Annual Pass.... Is this "Legal"?

[mscastel]

Got a few quick questions...

We have been planning a trip in Dec. and am planning to keep an eye out for Discount Rates for then. I am figuring that the AP Rate will more than likely be the best bet....

When I called to get reservations and discuss the AP with the CM, she was really great, full of info, and very helpful. However, she suggested that if and when I order the AP Passes for that trip (if the rates become available) that I just order one pass (for our family of four) and just get the MMW tickets.

Now finally I get to the "quick" questions...

She said that I should order the one AP under my daughter's name being that she is 8 and would only have to pay "child" price.

She mentioned that as long as my daughter is with me at all times when I need to use the AP for something... I should be fine and that this is nothing new..."lots of families do this".
Only she said that some CMs may argue and that I may have to insist on them asking their supervisor about it...

Well, Is this "Legal"?
Has anyone else done this?
If so, have you had any problems ?
Does is matter that the res. are booked in my name?
If I get the DDE with the AP discount will it matter who's name it is in?
Will I be able to eat without a having an "issue" or argument everytime?
Is it really worth the $ for the problems that may arise?
Or is it really no problem, no worry....?


Thanks everyone!

 

[WDSearcher]

Technically, the person who holds the AP is the one who has to make the reservations, and a child of 8 cannot make reservations. But some CMs let it pass and others don't. If it were me, I'd buy an adult AP and then MYW tickets for the rest of the family.

 

[mommytutu]

Interesting...

I've been under the impression that the room reservations need to be under the name of the person with the AP and since you have to be 18 to get a room that person with the AP would also have to be 18. Make sense?


Now, what I'm wondering is, can I get an AP and have my family get MYW tickets with the dining plan or does everyone in the group have to have MYW tickets in order to get the dining plan? hmmmmm...

 

[skiwee1]

I used my DD's child AP to get a discount last year. The CM told me as long as her name was on the room along with mine then there wasn't a problem. I did it and had no problem at all.

 

[Mary Anne]

I personally would get the Adult annual pass and then since it is an Adult Pass be able to order the Dining Expeience card to save money on the food.

 

[skiwee1]

I personally would get the Adult annual pass and then since it is an Adult Pass be able to order the Dining Expeience card to save money on the food.

True but not everyone wants the DDE. We all have APs now and won't be buying the DDE.

 

[Mary Anne]

Just wondering why you would not get the DDE. Do you plan on not eating out at all or just doing fast food?

 

[Meezers]

Since I am planning on getting an AP for our next trip....here is what I have learned. And boy is it confusing!

To get an AP rate on a room...you have to have a room only reservation. If you add any kind of tickets to the room only reservation...it becomes a package...and you lose the AP discount on the room.

You can keep a AAA discounted room and change it to a package....through a AAA travel agent.

My brother did the math....in order for us NOT to get an AP and tickets separately...we would have to save LESS than 26% on the room only...

For us it will be one AP and 2 rooms.

Hope this helps...can't say with the child thing...we are all adults...plus...if 30,000 people did it...I would be 30,001 and get refused....just my luck!

 

[Luv2Roam]

We each have had APs for some time, as FL residents and non.
Personally, for what little difference of cost between a childs and an adult AP, I would not chance buying a child's AP and finding out policy tightened up.
I don't read AP resort threads often. But I do recall times recent where a CM has mentioned to guests that the AP holder needs to pay for the room. And how is a child going to pay for a room by credit card?
And then the DDE issue is a concern if the non AP adult guest decides to buy the card. The AP holder has to be 18 or older to buy a DDE card.

 

[mscastel]

WOW.. Thanks for all of the input!
The way the CM talked...I thought that I was going to hear from quite a few people who would have all said "We did it and NO PROBLEM!"

I agree with the post above... I will be # 30,001 and I will have the PROBLEM! So ,I am going to just save myself grief and just get the adult AP and DDE!


However, I do have ANOTHER quick question about another post above
In case someone can help?

