A question for the pros...

[EPRV We love Disney]

Hello All!

I am doing the "AP vs SMSM vs AA rate" dance. Come join me!

I am booked into the RPR, standard room (2 queens) for 4 nights (2/8/12 - 2/12/12).

Initial booking was at rack rates: $219 Wed/Thurs, $244 Fri/Sat.

After reading a thread here that mentioned that discount rates were available for Feb, I checked the website and saw that SMSM rates applied for these days. I called and had my rates adjusted to $179 Wed/Thurs and $195 Fri/Sat.

So, SMSM saved me 20%.

Now, as I understand it, IF I can get an AP rate for these nights, this would save me 30%. The AP itself costs $230. I already have a 4-day PTP pass which cost $147. So the upgrade to AP will cost $83.

The additional 10% savings (since I'd have 20% off if I stayed with the SMSM rates) on the room rate would be $92.60. So, the purchase of an AP will save me $9.60.

I know that there are restaurant and merchandise discounts for the AP, but I also have AAA and I think that the discounts are comparable? I won't need the parking perk as I won't have a car.

Does my math above make sense? I'l love to find a way to bring down the prices more! Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks so much!!!

 

[rpbert1]

Wait to see if any AP rates come available and what the savings would be , as you can change to AP rate and then purchase the AP then.
The SMSM rates have always been the best for our stays

 

[Zim]

That about covered it! I believe AAA and AP both offer the 10% for food and merchandise at Universal, so that's not going to be an additional perk if you already have AAA.

Did you only get a ticket for you that you're considering upgrading, or did you get tickets for everyone already? My understanding is that to get the AP discount on additional ticket purchases, you have to buy them at the gate - but that will be the best discount you can get on tickets.

If there is an additional perk out there, I'd love to hear it too. I'm planning on getting the one out of state AP pass in early November so that I can use it to buy all the other tickets when we get there the week after Turkey day AND then plan to use it again in late Sept early October for another trip plus HHN discounted tickets.

 

[damo]

That about covered it! I believe AAA and AP both offer the 10% for food and merchandise at Universal, so that's not going to be an additional perk if you already have AAA.

Did you only get a ticket for you that you're considering upgrading, or did you get tickets for everyone already? My understanding is that to get the AP discount on additional ticket purchases, you have to buy them at the gate - but that will be the best discount you can get on tickets.

If there is an additional perk out there, I'd love to hear it too. I'm planning on getting the one out of state AP pass in early November so that I can use it to buy all the other tickets when we get there the week after Turkey day AND then plan to use it again in late Sept early October for another trip plus HHN discounted tickets.

One of the additional perks is that AP renewals are $159.

 

[ldmilton]

One of the additional perks is that AP renewals are $159.

One of the many reasons I bought AP's this year for DH and I.

 

[EPRV We love Disney]

Wait to see if any AP rates come available and what the savings would be , as you can change to AP rate and then purchase the AP then.
The SMSM rates have always been the best for our stays

I'm having a happy fantasy of a brand new 2012 50% AP discount!! But, I think it maxes out at 30%? What I was hoping for was lower hotel rates for the time period. Feb 8-12 should be pretty slow I think!

Did you only get a ticket for you that you're considering upgrading, or did you get tickets for everyone already? My understanding is that to get the AP discount on additional ticket purchases, you have to buy them at the gate - but that will be the best discount you can get on tickets.

If there is an additional perk out there, I'd love to hear it too. I'm planning on getting the one out of state AP pass in early November so that I can use it to buy all the other tickets when we get there the week after Turkey day AND then plan to use it again in late Sept early October for another trip plus HHN discounted tickets.

I'm going with a friend and we both purchases the 4 day PTP tix from Undercovertourist as the prices on Universal site were going up... and we weren't sure if I'd be buying an AP. So, the answer is yes, we do have all our tix. I'm jealous of your second trip... if I was sure I could do another one in a year, that would cement the AP for sure!!

One of the additional perks is that AP renewals are $159.

True, true, hmmmm, with AP in hand, I'd just HAVE to make another trip wouldn't I....

 

[EPRV We love Disney]

Alrighty, here's what's bugging me

I read a thread where the poster received an AP rate of $139 for a date in July or August. How is that possible if the AP discount is max 30% and the rack is at least $219?

You know what I mean?

Also, I did receive one of the fall 2011 pin rates (40% off). Since I'm busily fantasizing... does anyone know if they'd put one out for early 2012?

Need to win lottery.

 

[damo]

Alrighty, here's what's bugging me

I read a thread where the poster received an AP rate of $139 for a date in July or August. How is that possible if the AP discount is max 30% and the rack is at least $219?

You know what I mean?

Also, I did receive one of the fall 2011 pin rates (40% off). Since I'm busily fantasizing... does anyone know if they'd put one out for early 2012?

Need to win lottery.

The AP discounts vary. Also, rack rates vary depending on when you book them. Everything Universal does is a mystery. You pin guesses are as good as ours.

If you check September AP discounts, they are the same as what you just quoted above. It is more like 35-40% depending on the hotel. The rates for PBH are 169 when rack is 274.

 

[EPRV We love Disney]

The AP discounts vary. Also, rack rates vary depending on when you book them. Everything Universal does is a mystery. You pin guesses are as good as ours.

If you check September AP discounts, they are the same as what you just quoted above. It is more like 35-40% depending on the hotel. The rates for PBH are 169 when rack is 274.

Oooh, this is good news.. I'm going to keep checking (and hoping... ).

Awesome, thanks so much everyone!!

 

[Zim]

I'm jealous of your second trip... if I was sure I could do another one in a year, that would cement the AP for sure!!

We go every two years... but it was one of those fall pin codes that got me to add an extra little 5 day trip to the mix this year (how do you say no to a $132 rate??)

Good to know about the AP renewal rate too!