Ap discounts?

[snowwhite84]

Hi all! Thinking about taking my first trip to Disneyland! I'm a WDW expert, but now I'm itching for the westcoast. My question is, if I buy an AP for Disneyland, are the discounts enough to offset the cost? I'm sure I won't be back again that year, so it would need to be worth it for the discounts. Primarily, how much are the hotels usually discounted with the AP? I would really like to stay onsite, but the DL resorts are not as cost friendly as the WDW ones. Any thoughts?

 

[mindylovesmickey]

It all depends on when you come as to what the AP discount is at the hotels. The standard is like 10%. The discount rates for everything else are on the disneyland.com site if you click the link that says Annual Passports. Depending on how many days your trip will be and how much the parkhopper is would be a big factor as to whether it would be worth it or not. Especially since you most likely will not use it again.

 

[bumbershoot]

There *are* offers during certain times that are much better than 10%. Right now the current offer goes well into March, but beyond that we don't know when another special might be. For instance, for my trip in 2 days I could have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for 159 with the current AP special. That could very well make up the cost of the AP, at least compared to the normal rate.

The other discounts are...with the Deluxe AP you get 10% off of most food. With the Premium you get 15% off most food and 10% off most merchandise, and there are discounts for both APs at many DTD places.

But just in case you don't know, staying onsite is nowhere near as crucial (or crucial at all, really) at DLR as it is at WDW. You can be closer to the gates by staying offsite than you can by staying at DLH or PPH.

 

[snowwhite84]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[mindylovesmickey]

There *are* offers during certain times that are much better than 10%. Right now the current offer goes well into March, but beyond that we don't know when another special might be. For instance, for my trip in 2 days I could have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for 159 with the current AP special. That could very well make up the cost of the AP, at least compared to the normal rate.

The better discounts are also based on availability, because for my dates, there are no AP5 rates available and they are in Feb., that's what I've been told by 3 different CM's when I call, anyway. Am I maybe not getting the correct answers from these guys?

 

[bumbershoot]

Posting at night, not using all my words, sorry.

I'm trying to get the AP page on disneyland.com open, but it's been messed up since yesterday. Though yesterday I could at least get it open in Safari rather than my usual Firefox, but today I just can't get the page up.

I was going to check b/c rates just appeared for this trip I'm taking tomorrow...I hadn't seen good rates until just yesterday when it seemed to change...they open often. It's really too bad they don't have that available on the regular part of the site; they could ease off on the CMs answering phones for prospective AP holders! But do keep checking, and if I can ever open the site I'll check for as your ticker says 27 days from now.

 

[mindylovesmickey]

That would be great. I have the AP vouchers, but that won't get me into the site until I actually have the plastic. The disneyland site has been awful with timing out the last few days, don't know if they are updating or what, but it has me frustrated as well.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yay, I got in! Which hotel are you looking at? Well I'll just tell you what I see, for standard rooms. Counting 27 days I get 2/20?

I notice that at PP there are good rates for the week before that...3-13th it's 139 at PP. But then it jumps to $270 from the 14th through the 22nd. Nothing there on the 23rd, then $240 for two days, then back down to $149 to the end of Feb.

DLH literally shows "NA" for the 20th through the 25th, and the rates for 6 days before the 20th are $300 per night. Anyone interested in just the 13th...the rate is $139 for some reason!

GCH is unavailable on the 21st, but it's $405 for the 20th and the days after the 21st.


So it does look like what the CMs are telling you is what is reflected. I wonder if it's Valentines day, or very early spring break? Presidents day is the weekend before that...weird.

Oh I know, according to this site, the 20th is Cherry Pie Day. That must be the reason!

Well, I'd say to keep calling. The number on the page I'm looking at is (714) 520-5006. Is that the same? If not, call it. Maybe Cherry Pie Day will keep the prices high, but maybe they'll drop. I swear the prices for tomorrow weren't as low last week as they are right now...unfortunately DH only suggested I stay onsite (for a MM day to maximize my quick trip) in the middle of the night before we woke up yesterday, and the hotel I do have booked needs a 72 hour cancellation!

 

[bumbershoot]

mindylovesmickey, I think the higher prices still include the normal AP discount of something like 10%. Since you're already planning on becoming AP holders, be sure you're getting the right rate! Even if it's not the terrific rate.

