AP question (park attendance cost analysis and hotel savings)

[noryglory]

Help. I don't feel like figuring this all out and I know you helpful people know the answer already anyway!

How much is an AP--the "blackout dates" pass is fine--for both kids and adults, and how many "days" is that equal to in the parks to get your money's worth? Can you buy it in advance but validate it on your first day there to start the clock for 365 days?

And, how do the AP rates at the hotels work? I haven't ever paid much attention because it didn't interest me but now we're thinking of a bonus trip that might make this all pencil out. (The DH is actually getting a bit of my Disney buzz I think!)

Does anyone know if there are AP rates for any of the Dis hotels on January 27 and what are those rates as compared to the regular price?

GRACIAS! Feel free to point me to a current or old thread if the answer has been already given somewhere. I just want to know the answer fast without all the hard work involved!!

 

[bumbershoot]

The "deluxe" pass is 259 for anyone 3 and over. (The premium is over $100 more, includes parking, and has no black out dates)

You can buy it ahead of time, but the first day you USE it is when your year starts. I'm not sure if they are still doing it, but check on disneyland.com for the AP purchase page. I think they had a merchandise voucher for those buying them online, and that's pretty cool. But I could be wrong, or they might not be doing that anymore, I'm not sure (and my MacBook + Firefox doesn't like their website so I don't go there when I don't absolutely have to,LOL).

We were there in September, and since my brother lives in San Diego and we plan for one or two more visits before next September, that meant a 5 day Park Hopper in September, then one-day passes for the visits to my brother. DL doesn't have a "no expiration" option for Hoppers (like WDW does), so the cost of a 5 day ParkHopper plus just ONE one-day pass would be more than the cost of the AP. So for us it was obviously the thing we needed to do.

And with the Deluxe you get 10% off food at most places inside the parks and DTD (maybe not all of the DTD restaurants?). (with the Premium you get 15% off food and 10% off merchandise)


I believe that throughout the year there's a flat percentage discount with the AP at the hotels (10%, maybe?). But right now, through 12/15, there are some terrific deals, like PP for $129, or PP concierge for $169...which is pretty good. I don't have the other rates in my brain right now, sorry.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, also, there are little perks that are extra.

For instance, we ate at Blue Bayou, and spent over $60. There's a deal where if you spent $30 and used your AP discount (significant on its own at BB, by the way), you get a special pin. They gave me two (2x $30 spent), and it was fun. they had the same deal at Pizza Oom Mow Mow (which I don't recommend for the food, by the way).

You get access to the AP pages on disneyland.com, and I noticed something there about a special Halloweentime flag you can buy if you have an AP? If you're into things like that, things like that are available.

 

[noryglory]

Thanks Bumbershoot.

What is the deal with asking for the AP4 rate (versus just AP)--what am I missing here? And I guess I have to call and find out if it's available, there is no online way to compare rates, from what I can tell. True?

 

[Hound 109]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing. Great info, Bumbershoot.

Since the OP is wondering about breakeven points & the bennies of AP.

I'm thinking i might go to DLR 3 times between 12/1/07 & 11/30/08. Each time for 2-3 days. If:

- I don't know exactly how many days, but
- It's likely i might do a couple of 2 day (2 days at the parks) trips &
- EE is important to me & I like going Sun - Tues.
- It's possible DW might not come & i only bring DS 8.

Then even if I was only going to get 4-5 days usage, it might be worth it to buy an AP for (at least myself) so:

- I can nab a DL hotel deal. ($169 for PP Concierge is how much off Joe Tourist rate?)
- If we only come for 2 days (& stay at a DL hotel) i can do EE.
- If i have the AP, maybe i go more often.

Question - Does the DLR hotels EVER allow someone to stay only ONE night.

Thanks,

hound

 

[DangerMouse]

Question - Does the DLR hotels EVER allow someone to stay only ONE night.

Thanks,

hound

Yes. I have stayed one night at the GCH at the rate of $169 (last minute Expedia deal).

 

[noryglory]

I just called and asked reservations about the "AP4" rate...apparently this is a three letter/digit code that expires on December 15. Bummer. She said that the code info is given out on the website if you register your annual pass. Since I don't actually have a pass yet, I can't access that. I don't think there is another newer promotion just yet as I haven't seen mention of it here, but she wasn't at liberty to share any info with me.