...Someone mentioned adding tickets to an AP reservation and it becoming a package, Therefore losing the AP discount? The same CM that told me to get the one AP child's ticket to book also said that I could add the "Magic Your Way" Tickets to the room key before arriving. How does this all work?
HELP!

Thanks soooo much everyone! You all have been a great help!

 

[ccgegg]

It doesn't sound like you're doing a package. Purchasing one adult AP and MYW for the others in your party, then booking a room-only reservation with an AP discount is not a package. You're buying each component separately.

As for putting your park pass onto your room key, you can have the CM at check-in handle that for you. They can't put the AP on your room key though... only the MYW passes.

 

[nanalisa]

I just booked our reservation for WL in July with an AP discount. I told the CM that my grandchild was the only one in the party that had a current AP and she said that was fine, I just needed to have it with me when we check in. I'm not anticipating a problem.

 

[leebee]

Question, because Disney is always changing things...but Meezers said "one AP and 2 rooms for us". If you want AP rate on 2 rooms, don't you need to have an AP holder for each room?

 

[Schmeck]

No, an AP can book more than one room, although there is a limit on the # of rooms.

 

[mscastel]

When I talked to the CM on Mon. she had told me that only one person in the room had to have an AP in order to book res. And under that one pass I think that she said that you could book up to 3 rooms; however, each room had to be booked for the same exact dates... (another words....noone could arrive later or leave earlier in the other rooms.

 

[DMRick]

No problem using a child AP. Here is a letter I got in March, and the gal is accessible, if you want to write and get your own copy (this is copied from another thread on this, and I am the original recipient):

Here is the note from Ms Gallagher . This is her real name, not a stage name, so anyone that doesn't believe it, can follow it up. Note, that children cannot make the ressies by themselves, but must have parental permission. I assume the numbers on the bottom will allow this note to be traced by Disney, and this is Ms Gallaghers real name, not a stage name. I know that she isn't just saying that, because it turns out she is the same person I talked to when something when missing from our room in February. It took me a awhile to get a response, and she said it was because it had to be forwarded to her from the address I used. She also called me, before responding (I told her I wanted it in writing). Note the "any" and "have permission" in this letter. :
************
Dear Ms. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.

Again, I apologize for any confusion regarding your Annual Passholder
benefits. Periodically, a discounted Passholder rate for a limited
number of rooms may become available at select Walt Disney
World® Resorts and select Disney Vacation Club Resorts. As we
discussed, any Annual or Seasonal Passholder is entitled to receive a
room discount, based on availability. However, Guests must be 18 years
of age, or have permission from a parent or guardian, to make a
reservation. Please know that all of our policies and procedures are
always subject to change at any time.

Thank you again for contacting us. It was a pleasure speaking with you,
and we look forward to your family's upcoming visit.

Sincerely,

Jennifer L. Gallagher
Executive Offices
Walt Disney World® Resort

/TH
5709989

 

[DisneyWisher]

Please know that all of our policies and procedures are
always subject to change at any time.

This little phrase would be enough to discourage me from buying only a child's AP. not that I worry since everyone in my family has them.

 

[skiwee1]

Just wondering why you would not get the DDE. Do you plan on not eating out at all or just doing fast food?

We eat at sit downs every night. Rarely do we eat at counter service. I don't bother with discount cards because I forget to use them. There are food discounts just with having an AP and I always forgot to use them. I won't bother with DDE.

 

[skiwee1]

This little phrase would be enough to discourage me from buying only a child's AP. not that I worry since everyone in my family has them.

Disney puts that on every ticket they sell too. Does that discourage you from buying them? All companies do that to cover their butts. Not something that I would worry myself with.

 

[Bayshore Bandit]

Well, maybe the Cm's need to get on the same page. While it is true
one AP can book up to 3 rooms, I'm not sure about the same dates
thing. My family will be arriving on a Saturday, and our friends (whose
room we booked using my AP, will be coming in on Sunday. The cm
said this was no problem as long as I was there to show my AP when
they checked in.

Sorry if this adds to the confusion.