AP Holders - ? for you...

[ajksmom]

Planning our next trip to WDW, hoping our stay will be 9 nights. This will be the 1st time I would consider buying AP's. What discounts on rooms have you received for the summer season?(3rd week of June thru 3rd week of August) I am interested in the following resorts- POP,POFQ, and WL - SV or WV. Really need the info to be able to compare whether it would work for my family.
TYIA

Kristy

 

[johnsonet]

For the end of July this year (Value Season began July 5th this year) AP Holders could have WL standard for $114/night! That is unbelieveable! For 9 nights it would DEFINITELY be worth it for park admission alone!

 

[scrump]

9 nights is worth an AP. We stayed for 8 nights last year, and the trip was actually less expensive WITH the $400 pass than without. Maybe price it out, and you'll be even more convinced!

 

[QJ411]

I also think the AP is worth it! We got great deals on the rooms at WL, I don't think I can pay full price for a room again

I do love the AP...(besides, it gives us an incentive to go back to WDW!! )

Enjoy!

 

[Kajunswty]

I found a worksheet that will help you on Deb's website. Here is a link: http://allearsnet.com/pl/breakeven.php

Don't foget to factor in all of the other discounts you will receive. The ones we use most are the 10% at World of Disney (adds up fast!) and the 10% off lunches at Epcot (we always ate there anyway) it just has to be Mon-Fri and at lunch. But, most places consider lunch up to as late as 3.

Here is some of the stuff I found:

Complimentary parking: AP/PAP holders are entitled to free parking at the MK, Epcot, MGM and AK parking lots.

Lunch Discounts: Get 10% off the regular price of food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) Monday through Friday during lunch hours
· - Concourse Steakhouse at Disney's Contemporary Resort
· - ESPN Club at Disney's Boardwalk
· - Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
· - Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Resort
· - Olivia's Cafe at Disney's Old Key West Resort
· - Sand Trap Bar & Grill at Disney's Bonnet Creek Golf Club
· - Trail's End Buffeteria at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
· - Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort
· - Yacht Club Galley at Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Epcot Lunch Discounts: Get 10% off the regular price of food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) Monday through Friday during lunch hours
· - Alfredo di Roma Ristorante
· - Biergarten Restaurant
· - The Garden Grill Restaurant
· - Coral Reef Restaurant
· - Le Cellier Steakhouse
· - Le Chefs de France Restaurant
· - Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Restaurant
· - Nine Dragons Restaurant
· - Restaurant Akershus
· - Restaurant Marrakesh
· - Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room
· - San Angel Inn Restaurant

10% off regular prices @
Official All-Star Cafe at Disney's Wide World of Sports
Wolfgang Puck Cafe at Downtown Disney's West Side
Planet Hollywood at Downtown Disney's West Side
Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney's Marketplace
Portobello Yacht Club at Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island
Fulton's Crab House at Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island

20% off regular prices @
House of Blues at Downtown Disney's West Side


MERCHANDISE DISCOUNTS
·House of Blues - 10% discount off regularly priced merchandise
·Planet Hollywood - 10% off select regularly priced merchandise
·Rainforest Cafe - 15% off select regularly priced merchandise
·Leave a Legacy Tile at Epcot - Buy one Leave a Legacy Tile at Photo and get one free.
·World of Disney at Downtown Disney Marketplace - 10% off merchandise
·Eurospain by Arribas Brothers, Downtown Disney, 10% off the total purchase Virgin Megastore Downtown Disney - 10% discount off total purchase.

SPORTS & RECREATION
Miniature Golf - 50% off for Passholder, and 15% off for up to three guests playing with you at Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course or Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course.

TOURS
15% off Tours and Experiences.

Have fun deciding ~ I don't think you'l find too many people to say that they wish they hadn't bought the AP's.....

 

[ciera321]

I Agree that AP is worth it. We just bought our first AP's in June for a 10 night trip and used a lot of the discounts for food, mini golf and merchandise and saved a pretty good amount. I love the 20% at House of Blues, since we always go there anyway. (Just be sure and be there before 6pm!!)

 

[ajksmom]

Thank you all for your replies!! I think an AP will definately work for us for a 9 night stay, I didn't realize the added discount benefits.
Have you ever bought an AP and used it only 1 time?
I have a hard enough time coming home and waiting for the next trip, I'm afraid with an AP I just might drive my DH insane trying to work the budget to go back within the year.
I am a SAHM so our budget in the past has allowed us to go every 3 years. After this past trip we decided to bump it to every two, now I'm sitting planning for 2006 and really trying to make it work for 2005!!! Yikes!! I am the insane one!!!!(I guess I just want my DH to join me!) LOL - with me not at me!
thanks again

Kristy

 

[wilderness01]

15% off water mice rental at CR as well.

 

[arizonacolbys]

I think the AP can be worth it for your length of stay whether you are able to return or not. We bought AP's in Dec 2002 & stayed for 9 nights. We then returned for a short trip at the end of March, before my hubby went to Army Boot Camp last summer. This stay was only 5 nights - but our admission was already paid for. I originally planned on 3 nights at Niagara Falls, but when I priced the hotel out it was as much as more nights at Disney. So, Disney is where we went.

This year we are going in Sept, so it's been about a year & a half since we last went. We will be buying AP's for our 11 night stay at POP, and then plan to return in 1 year, only one week earlier. This is a great way to use your AP's & I know lots of others that plan their trips this way, too.

Good luck deciding!

 

[steveanddonna]

I agree w/the other posters - AP is worth it for 9 nights. Most of the websites cite 8 days as the break-even point on a regular AP. I don't remember what it is for the PAP. Even without an AP room discount (sometimes happens!) the other discounts make it worthwhile, plus the savings over PHs or UPHs. Pretty good discount on regular golf, too - DH played Magnolia for $69 in May w/AP discount.

 

[buckeye]

We were there in June this year at a moderate for $74/night. Makes a second trip during the year very possible...

 

[safetymom]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm

There is a link right here on the DIS with AP info.

 

[Firebug]

arizonacolbys

As a military family, You should look into staying at the Shades of Green. It is on Disney Property and is run by the Military. Rates are based on the servicemen's rank. It is very affordable and you can buy all of your Disney tickets right there. The rules are the same as the PX so in addition to discounts you do not pay sales tax.

FB

 

[cooldisneymom]

How many rooms are you allowed to book with AP rate? Going back with my DH and DD in Feb. 05 and then with entire extended family in July 05 - will need 2 rooms in July. Haven't bought the AP's yet, but we've already been twice this year so I'm thinking I'm crazy not to!!! Just wondering if I can book extra room for my parents also after getting AP's. Thanks!!!

 

[arizonacolbys]

Thanks Firebug!

We were going to stay at the Shades this trip (my hubby has stayed before with his family), but we got the POP Century for about 1/2 the price with a military discount that Disney was offering. We don't spend much time at the resort, so this was an offer we just couldn't pass up. We will be buying our AP's there, though.