AP discount when only your kids have the AP?

[ninafeliz]

My AP just expired, and I am not renewing. My kids were on a different schedule so theirs do not expire until June 2020. How do I get the AP discount when they are the AP holders? They don't have ID, and they always asked for my ID to get my discount. I certainly hope we can still get the discount on merchandise, since they are both AP holders and it is a perk of that, but now I will be paying but they are the AP holders. As a follow up question, do they have to be with me then for every purchase? I am usually the one buying stuff while they may be with my DH, and I would rather he not always be around while I am buying things IYKWIM

ETA I mainly mean the 20% off on merchandise in the parks, although i may find there are some other issues as well since I assume my MDE won't show the discounted option for things like DAH, etc.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Just explain the situation to the CM if necessary and provide your last name. Assuming the last names are the same I doubt it will be much issue. When they scan your AP card they see ALOT of information about you. They may even see the child's parents names, who knows.

 

[ninafeliz]

Just explain the situation to the CM if necessary and provide your last name. Assuming the last names are the same I doubt it will be much issue. When they scan your AP card they see ALOT of information about you. They may even see the child's parents names, who knows.

Thanks. Yes, they do have the same last names. I also agree, it seems like they should be able to see this stuff on our account if I used my MB to pay. If I don't use my MB they wouldn't have any possible way to know, though. They don't normally scan the AP card, they just look at it and the ID to (I assume) make sure the name on the AP matches the name on the ID, They are super quick, barely a glance, I assume they just get good at eyeballing the name parts on the IDs.

 

[gap2368]

You can also take all your receipts to guest relations and explain what happens they can add the discount after the fact In case they do not have you the discount at the store

 

[randumb0]

I was in that situation at one point. Just explain that it belongs to your kids and they will honor it.

 

[ninafeliz]

I was in that situation at one point. Just explain that it belongs to your kids and they will honor it.

Thank you so much for your reply with firsthand knowledge! This is what I was hoping would be the case. Can I ask, did your kids have to be with you or would they honor it if you were alone but had their cards (because I'm the one with all of the cards anyway)?

 

[randumb0]

Thank you so much for your reply with firsthand knowledge! This is what I was hoping would be the case. Can I ask, did your kids have to be with you or would they honor it if you were alone but had their cards (because I'm the one with all of the cards anyway)?

My son was 3 at the time so he was with me.

 

[ninafeliz]

My son was 3 at the time so he was with me.

My sons are 6 and 9 so they won’t be alone, lol, but they are often with my DH while I shop. It’s easier that way for all of us and I get to buy more .

Does anyone else have experiences with using their kids AP discount when their kids are on the trip with them but not right with them while making the purchase?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Honestly, I wouldn't count on them giving you the discount if the AP holder isn't with you. We were in this same situation about a year and a half ago (DS had AP, I did not) and I always made sure he made the purchase at the register - I would either give him cash, a gift card or, in only one instance, did the CM let me pay for it with my cc. We were always together. I find the CMs to be pretty vigilant in matching APs and IDs. YMMV

 

[ninafeliz]

Honestly, I wouldn't count on them giving you the discount if the AP holder isn't with you. We were in this same situation about a year and a half ago (DS had AP, I did not) and I always made sure he made the purchase at the register - I would either give him cash, a gift card or, in only one instance, did the CM let me pay for it with my cc. We were always together. I find the CMs to be pretty vigilant in matching APs and IDs. YMMV

Hmmm, I have to admit that I hope you aren’t right. My kids are 6 and 9, so they don’t have ID or any way to pay for things on their own. Even if they get cash, I just keep it and pay for their stuff for them. They definitely have been vigilant about checking IDs, though, I agree with that. So how would they even get the discount of they have no ID and no way to pay but their parents (Me)? Would the CM be looking at the purchase and deciding for him/herself if my purchase seemed to be appropriate for him to be buying or it I was trying to buy stuff for myself (which is completely what I would be doing a lot of the time, BTW, I just didn’t think it would be an issue or against any rules).

 

[focusondisney]

Honestly, the discount is for the AP holder, it isn’t transferable. Might they let you use it, possibly. But I would try to have one of them nearby if needed. Otherwise, be prepared to pay full price if you are denied.

Several years ago, I had an AP & my teen didn’t. He was buying something so I gave him my AP card....nope, no go. I was right there, just didn’t wait in the line with him. I had to go up to the register to get the discount. Even tho the AP holder in your situation is a kid, it is similar in that another immediate family member wasn’t allowed to use the discount.

