Annual Pass Resort Discount?

[todd222222]

I see there is a current annual pass discount for the dates we are looking at going. March 8 - March 16, 2013.

Can you book these rates without buying your annual pass yet?
Can you book if you just have the voucher?
Is there anyway to see availability before buying it?

We have for the most part only stayed at Pop - but really want to stay at the Poly, it's always just been priced to high. We have some extra cash on this trip and I'm trying to see if it's possible to make our dream come true.

but I don't want to buy the pass if I can't get the 37% discount....

so anyway way to search for availability without a pass?

Thanks!
Todd

 

[aaarcher86]

I see there is a current annual pass discount for the dates we are looking at going. March 8 - March 16, 2013.

Can you book these rates without buying your annual pass yet?
Can you book if you just have the voucher?
Is there anyway to see availability before buying it?

We have for the most part only stayed at Pop - but really want to stay at the Poly, it's always just been priced to high. We have some extra cash on this trip and I'm trying to see if it's possible to make our dream come true. You can ask them to price out a room with the AP discount if it is available.

but I don't want to buy the pass if I can't get the 37% discount....

so anyway way to search for availability without a pass?

Thanks!
Todd

I don't think the AP rates are out that far just yet - but call and check just to be safe. I could be wrong.

Yes, you can book an AP rate without the actual pass. You'll have to show it to the FD within 24 hours of check in.

The AP rate so far has been tiered, just like the regular broad offers - I don't believe 37% is going to come off the price of Pop. Off the top of my head I think it's closer to 20% or 25%, but it can change. It's been 5% before. Just depends what the offer is.

 

[todd222222]

Thanks!

I was referring to this discount listed on Mouse Savers website:

At any rate - you answered my questions! Thanks!

http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-dis...disney-world-resort-hotel-discounts-codes/#ap

Annual Passholder Room-Only Discounts

Stay dates: 1/2/13-3/22/13

Get a substantial discount off regular “Rack” rates. Pricing and savings will vary by resort type and date. 1/18/13-1/20/13 rates are higher and there may be less availability for those dates. Rates not available for all dates, room types and resorts. Minimum stay requirements and/or higher rates may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals.

Sample discounts off rack rates (standard room):

Value resorts 30% off
Moderate resorts 35% off
Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts 37% off

Other resorts and room types are available with this offer, at varying discounts. Excludes Art of Animation Resort Little Mermaid Standard Rooms, suites and 3-bedroom villas.

This is a room-only offer. If you would like to add a Dining Plan with these rates, there is a special Annual Passholders package.

Book by 1/1/13 for the discounts listed above. Reduced discounts will be available after that date.

To reserve a room with the Annual Passholder discount, call the Disney Reservations Center at (407) W-DISNEY or contact a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel, and request offer code T7G.

 

[Missyrose]

Thanks!

I was referring to this discount listed on Mouse Savers website:

At any rate - you answered my questions! Thanks!

http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-dis...disney-world-resort-hotel-discounts-codes/#ap

Man, they really don't want to give out those 40% discounts anymore. 37%??!?! I mean, come on.

 

[outahere]

I see there is a current annual pass discount for the dates we are looking at going. March 8 - March 16, 2013.

Can you book these rates without buying your annual pass yet?
Can you book if you just have the voucher?
Is there anyway to see availability before buying it?

We have for the most part only stayed at Pop - but really want to stay at the Poly, it's always just been priced to high. We have some extra cash on this trip and I'm trying to see if it's possible to make our dream come true.

but I don't want to buy the pass if I can't get the 37% discount....

so anyway way to search for availability without a pass?

Thanks!
Todd

I had a spare couple of minutes and logged into my passholder account to check this out. Here's what I found (I put in 2 adults and 2 kids under 12):

Poly - the only things available for your dates are Lagoon View, and Theme Park View. LV = $4137 TPV = $4460

Pop - Standard = $984, Pool View = $1016, Preferred = $1079, Preferred Pool View = $1110

Good Luck!

 

[todd222222]

I had a spare couple of minutes and logged into my passholder account to check this out. Here's what I found (I put in 2 adults and 2 kids under 12):

Poly - the only things available for your dates are Lagoon View, and Theme Park View. LV = $4137 TPV = $4460

Pop - Standard = $984, Pool View = $1016, Preferred = $1079, Preferred Pool View = $1110

Good Luck!

Thank you very much!
Just what I was looking for.

 

[outahere]

Thank you very much!
Just what I was looking for.

You're welcome.

