Annual pass queries

[Nubbedy]

Have been seriously considering purchasing APs for the coming year, and have a few questions but cannot seem to find answers on the DLP site.

We are 2 adults, 2 children (8 and 3), and have shareholders card. I know there is a discount for booking for family, and there is a discount available to shareholders. Which of these would offer us the best saving, or is there an even better alternative?

We have a trip booked for end of Feb, could we purchase AP then so that it was ready for April? And how do you actually book it? What would we need to take with us?

Sorry for all the questions but I have never done anything like this before.

 

[Ware Bears]

Althought the family discount can be combined with the shareholder one, unfortunately it won't help in your case as it's only for families of 5 or more.

However, you'll still get 15% off as shareholder discount and once you've got the annual passes don't forget you can get 10% off counter service meals and if you buy Dream ones the shopping discount is 20%

You could purchase your APs in February but they are valid from the day you buy them so it's really up to you whether you wait until April or not. Just go along to the AP Bureau near the entrance to Discoverland with your passports and your shareholders card.

 

[DLPdaft]

If you are already shareholders and you have your park tickets already provided for your trip in February, I'd wait until your next trip to buy your APs too. Just book room only for April (your APs give you the best in flexibility when looking at where to stay, some of the offsite hotels have much better facilities than most of the onsite ones).

Buying APs is a painless exercise, you just take your passports to various places around the parks (Guest Services, Bureau Donald, the ticket booths etc) and pay for your APs there with your shareholders discount. Your AP(unless its a Francillien) is then valid from the day you've bought it, and you can use it for 12 months from that date, excluding any blackout dates (only on Fantasy and Francillien APs, Dream APs have no blackout dates at all).

 

[Nubbedy]

Sounds painless so far!

Can I also ask about prices for hotels. Is there a special site / phone no for booking onsite hotels using AP discount? Do you (as AP holders) usually book onsite or offsite hotels, and if so, do you do this through Disney or with offsite hotels directly?

Can anyone give me an idea of prices for onsite hotels using AP discount? We are limited to school holidays / half term dates.

Thanks so much.

 

[DLPdaft]

To be honest, I don't even bother phoning to ask for the room only price from Disney with AP discount, as the quote is usually more expensive than the package price for the same room!

So, I either stay offsite (never booked through Disney, always through another agent or direct with the hotel), or use the other AP method for onsite hotels (which works fine) - book one adult in on a package (so including park tickets) and then add the rest of your party as name only when you check in at the hotel. It is absolutely fine to do this, many of us here (including me) have done this in the last year at onsite hotels. You can then go buy your APs (ie you don't have to have APs first before you check in).

There is a thread dedicated to this method - I'll go search it for you.

 

[DLPdaft]

Here you go -

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2502629&highlight=room+only+with+aps

 

[Nubbedy]

Thanks so much for this tip for staying onsite, I would miss my Cheyenne otherwise! Will definitely wait til April to get the APs, wasn't sure if we could use them straight away but plan on Dream ones so now know it will be ok.