 

[mindylovesmickey]

Thanks for checking! Cherry Pie Day, huh. Go figure. I picked those dates because it was after the Presiden't Day holiday, I figured it woudln't be as busy, but the hotel ended up being booked solid! Maybe there's a convention or something stupid like that? I can't change my dates now either because my MIL already has her plane ticket out here and dh only has a certain number of days of leave before he deploys and his days were already approved . I'm a little disappointed now.

I originally booked on a military rate, and when I called back an tried to get the AP5 rate, it wasn't available for those days, and they said the AP rate that I would get was the exact same as what the military rate was, so I left it alone. I'm definitely going to call a few days before arrival to make sure everything is good anyway, and I'll have them recheck the rate.

Sorry to the OP for totally taking over your thread .

 

[noryglory]

Hey Bumbershoot, what rates can you get me for AP checking into any of the hotels on this Sunday the 27th leaving Monday the 28th? We have plans to go to Carlsbad and Legoland but the weather forecast is so lousy we wonder if we shouldn't drive to Anaheim from the desert instead and buy APs since we're making our official big trip in May. We're visiting family this weekend and this will be a surprise trip for the boys, whereever we end up.

If the rates at the GCH in particular were stellar we would probably go for it!

Thanks for checking, have a fun trip!!

Kim

 

[bumbershoot]

Hey Bumbershoot, what rates can you get me for AP checking into any of the hotels on this Sunday the 27th leaving Monday the 28th? We have plans to go to Carlsbad and Legoland but the weather forecast is so lousy we wonder if we shouldn't drive to Anaheim from the desert instead and buy APs since we're making our official big trip in May. We're visiting family this weekend and this will be a surprise trip for the boys, whereever we end up.

If the rates at the GCH in particular were stellar we would probably go for it!

Thanks for checking, have a fun trip!!

Kim

So that's one night, yes? Really quick...I vaguely remember having just read someone say that Disney has a problem with one-night stays on a weekend, but I don't know that for fact at all. Just wanted to tell you what I read.

I see a $139 rate for Sun 27, Standard PPH.
$157 view PPH
$315 concierge PPH (trying to imagine how many uncrustables one would have to eat for that to be worth it, lol)

$250 Standard DLH
View and Concierge n/a

$259 Standard GCH
$294 View GCH
$580 Concierge GCH

(714) 520-5006




I'm feeling useful! Haven't really done much around the house to prepare for my trip tomorrow (so the hubby and son can move around since 2 days ago i started clearing closets and moving things around), but at least I might be helping others.

 

[snowwhite84]

I called today for Feb. 25-28 and I was quoted $213 with AP rate. I was bummed by that number. Thought it would be lower since it was a Mon to Thurs trip. Anyone else find good rates?

 

[bumbershoot]

I called today for Feb. 25-28 and I was quoted $213 with AP rate. I was bummed by that number. Thought it would be lower since it was a Mon to Thurs trip. Anyone else find good rates?

Which hotel?

This might be showing that the hotel availability calendar might be wrong, b/c I'm seeing at PPH a $240 rate for the 25th, then $149 for 26 and 27. Even adding that and dividing does not give 213, (editing to add the following to this paragraph)but it gives 179. Then I start wondering if they added taxes to that...which at 15% is 210 average per night...is the resort fee only $3/night? Was your quote inclusive of taxes?(edit done)

Oooh ooh wait, I'm not sure we gave you the "code" to say. AP5 is what you say for the superspecial rates, IF they are available on your dates.

OK this is odd. Looking at the *view* rooms at PPH, and I see a $167 rate for those days.

Looking at DLH standard rooms, the 25th isn't available on the calendar, but looking at the rates of the 26th and 27th (240 and 169), adding then dividing by two I get 214, which is suspiciously close to your quote of 213.

DLH view rooms...295, 198, and 191 for the nights doesn't yield an average of 213, but is 228.



So I'm thinking that the AP hotel availability calendar isn't "spot on", or they were trying to get you into the DLH standard rooms, taking those two days and splitting the difference, or...something else.

What hotel and what room were you looking at? And did you say the magic words..."AP5"?

 

[snowwhite84]

Thanks; I didn't know about the AP5 thing, I'll try it. I was looking at Paradise Pier. I'll do some more research!

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Bumbershoot- Since you're loving being so helpful, I thought I'd let you help me!

