[need info on discounts using] Annual Passes - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Hi PPer's!
I am considering purchasing an annual pass since I may be making two trips this year!! I would like to know what "other benefits" are included with this pass. I know that it gets you free parking (which would be awesome for us since we are staying off property for the first stay). But, am wondering what kind of dining/ hotel/ shopping discounts might come with holding an AP?
Need all the help I can get convincing DH this would be a smart purchase!!
Thanks!
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Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
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Check out this info on calculating a "breakeven" on getting an AP - http://allears.net/pl/breakeven.php
(Good luck on convincing your husband!)
The best way to save on meals is the Tables in Wonderland membership (if you aren't a dining plan user) You'd need to spend at least $375 on table service meals and bar/lounge purchases to earn back your membership fee, but for many of us... that's easy!
For the shopping discounts, YOU have to mention your AP (& show it) at check-out. This March's trip, it was a standard 10%, even at World of Disney (which in the past had offered 20%).
Thanks for all the great links, Eileen! Very helpful.
Now, if I can talk my girls (DM, DS, and DSiL) into running the princess half-marathon with me, I'll be all set!!
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Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
When we were there in Jan 2011, all the Disney gift shops were offering the 10% in the parks, resorts, & DTD.
There was 20% only with Premium Pass Cause in Jan 2010 I was getting the 20% with the regular AP.
You also get a discount on some tours, Circ tickets, and I think some DTD QS restaurants like Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Express? Not sure about the QS.
And a discount on the Water Park admissions too, & boat/marina rentals.
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Wife and I got Annual Passes a few years back when we were planning on three visits in a year. Got discounts on our hotel rooms, plus dining (with Tables in Wonderland you also get a food court discount at Value and Moderates that have such dining available). Keep in mind if you are planning on doing the Dining Plan it isn't applicable there... but you also have somewhat of a discount with the dining plan as well.
If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't buy my wife and I APs again...quite frankly, I'd just buy ONE, as you only need that single pass to get any of the discounts. While there is a savings on park tickets if you are going a lot (I think it is usually ten days worth of park hopping, no expiry to get same value) if you are only going for a few days per trip, I'd rather spend less per trip, and overall pay a bit more (i.e. just buy the tickets I need per visit, each visit). APs are a big outlay when first bought, but then you don't need tickets for the next trip.
One big piece of advice I was given from AP holders when I was asking similar questions to you lo those many years ago when I bought, was don't buy APs because of possible discounts you might have available, buy them because as admission tickets they are a good deal for you, then think of the extra discounts as icing on the cake. IIRC when we had APs back in 2008 I saved over $1000 on rooms alone, with about 15-20 days worth of nights, and also was able to upgrade to moderates at better prices than I could get value resorts at (without discount). Add on top of that the food discount that we got, plus the bit of shopping that we did (even got a free gift of pins for AP holders at World of Disney) and it was well worth it in the end, and if we were planning multiple trips again in a year's span, I'd definitely buy at least one pass.
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Cause in Jan 2010 I was getting the 20% with the regular AP. 
It never hurts to just ask "any discounts for Annual Passholders?"
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