AP - grrrrrr

[Maddysdaddy]

Sorry - just need to feel sorry for myself amongst those who understand my frustration.

Coming from Canada, normally we make a once a year pilgramage to DL. This year, since we bought into DVC, we'll be coming twice - 5ish days in February and 5ish days in September. Thought that buying the Deluxe AP would make financial sense, but just went onto the website and saw that two of our days in February are blacked out, so we'd have to pay the extra $120 per person to purchase the premium pass instead. May just make sense to buy park hoppers instead and pretend that I don't know about the AP discounts we'd be missing out on...

I know that my annoyance isn't going to change anything, but I just wanted to vent (and moreso to ask if anyone knows what's happening on February 18/19 that would result in days being blacked out).

 

[bbangel]

I think that is their President's Day weekend so they may be expecting more crowds.

Remember you can use your DVC membership for some discounts.

 

[sonnyjane]

Hi!

Those dates that are blocked out for February are the President's Day long weekend here in the states. Most schools are out so crowds at Disneyland can increase, hence the blackout. Did you already purchase the Deluxe passes?

 

[skiingfast]

The block out days are because it's a US holiday period. President's Day Weekend. It will be busy.

To make an AP work you really need to aim for 3 visits. I know this is hard coming from far away. You can also go with whoever pays having an AP getting the discounts and everyone else having PHs.

 

[ddwlms]

Can you get a Disney Visa up there? You can make up some of the AP discounts by using their Visa.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Ugh. Didn't consider that it might be a US holiday. We've always gone off season, and have never waited more than 10 minutes to get on a ride (except TSM). Might need to reconsider our plans - I don't have the patience to wait an hour to get on a ride...

We haven't purchased the passes yet. And no, we can't get the Disney Visa up in the frozen tundra, unfortunately.

Thanks for the quick responses.

 

[Davids-Coco]

In terms of Deluxe vs. DVC for food... both are 10% and there are only a couple additional restaurants on the Deluxe AP list. So for food you are still ok. That means really the only thing you have to "forget" about is the 10% on merchandise.

(I did a huge comparative list on the AP vs DVC restaurants when planning our dining for our last trip.)

 

[skiingfast]

Ugh. Didn't consider that it might be a US holiday. We've always gone off season, and have never waited more than 10 minutes to get on a ride (except TSM). Might need to reconsider our plans - I don't have the patience to wait an hour to get on a ride...

If you able to change you may want to. You will miss out on longer hours and fuller entertainment, but get much lower crowds.

 

[Kidlette]

My husband and I are a bit spoiled - we live in the area and generally go to DL every couple of weeks. We are also DVC members. Anyway - because we go so often we are also spoiled in knowing when to go for shorter lines. Like you, we can't stand to wait in line! I would HIGHLY recommend rescheduling the dates, if you can. That might be the best option for you. Otherwise, just remember that you get a DVC discount of $30 per premium AP (I think), but I don't remember about the deluxe. Also remember that the Deluxe pass only gives 10% dining and shopping discount, but the premium pass gets you 20%. Going just on park hoppers gets you no discounts, so maybe a spreadsheet is in order (LOL, sorry...I love spreadsheets )Not that this isn't information others haven't already given you, I guess I just thought I'd pipe in and say that I agree. Changing your dates might be the best option, if it's possible for you.

 

[Eeee-va]

Sorry about your blockouts!

You CAN buy a blockout day ticket the day of your visit if your AP is blocked…but it's now $59 per person per day! If you can't change your dates, then depending on if you can get a discount off the Premium AP, it COULD make sense to spend a day relaxing/hanging out at the hotels/etc. if you enjoy doing that, and buying one blockout day ticket. But the cost savings between doing that and just buying a Premium AP aren't that much. And that's assuming they don't raise the cost of a blockout day ticket (the one time I bought one, I think it was $40, maybe $45 at the most, and that would've been June 2009!).

I don't recall if President's Day weekend is very busy or just regular busy, but I don't think you'll have many waits under 10 minutes either way. So I agree with others, if you can change you'll probably be happier on all accounts.

Have a great trip! Trips!