Annual Passes

[walls1999]

Okay! Just a few questions about AP's. We are a family of four and only live 10 hours from WDW so, I was thinking buy the AP's because we could probably pull of at least two trips in a year. What I wanted to know is hwo are the discounts on the resorts done. Is there a certain pattern to them or are they always available? And if there is no discount when I make my ressies and then they announce one can I get that rate? This is my first trip and I don't know anything as if that has not become painfully apparent to everyone here. I just want to have the best trip and stay in our budget. If I can get the kind of Discounts that have been reading about we can stay AKL instead of the AS or moderates. My husband would love AKL. Anyway, any help you can give would be great. Thanks!!

 

[skiwee1]

I would only buy an AP for the discount at the parks. If you go to the parks more then 10 days then you end up saving by purchasing an AP instead of hoppers. Resort discounts are not promised and I would never buy an AP and count on resort discounts coming out. We buy our APs for the value and feel the resort discounts are a nice perk if and when offered. And yes you can book a room now and then when and if AP rates do become available you can call and see if it applies to your room. If AP rates do come out it is not guaranteed that all passholders can even get them. They sell out very fast. You do have to call as they do not automatically apply the discount unless you ask.

 

[MELSMICE]

I agree with skiwee1 about getting the AP's for the flexibility it gives you with park entrance. Getting an AP resort discount is a bonus.

That being said, we have decided to get AP's as long as we continue travelling to Disney. We love the flexibility it gives us with the parks. We use it for discounts at some of the restaurants & also for boat rentals & we have been fortunate enough to use it for resort discounts. It is also good at World of Disney for a 10% discount on purchases over $25. I am hoping they come out with an AP resort discount for November because we will be there at that time again this year. We already have the ressies but will try to apply the discount if one becomes available.

Again, get an AP because you want the flexibility, not just a resort discount. If you plan on returning again & are going to use it for more than 8 days throughout the year then it is a good value. Also, remember that there are 2 different kinds of AP's. The regular one which gives you park admissions only & the Premium AP which will give you admission to the water parks, Disney Quest, Pleasure Island & Wide World of Sports. Only you can decide which one will be better for you & your family.

Have fun when you go.

 

[jtbdas]

I echo the other two posts, don't buy an AP for the discounts at the resorts, there far and few in between. Our family lives in SFL and have the Premium AP and make a few trips a year and find this to be the best deal. If you are going to go more than once and use them more than 7 days, they pay for themselves, especially with the water parks and disney quest. This next trip 6/29-7/6/03 I booked it through Dreams Unlimited from this web site and got a far better deal for BWI than on line and through the CRS of Disney. I normally book my rooms directly through Disney, however this last time I decided to try this after reading about it in Consumer Reports, saved almost eighty dollars a night.

 

[mat2672]

I agree with everyone else. We take about 2 trips a year, whether there are any discounts or not, so it makes sense for us. We work our vacations out to where we can easily use one anuual pass for about 3 vacations before it runs out. But!!! let me tell you, when those discounts do come out, watch out!! Youll find yourself suddenly taking spur of the moment trips that you never thought you would take. Trust me, Ive had a few. I just end up thinking to myself..why not, the park tickets are already paid for , so all we need is to pay for the room!

 

[bobcat]

For historical dates of AP discounts check www.mousesavers.com

I love my APs but like others I have taken spur of the moment trips since I already have the passes. Not that I'm complaining.

 

[jtbdas]

Funny how when you do have the AP you take those spur of the moment trips, my wife and I will decide on a Friday afternoon to go and comeback on Sunday.......

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by jtbdas
Funny how when you do have the AP you take those spur of the moment trips, my wife and I will decide on a Friday afternoon to go and comeback on Sunday.......

I know what you mean. We don't take last minute trips since we are in Maryland but getting an AP has us going more often. Instead of 1 trip every 5 years we are now doing 3 trips a year. I got 35 days of park time with this last AP!

 

[tbuot]

I have a question. I have been reading up on the AP info. and I am considering buying one for our trip next summer. I was reading on mousesavers.com that you can make a reservation with the AP discount and then buy it right before you use the pass. If so, wouldn't it be a big advantage to getting the AP for the resort discounts? From the above posts I got the impression that sometimes there are no AP discounts. Couldn't I book a resort and watch for them and then apply the AP or whatever code comes out? Should I get one? We would only be going to WDW once in the year. Those rates are so tempting on the mousesavers site.