Annual Pass Clarification

[areweindisneyyet]

I am looking at purchasing a Premium Annual Pass to cover both our DL and WDW trips.

I am currently booked on a package staying at GCH with a six day park hopper pass with eight of us in our travel party.

I have a couple of questions:

As we are staying over Christmas I understand that there will be no specials however I have read that there is a standard 10% discount on accommodation to AP holders. Would this be correct at this time of the year for the GCH?

If I want to upgrade my passhopper to the Annual Pass will I be able to do this once we arrive and still get the discount? I will not get the PH until we check in.

Will I be able to get AP holder discount on tours that I book prior to arriving?

I know a lot of this has been covered but I am trying to put it all into context for our situation.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I think you are talking about the Premier pass which you will be able to go both DLR and WDW parks. If you are talking about the Premium AP they are the best pass for the one resort only.

Mostly the AP hotel discount during the major Holiday season is just at the 10% discount.

You can upgrade your PH to the AP when you get there. But you need to have the AP with you when you check-in at the GCH to get the AP discount.

When you have a 3+ multi day PH ticket I would upgrade your PH until you use your MM. When you upgrade your PH to the AP when you get there on the first day, you won't be able to take advantage of MM with your multi day PH.

I have heard from other posts that you can get the AP discount prior to your visit.

 

[snesguy]

I am looking at purchasing a Premium Annual Pass to cover both our DL and WDW trips.

I am currently booked on a package staying at GCH with a six day park hopper pass with eight of us in our travel party.

I have a couple of questions:

As we are staying over Christmas I understand that there will be no specials however I have read that there is a standard 10% discount on accommodation to AP holders. Would this be correct at this time of the year for the GCH?

If I want to upgrade my passhopper to the Annual Pass will I be able to do this once we arrive and still get the discount? I will not get the PH until we check in.

Will I be able to get AP holder discount on tours that I book prior to arriving?

I know a lot of this has been covered but I am trying to put it all into context for our situation.

I don't think there is a standard 10% room discount and if there were it wouldn't apply to a package.

There are special AP room rates posted at different times of year. Current AP rates at Grand Cal from 12/17-12/31 are $450 a night per room for a standard room (Paradise Pier Hotel is $284). I think you need to have your AP at check-in but you can probably get the rate booked on the phone and get your APs before you check-in.

 

[mrsxsparrow]

When you have a 3+ multi day PH ticket I would upgrade your PH until you use your MM. When you upgrade your PH to the AP when you get there on the first day, you won't be able to take advantage of MM with your multi day PH.

DLR hotel guests get MM access no matter what type of ticket they have, so this wouldn't matter in this case since the OP is staying at GCH.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DLR hotel guests get MM access no matter what type of ticket they have, so this wouldn't matter in this case since the OP is staying at GCH.

Yep But since you'll need the AP for the discount *at check in* maybe forget the PHs - book your hotel on it's own using the AP rate and purchase your PHs/APs separately.

 

[Sherry E]

There is a regular Annual Pass discount of 10% that applies 365 days a year (for room-only bookings - not packages). That is, unless something has changed in the AP world since my AP expired last year.

And then there are the "AP Rates" (like AP8, AP9, AP10 - that kind of thing), and those are the "good rates" that all the AP holders covet, and they only pop up for certain days/weeks in any given month.

So you can get the 10% off for your Christmas visit with the regular AP discount (again, unless Disney has gotten rid of that year-round discount since I had my AP)!!

ETA: What the AP hotel availability calendar shows you are the lowest rates available for AP holders on each day - sometimes it may only be the 10% discount and other times it's the full AP rate!!

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Thank you everyone...

The clouds are clearing and I am starting to get my head around it all.

So I am will phone and get a quote on the accommodation only using an AP. Have priced purchasing tickets separately including a DL Premier Pass which I can get a voucher for. How long are the vouchers valid for and will this allow me to view AP website before I activate the pass in Dec 11.

When I am there I could then upgrade to the DL/DW $700 annual pass to cover our Sep 2012 trip WDW/DL trip.

I think I am getting there. Trying to work out the most cost effective way of getting my Disney fix. Our Australian exchange rate is great at the moment and I would like to take advantage of prepaying whilst the going is good.

Thanks for the help I appreciate it.

 

[poppins2008]

I also have an AP voucher, and when I contacted Disney about having trouble accessing the AP website, they said I can't do it until I have an activated AP.

 

[mvf-m11c]

DLR hotel guests get MM access no matter what type of ticket they have, so this wouldn't matter in this case since the OP is staying at GCH.

You are right about that if you stay on property you can go during MM as long you have a valid DLR hotel room key, it also does make sense that you get your AP immediately before you check-in the hotel so you can get the AP discount.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Thinking thinking thinking

So, if I book Fantasmic which I have to prepay can I get the AP discount before I get my AP when I arrive in December.

So pay 30 days out and get AP 2 days prior to Fantasmic.

Need sleep

Thanks

Mia

 

[Vala]

Thinking thinking thinking

So, if I book Fantasmic which I have to prepay can I get the AP discount before I get my AP when I arrive in December.

So pay 30 days out and get AP 2 days prior to Fantasmic.

Need sleep

Thanks

Mia

Unless the CMs have lied to me since 2007 there is no AP discount for the Fantasmic priority dessert seating.