If you can't swing the entire stay at the Poly, how about doing a split stay? We've enjoyed the times we've stayed at the Poly and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

 

[todd222222]

You're welcome.

If you can't swing the entire stay at the Poly, how about doing a split stay? We've enjoyed the times we've stayed at the Poly and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

That's an idea. have not done that before. My wife is the type that likes to completely unpack when we arrive...not sure how she would like switching resorts.

We are going to have a party of 5 - so we would be getting two rooms at Pop. can you get an annual pass discount on 2 rooms if only one person has a pass?

Thanks!
Todd

 

[outahere]

That's an idea. have not done that before. My wife is the type that likes to completely unpack when we arrive...not sure how she would like switching resorts.

We are going to have a party of 5 - so we would be getting two rooms at Pop. can you get an annual pass discount on 2 rooms if only one person has a pass?

Thanks!
Todd

I just jumped back into my account and it does not specifically say. All it says it that the discount does not apply to group rates. I would give them a call with that question.

Keep in mind that the difference between the AP discount and the General Public discount is only a few percent (2% difference at the Poly and 5% at Pop). That is certainly not going to be enough difference to cover the $574 cost of an AP.

 

[todd222222]

I just jumped back into my account and it does not specifically say. All it says it that the discount does not apply to group rates. I would give them a call with that question.

Keep in mind that the difference between the AP discount and the General Public discount is only a few percent (2% difference at the Poly and 5% at Pop). That is certainly not going to be enough difference to cover the $574 cost of an AP.

Thanks!
There does not appear to be a general pubic discount out yet. The general public discount ends the day before we arrive. I would love to figure out how to get to WDW the day before but we are driving and to get there on the 7th I would have to pull my kids out of school another day.

And according to Mouse Savers historical discounts Disney didn't have a general public discount during spring break during the last two years:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#2011

I'm sure this can change...so this is what I'm thinking. Go ahead and make the reservation with the discount and buy the pass when I arrive. Someone said above you only have to show the pass within 24 hours of check in. If a general public discount comes out then I can cancel the AP reservation and make one with the general public discount.

Doing my math on 2 pop century rooms I would save ~$900 with an additional cost of $231 (annual pass - 10 day park hopper)..so a savings of $669.....(and an excuse to go back sometime over the next year). Plus the 10% discount on disney stuff in the stores...

Much more savings if we stay at the Poly or another Deluxe resort.

The above assumes I can get the discount on 2 rooms at Pop....

Now I'm thinking I need to find a way to get there on 3/7 to get the current general public discount.

Thanks!
Todd

 

[aaarcher86]

You can book up to 3 rooms with the discount

 

[outahere]

Thanks!
There does not appear to be a general pubic discount out yet. The general public discount ends the day before we arrive. I would love to figure out how to get to WDW the day before but we are driving and to get there on the 7th I would have to pull my kids out of school another day.

Oooops..... forgot the GP discount has a different end date than the AP discount.

 

[chemnerd09]

That's an idea. have not done that before. My wife is the type that likes to completely unpack when we arrive...not sure how she would like switching resorts.

We are going to have a party of 5 - so we would be getting two rooms at Pop. can you get an annual pass discount on 2 rooms if only one person has a pass?

Thanks!
Todd

If your wife likes to completely unpack, I would suggest not doing a split stay. My family and I always do split stays and won't unpack until we are at the resort that we're staying the longest. It also depends on how much stuff you pack and if you want to have the hassle of repacking everything. We usually separate the bags per resort so we leave the bags we don't need in our car. Its also a lot easier to do a split stay if you have your own vehicle, but I've heard that Disney will move your luggage for you.

I wouldn't get the AP if you are just looking for a room discount. We have ours because we go down twice a year and its cheaper than buying tickets for both times. The room discount is an added bonus.

Not sure if someone in both rooms needs an AP or just a member of the entire party. You would need to ask a cast member about that one.

 

[Bethany6537]

I am following this thread because we are potentially looking to do the same thing . My question is about the dining plan. Can we add the dining plan to an annual pass room only reservation?

 

[fla4fun]

Now I'm thinking I need to find a way to get there on 3/7 to get the current general public discount.

With a room only discount, you don't get the discount for the entire trip by arriving on the last day of the promotion. That only works with packages. So either a GP or AP room only discount would have to be valid for every night of your trip. I ran into that last December, when the GP discount only covered half of my December trip, so when I booked it only half the vacation was discounted. Then they released the AP discount and all my dates were covered, so I switched over and got a discount for each night.

