AP question(s)

[jackdis]

Hi. I'm new to this whole AP thing, but after some research and planning, I think we will be buying APs on our next trip. (I will trade in park hoppers that we bought last trip.)

Now my questions:
1. If I've already booked a room and buy the AP the same day as I am checking in, can my room rate be adjusted to reflect the AP rate? (I guess what I'm saying is would I get a credit for the difference between the regular rate and AP rate?)

2. Do the AP rates fluctuate throughtout the year or at different resorts, or, for example, do the deluxe resorts tend to have the same discountregardless?

I hope this makes sense. I'm rereading it and I'm not sure it does. We have two trips planned for the future and I'm trying to figure out what to do. I'm wondering if we should book a certain resort for a certain time? Maybe I should have just asked that from the beginning...LOL....
Thanks!!!

 

[lark]

Hi. I'm new to this whole AP thing, but after some research and planning, I think we will be buying APs on our next trip. (I will trade in park hoppers that we bought last trip.)

Now my questions:
1. If I've already booked a room and buy the AP the same day as I am checking in, can my room rate be adjusted to reflect the AP rate? (I guess what I'm saying is would I get a credit for the difference between the regular rate and AP rate?)

2. Do the AP rates fluctuate throughtout the year or at different resorts, or, for example, do the deluxe resorts tend to have the same discountregardless?

I hope this makes sense. I'm rereading it and I'm not sure it does. We have two trips planned for the future and I'm trying to figure out what to do. I'm wondering if we should book a certain resort for a certain time? Maybe I should have just asked that from the beginning...LOL....
Thanks!!!

I think I can take the first one. The problem with that approach is that you might show up and they might be sold out of AP rates for your resort on your dates. The AP discount is not automatic. You need to have reserved it advance to be sure you'll get it. The more sensible approach, if you know for certain you will be buying an AP, is to book now at the AP rate. Then just make sure you've purchased and activated it before you show up to check in. If you don't buy one, you'll probably be put back up to rack rates.

I can't answer the second one definitively, but AP rates are not always the same. They almost always are better than AAA rates, but they are not the same every time. Usually, the discounts are better for deluxe, than for moderate, and better for moderate than value -- as you might expect.

 

[gbrogers]

So far this year, the AP rates have fluctuated:

Travel dates: 4/23/06-6/3/06. Discounts are $25 off Value resorts, $40 off Moderate resorts and $100 off Deluxe resorts. Book by 6/3/06.

Travel dates: 2/16/06-4/13/06. Discounts are $35 off Value resorts, $66 off Moderate resorts and $133 off Deluxe resorts. Book by 4/8/06.

This is probably a good indicator of things to come.

 

[jackdis]

Gotcha! So there are certain numbers of AP rate rooms? That would make sense, and that definitelty makes sense about the discounts depending on the category.

Just thought of one more that doesn't really have to do with us since we're stay at Disney resorts, but are people that purchase APs also allowed to use EMH or is that only for resort guests?

Thanks!!

 

[Goof-abulous]

No. The EMH are for resort guests. You have to have a valid room card to take advantage.

 

[jackdis]

If I were to purchase and activate an AP before checking in, when I make the reservation, would an AP number be needed? Also, I know I can upgrade my park hoppers to APs at Guest Services at the parks, but can this also be done where tickets are sold at the resorts? Thanks again!

 

[lark]

If I were to purchase and activate an AP before checking in, when I make the reservation, would an AP number be needed? Also, I know I can upgrade my park hoppers to APs at Guest Services at the parks, but can this also be done where tickets are sold at the resorts? Thanks again!

You don't need an AP number to make an AP reservation by phone. (Internet is different story.) You do need an activated AP when you check in, although some have reported the cast member who checks you in MAY (you can't count on it) check you in without seeing it so long as you come back and show it in the next short period (with the penalty being paying rack rate if you don't.)

APs can only be purchased at the parks, not the resorts, I believe.

 

[Disneyhappy]

If I were to purchase and activate an AP before checking in, when I make the reservation, would an AP number be needed? Also, I know I can upgrade my park hoppers to APs at Guest Services at the parks, but can this also be done where tickets are sold at the resorts? Thanks again!

APs can be purchased at the parks and at Guest Relations in Downtown Disney. We will be stopping in DTD from the airport to get our APs before checking in. I did not realize that the passes need to be activated prior to check in. We are staying one night at a resort prior to our check-in at our DVC resort. We are upgrading one day passes from a January package we had to APs with our DVC dicount so I have to wait to do this until we are in WDW. I guess I'll have to hope for the best with our CM who checks us in. Can guest services activate the passes for us at time of purchase since we will be attending the parks the next day anyway?

 

[jcpuppy.com]

So far this year, the AP rates have fluctuated:

Travel dates: 4/23/06-6/3/06. Discounts are $25 off Value resorts, $40 off Moderate resorts and $100 off Deluxe resorts. Book by 6/3/06.

Travel dates: 2/16/06-4/13/06. Discounts are $35 off Value resorts, $66 off Moderate resorts and $133 off Deluxe resorts. Book by 4/8/06.

This is probably a good indicator of things to come.

are those figured based just on your stay or per night discount? like a flat $40 off or a $40 per night stay?

 

[Disney Fool]

It's the amount off per night.

 

[jcpuppy.com]

How would/could the AP work if a person wanted the premium package Disney offers?

 

[gbrogers]

Per night is correct. Mousesavers has great information on APs and a cost comparison chart. It's definitely worth taking a look at.