And my AP card has never been scanned either. Last time we got one, the CM just wrote our first names on them, not our full names. I’m not even sure my AP card has an expiration date on it??

 

[mountdew1]

The terms say it is for the AP holder. I've had CMs strictly hold to that, and ensure that I was the one paying, and I've had times where they didn't care. In my case it was simply that my card was in my wallet and easy to pull out while my DW had hers buried in her bag somewhere, but it depends on the CM.

 

[ninafeliz]

Ok, thanks, I’ll be prepared to either have to have one of the kids with me or even not get the discount. Or I’ll put a bunch of money on a Disney GC and let the kid hand it do the CM- seems like a silly work around when they are minors and obviously wouldn’t have a method of paying themselves, and I’m not going to give them charging privileges, but i can do it.

So another question. How do they know mine is expired? It says AP 2019/2020 on it, and has my first name on it. They don’t scan it, just glance at it and my ID.

 

[Cinderella94]

And my AP card has never been scanned either. Last time we got one, the CM just wrote our first names on them, not our full names. I’m not even sure my AP card has an expiration date on it??

Yes, same here to all of that. We activated our APs this past Friday. I made a lot (oops) of purchases and not once was my card ever scanned. Every time I was asked for my AP card and my photo ID. The CM who activated my AP card had written only my first name on the back, like in your situation. I don't have it in front of me right now but do not recall seeing an expiration date on it either.

 

[randumb0]

Yes, same here to all of that. We activated our APs this past Friday. I made a lot (oops) of purchases and not once was my card ever scanned. Every time I was asked for my AP card and my photo ID. The CM who activated my AP card had written only my first name on the back, like in your situation. I don't have it in front of me right now but do not recall seeing an expiration date on it either.

The latest card says 2018-2019 on the back

 

[ninafeliz]

The latest card says 2018-2019 on the back

We all have cards that say 2019-2020 on the back. Sorry it’s kind of blurry- it probably wouldn’t matter but I didn’t want any of the actual numbers showing up online, so I was super close and couldn’t get it to focus right- plus I was hurrying lol!

 

[RememberWhoYouAre]

I would use your own card, you should be fine with that 2019-2020 date. I'm currently using an old yellow card (older than yours) because disney doesn't send us new yellow cards when we renew online. CMs do not scan the card. They just compare the name to my photo ID (which the names are written in sharpie too).

We've had issues with the cms not wanting to give my teen and her teen friend their AP discount because they didn't have photo ID. They were middle schoolers at the time who didn't even have any photo ID. And we had an issue once where a cm didn't wouldn't let my DD pay for her own souvenir because I had already given the cm my yellow passholder card and photo ID. The cm said I had to pay! Then when I told her that DD was a passholder too and entitled to the discount, the cm was very annoyed that she had to give DD the discount afterall. So I think just using your own card would avoid any hassles.

 

[ninafeliz]

I would use your own card, you should be fine with that 2019-2020 date. I'm currently using an old yellow card (older than yours) because disney doesn't send us new yellow cards when we renew online. CMs do not scan the card. They just compare the name to my photo ID (which the names are written in sharpie too).

We've had issues with the cms not wanting to give my teen and her teen friend their AP discount because they didn't have photo ID. They were middle schoolers at the time who didn't even have any photo ID. And we had an issue once where a cm didn't wouldn't let my DD pay for her own souvenir because I had already given the cm my yellow passholder card and photo ID. The cm said I had to pay! Then when I told her that DD was a passholder too and entitled to the discount, the cm was very annoyed that she had to give DD the discount afterall. So I think just using your own card would avoid any hassles.

Thanks for the advice and for sharing your experiences!

I get where Disney is coming from but I also don’t. I get that they don’t want people abusing the discount, but I also get that kids don’t generally pay for their own stuff and their parents do, so it seems like a situation to relax a little on. If they are minors, same last name, all family members present, or other similar situations, etc I would think as long as there is an AP card and ID it should work. But they didn’t ask me, so I’ll do what I need to do and since we are paying for 3 current APs I do want the discount! I mean, if someone wants to borrow my kids and watch them for the day just to use their discount, be my guest haha! (By that example I mean it would be a lot of work and huge hassle to find a minor that isn’t your kid just to get the discount, or find a minor with the same last name as you to get the discount, so that probably isn’t happening and they could just give it in those circumstances. But again they didn’t ask me ).

