1st time AP'r questions

[Indiana Scott]

Finally getting Deluxe AP's after all this time! We'll be able to fit in two yearly vacations so it makes sense financially. We're also Disney VISA holders if that helps.
But I have a couple of questions I couldn't find answers for on the Disney web site;

1. I know the AP is good for a year but when does this years start? On our first visit?

2. Can I get discounts on hotel rates at Aulani with my AP?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Girimama33]

The AP effective date is the first day in the parks. You can purchase the voucher anytime the year you plan on visiting.
They offer DLR AP's Aulani discounts at times (not all the time). Just check the Special Offers section on the Aulani website to see if they have discounts available.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Than you very much Girimama!

 

[figment_jii]

As Girimama33 said, you AP is considered active from when you exchange your voucher for your actual AP. For most folks, that happens when you enter the park for the first time. However, some folks have reported going to the ticket booths or guest services to exchange their AP vouchers for their APs, but they didn't go into the park that day (e.g., wanted to save time so they did it on the night they arrived, but they didn't plan to go into the parks until the next day). Their APs were considered active then because that's when they exchanged their voucher.

 

[Girimama33]

You are right Figment_jii - I purposely didn't get my AP on our arrival night because I wanted the effective date as late as possible. I just arrived my first day in the parks a earlier and exchanged at the ticket booth.

 

[Indiana Scott]

That's good info. - thanks!
Hopefully I can use just the voucher to get a discount at Aulani (if we go).
I checked and if I RSVP before 9/28 I can get 25% off hotel rates but even after that, Aulani is very expensive compared to other nice hotels on the island.

 

[GatorChris]

That's good info. - thanks!
Hopefully I can use just the voucher to get a discount at Aulani (if we go).
I checked and if I RSVP before 9/28 I can get 25% off hotel rates but even after that, Aulani is very expensive compared to other nice hotels on the island.

Welcome to the AP club! We got ours last November because we were planning back-to-back year November trips. But we've added a 4 day Feb trip, 1 day March trip, and 2 different 3 day June trips. Somehow, we just haven't got sick of the place yet....and probably never will. I'm actually dreading the day when our APs become inactive, but it won't be financially worth it after that. I just love the idea of being able to walk in to DL whenever I want (outside of a few holidays and summer Saturdays).

As for Aulani, I just got an email that Disney Visa holders can get 30% off Aulani for the first 3 months of 2016.....and it still ain't worth it. So darn expensive!!! For half the price of a 30% off room at Aulani, we can stay at an incredible resort in Maui that we just love. Is it Disney? No. Does it have only 1 waterslide? Yes. Can I say twice as long if I wanted? You bet. And I have several friends who've stayed there and they said it was too expensive for what they got. I'm sure it's nice, but I can stay at the Polynesian at WDW for way less, and have monorail access to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Girimama33]

We stayed at Aulani twice. The first time, my parents took our families. My SIL works for WDC so she was able to get us 50% off of our rooms (we needed 2 2BDR villas). In stead of $16,000 for the two rooms for a week, we only had to pay $8,000.
This past March, my husband, DD and I went on our own for 3 days. I rented points through David's Vacation Rentals for a standard view hotel room, and it averaged about $250 a night (including parking).

 

[Indiana Scott]

More good info but we're kind of picky and if we go to the island we want an ocean view so that raises the nightly price quite a bit. (We spend a good amount of time just enjoying the view).
We can stay at the Hilton Village or the Ilakai for about 30% of what Disney wants.

 

[tiffjoy]

We stayed near Aulani at the Marriott resort, but we went there for breakfast and to look around. I will never stay there, and I was so glad I hadn't tried to talk my DH into paying the ridiculous amounts. It was very crowded and overwhelming, and the views are all blocked by the decorations around the pool area. I love the Marriott vacation club resort there. Hoping for another stay there next year.

This is our first year with APs, and we are having fun planning more than the usual amount of trips. When we decided on two trips during the year, it made sense to get the APs, so we are going as much as possible and getting our fill of Disney, then taking a break next year.

