AP Discounts

[johnvree]

I'm on the fence for getting AP's for our upcoming May 2016 trip. I would get AP's only if I thought we would get a discount on our rooms. Otherwise, I'd just as soon get a package that includes the tickets.

We are staying at the AKL with a savanna view and the Poly Concierge Theme Park View (we always split our stay at two resorts).

I'm wondering if there is any real possibility of an AP discount for these types of rooms given that WDW does not have a problem selling them.

I have not been following the AP discounts the last few years. Is it unrealistic there will be an AP discount for the rooms I am booking? Thanks for any input.

 

[MsThumper]

If you will be taking multiple trips to WDW, it might be worth getting an AP, but if not, getting an AP solely for a room discount generally is not a wise financial move. Disney releases room discounts to the general public first. The general public discounts may or may not be a better % offer than an AP discount. I have an AP because we go to WDW several times a year. Last year I made a room only reservation when the general public discount was offered and I got a 20% discount. When the AP discounts came out, they were no better, so I kept what I had booked.

 

[johnvree]

Thanks for the feedback. So I guess I should avoid the package and hope for the general public discount.

 

[Dean Marino]

If you will be taking multiple trips to WDW, it might be worth getting an AP, but if not, getting an AP solely for a room discount generally is not a wise financial move. Disney releases room discounts to the general public first. The general public discounts may or may not be a better % offer than an AP discount. I have an AP because we go to WDW several times a year. Last year I made a room only reservation when the general public discount was offered and I got a 20% discount. When the AP discounts came out, they were no better, so I kept what I had booked.

Must echo this - not ONLY do GP discounts come out first... the AP discounts (generally 5% higher) have, over the last few years, been pretty phony. The key phrase is on "selected dates, rooms and resorts". When you actually try to FIND what you would like? Surprise - it's not there. Yes, I understand why - WDW is not going to discount an already selling item.

Having seen this trend around 2012... we continue to get APs every year. HOWEVER - we also became DVC members . The AP's we get are PURELY for the purpose of reduced Park Admission. Room discounts? Pretty much a fond memory of the past.

 

[Disneylover99]

I don't know about Deluxe AP room discounts, but I was recently looking into booking a value or mod this December and the AP discount was a better discount then the general offer.

 

[DisMommyTX]

We upgraded to AP's for the first time last summer. Have booked three trips since then and no AP rooms have been available for any of the dates and/or resort options we were looking for, and we were pretty open. I thought we might use it once when AP discounted rooms suddenly became available at AKL, but I found that Orbitz offered the same rooms for $100 less than the AP rate. So, while I highly recommend AP's if you plan to make multiple trips within the year, certainly do not get them for the room discounts.