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hmmm, I have to admit that I hope you aren’t right. My kids are 6 and 9, so they don’t have ID or any way to pay for things on their own. Even if they get cash, I just keep it and pay for their stuff for them. They definitely have been vigilant about checking IDs, though, I agree with that. So how would they even get the discount of they have no ID and no way to pay but their parents (Me)? Would the CM be looking at the purchase and deciding for him/herself if my purchase seemed to be appropriate for him to be buying or it I was trying to buy stuff for myself (which is completely what I would be doing a lot of the time, BTW, I just didn’t think it would be an issue or against any rules).

On that particular trip, I had a copy of my son's passport in my purse just in case we were asked for his ID. We never were, however, I always made sure he approached the counter with the merchandise and cash or gift card in hand. In one shop, as I said, they did let me use my cc to pay, but that was an outlier.

As mentioned, your mileage will vary by cast member. Heck, I am now a Premier Passport holder and when I went to pay for some merch at the NBA Experience (passport card and ID in-hand), the CM said she didn't think I was eligible for the AP discount . . . a manager helped her out with that one, so it turned out fine. I would just be prepared for different answers at different registers. One thing I've learned in all my years of going to WDW is that CM training is not consistent and one CM will say one thing while the next will say the opposite.

Thanks for the advice and for sharing your experiences!

I get where Disney is coming from but I also don’t. I get that they don’t want people abusing the discount, but I also get that kids don’t generally pay for their own stuff and their parents do, so it seems like a situation to relax a little on. If they are minors, same last name, all family members present, or other similar situations, etc I would think as long as there is an AP card and ID it should work. But they didn’t ask me, so I’ll do what I need to do and since we are paying for 3 current APs I do want the discount! I mean, if someone wants to borrow my kids and watch them for the day just to use their discount, be my guest haha! (By that example I mean it would be a lot of work and huge hassle to find a minor that isn’t your kid just to get the discount, or find a minor with the same last name as you to get the discount, so that probably isn’t happening and they could just give it in those circumstances. But again they didn’t ask me ).

Years ago, a child's AP cost less than an adult AP and families gamed the system. They would buy one AP for one child and then take advantage of all the discounts for the entire family. Disney wised-up to that one and now, as you know, there is only one price for an AP and they are very strict with the AP/ID rule. This is why I wouldn't expect them to relax a little on this. You can't buy AP discount tickets with a child's AP and you can't book AP room discounts either. Your safest bet, really, is to have your child with you when you make the purchase and give them cash or a gift card to pay for the merchandise. Or, if your AP card has a 2020 date on it, try using that.

 

[ninafeliz]

On that particular trip, I had a copy of my son's passport in my purse just in case we were asked for his ID. We never were, however, I always made sure he approached the counter with the merchandise and cash or gift card in hand. In one shop, as I said, they did let me use my cc to pay, but that was an outlier.

As mentioned, your mileage will vary by cast member. Heck, I am now a Premier Passport holder and when I went to pay for some merch at the NBA Experience (passport card and ID in-hand), the CM said she didn't think I was eligible for the AP discount . . . a manager helped her out with that one, so it turned out fine. I would just be prepared for different answers at different registers. One thing I've learned in all my years of going to WDW is that CM training is not consistent and one CM will say one thing while the next will say the opposite.



Years ago, a child's AP cost less than an adult AP and families gamed the system. They would buy one AP for one child and then take advantage of all the discounts for the entire family. Disney wised-up to that one and now, as you know, there is only one price for an AP and they are very strict with the AP/ID rule. This is why I wouldn't expect them to relax a little on this. You can't buy AP discount tickets with a child's AP and you can't book AP room discounts either. Your safest bet, really, is to have your child with you when you make the purchase and give them cash or a gift card to pay for the merchandise. Or, if your AP card has a 2020 date on it, try using that.

Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to put money on a GC to "have the kids buy the stuff" when they are with me, because, well, other than the risk of losing it, why not, and then just try to use mine if the kids aren't with me. Since they don't scan it I don't see how it would be an issue, and if I pay with the GC or cc and not my MB they don't have any info on me anyway.

It's interesting to me that a kids AP won't allow discounted tickets or rooms, and since the prices are now the same I can't see why or how they defend that. Back when prices were different if the kids prices were anything like the kids prices for tickets you probably saved what, $10 on their AP so I would just buy an adult one and save the hassle anyway! This whole thing is Just another reaction I have to make to the negative changes Disney throws at me. If they hadn't raised AP prices so high in June (I think it was) I would have just renewed my AP even though we don't have more than 2 trips planned, and they would have gotten more money out of us and possibly more trips since the tickets were "free" (disney math). Since I'm not renewing we aren't going as much, we're going to universal for 3 of the 5 days during our next trip, and I'm using an old NE ticket.