AP for one family member?

[Tinkerbell19672]

Has anyone upgraded tix to AP for just one family member? We plan on going back to DL sometime in 2017 but if don't get a chance to, thinking of just upgrading one of our tix when we're there next month. Then we would still get the discounts. Good idea or no?

 

[Aladora]

Has anyone upgraded tix to AP for just one family member? We plan on going back to DL sometime in 2017 but if don't get a chance to, thinking of just upgrading one of our tix when we're there next month. Then we would still get the discounts. Good idea or no?

Possibly good idea depending on a few things.

1. Is the AP holder going to want to go with the family during a time their AP is blocked?
2. Is the potential discount amount going to be greater than the amount to upgrade?
3. Are the other family members going to have a 3+ day ticket and use MM entrance which the AP holder will not have?

If the answers are no, yes and no then I would upgrade to an AP.

 

[SMD]

The tickets aren't linked to each other, so you can upgrade 1, all or somewhere in between. What level pass are you thinking of upgrading to, and when would your trip be next year? Deluxe does have blockout dates, so you'll want to research that. As far as discounts, it's 10% dining and merchandise in the parks with deluxe. So if you pay $300 for a 5 day ticket and upgrade to a deluxe AP at $600 you'd have to spend $3000 to make up the difference in discounts. And there are no discounts on things like Dole whips and churros, so it's not like every little bit adds up, either.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Possibly good idea depending on a few things.

1. Is the AP holder going to want to go with the family during a time their AP is blocked?
2. Is the potential discount amount going to be greater than the amount to upgrade?
3. Are the other family members going to have a 3+ day ticket and use MM entrance which the AP holder will not have?

If the answers are no, yes and no then I would upgrade to an AP.

Good points. Not sure yet what dates would be next year but we could work out the blackout days. If it's true we can upgrade and get full price of tix toward AP, then yes to number 2. I didn't think of MM but we usually don't make it in time for that anyway. We prefer to stay in parks late

The tickets aren't linked to each other, so you can upgrade 1, all or somewhere in between. What level pass are you thinking of upgrading to, and when would your trip be next year? Deluxe does have blockout dates, so you'll want to research that. As far as discounts, it's 10% dining and merchandise in the parks with deluxe. So if you pay $300 for a 5 day ticket and upgrade to a deluxe AP at $600 you'd have to spend $3000 to make up the difference in discounts. And there are no discounts on things like Dole whips and churros, so it's not like every little bit adds up, either.

Thanks! Do you know if the merchandise discount is for any amount? With the visa, has to be a minimum of $50. Wasn't sure if AP is the same

 

[SMD]

Good points. Not sure yet what dates would be next year but we could work out the blackout days. If it's true we can upgrade and get full price of tix toward AP, then yes to number 2. I didn't think of MM but we usually don't make it in time for that anyway. We prefer to stay in parks late



Thanks! Do you know if the merchandise discount is for any amount? With the visa, has to be a minimum of $50. Wasn't sure if AP is the same

It used to be a minimum of $10, but they take it for any amount now. The only thing is that technically deluxe and lower don't have a merch discount at all, it's a promotion that's been extended for about 7-8 years now. It could technically go away in 2017, but if everything continues as it has been, it will be extended.

There are also some off site hotels that offer an AP discount, though it's usually about the same or maybe a little less than an AAA discount if you have that.

 

[Winnowill]

On a similar vein, we upgraded to two Deluxe and one Signature, simply because the Signature has free parking and free Photopass+ - the amount of money we're saving in parking alone more than paid for the Signature pass. The PhotoPass and bigger discounts are just gravy.

 

[Aladora]

It used to be a minimum of $10, but they take it for any amount now. The only thing is that technically deluxe and lower don't have a merch discount at all, it's a promotion that's been extended for about 7-8 years now. It could technically go away in 2017, but if everything continues as it has been, it will be extended.

There are also some off site hotels that offer an AP discount, though it's usually about the same or maybe a little less than an AAA discount if you have that.

According to the Disneyland website, Deluxe APs get a merch discount.

Disney Deluxe Passport

• Visit both theme parks on the same day during select days of the year*
• Up to 10% off select dining
• Up to 10% off select merchandise

Here is a link to all the merchandise locations and their various AP discounts.

AP Shop Discounts

And here is the same one but for restaurants:

AP Restaurant Discounts

Finally, here is the link for tours:

AP Tours Discounts

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Thanks everyone! We'll see what the cost to upgrade is once we get there and then decide. The blockout dates are a bummer but may be worth working around.

 

[SMD]

According to the Disneyland website, Deluxe APs get a merch discount.

Disney Deluxe Passport

• Visit both theme parks on the same day during select days of the year*
• Up to 10% off select dining
• Up to 10% off select merchandise

Here is a link to all the merchandise locations and their various AP discounts.

AP Shop Discounts

And here is the same one but for restaurants:



AP Restaurant Discounts

Finally, here is the link for tours:

AP Tours Discounts

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/discounts/

Disney Signature Plus, Disney Signature, Disney Premier and Premium Passholders receive the maximum merchandise and dining discounts. Exclusions and restrictions may apply to discounts; check location for details. These merchandise discount rates will expire December 31, 2016.

It hasn't been extended to 2017 yet.

 

[Aladora]

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/discounts/
It hasn't been extended to 2017 yet.

