Annual Pass related to dining/ packages/ discounts

[BebopBaloo]

I've been looking into purchasing APs for next year, as we're hoping to make two trips. I've read the sticky and looked on the official site, but I still have a few questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

1. If we have APs are we eligible for a free dining promotion should one be available during our dates? Would we have to buy at least one more one day ticket per person to make it a package? Is there a way for the APs to count as the tickets within a package (I'm thinking not..but being hopeful.)

2. General Public room discounts are usable, but are there AP room discounts, or other types of discounts?

Thanks!!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

You will need to add at least one day of tickets to be able to qualify for free dining if available and maybe two days as with recent deals.

There are often AP discounts which are usually a little better than the general public discounts (ie 40% off deluxe instead of 35%)

 

[andyman8]

I've been looking into purchasing APs for next year, as we're hoping to make two trips. I've read the sticky and looked on the official site, but I still have a few questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

1. If we have APs are we eligible for a free dining promotion should one be available during our dates? Would we have to buy at least one more one day ticket per person to make it a package? Is there a way for the APs to count as the tickets within a package (I'm thinking not..but being hopeful.)

2. General Public room discounts are usable, but are there AP room discounts, or other types of discounts?

Thanks!!

1. If you're an existing annual passholder, free dining would not be available to you considering you must purchase multi-day tickets to be eligible for that offer. If FD dates fall within your first trip, you could just add tickets then upgrade them to APs when you get to the park. That said, I've never been a huge fan of free dining. It's incredibly limiting and often is not as good of a deal as some of the room-only discounts.

2. That brings me to your second question. Yes, annual passholder discounts are released usually for all dates except Easter week and Xmas to NYE week. Other than that, AP room discounts tend to be about 5% more off than the general public discounts. AP holders are get 10% off merchandise, and differing percentages off (usually ranging from 10% to 20%) recreation, golf, water park tickets (assuming you're not getting the PAP), and even a few dining locations. You can also purchase a TIW card for additional dining discounts.

 

[speedo]

I haven't seen free dining offered but the room only discounts are significant. Also this summer for my July stay I received a room discount plus free memory maker which is $150 value. This is for a two night stay at AKL. So I'm saving $300 on the room plus getting the memory maker for free. Not to mention the 10% discount on merchandise and a discount at a few restaurants (not too many but I always ask just in case - I know I got a discount for lunch at the Chinese restaurant in epcot).

I think the AP is well worth it. For me it has definitely paid for itself with all the discounts. Before moving back to FL. I did a free dining package once with a PIN code I got in the mail. It was great savings, but I remember doing an entire spreadsheet to make sure it would work out better than the room only discount that they were offering to the general public at the time. This was when Disney was still trying to rebuild numbers after the economy first took a hit a few years back. Anyway it was fun but the cash discount is easier for me to handle

 

[wendybeth75]

It is the best thing we have ever done! We were planning two trips and found that it was going to be cheaper with an AP. We then bought the TIW card and save 20% on dining with the 10% discount on merchandise AND got a AP rate for room that saved us I think an extra 7%! So worth it! In fact, DH and I went on a weekend trip because we had found a cheap flight out of a local airport and were able to snag a discounted room at POR, we would not have done this had we not had AP because we would have bought tickets. We had a magical trip and love the freedom of knowing if we find a great deal on airline tickets that we have this new found freedom!

 

[BebopBaloo]

Thanks everyone for your replies. We've had free dining in the past and for our family it was a nice savings, as we usually stay Value because we are park people and would just upgrade to regular dining. However, 40% off a deluxe does sound enticing. What are the odds of that type of discount? Also, what about MVMCP tickets..how much of a discount there? Is there a monthly payment plan for non-Florida residents? And lastly, TIW is $75 after the $25 off for passholders, right?

So many questions, but I want to weigh all the aspects.Thanks again!

 

[katt789]

Free dining is historically (and currently) offered WITH a ticket & hotel package..

You could technically still get the deal, and book with a 2 day ticket (the lowest possible) and then use that ticket sometime else/for someone else. I have an AP, but the bff doesn't, so we did this last Sept, she used my 2 day, and her 2 day from the package while I used the AP. I imagine now this might be more difficult with the fp+ stuff & booking, but still possible.

AP's do get discounts on rooms, make sure you are logged in when you go into the "special offers" tabs, sometimes there are some, sometimes not, and not all hotels/room types are available.

You also get merchandise discounts pretty much everywhere, and food discounts at certain locations.

 

[Radiorox]

I started with the Seasonal pass which has blockout dates but, works if you do not like to go during the really busy times. (Summer, Spring Break, Christmas). I had it that way for 3 years or so and last year, during renewal I upped to the PAP for the waterparks which I haven't really been able to use due to work, money, etc.

It's the best and worst thing I've done because I spend my time trying to get up to WDW probably more than I should. LOL!

As for resort discounts, you need to be on top of it. They get released a few months before your trip and you can get some really great deals on resorts with time to pay it off.

Hard ticket events AP holders get $5. That includes MNSSHP and MVMCP, Night of Joy etc.

We sometimes also get the chance to purchase Rundisney registration before nonpassholders.

If you have the seasonal or regular AP, you also get discounts for water park entry.

 

[purple figment]

what about MVMCP tickets..how much of a discount there? Is there a monthly payment plan for non-Florida residents? And lastly, TIW is $75 after the $25 off for passholders, right?

There is an AP discount to selected parties:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/mvmcp.htm#tickets

The monthly payment plan is only for Florida residents.

TiW is $100 for AP holders. It used to be $75, but went up last year:
http://tablesinwonderland.com/