Does anyone know what the next promo is yet? We would be potentially going on January 27. I went online last night to see what the "Joe Tourist" rack rate was for the GCH and for one night it was $396.75 for a totally non-descript standard room (and dang, I don't know if that included tax yet GASP)...so I was hoping to find a rockin rate that would justify a one-night trip to the DL since we are going next May and getting an AP (for just me, if nothing else) would make it pencil out.

Without AP4 availability, she said she could offer me 10% off. But I wasn't interested in that small of a discount. If we can't get a screaming good deal on a hotel we'll probably just end up at Legoland for the day. This is a bonus side trip from a family visit in Palm Springs, and the actual true Disneyland vacation will be next May.

 

[Hound 109]

Yes. I have stayed one night at the GCH at the rate of $169 (last minute Expedia deal).

Knowing DangerMouse, she probably nabbed a Monday night......got 2 days of EE.....they upgraded her to Concierge & DTD view......

.....all this after 3 days at HOJO.

......did i miss anything??

 

[Hound 109]

I just called and asked reservations about the "AP4" rate...apparently this is a three letter/digit code that expires on December 15. Bummer. She said that the code info is given out on the website if you register your annual pass. Since I don't actually have a pass yet, I can't access that. I don't think there is another newer promotion just yet as I haven't seen mention of it here, but she wasn't at liberty to share any info with me.

Does anyone know what the next promo is yet? We would be potentially going on January 27. I went online last night to see what the "Joe Tourist" rack rate was for the GCH and for one night it was $396.75 for a totally non-descript standard room (and dang, I don't know if that included tax yet GASP)...so I was hoping to find a rockin rate that would justify a one-night trip to the DL since we are going next May and getting an AP (for just me, if nothing else) would make it pencil out.

Without AP4 availability, she said she could offer me 10% off. But I wasn't interested in that small of a discount. If we can't get a screaming good deal on a hotel we'll probably just end up at Legoland for the day. This is a bonus side trip from a family visit in Palm Springs, and the actual true Disneyland vacation will be next May.

Bummer is right. 4 bills per night would be too rich for my blood. I've got to believe that they'll have SOMETHING for APers (& others) for late Jan.

Stay close to the boards & it'll be on here as soon as it's announced (i bet). Good luck.

 

[DangerMouse]

Knowing DangerMouse, she probably nabbed a Monday night......got 2 days of EE.....they upgraded her to Concierge & DTD view......

.....all this after 3 days at HOJO.

......did i miss anything??

I wish! My dd ended up getting sick and we were stuck in a ADA room facing the courtyard. It was this trip that I decided the GCH is totally not worth the money (not even at a discounted rate). We actually prefer the HoJo!

Bummer is right. 4 bills per night would be too rich for my blood. I've got to believe that they'll have SOMETHING for APers (& others) for late Jan.

Stay close to this boards & it'll be on here as soon as it's announced (i bet). Good luck.

People are still using the AP4 rate successfully. I personally have an AP reservation at the DLH in November (holding it for a friend) and I don't even have an AP yet. They said I would just need to show it at check-in. Noglory, I would try calling again and you could get a different answer from a different CM.

I have seen AP rates for late Jan/early Feb released right after the peak Christmas period is over.

 

[bumbershoot]

People are still using the AP4 rate successfully. I personally have an AP reservation at the DLH in November (holding it for a friend) and I don't even have an AP yet. They said I would just need to show it at check-in. Noglory, I would try calling again and you could get a different answer from a different CM.

I think it's that she's looking at a room *after* Dec 15th, which is when AP4 is no more.



Hound...I'm looking at your thoughts: "I'm thinking i might go to DLR 3 times between 12/1/07 & 11/30/08. Each time for 2-3 days. If:

- I don't know exactly how many days, but
- It's likely i might do a couple of 2 day (2 days at the parks) trips"

Just looking at the cost of the 2 day hoppers times 3 trips, that's almost a Premium AP right there, right? ("almost" if you buy them in advance...more than premium with no advance purchase) That's where I would say "well it's a no brainer" to get the AP.

 

[noryglory]

Yep I need the room late January. After taking a pass on the $400 room, I started thinking more seriously about one laid-back day in Carlsbad. We found a funky little place right on the ocean, so we can head out to there from the desert after brunch on that Sunday, hit the pool and the beach, then get up and go to Legoland for one day on Monday (open a reasonable 10-5), grab some dinner and let rush hour do its thing, then head back out to the desert for the rest of our family visiting before flying home.

Of course, should an amazing new special be announced after Christmas I might just have to change our plans back to Anaheim but with the go-go-go-ness of a Disney vacation I think having only one day would just kill me, even though we are headed back in May.