Yes, but that link talks about the discounts for all passes, you had said that deluxe and lower don't have a discount at all. I was just pointing out that they do in fact have a merch discount right now.

I think this might be a case of slightly inaccurate wording has lead to a debate that never was!

It is safe to that that as of right now, all APs have some level of merchandise and dining discounts. Also as of right now, those discounts are good until December 31, 2016 with the state of the discounts into 2017 being unknown. (but in my opinion, likely but no idea of what level)

 

[SMD]

Yes, but that link talks about the discounts for all passes, you had said that deluxe and lower don't have a discount at all. I was just pointing out that they do in fact have a merch discount right now.

I think this might be a case of slightly inaccurate wording has lead to a debate that never was!

It is safe to that that as of right now, all APs have some level of merchandise and dining discounts. Also as of right now, those discounts are good until December 31, 2016 with the state of the discounts into 2017 being unknown. (but in my opinion, likely but no idea of what level)

I said they technically don't have a merch discount, which they don't. Signatures have a 10% discount and all APs get a bonus 10% through 12/31, which becomes 20% for signature and 10% for everyone else, but only through 12/31 for now. Which is why I said it could go away in 2017. The OP is planning a trip in 2017. What's not accurate about that?

 

[Aladora]

I said they technically don't have a merch discount, which they don't. Signatures have a 10% discount and all APs get a bonus 10% through 12/31, which becomes 20% for signature and 10% for everyone else, but only through 12/31 for now. Which is why I said it could go away in 2017. The OP is planning a trip in 2017. What's not accurate about that?

I'm not sure where you are getting the "bonus" 10% for all APs from, that is what I was questioning as not being accurate.

I can see that for instance, Deluxe APs get 10% discount, which is what they have had for at least the last few years, no extra, just the regular 10%. The Signature and Signature Plus APs get 20%, which is what they have received for the last few years (that I can recall at least). SoCal, SoCal Select and Deluxe all have the normal 10% on merch and the two Signature ones are receiving 20% on merch.

We were just there in September, we have Deluxe APs and we got the regular 10% on merchandise.

 

[SMD]

I'm not sure where you are getting the "bonus" 10% for all APs from, that is what I was questioning as not being accurate.

I can see that for instance, Deluxe APs get 10% discount, which is what they have had for at least the last few years, no extra, just the regular 10%. The Signature and Signature Plus APs get 20%, which is what they have received for the last few years (that I can recall at least). SoCal, SoCal Select and Deluxe all have the normal 10% on merch and the two Signature ones are receiving 20% on merch.

We were just there in September, we have Deluxe APs and we got the regular 10% on merchandise.

Because the AP terms don't guarantee a discount. Only premium APs got a 10% merch discount, which is now signature. For the last 8 years (maybe more now, but I think 2008 was the first year and 2009 was the first time they extended it) Disney has announced they're extending the extra 10% promotion. A few times they didn't even make the announcements until January. Everyone used to start to worry it would end and you'd see threads about it. Now no one really talks about it, because we all kind of accept that they're just going to keep renewing it. And they probably will. But if someone is planning to spend $3,000+ to effectively zero out the cost of their AP, and part of that expenditure will be in 2017, they should consider that it's not a 100% guarantee that a deluxe AP will have a merch discount in 2017 until Disney officially extends it.

 

[DharmaLou]

I have an AP, DD and DH do not. I got it mainly for the free parking, merchandise, PP+ and food discounts. Also because I plan to be in the parks at least 13 days during my AP calendar year. DH will only be there for 9 of those days and DD only 4 of those days.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I have an AP, DD and DH do not. I got it mainly for the free parking, merchandise, PP+ and food discounts. Also because I plan to be in the parks at least 13 days during my AP calendar year. DH will only be there for 9 of those days and DD only 4 of those days.

Thanks, what's PP+?

 

[smartlabelprint]

Thanks, what's PP+?

Photo pass plus

 

[tzeitel]

I think it would be worth it only if you get to go again. Our Oct trip was kinda last minute but we had already planned for May '17. DD, DH and I got 5 day PH from lmtclub (saved $53 each). On our first day I upgraded to an AP (price bridged) so had to pay $264. I added up what we saved with the 10% and it came to $63.16.

If it was just for the discount it would not be worth it to us. But since we are coming back in May (it is for my birthday so a pretty sure thing ) for another 5 days it was worth it. DD and DH even upgraded on our last day. By upgrading we saved $18 per person on the tickets (on top of the original savings) plus the discount on food and merch.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I think it would be worth it only if you get to go again. Our Oct trip was kinda last minute but we had already planned for May '17. DD, DH and I got 5 day PH from lmtclub (saved $53 each). On our first day I upgraded to an AP (price bridged) so had to pay $264. I added up what we saved with the 10% and it came to $63.16.

If it was just for the discount it would not be worth it to us. But since we are coming back in May (it is for my birthday so a pretty sure thing ) for another 5 days it was worth it. DD and DH even upgraded on our last day. By upgrading we saved $18 per person on the tickets (on top of the original savings) plus the discount on food and merch.

Thanks for the info! Our tix are also from LMT club so my math came out same as yours, assuming we get credit for full price tix. We definitely want to go back next year, possibly for DD's bday in May also. But I may take DD and her friend without DH, so that's another reason I may just get AP for myself. Also would be nice to stay onsite with an AP rate.