Reminder to purchase AP voucher before year end

[bavaria]

If you are concerned about potential ticket price increases in January 2006, you many want to consider buying AP vouchers at the reduced DVC rate before year end.

While I have no idea if ticket prices will increase, historically they do rise with no warning and typically in January.

I plan to buy an AP voucher next week even though I don't plan on using it in the next several months; this way I can buy it at the 2005 reduced rate....

[tjkraz]

I don't think there's really a pattern of January increases. AFAIK, the last several increases were:

September '02
June '03
March/April '04
January '05 (MYW announced)

I think Disney likes to keep us guessing so that we don't know exactly when those increases will hit. ;)

Nevertheless, it is rare (at least in recent years) that they go more than a year without increasing prices. Since prices haven't changed in nearly a year since the MYW introduction, it stands to reason that they will be adjusted shortly.

Yes, it does seem like a good time to buy those vouchers for trips in early '06.

[Stimpy]

Thanks! I didn't even think about this before. I was just reading somewhere that all the parks were raising prices soon, the latest being Busch Gardens with Sea World rumored to be next. If that's the case, it wouldn't surprise me to see Disney raise too.

[Happy]

Were there also be an increase on the non-expiring tickets? Is the hike on these tickets minor compared to AP? I am thinking of going late next yr, but might end to be 2007 too? Should I hold off or buy this year?

Thanks:jumpingbe

[bavaria]

Since the MYW tickets were introduced in late 2004/early 2005 (sorry, was in WDW both Dec and Jan and can't remember the date, although I was there for the announcement!) there is no historical data on increases.

However, since AP prices usually rise around the same time as other tickets (and the Orlando media had several reports on the Busch Gardens increase and impact on other parks), I would think that we will see an increase some time in 2006.

I suppose that if you have a few extra dollars available now, it's wise to lock in at the low rate, since WDW AP vouchers don't expire.

[gracelrm]

So, if we're not planning on going back until Summer '07 - we could buy DVC AP vouchers now and lock in the current price and then not activate the AP until Summer of '07? I didn't know that was possible!

[tjkraz]

So, if we're not planning on going back until Summer '07 - we could buy DVC AP vouchers now and lock in the current price and then not activate the AP until Summer of '07? I didn't know that was possible!

That's correct. You could buy as many AP vouchers as DVC will allow (I thought I heard something about a limit of 8 per year) and just stash them away for future use. They don't have expiration dates, so you could redeem them next year or 10 years from now.

The main thing you have to weigh is the loss of value in your $$$ investment vs. the potential price increases over that same period. There's also the reality that pricing structures can and do change over time. Two years ago it might have seemed like a good idea to buy a dozen AP vouchers at 2004 prices to avoid inflationary price increases. Of course, in light of the $100/pass DVC member discount intorduced in '05, that plan probably wouldn't have worked out so well. ;)

[jarestel]

Prices for the DVC discounted APs did go up on Jan 1 about $20 for an adult's pass and $25 for a child's pass. ( approximate increase, didn't feel like doing the actual math )

[bavaria]

Prices for the DVC discounted APs did go up on Jan 1 about $20 for an adult's pass and $25 for a child's pass. ( approximate increase, didn't feel like doing the actual math )

They increased $18.25 after discount. I almost forgot to order mine, but did get one at the old price.

Well, it's $18.25 towards my add-on! :goodvibes

[Stimpy]

:hammer: Of course, I completely forgot to order them last week.....I even had it on my list of things to do! I'm not even going to tell DH, he'll never know how much they cost anyway LOL

[Rozzie]

we sprang for the PAP this year. Never had a PAP, always a AP. Just decided to upgrade and see how much we use the extras while the discount was still going on. (who knows what the future holds?) :sherlock: