Annual Pass strategy

[mom2rtk]

I'm thinking of getting Deluxe APs for my daughter and myself when we visit in December. Since we're swapping to fall for our trip next year, an AP seems like the smart move.

I'm looking for the best deal on this. It looks like Ebates is offering double cash back on Orbitz today, so thinking of buying a ticket there, then upgrading to an AP when we get to the parks.

Orbitz has buy 2 days get a 3rd free and buy 3 get a 4th day free. I'm guessing my best value is to buy 2 get 3, then upgrade when we get there.

Is there a reason I would need the AP before I actually get there? If rooms open up on the AP discount (right now there aren't any) I assume I can book and show the AP after I upgrade.

Is there any AP discount for the Fantasmic dessert party? If so, would I need the AP at the time of booking? I don't think we're doing any tours.

Any other issues I'm missing? It appears there are no blackout dates while we're there (12/6 to 12/14).

 

[Girimama33]

I'm thinking of getting Deluxe APs for my daughter and myself when we visit in December. Since we're swapping to fall for our trip next year, an AP seems like the smart move.

I'm looking for the best deal on this. It looks like Ebates is offering double cash back on Orbitz today, so thinking of buying a ticket there, then upgrading to an AP when we get to the parks.

Orbitz has buy 2 days get a 3rd free and buy 3 get a 4th day free. I'm guessing my best value is to buy 2 get 3, then upgrade when we get there.

Is there a reason I would need the AP before I actually get there? If rooms open up on the AP discount (right now there aren't any) I assume I can book and show the AP after I upgrade.

Is there any AP discount for the Fantasmic dessert party? If so, would I need the AP at the time of booking? I don't think we're doing any tours.

Any other issues I'm missing? It appears there are no blackout dates while we're there (12/6 to 12/14).

That sounds like a really good plan...especially if you are coming back. Sounds like the Orbitz deal would be a good way to go, but keep in mind you may still have to pay the difference you saved when you upgrade.

If you are able to get a room with the AP discount, you are correct...just show the AP before check out.

There are no AP discounts offered on the Fantasmic Dessert Seating at this time.

Hope that helps ~

 

[Rubygoose]

just show the AP before check out.

They will ask to see your AP when you check in (not at check out) so you will need to upgrade some time on the first day if you want the AP rate to apply to every day of your stay.

I think you'll end up just paying the difference, but it depends on whether or not they print the price on your ticket. We used 5 day hoppers that we got for free from Air Miles and they didn't have a value on them, but their full price was applied towards our APs.

 

[mom2rtk]

That sounds like a really good plan...especially if you are coming back. Sounds like the Orbitz deal would be a good way to go, but keep in mind you may still have to pay the difference you saved when you upgrade.

If you are able to get a room with the AP discount, you are correct...just show the AP before check out.

There are no AP discounts offered on the Fantasmic Dessert Seating at this time.

Hope that helps ~

That does help. Thank you!

I thought I had read a report recently that the free day had given someone an advantage in the way the upgrade was priced. I think they did buy 2 get 3, but got credit for the price of a 3 day ticket. That could have also been a mistake on the way that particular CM handled the transaction.

I'm kind of bummed about the Fantasmic thing though. First, there are no rooms with the AP discount, now this.

 

[mom2rtk]

They will ask to see your AP when you check in (not at check out) so you will need to upgrade some time on the first day if you want the AP rate to apply to every day of your stay.

I think you'll end up just paying the difference, but it depends on whether or not they print the price on your ticket. We used 5 day hoppers that we got for free from Air Miles and they didn't have a value on them, but their full price was applied towards our APs.

That may be the reason for the different stories on how the upgrade is priced.

So far no AP discounts at all on the days we want to stay. Not even 10%. I'll keep watching and hoping. If we find one, I'll make sure we upgrade that day. If Orbitz sold APs I'd probably just go ahead and buy them now.

 

[SMD]

Are you looking to stay onsite for the whole trip? With the first 2 nights of your trip being Candlelight Processional, I wouldn't be surprised if the hotel's sell out. At a minimum Disney is probably holding a block of rooms to sell as a package. Have you tried a split stay or premium room?

 

[mom2rtk]

Are you looking to stay onsite for the whole trip? With the first 2 nights of your trip being Candlelight Processional, I wouldn't be surprised if the hotel's sell out. At a minimum Disney is probably holding a block of rooms to sell as a package. Have you tried a split stay or premium room?

Yeah. We're looking for the cheapest way to be onsite so we can do early entry every day. I had a devil of a time even getting a standard PP room at regular price that weekend. I had to book with an arrival of 11/30 to get that night included, then dropped off the days we didn't need. I booked the last 3 nights at 25% off through Orbitz a while back. So we have the entire trip booked, but I really had hoped to get something off one or more of those other nights. I'm trying to stay with a standard room to increase my odds they'll keep us in the same room for the last 3 nights on the Orbitz reservation.

 

[SMD]

Yeah. We're looking for the cheapest way to be onsite so we can do early entry every day. I had a devil of a time even getting a standard PP room at regular price that weekend. I had to book with an arrival of 11/30 to get that night included, then dropped off the days we didn't need. I booked the last 3 nights at 25% off through Orbitz a while back. So we have the entire trip booked, but I really had hoped to get something off one or more of those other nights. I'm trying to stay with a standard room to increase my odds they'll keep us in the same room for the last 3 nights on the Orbitz reservation.

Well, you could save a little by staying offsite during CP and using the MM on your ticket before upgrading. I don't think the packages will sell out, but you'll have to keep on top of it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, you could save a little by staying offsite during CP and using the MM on your ticket before upgrading. I don't think the packages will sell out, but you'll have to keep on top of it.

That's a good thought. I actually considered that but haven't really wanted to move since we won't have a car.

 

[Cinderellly]

It looks like Ebates is offering double cash back on Orbitz today, so thinking of buying a ticket there, then upgrading to an AP when we get to the parks.

Orbitz has buy 2 days get a 3rd free and buy 3 get a 4th day free. I'm guessing my best value is to buy 2 get 3, then upgrade when we get there.

The cash back for activities has not doubled--it's 5.10% Only cash back for cruises has doubled unfortunately.

I did the Ebates/Orbitz/AP upgrade scenario last month and was given full value of my park ticket towards to cost of an AP! Someone else on the board mentioned that I needed to use the ticket at least once to enter the parks to "activate" the full value. It worked like a charm!

 

[mom2rtk]

The cash back for activities has not doubled--it's 5.10% Only cash back for cruises has doubled unfortunately.

I did the Ebates/Orbitz/AP upgrade scenario last month and was given full value of my park ticket towards to cost of an AP! Someone else on the board mentioned that I needed to use the ticket at least once to enter the parks to "activate" the full value. It worked like a charm!

Ahhh.... I wasn't sure what it was before. I assumed the 5.10% was half that before. Sounds like I have some time to think on it. Although I'll still probably end up going that way. I really wish I had known our travel dates when they ran the 20% cash back earlier in the year. Last year I got 10%.

And thanks for the tip to use the tickets first!

 

[ricardol]

I've been checking Daily Ebates to see If I get lucky with a cashback promotion.

I read like a month ago in this forum a tip: Instead of doing Ebates/orbitz, you could do Ebates/Cheaptickets which is owned by Orbitz and it has the same promotion even the same look at their website.

The Cashback for cheaptickets has been at 6.88% since I started tracking it.

Hope that helps you.