 

[Sue M]

I am following this thread because we are potentially looking to do the same thing . My question is about the dining plan. Can we add the dining plan to an annual pass room only reservation?

Yes. It's called AP + Dining. You will then be subject to the package rules.

 

[Sue M]

Man, they really don't want to give out those 40% discounts anymore. 37%??!?! I mean, come on.

I know the AP rates have been pretty disappointing this year. When I checked out the AP rate for our AKL stay last Aug. I found the weekends weren't discounted, and were RACK rate. So made it more expensive then our BB offer with the same 35% discount. Glad we booked the BB.

 

[todd222222]

I wouldn't get the AP if you are just looking for a room discount. We have ours because we go down twice a year and its cheaper than buying tickets for both times. The room discount is an added bonus.

Is there a down side to having an AP?

Just looking at the math it seems to make a lot of sense for one member of our party to get an AP.

We will most likely end up getting 2 rooms at Pop standard view for 8 nights. The non-discounted rooms together is a total of $2812.

With the current 30% AP discount that goes down to $1968.40.

A savings $843.60.

I'm looking at the 10 day MYW w/park hopper from Undercover Tourist, which is $379.95.

The AP is $611.31

So the added cost between the 10 day ticket and the AP is $231.36

So while we are saving $843.60 there is an added cost of $231.36 for a final savings of $612.24

Plus we get the extra AP benefits. The savings is much higher if you start looking at moderate or deluxe rooms.

I know this may be thought of "gaming" the AP system, but it seems to be completely within the rules.

Since we don't have to show the AP until we check in (or within 24 hours of checking in) we can hold off on buying the AP until we get there, so in case a General Public discount comes we can rebook with that.....but I don't think this will happen for our time frame.

Am I missing something?

With a room only discount, you don't get the discount for the entire trip by arriving on the last day of the promotion. That only works with packages. So either a GP or AP room only discount would have to be valid for every night of your trip. I ran into that last December, when the GP discount only covered half of my December trip, so when I booked it only half the vacation was discounted. Then they released the AP discount and all my dates were covered, so I switched over and got a discount for each night.

Thanks - I knew this at one time, but I had forgotten.

 

[1mama2three]

Is there a down side to having an AP?

Just looking at the math it seems to make a lot of sense for one member of our party to get an AP.

We will most likely end up getting 2 rooms at Pop standard view for 8 nights. The non-discounted rooms together is a total of $2812.

With the current 30% AP discount that goes down to $1968.40.

A savings $843.60.

I'm looking at the 10 day MYW w/park hopper from Undercover Tourist, which is $379.95.

The AP is $611.31

So the added cost between the 10 day ticket and the AP is $231.36

So while we are saving $843.60 there is an added cost of $231.36 for a final savings of $612.24

Plus we get the extra AP benefits. The savings is much higher if you start looking at moderate or deluxe rooms.

I know this may be thought of "gaming" the AP system, but it seems to be completely within the rules.

Since we don't have to show the AP until we check in (or within 24 hours of checking in) we can hold off on buying the AP until we get there, so in case a General Public discount comes we can rebook with that.....but I don't think this will happen for our time frame.

Am I missing something?



Thanks - I knew this at one time, but I had forgotten.

When we booked our AP rates back in May 2012, we were told that only one person in our family needed an AP to get the discount on up to three rooms.

Also, if you're buying your tickets through UT, make sure to go through the gates of one of the parks BEFORE you upgrade the ticket to the AP. This will lock in the discounted UT ticket at the Disney gate price, and so you will actually pay LESS than the $231 for the upgrade. You'll pay only the difference between Disney's charge of a 10-day PH ticket and the price of the AP. In order to do this you have to take the ticket through the gates first, and then take to to the guest services area inside the park. We stopped at EPCOT on our way to our hotel in May, we paid for parking, and then one of us went through the gates and then headed to member services. Once at member services it took only about 10 minutes for them to make the change, and they'll refund you for parking because it is free on the AP...just save your receipt for that! Obviously, not everyone will want to go through the gates...otherwise they'd be using one of their 10 days. It is also possible that you could go check-in at the hotel first, and THEN head over to a park to do the upgrade. I've heard that they'll allow you to check in without the AP, and they'll tell you you'll have to stop by the desk with the AP within a certain period of time.

I haven't found any downside to having the AP. We got several discounts on souveneirs, dining and otherwise...I never carried around the list...I just asked whenever we made a purchase, and I was told that they did accept the discount more often than not.

 

[1mama2three]

Oh, and the biggest PLUS to the AP, is being able to convince my husband that we should visit again in January before the AP expires.