AP, DDP, DDE, Discounts

[claven123]

I don't know what place to post this.

We really, really want to stay at the poly our next time we visit the world. We are planning on staying in May or Dec/Jan. We are probably going to do a split stay. I am wondering if we should get an AP and hopefully use that for a room discount and some on dinning as well.

Any thoughts on this? Do you get discounts on dinning with the AP or DDE? We tend to eat TS meals for dinner, but don't really want to buy into the DDP.

Dennis

 

[CA Disney Fans]

How long are you planning to be at WDW? Do you plan to visit more than once in a year? We were there in September for 15 days, so we got APs even though we might not go back within the year. It gave us the ability to go where ever we wanted (the parks, water parks, Disney Quest) without any limits and the DVC discount is nice.

Here's a link that should have the answers to your dining questions. http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

OT, to the DIS family!

 

[Daryl]

Depending on how long you stay an annual pass can easily pay for itself with its significant resort discounts, especially at deluxe resorts like the Poly, where the prices are higher. Here's an example:

Checking in on 1/1/07, a MK view at the POLY is $511.88. The AP rate is $421.88. Jf you vacation for 5 nights, your AP is more than paid for.

Keep in mind resort discounts are not year round so planning is particularly important.
An AP does give you a 10% discount at many dining venus but if you buy the DDE you get 20% discounts at just about all of the most popular TS venues throughout WDW. If you Dine regularly at TS restaurants, the DDE will save you a lot of money.

 

[Hugpug]

An AP can save you on hotels providing you can get one. This is something you cannot be sure you will get. You need to base your decision on the number of days you will visit the parks. If you get a resis with an AP discount that would be a bonus. This is a misconception that a lot of folks make when they get an AP thinking they will get a room discount. It does not always happen. As far as the DDE is you need to figture how many TS you will have and if you will have drinks then subtrac the cost of the DDE from what you believe you will spend.

 

[claven123]

Well we usually spend about 10 days on vacation. We are really torn on the exact dates of travel. We would love to see WDW with the christmas decorations. We really would like to be able to have fun in the sun, so we are torn between christmas time and more warmer times.

We don't have DVC, but we have considered it. My wife and I have thought about going back without the kids so the AP's might be a bonus.

Which times are you more likely to get room discounts and what does the DDE cost?

Dennis

 

[Daryl]

The normal price of the DDE is $85.00. With an AP its $60.00. Right now, tonight, you could book an AP rate at the POLY for Dec. in a lagoon or garden view. Hugpug makes a valid point. The fact that an AP discount is offered for a specific time period does not guarantee its availability. They do sell out.
I have been an AP holder since 1999. I got the pass specifically for the resort discounts. I have never failed to get an AP rate. It does require a lot of planning, patience, and some flexibility. You must keep your eyes open for when the rates are announced. As soon as a rate is available for the season I want I jump on it. There have been times when I've had to shift travel plans by days or weeks. It does requires a lot of persistence. There have been more than a few times when I was unable to book an AP rate, but I always kept calling and I've always been rewarded with success. Is it an iron clad surefire lock? No. Will you meet with success far more often than not? yes, if you stay on top of the offers and are persistent. IMHO it's definitely worth it

 

[roryc]

I got an AP because I knew I'd be visiting 3 different times in the year for 3-5 days each so the AP saves me $ on tickets alone, but secretly I bought it because I wanted a great discount on the Grand Floridian

As it turns out, AP discounts were just released and weren't offered for the room category that I am booked (Main Building Concierge). Also, the discounts were pretty much $80 off for deluxes, and the only category that the GF discounted was the Magic Kingdom view.

I got a AAA discount of about $100 off that included my room category. So, I was surprised but the AAA discount worked out better for me.

My point is, when staying in Deluxes, you might do better off with a AAA discount (15-20% on average), since the rooms are more expensive at Deluxes and they generally apply to most room categories.

You can see that a $500 room at the Poly would have a $75-$100 discount per night, which is generally the same if not better than most AP discounts. Plus, like me you could make sure that you are able to book the discount for the room category that you really want.

A $99 room at a Value, would yield a $15-$20/night discount so the AP might be a better discount in that scenario.

I bought the DDE too and after only 1 trip, I've already saved $15 over and above the cost of the card. 2 trips to go

For our big family trip in January we're doing a AAA MYW package that includes 1 day base tickets (the minimum you have to buy). I didn't want to buy anything more since I do have an AP after all. The other members in my party will upgrade their tickets when we arrive. Oh, and the MYW package that's out right now with the free park hopper upgrades and water park options also isn't available for my room category...not that I plan on using water parks at the end of January

We also got the DDP option due to the Table Services that I was choosing (HDDR and Le Cellier among others) made it so that it's worth it for us even if we only used the Table Services. So it does matter whether you choose a $19.99 buffet, or a $45 dinner as to how much the DDP will save you, if you care about the cost and not just the ease of use of the DDP. We're doing 3 additional Table Services that won't be included on the DDP so we'll be able to take advantage of the DDE card on those choices.

Good luck. You really have to crunch the numbers and decide what's most important to you.

 

[Daryl]

I'm a GF fan too!!!!!!!!!!! claven123 have a great trip

 

[Love That Stitch]

I love having my AP. We immediately bought the DDE and have saved so much money. We like to eat out at very nice restaurants and this saves us a bundle. The dinner shows have a great discount as well. If you get the DDE make sure to squeeze in a dinner show. We find the AP resort discounts are excellent. We saved $100 a night when we stayed at Boardwalk/Polynesian in 3/05. This more than paid for the AP. You can't count on getting the discounts but they usually do come out with a code.

