Annual pass resort discounts?

[sto6917]

I'm considering getting an annual pass for next year's trip in hopes of a resort discount. We will be staying club level at Poly or CR. We will probably travel in Oct. for a week. Is there any way I could do the math ahead of time?

 

[pixie08]

Well first I should tell you, that while Disney has been doing discounts for AP's it is not a guarantee It is a perk and varies year to year and season to season.

Also When are you going in Oct? There may be some black out dates due to Columbus day so I would check on that. We are pass holders and so i do monitor these sort of things. Over the last two years i have seen rates that vary from 25%-42% for deluxe resorts. I would check mousesavers periodically to see the current rates to give you an idea.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think the AP resort discounts are that much better than the public discounts and the public discounts have been posting first. Right now there are only AP discounts up to 12/25, public discounts are available up to 2/16 for room only. I think they could do more for the AP holders.

 

[aubriee]

Well first I should tell you, that while Disney has been doing discounts for AP's it is not a guarantee It is a perk and varies year to year and season to season.

Also When are you going in Oct? There may be some black out dates due to Columbus day so I would check on that. We are pass holders and so i do monitor these sort of things. Over the last two years i have seen rates that vary from 25%-42% for deluxe resorts. I would check mousesavers periodically to see the current rates to give you an idea.

Just FYI: We were there during Columbus Day this year and was able to use our AP discount for the week. Of course, you are right. There is no telling what the blackout dates may be for next year.

I don't think the AP resort discounts are that much better than the public discounts and the public discounts have been posting first. Right now there are only AP discounts up to 12/25, public discounts are available up to 2/16 for room only. I think they could do more for the AP holders.

I love my AP and can't imagine being without one. However, I buy it because I know I'm going to use it for park admission several times a year. The other discounts are just icing on the cake. I agree though, that WDW should be doing more for their loyal AP holders. A few years ago the AP discounts always came out before the GP codes and were also alot better than the GP codes.

 

[chrisw127]

You can always wait and see if a discount comes out for your time and then buy it. When you call Disney to book with an AP, they won't ask for your number. Instead they'll tell you that if you show up without the AP, you'll pay full rack rate. I bought an AP the day before I left for my trip a few weeks ago but I didn't activate the AP until the day after check in because I got there at midnight. All they cared about was that I had the voucher.

I think your travel agent can book without the AP the same way.

 

[pixie08]

I guess the key is book a general public rate and then wait to se the AP rate. You can always cancel and rebook. That way you have a resort and you can book flight if you need to etc.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Never buy an AP with the hopes of a discount. Buy an AP only if it makes sense from a park admission perspective. If the math comes out close (2 trips with base MYW tickets is slightly cheaper than an AP) then go ahead and consider things like free parking and shopping discounts and resort discounts to push you over the edge to buying it. Buying it solely for the discounts when you only have 1 trip planned in a 12 month period is handing over your money to Disney unecessarily.

Lately it seems as though the AP rates are 2% better then the public discounts. You'll save a bit, but not a lot.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Another element to consider is the Tables in Wonderland. If you have an AP, it costs $75, and you can buy it in DTD where you cna also buy your AP (or exchange your voucher). Though the line in DTD can be slow. The TiW gives you 20% off at most TS locations (including signature locations and alcoholic beverages - for parties up to ten people!) Just an AP gives you some discounts at certain hours and locations, including merchandise at WoD.

As other posters have said, general public disneounts are aften just as good, but they also have their own restrictions, and those restrictions may not work for you. Like free dining kind of requires you be on WDW property to eat. If you are going to Universal - a room discount may be more useful.

I think the other thign to kind of consider is that the savings has to cover the added cost of an AP. That is easier to do if you are staying at a higher end resort. If you normally stay at a value, then odds are good that the gen public discount will be just as good or better.

You can't relaly do the math until you know the discounts. Also, the AP discounts tend to come out rather late - sometimes after you've already passed the 45 day window on a discounted package. (packages must be paid in full 45days out- and changes after that involve paying a penalty.)

AP discoutns tend ot work for last minute trips. The other thign to consider is if you will be having multple trips in one year. If you are rather certain you'll be back at least once within a year, then an AP becomes more tenable. (You can make first trip say Dec 8- 15 this year, and next year's trip Dec 1-7.)

There is a discountt usually on renewing an AP.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In some cases the Annual Pass rate might not be the least expensive one out there. For example next month at the Boardwalk Inn we got a Bounceback rate for a Standard Club Level Room. So just for fun when I checked the Annual Pass rates for our dates it turns out that our Bounceback rate was a bit cheaper then what the Annual Pass rates would be.