Anybody want to help me with APs?

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We have 8 day MYW tickets with our package in August. When we get there I will upgrade my pass to an AP and order a DDE card.

Here is the dilemma:
Should I get APs for DH and DS as well, or wait until the next trip to buy theirs so they don't all expire at the same time? DS has a 3-9 MYW ticket, but when we go back after August he will be 10, so do I buy a child's AP and fix it on the next trip, or buy him an adult AP using the credit from the child's ticket so we don't have to mess with it next time?

What if my AP expires and DS and I want to take a trip without DH? Can I book the room with his AP if his is still valid, even though he won't be with us, and renew mine when we get there? (This would be in 2007.)

Or what if DS has the only valid AP? Say DH and I upgrade in August and we just keep DS on the MYW ticket. Then we go back in December 2006 and buy an AP for DS. Can we use his AP to book things in '07 if mine is expired even if he isn't an adult? How does that work?

I just don't want to have to pay the renewal on all three passes at once. That could be expensive! I also can't seem to work out what is most cost effective!

 

[jorodopo]

Can't answer all of your questions but.... I had the ap but didn't order the DDE until we got there. You can't use it until you pick up the temporary card at the Front Epcot Guest Services window. They don't drop them there until after 5:30 on the day you order it. I asked if they could fax it or deliver it as we were staying on site and the simple answer is no, you have to pick it up there and only there.

You can't get the DDE on a child's AP, I asked.

As I understand it, both MYW childs tickets and Childs AP are both upgraded to adult once the child turns 10 for no additional charge. Please tell me if I'm wrong (putting on flame retardant now) but if you can swing it I expect the cheapest overall option would be just to buy a child's ap now, have it upgraded when he is 10 and you are there and then just keep the MYW childs tickets and they will upgrade those to adults when you go back when he is 11.
I don't think that this is breaking any rules and it gives Disney the money upfront which is why the price the multi-day tickets the way they do.

I'm not sure if a Childs ap can book a room (I'm guessing no but it is a guess)

When I did the number crunching for our family it worked out best to keep the kids and DH on daily non-expiration tickets and for me to get an AP for the discounts and DDE. We will then get an AP for DH next year so that I can use my daily tickets and we will then be back even.
good luck with your figuring.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Thanks!

I actually called WDW today to work out some details about APs. They told me I can purchase a child's AP for DS in August and it will be valid for an entire year even though he will turn 10 shortly thereafter. The CM said I don't need to change it until it expires in Aug. 2007. So I will go ahead and apply the cost of his child's 8 day ticket to an AP since we will have to buy him an adult one if we wait until after August.

The CM told me you may NOT book rooms with a child's AP OR with an adult AP that belongs to a minor, so DH or I would have to keep a valid AP at all times. The CM also said the person with the valid AP has to check into the room, so if DH has a valid pass and DS and I go to WDW alone I will still have to have a valid AP.

We won't need the DDE for the front half of our August trip because we'll be on the dining plan (hence the 8 day passes for everyone in our party). I'll go get my AP first thing on Friday morning, call DDE from my cell phone, and make sure I go get the card at Epcot before we run out of TS credits later in the week.

The thing about the daily ticket with no expiration is that we usually go for 8 days at a time. With only 2 days left on a 10 day ticket we would have to start over again with another pass of at least 6 days which becomes more expensive than an AP for everyone. Even if we go for a little short trip in Dec. it would be three days in the parks so the 10 day isn't practical since it would only have 2 days left on it. Especially since the no expiration option adds $135 to the ticket price!

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

Im am so sorry but i got totally lost in that post! I am trying to folow along b/c I wuld like to upgrade my MYW tickets = DP to an AP but not sure how to work it out the most cost-efficient way(ie not cancelling off the DP from our ressie's now b/c the DP is saving me more on this stay than the AP would)

could you explain it VERY slowly how you are going to work this out ?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It is rather convoluted, isn't it?

OK, let's see. We booked a MYW + Dining package with 8 day hopper tickets. Once we arrive at Disney, they don't CARE what we do to the tickets as far as upgrades. So on our first day before we enter a park I will go to Guest Services and tell them I want to change my ticket and DS's ticket to APs. I will pay the difference (they will credit the amount of the 8 day tickets towards my APs) and DS and I will enter the parks with APs. Still undecided on upgrading DH now or later - doesn't matter.

The terms of my package don't change if I upgrade the tickets when I get there, so my Dining Plan is not altered. Once I have my AP I will call the DDE office and order a DDE card. This MUST be picked up at Epcot Guest Services. But I won't need it immediately because we have 9 nights worth of Dining Plan. By the time we have run through 9 TS meals I should have had time to go get the DDE from Epcot so we can use it for the TS meals at the end of the trip.

We are getting APs and DDE this time because after DS turns 10 the dining plan isn't a good deal for us anymore, and this way we will have them for the trips we take over the next year.

Have fun!

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

oh thanks! that makes much more sense! lol...I was wanting to do the same thing with my MYW tickets

 

[erikthewise]

Sounds like you're entirely on top of things.
Just a couple observations:

Regarding reserving AP rates: With the new AP rates program, you can call in your AP reservation rather than doing it online. If you do, you will not be asked to give your AP code. And I think that in any case, your AP code will not be tied to your reservation. So there should not be any problem as long as you have an active AP available when you check in. This was a constant question before the ill-fated "AP Best Rates" program. Some people said they were never asked to show an AP, or that showing a voucher was good enough, but IMO you're taking a big risk if you don't have an active AP.

Regarding who should have an AP: As a matter of convenience, it sure is nice if everyone who is traveling together has "synchronized" APs. But if that means extra expense, it certainly is not necessary.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I am still on the fence about all 3 of us getting APs. It would save on park admission since we typically stay for 8 days. By the time we pay for 8 days twice, the AP is cheaper. And if we all get APs in August it will save me the trouble of fooling with it again on the next trip. If we go in December it will be very short, so I won't really want to waste time going to get another AP. I suppose we could book December with one 10 Day No Expire pass to cover DH for the December trip and one 8 day after that, but if we can manage two trips in '07 before the APs expire then having APs for all of us would make more sense.

Decisions, decisions!