 

[Indiana Scott]

We stayed near Aulani at the Marriott resort, but we went there for breakfast and to look around. I will never stay there, and I was so glad I hadn't tried to talk my DH into paying the ridiculous amounts. It was very crowded and overwhelming, and the views are all blocked by the decorations around the pool area. I love the Marriott vacation club resort there. Hoping for another stay there next year.

This is our first year with APs, and we are having fun planning more than the usual amount of trips. When we decided on two trips during the year, it made sense to get the APs, so we are going as much as possible and getting our fill of Disney, then taking a break next year.

Thanks for the input Tiffjoy.
We did the same thing ~ went there for lunch and to look around. It was an off peak time and there were pools with no body in them! There were no crowds at all and we thought the grounds were absolutely stunning. We thought the hotel itself was nice but on par with all the other great hotels in the region. But the price is crazy.. I just checked and for a room with a partial ocean view the price is well over $4K for a week - that's with a Disney AP & Visa discount. I can get a better view at the Hilton HV for $1600 and I can probably do better than that getting a package with air fair.
I would truly like to try it out but the price difference is ridiculous.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Ooh I have another question!
I think I know the answer to this one (no..) but I have to ask.. With a deluxe pass, I don't suppose we get early entry at all during our week there do we?

 

[tiffjoy]

Ooh I have another question!
I think I know the answer to this one (no..) but I have to ask.. With a deluxe pass, I don't suppose we get early entry at all during our week there do we?

Early entry is for Disney Hotel guests and isn't associated with the tickets. Each three day + park hopper ticket includes one Magic Morning (DL). APs do not get the MM. If you are staying at a hotel as an APer, you do get early entry same as all other guests.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Early entry is for Disney Hotel guests and isn't associated with the tickets. Each three day + park hopper ticket includes one Magic Morning (DL). APs do not get the MM. If you are staying at a hotel as an APer, you do get early entry same as all other guests.

Thanks, we're used to getting 5 day passes and getting at least one early morning day. But it is what it is.
Early morning entrance isn't all that important to us anyway since the half of the park we like the best is closed.

 

[Girimama33]

Early entry is for Disney Hotel guests and isn't associated with the tickets. Each three day + park hopper ticket includes one Magic Morning (DL). APs do not get the MM. If you are staying at a hotel as an APer, you do get early entry same as all other guests.

Just want to clarify this....Magic Morning is available with a 3+ day ticket...it does not have to be a park hopper. Also, they are not available on all 3+ day tickets. Some 3rd party resellers will sell them w/o MM, and if you buy your ticket at the ticket booth, it will not include MM.

Thanks, we're used to getting 5 day passes and getting at least one early morning day. But it is what it is.
Early morning entrance isn't all that important to us anyway since the half of the park we like the best is closed.

With an AP, just start at the park that doesn't have EMH/MM.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

As Girimama33 said, you AP is considered active from when you exchange your voucher for your actual AP. For most folks, that happens when you enter the park for the first time. However, some folks have reported going to the ticket booths or guest services to exchange their AP vouchers for their APs, but they didn't go into the park that day (e.g., wanted to save time so they did it on the night they arrived, but they didn't plan to go into the parks until the next day). Their APs were considered active then because that's when they exchanged their voucher.

This happened to us! So much for saving time. As we were trying to fit two Thanksgiving trips in (2013 & 2014), it did affect us. Not enough to ruin anything, but we did have to move the date of the 2nd trip up.

 

[LisaT91403]

We stayed near Aulani at the Marriott resort, but we went there for breakfast and to look around. I will never stay there, and I was so glad I hadn't tried to talk my DH into paying the ridiculous amounts. It was very crowded and overwhelming, and the views are all blocked by the decorations around the pool area. I love the Marriott vacation club resort there. Hoping for another stay there next year.

Just an FYI -- if you are talking about the JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina (the one right next to Aulani) -- it closed several months ago. They are making it into a Four Seasons resort.

Or were you talking about the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club?