So, my wife and I just watched a DFBGuide where AJ was talking about how the fact that Disney is currently offering unheard of discounts on Disney Annual Passes, which could be a sign that demand for the parks is waning. (It was a bit of an off-handed remark in an otherwise larger video on 2026 crowd expectations.)
This got me wondering about the AP math. Last time we bought an AP, we were doing three trips within a 12 month period, so it paid off. The time before that, it still made sense to buy an AP if you were going at least 2 times in a 12 month period, but that was no longer the case.
When I toyed with a theoretical two 7-day trips in 12 months, it seemed to be that the price of the Incredi-Pass rather broke even…and once you factored in some of the discounts on merch and TS restaurants, probably made it slightly worth it.
BUT, I saw no evidence of any supposed “unheard of discounts” on APs that AJ mentioned. So I have NO idea where she got that bit of information from.
All this appears to be have been for naught, though, since it seems Disney just announced a price INCREASE in annual passes of more than 5%!!! It seems Disney also did the math and realized that people might actually save month with only 2 trips, so decided it was time to raise the prices again.
AP math is a thing… like Disney math I upgraded my AP from a Pixie to a Pirate for 5 extra days on our upcoming trip (I know it’s a LOT more days over all). It was $310 to upgrade which comes out to $62 per day… that’s a PH day too; pretty good deal IMHO
That is probably what she meant, although in context, it wasn’t obvious that was what she meant. Now that you say it, though, it make sense. (Still, the phrase “unheard of” seems a bit hyperbolic. I think 35%-40% off rack rates for AP holders is not unheard of.)
Not as freely. This upcoming trip, we only have one official park day (Epcot, buying convention after 1 pm ticket). Of course, we are spending money on both parties. But that’s not an ordinary situation…this is a special 30th anniversary trip for us.
In February, we are only two Disney park days.
We have definitely been cutting park days.
ETA: So, out of 6 nights staying on Disney property, we will only be in parks 3 of those days total.
So are you only doing AP math as a theoretical exercise? Because I definitely don’t think two trips encompassing 3 park days is going to break even on an annual pass.
I am looking ahead. We are “planning” our 2027 and 2028 trips, and so I was wondering if we booked those two trips within a 12 month period, would an AP make sense.
Gotcha. I’ve never been able to make the math “work” on two trips unless I massaged it in my favor. Especially given that I can get a DVC discount about 50% of the time.
I think there have been a few “incredible” AP food discounts but for slightly off the beaten path restaurants.
For sure. It was definitely part of the equation. If buying DVC via resale didn’t give us the financial advantage, we wouldn’t have done it. We have been able to stay on Disney property at nicer accommodations, but at a cost that is roughly the same, when all calculated out, as booking a value or moderate resort!
I’m not gonna complain. BUT, it doesn’t change the fact that Disney treats resale owners as “less than”, not even really acknowledging the fact that we are technically DVC “members”. The part of the formula they seem to be missing is that if they DID offer a discounted AP for DVC resale members (even if it wasn’t AS nice of discount), we would be more likely to buy it and therefore spend MORE in the parks! But it is what it is.
they have done a few things that have caused guests to spend less in the parks, I’m not sure if it’s effecting their bottom line enough for them to care
Although, I don’t think it is still in effect. I’d have to go back and rewatch that part of her video (which I’m not going to do) to see if her language suggested it WAS a discount versus it IS a discount.
I upgraded my AP from a Pixie to a Pirate for 5 extra days on our upcoming trip (I know it’s a LOT more days over all). It was $310 to upgrade which comes out to $62 per day… that’s a PH day too; pretty good deal IMHO
I hope I find them too