AP--new or renew???

[ghost1000]

I was thinking about our upcoming trip and renewing our DDE, which made me think of another question. What's the break even point on renewing an annual pass vs. purchasing a new one (using the DVC discount).

Doug and I have regular annual passes (not PAPs). They will expire on January 27, 2007. Our next trip will be on May 17, 2007.

Would you renew your annual pass, or buy a new one?

[tjkraz]

I think that depends entirely on whether you plan to take a trip between January 28, 2008 and May 17, '08. Renewing doesn't save you a whole lot, but you might as well take advantage of the discount if you wouldn't even use your passes during the "extra" time you will gain by not renewing.

Make sense?

[carolina_yankee]

It depends on how long your trip is and whether you plan on going back.

The AP renewal rate with DVC discount is $290. For comparison, a 10 day Magic Your Way park hopper that expires 14 days after first use is $257 (advance purchase). If you get the no expiration option, the 10 day MYW is $401 and the 5 day is $291 (advance purchase). I didn't consider the plus options since you the basic AP doesn't offer them.

Unless you plan on staying longer than 10 days or come back in less than a year, it might be worth letting the pass expire. However, there are other discounts and the AP allows you to purchase the Disney Dinging Experience (20% meal and beverage discount at most table services) which can easily make up the difference.

We're going to rewnew our AP because we plan a 12 day trip next summer, with the middle weekend spent at a moderate or Pop Century. The AP rate alone should make up any difference in ticket cost for us.

Dirk

[Muushka]

I posted this on another board, and I don't know if anyone checked my math or not, but here goes:

Ghost1000, It looks like you are 110 or so days out, close call.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have always wanted to figure out exactly how many days between trips made it worthwhile to renew the regular AP. So here goes:

For regular AP (non-DVC) 38 days

based on 442 for AP, 400 for renewal (which is 1.10/day times 38 = $42)

For DVC AP 102 days

Based on 342 for AP, 267 for renewal (which is .73/day times 102 = $75)

So, bottom line, if you are not a DVC member, unless you plan to return to WDW within 38 days, don't renew. And if you are a DVC member, unless you plan to return to the parks within 102 days, don't renew. Hopefully my math is correct!

Just to put salt on the wounds, remember when WDW used to give you a voucher for your renewal? Oye, I wish they still had that!

[Colorado Belle]

I think I read the question differently that the first two answers.
But I'm not sure.
If I read it wrong, please forgive, but I have a question of my own.

I used the DVC discount to get my first AP on Nov 27 last year. I will get plenty of use from it (IMHO) this year because of my Nov trip, May trip and upcoming Sept and Oct trips. If I renew, that would mean that I'd have to start the new pass in Nov27 correct? I am guessing that I save $25 over teh regular DVC AP. So I save $25 but if I don't go again until May...it seems that it isn't worth $25 for having 5 months less to 'use it' ....No trips are planned for me from Nov-May.

On the other hand, I will have two credits of $67 from my 'Free dining' visits in Sept and Oct. Also, because I am a part owner in a Tampa condo I believe I can get Florida rates....and since I woudl never go in summer, that might be an even cheaper option. But for the sake of that option: If I don't renew my DVC AP but instead change to a Florida Res seasonal AP will I get a 'renewal rate' if I do it as of Nov 27?????

Back to the OP's question, now that I've hogged it for my own purposes:

The savings for a 'renewal' as opposed to buying a new AP when you go on your next trip seems rather small. Assum ing that the DVC discount will STILL be availabe on that next visit....and assuming you m;ight plan more trips within that next year starting with that new pass visit.....you are probably better off letting it lapse and then buying a new voucher with DVC discount that would start on the day of that last planned vaca.

[carolina_yankee]

Belle, this is what the Disney website says about Florida residency requirements:

Proof of Florida residency is required -- you must provide any one of the following:
* Florida driver's license
* Florida state-issued ID card (must have Florida address)
* Florida voter's registration card with corresponding picture ID
* A college ID for a Florida college
* Florida-based military ID

Now, for the OP - to me it all comes down to how many days you expect to use the pass before it expires. I agree with other that for the $2x dollar savings, waiting for a new pass might not be a big deal if it will use it in those months before it expires. For us, we can only plan about a year out so I go with the known quantity.

After our pass expires in Jan '07, our next trip won't be until June or July of '07. However, we expect to stay for an extended time so renewing earlier makes sense. It might be that we'll visit in Jan '08 (after the pass expires), but we might not; and I won't know that answer when the '07 renewal comes up. So, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, as they so. Or $20 some odd dollars in the pocket!!

[kathleena]

I think it depends on what you plans are going 12-15 months out.

For me, mine expired March 4th. Next trip was May 17th. Then Dec 7th. Then next April. By not renewing, and paying the little bit extra I think just $20-30 - I will be able to get 3 trips on the next pass. If I had renewed, I would only get two trips.

[cruise-o-matic]

Can you "downgrade" from a PAP to regular AP?

What's the renewal rate for a childs AP?