Am I missing something: AAA seems better deal than AP discount?

[bunnysmum]

We have AKL and WL booked for a split stay in January. I just called AAA and got 20% off the rooms, saving over $400 total.

I had thought that I would wait until the AP rates came out and then maybe buy an AP if I could get a better rate of maybe 40% off (I think those have historically come out late Oct/early Nov).

However, now I'm thinking, that since the AP costs about $200 more than a 10 day MYW ticket, even if I am able to get an AP rate of around 40% off, the cost of the AP would make that a wash, right? (Already have 20% off with AAA, and if I were to switch to the AP rate, it would save me about $200 more, but would cost me $200 more for the AP itself.)

So I should just take the AAA rate and not worry about an AP rate, or am I missing something??

 

[Haley]

You are right--- but where you save $$ with the AP is when you go back within the same calender year and don't have to buy park admission.

So on your next trip, you can save like $400 for not having to buy a ticket, plus get the AP discount.

 

[Karlzmom]

Don't forget to look at what you plan to do at WDW as there are additional discounts to be had with an AP....minigolf, dining [which you can bump up with DDE], shopping...even your rental car if you go Alamo.

For me, its at least a wash on the cost difference, though it may get better as I stock up on mouse ears etc. The gravy comes if we squeeze in the second trip...

 

[bunnysmum]

You're right about being able to return within a year with the AP and not have to pay for a ticket (for one of us, at least!). But I honestly don't think that's in the cards anyway.

The point about the DDE is a good one, too. But now that I think about it, I could just buy the DDE without the AP discount (which is like $20, I think?) and still be able to save on dining for a lot less than the $200 if would cost me to buy the AP...

And yeah, even though that 10% discound at World of Disney in DTD is pretty tempting, I'm not sure I could save $200 worth of 10% off, although I sure wouldn't mind trying, if it were someone else's money!

Thanks for your responses. I'm just trying to make sure I'm not missing something crucial that would make me smack myself in the forehead shouting, "Duh!" later. It's been known to happen, after all...

 

[unique_name]

Depending when you are going AP rates have blackout dates, meaning that you can get the AP discount for a few nights of your stay, with the others at rack rate. AAA rates usually do not have backouts dates and would be a straight % discount for each night.

You can keep the AAA discount and then check what the AP room only rate would be when it comes out. Add the cost of 1 adult AP (about 500.00 I believe) and however many MYW tickets you need. If the rate is better you can ask your agent to switch.

I believe you must be an AP holder ($60.00) or FL resident ($85.00) to purchase the DDE card. You can add the Dining Plan to an AP room only reservation. Adding the dining plan makes that reservation a package with a 45 day cancellation policy.

Hope that helps!

 

[su_A_ve]

You're right about being able to return within a year with the AP and not have to pay for a ticket (for one of us, at least!). But I honestly don't think that's in the cards anyway.

The point about the DDE is a good one, too. But now that I think about it, I could just buy the DDE without the AP discount (which is like $20, I think?) and still be able to save on dining for a lot less than the $200 if would cost me to buy the AP...

AFAIK, DDE is only available to AP holders or FL residents... So unless you live in FL, that wouldn't be an option for you...