We have a res. for 2/27-3/3 @ DLH using AP5. Our cost is about $198/night for upper pool view. I'm curious to know if you see anything cheaper on the AP site? (We haven't gotten an AP yet!).

 

[mindylovesmickey]

Bumbershoot- Since you're loving being so helpful, I thought I'd let you help me!

We have a res. for 2/27-3/3 @ DLH using AP5. Our cost is about $198/night for upper pool view. I'm curious to know if you see anything cheaper on the AP site? (We haven't gotten an AP yet!).

I'm interested to find out as well, because that actually sounds like a pretty good rate with a view and everything. I'd take it considering what we are paying for a 2bdrm suite w/conceirge and view for 4 nights the week before you is more than twice what you are paying. And that's with a discount!

 

[bumbershoot]

Any typos are due to freezing hands due to a very long walk in the disturbingly-cold downtown. Which is also near the water so it's even colder than the rest of the town. Brr.

2/27 -3/3, DLH.

The only choices I have are "standard", "view", and "concierge". I can't tell it what view I want. For a "view" room I see...

27th: 191
28th: 191
29th: 295
1st : 295
2nd : 191

All the calendar shows is "best rates for APs", by the way. Though it also specifies "please ask for rate plan AP5".


Oh wait, I just re-read your question (obviously my eyes and/or brain are frozen too), and you said "upper pool view". Is that considered a "view" room? Hmm, I don't know. So just for fun I'll throw in the "standard" rooms, just in case you don't care.

27th: 169
28th: 169
29th: unavailable! ew. or rather, n/a is what it actually says
1st : n/a
2nd : 169


So if you're in a view room sounds like you got a good deal, and if you aren't, well....things might get complicated! But it might be worth calling if you're interested in a standard room. Every person/family has their own calculations of what makes something "worth" it; to me the money might trump the view, to another it's the opposite! (and everyone says "uh duh" at me b/c I'm stating the obvious)


mindylovesmickey, your suite and all is making me feel faint. If you hear a thunk, I've hit the ground. That goes to the different people thing...at a Westin or something, to me, concierge is worth it. But at a disney hotel...just seems to be food-based. To me, fun as it might be to run to the lounge for a brew, I can't can't do it. Big ol' caveat....once DS hits the preteen/teen years and is eating more than he does nowadays...I'm quite sure those thoughts will change, especially if we have more kids that like to eat!

 

[dragonflymom]

I wonder if it's Valentines day, or very early spring break? Presidents day is the weekend before that...weird.

Many California schools are having winter break the entire week of Feb. 18, so I would expect a lot of visitors from Feb. 16 - Feb. 24. We are going to be there with our kids from Feb. 16 - Feb. 20 and since we were given a lot of developer points when we bought into DVC a couple of months ago, I really wanted to use the points for Disneyland Hotel Concierge since I would never splurge for concierge if I'm paying cash. I had no luck at all booking the nights I wanted and that was back in early Decemeber, so I'm not surprised that they are not giving out attractive AP discounts for most nights during winter break week. I'm still happy we could use the points for a standard room though.

 

[Hound 109]

There *are* offers during certain times that are much better than 10%. Right now the current offer goes well into March, but beyond that we don't know when another special might be. For instance, for my trip in 2 days I could have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for 159 with the current AP special. That could very well make up the cost of the AP, at least compared to the normal rate.

The other discounts are...with the Deluxe AP you get 10% off of most food. With the Premium you get 15% off most food and 10% off most merchandise, and there are discounts for both APs at many DTD places.

But just in case you don't know, staying onsite is nowhere near as crucial (or crucial at all, really) at DLR as it is at WDW. You can be closer to the gates by staying offsite than you can by staying at DLH or PPH.

Bumbershoot is correct on all topics above (as usual ). & if you book a room for a time period, it pays to the monitor the AP online site....(or call) as things change daily.

I know that when i traveled in early Dec., i had a $129 standard room at the PP booked. (a Concierge upgrade was nuts....like $150 more).

Then two day before i left, Bumbershoot (i think) advised me that PP Concierge just opened up on my days for $169. (& yes I (& the rest of the hound family can eat enough uncrustables/cookies/mickey treats/cokes & waters to justify the extra $40 ).

So if you get a good rate, book it, but check back often to see if a better hotel or option opens up...especially if you're traveling at a time that is typically "off-peak".