Make sure to at least use your AP for two trips (with the resort discount). This way you get two trips with one AP and get resort discounts. The best case scenario is to plan on going to the parks more than 10 days in a years time. However, I have had my AP for 3 years and do not go to the parks that much. To me it is worth it with the DDE and resort discounts. If you decide to renew your AP there is a discounted rate as well.

 

[ticktock]

You say you have kids and are thinking of going Dec-Jan. That leads me to believe you are thinking of going over Christmas break. There are never AP or Fl resident discounts for that time. I've never heard of any room discounts for Xmas week. Just FYI, I'm surprised someone didn't mention it before .

 

[Daryl]

It does seem counter-intuitive, but in fact, even as late as today, rooms were still available at an AP discount over this coming XMAS holiday. This year the catch is you have to check in by the 23rd. I have gotten AP rates that span the Xmas and Thanksgiving holidays many times. There is also a current AP rate starting New Years Day. With a little planning holidays and AP rates can work well together

 

[claven123]

I guess that was one of my original questions about when the AP discounts can be had. Also, do they have to be the more expensive rooms at the resorts or can it be the cheaper rooms for the AP discount.

I think that if I was to get an AP discount on the poly in May and not an over the holiday break I would choose the May trip.

What about a split stay over the holiday break, say Jan 1 for check in?

Is there someplace I could read up on the DDE? Is this only for AP holders and certain others?

We do tend to eat at TS more that CS, and we want to take in HDDR this year.

Also, my wife and I would like to go back with out the kids, so we might get two AP's for us and normal tickets for the kids.

Dennis

 

[Daryl]

Hi Claven123, I just sent you a message re: availability. Yes you can split your stay. Anyone can purchase the DDE, but for AP holders there is a $25.00 discount. You pay $60.00 as opposed to $85.00. I always buy regular MYW tickets for the rest of my party. Only one person needs an AP for checkin, so yes I think it's a good plan to buy regular tkts for the kids.

Here is a link to read about the DDE:

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

Have a great trip

 

[claven123]

So, I buy the DDE and use it for three meals at 100.00 each and it pays for itself. (with the AP rate card).

I know we will use it for more than 3 meals in a 10 day stay. Now, is it better than having the DDP that we pay for?

Dennis

 

[pixidust princess]

My next trip is not until May 2008 (17th - 24th), but I am a planner. I just posted a thread on the budget board asking the same question. We really want to stay at the poly or BWI, haven't decided yet. I will book our room as soon as we can, and hope to apply a code later. I know no one can predict what will be available in 2008, but are AP codes usually available for the time of year I am planning? It is regular season pricing anyway. AAA is also cheap enough, so I hope between the two I can save some money. I will most likely buy the DDE also to save on some of our TS meals. Thanks for your help.

 

[claven123]

I don't think I specified this, but our trip is not until 2008 as well. Or at least May 2008 or Dec 2007.


D

 

[Love That Stitch]

I booked my room at Wilderness months ago for Jan/Feb 07 trip. I then called with the AP code and they applied the discount. I booked a concierge level room. The discounts are not only for the standard room.

May is usually a good time to go. The post about no codes during holidays is right. Most of the time they will not give a discount during holidays.

2 years ago we used the DDE to go to the HDDR and it was a great discount. However, you had to go the late show (only time they would give you the discount) 9:30pm. That was kind of a bummer.

 

[coastgirl]

Just wanted to add, we've done really well with the AP. My dh bought it while the rest of got 7 day park hoppers for a trip in May/June this year. (We had no intention of going back before the year was out so the rest of us just got what we needed for that trip, as the one AP gave us access to the discounts.) We also got the DDE. We stayed 2 nts at AKL (std savannah view) and 2 nts at the Poly (std garden view) and saved enough (and more) to pay for the AP just in that. And we didn't know enough to be sitting waiting for the AP rates, but we managed to get what we wanted anyway. We are going back in January and got a discount at CBR that's saving us over $1300 (admittedly on a lot of room nights--16 for us and 10 for my sister & family). I'd really like to upgrade for 4-6 nts at WL but am having trouble getting their cheapest category for my dates. But I'll keep trying.

We also really like the DDE discounts. We have considered the DDP and just couldn't eat that much food every day, but the DDE gives us a really good discount at TS (and the occasional counter service). Don't forget you also get 10% off at WoD in DTD, and miscellaneous other discounts.

Man, we were planning on buying me a 10 day hopper for our trip in Jan as we don't expect to be back in the year--but I'm almost talking myself into it "just in case".

 

[pixidust princess]

If I buy the AP for our May 2008 trip, it will be for the discounts only. We do not plan on going back within a year of that trip. It seems like the discount you can get pays for the AP and sometimes then some. I hope I get lucky!

 

[claven123]

We did the DDP the last time we were there and we didn't love it. We had way to much food we wouldn't have ordered anyway. I like the idea of the DDE card for meals.

Do YOU have to call everyday for the discount? Can I have my themagicforless travel agent do the calling for me for the AP discounts?

I think we are going to stay at WL this time and not the Poly based on some of the responses I have read.

Dennis