch, 20% on tours, some blackout dates (no blackout dates in Oct or the week after Thanksgiving when you r planning to go .) If you are not planning on buying tons of merchandise then the deluxe may be more cost effective.

The rest of the family can get Military Discount tickets which you can get at your MWR. If your MWR does not sell Disneyland tickets they can usually order them for you. My DH is in the military too. I'm not sure if this is true, but he has been spending a lot of time at Camp Pendleton lately. He walked by and thought he saw that you can buy an AP on base at a discount. I have never noticed this before and the bases we get out tickets has never offered that. We will be going back to San Diego 1st week of Sept so I will confirm this.

Hope this helps a bit. Sorry it's so long.
__________________

Remain seated please. Permanecer sentados por favor.

Last edited by hapyg0luky; 08-13-2008 at 04:09 AM..
hapyg0luky is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 10:54 AM   #4
Meggera
Community Rank: Scout
 
Meggera's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Songtan, South Korea
Posts: 4,681

Post Thanks / Like
Thank you, hapyg0luky. That is exactly what I was looking for. We are brand new in the Army, and I'm still learning about the discounts the military gets. Plus, knowing the prices you got on a room helps, too. Thanks!
__________________
Laura


I've completed this TR: The Surviving Deployment TR

Read about our unexpected trip. We met my DH in Orlando for his R&R from Iraq! The Holi-Canoli Whirlwind Trip That Wasn't Supposed to Be!

Our new and improved family! William (17), Victoria (20), Jamie (18), Michael and me in Songtan, South Korea!
My Previous TripsWDW 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, September 14 - 22, 2009, October 25 - November 8, 2009 DLR 2006
Meggera is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 01:46 PM   #5
DopeyGirl
Dopey's biggest fan!
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Legend
 
DopeyGirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: China Spring, TX
Concierge Level: 9
Posts: 26,975

Post Thanks / Like
Hey Laura!

Just wanted to chime in about the military discount DL tickets! When we went last, I found out that the only bases that sell DL tickets are on the west coast. I called my local MWR office and they weren't able to order them for me for some odd (dumb) reason.

HOWEVER . . . I was able to call a base in CA (Naval Station San Diego, since we are Navy) and they told me I had 2 options . . . I could either come in and buy them when I was in San Diego OR I could "order" them directly through them. The only thing would be that they needed to be ordered at least a month to six weeks in advance and they would charge something like $12 shipping, which was no big deal to me.

Definitely do some comparison "shopping" before you settle on APs or whatever . . . it may be cheaper to do it "off-site" room only with military tickets (it was for the week I went. ). Like Heather said, the AP discounts are usually not too much off the room cost, so it might be more advantageous to go the military route.

Check with your base MWR/ITT/ITR office . . . and if they can't help you out, check for the contact info for DL area offices at:

Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation
U.S. Army MWR - Family and MWR Command
MCCS - Tickets & Travel
__________________
Sarah- PassPorter Guide to:
---
DL: Planning Your Disneyland Adventure
--- DL: Getting There (and Back!)
--- DL: Staying in Style: The Hotels
--- DL: Touring the Lands: Disney Parks

Multi-Theme Park Destination Specialist with Ears To You Travel
Sarah@earstoyoutravel.com
My Countdown Counting down to: Oldest's Graduation Celebration and DH and My 20th Anniversary!
Summer fun!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsToo many trips to list! Disneyland since 1977 . . . WDW since 1996!
DopeyGirl is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 07:28 PM   #6
Meggera
Community Rank: Scout
 
Meggera's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Songtan, South Korea
Posts: 4,681

Post Thanks / Like
TYTYTYTY!! I am a comparison shopper, that's why I wanted to know about the APs. That is great to know about the MWR at the Naval Base. Super! Thanks so much for your help.
__________________
Laura


I've completed this TR: The Surviving Deployment TR

Read about our unexpected trip. We met my DH in Orlando for his R&R from Iraq! The Holi-Canoli Whirlwind Trip That Wasn't Supposed to Be!

Our new and improved family! William (17), Victoria (20), Jamie (18), Michael and me in Songtan, South Korea!
My Previous TripsWDW 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, September 14 - 22, 2009, October 25 - November 8, 2009 DLR 2006
Meggera is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 09:51 PM   #7
hapyg0luky
Community Rank: Day-Tripper
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 11

Post Thanks / Like
Hi again
My DH and I went to our local base today to get some of his uniforms taylored. While there I spoted a flyer for discounted DL resort hotel rates for active military personnel.These rates last until Oct 31. Paradise Pier starting @ $139, DL Hotel $149 & Grand CA $239. They seem to be the same pricing and time as the current AP7 rates. So they may have an offer like this when you are planning to go in the future. If so, you wont need an AP to take advantage of these rates.

A little fairy dust to you for great rates in 2010!
__________________

Remain seated please. Permanecer sentados por favor.
hapyg0luky is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2008, 10:32 PM   #8
Meggera
Community Rank: Scout
 
Meggera's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Songtan, South Korea
Posts: 4,681

Post Thanks / Like
Great info! Thanks so much! I'll definitely contact a MWR in CA when it comes time to book the trip.
__________________
Laura


I've completed this TR: The Surviving Deployment TR

Read about our unexpected trip. We met my DH in Orlando for his R&R from Iraq! The Holi-Canoli Whirlwind Trip That Wasn't Supposed to Be!

Our new and improved family! William (17), Victoria (20), Jamie (18), Michael and me in Songtan, South Korea!
My Previous TripsWDW 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, September 14 - 22, 2009, October 25 - November 8, 2009 DLR 2006
Meggera is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump














Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:55 PM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger