AP prices increased [6/18/2019]

[smmco]

My renewal date is July 20. I've been going back and forth about it. We had three really great trips to WDW this year. Fortunately or unfortunately the decision has been taken out my hands. Now it's a big fat NO. It's not just the annual pass increase, but also the lack of room discounts that are soon to follow. In some ways, it's kind of a relief. I was crunching the numbers on how we were going to make a couple of trips to WDW plus our European cruise this Summer and our one next Summer. Maybe we'll take a couple of trips to Universal instead.

 

[smmco]

WOW, I wonder if this means the Premier AP (good for both WDW and DLR) will increase. It already went up from $750 in 2012 to $1500-ish in 2017 to $1900+ in 2019.

We had the premier AP in 2012. Those were the days. Now just an AP to WDW cost more than that. I wish my salary had more than doubled in the last 7 years. My dh and I have good paying jobs. Probably on the upper end of middle class....according to statistics. We have low monthly expenses and a good disposable income yet, I am starting to feel outpriced. Maybe not outpriced as much as I feel it's just not worth it.

 

[Upatnoon]

I would think you could prioritize the new Platinum APs on MDX over the Gold for Dec. Not sure if you can delete your Gold pass from MDX, but you could always create a new MDX account and transfer the Gold there (or transfer to a family member not going) to make sure that the Platinums will be prioritized. You could ask Robo on the sticky about tickets to double check.

I think the discounted APs, once you activate at Guest Relations, becomes the same as an AP purchased at Disney... meaning you'd be offered the renewal rate at time of renewal.

I'd suggest celebrating your birthday on a different, non-blacked out day and spend the savings on a nice gift or experience for yourself.

 

[Chris75]

Wow, you're right! The only drawback is I'm a Florida resident so I'd lose the monthly payment plan option but definitely might be worth it. Mine don't expire until next January so I'm going to think about it a bit. My fear is they may raise the prices AGAIN before my current passes expire. I downgraded to Gold this year but thinking of going back to Platinum for 2020.

In case you didn't notice Sam's also has the resident Platinum AP for $718.99 right now. I assume Tickets at work does also since they are operated by the same company.

 

[omniscientmommy]

Unless of course you were there and activated it the day after the expiration of your original AP, e.g., current pass expires 10/27 and you are on vacation until 11/1/19. Current pass expires 10/27, on 10/28 you activate the new AP at the gate. New expiration date would be 10/28/20. Still wouldn't be a renewal so to speak, but would have nearly the same expiration dates.

My husband and I were wondering if we should do that. We have a trip planned in November and the passes expire 9/26. I think we might do that instead. Dh is worried about it not working out like that.

 

[focusondisney]

My dh and I have good paying jobs. Probably on the upper end of middle class....according to statistics. We have low monthly expenses and a good disposable income yet, I am starting to feel outpriced. Maybe not outpriced as much as I feel it's just not worth it.

This is us too. We a good income & a high % of disposable income. I would also say upper middle class. We have been taking 2 - 3 trips a year for the last few years because of that. And usually staying club level deluxe. However, we will both be retiring in the next 2- 3 years. We had hoped to finally be able to take longer trips & maybe some spur of the moment ones too. I know we will have to be more thoughtful in our discretionary spending. I had already anticipated staying at moderate more often or maybe doing split stays. The way these price hikes are going, I am beginning to wonder if any on site stays will be doable for us by then.

 

[Smittolis]

Split stays are the future! ;o)

 

[omniscientmommy]

We already stay off site bc we want a kitchen and the cost of on site for a kitchen is too much. Especially bc we can rent a car and pay for condo and it costs $1,000 less than what renting dvc or direct costs.

 

[Alicenwonderment]

Found a friend with a Sam’s Club membership and she already had online access!!! Used Ebates for another 1.5% savings. Better deal than the pass I had in my Disney cart from last week waiting for my next paycheck. Why I was even waiting I don’t know as the cc bill isn’t due until next month. For me it worked out better due to finding this thread and the discounts.
I’m all linked and ready for 2021, which I already determined would be my last year of WDW. Not for the prices or crowds but because there is too much change overall.

How does the Ebates work? What was your total with Ebates and Sam's? I'm already a Sam's member (even though they closed the closest Sam's last year) Can you use Disney Gift cards to pay at Sam's Club? We also are members of BJs. There you get savings on the gift cards. I bought 150 Disney gift card and saved over 5 dollars (thinking 10) at BJs . Could I use those gift cards at Sam's?

 

[cakebaker]

I bought 150 Disney gift card and saved over 5 dollars (thinking 10) at BJs . Could I use those gift cards at Sam's?

You cannot use Disney gifts cards to purchase at Sam's.

 

[Nick6300]

I couldn't find these on AAA. My DH even called and the rep said he didn't know anything about Disney passes lol!
We got them from Sams anyway so it's fine but weird.

I called my local AAA in Illinois instead of a corporate call center. The rep did have to talk to someone first but gave the quote and said that no issues having my father in law (we’re not members) order for us. We went with the Sams though because it was going to be quicker to buy ourselves in case the deal changed

 

[Nick6300]

Wife has an extra 2% offer on her chase freedom under ultimate rewards not the chase offers for Sams Club specifically. Wonder if that would work for the AP purchase since Sams Travel site not the regular site. We have an obscure new card offering 5% for warehouses but didn’t want to chance using it for an online purchase since my BOA premium card always gets at least 2.63%. We’re going to go today to Sams to buy giftcards with that 5% offer

 

[Nick6300]

I think we paid state tax on our Sam's APs, but I think we get charged State Tax when we buy online directly from Disney, as well

So the prices of the Sams APs will vary depending on where you live or setup your membership address? It’s too late now for us but wondering if we’d have saved 3% if we had our folks buy them in MI vs us in IL. I am still thinking about a 2nd set of APs for far down the rd.

 

[BeachPrincess]

In case you didn't notice Sam's also has the resident Platinum AP for $718.99 right now. I assume Tickets at work does also since they are operated by the same company.

Yes and AAA had the exact same price and since we are members, I purchased them last night. I got the e-mail confirmation right away but still no e-mail with the vouchers unfortunately, even though it states you receive it within an hour. I know others have had issues with that being delayed so I'll give it a day before I call. Pretty happy with the decision though. Saved a lot of money versus the other method I was considering.

 

[canyoncam]

How does the Ebates work? What was your total with Ebates and Sam's? I'm already a Sam's member (even though they closed the closest Sam's last year) Can you use Disney Gift cards to pay at Sam's Club? We also are members of BJs. There you get savings on the gift cards. I bought 150 Disney gift card and saved over 5 dollars (thinking 10) at BJs . Could I use those gift cards at Sam's?

Ebates (now called Rakuten but can still be found under Ebates search) is a cash back program. It offers various percentages back on online purchases, or even in store purchases if linked to a credit card. The offers and percentages change and I don’t see the offer for travel available at Sam’s currently. But that could change, and it might be more or less than 1.5%

And I see someone else already answered that no you cannot use GC to pay.

 

[aballerina]

We purchased our first set of APs through Sam's and still got the discount when we went to renew. If you can swing it, I think it would be a great thing to have your Gold APs for the first couple months of your new Platinum APs. I would recommend creating a second MDX account (unless you have existing Magic Bands you wish to re-use with your new AP). Before all of the recent price increases over the last 18 months, I was considering buying two sets of APs and using them concurrently (activating both and using both at the tapstyles to enter the park) so that I could have double the fastpasses each day. With the current pricing of Annual Passes... there is NO WAY that I would consider that as an option.

Is this allowed? Scanning both at once to enter the park?

 

[cakebaker]

Is this allowed? Scanning both at once to enter the park?

No, I don't think this works at all. I can't imagine paying even the old price to do it even if it did. Those are some pretty expensive fp's.

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

Does anyone know if I can get the AP voucher from AAA and use it to upgrade tickets I've purchased elsewhere when I arrive at Disney? I have tickets and a package already, which I don't want to cancel, but I would like to get the discount on the AP if possible.

 

[mom2rtk]

No, I don't think this works at all. I can't imagine paying even the old price to do it even if it did. Those are some pretty expensive fp's.

That depends on how often the PP visits the park and how much Disney eventually sells them for.

And I have no idea whether it would work. Why would Disney care about one person paying twice while only taking the space for 1? It seems like they'd be thrilled to allow this.

 

[SaintsManiac]

That depends on how often the PP visits the park and how much Disney eventually sells them for.

And I have no idea whether it would work. Why would Disney care about one person paying twice while only taking the space for 1? It seems like they'd be thrilled to allow this.

You can't double up on FPs, though. They closed that loophole.